A special meeting was called by the Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary, Monday, March 14, for the purpose of a national endorsement. A large group of members, Juniors and guests enjoyed a chicken supper, followed by the business meeting opened in form by President Jeanne Paustian. The flags were advanced and POW/MIA banner placed by Juniors Justina Eggers, Jordan Sherman and Stella Betts. Prayer was offered by Chaplain Joyce Swangel. The Pledge to our flag was lead by Alaney Sienknecht and the Star Spangled Banner by Kayla and Sydney Vavrock with Rev Barb Muhs at the piano. President Jeanne then introduced her daughter, Nicole Clapp, for her endorsement to the office of National President of the American Legion Auxilikary for the year 2019-2020, (our Centennial Year). Nikki became a member of the Gladbrook Unit #127 as a 4 year old Junior in 1975 when she became fascinated with the poppy when asked to help distribute this “little red flower’. Needing just one more member to make goal, her mother was asked to join her up by Hilda Clausen. She was eligible under her grandfather, Roger Schroeder, who served in the US Navy in the South Pacific during WWII, and her first Junior leaders were Pat Oettchen and Edith Whannel. This began her Auxiliary journey of service. She was an active Junior member, being elected to offices on the Unit, Third District and Department level. At the Chicago national convention she was asked to give the Iowa Junior report as an eleven year old, and in 1987, at age 18 she traveled to San Antonio TX as the Iowa Junior delegate and was elected the first Honorary National Junior President from the Dept of Iowa. She attended Girls State. attended Valley Forge’s Freedom Foundation, participated in the Legion oratorical contest and proudly represented all Junior members across the nation that year. She was also selected to serve as a Page in the Iowa Senate as a senior in high school. During her college years at Iowa City and as a Hawkeye, she served on the Girls State selection committee for Gladbrook, on the State Junior Camp board and many years on the girls State Board as education director. In 2009, Nicole was appointed as the first non-Past National President to the National American Legion Auxiliary Finance Committee, becoming chairman and then appointed for a second five year term, also as chairman. She has also served on several other National Committees as well as the National Planning Committee for the Auxiliary’s 100th anniversary in 2020. Nikki graduated from the University of Iowa in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, onto a Masters Nursing Administration degree in 1996. She relocated to Lancaster Wisconsin for her career in healthcare, but she remained a member of our little Unit #127 here in Gladbrook the past 41 years. She now serves as the President and CEO of Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster since 2006. She has earned and received many awards and recognitions for her work. She is an active Lions member in Lancaster, works with the Girl Scout Council, the local Chamber of Commerce, PEO Chapter and a Homeless organization. She is an avid Hawkeye fan, win or lose! We all shared the pride as President Jeanne endorsed her daughter to the high office of National President of the ALA. Her motion to endorse was immediately seconded and enthusiastically carried by the membership. After thanking the group, Nikki showed a video of the history of the National ALA organization and the changes since 1919 as new programs were added and we especially noted the change in fashion. The attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon in 2001 brought an awareness to the vulnerability of our country and the needs of military and how the Auxiliary members could help offering ‘Service, Not Self’. She then told her responsibilities for the next four years. She has chosen Dave and Ann Rehbein, chairs and John Derner Dept Legion Adjutant and Marlene Valentine, Dept Aux Executive Director, co-chairs as her Campaign Committee as funds will need to be raised. Nikki’s first national office will be as Children and Youth Chairman, 2016-17, Veteran’s Affairs and Rehab, 2017-18; Vice-president with installation at the Minneapolis Convention 2018-19 and then to National President at the Indianapolis Convention, 2019-20. Her year as president will take on many travels as to Europe for D-Day celebrations, DMZ in Korea, and to conventions and meetings with our legislators on Veterans concerns. A ‘Homecoming’ will be planned in the fall of 2019 and as a small town Iowa girl, she is planning on events in Gladbrook and Tama County, with visits to the MatchStix Museum, a harvesting demonstration and a hayride with an outdoor picnic. How about Iowa chops, Gladbrook mustard and lots of sweet corn on the cob! A motion was made by Karen Pieper to start her campaign fund with a $1000 donation from the Gladbrook Unit, seconded by Jolene Denbow and carried. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned in form with retirement of the colors, POW/MIA banner and singing ‘God Bless America’ and ‘America”.