American Legion Unit 91 Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 91 enjoyed a potluck supper at the club on Sept. 11, after which Girls State delegates generously shared details about their week at All State.

Thanks goes to Austin High School girls staters Grace Berkey, Kristen Carlson and Jiyoon Shin. At the meeting following, the auxiliary noted to continue its project of “Apples for All Austin Teachers and their Helpers” during Educators Week.

At closing, membership chair reminded the group that dues are now due. The next meeting will be on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

D.C. Drifters out and about

On Aug. 2, Denny Charnecki and the D.C. Drifters headlined at the Surf Ballroom, and more than 1,600 tickets were sold.

The event was very successful. The D.C. Drifters will be on a crusade to keep the Ballrooms alive. They are booked in the spring of 2014 to tour with Commie Valens, the sister of Ritchie Valens, from La Bamba. They will be in Britton, S.D., at the Rainbow Ballroom and go out from there. Connie Valens and Denny will be in Mankato on Jan. 24 and 25, which is the anniversary of when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson played there.

Duplicate Bridge

Tournament results for Sept. 25 with five tables played: first place: Stan Schultz and Tom Flaherty; second, Jim Fischer and Bud Higgins; third, Edna Knobbe and Georgia Bissen; fourth, Orrion Roisen and Dave Ring.

Duplicate Bridge is played each Wednesday at noon at the Mower County Senior Center in Austin. All Bridge players are welcome. Call Dave Ring at 507-434-4189 for partnership assistance or additional information.

Swenson receives 2013 REAM Educator Award

Ramona Swenson received the 2013 REAM Educator Award at the State Retired Educators Association of Minnesota Convention held in Red Wing’s Treasure Island Resort and Casino on Sept. 16 and 17.

This award is presented to a noteworthy REAM member who has contributed to the growth of REAM or a local unit and has been active in educational and community service.

Swenson grew up near Grand Meadow, earned an elementary certificate from Luther College and got her bachelor’s degree from Mankato State in 1969. After teaching for 26 years in Blooming Prairie and Austin, she retired in 1991. She has been an active member of Austin Retired Teachers, SEREAM and REAM since then serving as membership secretary, newsletter editor, REAM contact person and local board member for 22 years.

Swenson has been active in her community as well. She worked as a dispatcher for a bus company and was a Semcac volunteer driver. She has been newsletter editor for the Austin Izaak Walton League for nine years. She has been an officer of the Storting Lodge for the past 28 years and newsletter editor for the Sons of Norway for 17 years.

She was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma for 17 years and received their Woman of Achievement award in 2001. She taught classes for teachers and served as a mentor for new teachers from 1991 to 1996. For 13 years she has been active in Austin’s Adopt-a-School activities at the elementary and middle schools.

She served on the District 1 Board for eight years where she was publicity director and Zone 5 director. She volunteered for more than 5,000 hours at the Austin Medical Center, taught Sunday School at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for 22 years and was WELCA president twice. She served as congregation president for two years, served on many committees and still keeps the gardens and flowers looking nice. She recently hosted three exchange students, two from Colombia and one from China.