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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