The auxiliary met recently with 18 senior members attending, all officers present and one guest attending.

President Vicki Yonkers opened the meeting in regular fashion. Secretary Carol Baker read the previous meeting minutes with two corrections, changed and accepted. Treasurer Sue DeGolier gave reports for March and April, they were sent to audit. Baker read correspondence, which included thank you notes from the Cassadaga/Stockton Libraries and the family of woman for whom the auxiliary recently held a funeral luncheon.

Guest Dimon Smith, Eighth District Squadron Commander and Squadron 1280 member, spoke, thanking the auxiliary for contributions to the 16th annual “They Marched for Us, it’s our Turn to Walk for Them” Walk-a-Thon that was held in late APril. It is a statewide Son’s of the Legion and Auxiliary project that benefits homeless veterans at VA’s across the state. The 2023 Unit 1280 chairperson is Lynn Moeller.

It was a busy business meeting. Carol Baker, poppy chairperson, said there are 40 poppy cans in local businesses and passed around a sign-up sheet for “Poppy Days” distribution May 26-30.

After a two-year absence, Unit 1280 members will join Post 1280 and SAL members for the Memorial Day parade Monday, May 30, at 11 a.m. starting at Ames Common at the four corners in Cassadaga. Following the parade there will be a ceremony in the Cassadaga cemetery, and refreshments by Unit 1280 to follow in the post’s back hall.

Discussion was held on the upcoming Son’s of the Legion’s summertime Cruise-Nights that will be held May 31, June 28, July 26 and Aug. 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. Unit 1280 will be holding its pie and baked good sales during cruise nights.

Unit 1280 will be hosting the County Auxiliary meeting June 9 at 6:30 p.m. It will be a dessert meeting, and will include an annual memorial service to remember auxiliary members that have passed on over the past year, and the installation of the county 2022-2023 officers.

At this point of the Unit 1280 meeting, nominations for Unit 1280’s 2022-23 officers were taken. After some discussion, the 2022-23 slate of officers is: Ranee Kaus, president; Bev Speelburg, first vice president; Bonnie Vari, second vice president; Carol Baker, secretary; Sue DeGolier, treasurer; Paula Pattison, chaplain; and Lynn Moeller, sergeant-at-arms.

Sally Lawson, membership chairperson, noted there are still a few Unit 1280 members not paid for 2022. To keep continuous years, $25 dues need to be paid before the 2023 cards are issued. Pay by bringing dues to the post or mail them to: Cassadaga Auxiliary Unit 1280, PO Box 497, Cassadaga, NY 14718.

The next auxiliary meeting will be Tuesday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. Officers will be installed.

Unit 1280 has corn brooms for sale for $18 each and Unit 1280 continues to collect stamps, pennies for Hospice, can tabs for troop support and coupons. Coupons need to be only manufacturer coupons and be cut and put into categories for either unexpired or expired, not more than two months past their date, and then placed into sub-categories for food items, non-food items, baby food/items, pet items. Coupons then should be labeled and put in separate baggies.