DAV AUXILIARY OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE YEAR By Bryan Lett T he DAV Auxiliary selected Mary Lee Kolter, of DAV Auxiliary Unit 101, Nokomis, Fla., as its member of the year for 2017. The award recognizes her continued contributions and dedication to the Auxiliary, DAV, and the veterans and their families in her community. “I have known Mary Lee Kolter, both personally and professionally, for many years,” said Past Auxiliary Unit 101 Commander Lois Anderson. “It is evident she has spent her entire life dedicated to the service of others. I have seen her work tirelessly on a project until it was completed well and correctly. Mary Lee has become a respected and trusted member of the Auxiliary community.” In 2013, Kolter initiated a veterans Christmas project she calls “Adopt-A-Vet.” Each year, a special Christmas tree is placed in the Auxiliary building with names of local veterans in area nursing homes who would likely not receive a gift for Christmas. Community members have overwhelmingly responded to the project. The first year in place, “Adopt-A-Vet” served 18 veterans; this past year, the number grew to 325. In the past four years, Kolter has served Unit 101 as adjutant, senior vice commander and unit commander. In June 2017, she was the recipient of the 2017 Person of the Year for the Department of Florida and elected to the Department’s Finance Committee. “Ms. Kolter has routinely gone above and beyond to ensure veterans and their families are taken care of,” said Auxiliary National Adjutant Pat Kemper. “I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award.” Kolter also discovered many veterans in her community were in need of items not covered by government assistance programs. As a result, she designed and implemented the Veterans Closet. Every month, she leads her unit in distributing personal care and hygiene items to nearly 60 veterans in neighboring communities. “Whether it is leading by example, volunteering or spearheading a new initiative to assist veterans and their families in her community, the Auxiliary knows it can count on Ms. Kolter to get the job done,” said Kemper. “She is an extremely valuable member of our Auxiliary.” ■ Excellence in our communities... Commander David Weeks (center), of DAV Chapter 9 in Kettering, Ohio, presents Jeff Bowman and Jack Edwards of Rieck Services with the chapter’s Excellence Award for being the Dayton Region Outstanding Organization of the Year. Rieck Services donated more than $4,000 to support chapter service programs in 2017. 36 DAV MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2018
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DAV AUXILIARY OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Bryan Lett
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