Mexico VFW Ladies Auxiliary Shines at State Convention
By Kelly M. Freihofer, Writer of local paper the Mexico Independent Mirror
When the members of the Mexico VFW Post #369 Ladies Auxiliary attended the 86th New York State VFW and Auxiliary Annual Convention at the end of June, at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, they did not realize how many awards were in store for them. Auxiliary President for the past two years, Mary Reeser, was given the highest award in the state; New York State President of the Year. Auxiliary Secretary Janice Gregory was given the National Award for Community Service. And there were many more.
The Mexico VFW Ladies Auxiliary boasts a membership of 178. Mary Reeser has been the president of the organization for the past two years, with her term ending June 30. At the last meeting before her term was complete, she watched seven new members join. She also attended the annual state convention to watch her auxiliary win award after award.
All of the awards presented at the convention are based on the auxiliary’s accomplishments throughout the year. The accomplishments are the result of the projects done by the local auxiliaries (there are over a dozen in Oswego County), to fulfill the program initiatives formulated at the national level. The NYS President of the Year Award that was presented to Reeser was also based on attendance at officer’s training sessions at SUNY Binghamton, four county meetings, four district meetings, two annual conferences, and the annual convention. Reeser clearly did an outstanding job leading the Mexico auxiliary members in projects and attending the related meetings – a job worthy of the highest recognition in the state.
Reeser also received the Fifth District President of the Year Award. There are eight districts in the state of New York and Mexico falls in the fifth. Again Reeser’s leadership stood out. “I could not have gotten these awards without all of our members behind me and especially the program chairmen. The worked really hard,” explains Reeser.
In addition, Reeser received a special award; the New York State Award for Veteran and Family Support – a Presidential Certificate that only one person receives in the state. This award was presented by the National Veteran and Family Support Director Bernadette Botbyl. “That was thrilling,” says Mary. She also received First Place Veteran and Family Support for the district at the state level.
Mexico’s Ladies Auxiliary Secretary Janice Gregory received the National Community Service Award for her leadership as chairman of the Community Program. Under the auxiliary guidelines this program covers, “Anything pertaining to our community in ways of donations to the needy, schools, food pantries, churches, the Lion’s Club, Operation Reindeer etc.”
Gregory also received the First Place Community Service Award, on the state level, for the Fifth District. These awards are testimony to the level of involvement that the Mexico Ladies Auxiliary has in the local community.
The awards did not stop with Reeser and Gregory. The program state awards that the auxiliary received were as follows: Third Place Legislative Program, Chairman Judy Greenway; Second Place Americanism Program, Chairmen Linda Chamberlain and Suzie Becker; First Place Cancer Aid and Research, Chairmen Yolonda Dimon and Jessica Ortiz; and First Place Hospital and VAVS, Chairman Tiffany Reeser.
The National Recognition Awards that the auxiliary received, beyond the aforementioned, included: VFW National Military Services for Operation Uplink, Unmet Needs & Map, Donations to National Military Services, Health and Happiness Award (for exceeding the quota for the VFW National Home for Children), and the 100 Percent Membership Award.
Working within the 11 designated program areas, the members of the Mexico VFW Ladies Auxiliary have taken the organization to new heights – heights that were recognized at both the state and national levels. The ladies work diligently to meet the needs of the men and women who are currently serving, the veterans, their families, the community and the area youth. They work hard and it shows.
“It all goes to prove that when everyone works together for a great cause, anything can and will happen,” writes Reeser in her year-end letter to the members of the auxiliary. Reeser is currently serving as the auxiliary chaplain for the 2011-2012 year.