November 2011 - Navy
By Aaron Bresnahan

Over the years, iconic US Navy recruiting posters have symbolized a call to duty and personal sacrifice. Other posters have implored potential recruits to not only read about history, but also to make it. In times of war and national emergency, millions of Americans have answered that call and performed with distinction and honor.

Today, AUSN calls on you, the membership, to step forward and share the good news about what your Association is doing for you and to make the case for inviting your fellow Sailors and veterans to join the Association. We can make a much bigger difference for everyone, when we all work towards this common cause. Therefore, don’t simply read about what the Association is doing month-by-month at the national level, but also get involved and make a difference at the local level.

“What’s in it for you?” you might ask. Well, first of all, your voice counts and needs to be heard. Lots of initiatives are underway at headquarters. Many ideas are well meaning and are implemented with the best of intentions. However, you may not realize that many of these actions are actually suggested and fielded at the behest of members like you. If the Association doesn’t hear from you, we all might miss out on what could be the “next big thing” for us.

Secondly, we have a louder voice, when our membership rolls continue to grow. In other words, when issues of great importance are debated, larger associations are often given more credibility. Larger organizations can be viewed as the representative voice of the majority’s viewpoint, rather than a minority’s whim. This is one reason why our partnership with the Military Coalition is also important.

Thirdly, as the Association’s membership grows, our financial stability and sustainability is better assured. More programs and member benefits can be discussed and explored. There are obviously many more things that the Association could support. For instance, support for wounded or returning warrior programs, or even advocacy for the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation, is mostly limited by how much we are able to leverage the contributions of our membership and associates.

Fourthly, there are lots of member benefits that you, your friends, and colleagues can share and further support. Benefits, such as potential access to scholarships for children, the Association’s magazine and e-newsletters, Survivor Assistance programs, Record Reviews, access to AUSN Knowledge Centers (FAQs), are a true value. Therefore, let’s ensure that the widest number of colleagues can access and embrace these important member benefits.

The Association really needs your assistance. You can even view your participation in membership recruitment as your way of establishing a legacy for the future. Many of you have found gratification from your membership. You probably picked up a few pointers here or there, benefitted from professional development initiatives, or maybe you just had the pleasure to share a few moments with colleagues that had a similar background or experience base.

Please help AUSN accomplish its mission. For more details on the mission, you can access it through the Strategic Plan posted on the AUSN website. Your active involvement in AUSN can make a huge difference. With passion and commitment from the membership, we anticipate seeing much more growth, development, and transformation in the years ahead. Help make AUSN history, don’t just read about it.