Sisters & Brothers,

 

Welcome to 2020-2021 program year for the VFW Auxiliary!  What an exciting time we are in right now with getting to figure out a new norm.  Let's ROCK and ROLL and Party for our Veterans! 

PROGRAMS:
If your Auxiliary is not doing the programs...your Auxiliary is not at its full potential. 
We have an amazing group of program Ambassadors this year that will be bringing you a lot of information and fun activities that your Auxiliary can easily do.
Keep an eye out on the Department FB page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/VFWAMS) for your Ambassadors FB live sessions. Also each program chair has a reporting tool that you can easily see if your Auxiliary program ambassadors have turned in reports just head over to http://www.vfwauxms.org/programs/ ----this is a work in progress and should be complete by July 13th. (Your Ambassadors will be having training on the 12th)

EXCITING NEWS:
This year Mississippi Auxiliary Presidents have an opportunity for their Auxiliaries to be members of the Mississippi Circle of Excellence. More information will be explained at the August 1st School of Instruction (SOI) in Vicksburg at the Motel 6.  N Frontage Rd, Vicksburg, MS 39180 (601) 638-5811 (tell them you are with the VFW).  All Auxiliary members are invited to come out to the SOI and C of A (Council of Administration-Sunday morning) weekend. Come Friday night and stay the weekend with us or just come over for Saturdays events - either way we would love to have you join us for an information packed weekend.

side note for information for when you come to the SOI-
We will be having breakfast sandwiches available for a $3.00 (donation to the Fisher House) Saturday and Sunday morning. The hospitality room has drinks of all kinds and munchies available through out Friday and Saturday night. The VFW hospitality chair Jim and his wife Linda serve lunch on Saturday during all of the C of A weekends. -feel free to bring a special dish to donate or donate what you drink to the cooler - we have a blast just hanging out under the tree while we are not in meetings - woo lawd if that tree could talk.... and Truelove karaoke will be working up a sweat for us to have fun singing and dancing. YOU HAVE TO COME HERE OUR STATE COMMANDER SING!!


TRAINING:
Every SOI (the Saturday of C of A in Vicksburg)
    August 1
    October 17
    March 12
There will be program and Building on the Foundation Auxiliary training at 9:00 am running through out the day--til pretty much when we decide to break for the day. (of course we will brake at noon for lunch)

National has included, for the Department to be in the Circle of Excellence, a requirement of 4 specific training's.  

These training will be done Saturday afternoon August 1st after your Program Ambassadors instruct you on their programs. 

January 22-24, 2021
At Mid-Winter Friday night will be a 1920's themed Mardi Gras party (complete with floats!!), Saturday morning we will have breakfast sandwiches for $3.00 donation to Fisher House, in the hospitality room. Saturday the program directors will tell you a little more about the programs, Lunch in the Hospitality room then Saturday night is the Voice of Democracy (VOD) banquet, where we are honored by the State VOD winner read their essay. After the banquet we will have the 2nd Annual Bowling for the VFW National Home for Children. VFW Commander TC has secured the bowling alley for us this year. Right now we have room for 30 teams (you can sign up online $30 registration fee https://www.vfwms.net/store/vfw-ms-store-donations.html)

Register for the Mid-Winter Convention https://www.vfwms.net/store/registration.html

State Convention (June 2-5, 2021) your Auxiliary will be receiving all the awards y'all have earned this program year.  Tupelo meetings are in the BanCorp South convention center 375 East Main Street, Tupelo MS 38804. Hotel information: 363 E Main St, Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 718-5500 - more information on the State Convention events will come in a future newsletter.

Can't wait to see all of you!!! 

May the odds ever be in your favor and always remember
I have your 6!

Aletta Butler
Your 2020-2021 Department President
228-334-2782
President@vfwauxms.org

The meaning of your President's pin:
Our pin this year complements the VFW State Commanders pin in that worn together we make a circle. Commander TC Rollins theme of Rise to the Challenge is answered by Auxiliary members holding up the VFW Auxiliary which is holding up the VFW and stating "We have your 6".
The tear drop is to bring awareness to Veterans suicide and how each of us are battle buddies against the demons some of our Veterans fight everyday.
If you look closely you will find a mocking-jay. In the background, but ever present, the mocking-jay symbolizes a world beyond an individuals control, a challenge to authority and in the end a community coming together to rise to the challenge to over come "we have always done it that way"
 "We have your 6" means - my definition: I have your 6 is a term of endearment that Veterans live by. Never leave a man behind and I have your back. Appropriately the motto for this year, in my opinion, as we strive to Rise to the Challenge to assist our VFWs we not only have our Veterans 6 but each others!
The elephant reminds us all of the need to remember, learn and pass down what we have to the next generation. This elephant is a memorial to our 2017-2018 Past Department Conductress Fran Gay-she was an Auxiliary member, an advocate for our Veterans through legislation, a mentor, a guiding light, a mother figure and a true Sister. She will always be a part of my world and now I share her with each of you.