Newsletter From VFW Post 369 Auxiliary President
Publisher
Mary A. Reeser Issue Number 4
Click here
for ------> Notes from Commander Russ Marsden
Happy
Spring
What is Spring? The season
when plants begin to vegetate and grow; to shoot up, out,
or forth; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from
its seed, a time for new ideas, of rebirth, renewal and re-growth.
Perhaps this is why we, the Ladies Auxiliary, elect our new
officers every year in the month of April. Sunday May 30
th at 1:00 pm will be Installation Of Newly Elected Officers
for the upcoming year of 2010 - 2011 who are as follows:
President:
Mary Reeser
Sr.
Vice President: Lonnie Dimon
Jr.
Vice President: Connie Gonseth
Treasurer:
Valerie Crouse
Chaplin:
Dawn Rock
Conductress:
Jessica Ortiz
Guard:
Judy Greenway
3
Year Trustee: Marianne Moser
2
Year Trustee: Lonnie Dimon
1
Year Trustee: Kim Rasbeck
APPOINTED
Secretary:
Janice Gregory
Patriotic
Instructor: Suzie Becker
Historian:
Sue Romanowski
Asst.
Conductress: Jessica Parker
Asst.
Guard: Sandy Moore
Asst.
Secretary: Lonnie Dimon
PROGRAM CHAIRMEN
Americanism:
Linda Chamberlain. & Suzie
Becker
Cancer
Aid & Research:
Lonnie Dimon
/ Jessica Ortiz
Community
Service: Janice Gregory
Extension & Membership: Valerie
Crouse
Hospital & VAVS
Program: Tiffany R.
Legislature & PAC:
Judy Greenway
Presidents
Special Project: Nancie H.
Veterans
and Family Support: Mary Reeser
and Dawn Rock
Voice
of Democracy & Patriot’s
Pen: Ashley
Henderson
Ways & Means:
Marianne Moser
Youth
Activity: Sally Warren
This Years Accomplishments
Here is a little re-cap of the several wonderful things this
year that has been happening at our organization and for our
veterans and their families, schools and community.
Membership: From July
1, 2009 to present our Auxiliary membership continues to
thrive with 18 new members and 3 transfers. With each new
member comes welcome new fresh ideas as well as many new
hands to help us with our never-ending projects.
Just a reminder
that our year runs from July 1 st 2010 to June 30 th
2011 and dues of $16 are due July1 st 2010 payable to VFW Post
369 Ladies Auxiliary.
Adopt A Unit: Dawn Rock
newly elected Chaplain and chairman of this project is in
the process of adopting a new unit. Our original unit of
100 Army soldiers serving in Iraq is due to be shipped home
in May. We were able to ship over three shipments of personal
care products, junk foods, books and games. Joe Jordal, son
of Sandy Coe and part of this troop got to come home on leave
in February and met his 7 month old son for the first time.
A small gathering of family, friends and members met at the
post to welcome him home. We hope to have a new unit by June
so that we can make our first shipment a fun care package
of games, puzzles, outdoor fun, etc. anything to occupy a soldiers
time. Donations are welcome.
Schools: We were able
to get the 3 Elementary Schools and the Middle of the Mexico
School District involved in our Adopt-A-Unit by having them
make cards and letters of appreciation to send with our shipments.
The response from the schools was outstanding and our soldiers
enjoyed hearing from our youth, the future of America.
Our auxiliary will be
presenting Americanism Awards to a boy and a girl in the
7 th and 8 th grades of the Mexico Middle School again this
year who excel in Academics, Democratic Principals, Positive
Attitude Toward School & Country
and Community.
Community: The collection
box in the canteen for the local food pantry was filled several
times throughout the year and delivered to the Presbyterian
Church by Veteran Dick Niles. Thank you Dick and to everyone
for their donations This is an ongoing project so donations
are still being accepted.
Cancer: Our Piggy Bank
in the canteen raised $86. For the Coins For Cancer Project.
Thanks to all who donated.
Cell Phones For Soldiers:
Sister Lonnie Dimon has sent out four shipments of used cell
phones and accessories from the collection box located in
our canteen. Please continue to drop off these items as the
proceeds purchase calls to home for our overseas soldiers.
Syracuse
VA Hospital: All year we have had a collection box in the
canteen for personal care products for our hospitalized veterans.
We have delivered six times this year to the hospital. Also
we have collected and delivered 40 homemade lap robes donated
by Sandy Coe and LaVerne Woodward. The veteran’s especially
love these.
Books are also a great item to donate.
National
Children’s
Home: Sister
Nancie Hildreth made homemade Patriotic Key Chains and raised
$250 that we donated to the National Children’s Home. We
also bought a Life Membership to the home for member Sue Reschke
who’s mane was pulled form a hat drawing.
Veteran and Family Support:
We have hosted several Funeral Receptions for
members of our post and community in need of a place to hold
a reception for a departed loved ones family.
We purchased 4 wreaths for the National Program
wreaths Across America to be placed on soldiers graves for Christmas.
Also we purchased 4 Christmas Trees and Ornaments for the National
Program Trees for Troops where they were sent to individual soldiers
serving overseas at Christmas.
The list
of good goes on and on…
Our Auxiliary reached 100 % on all of the Programs,
Projects and Membership. Way To Go Ladies!!
What’s
Been Going On
This year sisters, Janice Gregory, Valerie Crouse,
Connie Gonseth, Dawn Rock and myself attended the State Department
Spring Conference held at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool. Our auxiliary
received several awards and certificates for all of the hard
work and dedication that you our members have put forth. I was
so proud to hear Mexico called 100% by every State Program Chairman.
I had entered our Post in the best Veterans
Day Program contest and our post won. We received a nice Certificate
and an American Flag which we gave to the Mexico Middle School
to replace one in the schools hallway.
Before going to the conference
we collected $207 in sponsorships for Commander Russ Marsden
to participate in the “Helping
Our Heroes Hole In One Golf Classic” held during the conference.
Russell was a great sport about attending and representing our
post. We collected a few more bucks there for a total of $234.
All of the proceeds from this went to the National Military Assistant
Program. Thank You Russ, You done us proud!!!!
On Saturday April 10 th Sister Janice Gregory
and myself attended the Testimonial Dinner for District Commander,
Ron Sakonyi and District President, Debbie Mullenax at VFW Post
7325 in Constantia. A wonderful dinner of Roast Beef was enjoyed
as well as the roasting of Deb and Ron.
Oh, What A Year!!!!!
I would like to take
this opportunity to personally express a “Thank You” to
all of my fellow Officers , Program Chairmen, and Sisters
for making my year as President not only a memorable one
but also one of growth and very profitable. The participation
from you in all of our fund raisers, functions, OTI, Conferences,
etc. has been fantastic.
Because of your participation and dedication to our cause we
have been able to accomplish truly amazing things for our Veterans,
Soldiers, Community, Schools, Post and the Post Grounds.
We are experiencing what happens when everyone works together
for a great cause.
When Russ and I were
elected last year we referred to ourselves as “The Dream Team” and
vowed to make great things happen and dreams come true. With
your help our dreams did indeed became a reality, We are the
Dream Team, there is no I in team and it took each and everyone
of us to make these dreams come true and fulfill our obligations.
I was just re-elected to serve another year as Auxiliary President
and I am looking forward to another great year of us all working
together and making even greater things happen.
Oh What A Year!!!
Oh What
A Ride!!! God Bless
Messages
from Commander Russ Marsden
Russ
and the VFW Officers asked that I pass on these messages
and updates to you on some of the post events and happenings.
Enhancement
of Veterans Memorial Field
Perhaps you have noticed that there is some activity going
on at our Veterans Memorial Field now that good weather is here.
This year we are adding a Wall of Honor Roll Memorial that should
be ready in time for Memorial Day. Two new Flag Poles are coming, VFW Flag and the other for The
United States Coast Guard. Now each branch of service will be
there. Several spots left for Memorial Blocks to be placed at $50
a Block. So if you have a veteran or someone you would like to
purchase a block in memory of please pick up a form at the VFW.
Russ
has many scouts out looking to obtain a UH-1 Helicopter
or better known as the “Huey“ for
display at our site. Most widely used helicopter, arriving
in Viet Nam in 1963, used for MedEvac, command and control,
and air assault; to transport personnel and materiel; and
as gun ships. These are very hard to come by but Russ will
never give up until he has found one. Anyone who knows
Russ that with his hard work and determination it is only
a matter of time and we will have our Huey!
Memorial
Day 2010
The Ceremonies
for Memorial Day start with a Parade starting at 10 O’clock
sharp. Line up is still at the old post site on Main Street.
Anyone wishing to participate in the Parade please contact
the post to sign up. There will be sheets there as well as
in the local newspaper. Prizes are awarded. The parade stops
at the WWI Monument (located by Kinney Drugs) for a Gun Salute
and placing of a wreath then continues onto the Mexico
Cemetery for Services. Immediately following we will have
our own services at our Veterans Memorial Field and open
house for all those who participated and attended. Post furnishes
Meat Trays, Meat Balls and Rolls and asks all members
to bring dishes to pass. We really need your help
here as it gets bigger every year.
Hopefully,
if all goes well we will be having a surprise unveiling on
Memorial Day at our Veterans Memorial Field.
Work
Parties
With the ongoing work and enhancement at our Veterans Memorial
Field there is always something to be done. So any member who
is not busy and wishes to stop by and lend a hand when they see
any activity at the site please do so, many hands make less work!!! Soon we will be opening up the Pole Barn too for what looks
to be a very busy summer for the Pavilion. Much help will be
needed there also. Volunteers are also needed to put together the new huge Wooden
Playground Set that has been purchased for the enjoyment of our
children. In case
you haven’t
noticed we now have a Volley Ball Court out behind the
Pavilion as well. We are waiting on the Budweiser Supplier
to furnish us with a 30 Foot net. If anyone knows of any available fill dirt please send it our
way as we need lots before we can finish the Softball Field. Along with
this letter I am enclosing tickets for our Crazy Cash Drawing
to be held on September 11 th at 1 0’clock
and drawing to be held at 3. This is the Veterans
largest fund raiser and we are counting on all members to
purchase or sell these tickets. Tickets need to be returned
as soon as possible and no later than June 30 th so we
know where we stand. You can see by this letter all the great things that are and
have been happening at our post. The veterans have done great
by our veterans, community, schools and our post and grounds.
Always improving and making dreams come true. Russ would like
to personally thank each and every member of our community and
post for making this happen! |