Members of the Junior Auxiliary of Newton County gained valuable skills needed to better serve their community through hands-on service by attending the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries annual Area Meeting held August 24 at Ridgeland High School in Ridgeland.
The 78-year-old nonprofit, based in Greenville, encourages members of its 99 Chapters in eight states to render charitable service to children and families.
With the 2019-20 national theme of “Clear Vision: Gratitude. Passion. Service.,” the Junior Auxiliary of Newton County is guided by the ideals represented by NAJA’s five-pointed crown symbol: youth, health, charity, service and leadership.
The Area Meeting speakers and workshops energize members as the new school year gets under way and as Chapters begin their fall Service Projects.
“Our Area Meetings provide members with an opportunity to build synergy as we begin a new year. When our Association comes together, face to face, we are inspired through interactions among chapter members, collaboration, and sharing successes and service opportunities. Through many changes over the years, we maintain the same resolve and sense of purpose as that of our founding chapters in 1941,” said Anna Pieralisi, NAJA Executive Director and Active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Indianola, MS.
Workshops for the Junior Auxiliary of Newton County included:
Members collaborated with other Chapters as to how to best design and implement a Child Welfare Project, which is a signature NAJA project that focuses on providing immediate needs while fostering an ongoing relationship with a child in order to break the cycle of dependency.
Award-winning WLBT broadcaster Maggie Wade discussed the joys of serving with passion and gratitude, and how her role with Wednesday’s Child, which features foster children in need of homes, allows her the privilege of doing so.
Members gained the tools and knowledge to train Provisional members how to best serve their communities and represent the national organization.
A Treasurers’ presentation gave members guidance on how to be the best stewards of money raised or donated to support Service Projects.
NAJA’s slogan is “Care Today, Character Tomorrow.” For more information on Junior Auxiliary of Newton County, visit our facebook page at Junior Auxiliary of Newton County. For more information on NAJA, visit www.najanet.org or find NAJA on Facebook.
