ALR Advisory Committee

Over the July 4th weekend there was a meeting held for all the Officers of any Chapter that attended the American Legion Riders second annual "Rolling Hills Romp" national get together. I have not yet received an actual copy of the minutes from that meeting but I will relay the information while it is still fresh in my memory. There was an estimated 35 officers from ALR chapters representing eight different states. There were three motions made and supported and all three passed by an overwhelming majority and in 2 cases it was unanimous. I don't remember the exact wording but I will give them as I remember.

1. To elect Myself (Michigan), Dawg (Indiana) and Tramp & Bernie (Texas) to serve as an Advisory Committee for the ALR. This committee will act as a non governing committee to help support the growth of New Chapters and to collect and distribute other information to assist existing chapters. This committee is not intended to govern or rule over any other chapter, but will collectively offer advice and assistance.

   ALR Advisory Committee (From left to right) Keith 'Dawg' Jones, Bill 'Polka Bill' Kaledas, Bernie 'Stonz' Dare, Chuck 'Tramp' Dare,

2. To NOT allow membership, in any fashion (Honorary or otherwise) to any person who is not a member of the American Legion, Auxiliary or S.A.L. Although some Chapters have "Honorary" members who ARE members of the American Legion Family, these honorary memberships do not constitute actual membership and they are treated as honorary. (During further discussion all chapters agreed that these Honorary members should have the terms "honorary" or "I support" affixed to any apparel worn by these honorary members that use the ALR Emblem). This motion was made as a re-inforcement to what is already stated in the by-laws.
3. Each State or Department should elect one member as a Liaison to the ALR Advisory Committee to provide continuity and better information flow.

1. General agreement that there could be no single way to wear the patch or rockers and that should be left to individual chapters. What works in one area of the country may not work in another. I bet that all the officers present could not, by majority, come up with one single way to wear the patch and/or rockers, pins, patches etc. that would suit everyone in the room. If we could not do it between the 35 of us then how would we ever do it on a National Scale, and then how would we enforce it?
2. Becoming a program of the Department may not always be the best choice depending on your Department Officers and attitudes. (Consider this: If your program is working well now, do you need someone else from your Department telling you how to run it?). If you feel you want to become a program of your Department then ask your Department Officers some questions and then weigh the real advantages vs. possible disadvantages. Consider that what may work well in one Department may not work as well in another. Take some time to really think about what you are doing. This same thought pattern may apply to the ALR becoming a National Program. We seem to be doing very well now, on our own.
3. Currently we have about 86 Chapters in 32 States. The ALR seems to have about doubled in size from the previous year.
4. Keep your chapters simple (K.I.S.S). The most successful Chapters have kept the rules simple and to the point and basically follow the original by-laws (remember, every rule you make you have to have a way to enforce it).

1. Each chapter wants to have the same purpose and a common set of values and dedication to the American Legion, and follow the same basic by-laws, but they also want to have the flexibilty to be somewhat unique.
2. When the members of the Advisory Committee were elected (by unanimous vote) three of the four members elected were founding members of the ALR program. This action let me know that the original intention of the ALR program is meant to stay and will continue to be promoted.