Official Guide to Winsted, MN 2020 | Page 13

Each year, the auxiliary sponsors a junior girl from the Winsted area to attend Girls State, a week-long event that teaches leadership skills and the importance of political values. The auxiliary hosts several fundraisers throughout the year. These funds support veterans at the local VA hospitals and veterans homes, and our military men and women overseas. Our annual new clothing drive supports hospitalized and homeless veterans. Additionally, we suppor t our local educators and promote Americanism with our youth. In May, members are busy handing out memorial poppy flowers for donations. All donations are used to directly support veterans. The president of the American Legion Auxiliary is Ginny Schuelke. If you would like more information about the organization, contact Ginny at 320-543-3877 or Karla Otterness at 320-420-8159 (membership chair). New membership rules now allow spouses of female veterans to become members. Meetings are at the Legion the first Wednesday of each month at 7:10 p.m., with the exception of January, when there is no meeting. Please remember that without our service men and women protecting our country, we would not be enjoying the lifestyle that we have today. HLWW FFA Alumni The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Alumni was started in 1980, to help support the local FFA chapter and the agriculture department at HLWW High School. The group, currently numbering about 65 members, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. in the high school ag room. The group’s annual events include an annual auction in August, monthly meetings the third Wednesday of the month, and a picnic in July. The group has funded a variety of projects for the agricultural education department. FFA members benefit from their mentorship and from scholarships sponsored by the FFA Alumni. Membership dues are $20 per year, $100 for Minnesota lifetime membership, or $150 for a national lifetime membership. Potential members must have a willingness to support high school agriculture. To join, contact the officers, advisors Jim Weninger or Seena Glessing, or the high school ag department at (320) 543-4614. HLWW Laker Pride Laker Pride serves as the promotional arm of the HLWW School District. During the 2018-19 school year, Laker Pride served refreshments during August open houses, and after the Community Concert program. Laker Pride contributes pictures and articles for the Herald Journal newspaper and the district website. We have also had entries in the summer parades. We welcome you to join us on Facebook at “HLWW Laker Pride,” where you can view news, photos, and videos from district activities. If you don’t have a Facebook account, don’t worry. The HLWW Laker Pride Facebook page is open to the public for viewing. If you do have a Facebook account, we welcome any photos you would like to share with us. We also welcome your pictures, videos, and comments. Please feel free to post to “Laker Pride” as much as you like! We encourage you to contact us with any comments or suggestions you may have. We can be reached at adamlakerpride@hlww.k12.mn.us, or through the district office at (320) 543-3521. HLWW High School After Prom Party The HLWW After Prom Party organization was formed in fall 1988, to provide a safe form of entertainment for Howard Lake- Waverly-Winsted High School juniors and seniors and their dates on prom night. The first after-prom party was in 1989, and has seen a steady increase in attendance every year since then. The students enjoy an all-night party with food, fun, wonderful prizes, and entertainment. This is a volunteer group that hosts many annual fundraisers, which include cookie sales during the home girls’ and boys’ basketball games and wrestling matches, half-court shot during some of the home basketball games, bake sales at the annual craft and art expo in Howard Lake in November, and the Business Expo in the spring. We welcome anyone who is interested in helping. Please feel free to reach out to Noel Huggett at nohuggetts@gmail. com. Meetings take place in the commons area at the HLWW High School, typically the first Monday during the school year at 6 p.m. Jolly Juniors 4-H Club The Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-H Club, established in 1946, promotes positive youth development experiences where youth design and participate in their own programs and activities. This unique, learn-by-doing model teaches kids essential, transferable skills that they’ll use throughout their lives, such as problem-solving, decision-making, coping, communicating, and responding to the needs of others. There are opportunities for everyone. Youth who live in both the country and town are encouraged to participate. Club members participate in a wide variety of project areas based on their interests and take pride in giving back to their community through service. Project areas include robotics, photography, woodworking, wildlife, gardening, computer animation, engines, animal care and showing, and self- determined, which is anything they can think of and present. Community activities include caroling, park cleanup, bowling, sledding, petting zoo, parades in winter and summer, and the county fair – having fun and getting to know other people in the community through work and play. There are presently more than 4 0 youth members. Membership is open to children in grades kindergarten through one year past high school graduation. Meetings take place the third Monday of each month at 6:45 p.m. at the Legion in Winsted. In October, they host a fall party. Call if you do not receive email and want to join us. For more information, call 4-H club leaders, Rita Quast at 320-237-3894, or Melissa Dietel at 320-510-2887; Angela Christen at 715-255-3130, or McLeod County Program Leader Darcy Cole at 320-484-4305. Also See our Facebook page: Winsted Jolly Juniors. Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus was established to help the needy and support religious vocations, while also promoting charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism within the order. Its purpose is to speak out for the lives of the unborn, the aged, and the mentally-challenged. Annually, the Knights conduct a pro-life breakfast and free- throw shooting contest in January, a fish fry the second Friday in March, and a rural life Mass in August. The order was formed in 1882, and meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., with officers meeting the second Tuesday of each month. Membership dues are $25 per year, and membership is open to Catholic men 18 years or older and in good standing with the church. Officers for the current year are: Grand Knight – Jason Blashack; Deputy Grand Knight – open; Chancellor – Jason malone; recorder – Ken Pelzel;