When we announced "McCusker Month" in the January edition of the CSEA News, we called on our Union's members to help increase the number of scholarships awarded this year. In 2009, fifty-four students each received a $1,000 grant -- but more than 100 completed applications were considered.

Union President Cathy Osten sent a letter to the Presidents of our Union's nearly two hundred individual Chapters late last month urging them to pitch in so that this year more deserving students will benefit from our McCusker Scholarship fund.

Trustees Chair Don Gladding has been visiting individual Council and Chapter meetings over the past several weeks to make the pitch in person. He has been sharing copies of the "Awards Night 2009" booklet to help illustrate the impact the benefit had on our members' families last year, and make the case for increasing support for the fund this year.

Following the success of last year's holiday fundraiser with Lyman Orchards, the Trustees have launched another drive so their delicious pastries can help us raise revenues for scholarships. This time, members can sell their famous butter braids to support scholarships for our children and grandchildren.

An order form is available here in a format members can download to print and use for tracking up to 18 orders for six different varieties of butter braids. Get started today by signing-up your friends, family, and fellow members for pastries that will be delivered on Thursday, April 1 -- just in time for Easter Sunday.

But hurry -- orders must be placed by Friday, March 12.