March 30, 2015

Hello to all,

Thank you again New Rockford Unit for hosting an excellent district meeting on March 26th. Commander Don Weible gave a joint power presentation including slides of the “Weible Team,” his activities, projects up-dates, AL programs, etc. and included the ALA officers, chairmen, Girl State etc. This was enjoyed by all.

Highlights from the meeting: 1. President Arla stressed the need for unit tracking forms with hours and money spent on veterans to be reported, first to me. I will tabulate all our unit money and hours, send to Arla who has to tabulate department unit totals. Information from the final tabulation is given to the American Legion, who gives to Congress, for Veteran Affairs. Arla needs this information from me by April 10 th, so please send to me before this date, as I will be on a 4 day weekend starting the 10th. I’ll also need your complete Impact Report or an itemized listing of money & hours spent on all our many programs. Unit presidents have copies of the ND Impact Report & a copy of the ALA Tracking Form – Unit. Both need to be sent to me by April 10 th.

2. Unit presidents have received convention registration forms, credential certification forms, both due to the office by June 15th. Don’t be late. Also, the 2015-2016 Unit Officers form is included. As soon as you have your election, fill completely out and send a copy to the office and a copy to me. Do not say ‘same as last year!’ New forms must be sent each year. Include zip codes. e-mail addresses are wonderful.

3. Gracie Ulmer! Where are you? Gracie won a National Poppy Certificate for 2013- 2014. There is no contact information with the certificate that President Arla has, so if you have any information on Gracie, please contact Arla.

4. Do you have someone in your unit still listed with the wrong joining date? If so, the new data forms have a place to mark, make corrections and send to the office.

5. Are you checking with your schools for Girl State participants? If not, please start now. Would you like to be a ‘city mom’ for Girls State? Go on line for applications or contact the office.

6. At the July organizational meeting, the district presidents proposed a District Constitution change, changing registration fee for district meetings ‘not to exceed $2.50’ to ‘not to exceed $4.00.’ This change voted on at all spring district meetings. It was unanimous to accept this change, at our meeting. Will come up again at the June convention. At convention we’ll be voting on 6 resolutions. Please try to attend.

7. President Elect Marlene Boyer is trying to fill out her committees for 2015-2016. As she is from Carrington, she would like part of her leadership to be from District 4. Please consider being a chairman for one of our programs. Marlene promises you’ll have someone to mentor you to make it easier. Contact Marlene to volunteer or with questions.

8. The donation jar for President Arla’s projects was passed around and $106.55 including $20 thank-you gift from district funds, for Arla for attending our meeting, was collected. Thank you to all who gave so generously. Thirty-two unit members were in attendance. Great!!!! Items for the Ruth Maier’s Hospitality House can be brought to convention.

New Rockford presented a lovely memorial service. As fourteen names were read, a red carnation was placed in a vase, one for each of our departed members, since our spring meeting last April.

Remember your veterans for Easter. Send cards, visit and give Easter baskets.

April is Children and Youth month. Do something for the children in your community. Try to recruit junior members. Include your junior members in your activities. Don’t leave them out. They are our future senior members!

If you are sponsoring the poppy poster contest and sending any to Department for further judging, be sure your unit name, town and Department of ND is on the back of the poster as well as the student’s information.

“Sharing Time.” The Gackle unit had a very nice American Legion Birthday program and lunch, with all their Legionnaire’s acknowledged. I read the poem “My Name is Old Glory…..God Forgive…..and Bless America.” I also read this poem at Goodrich for their retirement party for Commander Merwyn Krein in recognition for his 21 years as the Goodrich Post Commander and the AL/ALA Birthday celebration. Supper was before the program. Cake and ice cream followed the program. The Jamestown Drum & Bugle Corps performed. Both were very enjoyable evenings and I thank the units for the invitation to be part of their programs.

Weather is getting better. I’m looking forward to more unit visit before the end of May.

“For God, Country and Veterans.”

Elsie District 4 President -- home: 424-3476 cell: 269-2217 [email protected]