The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-05-29
LIONS, BpWC HEAR
 OF SERVICE WORK
 BY vFW AUXILIARY

ice worl, of the Ladies Auxiliary to
 the Veterans of Foreign Wars was
 presented today at large luncheon
 in the Baranof Gold Room. Two na- tional officers told the story at the
 joint meeting of the Lions Club and the Business and Professional Women's Club.
 Mrs Doris Holm, National Chap lain, gave the overall picture, sup ported by statistics from her handy fact sheet" Mrs. Bessie Hanken, Past National President and Ma tional Chairman for Hospital Serv- ice, told the human interest story
 behind one of the Auxiliary's most important projects. Mrs. Hanken represents the national Auxiliary president at the Alaska VFW de- partment conclave here.
 For background, Mrs. Holm told
 that the VFW was founded 51 years ago and now has a membership ot
 one and one-half million men, and
 that the Ladies Auxiliary, 36 years
 old, has 375,00O members. whose
 ,443 groups sponsor numerous com
 munity service projects.
 These include the recent raising
 of $110,000 to replace buildings and equipment at the famous cancer re-
 search center, Jackson Memorial
 Laboratory at Bar Harbor, Maine,
 which was destroyed by fire in
 1947, and contributions of $50,000
 to hospitals specializing in cancer
 work among children
 Other large projects are in the fields of rehabilitation, American
 ism, voluntary hospital work. youth
 activities and legislation. Summing up, Mrs. Holm pointed out that the Auxiliary hes raised and contrib
 uted $2,7c0.000 besides annual ulies,
 a part of which also goes to com
 munity serv..cc.
 Empnasls is on youth activities, of which the eritome is the National
 Home at Eaton Rapids, Mich, for
 widows and orphans of war vet erans.
 Here, Mrs. Hanken took over to describe the nearest thing in the United States to home life for or
 phans." Since 1924, the home has brought up HOO children. And
 now we have 85 grandchildren"
 Mrs. Hanken exclaimed, adding,
 You see, most of the youngsters have no grandparents of their own" The home is supported entirely
 by the annual red poppy sale, one penny of each flower going to the fund. We are remembering the
 dead by helping these children" ,"
 Mrs. Hanken said.
 To mark the silver anniversary
 this year of the home, six children were sent to live in six countries and bring back six foreign children for taste of American life this sum- mer. Mrs. Hanken will meet the dozen youngsters June 3 in New York City.
 Nothing is more important than for children to grow up with an understanding of international af- fairs" she commented.
 The visitors were introduced by Mrs. John Mccormick, chairman of arrangements for the conference ot
 the Ladies Auxiliary. Among other VFW Auxiliary visitors at the joint luncheon were Mrs. Cora Henson, president of the Anchorage Auxili- ary, and Mrs. Frances Milhoan of the same group, and Mrs. Gray lilly and Mrs. Peggy Charlton of Fairbanks.
 Other guests were Misses Myrtle Winner and Alice Manchester of Oakland, Calf; Mrs. Nellie Smith of Wrangell, Miss Lynde Tales ot Juneau and Arthur Haupt, advance agent for Mitchell Cain, magician who will appear here in Lion- sponsored performance.
 Opening the meeting, Lion Presi- dent Val Poor told how the ladies bless 'em" had let the men run the show at the last joint meeting; then he turned the gavel over to Mrs. Kate Smith. new BPW Club president.
 Mrs. Smith asked to be notified if any member of the BPWC could attend the national biennial con- vention July to 5, inclusive, in San Francisco. Mrs. Bertha Ellinger already has been certified as one delegate from the Juneau club. Mrs Smith made other club announce ments, then said, Nov, so that the men can have the last word for a change, here is the gavel, MT Poor"
 President Poor called attention to an important board and committed meeting of the Lions Club, tonight at 7::30 o'clock in the Baranof Dog house and made other announce ments before adjourning the joint
 meeting. {.
 Lions will hold their annual elec- ton next Monday, and plan the installation banquet for June "A.