Brenda Toppin, left, Department Vice President and Membership Chairman, present certificates to the following Auxiliary Unit presidents for meeting or exceeding membership goals, from left, Tryon, Kings Mountain, Cherryville and Shelby President, Shirley

SHELBY, N.C. - The American Legion Auxiliary Shelby Unit 82 hosted the Districts 12 and 13 meeting April 9, 2016.
Attending were more than 35 members of Units from Charlotte, Cherryville, Gastonia, Forest City, Kings Mountain and Tryon. Division III President Susan M. Jones led the meeting.
Department of North Carolina President Linda Laws addressed the group about the importance of recruiting new members. Reports were given by Department officers and chairs. Representatives of the Units also reported on their activities for the year, which included programs to honor and provide assistance to Veterans.
Special guests included Brenda Toppin, Department Vice President and Membership Chairman. She recognized the following Units for meeting or exceeding their membership goals: Shelby, Kings Mountain, Cherryville and Tryon.
Also attending the meeting were Auxiliary officers from across the state. More than $85 was collected for the President's Project from those in attendance.
Unit 82 members provided a light breakfast and lunch for the guests. Each guest also received a door prize.
More information about Unit 82 is available on Facebook at American Legion Auxiliary Unit 82, Shelby, N.C. The page includes notices of meetings, special events and information about membership eligibility.
American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for nearly a century to meeting the needs of our nation's veterans, military and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of nearly $2 billion. As part of the world's largest women's patriotic service organization, Auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. To learn more about the Auxiliary's mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.
Submitted by Jackie Bridges