A lack of participation has forced a local service group to disband and surrender its charter to the state organization.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary No. 2757 officially folded Tuesday, March 8, during a vote involving a fraction of its members.
Eight members attended the last meeting, according to auxiliary president Annabelle Frakes of Luverne. The auxiliary has 92 members of which 55 are life members located in 10 different states.
“We don’t have any young members,” Frakes, 88, added.
The lack of active members limited fundraising efforts as well as the activities the auxiliary could complete.
Frakes said three of its regular attendees are age 90 or older with only one member under the age of 80.
The lack of active members was noticeable at the group’s February meeting when a lack of a quorum (five members) postponed the final vote until last week.
The Luverne ladies auxiliary was founded on Sept. 24, 1933, with 27 charter members.
To be an auxiliary member, a potential member must have a family member who fought in a war overseas. This could be a father, grandfather, brother or spouse.
“It is quite a wide circle,” said Kathy Brockberg, third district auxiliary president.
To help auxiliaries gain new members, male family members of female soldiers were allowed to join, Brockberg added.
However, the new requirement wasn’t bringing in new members, a common concern for several organizations, she said.
The VFW auxiliary was formed as a service organization for area veterans.
“We do everything we can for veterans,” Brockberg said.
Frakes has been an auxiliary member for more than 60 years. Her late husband, Neil Frakes, served in World War II.
Despite not have an official auxiliary group in Luverne, some previous auxiliary activities will continue as members can be “at-large” members of the state auxiliary.
Marching in parades, ceremonies on Memorial Day, assisting with poppy sales and hosting coffee times at the veterans home could continue.
“This (the coffees) will continue until I can’t walk anymore,” Frakes said.
She will also look at joining a nearby auxiliary, most located within 30 miles of Luverne. Rejoining another auxiliary is open to all current members.
The local auxiliary can be reactivated, Frakes said.