Kathy Dungan Department of Mississippi: Drane-Prine Unit 79Eligibility: Through father Wittie Card, a WWII veteran. Offices Held: Served most offices and chairmanships at the unit, district, and department levels. Served as national chairman: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Children & Youth (also served as Southern Division), Leadership, Constitution & Bylaws, Education, ALA Girls State (also served as Southern Division), Legislative, Auxiliary Emergency Fund (also served as Southern Division), Junior Activities, Poppy (also served as vice chairman), NEC and alternate NEC; served as ALA Centennial Strategic Plan strategy co-captain, Long Range Strategic Planning Committee, vice chairman of Future Focus Committee, and member of American Legion Auxiliary 100th Anniversary Committee.Professional/personal background: Is a 42-year member of the Auxiliary. She and her husband, William, have one son, Christopher; two grandchildren, Lauren, 7, and Lawson, 3 -- all members of The American Legion Family. Their daughter-in-law is Megan. Retired from the Mississippi Supreme Court after serving 22 years. She was a judicial assistant to a Supreme Court Justice. Attended Delta State University and is active in her church and continues to be active in her department and local Auxiliary unit.
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Nicole ClappDepartment of Iowa: Ehrig-McTurk Unit 127Eligibility: Through grandfather, Roger Schroeder, a seaman in the Navy during WWII. Offices Held: Served in several unit, district, and department level positions. National: served as Honorary National Junior President 1987-1988, national Finance chairman five of seven years on the committee, Children & Youth chairman, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation chairman, Human Resources Committee member, Finance Committee liaison to Audit Committee, Finance committee liaison to the ALA Foundation, Future Focus Committee member, and ALA Centennial Strategic Plan Committee member.Professional/personal background: Raised by her parents, Darrell and Jeanne Paustian, on a farm. Graduated with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Iowa in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Is board certified in healthcare management and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Volunteers with the Lions Club, PEO, Peace UCC, and the ALA. Nicole truly loves cheering on her alma mater, the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Linda Boone, ALA Interim National Secretary
Sara Riegel Department of Indiana: eUnit 438Eligibility: Through the service of her grandfather. She joined ALA National Headquarters in 2011 as a compliance accountant. Riegel has a diverse background in nonprofit and for-profit entities, and small-business ownership. She has served on school commissions and neighborhood development organizations. Riegel is thankful for the guidance of her parents in setting the example of giving of one’s time and talent in service to their church and community, and has passed the same character-building values on to her four children.
Teresa IsenseeDepartment of Wisconsin: Walter Nelson Unit 326Eligibility: Through husband, Steve Isensee, a Vietnam veteran. Professional/personal background: Married to Steve for 27 years and together, have three daughters; one son; and 10 grandchildren -- all are members of The American Legion Family. Has worked as an IT project manager/programmer analyst at National Presto Industries for 27 years and has an associate’s degree in accounting and programming. Other activities: served as economic development chairman, Village of Boyd trustee, Boyd Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Lions Club.
Rita BarylskiDepartment of Connecticut: Mayotte-Viens Unit 13Eligibility: Through husband Andrew Barylski, Jr., Vietnam veteran; father, Owen Peppin, WWII Army veteran.Professional/personal background: Retired from banking career in 1994 after 30 years. She is a Putnam Catholic Academy graduate 1964, Dudley Hall Business Career Institute 1965, and American institute of Banking 1967. Member of St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation. In addition to husband and father, son Dennis is a 20-year Army veteran, son Michael is an 8-year Marine veteran, and father-in-law was a Pearl Harbor survivor. She has one grandson and one great-granddaughter.
Barb VetterDepartment of South Dakota: Cresbard Unit 213Eligibility: Through father Loren Heidenreich, Army, WWII; husband Wayne (Red) Vetter, Army, Vietnam Era and Desert Storm.Professional/personal background: Retired elementary teacher who taught for 40 years. Attended Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn. and Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D. Auxiliary member for 35 years. Married to Wayne (Red) Vetter (State Commander 2003-2004) for 45 years. Has three sons/five grandchildren. Sons are members of SAL, daughters-in-law are Auxiliary members, and granddaughters are Junior members. Has a part-time job at local drugstore.
Gloria Fochtmann-Haygood Department of Alabama: Hawkins B. Carter Unit 255 Eligibility: Through brother, Nathan D. Fochtmann; husband, Ronald D. Haygood; and father and both grandfathers. Professional/personal background: ALA member since 1979. Worked in real estate/investments for over 35 years. Served on board of directors for private school for 10 years. Has one daughter.
Janet Romero Department of New Mexico: Unit 25Eligibility: Through father, Vincent Lovato, Army during Korean War; oldest brother served in the Marines in Vietnam; another brother served in the Army in Panama; another brother was in the Navy. Professional/personal background: Previously worked banking/finance as branch service manager/senior loan officer, has 36 college business credit hours, and currently working in property management and running two properties. Other activities: Serving as ambassador for Chamber of Commerce, served on board of directors with United Way, participated in Clovis Leadership class, was a cadet in Citizens Police Academy, and taught Sunday school. Currently Legion Riders Chapter 2 secretary, longest standing secretary in the state. Chairman for 100th Anniversary Convention 2019. She has been married since 1985 and has two daughters, three grandsons, two granddaughters. Son-in-law is currently in the Army Reserves, served in Iraq.
Dr. Deborah Blanch Department of Virginia: Unit 368Eligibility: Through father Wilbur Jones, Army, 25th Infantry Division, Korean and Vietnam wars. Professional/personal background: Is an adjunct professor with Saint Leo University and has been a loyal Auxiliary member since birth. Her father was with the Army 25th Infantry Division, Korean, and Vietnam wars. He is also the lifetime chaplain for Post 368 as well as her mother who was the first page with the Department of Virginia and also a chaplain.
Brenda W. CollinsDepartment of South Carolina: Unit 3Eligibility: Through husband, John F. Collins, Vietnam Era. Professional/personal background: Served as president of the Greenville Police Wives Auxiliary 1975-1976. Owned her own business for 19 years before retiring to serve as administrative assistant to the pastor of her church. Is now retired. She and her husband have a music ministry and have traveled to 26 states singing and lifting up the name of Jesus. Has two adult sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren (Christopher, Carter, Sophia, and Alexander)
National officer positions serve one-year terms and are elected at National Convention each year. These officers will serve until adjournment of the following National Convention. In addition to these candidates endorsed by their states’ departments, any member in good standing may be nominated for these national offices from the floor at National Convention.