It’s Almost Here!

Spring? Maybe not in your part of the country. More winter? Possibly where you are. But wherever you are, stay warm and safe – we never know when the next storm system might be right around the corner. As I sit here writing this newsletter article and looking out the window, I am watching a storm roll in. The waves are big, whitecaps are everywhere, and yes, it is cold here too, but thankfully not in single digits. The winds are whipping the palm trees around fiercely!

Speaking of fierce cold, I will soon be heading for colder weather. As I am preparing for this trip, I must reflect on the invitation I received to attend the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball in the Washington, D.C. area. This event only occurs every four years, so I am deeply grateful to MCL Commandant TJ Morgan for including the auxiliary and am truly honored to represent the auxiliary at such an auspicious event. There is something special about the MCL and MCLA attending events together, isn’t there? In fact, when was the last time you invited league members to participate in one of your activities?

While I am preparing for colder weather, I am also thinking of families, friends, and communities across the country who may not have the same comfort and safety. This includes those impacted by the wildfires in California and those still impacted by recent hurricanes. Additionally, although January is Blood Donor Awareness month, the need for blood donations is ongoing, particularly during unforeseeable disasters like fires, floods and snow events. If you donate blood regularly, thank you! For those who can donate but haven’t, perhaps you have never been invited or feel uneasy about needles or the sight of blood. Many people simply need someone to walk them through the process or offer a hand to hold. Kudos to the phlebotomists at the blood drives who try hard to offer reassurance. Has your unit considered volunteering for a blood drive or hosting one? If you do not have adequate space, you might be able to partner with an organization that does. I encourage you to reach out to your local American Red Cross or other blood donation group for more information. Remember what I said in last month’s newsletter about setting short-term achievable goals – this could certainly fit. Your department or division may also have resources to help.

With the Mid-Winter Staff Conference just around the corner, I want to remind everyone to review the agenda included in this month’s newsletter. Please note that it is subject to change and, as I was recently reminded, the agenda posted by the MCL is not necessarily our agenda, so make sure you are looking at the correct version. Additionally, please speak with your unit if you are planning to contribute items for Operation Little Angel. For more details, contact any of the OLA Committee.

Our secretary, Ramona Smith, was quite busy in December completing the transmittals sent in on time and starting the membership reports for January, all in preparation for Mid-Winter. However, a reminder to unit and department treasurers: the deadline for turning in transmittals to count for 2024 was by the 31^st of December. While we would love to accommodate transmittals submitted in January or later in those numbers, we do need to have an end date in order to finalize the reports. Please continue to submit your transmittals to ensure your units remain in compliance.

Lastly, we are still searching for a company to produce a 50-year membership pin. Our stock has been depleted and we have had difficulty finding a new supplier. If you know of any potential sources, please contact 50-Year Pin Committee Chair PNP Deborah Evans. Let’s all pray for good travel weather for the Mid-Winter Staff Conference. I look forward to seeing everyone and getting down to business.

Dotty Sanning

[email protected]