Friday, March 29, 2024
Jo Lynn Altvatter

Vienna member elected to VFW Ladies Auxiliary National position

Jo Lynn Altvatter
Jo Lynn Altvatter

JoLynn Altvatter of Vienna, Ill., a member of Beggs-Gurley Auxiliary #5222, attended the 102nd National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. held July 18-22 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The convention marks the beginning of her two-year term on the National Council of Administration, which governs the Auxiliary between national conventions.

A highlight of the convention was the announcement of the Outstanding Department Presidents in the 11 Membership Groups at the National President’s Dinner on Monday. Many guests visited the delegation on Tuesday, and Resolutions to the Bylaws were reviewed and voted on.

Other highlights included the opportunity for members to view the eight winning Young American Creative Patriotic Art entries and the “Buddy”®  Poppy displays, in addition to attending several joint events with the VFW, such as the Joint Opening Session and the Patriotic Celebration on Tuesday evening.

During the convention, National President Ann Panteleakos commended the 2,000 attendees for all their hard work in honoring veterans and supporting deployed military personnel and their families. Members have spent millions of dollars and volunteer hours helping the heroes of our country.

The National President also thanked members for volunteering nearly one million hours in the nation’s hospitals, raising $1.6 million for the organization’s Cancer Aid & Research Fund, and donating $300,000 to VFW National Military Services, which includes Operation UplinkTM to provide long-distance calling opportunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized veterans.

President Panteleakos has also given funds to three major cancer research centers, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as to the Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project, Camp Trotter and many other worthy causes.

The election and installation of new National President Francisca Guilford, a Life Member of Gen. John R. Noyes Auxiliary #9978 in Anchorage, Alaska, and the other 2015-2016 National Officers on Wednesday, July 22, concluded the convention and brought Panteleakos’ term to an end.

Learn more at www.ladiesauxvfw.org