26th Annual Christmas in the Park

This year JA is pleased to have so many of the businesses downtown who were eager to get involved with this event. Magness Library will be having story telling, there will be a live nativity scene provided by Covenant Fellowship Church, lots of musical entertainment, the ever popular Telephone to Santa's Elves, Bounce Houses, Et Cetera will be providing a craft this year for the children, the Hot Dog man will be downtown providing delicious food for everyone, many of the downtown business will be open and offering free coffee, hot chocolate, or other beverages, along with Pioneer Pediatrics inviting everyone to come and have their picture made with Santa! This will be an event you don't want to miss! Bundle up and come join us for a night of fun, Tuesday, December 6th at 5:45pm!

Lacey Jones says, "This is one of my favorite events we do. This event, to me, signifies to the importance of coming together, celebrating the child in all our hearts, enhancing the lives of children in our community, while teaching my child this season is not just about presents, but about giving and doing so with a willing heart."

Christmas Luminaries On Sale Until December 1st!!!

Junior Auxiliary Members are currently selling Christmas Luminaries to be on display at Christmas in the Park. Luminaries are $10/piece. Please see any JA Member to purchase!

Coats for the Community - October 15

Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville's

Coats for Community and Book giveaway

will be Saturday, October 15th
10am-1pm at Three Star Mall (in the former Bookland location).
Please help us spread the word!

JA of McMinnville collecting donations now!

Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville is currently accepting donations to support three of their annual service projects: Coats for the Community, Pencil Pals and the JA Book Drive.

THIS IS AN ONGOING COLLECTION BY MEMBERS OF JA.

Items can be dropped off at Ashley's Attic in the Plaza Shopping Center, Peg Broadcasting Radio Station (Home of 105.3 Wow Country, Star 107, 1230 WAKI and 960 WBMC) or Security Federal Savings Bank. You can also contact any member of Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville to arrange pickup or delivery of any donations.

Coats for the Community

Provides coats and other cold weather wear and accessories to community members in need.

JA is COLLECTING new and gently used coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, scarves, shoes and other cold weather clothing and accessories.

Pencil Pals

Provides school supplies to local schools for underprivileged children to be distributed by school guidance counselors on an as-needed basis.

JA is COLLECTING new and gently used backpacks, pencils, pens, pencil boxes, safety scissors, folders, glue sticks, composition books, and other school supplies.

JA Book Drive

Provides books to community children in order to foster an appreciation and love of reading.

JA is COLLECTING new and gently used, age appropriate books for children in grade levels pre-k to middle school. All appropriate genres accepted.

Thank you for supporting Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville and the children of McMinnville and Warren County!

Yankee Doodle Children's Parade

Please join the ladies of Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville for their annual Yankee Doodle Children’s Parade on July 4th at 10:30 am in Downtown McMinnville. The Children's Parade is a part of the City of McMinnville's Independence Day Celebration.

For children 0 - 5th grade.

NO ENTRY FEE!
...
Schedule:
9am - Check in/registration begins
10:15am - Particiants must be in assigned areas and judging begins
10:30am - The PARADE begins!
10:45am - Awards presented

Parent Information:
- No gas-powered - battery operated "Hot Wheels" type vehicles are ok
- Entries should have a patriotic or state/community-pride theme
- An adult must accompany small children on the "parade route."
- Entry numbers must be on the child (not the float), clearly visable to judges.
- Awards will be given immediately following the parade.
- Entry suggestions: decorated bike, tricycle, wagon, stroller, or any push/pull/pedal toy or "float" - kids and parents, use your imagination!

Pre-registration applications can be picked up at Ashley's Attic, McMinnville Civic Center, Chamber of Commerce, 105.3 Wow Country Radio Station, Magness Library and the Southern Standard.

Applications can be turned in to: Ashley's Attic & McMinnville Civic Center
Mailed to: Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville/Yankee Doodle Parade/P.O. Box 791/McMinnville, TN 37111.
or Entries can be handed in: at the parade location until 10am on July 4th.

Winners will be chosen in each category.

Contact Stephanie Ward at 931-808-9291 with questions about the event.


Thanks to our sponsors:
McMinnville Parks and Recreation
105.3 Wow Country
River Park Hospital
Southern Standard
Ashley's AtticSee More

"Hoppy" Easter from Junior Auxiliary!

Happy Easter from Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville!

We had our fifth annual Hopping into Health Easter Egg Hunt last weekend and, even though it was a little cold and drizzle-y, we had a really great event

There were over 200 kids there, thousands of treat-filled eggs and dozens of special prizes...a good time was had by all! Thanks to our sponsors and to everyone who had a hand in making this year's Hopping into Health a success. Thanks especially to all of the kiddos and their parents who braved the yucky weather to come out and egg hunt with us!

Check out some of the photos from the event:

Hopping into Health 2011

Hopping into Health Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 16th

1pm

@ Hickory Creek Elementary

Thousands of eggs, lots of prizes, snacks and FUN!

FREE

For Children 0 - 10 years old

Come on out to this free event that focuses on encouraging children to practice healthy habits!

National Junior Auxilliary Week Project Ideas

National JA Week is Sunday April 2 - Saturday April 9. NAJA suggests that JA members from all chapters go out into their communities to perform acts of service during this week to promote JA and also to help the community.

This year JA of McMinnville members are encouraged to do individual or small group service projects between the 2nd and 9th to show our community a little love for National JA Week - just get the project approved by President Stephanie Ward or Public Relations Chair Ashley Wright and the hour(s) can count towards your 2010-2011 hours calendar! Here are just a few ideas, but feel free to use your imagination about ways to help out in the community this week.

• The CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER will be placing bows downtown McMinnville on Monday, April 2nd. Contact Ashley asap (607-6599) if you would like to help out with this project because we will only need a few helpers.


• Warren County's HABITAT FOR HUMANITY will be working on a build on April 9th. The actual build will be very heavy duty work, but some ideas for JA members might be to take the workers some treats for lunch on the 9th, or buying some household supplies to help fill the house when it is complete. If you would like to participate in the build, however, they won't turn you away. Let us know if you would like to help out Habitat for Humanity of Warren County.


• Also on April 9th, River Park Hospital will be hosting their annual SPRING WELLNESS FAIR at the Three Star Mall from 10am until 2pm. If you would like to attend the health fair to hand out Hopping into Health flyers or to volunteer in some other way, let us know.


• Also on April 9th at the River Park spring wellness fair, BLOOD ASSURANCE (the non-profit blood center that provides the blood products to many of the region's healthcare facilities) will be hosting a BLOOD DRIVE and will be registering folks for the NATIONAL MARROW DONOR REGISTRY. Donate blood or get swabbed to register for the National Marrow Donor Registry for service hour(s). Blood Assurance will also be doing the same setup at COVENANT FELLOWSHIP CHURCH from 7am until 11am on Saturday, April 2. Your donations there can count towards your JA week hours too!


• If you get it approved with a local school's guidance counselor (or we can get approval for you), you can VISIT SCHOOLS to read a book, do a craft or be a classroom helper in a classroom anytime during the week.

Please contact Stephanie or Ashley to let them know what project(s) you might like to participate in. Happy JA Week everyone!

A great gala!

Thanks to all who came out to the second annual Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville Crown Jewels Art Gala...every single person who bought tickets, donated items for the auction, bid on auction items, helped set up, catered, entertained, photographed, videoed or helped in any other way to make this year's event a success! All proceeds from the event will go back into our community through the service projects JA does in the community!

We had so much fun and hope you did too!

Junior Auxiliary on Facebook

Have you visited our Facebook page?

Be sure to "like" us and be among the first to hear about upcoming service projects, fundraisers and other JA information!

If you're an active, provisional, associate or life member, this is another way to keep in touch with other members and to keep up with what is going on with the club.

Thanks in advance for helping us spread the word about JA through social media!

Don't forget your checkbook!

So many really nice items have been donated to the 2011 Crown Jewels Art Gala silent auction!

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The auction will spotlight custom, handcrafted pieces from several local artisans.

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For example...

Our very own Madeleine Hamilton Hallum, a provisional member of JA this year... Madeleine is a self-taught painter who is originally from Mississippi. She has lived in many places across the country and the globe - from Alabama to Africa.

When she isn't painting, she is practicing medical nutrition therapy as a Registered Dietitian. She studied nutrition at the University of Southern Mississippi and Vanderbilt Medical Center.

Madeleine exhibits her art work in various locations and completes unique comissioned pieces for individuals upon request.

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She has so graciously donated a painting that she created especially for our gala!

This awesome Elvis print can be yours! Just be sure to have the highest bid on it in the silent auction! This is just one example of the awesome, original art work that will be available at the gala. It'll be fun to look but it will be even better to take something home!

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Be sure to bring your checkbook!

Announcement:

Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville has voted to NOT hold the Junior Miss Warren County and Junior Auxiliary Princess Pageants in 2011.

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The past 15 years of pageants have been wonderful and we've had the opportunity to meet many amazing young women through this fundraiser, so the decision to suspend the pageants was not made lightly.

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The more than 11 service projects JA performs during the year are supported by two other fundraisers: The Crown Jewels Art Gala and Christmas Luminaries. We plan to use this opportunity to turn our focus on the two existing fundraisers to raise much needed money for our service in 2011 and into 2012.

Title holders for the 2010 pageants include (above left to right) Junior Miss Katie Haggard and Junior Auxiliary Princess Alyssa Ledbetter, and Junior Auxiliary Little Sister Blair Fisher. The three girls will continue to hold those titles until the pageants are picked up again. We couldn’t have three better girls to leave with these titles for an extended time. They have been wonderful representatives of JA during the past year and will continue to support the club’s efforts in the community as long as they continue to hold their titles.

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Stay tuned to the JA Facebook and blog for information about the future of the pageants. Feel free to email jamcminnville@yahoo.com for more information.

Gala Photography

Amber Hertwig (above) of Asela Photography will be taking photos during the gala this year! Check out her web site to see some of her work and look at some of our favorites below. Amber is graciously donating her time and talent to help capture memories of the second annual Crown Jewels Art Gala and we would like to say a big THANK YOU in advance! We'll be giving out information at the gala on how to view and purchase the photos.

Please make plans to attend this evening of food, fun, friends and fundraising! Tickets are still available but they're going fast - only $50 each! Tickets can be purchased from any Junior Auxiliary member. All proceeds will go to support service projects performed by JA throughout the year.