Junior Chairman- Jamie Daybell Topham

Jamie Lynn Daybell Topham and I am serving as the Department of Utah Junior Co-Chair.  I recently married Cliff Topham and am living in West Jordan.  I work full time as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Valley Mental Health.  I am a member of the Spanish Fork Unit #68 and have been a member of the Auxiliary for over 20 years.  I have served as Honorary Junior Department President for Utah attending many National Conventions and have served in all of the Department Junior offices.  I have served on Utah Girls State staff and have worked with the Junior Members.  I am excited to be working with the Juniors this year and looking forward to activating and retaining membership and communicating opportunities for the junior members.

 

This year we have four focuses:

1. Service to military families

2. Scholarship opportunities

3. Utilizing technology

4. Activating and retaining Junior Members

 

For the activities for our first objective:

 

To start off, we will be having an organizational meeting on December 5, 2010 at the VA hospital in Salt Lake.  The meeting will start at 10am, followed by helping set up for Gift Shop, visiting the patients and passing out information for Gift Shop, and a light lunch.  Please work with your units and bring items to donate for Gift Shop.  Suggested items are toys and flannel pajama bottoms for adults as well as children.

 

In the spring we would like to encourage Junior members to complete a service project for military families such as spring clean ups, etc. 

 

For the second objective:

 

There will also be a number of opportunities for scholarships that will be offered.  Check back on the blog for more information regarding the requirements and deadlines for these scholarships.

 

For the third objective:

 

We would like to announce our new blog for the Utah Juniors at http://alautahjuniors.blogspot.com.  This will be a great place for junior members to look to find out important information including scholarships, upcoming events, and other opportunities. 

 

I would also like to collect e-mails from all of the junior members so that information can also be sent to you this way and that I have a contact for junior members and vice versa. 

 

For the fourth objective:

 

We would like to encourage active participation in the Junior Auxiliary and get the word out to all Junior members.  Remember, you do not have to attend all of the activities to participate.  Any participation is better than none!  I guarantee that you will make lifelong friends and skills to assist you in your future development and goals.

 

Finally, we will be offering the patch program.  This is an opportunity to increase your knowledge of patriotism, citizenship, leadership, health, and fitness.  You can be involved as a group or an individual.  Every two months a new patch will be focused on following the American Legion Auxiliary programs.

 

Feel free to contact me at jamie_daybell@yahoo.com with any questions or ideas.

 

Just a reminder to make sure your membership dues are paid!   

 

We have an exciting year ahead of us and I look forward to working with the Junior Members.

 

Jamie Topham

Utah Department Junior Co-Chair