Cavalcade of Memories
The heart of the Auxiliary is in its unique records, items and memorabilia that our officers, members and volunteers that have donated, and complied over the years.
Remember “Cavalcade of Memories is the preservation of the American Legion Auxiliary’s current and historical memorabilia to help us define and remember our core values throughout time.” So, with that said let us create a dwelling space for our treasured keepsakes, artifacts, Auxiliary accomplishments and our history.
WHAT CAN YOU DO - at the Unit, District and Department levels?
-Appoint a Cavalcade of Memories Chairman or a group of interested members. Don’t forget to include your Juniors for a creative flair.
-Create a Plan of what is to be saved and how. Photos, newspaper articles, trophies, minutes, etc
-Share your memorabilia with others to get them interested
-Seek out family members of longtime or deceased members and ask if they would like to donate an item in honor of them self or a loved one. Make sure you get the spelling of the name correct for labeling purposes and a story to go along with the item if possible
-Set aside a shelf, a cabinet, or an allocated space in your meeting room to begin preserving the past for our future members
- Search the Internet for preservation techniques
IDEAS FOR MEMBERS –
-Look through your own collection and bring items to a meeting to share and
encourage others to do the same
-Fragile documents and photos should be digitized for preservation purposes
Make more than one copy (to display & scrapbook) store in a different place
-Look into companies, historical societies, and colleges in your area that may be willing to assist in helping to fund your preservation efforts
OTHER IDEAS -
-Use current technology to create and maintain digital images and records.
-Post items on the Auxiliary website or Facebook for all to view
-Feature an item of interest in your newsletter each month with an explanation of its significance. i.e. 1st Unit President, new award, bracelet/pin donated by
-Do a contest for the members to guess what the item is, from what time period and to whom the item may have belonged to
Attend local workshops to learn preservations and conservation methods for your older precious items. Knowledge on Acid free photo albums, papers, etc.
Partner with historical societies or public libraries for consulting purposes and display opportunities
Take a few items from your Cavalcade of Memories to community functions and invite interested people to visit your Post home to see your other items. Also, this would be a great time to invite them to become a member.
If you have an item of historical significance or value and would like to donate it to Department or National there are Donation guidelines. Please contact me personally for this information. Do not send anything to Department or National without completion of the donation form and written confirmation that they are able to accept it. Space is very limited.
Mid-year Reports - What has your Unit done from Department Installation forward
Unit reports are due to the Department Chairman no later than November 15, 2017
Year-end Reports
Each District is requested to submit a Year-end report to their Department Chairman no later than April 1, 2018. Complete the attached form and add a narrative to include additional information
Chairman’s Sun Catcher Award
A plaque will be given to the Unit that creates a SCRAPBOOK that will encompass the entire year. You should start your scrapbook with the Unit’s new installation of officers.
Include: pictures, activities, fundraisers, program flyers and other memorabilia.
Please remember pictures should not include any alcoholic beverages if they do your scrapbook will be disqualified.
Guidelines:
I Title Page:
Unit name/number
Name of Cavalcade Chairman
Name of Unit President
Year: 2017 –2018
II Photo of Unit President - Identify
III Group Photo of Unit Officers – Include name and office of each
IV Include photos of:
Installation
Fundraisers
Picnics
Photos showing how the Unit worked the ALA programs
Include handouts/programs from any of the above events
Pictures: identify members and guest
V Appearance:
Size: 8-1/2 x 11 or 11 x 14 (your preference)
Plain front cover: red, white or blue
Book bound preferred, or Scrapbook type, Notebook with plain
paper in sheet protectors
IMPORTANT NOTICE
National has changed the name for “Cavalcade of Memories”.
It is now called the History Committee. In this transition period, the
Department of Florida will be calling this program Cavalcade/History.
Please send all scrapbooks to the Cavalcade/History Chairman
Sherry Wingard at 570 Cypress Ave., Orange City, Florida 32763
Please send all Narrative Histories to Historian
Eleanor Amato 892 Catfish Ave., New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32169
ALL entries must be received by May 1, 2018. No exceptions!
Resources:
(National Cavalcade of Memories virtual tour)
National Archives
Archival
National Cavalcade of Memories
Consist of the following:
Artwork Media Wall, Pictures
Awards Trophies, Plaques
Clothing & Textiles Sash’s, VAVS volunteer outfit – Hats
Events & Programs Convention programs
Furniture & Furnishings Plates – Silver Trays, Clocks
Jewelry, Medals, Pins Rings, Badges, VAVS pins
Manuscripts History books, magazine articles, ceremonies
Photography Presidents, Girl State pictures, Parades
Memorabilia Bracelets, Medallions, Buttons, Cards,
Applications of Presidents
Cavalcade of Memories
Unit Year End Report
2017-2018
Chairman’s Name: ______Phone Number: ______
Unit Name & Number: ______District #: ______
Did your Unit start a new Cavalcade of Memories? ____ Did your Unit update an existing Cavalcade of Memories? How many members helped? _____ Hours spent? _____
Did your Juniors help with the new or existing Cavalcade of Memories? _____ Did they start their own Cavalcade of Memories? _____ How may Juniors helped? ______Hours spent? _____
Did your Seniors/Juniors help update an existing COM? _____ Hours spent? _____
What type of items, pictures, trophies, and plaques did you add to your existing Cavalcade of Memories?
______
Did the Unit have a ceremony or dedication for your new or updated Cavalcade of Memories?
______
Did you dedicate it to a President or Member? Tell me about the dedication. ______
Did your Unit put together a Scrapbook? _____Will it be entered for the Sun Catcher Award? ______
Do you have any ideas that you would like to pass along concerning a Cavalcade of Memories for our Centennial year ceremony?
Include anything Additional not asked above:
Cavalcade of Memories
District Year End Report
2017-2018
Chairman’s Name: ______Phone Number: ______
District #: ______Number of Units Reporting: ______
How many Units started a new Cavalcade of Memories? ____ How many members helped? _____ How many Hours reported? _____
How many Juniors groups started a Cavalcade of Memories? _____ How may Juniors helped? ____
How many hours spent? _____
How many Seniors/Juniors helped to update an existing Cavalcade of Memories? _____
How many hours spent? _____
How many Seniors/Juniors helped with the Cavalcade of Memories this year by presenting items and pictures, identifying persons, hanging pictures/plaques, arranging items, etc?
List the items, presented and their significance? i.e. past president pin, hat, scarf/sash, convention program, trophies/plaques, pictures.
How many Units had a ceremony or dedication for their new or updated Cavalcade of Memories?
What did they do? ______
How many Units dedicated their Cavalcade of Memories to a President (past/current) or a member? To whom was it dedicated and why they chose this person?
______
______
How many Units completed a Scrapbook? _____How many entered them for the Sun Catcher Award? ___
Do you have any ideas that you would like to pass along concerning a Cavalcade of Memories for our Centennial year ceremony?
Include anything Additional reported: