Scholarship

 

 The Auxiliary is in the process of establishing a scholarship. Each year at least one $1,000.00
 scholarship will be awarded to an auxiliary member or a relative of an Auxiliary member.

 

 At this time, the details have not been finalized but be sure to check here for further details. It is 
 our hope that applications will be ready for distribution by the fall of 2009 and that funds will be
 awarded in the spring of 2010.

 

 Disaster Relief

 

 During 2008, Iowa experienced disasters in the form of flooding and tornados.  Our National
 Guard worked very hard to help all of those in need. Many of these guard members were
 assisting Iowans while their own homes were being destroyed or damaged by these events.
 

 Guard members and their families who were significantly impacted submitted requests for
 funding, resulting in assistance to seven guard families.

 

                                   

 

 Assistance to Families of Deployed

 

 Recently when the spouse of a Guard member was injured in an accident, Auxiliary members
 prepared and delivered an entire ice chest full of food to their residence.

 

                                 

  

 Youth Workshop Registration

 

 The 2009 State Youth and Teen Symposium, held in Des Moines, was a huge success. Nearly
 150 Iowa National Guard youth and teens from across the state gathered for a weekend of
 teambuilding, networking and fun. Youth and teens participated in a variety of activities
 including: tours of Wells Fargo Arena, the Iowa Hall of Pride, the 132nd Fighter Wing, and the
 Iowa Speedway, with the teens also becoming certified in first aid by the American Red Cross.

 

                           

 

 Workbooks to be used at Youth Conferences held around the state were purchased for the
 Family Support Youth Coordinator. Auxiliary members also volunteered at the registration
 desk.

 

 INGOA also sponsored a “Lunch and Learn” professional development event coordinated by
 Heartland AEA. The theme of the workshop was “Parents Working in the Military.” This event
 was open to all AEA professionals. The first session to be held in Johnston was videotaped and
 the video was then shared with the 9 satellite AEA offices.  

 

 Sponsored Couples

 

 The Drinkalls

 

 Lee and Charisse Drinkall were sponsored at the Annual Meeting in 2009. Lee has a
 Bachelor’s degree in Management and is currently employed with Wells Fargo Home
 Mortgage as a Business Systems Consultant. Charisse has a Bachelor's in Broadcast
 and another in Mass Communication. They have both been deployed numerous times,
 even delaying their wedding one year because of deployments in 2007.

 

                              

 

 The Hofers

 

 2nd LT Michael & Marta Hofer joined us as our sponsored Army National Guard couple.
 Michael is with the 113th CAV unit in Sioux City. He & Marta have 4 children.  Michael is
 in the IT dept for a management company in Omaha, and Marta is a stay home mom.
 Marta very much enjoyed meeting all the Auxiliary spouses, and is excited to be a new
 member.

 

                             

 

 Workshop for Educators

 

 Through the efforts of the Education Committee, INGOA helped sponsor 30 plus educators
 attending Supporting Military Children and their Families training held in June of this year.  This two
 day event was held in Ankeny, IA and was coordinated by the Iowa Operation: Military Kids (OMK)
 initiative.

 

                              

 

 The purpose of the training was an opportunity to help school, mental health, healthcare and other
 service professionals recognize and respond to issues and challenges facing the children of
 deployed servicemen and women.  The primary goal of the Institute is to reach out in a support
 network to the children of the National Guard, Reserve, and geographically isolated Military
 Families throughout Iowa.

 

 The Auxiliary was able to cover the rental of the room as well as provide food for the training
 sessions.

 

 Flag Preservation

 At the INGOA Auxiliary annual meeting, three ladies from the State Historical Building in Des
 Moines presented “Honor the Colors: Iowa’s Civil War Battle Flags.”  More than 230 flags are being
 conserved, one flag at a time.  Laura, Sarah and Shelia arrived in period dress and
 presented the program