Rosemarie W. Hauck chose a seat in the last row, staying away from the action and avoiding attention from others in the room. She had no intention of participating in the event, much less becoming more visible in the groups that were running it.
 
But a simple introduction and encouragement from another person in attendance led Hauck to a more prominent location in the room. And the conversations that followed started her down a path to leadership and mentoring roles with one of the organizations conducting the meeting.
 
That group was the American Legion Auxiliary.
 
Hauck’s story is evidence of the importance of seeking ways to connect with potential and current ALA members. Every encounter, she said, could lead someone to join or strengthen their engagement with the Auxiliary — just as she did.
 
Inspiring a leader
Hauck, current Central Division national vice president and a member of Unit 444 in Florissant, Mo., recently told the story of her attendance at a 1980s district meeting for The American Legion. It was at this event — where she initially kept her distance from the rest of the group — that June Stolte walked from her seat at the front of the room to introduce herself to Hauck.
 
Stolte, the 1982-1983 national president of the ALA, invited Hauck to sit with her.
 
That experience — and the relationship with Stolte and other members that followed — sparked Hauck’s interest in leading and supporting others in the ALA. 
 
“It created a person who believes in mentorship,” said Hauck. 
 
She went on to hold positions ranging from district chaplain to her current role as her division’s national vice president.
 
Protecting the future
The key to personal outreach that attracts new members and increases participation among those who’ve already joined is twofold:
 
• Seek opportunities in the community to network with those who might be interested in the ALA.
• Initiate conversations with ALA members who might want to increase their engagement.
 
Now Hauck regularly engages in both kinds of outreach. After all, she said being friendly is easy. But just as importantly, it’s vital to the future of the ALA. 
 
“It doesn’t hurt you to walk over and speak to someone and give them a smile,” she said. “It doesn’t cost a thing. And it is 100 percent necessary if we plan to continue to grow this organization.”
 
4 tips for connecting
Whether seeking interest from potential members or increased participation from those who already belong, Hauck said taking some key steps makes the effort easier: 
 
1: Start a conversation. Hauck is so committed to being friendly with others that her granddaughter once believed every person they encountered was someone Hauck already knew. “If we don’t treat people kindly,” Hauck said of ALA members, “we won’t be here in another 100 years.”
 
2: Focus on listening. Ask people what interests them. Think about how they could support veterans and their families in ways that align with those interests. “Then take someone under your wing and walk with them,” she said. “Don’t dictate.”
 
3: Stay in touch. After Stolte initially approached Hauck, she and other ALA members periodically followed up. “I started getting phone calls from people telling me how nice it was to have met me,” Hauck said. By the next meeting, she was district chaplain.
 
4: Tout the ALA’s value. Hauck recounted a conversation she had with a stranger on a flight. The man turned out to be a veteran, so she shared with him what The American Legion Family does and asked if he was a member. “We have a magnificent organization,” she said. “But people are not aware enough of it.”