XOXOXO

Happy Valentine's Day

from Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville!

Yankee Doodle Children's Parade

Who: All children 0 - 5th grade

All Junior Auxiliary Members are invited to help out- Active, Associate & Life

Ashley Wright - Chair Kim Chisam - Co-chair

What: The Yankee Doodle Children's Parade - NO ENTRY FEE!
When (for the public): Saturday July 4, 2009 - 10:30am

(For Members) - 8:30 until 11: 00 am

Where: Warren County Courthouse Square - Downtown McMinnville

Pre-registration forms are available at The McMinnville Civic Center, The Chamber of Commerce, Magness Library, The Southern Standard and Ashley's Attic.

They can be returned to Ashley's Attic

or mailed to

Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville / P.O. Box 791 / McMinnville, TN 37111

Why: The Yankee Doodle Children's Parade is a service project for Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville

For those of you who aren't familiar with this project:
The Yankee Doodle Children's Parade is part of Warren County's Independence Day Celebration and is sponsored by McMinnville Parks & Recreation (who allow us to hold the event during their 4th of July Celebration), PEG Broadcasting and Southern Standard Publishing.

It allows children (and their parent "helpers") to use their creativity in designing a "float" for the parade. Participants can show off their national, state & community pride through this project, which is something that J..A. likes to encourage. The project also promotes family togetherness, learning, confidence, hard work and, of course, fun!

The Schedule:
8:30 - 9:00am Set Up
9:00 - 10:00am Check in / Registration
10:15am Participants must be in their assigned areas / Judging begins
10:30am Let the PARADE begin!
10:50am Awards will be presented to winners in each group
11:00am - ? Clean Up (shouldn't take long)
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Rules & Additional Information:

*For children 0 to 5th grade (2009-2010 5th graders)
*There are 5 categories this year and they are:
- Babies, Toddlers & Preschool
- Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- 2nd & 3rd Grade
- 4th & 5th Grade
- Group (maximum 5 children to a group)
*NO GAS POWERED VEHICLES ALLOWED in the parade. Battery-operated "Hot Wheels" type vehicles are acceptable.
*Bikes, Tricycles, Wagons, Strollers or any other push, pull or pedal toys are also allowed.
*The floats must be patriotic or state, county or community pride themed.
*An adult may accompany small children and push strollers in the parade.
*Entry numbers must be on the child and be visible for judging. For groups, the entry number must be on the "lead" child.
*Awards will be presented immediately following the parade when all participants are lined up in front of the stage according to the directions given.
*The winners must stick around after receiving their awards for a group photo for the paper.

Hoppin' into Health

Hop on over to Junior Auxiliary's

3rd annual

Hoppin' into Health Easter Egg Hunt!

Saturday April 11, 2009

10 am

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For children 0 to 10 years of age.

FREE!

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10,000 prize-filled eggs!

Larger prizes will also be awarded and snacks will be provided!

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Attendees will get a chance to visit with the Easter Bunny and Hello Kitty!

Parents, bring your cameras!

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!

Christmas in the Park 2008 Memories

Our 23rd annual Christmas in the Park was a big success. It's such a great opportunity for the entire community to come together for a free night of family fun...and there were a lot of people out to enjoy the night!

We began the evening with a welcome from President Natalie Miller and a mini-ceremony honoring some of the kids from our "Healthy Children, Healthy Futures" project (Lauren Patterson, Jackson Dunlap, Morgan Mingle and Andy Dunn were there....our prayers are with Presley Slatton who could not attend).

Then the luminaries were lit all around the stage and the names on them were read. A big THANK YOU goes out to Miss Sheila Boyd who organized the whole luminaries project...great job Sheila!

In addition to Santa Claus, there were several other Christmas characters in attendance...they provided lots of photo opportunities and handed out candy to the kids! Thanks to member M.A. Higgs and her family for helping us out with that!

After having their picture taken with Santa Claus - kids were able to go and make frames to display them in. Junior Auxiliary members were on hand to help with this craft.

Facepainting is always a favorite for the kids and there was a line wrapped around the Regions building for most of the evening! Even without white paint (oops!) our "artists" for the evening made all of the kids happy with snowmen, crosses, Christmas trees, snowflakes and other Christmas-y things!

In addition to the Cider House, craft table and facepainting...Regions Bank provided a warm oasis out of the cold for many attendees!

The Cider House is a favorite tradition for Christmas in the Park and every year it is ran by the year's provisional members. The girls did a great job this year giving out cookies and smiles and keeping the cider flowing!

Choirs from churches and schools from all around the community as well as a few musicians and singers performed from the stage...Christmas carols and music filled the air! Thanks to everyone who provided their talents for the evening!

Here are members Brooke Totherow and Randi Fuston taking a quick hot chocolate break in between acts on the stage...

A group from Covenant Fellowship Church provided a living nativity scene to remind everyone the real reason for the season! Thanks Covenant!

This was our first year to not use Polaroid film for the free Santa Pictures...we used memory cards and color photo printers to get the photos out this year! It was hard work but the pictures turned out so great!

Thanks to everyone who came out! Thanks also to our sponsors for the event...all of the support really makes the night special!

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Christmas in the Park 2008

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I'm tellin' you why...Santa Claus is comin' to town!

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Yup, Santa is coming to McMinnville TONIGHT for our 23rd annual Christmas in the Park!

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He'll be there right around 6 pm to help us light the Downtown Christmas Tree, then he'll set up shop to visit with all of the children, to find out if they've been naughty or nice, and to double check what everyone wants under the tree this year!

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Santa will also be posing for pictures with the kiddies and J.A. will be providing free prints of the pictures for everyone!

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Santa will be bringing Mrs. Claus and some of his elves along with him to the event so there will be no shortage of fun and photo opportunities for everyone!

So, come see us tonight in beautiful downtown McMinnville for a night of FREE fun for the entire family!

Click here for more information.

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MEMBERS DON'T FORGET: Bring 3 or 4 dozen cookies to Jessica for the Cider House. See the Chapter Reminders to the left for details.

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 in the Park - December 2nd

Come out and see us at Christmas in the Park. It's shaping up to be a really exciting event with several new activities planned to go along with the classic favorites!

Show up a little early to see the first ever Christmas in the Park Luminary Lighting Ceremony..I think it will end up being a new tradition for our community!

Stephanie Ward, our Coats for the Community chairperson, is planning to set up a coat giveaway booth during the event. We think this will be a good opportunity for folks that didn't make it out to the mall in October who need coats now that it has gotten colder outside.

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

Congratulations Yankee Doodle Winners!

Our Yankee Doodle Parade winners were listed today in the Southern Standard on the front page of the Lifestyles section. A couple of our adorable winners, Brownie Johnson and Kataen Shockley, even had their pictures featured on the page!

Go pick up a newspaper or check them out online at http://www.southernstandard.com/. Go into the archives and it will be listed on July 9th.

Thanks, once again, to all who participated in the parade this year! We'll see you next year!

The Yankee Doodle Parade

This past Saturday, as a part of Warren County's Bicentennial Celebration, we hosted our annual Yankee Doodle Children's Parade. It was free to all ages up to 4th grade and we really had a great turnout this year!

Winners were as follows:

Preschool Division:
1st - Brownie Johnson
2nd - Gracie Lynn Hancock
3rd - Kataen Shockley

Kindergarten - 1st Division:
1st - Carter Cantrell
2nd - Jakob Shockley
3rd - Brianna Simmons

2nd -4th Division:
1st - Livia Brewer
2nd - Bethany Porter
3rd - Justin Menninger

Group Division:
1st - Grant & Ethan Hitchcock
2nd - A Tie - group#3:Justice Woodside, Mattie Wilson, Jake Toney, Karly Wilson
group#4:Katie Toney, J.P. Toney, Lydia Wilson, not pictured Mia Grace Cantrell
3rd - Jalyn, Noah, Hanna and Maya Mart

Here are some of the pictures from the day...

Here is a picture of our lovely judges for the event. Our three oldest princesses; Caitlin McClain - Junior Miss Warren County 2008, Merissa Chapman - J.A. Little Sister 2008, and Madison Taylor - Miss Snow Princess 2008. They did a great job...when they first showed up to do the judging they all told me something to the effect of, "How are we suppose to pick between all these cute kids?"...they all were very professional about the judging process though and I think everyone was pleased with their choices! Thanks so much for helping out ladies!

Shauna Wiley was the chair of the event. She made sure to keep us all busy and made sure the parade ran as smoothly as possible. Here is one of the very cooperative daddies during the parade! Some of our contestants not old enough to even walk yet, while other contestants chose to "ride" in the parade on a "float" pulled or pushed by a helpful parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or other likewise helpful adult - sometimes in costume! Steve Sliger here is the husband of one of Junior Auxiliary's former presidents and current associate members - Danielle Sliger. Steve pulled their two girls, Maggie and Marlie, in a decorated wagon for the group division...doesn't he look thrilled? LOL. Here are a few details from some of the parade's "floats". The day's theme was "our roots run deep" and some of the kids decided to express that theme with their parade entry. Others celebrated our county's birthday and did "support our troops" themed entries while others decided to keep it simple with just classic red, white and blue!

Thanks to all who spent hours decorating and putting together these wonderful works of art! Thanks to the kids who wanted to be in the parade, to the parents who allowed them to be, helped them with their entry and got them to the parade on Saturday! Thank you so much to everyone who came out, participated and helped J.A. to celebrate America's and Warren County's birthday!

Yankee Doodle Children's Parade T-Shirts

Any member interested in getting a Yankee Doodle Children's Parade T-shirt for July 5th, get in touch with me, Ashley Gillentine. You can get shirts for your kids too...we like to deck out our J.A. kids as much as we do ourselves! Just email or call me with sizes. The shirts will be regular cotton t-shirts, so order accordingly.

The design will be a play on Warren County's Bicentennial Logo with a Junior Auxiliary twist - on J.A. blue with white and red details.

You don't have to be working the Yankee Doodle Parade to have one. It will look good for as many J.A. members as possible to be in them on July 4th and 5th both! I believe that these will be nice to wear to any community event - not just in July - since it also has a Warren County and a bicentennial theme. Just consider this a J.A. shirt with a patriotic theme...not specifically a Yankee Doodle Parade shirt.

The shirts will be $11.oo each and the deadline for ordering them is Monday June 9th. I'd like to be able to get them to everyone well before July 5th.

We'd like to give a big thanks to Helen at Ashley's Attic and Pat Zechman of the Southern Standard for providing the shirts for this year's Little Miss Snow Princess, Miss Snow Princess, Junior Auxiliary Little Sister and Junior Miss Warren County for the event.

Grateful

We are grateful to the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation. Without their sacrifice, the U.S.A. would not be as great, or as free, of a place as it is today.

We hope that you will stop for a moment today to remember those brave men and women. Remember that today is not about the long weekend, it's not about the big sales or the burger grilling...today is about the entire nation coming together to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation; for their families, but also for people that they had never even met...those men and women were truly heroes.

[NOTE: To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps." ]