National Association of Junior Auxiliaries
Junior Auxiliary of Collierville is a chapter of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, Mississippi. NAJA has more than 15,000 active, associate and life members and over 100 chapters in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. Our volunteers work tirelessly throughout the year on a variety of projects that focus on local children and families in need. NAJA's national slogan is "Care Today, Character Tomorrow" and its focus remains on child welfare. The NAJA Foundation issues grants and scholarships to chapters and individuals annually.
Junior Auxiliary has a rich history of service, and the Junior Auxiliary of Collierville, is carrying on that tradition. This Chapter embraces the founding principles of our national organization - helping children and making a difference in their lives.
NAJA also hosts area meetings across the southeast each year to offer training and assistance to the organization’s chapters. “This is one of the cornerstones of our NAJA mission,” said Leslie Vaughn, former NAJA President. “It is important to offer more in depth resources and educational opportunities to benefit all of our chapter members and the communities they serve.” In particular, she noted, “We are excited about our new National Focus and the potential for developing new service projects around it.”
Junior Auxiliary represents a serious endeavor on the part of women to be active and constructive community participants and to assume leadership roles in meeting community needs. The mission of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries is to provide support, resources, and educational, leadership, cultural, and healthcare training for NAJA members in order to optimize community service by NAJA Chapters. For more information on NAJA, visit www.najanet.org.
Junior Auxiliary has a rich history of service, and the Junior Auxiliary of Collierville, is carrying on that tradition. This Chapter embraces the founding principles of our national organization - helping children and making a difference in their lives.
NAJA also hosts area meetings across the southeast each year to offer training and assistance to the organization’s chapters. “This is one of the cornerstones of our NAJA mission,” said Leslie Vaughn, former NAJA President. “It is important to offer more in depth resources and educational opportunities to benefit all of our chapter members and the communities they serve.” In particular, she noted, “We are excited about our new National Focus and the potential for developing new service projects around it.”
Junior Auxiliary represents a serious endeavor on the part of women to be active and constructive community participants and to assume leadership roles in meeting community needs. The mission of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries is to provide support, resources, and educational, leadership, cultural, and healthcare training for NAJA members in order to optimize community service by NAJA Chapters. For more information on NAJA, visit www.najanet.org.
History of Junior Auxiliary of Collierville
Junior Auxiliary of Collierville started as "Women In Collierville Community Service Club" ("WICCS"), a charitable and community service organization founded in 1991. Many WICCS members were newcomers to Collierville, having moved there within the last 10 years of its inception. Others were women who grew up in Collierville, many of whom were daughters of members of The Twentieth Century Club. WICCS was a small group of about 20 members.They were working women, professionals, homemakers and mothers who joined together with the common purpose of making a difference in their community and keeping Collierville a great place to live.
WICCS was a small group of about 20 members. It was a wonderful club of friends who were interested in supporting various worthy Collierville groups. Some of WICCS contributions to the community were scholarships to Collierville High School students, equipment for the Education Room at the Animal Shelter, and playground equipment at Cox Park. Monthly service projects contributed to many local organizations such as the Collierville Library, Collierville Animal Shelter, Collierville Schools, Collierville Literacy Council, Fair On The Square, Collierville Alzheimer Day Care Facility, Collierville Family Violence Council, Main Street Collierville, and Collierville Education Foundation. To become a member of WICCS, nominees were sponsored by an active WICCS member. Meetings were held monthly in member's homes on the third Tuesday of each month. Socials and playdates were also regularly held.
In September 2006, WICCS members voted to pursue becoming a chapter of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA) in order to join forces with a national service organization. The name was changed to Junior Auxiliary of Collierville upon being accepted by NAJA as a Provisional Chapter. On October 24, 2006, a Provisional Tea was held to accept new members and, together with existing WICCS members, form Junior Auxiliary of Collierville's first Provisional Class. Together, these ladies became the Chapter's Charter Members.
After completing all of the provisional requirements, Junior Auxiliary of Collierville received its charter from the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries in May of 2007 at the NAJA Annual Education Conference in Memphis, TN. Additionally in 2007, Junior Auxiliary of Collierville was recognized as a 501(c)(3) by the IRS and incorporated by the Tennessee Secretary of State as a non-for-profit charitable organization.
WICCS was a small group of about 20 members. It was a wonderful club of friends who were interested in supporting various worthy Collierville groups. Some of WICCS contributions to the community were scholarships to Collierville High School students, equipment for the Education Room at the Animal Shelter, and playground equipment at Cox Park. Monthly service projects contributed to many local organizations such as the Collierville Library, Collierville Animal Shelter, Collierville Schools, Collierville Literacy Council, Fair On The Square, Collierville Alzheimer Day Care Facility, Collierville Family Violence Council, Main Street Collierville, and Collierville Education Foundation. To become a member of WICCS, nominees were sponsored by an active WICCS member. Meetings were held monthly in member's homes on the third Tuesday of each month. Socials and playdates were also regularly held.
In September 2006, WICCS members voted to pursue becoming a chapter of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA) in order to join forces with a national service organization. The name was changed to Junior Auxiliary of Collierville upon being accepted by NAJA as a Provisional Chapter. On October 24, 2006, a Provisional Tea was held to accept new members and, together with existing WICCS members, form Junior Auxiliary of Collierville's first Provisional Class. Together, these ladies became the Chapter's Charter Members.
After completing all of the provisional requirements, Junior Auxiliary of Collierville received its charter from the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries in May of 2007 at the NAJA Annual Education Conference in Memphis, TN. Additionally in 2007, Junior Auxiliary of Collierville was recognized as a 501(c)(3) by the IRS and incorporated by the Tennessee Secretary of State as a non-for-profit charitable organization.
