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Greetings to all! I hope you had a wonderful peaceful Thanksgiving!
It seems ages ago since we were camping, but our travels must continue, and we have again had many wonderful trips to meet the members and thoroughly enjoy their company! Kindness and friendship are truly plentiful in Emblem.
Our visit with the Maine State Association from Bangor to Portland was wonderful and the members are working so hard to raise money. The State meeting highlighted their drill tream, a wonderful luncheon and basket raffle and of course the presentation of the club Flags at the opening of the State Meeting! Wonderful!
The Arkansas clubs are amazing and have some great programs promoting their charities. The town of Mena and city of Hot Springs were a true history lesson, with diamond mines, rich rocks and minerals, springs at 140 degrees and a history rich with gangsters and bath houses. The
Wilhelmina State Park visit with the Mena ladies, State President Brandee and Supreme Vice President Nancy Harris being great tour guides, and the Christmas lights at Garvan Gardens at the University of Arkansas were amazing and really put us in the Christmas spirit, even though the temperature was 68 degrees.
The Massachusetts Reception was something I will remember my entire life and the treatment Jo-Anne and I received really let us know we were home. Installing the officers of Mansfield in the home of our State President Julia was an honor and the Anniversary celebration of the Cambridge Emblem Club #108 65th year was a milestone for Emblem clubs everywhere. The only sad note is the loss of our beloved Julia Devaney, State Past President and Past Supreme Marshal. She was elegant, she was fun, she was learned in the ways of Emblem and she will be sadly missed by the Cambridge members, our State Association, and members around the country who knew her and were touched by her kindness and friendship. Se was my mentor for State President and urged me to become Supreme President and I am blessed that she was with us in San Francisco when I was elected to the office of Supreme 4th Vice President. How lucky for me to have her in my life.
We leave for California, Nevada, and Arizona soon and are so excited to be with our West Coast friends. The happiest of holidays to you all and a blessed and safe New Year. See you soon!
With hearfelt love,
Donna
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