Annual Education Conference

Ten members traveled to Franklin, TN for the 68th annual National Association of Junior Auxiliaries Annual Education Conference.

While we were there, we got to learn a lot, spent a lot of quality time together, got to know some of the other chapters and came home with lots of ideas for projects and fundraisers.

Here are a few pictures from the event.

Merry Christmas!

Here are a few pictures from our annual J.A. Christmas Party. We all had so much fun eating, laughing, sharing recipes, talking, bonding and looking at all the pretty ornaments during the "Dirty Santa" gift swap! Laura and Kevin Dunlap have a beautiful home and we are so grateful to them for allowing us to come together there to celebrate the season! Thanks to everyone who took a night out of their busy holiday schedule to spend a night with "the girls" and to those of you who couldn't make it this year, WE MISSED YOU!

During the party Sheila Boyd gave out an prize to the member who got the most donations during our luminaries project this year. Congratulations to Rosie Shirley (below)! Thanks to all members who donated gifts for the prize.

Near the end of the night Kevin came home with the kids and headed upstairs to put them to bed. Little Jackson snuck back downstairs to play on his tricycle! He was so cute and having so much fun "sneaking" around...I couldn't help but capture it on film!

Merry Christmas Everyone from Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville!

J.A. Christmas Party 2008

This year's Christmas Party is being hosted by Laura Dunlap at her home on December 16th at 6 pm.

All members are invited - that means Active, Provisional, Associate and Life Members. Everyone attending just needs to bring a finger food and an ornament for the "Dirty Santa" gift exchange!

Sheila Boyd will also be presenting the top "luminaries" seller with a prize basket...just in time for Christmas!

Contact Laura Dunlap for directions to her home.

We'll see you there!

Giving Thanks

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,
thank you, Lord that I can hear...for there are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep, as long as possible, my eyes closed against the morning light,
thank you, Lord that I can see... for there are many who are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
thank you, Lord that I have the strength to rise...for there are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic when socks are lost,
toast is burned, tempers are short and children are so loud,
thank you, Lord for my family...for there are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines,
and the menu is, at times, unbalanced,
thank you, Lord for the food we have...because there are so many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
thank you, Lord for the opportunity to work...for there are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day
and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
thank you, Lord..for life.
Author Unknown

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Associate member (and former chapter President) Danielle Sliger had this on her blog and I think it's a very nice reminder for us all to appreciate all the blessings we have.

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Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Christmas Luminaries

A Note From Sheila:

Ladies,

I'd just like to remind everyone about the Christmas Luminaries project and to encourage you all to get out there and sell them! Thank you in advance for all your hard work. I am so sorry that I wasn't able to attend October's Provisional Social due to sickness. I look forward to meeting each of our new Provisional Members soon...you're all welcome and encouraged to participate in this fundraiser!

With this project, we have the potential to raise lots of funds to help meet the needs of the children in our community that we help! And won't the luminaries look beautiful decorating downtown during Christmas in the Park?

Here are a few reminders:

• If you were not at the General Meeting in October you need to contact me to hear more about the project and pick up your Fundraising Packet ASAP (extra packets are located at Ashley's Attic in the Plaza Shopping Center).
  
• Don't forget to mark your calendars, the deadline to turn in names and money for this Fundraiser is Tuesday November 18 at our General Meeting. Please continue to work hard; it's only little over 3 weeks away.
  
• Please remember that Ashley Gillentine (co-chair of this project) and I will be contacting the businesses in the town to purchase Luminaries. We did this because we want to avoid any cross-overs where multiple members contact a single business. However, your help is welcome with selling to businesses and if you have a close connection with a local business and would like to sell to them please call me and let me know so that they will not be contacted twice!
  
• I'd like for everyone to set a goal of how many luminaries that you would like to sell and then GO FOR IT! As an incentive to sell, sell, sell...I have gotten together a little prize basket that contains some treats from several Junior Auxiliary members' businesses! The top seller in this project will be awarded the prize basket at the Christmas Party in December. This is just a little incentive to help all of us meet and exceed our goals for this fundraiser!

As always, I am here for you if you have any questions. Please feel free to call me with questions or suggestions! You may email me your up-to-date sales if you would like and and I will send out totals next week.

Have a great week and thank you all so much!

: ) Sheila Boyd

668-9599 Home

235-0796 Cell

Something to think about

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
-Leo Buscaglia

Ladies,
There is so much potential for us, through the work we do, to really make a difference. I hope that in everything you do that you remember this. When you're out in the community, whether it is with Junior Auxiliary or just in your daily life, I hope you realize the impact that you can make in someone's life...and you might not even realize it when you do. We've been given such a wonderful opportunity through J.A. to do a lot of good in Warren County...so let's keep up the great work and keep on making a difference in this community!