Each administrative year, the American Legion Auxiliary’s National Executive Committee holds three standard meetings to conduct official business of the organization. These regularly scheduled sessions play a fundamental role in the governance and operational effectiveness of the Auxiliary.    
 
The NEC begins its annual term at an in-person meeting held immediately following the close of National Convention. The NEC, our governing board, meets again for a mid-year board meeting held virtually in February. Lastly, they close their annual term with an in-person pre-convention meeting immediately preceding National Convention. Throughout the year, the board will be called to special meetings as emergent organizational needs arise. Like all regularly scheduled ALA national board meetings, it is an open forum meeting.
 
The February 2025 Virtual Mid-Year NEC Meeting contained all the usual aspects of a standard NEC meeting.

Highlights:
• The NEC voted to adopt the consent agenda containing national policies, national appointment changes, and charter cancellations. A consent agenda is a standard good governance practice utilized by large organizations to expedite its business proceedings. The main purpose of a consent agenda is to bundle into a single action item the routine procedures, administrative details, and self-explanatory matters the board normally approves without discussion, debate, or motions. Since questions or discussions on these items are not allowed during the meeting, utilizing a consent agenda frees up valuable time for the board to discuss more substantial agenda items. 
 
• Historically, the ALA’s national policies were reviewed and adopted by the board on a staggered three-year cycle, indicating that with almost 30 national policies, only about one-third (10) policies would be reviewed by the board any given year. This type of staggered review schedule prevented the board from being fully informed on the policies for which they must ensure are correctly implemented. But without full knowledge of all the national policies, board members cannot effectively do their duties. At the February NEC meeting, the process for national policy review was amended and now occurs annually. This means that each administrative year, the board will review, amend if necessary, and adopt all national policies. The new process helps ensure sound decision making, transparency, and project execution on behalf of the national organization. 
 
• The national Finance Committee made a recommendation and motion to increase the Auxiliary Emergency Fund by $250,000. The additional finances came from the AEF fund balance, which sits at just under $1 million. The increased funding was due to an unprecedented number of natural disasters, including multiple hurricanes that hit the East Coast, and devastating fires impacting the West Coast. By the end of Quarter 1, almost all of the original budgeted amount ($215,000) had been granted to members in need. The decision was simple — if the board wanted to continue granting funds to our members in need, they had to approve the increase. The motion was made by national Finance Committee Chair Janet Jefford on behalf of the Finance Committee, passing unanimously. 
 
• During each mid-year meeting, attendees receive a presentation from our external auditors. We received a clean audit, and the board voted to accept the external auditors’ report. The Finance Committee also gave a Quarter 1 financials report with no red flags. 
 
• Also discussed: basic mid-year agenda items. Among those were charter cancellations, national appointment changes, reports given from the national president, national secretary, national treasurer, executive director, Risk & Compliance Committee (vote required), Finance Committee (vote required), standing rules amendments, and any new business.