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 fundraising@javicksburg.org.

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 exofficio@javicksburg.org. 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

Like Us! Search for “Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg, MS,” “Vintage Vicksburg,” and “Ambrosia: A Deep South Mixture of Homes, Recipes & History” on Facebook. Click on “Like!”

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 fundraising@javicksburg.org.

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