National President Jan Tittle of Rincon, a Life Member of TSgt. Walter C. Fulda Auxiliary 3433, Ladson, S.C., honored 49 Department Presidents for achieving the 90 percent membership goal at the National Mid-Year Conference of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held March 18-21 in Las Vegas.

In addition to honoring the state presidents, the purpose of the conference was to discuss the mid-year progress of the Ladies Auxiliary’s 11 community service programs such as Veterans and Family Support, the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest and the Hospital and VA Voluntary Service program.

Of particular interest to those who attended was the status of their Cancer Aid and Research program as members strive to raise $3 million for the Auxiliary’s fund. The fund supports cancer research across the country as well as helps Auxiliary members dealing with cancer.

At the conference, Tittle donated $50,000 to the Nevada Cancer Institute for its Immunology Research Program, which seeks to understand how over immune systems react to cancer.

The conference, marking the halfway point of the 2009-10 term, took place at Harrah’s Las Vegas, with more than 300 members from around the country in attendance.

Leading the organization behind the theme, “It’s Time For America’s Military Heroes,” Tittle will continue representing the Auxiliary at events until Aug. 26, marking the end of her term when she presides over the week-long national convention in Indianapolis.

The 550,000 members of the Auxiliary nationwide are wives, mothers, daughters and other female relatives of those who have served in the U.S. military overseas during a war.

As when the organization began in 1914, serving veterans continues to be its major goal. Supporting America’s active-duty military personnel by shipping care packages and sending them free long-distance telephone cards are just two of the ways the organization serves them today.

For information go to www.ladiesauxvfw.org.