Junior Auxiliary of Taney County announced its newest group of active members this month and called for new members.

According to a news release, the women participated in a variety of service and finance projects, attended chapter meetings and other educational training programs as they learned about the organization and made a commitment to join. Several women also volunteered to assume leadership roles for 2014-2015.

New active members of JATC (from left): Rondel Matney, Jennifer Holmes, Bobbie Wydeen, Donna Handel, Becky Koehler, Selina West, Cindi Saltzgiver, Carol Ann Raines, Joyce Woods and Sheila Martin. Absent: Maile Arp.

JATC is recruiting women of all ages who want to make a positive impact on the children in Taney County for the 2014-2015 Provisional Membership class, according to the release. JATC has approximately 50 members who annually contribute more than 4,000 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars as they strive to improve the mental, physical, social and emotional well-being of children in Taney County.

A New Member Informational Meeting will be at 6 p.m. July 24.

Each year JATC assesses the community’s needs and establishes service projects to address those needs. Many of their projects have been sustained for years, such as College Readiness programs and scholarships for seniors from all four Taney County high schools, prom dresses for girls in need, stuffed animals for children in the local hospitals and support for the School Backpack Program, the release said.

Several newer projects include Santa’s Gift House, which provides affordable holiday gift shopping for children; Journey, which is a mentoring project for young women; and providing home improvements and monetary support to the Women’s Crisis Center, which provides care for abused women and children.

The members raise money for these projects through one major event — a trivia challenge with dinner, live entertainment and a silent auction.

For more information on being a part of this group, contact Junior Auxiliary of Taney County via email at jatcmo@gmail.com, on Facebook or through Ronni Haston, Membership Chair at 417-544-1896.

Published: Springfield News Leader, 5/27/14; Taney County Times, 5/28/14

http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/05/26/taney-county-junior-auxiliary-calls-new-members/9614963/