Sisters and Brothers,

 I would like to thank our President, Scott West, for the honor of letting me be your Chief of Staff for our department this year. This will be a busy year filled with fun and camaraderie as we help our Veterans, their families, and communities.

I started with the Auxiliary in California VFW Post 97 as a Junior Girl at the age of 15. When the VFW in Palm Springs closed, I moved to Las Vegas, and I became a life member of Post 10047. 

I have held many positions, from guard to President of the auxiliary, District President 5 times, and District President of the year two times.  I was Department President and made Circle of Excellence. Was National District 17th council member.

I think losing my girlfriend, Karen, as she went to Desert Storm and didn't come home.  I knew that my heart really needed to give back something in Karen’s and my dad’s name, as he was a POW/MIA in Korea, and I needed to do something in remembrance of them both. So, I've started a food program and taken on a big project every year with my VFW in feeding active-duty veterans at Nellis Air Base in N Las Vegas. At Thanksgiving and Christmas time, we hold the food bank in my garage and feed over 35 families a month. 

 With all officers and chairs, Scott is planning several schools of instruction to increase all our knowledge of this wonderful organization and celebrate all we do.  Along the way, I hope we can build strong relationships that will carry us long into the future, thus supporting the National President, Donna Mills.

 I look forward to working with all the Auxiliaries, Districts, and Department officers. Let’s be kind to one another and work together, with our VFW Department and Posts, to meet the Objects and Purposes of our organization. I see all of us working together and advocating for our veterans, our active-duty military, their families, their caregivers, and our communities.