Convention Schedule
Convention Details
Convention Registration Form 
Certification of Delegates and Alternates to Department
Certification of Delegates and Alternates to District  
Delegates Credential Slips
Alternates Credential Slips
20/4 Banquet Reservation Form

Department Officer Endorsements 2011-2012
Department President - Rose Ring
Department 1st Vice President - Hanny Elston
Department 2nd Vice President - Terri Angell
Department Historian - Karen Grimes
Department Chaplain - Gloria Eddy
Department Chaplain - Lorna Deckert

90^th Annual Department Convention

Of the

 American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington

The Eighty-Ninth Department Convention of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is called in conformity with the Department Constitution, Article VI, in Spokane, Washington. The Convention will convene Thursday morning, July 14^th, 2011, 9:00am, at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and will adjourn when all business has been finalized.

Purpose

The Convention is called to elect officers for the ensuing year, to amend the Department Constitution and By-laws, to receive reports of Department Officers and Chairmen, to give recognition through trophies and awards, to transact such other business as may be brought before it, and to plan for the future.

Representation

Representation in the Convention shall be by Units and in accordance with the provisions of the Department Constitution, Article VI, Sections 2 and 3. The Annual Department Convention shall be composed of delegates and alternates to be elected by each Auxiliary Unit in good standing; each Unit to be entitled to two (2) delegates and two (2) alternates; and one (1) additional delegate and one (1) additional alternate for each one hundred (100) paid-up memberships, or major fraction thereof, provided, however that no Unit shall be entitled to be represented unless it has at least ten (10) senior members whose Department and National dues for the current year have been paid.

The delegates and alternates to the Department Convention shall be chosen by majority vote of the members of the Unit who are present at a meeting designated for that purpose. Any Unit not represented by legally elected delegates or alternates shall lose its vote. These delegates and alternates to be certified in writing, into the Department Office, at least ten (10) days prior to the Department Convention or when necessary and circumstances warrant, these delegates may be certified by presenting a credential slip duly signed by a Unit Officer or by the District President who can verify their election.

Credentials

Credentials for all Delegates and Alternates shall be in accordance with Department Constitution, Article VI, Section 4. The delegates and alternates to the Department Convention shall be chosen by majority vote of the members of the Unit who are present at a meeting designated for that purpose. Any Unit not represented by legally elected delegates or alternates shall lose its vote.

These delegates and alternates are to be certified in writing, into the Department Office, at least ten (10) days prior to the Department Convention or when necessary and circumstances warrant, these delegates may be certified by presenting a credential slip duly signed by a Unit Officer or by the District President who can verify their election.

Securing Credentials

Delegates at Large, Delegates and Alternates can secure credentials July 13^th through the 15^th, 2011 in the pre-function area of the hotel.  If you know that your Delegate will NOT be attending the Convention, please notify the Credentials Committee when you pick up your credentials at the Convention.

Quorum

A quorum for the transaction of Department business shall exist as outlines in the Department Constitution, Article VI, Section 6. A quorum for the transaction of business at Department Convention shall be a majority of those Units registered as in attendance, irrespective as whether some may have left.

Nominations and Elections

Nominations for the Department Offices of Department President, First and Second Vice Presidents, Department Historian and Department Chaplain will be conducted in accordance with Department By-laws, Article 11, Thursday, July 14^th, 2011. Voting will be Saturday, July 16^th, 2011 at 7:00am. Unit delegates and/or alternates must be certified, registered, and in attendance, to qualify for voting privileges.

District Caucus Meetings

District Caucus’ will be held Thursday, July 14^th, 2011. Locations of District Caucus will be announced before the recess of that days session.

 Resolutions and Amendments

The Constitution and Bylaws of the Department of Washington may be amended in accordance with Department Constitution, Article VII, Section 1.

 By submitting a copy of the proposed amendment as a resolution by a unit in good standing, signed by the Unit President and one (1) officer, to the Department Secretary. She shall mail one copy of the proposed amendment to each local Unit in the Department and to the members of the Department Executive Committee, at least thirty days prior to the annual Department Convention; and a two thirds vote shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment.

 Necessary amendments proposed after distribution or revision as shown in Section I (a), may be submitted by a Unit in good standing and signed by the Unit President and one (1) officer or if by individual members, signed by two members in good standing, each of whom shall be a voting member of the Convention. They may be adopted by a two thirds vote of the delegation at any Department Convention provided they have been read at one meeting of the session prior to taking action.

This Constitution may further be amended at a regular meeting of the Department Convention by a unanimous vote of the delegates present. Amendments shall, unless otherwise stated, become operative upon adoption.

Delegates and Alternates to National Convention

Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota will be elected in accordance with Department By-laws, Article II, Sections 6.

The delegates and alternates to the National Convention shall be nominated and elected following the election of Department Officers. The Department shall pay registration fees for the delegates and alternates to the National Convention. Any member not fulfilling their obligations at National Convention shall reimburse the registration fee to the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington.

Delegates to the National Convention shall be elected in the following manner: Lots shall be drawn by District Presidents, except those Districts shall pass which have the outgoing President and the incoming President now specified as the first and the second delegate, respectively, in Section 8 (a) of the Department Bylaws. If a District has no member who is definitely planning to attend the entire National Convention, the District President passes and the Districts having delegates specified in the Department Bylaws then draw lots until the total number of delegates has been chosen. Alternates shall be chosen in the same manner. However, in the event the alternate list is not complete, the Department President shall name alternates to fill the vacancies. A vacancy in the delegation shall be filled by the first alternate, and then the second alternate, etc. The District to which the Secretary belongs shall not be penalized in the election of delegates to National Convention.