Issue
President’s Message
P.O. Box 86 Vicksburg, MS 39181
JUNIOR AUXILIARY OF VICKSBURG
in this issue ...
Fall 2013
JAV Service Project Receives MAG Award at AEC
President’s Message
JAV Service Project Receives MAG Award
Service Projects
New Officers and Provisional Class
JAV Members Commit to Mentoring
NAJA President Lisa Biglane, center, presents the MAG Award for Plant-a-Seed, the 2012-2013 JAV Provisional Class Service Project. NAJA established the MAG Award in 2004 in honor of Executive Director Merrill Alexander Greenlee. It is presented each year to chapters whose Provisional Class develops an outstanding or unique project that exemplifies the spirit of Junior Auxiliary in dedicated service to the community. Class members Margie Heltzel, left, and Amy Rainer, right, received the award.
Ladies of JAV, This year let’s celebrate. Let’s celebrate that our JA chapter continues to thrive as we are blessed with new talented provisional class members, the dedication of our Active Members, and the continued support of our Life and Associate Members. Let’s celebrate our past successes in meeting a diversity of needs while welcoming new opportunities to develop connections in our community. Let’s celebrate the new opportunities JAV has to encourage, love, and provide emotional support to the children of Warren County. Let’s celebrate our ability to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our community as well utilize new resources. For the second year we partnered with the Hinds Community College Culinary Arts Program for our Charity Lunch fundraiser. The students were able to use their culinary art skills and gain valuable real life experience while helping raise funds for the service projects of JAV. We formed a new partnership with the CAP Center to help meet its growing need for mentors and role models. Also, we partnered with the Outlets at Vicksburg for its charity fundraising event, the 6th Annual Shopping Extravaganza. Reaching out and partnering has allowed us to find new groups of children to serve as well as find new ways to fund our great service projects. The quote “You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with” holds especially true for me. The members of Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg are amazing and their dedication to making a difference in our community makes me honored to serve as the 2013-2014 President. Our future is bright and our community impact continues to shine. With deepest gratitude, 2013-2014 JAV President
Newsletter of the Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg
VICKSBURG of Junior Auxiliary
Birdie, Bogey, & Boogie for Kids Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, April 4, 2014. For sponsorship or team information, contact Holly Porter at (601) 218-0808 or [email protected].
Save the Date!
JAV CARES Providing children’s activities, resources, education, and support during hospital stays at River Region Health System CAMP SILVERCLOUD Summer camp for mentally and physically challenged children CHILDREN’S SHELTER Activities, parties, and babysitting for children at the Warren County Children’s Shelter INK (Inspirational Notes for Kids) Pen-pal relationships with local 4th graders
introducing ...
ask us ...
2013-2014 Provisional Members
How can Associate and Life Members get more involved in JAV?
Plant-a-Seed
Pictured (seated, from left): Casie Combs, Kellie Pierce, Jodi Sumerall, Dara Hendrix,
Lacey Lee, Lindsay Bradley, Blair Hill, and Tammy Sibley
Pictured (standing, from left): Amy Gattle, Kelley Hicks, Sally Southall, Jennifer Walker,
Amy Campbell, Rebecca Antwine, Hallie Broadfoot, Lulu Edwards, Barrie Hildalgo, and
Tammy Allen
A NAJA award-winning project developed by
the Provisional Class of 2012-2013,
Plant-a-Seed teaches students at Vicksburg
Intermediate School the basic skills needed to
grow plants, fruits, and vegetables, as well as
environmental awareness, responsibility,
nutrition, and healthy eating.
Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg Chapter Members have recently committed to mentor children in Warren County public schools on a weekly basis through the Exchange Club of Vicksburg/Child and Parent (CAP) Center Mentoring Program.
Wow. Way to go! Super! You’re special. These phrases are just four of “101 Ways to Praise a
Child,” a document included in the CAP Center’s Volunteer Handbook to participants in the
Mentoring Program. After learning about the community’s desperate need for mentors, the CAP
Center was selected by JAV Chapter Members as a service project of the Junior
Auxiliary of Vicksburg for 2013-2014.
On Tuesday, August 13, 2013, six JAV Chapter Members arrived at the CAP Center to receive
handbooks with important mentoring information and guidelines following their initial
background checks. In addition to meeting with selected children (K-8th grade) within the school
setting and during school hours, these JAV Members will attend periodic training meetings and
report their volunteer hours to the CAP Center throughout the year. Most importantly, however,
our members will strive to be positive role models and help the children realize their potential by
providing encouragement, guidance, and friendship.
As mentioned above, the CAP Center desperately needs volunteers for its mentoring program as
the list of “at risk” students in need of mentoring has doubled since school last year
(www.capcenter.net/volunteer). For more information about volunteer opportunities, please call
the CAP Center at (601) 634-0557 or visit www.capcenter.net.
It takes an entire village to ensure that every child has
what is needed to be all they can be. - Erma Driver, Executive Director of Vicksburg Child and Parent Center, Inc.
Please contact Ex-Officio Kristy Cole at [email protected]. Don’t forget, you can login as a user to our website at www.javicksburg.org by clicking on “Member Login” and signing in with username “javweb” and password “vintage.”
how we serve ...
2013-2014 Service Projects FAMILY DEVELOPMENT Providing young disadvantaged mothers and children with knowledge, skills, and supplies needed for quality child rearing CAP CENTER Performing mentoring to students referred by the CAP Center on a weekly basis at their school to encourage and provide a positive role model LEAPS (Learning to Eat and Play Safely) Teaching nutrition, fitness, and safety to school-aged children while promoting a healthier lifestyle
READ (Reading Enrichment and Development) Promoting literacy and enhancing children’s love of reading COMMUNITY OUTREACH Providing basic items to the Vicksburg Warren School District’s social workers and needy families
Q: A:
JAV Members (from left) Maggie Nasif, Carolyn Bradley, and Lauren Coulon discuss plans for the year during the Chapter Retreat in September.
2013-2014 Officers
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AEC Conference The 2014 Annual Education Conference will be held at Sandestin in Destin, Florida on May 2 and 3, 2014. For more information, visit www.najanet.org.
President Alainna O’Bannon
1st Vice President Jennifer Grey
2nd Vice President Lauren Cappaert
Projects Chairman Cisi Mathews
Treasurer Gareth Lampkin
Recording Secretary Jennifer Lynne McMillin
Corresponding Secretary Lauren Coulon
Public Relations Margie Heltzel
Publications Alley Farrell
Continuing Education Haley Bell
Fundraising Katie Ferrell
Ex-Officio Kristy Cole
JAV Member Lindsey Gilliland reads Hi! Fly Guy by author Tedd Arnold to first-grade students at Sherman Avenue Elementary in September as part of the JAV service project READ.
The 2013 NAJA Annual Education Conference was held in Memphis, TN on June 7-9. JAV Members (from left) Margie Heltzel, Lauren Coulon, Laura Newman, Lauren Cappaert, Jennifer Grey, Alainna O’Bannon, Jennifer Lynne McMillin, Amy Rainer, Cisi Mathews, Katie Ferrell, and Whitney Simmons, participated in training workshops and attended a presentation for Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel’s Challenge is a non-profit organization based in Littleton, Colorado whose goals for schools include creating safe learning environments, improving academic achievement, and providing students with social and emotional education.
Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg, with support from the Hinds Community College Culinary Arts Vo-Tech Program, served over 700 lunches at the 2nd Annual Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg Charity Lunch at Hinds Community College in Vicksburg on Thursday, October 17, 2013. Nearly 600 meals were delivered to businesses throughout the community. In addition, 45 Vicksburg Warren School District students in the Culinary Arts Vo-Tech Program, under the direction of Tim DeRossette, were instrumental in making this event a success. The fundraiser grossed approximately $5,600 in sales. Thank you to the following businesses for donating supplies, services and/or food: Tyson, May & Company, Sysco, Performance Food Group, Palmertree's TO GO, Goldies Trail BBQ, Foam Packaging, Ameristar Casino, Lady Luck Casino, Coomes Produce, Kroger, Super Jr., Corner Market, and Covenant Dove Nursing Home. To see the JAV Charity Lunch article featured in The Vicksburg Post, visit the JAV Facebook page at www.facebook.com/javicksburg. Pictured at left (from right), JAV
President Alainna O’Bannon and Fundraising Chair Katie Ferrell present a check to Tim DeRossette and his wife Lucy DeRossette for the Culinary Arts Vo-Tech Program.
Pictured at right, JAV Member Lori Burke serves lunch to Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Chad Shealy.
The 2013 NAJA Annual Education Conference was held in Memphis, TN on June 7-9. JAV Members (from left) Margie Heltzel, Lauren Coulon, Laura Newman, Lauren Cappaert, Jennifer Grey, Alainna O’Bannon, Jennifer Lynne McMillin, Amy Rainer, Cisi Mathews, Katie Ferrell, and Whitney Simmons, participated in training workshops and attended a presentation for Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel’s Challenge is a non-profit organization based in Littleton, Colorado whose goals for schools include creating safe learning environments, improving academic achievement, and providing students with social and emotional education.
Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg and Outlets of Vicksburg have recently announced a continuing partnership for Shopping Extravaganza 2014, a shopping and fundraising event that helps benefit JAV service projects. Pictured at top right, JAV Members Holly Porter and Bridgett Hunt help Outlets of Vicksburg General Manager Margaret Gilmer, at left, organize shopping bags at Shopping Extravaganza 2013 on September 28. The event included shopping discounts from stores, entertainment, a catered lunch, and chances to win over $12,000 in prizes and gift cards. Outlets of Vicksburg donated $9,583 to JAV.
To celebrate the fall season, JAV Chapter Members helped children decorate
pumpkins at the Warren County Children’s Shelter on October 7, 2013 as part of
the chapter’s service project. The Warren County Children’s Shelter, an agency
of the Mississippi Children’s Home Services, was established in 1991. For more
information, visit the Mississippi Children’s Home Services website at
www.mchscares.org.
The 6th Annual Birdie, Bogey, & Boogie for Kids Golf Tournament is right around the corner! Registration for the 4-Person Scramble begins at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2014 at the Vicksburg Country Club. The golf tournament, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, was established in 2009 to help fund JAV service projects which benefit children youth, and families of Warren County. Sponsor Packages, ranging in price from $100 to $3,000, are available. Goodie Bag Sponsors and Silent Auction/Raffle Sponsors may donate items for raffles, a silent auction, and golfers’ goodie bags. For a Sponsorship Opportunities packet, please contact Holly Porter at (601) 218-0808 or by email at [email protected].
Join the 6th Annual Birdie, Bogey, & Boogie for Kids Golf Tournament event on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/151341448408668/
Relationships matter.
JUNIOR AUXILIARY OF VICKSBURG