NATIONAL AUXILIARY PRESIDENT

Carlene Ashworth
2010-2011 National President

Carlene Ashworth, of Pasadena, Texas, was elected national president of the American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 90th National Convention in Milwaukee Aug. 28 – Sept. 2.
 
Ashworth holds the Auxiliary’s mission of serving veterans, their families and their communities near and dear to her heart. For her theme as national president, she has adopted “The Power of One.”
 
“One thought, one word, one smile, one attitude, one action--one idea can launch a transformation; the collective power of one Auxiliary can change the world,” Ashworth said in front of convention delegates and members of The American Legion Family.
 
“As we begin our 91st year of service, we will continue to focus on our mission and our programs,” Ashworth said. “For years we have been involving ourselves in many great programs, but they are not our programs. They are not part of the mission of our organization. Everything we do should involve, in some way, our veterans, our military and their families.”
 
At her installation address, Ashworth encouraged Auxiliary members to return to the organization’s roots by involving the community in activities that will make them more aware of who members are and what they do.
 
“Become that center of activity once again just as those American Legion posts and Auxiliary units were in the early years, and the members will come to you,” Ashworth said.
 
She also urged Auxiliary members’ continued support of the Ride 2 Recovery program.
 
“I have seen firsthand how this program, which has been endorsed by the VA as a premier rehabilitation program for our wounded warriors, has made a huge difference in the lives of our men and women who thought they had no future after suffering the loss of limbs, or severe PTSD, and it is not only the soldier who suffers but the entire family,” Ashworth said. “Our support can help repair these minds and bodies and the families.”
 
Ashworth is a 45-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She is eligible for membership through husband Ray E. Hall (deceased); husband Richard Ashworth (deceased); father, Harold Morgan (deceased-WWII veteran); son, Kerry L. Hall, life member of The American Legion and granddaughter, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kathryn L. Hall.
 
Ashworth is a member of Edward H. White II Unit 521; Pasadena, Texas and has held a number of leadership roles in the Auxiliary at the unit, district and department levels. At the national level, she served as national vice president and chairman of the following committees: Membership, Community Service, National Security, Education, Legislative, Leadership, Junior Activities, Children & Youth and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation. She is a current board member of the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation.
 
Retired as an accountant in 2009 from Dooley Tackaberry Inc., Ashworth has children Stewart Greenwood and Kerry L. Hall and daughter-in-law Sylvia; grandchildren Katy, Emily, Sierra and Caleb; five siblings and 1 brother—all members of The American Legion Family. She has been an active member of Lakewood Church in Houston since 1989, currently serving as congregation prayer partner and also a weekly facilitator with the Women’s Ministry. She also is a partner of the 8&40.
 
Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest patriotic women’s service organization. With a membership at nearly 850,000, local American Legion Auxiliary units have a strong presence in more than 9,500 communities nationwide. The American Legion Auxiliary’s mission to serve veterans, their families and their communities is carried out through its hundreds of outreach programs delivered by its members, volunteers and National Headquarters.

National President's theme: "The Power of One"