Dear [FIRSTNAME],

<>A big thank you to all who attended last week's AGM and to those of you who filled out the survey.  Your insight and feedback is greatly appreciated and will be used to help improve the AWA.  One of the first changes you'll note is the new 'Calendar View' in the Stars and Stripes.  Giving you a quick snapshot of upcoming activities at the AWA!  Watch the 'news' section of the Stars and Stripes to learn other ways your feedback will be implemented!

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In this issue of Stars & Stripes:

• News - Survey feedback, Halloween is just around the corner and the Ball is back!
• Volunteering - Committees starting for our Golf and Independence Day Fundraisers!
• Fundraising - Bring friends and family and support our Adult's Halloween Fundraiser 
• Social Groups - New format - link directly to the AWA calendar to see activity details
• Did You Know? - Use S&S to highlight interesting tidbits (or moving sales) for the AWA 
• Calendar View - NEW!  A quick view of upcoming Calendar events

 News:

Survey Feedback:
We had 58 respondents to our first online survey, that's about 25% of our Auxiliary, a healthy first start!  Over the coming months, the board will be looking at a number of ways to implement some of the changes; including how we welcome our new members.  Also, you've spoken and we've listened - the Independence Day Ball is back! (see Volunteering to join in the committee!) and watch here for news about our newest Social Group, 'Working Women's Lunch'.

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Halloween is Just around the Corner!:
If you have kids - or even if you don't - the AWA knows how to celebrate Halloween.  Haven't bought your tickets yet?  What are you waiting for!  Do so now!

Childrens Trick or Trunk event will be held at Hays Paddock (East Kew) on Sunday, Oct 25th from 4 - 6:30 pm. Get the kiddies all dressed up and trick or treat, trunk by trunk! The day's fun includes games, costumes, painted faces and decorated car trunks. Only $10 until Oct 20th - after that, it's $20 per person. So hurry in!Click here to learn more. 

Rock n' Ghoul Adults Halloween Party - Halloween Night, Oct 31st at the Richmond Town Hall Pub.  Live band, nibbles and halloween costumes.  What could be more fun?  Invite friends, family and colleagues, but buy your tix in advance - $30 per person. 
Click here to learn more. 

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'Christmas Cuppa'
You asked and we have provided -
Please join us on December 5 at 2pm for our very first CHRISTMAS CUPPA.  We will be providing High Tea with a Christmas twist for all of our members.
The event will be held at Shoshana Jackofsky's House where tea/coffee, scones, finger sandwiches and of course EGG NOG. Price is only 10 dollars and all proceeds go to the Royal Children's Hospital.

RSVP and further information will be sent out in November. Hope to see you all then.

Volunteering:

Committees Now Forming! Come join in the fun!
 
2010 Corporate Golf Day
The 2010 Corpoarte Golf Day is off to an amazing start with Erica Higbie as the committee chair! The event is set for Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Kingston Heath Golf Club. For golf lovers and even non-golf lovers - this a fun and unique event to participate in. To be part of the planning for this fantastic fundraiser, to register your interest or to ask any questions, please contact Erica via email or at 9699 3664.

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The Independence Day Ball is Back!
The committee for the 2010 Independence Day ball is now forming. We would love your helping hands. If you have a little or a lot of time to spare and would like to be involved in the planning of this very exciting event, please come to the First Meeting: November 11, 2009 at 7:30 pm. 

Please contact the ball chair: Mischelle Hodge to RSVP and to express your interest in being on the committee.

 Fundraising:

The Rock N' Ghoul Halloween party is just around the corner.  Have you organised your Halloween costume yet?  Even more importantly, have you called up your friend, invited them and purchased your tickets?

The band has donated their time for FREE and Vital Software has donated to cover the space - so all proceeds from the tickets ($30) goes towards the purchase of the Exhaled Nitric Oxide Assessment - which assists in the early detection of Cystic Fibrosis - aiding in a better quality of life for these sick children and promoting a longer life span.

If not, there's no better time than now!  Click here to buy your tickets.  And watch the Melbourne Leader for a highlight on our upcoming event!  (Thanks Nannette for the great PR coverage!) 

 Did You Know?:

Moving Sales:
One of the items highlighted by a few survey respondents was that many of you missed the moving sales that used to be featured in the AWAre. 

In this day and age with the digital space as it is, the AWA should be able to help.  Send your moving items to our website editor and stars & stripes will link into them and feature them for everyone to see.

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Have an interesting tidbit you want to share or suggestions for the AWA?  Send them in!  Contact the Stars & Strips here!

 Calendar View:

Here is a quick snapshot of what is happening across the AWA calendar in the next few weeks. Click the calendar image on the right to take you to the online calendar for more details!

Upcoming Events

Thu, Oct 22nd, @8:00am RCH Gift Shop Thu, Oct 22nd, @7:00pm GenX - Dancing Sun, Oct 25th, @4:00pm Halloween Trunk or Treat Tue, Oct 27th, @10:00am AM Book Club Wed, Oct 28th, @10:00am Compass Bible Study Thu, Oct 29th, @8:00am Evening Book Club Sat, Oct 31st, @8:00pm Rock N' Ghoul Halloween