Dear Sisters & Comrades,

Just returned from the Department Convention. I think every one who attended had a great time. At the Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 12, your Auxiliary received their Banner for the 2007/2008 membership year. In addition, we also received a Certification and a check in the amount of $25.00 for the National Home Award for the most Campbell Soup labels sent to the National Home for Children. I would like to say “Thank You” to Past Department President Elizabeth Rich for all of her hard work in helping our Auxiliary win this award.

The incoming Department President, Mary Profitt, appointed Ann Hill as a Color Bearer. Congratulations, Ann!

Also a Big Congratulations to Mary Massarella for receiving her 2,000-hour VA Hospital pin. Great job, Mary!

For the news letter this year, I will be including in my article Membership information. For Annual Members, your current 2008 membership expires on December 31. Again this year, for the Membership Banner requirement, we must be 100% in membership by December 31 which means the Department Treasurer must have all submissions by December 23 in order to process and submit them to the National Headquarters.

So if you would like to avoid the rush and at the same time help your Auxiliary, please pay your 2009 Dues as soon as possible. We will have the new membership cards at the July 4 Cookout. This year, the National Headquarters will be sending renewal reminders. I do not have a date when that mailing will happen. Our own renewal letters will be mailed later in the month of July.

As of June 30, 2008, we have 138 Life Members and 169 Annual Members for a total of 307. For the 2007/2008 membership year, we had 22 new members join. We are al ready off to a great start for this membership year with three new members: one Annual Member and two Life Members. If you are an annual member, please consider converting to a life member. The Life Mem ber ship fees are shown be low:

Annual Dues for a new member are $21.00 for the first year, and subsequent year Dues are $16.00.

Mark your Calendar:

4 July: Flag Retirement 5:00 p.m. - Cookout 5:30-7:00

8 July: Ladies Auxiliary Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

12 July: Hospital Visit - NEW TIME - Meet at Post 9:30, Visit at 10:00

19 July: Ocean View Crab Fest - Volunteers needed - Noon to 7:00 p.m.

As always, if you know of a Sister who is in need, ill, has lost a loved one, or has passed away, please let the Auxiliary Chaplain, Nancy Elenbeck, know.

Loyally,

... Carol Vangi