BUSINESS MEMO: AAL BRANCH HONORS

Aid Association for Lutherans Branch 1196 -- Zion Lutheran of Gordonville and St. Paul Lutheran of Chaffee -- has been awarded a Gold Star rating by the fraternal benefit society in recognition of exemplary volunteer service in the community.

To achieve the highest AAL rating, gold or silver stars, branches must annually sponsor at least one benevolent activity (fund-raising event or work project), conduct at least 12 meetings, sponsor one educational activity and one member-awareness event, and comply with AAL's attendance, voting and reporting requirements.

AAL, headquartered at Appleton, Wis., provides its members with fraternal benefits and its affiliated companies offer members mutual funds and credit union services. In addition, AAL members are offered opportunities to help others in their own communities.

Officers of Branch 1196 are Glen Meyr, Chaffee, president; Linda Seabaugh, Jackson, vice president; and Wilma Grossheider, Cape Girardeau, secretary. Branch 1196 is supported by AAL District Representative Allen Clark, Cape Girardeau.