The Freemond Madson Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary met at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at the American Legion hall with President Eunice Hatleli presiding. The group is now using the ritual short form, without floor work, for all meetings so they are usually over within an hour.

The group had its annual free membership luncheon Sept. 14 but found several have not renewed their membership dues. Please send $15 to treasurer Lynda Vermedahl, Box 368, Twin Lakes, MN 56089.

The group is trying to be at 100 percent by Dec. 31 because it could lose its national cancer grant eligibility if delinquent.

With no extra cost to members, the grant can be up to $500. It is a benefit of being an auxiliary member, but mostly the group works to help veterans, service people, their families and the community.

Several members attended the Oct. 6 First District meeting at Spring Valley Post and Auxiliary 4114. Special emphasis was on the Voice of Democracy, Patriotic Pen and Patriotic Art youth programs. The chairwoman, Marilyn Danielsen, has the rules and information and the group urges any students in Freeborn County school or home schooled to contact her for that material at 373-0518.

Deadlines for the Voice of Democracy scholarship program is Nov. 1. The Title is “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?” and for Patriotic Pen the title is “What I would Tell America’s Founding Father’s.” These are awards for participating through local, district, state and national programs as one wins progressively.

The draping of the charter ceremony was held for auxiliary sisters Pearl Amundson and Rebecca Stephenson. Bless be their memory.

Eunice Hatleli served lunch, and Ruby Fredrickson received the door prize.

The next meeting will be at the Albert Lea American Legion at 7 p.m. Nov. 2.