I was born and raised in Kansas City, MO, where Sam began his railroad career. After his home terminal was changed from Kansas City, MO to Osawatomie, KS, we moved to Olathe, KS in April, 1980.

In 1980, I received an invitation to join GIA Helen Gould Division 235 in Osawatomie, KS. I had no idea that there was such an organization and I was glad to have the opportunity to join. It was very comforting to know there were other people who could relate to what I was learning to accept as “normal” and give me tips on how to run a household without a husband to count on. If it hadn’t been for that phone call and these wonderful ladies, Debbie Keele, Helen Brand and many others from Auxiliary 235 in Osawatomie, KS, calling me one day to invite me to join their Auxiliary, I wouldn’t be here, period!

Joining the Auxiliary was one of the best choices I’ve ever made in my life! The lovely ladies of Auxiliary 235 taught me what it was going to be like to be the wife of a railroad working husband. They taught me the lingo and they taught me the “true meaning” of the word “Sisterhood.” The saying, “BRING HARMONY WITHIN OUR ORDER” really rang true with these Sisters and we truly believed in this organization. I was a member of this Auxiliary for 8 years before we decided to move to Omaha, NE.

We arrived in Nebraska in May of 1988. From that day on, my husband tried to persuade me to start an auxiliary here, but I just kept putting it off. In early 1995, he wore me down and I started sending out letters to all the spouses of BLE members asking if they would like to join a new auxiliary in Omaha/Council Bluffs, IA. We had a wonderful response and were organized in September of 1995 as River City Auxiliary 12 with 15 charter members.

Locally, I have held the positions of President, Vice President, Legislative Representative, Corresponding Secretary and Past President. I have made many wonderful friends and have my own extended family to look forward to seeing once a month. In recent years, we feel we are doing even more to help our spouses on issues that directly affect them, and we know there is still so much more we can do to help.

I’ve been attending “International, now National Conventions” since 1996 in Detroit, MI but I wasn’t the Delegate for Auxiliary 12 because my Sister Darla Fent’s husband was the 183 Division Delegate and we thought it was appropriate that she attend with him. But, I was selected by President Maureen Fulkerson to be proxy for another Auxiliary and this began my path to the present time.

At the International GIA level, in 1997, there was a change in the office of International Treasurer and I was asked by International President, Ruth Pillman-Windham to be the Alternate International Treasurer. After being approved by the Council, I held the position of Alternate International Treasurer for 4 years.

In September of 2001, I was elected International Secretary. Per our Constitution & By- Laws, I’ll hold this position until December 1, 2010. Our new National Secretary is Linda D. Maher of Willoughby, OH. I look forward to Linda starting this new position and will be available to assist her as long she might need the help. Linda will make a fine addition to the Executive Council.

Recently, we held the First National Auxiliary Convention in Reno, NV. I was elected by acclamation to the position of National President. I’m humbled by the task ahead of me, but will do my very best to increase, motivate and educate our members. I also plan to promote the Auxiliary throughout the country at any and all opportunities that are presented to me.

There have been many people who have helped me immensely throughout the years. Many thanks to Maurine Fulkerson, Ruth Pillman-Windham and Onita Wayland, for without their encouragement and guidance, I would not be in my present position. They all had the foresight to see “something special” in me that they thought would be beneficial to the organization. I hope I’ve made them proud.

Sam and I have two great children, Paula Jo, who has been married to Spencer Baggiani for 5 years and two adorable grandsons, Dominic and Sam. Paula is a work at home mom who manages several teaching positions in her spare time. My son, Sam Leonard, is single and worked for 5 ½ years at Union Pacific Railroad in Crew Management Services (CMS). Early in 2010, he transferred to a Union Pacific subsidiary known as Streamline.

I feel that being a part of the BLET Auxiliary has truly been one of the bright spots of my husband’s career with the railroad. Attending conventions, meeting spouses all over the United States and Canada, and learning from the informational seminars has been a very rewarding experience for me. Without membership in the Auxiliary, none of this would have been possible!