April/May 2026 Newsletter

Happy Easter Season!

As we are continuing the Spring District meetings a lot of new information has been shared.  We continue evolving as an organization.  One of the changes is with our membership applications.  It is now up to the Auxiliary to verify the member’s eligibility by reviewing documentation such as the DD214, then promptly returning the document to the individual, no copies are to be made.  This became effective February 4, 2026.

Please review your Constitution and Bylaws for your District and Units, don’t forget to make a copy for the bank, and turn them into Karen Susag, Dept. Constitution & Bylaws chairperson.

Hopefully, you have ordered your Poppies; get the orders in soon to the Dept. Secretary.

My year has been going pretty fast.  Soon the Impact Reports will be due, and the program reports will be due to the chairpeople by May 1-15^th, check the dates.  Send the Impact Report to Trisha McKinney, Community Service chairman at ala.triciamc@yahoo.com.  This report is compiled into a main report and submitted to the National Chairman her report is given to the National President to send to the Congress which helps us with funding our programs.

Girls State is coming together; there are many dedicated people working for its success.  We need more delegates to apply.  It is a great program for our girls to learn about government.  An Auxiliary Unit is working on a great trip for a raffle; all proceeds will go to the program.  We hope to have everything finalized soon and are counting on all of you to sell tickets.  This will be a fast and furious raffle and drawing will be held at the Convention.

Our Convention will be held in Helena on June 25^th-28^th, at the Best Western Capital, formerly Jorgenson’s.  The Auxiliary, Junior Activities and The Legion Commander are working on a project together at Convention.  Commander KimKay has a project for female veterans, Fill the Purse, this aligns with our outreach to female veterans.  We have makeup bags donated. Our Juniors Activities chairman is hoping for several juniors to help the Auxiliary fill the bags and purses.  We are counting on the Auxiliary to bring purses, you can find them in your closet or the thrift stores, and items to fill the purses and makeup bags.  The Commander, who is also an Auxiliary member, has been taking the purses to the women at the Grace Haven and VA Centers around the state.  I have been online and typed in “bulk toiletry items” and have found some good deals. Our members have never let our mission of helping our veterans down.  We will be filling the purses and makeup bags on Saturday after lunch.  I love a worthwhile project!

For God and Country,

Montana Treasures-Copper, Silver, Gold and Veterans

Leona Somerfeld, Dept. of MT President