Our Two Cents Published Monthly by the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Located at 8503 N IH 35, Austin, TX For $14.00 a year

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1 The Ladies Auxiliary V.F.W. Department of Texas Our Two Cents Published Monthly by the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Located at 8503 N IH 35, Austin, TX For $14.00 a year Volume 25, Issue 10 Dorthy Bennett Department President Let me take this opportunity to say that I am very proud of the Ladies Auxiliaries to the VFW across the State of Texas. All of you have given your best throughout this year of Patriotism Honoring Remembering. I have seen Red, White and Blue everywhere. There has been passionate work done to help our communities recognize our Veterans. Thank you for an amazing year and for the job you have done for this organization. Thank you line officers for the wonderful support you have given me this year. We have had a few hard to decisions to make and a few tears have been shed and prayer has been key to helping us along. My most heartfelt thanks to Barbara and Jo Ella for all the years of service they have given to this organization. Because of them, the Department office has been a place of shared knowledge. I pray that the Lord will Bless them as they move into a new stage of their lives. District Presidents, thank you for a job well done. We have learned many things together this year. If you are remaining a District President in use the things you have learned to make next year better. If you are leaving the office please pass your knowledge to the next District President and the Auxiliary Sisters. Department Chairman, you are the best in the Country. I look forward to National Convention where I know that we will walk away with everything. Thank you for all the hard work! Mentors, thank you for working with the Auxiliaries who needed you. For the Department May-June, 2015 this is an important position. You may well be the unsung hero but I know who you are and what you have done to help the Auxiliary and the Department of Texas. Past Department Presidents, what would I have ever done without the knowledge you had to share! I hope that I have gathered enough insight and knowledge to be help to someone, sometime when I leave office. Thanks for being there when I had a question about a problem or needed advice. As we end this year of Patriotism Begins at Home there is still just a bit of work to do. Elections and installations should now be complete. Auxiliary Secretaries, it is your job to ensure that this information has been supplied to Department. Delegate information needs to be completed and turned in along with the fees for them. Also National Delegates should have been submitted on-line or sent to Department. The January through March audits were due to Department on April 30. Any Auxiliary whose audits are in will not be able to vote on District, Department and National level. District Presidents, year-end reports should be in the hands of the Department Chairman. District elections should have been completed and the installation report sent to Department. Please ensure that telephone numbers, addresses and addresses are included for all the officers. Check with the Auxiliaries to see that all is completed on the local level. Remember if there are monies owed to Department or National you will not be allowed to vote at convention until the discrepancies are taken care of.

2 This Auxiliary year is nearly complete and my time in the office of President is nearly done. I am very thankful that I was given the chance to be the leader of this great organization. I wish all the best for the future of the organization and hope to see all the Sisters of this great state in the future. With love to all, Dorthy TEXAS WELCOMES COLETTE BISHOP, National Junior Vice-President to our State Convention. Colette Bishop of Muscatine, Iowa, was elected National Jr Vice-President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United State at its 101 st National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 23, Colette has a long history with our organization. She was born during her mother s and father s terms as District President and Commander. She is the third generation in her family to serve as Auxiliary and District President and she has always had a life that included heavy VFW and Ladies Auxiliary involvement. Colette is semi-retired and currently working as a consultant building and maintaining websites. She has also been employed in the information technology progression as an IT manager since Her background helped her assist the National organization with their search for a new computer system. Her hobbies outside the Auxiliary include rubber stamping and decorative painting. Colette s family includes her husband David, son Jason, his wife Sarah and two grandchildren. July 12, 2015 NOMINATION OF OFFICERS 2 At this time, we have two positions that need to be filled. Our current Department Treasurer Jo Ella Menn is retiring and that position is open, and the position of Department Guard. Jo Ella made the announcement at Mid-Winter that she was retiring so if anyone is interested in the position they are welcome to come to the office to observe some of the duties of the Department Treasurer and that would help you decide if you wanted the position. Be sure to read the requirements in your Bylaws and feel free to call Jo Ella and ask questions. If you are a member in Good Standing, you are eligible to run for any office. (Article VIII Officers Sec.-Eligibility Page 67) AMERICANISM /PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOR HARRIETT GEICK-CHAIRMAN Show your Patriotism. On May 1 st, we have Loyalty Day. May 17 is Armed Forces Day. Memorial Day, May 30 th, These are for all citizens in Remembering the deaths of their fellow countrymen during wartime. By Honoring them, we preserve their memory and thus their service and sacrifice. In memory of our heroic dead, a wreath is tenderly placed on the departed Veterans grave. We, the VFW Post and Auxiliary volunteers, distribute millions of bright red poppies as a reminder of the sacrifices and continuing needs of our veterans. But they also provide multiple benefits to the veterans who make the flowers. A small wage is sometimes earned and the physical and mental activity provides many therapeutic benefits as well. Donations received are used exclusively to assist and support veterans and their families. On Memorial Day the flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon in honor for the dead then raised at noon until sunset to honor the living Veterans. June 14 th is Flag Day, June 11 begins the State Convention. A time we can thank everyone for all the

3 wonderful, hard work you have done this past year, your devotion to this organization is very much appreciated. My Sisters, you never disappoint me, I have enjoyed working with each of you and I thank you very much. I also would like to thank Madame President Dorthy for asking me to be your Patriotic Instructor and Americanism chairman. It has been with great pride and total pleasure. President Dorthy has been a wonderful President and a very good friend. Love to you all! Patriotism Begins at Home Candidate for Dept. Guard LAVFW Department of Texas Ramona Hensen District 2 President Auxiliary 2775 VE TE RA NS AND FAMILY SUPPORT TRUDY KETCHERSIDE CHAIRMAN Dear Madam President Dorthy, I would like to thank you for appointing me as your Veteran and Family Support Chairman. The chairmanship has been an eye opener for me. It is with great pleasure to tell you that Texas Auxiliaries are practicing Patriotism and they are Honoring and Remembering our Veterans. I would like to thank the District President for their support. As we all know the District Presidents play a vital part and they are the mentors for the Auxiliaries. A big thanks to you. I would be amiss not to thank the Office Staff. 116 th VFW AND LADIES AUXILIARY NATIONAL CONVENTION July 18-22, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA. Reservation can be made by INTERNET at TELEPHONE: FROM 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM-M-F FAX: All reservation must be made by Friday, June 12, Reservation received after this date will be subje ct to space and rate availa bility. Add ress Candidate for Treasurer LAVFW Department of Texas Kathy Wewe Experienced Knowledgeable Endorsed by Auxiliary Change Barbara Hoffman new address is: 4490 El Dorado Pkwy #2618 Mc Kinney, TX Phone is Cell In closing I would like to say You are never too old to learn something new. THANK YOU This year I have had the chance to work with many of the Auxiliary members and Program Chairman and have enjoyed getting to know each of you. Thank you for your support and patience 3

4 with me in a new job and look forward to seeing you next year..glenna Alexander INCOMING DISTRICT PRESIDENT The form for scheduling State President s visit is below and will be sent to you when we receive your Installation report. Please try to schedule with the District Commander for your Department Commander and my visit at the same time. You may the information needed on form to jamlavfw5076@yahoo.com Send by mail to Department of Texas to the Attn: Jayne McCormick District Presidents NAME: ADDRESS CONTACT PHONE FAX (MUST HAVE) MEMBERSHIP NUMBER(MUST HAVE) DISTRICT AUXILIARY SHIRT SIZE JACKET SIZE THREE DATES FOR OFFICIAL VISIT UNAVAILABLE DATES ARE: July 16-24, 2015 November 19-22, 2015 February 9-14, 2016 September 18-21, 2015 December 5-7, October 16-18, 2015 December 18-31,

5 November 9-12, 2015 January 2016 Mid-Winter Round-up Location: Crowne Plaza, Austin, TX Phone: (512) STATEWIDE TRAINING SEMINAR JULY 10-11, 2015 Friday, July 10 th Registration Officer Training COA Meeting 12:00 6:00 PM 1:00-5:00 PM 6:00 PM Saturday, July 11 th Registration 7:00 AM NOON State Training start 8:30AM Lunch 12:00 1:00 Resume Training 1:00 NAME/NAMES FOR REGISTRATION: Dist Aux Position held in Aux/District Make Checks payable: LAVFW Dept. of Texas. Earmark checks TRAININGSEMINAR. 5

6 JULY 6, 2015 IS FINAL DEADLINE APPLICATION TO INSTALL OFFICERS 1. The Ladies Auxiliary President-elect will select the Installing Officer and send the name to the Department Secretary in sufficient time to permit issuing the necessary warrant. Auxiliary Officers shall be installed in their respective offices not more than 60 days prior to the convening of the Department Convention, but shall not assume their duties until the Department President is installed. (Section 806A). 2. The installation warrant shall be sent to the Ladies Auxiliary Secretary and it shall be read by the Secretary at the time of installation as set out in the Ritual. If, for any reason, the installation is not held on the date originally stated, the Department Secretary should be notified as soon as possible. 3. National and Department dues must be paid to the Department Treasurer on at least ten (10) members for the current calendar year. 4. The warrant is released by the Department Secretary upon receipt of this application, provided the offices of Ladies Auxiliary President and Treasurer are bonded, the Auxiliary is current in its audits, and item #3 above is adhered to. (Section 814). NO Ladies Auxiliary Is Permitted To Install Officers without the Proper Warrant PLEASE COMPLETE AND SEND DIRECTLY TO YOUR DEPARTMENT SECRETARY: Auxiliary No. District No. Auxiliary Secretary: Member ID No. Name Address Phone Installation Date: Location: Installing Officer: Highest Office Held: (At least Past Auxiliary President or one who has held a higher elective office, in accordance with Sec. 806A) Send to Department Secretary: Address: **NOTE** All Applications MUST be in the Department Headquarters Office by May 20, 2015 DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE***********FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY 6

7 Date Application received: Date Warrant sent to Auxiliary Secretary: You may or Fax: TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR STATE CONVENTION AT The Westin Galleria Hotel, Houston, Texas June 10-14, 2015 WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 2015 Noon - 4:00 PM Registration 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM President s Reception (Past Dept. Pres., Nat l. Rep., Line Officers & Dist. Presidents) 6:00 PM Dinner with National Representative (Dept. Line Officers, National Officers, Past Department Presidents) Dutch Treat THURSDAY JUNE 11, :00 AM - 5:00 PM Registration 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Council of Administration Meeting 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Joint Memorial Service 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Past State Presidents Luncheon (Dept. President, Nat l. Representative) 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Joint Opening Session 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Reception for Barb &Jo Then Floor Practice 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM President s Reception (Invitation Only) (Line Officers, Nat l Rep., Chairmen, VAVS Reps & Deputies) 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM VFW Hospitality Time 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM Dance FRIDAY JUNE 12, :00 AM - 4:00 PM Registration/Booths/Poppies 9:00 AM -12:00 Noon Auxiliary Business Meeting 12:00 Noon-1:00 PM Lunch Break 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Business Meeting Reconvenes 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Reception with Cash Bar 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM VFW Awards Banquet SATURDAY - JUNE 13, :00 AM - 9:00 AM Registration 8:00 AM -12:00 Noon Booths & Displays 9:00 AM -12:00 Noon Auxiliary Business Meeting 12:00 Noon -1:00 PM Lunch Break (If time) 1:00 PM - Adjourn Auxiliary Business Meeting 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Joint Installation of Officers SUNDAY - JUNE 14, :00 AM Breakfast w/ District Pres. / Dist. Commanders Brief C of A Meeting SAFE TRAVELS 7

8 T im e w r o p r w n f in f LADIES AUXILIARY VFW STATE-CONVENTION JUNE 10-14, 2015 WHERE: THE WESTIN GALLERIA HOTEL 5060 WEST ALABAMA HOUSTON, TX Please contact Myra Tang for reservations. Coordinator: Myra Tang Hotel Phone: Hotel Fax: Myra.Tang@westin.com 8 INCOMING TREASURER WAYS AND MEANS CALENDARS WILL BE MAILED UP RECEIPT OF YOU RE INSTALLATION REPORT. ALL AUXILIARY S PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL INFORMATION ON THE INSTALLATION REPORT IS RIGHT AND ADDRESSES, ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBER ARE CORRECT. ALL AUXILIARY S MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE VALID ADDRESS.