President's Message
 February 3, 2008
Happy New Year! I am watching the Super Bowl that has turned Phoenix into a very exciting place this week! What an upset! The weather has been chilly this winter, but not so cold as many of you have had. We are all ready for spring.
Since our last newsletter, we have attended the 3-day Snowball Express Holiday event in California. We were very honored to meet 381 surviving spouses and over 700 of their children. A big thank you to the GSW Volunteers who assisted: Pam Catron-Clarke, Beverly Lemey-Clark, Flo Herbert, Jocelyn Mintzlaff, Ruth Miller and Paulette Williams (TX); Pat Jacobs, Gloria Jones and Sandra Drew (VA); Crystal Owens and Viviane Wersel (NC); Cheryl Kelly (TN); Patsy Buccy and Melissa Dodins (GA); Leta McNair (AL) and Debra Kraus (CA). Read more about our trip elsewhere in this newsletter.
In October, several of us traveled to Viet Nam. What an honor to travel with our Gold Star Wives' members: Donna Bartholomew (CA), who lost her Marine brother, near the DMZ; Florence Ebel (NM), who lost her Army husband, in Central Highlands. Flo's daughter, Trish, and son in law, Paul Hughes, who lost his Army brother near Cambodia in the Delta, traveled with us also. Valor Tours did a wonderful job educating us about the areas we visited and getting everyone near the area their loved one had died. We all had an amazing journey.
The Stay-At-Home-Tea letter has been mailed to all members. I hope each of you were able to get with other members to enjoy your cup of tea and discuss what the organization means to you. This is the only time in the year that we ask all members for a donation. Please donate as much as you can afford for this helps keep our organization functioning and moving forward. Thank you for what each of you do for this organization.
Membership cards should be in your hands by the time this newsletter reaches you. If you have not received your card, please contact the Birmingham Office.
Unfortunately, the Magnolia Chapter in SE Region was left out of the Yellow Directory and I wish to apologize to them. Please welcome the new Suncoast Chapter that is also in the SE Region. Find their information, which is listed in this newsletter.
This is the time of year when I need to give a few gentle reminders for us all to meet our deadlines for Gold Star Wives business.
1) It is time to complete your Community Service and Veterans/Military Hospital report forms, which were in the December National Newsletter. Only a small portion of our members turns in these reports. I know many of you volunteer, donate to your favorite charities, church and veterans. Please take the time to complete the forms. If you are a Chapter member send the completed forms to your Chapter President. If you are a Member-At-Large, send your completed forms to your Region President.
2) Region Conferences are scheduled in March to Mid-April. Please make an effort to attend the one in your area. This is a good way to get more involved at the Region or National levels. Please read Kit Frazer's, National Vice President's Article on Nominating National Officers and Board of Directors. Elections of Region Officers are done at conference. Interested in running for a National Office or Board of Directors? Contact your Region or Chapter President for the nomination and candidate forms. The Region Nomination person will send completed forms to Kit Frazer.
Also, resolutions presented and supported by your Region can go forward to National, by sending to Hywatha Robinson, National Parliamentarian.
3) Region/Chapter Presidents need to send in the name, address, phone and E-mail for newly elected officials. Send this completed information to Carol Ellinger, Chapter/Region Liaison Chair. It is used to update the Gold Star Wives Directory.
4) This is our third year voting for National Officers and the Board of Directors by mail. The ballot will be included in your June National Newsletter along with the return mailing address. Everyone has a vote. This is your opportunity to vote for the leadership of this organization.
5) Memorial Day is coming up; please make plans to participate in your local, state, or national ceremonies. This is a special time to remember those in our personal life that are no longer with us, as well as all Veterans who have lost their lives protecting our country.
6) The National Convention registration forms are included in this newsletter. Make your reservations early so you won't miss the deadline. The Mountain Laurels Chapter is very excited to host us this year. Please make plans to attend for it is wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones.
I enjoy reading your Chapter and Region newsletters/minutes. All of you are doing a fantastic job of reaching out in your communities. The Outreach Project is doing great. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! But don't forget to record that information for your Community Services Reports.
Kathy Upchurch, National President.
500 W. Clarendon Ave, A-8
Phoenix, AZ 85013-3402
Tel/fax: 602 246 0240
Email: ksupchur@cox.net
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