CASSADAGA — Cassadaga Legion Auxiliary Unit 1280 met recently with eight senior members attending and all officers present.

Guidelines were followed according to the governor’s protocol; masks were worn, social distancing was observed, and sanitizer was available.

President Lauren Sharp opened the meeting in regular fashion with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Preamble, a moment of silence for fallen soldiers, and a prayer from Chaplain Paula Pattison. Secretary Carol Baker read the previous meeting minutes; one correction was made; a motion was made and seconded to accept as corrected. Treasurer Sue DeGolier gave reports for November and December; the reports will be sent to the audit committee.

Paula Pattison, chaplain, said she has recently sent out three sympathy cards to Post 1280 families as well as get well and thinking of you cards sent to those in need.

For Children and Youth, on Saturday, Dec. 12, Unit 1280 participated in the Sinclairville “Santa in the Park” with a table to give out candy to all of the children who came to visit Santa. The post also donated candy to the Cassadaga and Sinclairville food pantries and cereal to the after-school program.

Empire Girl State will be a virtual event this year. Information will soon go out to high school juniors; the girls need to apply, and be chosen by respective units by April 14. Unit 1280 will be contacting the county chairperson to get the information to proceed.

Historian Ranee Kaus is keeping track of the unit’s activities and documenting them with pictures and articles for the history book.

Pat Hayward reported the Juniors are working on Valentine’s and Easter projects for veterans.

Unit 1280’s membership stands at 83.5%. 2021 dues are $25 and can be paid by bringing them to the post or mailing them to Cassadaga Auxiliary Unit 1280/ PO Box 497, Cassadaga, NY 14718.

Pat Hayward reported one unit member donated blood; and she, Paula Pattison and Lynn Moeller continue to cut and categorize “Troopons” that benefit military families.

Poppy chairperson Carol Baker is preparing for 2021 Poppy Days, and members voted to put poppy cans at the bar year-round to help with the program.

Unit member Taylor Morse-Boyd has set up a unit Facebook page.

For Veterans Affairs and Rehab, Unit 1280 members continue to collect items for future distribution to local VA hospitals when the COVID restrictions are lifted.

Some correspondence was read by Sharp, which included a thank you from the Scout Pack and Troop 219 for help with their veteran’s spaghetti dinner in November. There was also a letter from Auxiliary Department about the upcoming virtual mid-winter conference. She handed out packets with the information on how to “Zoom” into the discussions they are offering at the conference. Information from the event will be available for one month. Pat Hayward also read a thank you from the Cassadaga Food Pantry for the gloves and candy; and a thank you from the SPCA for the blankets and such.

¯ The Village “Winterfest” celebration is in the works for early February. Members discussed the event and decided to participate by holding a drive-through chicken and biscuit dinner on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. Other events will be held in the community, posters are going up soon to advertise all of the happenings.

There was discussion on making monthly meetings working meetings where the group also does a veteran project. Members hope to hold the auxiliary’s annual rummage sale in May; time and COVID restrictions remain to be determined.

The next auxiliary will be Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the veteran’s hall.

Unit 1280 has nice corn brooms for sale for $12 each; and Unit 1280 continues to collect stamps, “Pennies for Hospice” and “can tabs for Troop support.” “Troopons” (coupons) now need to be only manufacturer coupons that can be cut and put into categories:

¯ Unexpired, or Expired (not more than 2 months)

¯ Sub-categories: *Food items, *Non-food items, *baby food/items, *pet items; all labeled and put in separate baggies.