Southern Spirit February 29, 2016 | 页面 6

4 February Women’s Auxiliaries The USA South’s auxiliaries and advisory boards wo Along with highlighting the Birmingham Advisory Board, area commander Major Bob Parker wanted immediate past chairman Jim Gorrie to be featured. Gorrie has led the capital campaign to raise over $11 million of the $15 million goal before the campaign even went public. A 10-year Birmingham board veteran, Gorrie is also a AlabamaLouisianaMississippi Birmingham, Alabama, Advisory Board Florence, Alabama, Women’s Auxiliary One of the premiere events of the Florence, Alabama, community is the annual Empty Bowl Luncheon – organized by the Shoals (Florence) Women’s Auxiliary. The 12-year-old event has raised a cumulative amount of nearly half a million dollars. Empty Bowls, a registered trade name, promotes hunger awareness and money is raised through ticket sales, shops and a silent auction. “Guests enjoy soups and breads provided by more than 60 local restaurants and bakeries. Either a handmade ceramic bowl or cross is given to each guest to keep as a reminder of the meal’s purpose,” said Susanne Wadsworth, auxiliary president. Major Sharon Raymer, women’s ministries director, said the women are the “most hardworking and dedicated group of Salvation Army volunteers that I know.” Top: Advisory Board members get into the spirit of the season, ringing bells with their families. Bottom: Joanne Jefferies and Jane Shirley selling tickets to the Empty Bowl Luncheon ArkansasOklahoma Northwest Arkansas Women’s Auxiliary Central Oklahoma Advisory Board Left: Ladies on the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Auxiliary baked cookies for a recent event. Right: Advisory board member Ryan Frace helps out in the Salvation Army food pantry. Georgia Metro Atlanta Women’s Auxiliary Rome Advisory Board Left: Ladies on the Metro Atlanta Women’s Auxiliary stuffed stockings at Christmas for kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Atlanta. Right: (L-R) Captain Douglas McClure, David Hunter (lifetime advisory board member) and Mark Kozera (board chairman) at the Holiday Can-A-Thon. Florida The Northwest Arkansas Auxiliary is a brand new auxiliary, yet divisional commander Major Steve Morris calls them a “group of go-getters” with a strong desire to do things right. They host a booth at the style items, ask friends and family for donations for the cause and spend hours refurbishing furniture and collectibles to sell. In 2015, the ladies doubled their 2014 proceeds, raising $10,885. The auxiliary’s goals at this event are to raise funds, bring about awareness annual Northwest of the treasures at Arkansas Boutique Family Stores and Show, helping sort inform the comitems in the Family munity about what Store warehouses their donations and to find “boutique” purchases support. The Central Oklahoma Area Command recently conducted a capital campaign to build the new Center of Hope. The Central Oklahoma Advisory Board was instrumental in that and is active in the Benevon model of raising the community’s awareness of The Salvation Army. The model involves hosting tours of the Center of Hope weekly, where board members invite friends to tour and those friends later attend what they know as an “ask” event, where funds are raised for the Army. The Rome, Georgia, Advisory Board has advanced the Army mission for 128 years, and has in the last few years, seen a sharp increase in board member involvement. The board also recently facilitated the first Advisory Board and Women’s Auxiliary Retreat. Chairman Mark Kozera’s leadership helped the board acquire a kettle chairman that reduced the workload of the officers and staff, get volunteers to serve 770 hours of kettle service and implement a development committee to establish the 365 shelter campaign. The Metro Atlanta Women’s Auxiliary is very active and wellrounded in its service – everything from serving ARC beneficiaries to area command. Yet they envision more – they will soon organize events for Haven ATL and expand their reach in other areas. Major Casey Cunningham, women’s ministries project coordinator for Atlanta Area Command, said, “The truly amazing and humbling factor of this auxiliary is its prayer power.” She added that auxiliary president Dawn Menear has been integral and fo