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Elizabeth (Betty) Slayton
Odenton Ladies Auxiliary
Betty has been very instrumental in the Odenton Ladies Auxiliary throughout her forty-six years of service. She is a life member and is still going strong! She has been a pillar of the others new and old that joined in the years as well as the ones who joined with her.
The Odenton Ladies Auxiliary is a second family for Betty. The majority of her time is spent at the Fire House preparing for the various functions to support the Fire Department. If there is a job to be done, Betty will be there!
In the many years that Betty has been in the auxiliary she has held the positions of Secretary and President as well as being on the Ways and Means, Pins and Badges, and Auditing Committees. These positions are very important in order to have a good auxiliary. With Betty’s knowledge and willingness, she does an outstanding job in whatever position she holds.
Betty is presently holding the office of Secretary as in many past years. She sees that the ladies are well informed of the latest news as well as typing/distributing of information for all the ladies here and away.
The Ways and Means Committee also plays a big part of Betty’s life. She is constantly going out of her way to make sure the kitchen is well stocked for the many functions that are held at Odenton. Betty and her van travel to many stores and many miles to get the “right” supplies for the well known Oyster/Bull Roasts that Odenton holds, the weekly bingos, train shows, craft fairs, flea markets, gun shows, county ladies meeting and men’s meeting to say a few. The ladies also take on catering jobs such as weddings, showers, anniversary, and birthday parties, banquets and the list goes on. Not just with these current functions, but the functions in the past, Betty has been there to render herself and her “many hands”. When Odenton held its “Famous” suppers and luncheons, she was there; New Years Eve parties, Donkey ball games, preparing lunches for the fire department when they had drills, participating in the annual parades as the ladies marched together to show the spirit of The Odenton Ladies Auxiliary. Early mornings to late nights, Betty can be found scurrying around in the kitchen/hall of the fire house finding things to do. Don’t get in her way after a function is over. Betty is known as the person who can’t stand to see a cupboard messy or things out of place. She will be busy arranging the shelves or the stock room in order for items to be easily located at the next function. With a kitchen of that caliber, things are very easily misplaced.
Odenton holds its annual carnival every May. You will find Betty sitting is a ticket booth each and every night rain or shine. By the time the carnival is over for the year, Betty is just getting into rocking and rolling with the music that plays overhead of the ticket booth. This job seems to be a thankless job to many but not for Betty. Ever try sitting in one of those booths, not many volunteer for it!
Bingo is another big fund raiser for Odenton. Betty is on a crew that takes turns working on Thursday nights and has been for years. She had also recruited her daughters and granddaughters to help. But, no one takes it as serious as Betty. Everything has to be just right down to the warm rolls. “Make sure you warm those rolls” is one of Betty’s favorite sayings. When anyone works with Betty, they know they had better have those ovens on and the rolls in.
Summer Bingo is taken over by the ladies in June and Betty makes every effort possible to attend to work her station each week. Each year a group of ladies get together and attend the convention in Ocean City. Here they could spend the whole week, but this group returns on Thursday to insure that Bingo will be well staffed to make it a huge success with Betty leading the pack. Can’t say that everyone would give up their vacation for this!
Betty also played a big part with helping her granddaughter in researching and studying Fire Prevention questions as she ran for Jr. Miss and Miss Fire Prevention. With her efforts, her granddaughter placed 1st Runner up for Jr. Miss Fire Prevention A.A.Co. 1996-1997 and captured the title of Miss Fire Prevention A.A.Co. 1997-1998. She will also be right along with her in Ocean City when she runs for the state title in June 1998.
Betty has been a tremendous help and inspiration to the Odenton ladies Auxiliary. Whenever help is to be given, Betty is there to offer. Without her the Auxiliary would not be what it is today. The Odenton Ladies Auxiliary is well known throughout the county and a part of that is due to Betty and her efforts.
Submitted by: Cheryl Wade, Vice-President
May 11, 1998
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