WOMEN'S WRITES
NEWS LETTER OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY, U.S.M.B.

President Shirley Maynes

Thank you, Ladies, for a tremendous year! The company auxiliary elections should have been completed by now. We sincerely thank all those who have served in their respective leadership positions--WELL DONE! !--Now, we congratulate those who have consented to hold office for this new term. Presidents: Please take your calling seriously; set goals for yourself, and for your company, which YOU wish to accomplish or to see accomplished. To be of assistance, I have sent each company president a kit, containing all the necessary forms and information pertaining to your assignment in the Auxiliary, and your relationship with the staff of the Battalion. If you have questions, please call or write to me. If you need help within one of your departments, please communicate with that particular member of the national auxiliary staff responsible for that duty; she will be happy to assist you. My staff are truly dedicated to making this next year the best ever. May your holidays be happy and fulfilling!

Presidents: PLEASE SUBMIT A COMPLETE UP-TO-DATE ROSTER l!

Marsha Smith M-A-L

Tracy and I had dinner with the Bishop and his wife, and I asked him if we could pass out flyers in Relief Society about collecting histories of wives of the Battalion. His answer, "Why limit it to Relief Society? Pass it out with the Sunday program." Bishop Price is as anxious as we to start up a company here in Lincoln; both he and his wife are descendants of Battalion members. To you of the National Staff.' We really miss you, and wish we knew what was going on. Please tell everyone of our love for them and for the Ladies Auxiliary. (She enclosed a copy of the flyer. )

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF A BATTALION WOMAN

Malinda Allison, niece of Jefferson Hunt, was born 16 Oct 1815, in Bracken, KY. She married her cousin, Milton Kelley, at Albion, IL, 1836. Together, they traveled with the Battalion, but Milton never joined the Battalion, using it only as a way to get out West. She went as a laundress. In September, 1846, they were sent to Pueblo with Capt. Higgins' sick detachment. Here Milton died on a hunting trip, and Malinda gave birth to a daughter in Feb., 1847. She and her daughter were in the James Brown company that entered the Valley shortly after Brigham Young. In 1848, Malinda married Robert Corington, and they were sent to the Dixie Mission in 1857, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Malinda eventually gave birth to six more children, and died in Circleville in 1894, but was buried in Washi,gton City, Utah. Just another "pioneer woman" who lived an extraordinary life with amazing fortitude. What a legacy!

DUTIES OF OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL & COMPANY AUXILIARIES

Now that company elections are completed, this would be an appropriate time to discuss some of the responsibilities of each office. In this issue we will discuss the roles and duties of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary. (Each company staff may have additions to this list.)

President:

• Work closely with ALL staff members.
• Be responsible for the entire program and activities of your company auxiliary.
• See that each department functions properly.
• Work with the National officers (Ladies Auxiliary) and company officers of the Battalion in promoting the U. S. Mormon Battalion.
• Work on the committee to gather histories of the wives of the Battalion men, and work on the memorialization committee.
• Be available to make suggestions if called upon.

Vice-President:

• Assist the President, and work closely with her.
• Conduct meetings, as asked by the President.
• Take minutes of meetings when the secretary is not able.
• Work with the President on the memorializa~on committee, and the committee to gather histories of the wives of the Battalion..

Secretary:

• Assist the President, and work closely with her.
• Take minutes of the company Ladies Auxiliary meetings, and distribute them to company
  staff members.
• Correspond with, and keep members and members-at-large informed on programs and
  events.
• Send cards to members, as the eirc~mgtances arise--death, illness, special anniversaries,
  etc.
• Call or write to company members to let them know of special meetings, if the need arises.
• Help the president with correspondence when asked.
• Take minutes in committee meetings, if called upon to do so.

A CHRISTMAS STORY

by Minnie Black Garner, daughter of George D. Black and Mary Hunt.

Both of their fathers had gone in the Battalion, and they had been sent with their mothers to Pueblo. At the time of this story, the family was residing in Idaho. One Christmas, as the children talked of Santa Claus, the parents were sad, having only 75 cents to their name. It was decided that George would go into Rexburg to buy some candy. Despite a blizzard raging, he hitched his team to a sleigh and left. At the Teton River, his horses broke through the ice, and he had to return. Thankful that her husband was safe, but determined that the children have something, Mary and her oldest daughter, Minnie, made rag dolls--painting their hair and eyes with charcoal and tinting their cheeks with fruit juices. Needless to say, the children were happy with their presents, and all agreed that this was one of the happiest Christmases they had ever known. Every heart in that humble home was in tune.