Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC) welcomes its incoming Provisional class (first year members) for the 2013-14 year. This group of women has demonstrated interest in joining JATC and over the next six months will attend Chapter meetings and events and participate in projects to determine if they wish to make a commitment to become Active Members with the organization to serve the community.

From L-R: Junior Auxiliary of Taney County welcomes its 2013 - 2014 Provisional Class.  (Front row sitting) Bobbie Wydeen, Donna Handel, Rhonda Johnson, Joyce Wood, (Back row standing) Selina West, Shirley LaCore, Becky Koehler, Karen Oswald, R… — From L-R: Junior Auxiliary of Taney County welcomes its 2013 - 2014 Provisional Class. (Front row sitting) Bobbie Wydeen, Donna Handel, Rhonda Johnson, Joyce Wood, (Back row standing) Selina West, Shirley LaCore, Becky Koehler, Karen Oswald, Rondel Matney, Maile Arp, Carol Harris, Carol Ann Raines

JATC was chartered by a group of caring, enthusiastic women in 1998 and continues to grow and thrive throughout Taney County. Approximately 50 members 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.

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 4 Taney County high schools, prom dresses for girls in need, stuffed animals for children in the local hospitals, mid-year replenishment of school supplies and hygiene products for Taney County elementary schools, and support for the School Backpack Program.

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 Taneyhills Library Summer Reading Program, which encourages children to continue reading during the summer months. Their newest project is for the Women’s Crisis Center, in which they will be providing home improvement and monetary support for one of the cottages, providing care to abused women and children.

The members raise money for these projects through one major event in March - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment and a Silent Auction. The women also have social events that contribute to the fun and passion they demonstrate while helping the community.

JATC is part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, Mississippi. NAJA has more than 14,500 active, associate and life members in 101 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

The NAJA slogan is “Care Today—Character Tomorrow,” and the NAJA Board has recently adopted a special focus on prevention of teen pregnancy. The NAJA symbol is a five-pointed crown, and its points represent the values of charity, health, youth, service and leadership.

More information on JATC can be found on their Facebook page, Junior Auxiliary of Taney County or via email at jatcmo@gmail.com. More information on NAJA can be found at www.najanet.org

Published: Branson Daily Independent, 8/18/13 and Branson Tri-Lakes News, 8/31/13