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!