The Guardian Angels are now the Homeland Readiness Group.

With a new slate of officers and a new year, the auxiliary group to the Albert Lea National Guard unit decided it was a good time for a name change.

&uot;We wanted to be more open to everyone,&uot; said Pam Folven, vice president of the group.

Folven stresses that the organization is exactly what its new name suggests: a readiness group.

&uot;When we had the tornado (May 2001) in Glenville, our men went to help and we prepared food and helped out too,&uot; Folven said, explaining a calling tree gets the needed volunteers in these situations. The group also feeds the Guard members on drill weekends.

&uot;And if they are deployed, we’re there for their families,&uot; she said.

She said group members are there to listen confidentially to each other, and can make referrals for any assistance which they may need.

They plan the annual picnic and holiday party for Guard members and their families. Many community members and businesses have been generous in donating prizes for the soldiers and their families, Folven said.

Cash donations are also being put into a special account, and if the soldiers are deployed, the money will be used to purchase care packages, she said.

In addition, children of Guard members who are deployed receive special Guardian bears. The Guard member can write a special message to the child on an attached tab.

Folven emphasized that Homeland Readiness Group members don’t have to have a family member in the National Guard or have a military background. Any interested member of the community is welcome. Meetings are once a month, usually on drill weekends. There are currently 15 active members. For more information on membership, call Folven at 297-5136 or Lisa Olson at 256-4579.

There is a training session offered each spring to members, where they receive information sheets and learn about fund-raising and scholarships offered to soldiers’ children. The sessions include a wide variety of topics, Folven said, including military insurance, budgeting and financing, and helping children deal with deployment.

Folven said she enjoys the atmosphere the group provides. &uot;I like the interaction with the other people at something other than the worksite,&uot; she said.

Her husband has been in the Guard for 17 years, and she’s proud to be a member of a group supporting him and others like him.

&uot;We’re like one big family,&uot; she said.

Officers of the Homeland Readiness Group are: President Lisa Olson, Vice President Pam Folven, Secretary Jennifer Dahlen and Education Officer Shannon Paulsen. Additional officers will be elected at the next meeting.