The Gladbrook Legion Auxiliary met on Sept. 13 as President Jeanne Paustian held her annual Program Planning Session with officers, committee chairman and members present to get the 2021-22 year started. Dues were collected and a light meal was served. The meeting was opened in form with Katie Bauer and Marilyn Carstensen posting the flags with Sue Koster at the piano. Chaplain Joyce Swangel offered prayer with members repeating the Preamble.

Minutes were read and approved and a treasurer’s report was read with proceeds from the carnival food stand discussed. The Legion/Auxiliary parade float received second place in the organization category.

Jeanne and Darrell attended the National Convention in Phoenix where she attended several committee meetings. Gladbrook received national awards for Children and Youth, Poppy Program, Americanism and National Security. PNP Nik Clapp plans to present a video at the October Education Month meeting for the Unit. Plan to attend on Oct. 11 at the Memorial Bldg.

The District Fall Conference will be held at the Radcliffe Post Home and Community Bldg on Oct. 2. Lunch will be served with no reservations needed. Due to health issues, Pat Williams has turned in her resignation and Sandy Scallon of Ackley will be installed and assume the office of district president. The department president is Doris Jackson of the Lorimor Unit in the Fifth District. She has chosen as her theme “Stepping into the Next Century While Remembering the Past’ with dog tags/poppies as her pin. Her song selections are “Dog Tags, In the Garden, Some Gave All and God Bless the USA”, with colors silver, gold and red. Her projects will be the Fisher House of Iowa City and Junior Camp.

Activities planned will be the Auxiliary serving Senior Citizens on Oct. 8 and Dec. 3 at the Festival of Trees in the City Center. The Commercial Club plans a Trick or Trunk evening for Halloween, and the SAL plans a fish fry on Dec 10 with the Auxiliary’s Kids Shopping Day planned for Dec. 11 at PUCC. This is a big project and volunteers, donations and boxes are needed. Call Jeanne or Becky Fish with questions.

Juniors will start their year with a family potluck with a date to be decided. They will again sponsor the Christmas Child project to fill a shoe box with small clothing or craft/school items to fill the box for a specific age/gender group. Leave items at PUCC before Nov. 6.

There are several bags of rolled carpet rags ready to deliver and materials to cut for another sewing session and the rug looms of the IVH. A possible date will be discussed at the next meeting. No date has been set for the fall ham ball dinner as yet.

The last two HVAC units were installed by Lincoln Heating and Cooling thanks to the Community Foundation of NE Iowa and the Gladbrook Foundation for the grants.

The planner booklets for the year should be ready and may be picked up at PUCC or sent with membership cards. The meeting was adjourned with retirement of the colors, prayer and all singing “God Bless America.”