Our History
Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC) is a group of women dedicated to improving the lives of children in Taney County, Missouri. Our projects are designed to fulfill the virtues of charity, youth, health, community service and leadership in members and those we serve.
JATC was established in 1997 by a group of caring, enthusiastic women who wanted to make a difference in the lives of local children. In 1998 the group was chartered as a Chapter of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA) and was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 c (3) organization eligible to receive tax deductible donations. JATC has continued to grow and thrive. 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 and families in Taney County.
The History of Junior Auxiliary
The National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), is a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, Mississippi. NAJA has more than 15,000 active, associate and life members in over 98 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Our slogan is “Caring Hearts—Helping Hands—Changing Lives”.
NAJA encourages its members to render charitable services that are beneficial to the general public, with particular emphasis on children, and to cooperate with other organizations performing similar services.
Junior Auxiliary of Taney County Chronology
Dec 1996: Organizing Meeting, College of the Ozarks
Jan 1997: Petitioning Chapter-First Chapter meeting held at First Baptist Church, Branson; Darlene Rea elected 1st JATC Chapter President
Jun 1997: First session of Teen Court (first service project)
Sep 1997: First fundraiser, “Mum’s the Word” sale
May 1998: JATC receives charter as the 100th Junior Auxiliary Chapter; Ashley Doty becomes 2nd JATC Chapter President
Aug 1998: First Provisional Tea
Dec 1998: Bank Balance $2,977.92 (from Mum Sale and Rummage Sale)
Feb 1999: New Chapter Training by NAJA at Lakeshore Resort
May 1999: Leanna Bennett elected 3rd JATC Chapter President
Sep 1999: First Fall Retreat at Lakeshore Resort; Mentoring Program and TLC (service projects) begin
Apr 2000: First Annual Installation and Awards Banquet
May 2000: Judy Garrison becomes 4th JATC Chapter President; Darlene Rea elected as NAJA Recording Secretary
Mar 2001: First “Trivia Challenge” at the Lodge of the Ozarks
May 2001: Carissa Lilly becomes 5th JATC Chapter President; JATC is awarded the NAJA Public Relations Award for the Trivia Challenge
May 2002: Madeline Allin becomes 6th JATC Chapter President
Jun 2002: First meeting held in the JA Room at the K-Life Building
Apr 2003: First book delivery for Literacy Project – delivered over 400 books to four elementary classes in Taney County (Child Welfare Project)
May 2003: Carol Miller becomes 7th JATC Chapter President; Madeline Allin serves on NAJA Scholarship Committee
Apr 2004: First meeting of JATC Crown and Gavel (Past Presidents group); JATC wins NAJA Award of Excellence
May 2004: Judy Garrison becomes 8th JATC Chapter President (her second term); Carol Miller appointed to NAJA Finance Committee and serves until 2007
May 2004: JATC Scholarship program starts
Oct 2004: College Readiness Notebook presented at high school college night
Mar 2005: Spring Fashion Show (Service Project with Delmina Woods Residential Center)
May 2005: Jean Mueller becomes 9th JATC Chapter President
May 2006: Jean Mueller re-elected as 10th JATC Chapter President; Madeline Allin elected as NAJA’s 2nd Vice President of Marketing; Prom Dress Project (Service Project) initiated; JATC hosts NAJA Area Meeting in Branson
May 2007: Toni Ewing becomes 11th JATC Chapter President
May 2007: JATC ScholarCare Program begins
Sep 2007: Snacks-in-Packs Program begins for Hollister schools (service project)
May 2008: Danielle Cramer becomes 12th JATC Chapter President
May 2009: Kim (Hollingsworth) Wheeler becomes 13th JATC Chapter President; Run from the Couch (Finance) and Family Fun Walk (service project) held
Sep 2009: Ducky Drift (Finance Project) initiated by Provisional Class
Sep 2009: Tender Critters becomes official project transitioning from Trauma Bears
May 2010: Kim (Hollingsworth) Wheeler re-elected as 14th JATC Chapter President; JATC wins Branson Bank Cookbook Contest; Madeline Allin appointed Trustee to NAJA Foundation
Sep 2010: Ducky Drift (Finance Project) adds Family Fun Waddle (Service Project)
Dec 2010: Santa’s Gift House (Service Project) initiated
May 2011: Joan Anderson becomes 15th JATC Chapter President
Sep 2011: College Readiness Web Site created to replace Notebook
May 2012: Linda Lewis becomes 16th JATC Chapter President
Jun 2012: Summer Reading partnership with Taneyhills Library begin; Snacks-in-Packs transitioned to Hollister Gifted Program/Gift of Hope Backpack Program
Sep 2012: JATC pilots webinar approach for NAJA Area Meeting; Journey (Child Welfare Project) implemented
May 2013: Cathy Brown becomes 17th JATC Chapter President
Aug 2013: Women’s Crisis Center Adopt-A-Cottage (Service Project) begins
Aug 2013: JATC receives the “Apple from the Teacher” award from the Tri-Lakes Retired Teacher’s Association
Sep 2013: JATC implements Women’s Crisis Center Cottage project with a cottage work day
May 2014: Paula Gillispie becomes 18th JATC Chapter President
Jun 2014: JATC begins assisting with Book Swap Stop project at an extended stay hotel
Oct 2014: JATC develops new website
Nov 2014: JATC expands Book Swap Stop and it becomes Homework Helpers
Nov 2014: Andy Williams Christmas Show donates proceeds to JATC
Jan 2015: School Supplies became an official project. It evolved from participating with other community organizations in back to school fairs to our own project. Deliveries are made in January to “refresh” school supplies to Eastern Taney County Elementary Schools.
Mar 2015: 15th Annual Trivia Night
May 2015: Nina Grayson becomes 19th JATC Chapter President
Jun 2015: JATC receives "A Tip of the Crown" for Homework Helpers article in NAJA's Crownlet
Jul 2015: Heart of Arts project begins
Sep 2015: Branson Women's Expo donates all door proceeds to JATC
Sep 2015: JATC office moves from K-Life Building to 110 Adams Street
Oct 2015: Homework Helpers expands to two extended stay motels
Oct 2015: Branson Women's Expo donates all door proceeds to JATC
Dec 2015: Santa's Gift House expands to include a Branson and a Bradleyville location
Feb 2016: First Annual JATC Days sponsored by Mr. G's Pizza
Apr 2016: 16th Annual Trivia Night
May 2016: Paula Gillispie becomes 20th JATC Chapter President (her second term)
Jun 2016: Received a Grant from Branson-Hollister Rotary that will assist us in funding a new Service Project entitled "Learners Today--Leaders Tomorrow" at Bradleyville Schools
Jun 2016: Journey (Service Project) is discontinued
Aug 2016: "Learners Today--Leaders Tomorrow" (Service Project) is implemented at Bradleyville Elementary Schools
Oct 2016: Branson Women's Expo donates all door proceeds to JATC
Feb 2017: Second Annual JATC Days sponsored by Mr. G's Pizza
March 2017: 17th Annual Trivia Night
May 2017: Sara Henderson becomes 21st JATC Chapter President
May 2017: New Service Project called Hip Hop into Fitness is introduced
May 2017: Empowering the Little Dreamers is introduced
Sep 2017: JATC office moves from 110 Adams Street to 10998 Historic Hwy 165, Suites G & I. Hollister, MO 65672
Feb 2018: Third Annual JATC Days sponsored by Mr. G's Pizza
April 2018: 18th Annual Trivia Night
May 2018: Bobbie Wydeen becomes 22nd JATC Chapter President
May 2018: Hip Hop into Fitness is dropped due to lack of participation
May 2018: “Learners Today—Leaders Tomorrow” (Service Project) grant is given to Mark Twain Schools
May 2018: Homework Helpers (Service Project) goes on hiatus until/unless new location is found; Book Swap continues
September 2018: First STEM Project with Mark Twain students
November 2018: White River Valley Electric gives a $1000 grant to Santa’s Gift House
December 2018: 9th Annual Santa’s Gift House
Feb 2019: Fourth Annual Mr. G’s JATC Days (Finance)
February 2019: Tender Critters Drive
April 2019: 19th Annual Trivia Night
April 2019: Homework Helpers, Heart of Arts, Learners Today-Leaders Tomorrow, and OTC Emergency Education Fund Projects are discontinued
May 2019: Marcia VanderLaan becomes 23rd Chapter President
Sep 2019: Participated in College Fair
Jun 2019: Market Day Project (Finance) introduced by last year’s Provisional Class
Nov 2019: Taneyville Schools ask us to present a Hip Hop into Fitness
Nov 2019: Market Day Project (Finance) Repeated because of the success in June
Dec 2019: 10th Annual Santa’s Gift House (Service Project)
Feb 2020: Fifth Annual Mr. G’s JATC Days (Finance)
May 2020: Colleen Neill becomes 24th Chapter President
August 2020: Received NAJA Award for PR for Tender Critters Project
Oct 2020: Halloween Grape Stomp Project (Service)
Dec 2020 11th Annual Santa’s Gift House (Service Project)
Oct 2020: Kindness Effect Cards Projects (New Service Project) began. Cards sent to Seniors in Taney County Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities.
Feb 2021: Shoe Box Project (One Time Service Project)
Feb 2021: Sixth Annual Mr. G’s JATC Days (Finance)
May 2021: Paula Eighmy becomes 25th Chapter President
Sep 2021: 20th Annual Trivia Night (Finance)
Oct 2021: Halloween Grape Stomp Project (Service)
Nov 2021: Shoe Box, STEAM PUNK Academy, Hug Basket Service Projects Discontinued
Dec 2021: Mr. G’s JATC Days (Extra one this year) (Finance)
Dec 2021: 12th Annual Santa’s Gift House (Service)
Jan 2022: School Supplies Project (Service)
Feb 2022: Seventh Annual Mr. G’s JATC Days (Finance)
April 2022: Celebrated National JA Week by celebrating our teachers
May 2022: Colleen Neill becomes 26th Chapter President (2nd Term)
June 2022: Prom Dress Project Suspended for 2 years (Service)
Oct 2022: Halloween Grape Stomp Project (Service)
Sep 2022: 21st Annual Trivia Night (Finance)
Dec 2022: 13th Annual Santa’s Gift House (Service)
Dec 2022: Christmas Assistance served 108 children through OACAC (Service)
Jan 2023: School Supplies Project (Service)
February 2023 Eighth Mr. G’s Annual JATC Days (Finance)
Feb 2023: Provisional Project, Celebrating Reading, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! (Service)
March 2023: Mulberry Mill Benefit (Finance)
May 2023: Colleen Neill becomes 27th Chapter President (3rd Term)
July 2023: First Grocery Grab (Finance)
Oct 2023: Annual Mr. G’s JATC Days (Extra one this year) (Finance)
Oct 2023: Halloween Grape Stomp (Service)
Oct 2023: BOOnanza (Service)
Nov 2023: Grocery Grab (Finance)
December 2023: 14th Annual Santa’s Gift House, 2 Locations at Hollister and Bradleyville Elementary School (Service) New Record of 345 children served
December 2023: Christmas Assistance served 101 children through OACAC (Service)
December 2023: Ryan Holmes, owner of Mr. G’s Pizza, was accorded the honor of becoming a Sustaining Member of JATC
January 2024: 1st STEAMpunk Academy (Service)
January 2024: School Supplies Project (Service) Hollister Elementary was added to schools served, along with Bradleyville, Kirbyville, Mark Twain, and Taneyville
February 2024: Prom Dress Project and Boonanza Project were both discontinued
February 2024: Ninth Mr. G’s Annual JATC Days (Finance)
March 2024: Turn Off and Tune In (Provisional Service Project and NAJA Focus Project)
March 2024: “A Tip of the Crown” from NAJA for Grocery Grab Article in the Spring Crownlet
April 2024: 22nd Annual Trivia (Finance)
May 2024: Marcia Vander Laan becomes 28th Chapter President (2nd Term)
June 2024: Celebrate Reading presents “Reading by the Campfire”
December 2024: 15th Annual Santa’s Gift House
For more information on JATC, please visit our Facebook page or contact us via e-mail at jatcmo@gmail.com.
More information on NAJA can be found at www.najanet.org.