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National Commander and me with Unit 165 (Cleveland) Little Miss Poppy

We just finished “touring” Mississippi with the National Commander of The American Legion Clarence Hill, along with State Commander Don Cabrol. What a wonderful trip…although not without its surprises! Monday morning, Nancy (Sanders, Dept. Secretary/NEC) and I woke to a blanket of fallen snow in the Tunica area…driving to Horn Lake was an adventure, to say the least. But, it was very nice to visit that Post for the first time. Then on to New Albany, which had a good crowd awaiting us, including the senior citizens who at lunch there. Equally good to see the Unit members, who showed us their new meeting room and the pocket flags that they were beginning to fold. On to Tupelo, another good crowd. Joyce Pitts and members were active in preparing food and making us feel welcome. Then, back across the state to Cleveland. Yes, another good crowd, including Rosemary and Ed Merriman. She’s doing well and looked good, too. Shirley Turner, president of the unit, Inez McCain and their active members also had a wonderful meal to serve and supported their Post’s needs.

The next day, we visited Post 213 in Vicksburg…wow, what a meal! Great turn out of Auxiliary members who did an excellent job serving the meal and extending their hospitality. This was also my first visit to that Post. Great job, ladies! On to Post 112 in Jackson. The Post hall was festively decorated, and we had a great catfish meal. The Unit gave the National Commander a monetary contribution to the Legion’s Emergency Fund, and we were afforded the opportunity to have him crown the Unit’s Miss Poppy and Little Miss Poppy. The young ladies were so beautiful. Jr. Unit 112 President Sara Jo Housely also presented a gift to the National Commander–great night to showcase some of our Juniors!

Unit 56 President Paula McGinnis presents gift to Comm. Hill

Unfortunately, I had to miss the visit to Post 24 in Hattiesburg as I had to be at my Post–Tylertown 56–that morning to help get ready for his lunch visit. I can’t report too much on Hattiesburg, but I know it was first class as usual. At our Post at noon, the Unit was out in full force to prepare a refreshing lunch of tropical salad–made by the hands of our Unit President Paula McGinnis. It was delicious, and the hospitality was grand. The hall was decorated nicely, and I’m so proud of my own Unit’s efforts. Love them!

We made our final stop at Bay St. Louis last night for a nice evening meal. President Marlene and her ladies had the hall decorated in Mardi Gras colors and presented the Commander a lovely pen holder set and one of Lou Wilkerson’s famous magnolia paintings. They also gave him (and one to take to his wife) a beautiful Mardi Gras necklace. Thanks to those ladies who helped make it a special evening for the Post. So you see, our Units are instrumental in helping the Posts with their successes. That’s how it should be, working side-by-side, in harmony, to achieve the goal at hand. We should constantly be striving for that balance.

Me and National President Rita Navarette

On Jan. 22-24, in Vicksburg, the Dept. of Mississippi held its annual Mid-Winter Conference.  And, what a great conference it was!  National President Rita Navarette was our special guest and was a wonderful person to meet.  One can tell she has the Auxiliary in her heart and believes in its mission.   We had a great turn-out of members from across the state–and I appreciate their support by attending.  A couple of highlights included our Garden Hat Parade for membership turn-in (so many creative ladies!); a inspiring speech by our Girls State Governor; a presentation by Deanna Attaway, the USO Director here in Mississippi; a wonderful report from our Honorary Junior Department President Savannah Seals; and lastly, the USO Show on Saturday Night.  Special Project Chairman Merita Guinn and the excellent cast of the show culminated a wonderful weekend in grand style, raising over $1,000 for the USO in Mississippi.  I extend many thanks to everyone in the show.

Juniors at Mid-Winter 2010

I was also honored to have received a $500 Girls State Scholarship in my name from Unit 112 in Jackson.  The scholarship will be available at the 2010 session.  This unit also gave a $500 scholarship in honor of National President Navarette and a $500 scholarship in memory of a special member of their Unit and mother of our own Dept. Secretary Nancy Sanders.  We thank this Unit for their generousity and dedication to our Girls State program.

Wow, it was a busy weekend, but such a fulfilling weekend.  Thanks to all–our officers, the Dept. Secretary, the Program Chairmen, the Committees and their chairmen–for all their hard work and dedication.  I hope those who attended left the conference with renewed enthusiasm for our work.

Me and Barney

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve made an entry to my blog.  Have been having a a great time, attending Post Christmas parties and visiting at the VA facilities in the state.  I started December by riding in the Tylertown Christmas Parade–with Barney!  I then visited Unit 76 in Liberty, Unit 139 Bay St. Louis, Natchez Unit 228, Forest Unit 9, Kosciusko Unit 44, and Corinth Unit 207.  Had wonderful holiday fellowship with these members.  I also visited a Christmas party for some of the Jackson VA Hospital residents.  Dept. Rep. Leslie Crosby had a wonderful program for these veterans, including a Rennaissance Choir from Terry High School. 

Mississippi delegation for the Biloxi VA Christmas Cheer program, along with VA personnel.

On Monday, Dec. 7, I was honored to help the Dept. VA Rep Jo Tisbury distribute Christmas Cheer to patients in that facility.  Members from the Dept. of Alabama, including their Dept. President, joined us, as tradition has it, and it was good to see them.  It was a joy to be able to speak to the patients and bring them a little cheer for the season.

I closed out 2009 by attending a New Year’s Eve party at Waveland Unit 77.  These ladies worked hard to put the night together to raise money for their programs.  Great job!

So, all in all, December 2009 was a great month.

Betty Johnson and Geraldine Cummings takes a break from wrapping gifts to take a picture with Dept. President Angela Kilcrease.

Boy, I just love Christmas Gift Shop!  I had the pleasure of representing the Department at the Biloxi VA Hospital Gift Shop on Nov. 29 and 30.  The ladies of Unit 119 Gulfport, led by VA Dep. Gratia Dresbeck, always does an excellent job in gathering gifts all year and helping the Biloxi VA Rep Jo Tisbury, Unit 1992, Gautier-Vancleave, in getting things organized and costs covered.  Members of Unit 1992 Gautier-Vancleave, Unit 160 Pascagoula, Waveland Unit 77, Moss Point 243, Lakeshore 152, and Unit 139 Bay St. Louis also contribute greatly to this program’s success.  (Hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.)  We also have units all over the state who send goods or money for postage–the most costly item of the lot!

Me and Gratia Dresbeck of Unit 119 Gulfport who works so hard each year to make Gift Shop a great success.

For the last two years, I have manned the typewriter with my buddy Shelby Byrd, typing mailing labels for the packages.  We have other members who help the veterans shop for their families (at no cost to them), wrap the presents, and box them up for mailing.  Their deligience is a tribute to many Auxiliary members that make this service available for our hospitalized veterans. 

The Biloxi VA is undergoing a major facelift and expansion…including the building we use for the project.  They do a beautiful job in decorating the stage area–putting us all in the Christmas spirit.  We thank the staff that works with us and sees to our every need.  We salute you all!

If you can volunteer to help with this project next year, please do so.  We need more hands and hearts to serve our veterans.  Thanks again to everyone who participated in the Christmas Gift Shop 2009!

2nd Vice Mary Ried presents another 100% junior award to Mrs. Pete of Unit 125 in Meridian.

What a good time I had at Lake Tiak O’Khata for the Central Area Conference on Nov. 20-22.  We had a great contigent of folks attending, including the National Vice Commander Jimmie Foster from Alaska.  Post and Unit 69 in Columbus was there to help James Edwards, Central Area Commander, to keep us fed, and the hospitality room was a fun gathering place. 

The Auxiliary meeting was succesful, I think.  Of course, the sound system bleed over from the Legion’s meeting made things a challenge, but we made it through with flying colors.  I hope everyone who attended left the conference with a sense of purpose and with a mission in their hearts!  I’ll have the few photos I have on the Dept. Web site…if you have some, please send me a CD of them.

Nancy, Lou, Jack, and I rented a cabin this year.  Boy, what a great place!  We certainly enjoyed our locale and will certainly do that again. 

Thanks go to all who made the CAC a success.

Angela Kilcrease

Unit 6 President Pearl Gurley (left) and Jimmie Cabrol of Unit 165, Cleveland

On Saturday, Nov. 14, we traveled all the way up to Corinth, Miss., for the Fall Northern Area Conference at Post 6.  Mrs. Pearl Gurley and the members of Unit 6 did an excellent job in organizing, decorating, and hosting this event.  Many thanks go to this active unit.  Just the other day, Mrs. Pearl sent me a handwritten list of the things they have done thus far in the year.  Wow, what a list!  I’m just so proud of their efforts in their community.  It’s truly inspiring.

It was good to see the ladies from the Northern Area.  And, District II is now tied with District 7 for first place in membership!  That’s wonderful!  Keep it going, ladies, and congrats to District President Martha Rodgers.  I want to see you grow and grow.

We will be traveling to Lake Tiak O’Khata in Louisville, Miss., this weekend for another great Legion family get-together for the Central Area Conference.  It’s always bee-utiful there, with the fall colors, and I’m looking forward to being with friends.  If your unit is in this area, I encourage you to attend on Saturday, at least.  We have lots of good information to give to you to help you in your unit during the year.

Oh, after the conference on Saturday, Jack and I, Lou Wilkerson, and Nancy Sanders drove to the Shiloh National Park.  What a great little side trip!  I didn’t realize how big it was and how beautiful a setting.  It certainly was a good day.

Angela Kilcrease

Groundbreaking site

I had the great pleasure and honor to attend the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, Miss. on Thursday, Nov. 5.  Dept. Secretary Nancy Sanders and her husband Larry graciously accompanied me as Jack still couldn’t travel.  We met up with Dept. Commander Don Cabrol, Dept. Membership Chairman Steve Sweet, NEC Bob Gosa, Auxiliary Alt. NEC Madeline Vuncannon and Tom, Candy Babson from the local Newton unit, and Judge Advocate Ron Roberts.  I saw Lorene and RV Martin from 112 there as well.  There was a good number of other Legionnaires and Auxiliary members there.  Just like a reunion!

Kudos to Adrian Grice, Veterans Affairs director, and his staff for a great event.  It was a perfectly gorgeous day, although the field was still a little wet.  But, it was worth seeing the ground broke for the veterans cemetery and the committment to the project by so many people.  Afterwards, we were invited to the historic Depot in downtown Newton for lunch and hobnobbed with state dignitaries.  Simply a great day!

Angela at Unit 160 Membership Tea on Nov. 1.

Dept. Secretary Nancy Sanders and I went down to Pascagoula Unit 160 on Sunday, Nov. 1, to enjoy the unit’s membership tea.  It was beautifully decorated and the food prepared was scrumptous!  The ladies really worked hard to make it an enjoyable afternoon for its members and guests.  In addition to unit members, ladies from Unit 243 in Moss Point and Unit 119 in Gulfport attended.  It was so good to see everyone.

Pat Balduf and Mary Louise Morgan

While there, the unit showed me their latest project–sending care packages to deployed troops.  I was escorted to their meeting room, an there in the corner, was a several stacks of boxes.  Pat Balduf, chairman of the project, explained what they were doing to fill those boxes.  She gave me a long list of items that they unit is collecting, such as hand sanitizer, batteries, non-perisable food items, homemade cookies, socks, blankets, neck scarves, and flea collars.  That’s right, flea collars.  These are fastened around the soldier’s ankles to keep off the sand fleas.

Anyway, Pat and her team are asking for donations from the community and even some of the surrounding units are donating to the cause.  It’s a great project and one that other units can easily do as well.  I’m so proud of their efforts!  Thanks, Unit 160!

Angela Kilcrease

The Finance Committee pours of the books for 2008-2009 on Oct. 30.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, our Department Finance Committee met in Jackson to audit last year’s books.  Chairman Janice Crosby and members Shirley Turner and Lou Wilkerson gathered in the office and started pouring over the figures.  By the end of the day, we had a successful audit. 

Working on Pocket Flags

These ladies first started their day by adding some final touches to  Pocket Flags made by the juniors at Unit 112, Jackson.  So we have our first bag to give to Camp Shelby troops! 

So what did Nancy and I do while they audited the books?  Well, we got the November newsletter out in the mail and wrung our hands over membership goal deadline, of course!   No idle hands while you are in the Dept. office.

Angela Kilcrease

McComb Boys State and Girls State Delegates with Lou Wilkerson and Angela Kilcrease

This has been a busy week, thus far, but  most enjoyable one.  On Tuesday evening, my husband Jack and I were invited to attend a dinner for Boys and Girls State delegates (2009 sessions) at McComb Post 14.  Fortunately, Lou Wilkerson, our Girls State Director, was spending the night with me so we could go to Jackson the next day for a Finance Committee meeting.

Anyway, it was a nice crowd at McComb and great to see the young people who attended Boys State and Girls State.  The Post had a delicious meal, and Lou and I met with several ladies who were not members of the Auxiliary and talked to them about revitalizing their unit.  All in all, it was a good evening.

On Wednesday, we had a sucessful audit of last year’s financial records.  Finance Chairman Janice Crosby and members Shirley Turner and Lou Wilkerson poured over the figures and found most all in order.  Of course, this year, financial transactions have been moved to a new computerized system that will make things even easier next year to audit.  Many thanks go to the Finance Committee!  While they did figures, Nancy and I got the November newsletter in envelopes and in the mail.  It’s thick–chock full of good information for our units!

Angela Kilcrease
Dept. President