House Concurrent Resolution 51

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF JACKSON ON THE CELEBRATION OF ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, the Junior League of Jackson, a charitable women's organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of life of those in their community, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in the year 2011; and

WHEREAS, originally organized as the Junior Auxiliary of Jackson in 1927 by a small group of women who wanted to better their community, the Junior League of Jackson, as it exists today, was born in January of 1941; and

WHEREAS, with more than 2,200 provisional, active and sustaining members, the Junior League of Jackson is now one of the larger leagues in the Association of Junior Leagues International; and

WHEREAS, throughout its 70-year history, the Junior League of Jackson has tirelessly stepped out with bold action in response to community needs in the areas of healthcare, children and youth, arts and education, and community and neighborhood social services in order to make the greater Jackson area a stronger and better place to live, work and play; and

WHEREAS, in the 1940s, the Junior League of Jackson undertook one of the organization's first major leadership roles in improving health services in the City of Jackson by helping open and maintain the Community Hospital, which grew to include a dental clinic in the mid 1950s; and

WHEREAS, in the decades that followed, the physical and mental well-being of many Mississippians was improved due to many ongoing health-related projects of the Junior League, a sampling of which includes: advocating for the establishment of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the state's first four-year medical school and teaching hospital; volunteering at the Mississippi School for the Blind and the Orthopedic Appliance Dispensary, more recently known as the Orthopedic Clinic, at University Hospital; enhancing newborn care with the donation of a neonatal ambulance to the City of Jackson and the creation of "Rockin' Mamas," an infant rocking and stimulation program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; providing enrichment and companionship to children hospitalized at the Blair E. Batson's Hospital for Children at the University of Mississippi Medical Center through project "REACH"; and distributing infant car seats and explaining their proper usage to new mothers at the University Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, as its first signature project, the Junior League of Jackson undertook an ambitious fundraising campaign to build the Children's Cancer Clinic at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and after raising $2 million, celebrated the achievement with groundbreaking ceremonies for the clinic in 1989; and

WHEREAS, in addition to their ongoing service in the field of healthcare, members of the Junior League of Jackson have volunteered through many projects to enrich the City of Jackson as a place to live and visit, including: serving as guides and docents at the Old Capitol Museum and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum; working with the Department of Archives and History to preserve historical structures in Jackson by publishing and distributing various historical books, developing walking tours and school programs and nominating structures for the National Register of Historic Places; and cataloging Eudora Welty's letters and books for historical archiving; and

WHEREAS, although the greater Jackson area has benefited the most from the Junior League of Jackson's volunteer efforts, communities throughout the state have been helped by the quick and generous response of its members during times of crisis, as especially demonstrated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Camille in 1969; and

WHEREAS, in keeping with the Junior League's primary focus on children and youth, over the years, members have volunteered in ways that better the lives of all children in Mississippi through programs such as: DREAM/Drug Awareness; parenting classes and the first Mississippi Conference on Child Abuse; planned enrichment activities and one-on-one time with children at the Emergency Shelter for Abused and Neglected Children; and the Children's Advocacy Center; and

WHEREAS, in December 2010, the Junior League of Jackson celebrated the opening of its second signature project, the Mississippi Children's Museum at LeFleur's Bluff State Park, which was supported by a $1 million financial commitment from the Junior League; and

WHEREAS, while it is impracticable to individually recognize in this resolution each and every worthy and honorable project the Junior League of Jackson has undertaken since its birth in 1941, the Legislature declares that as clearly demonstrated over the past 70 years, the Junior League of Jackson truly is successful in living out its stated mission as "...an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.":

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Junior League of Jackson on the celebration of its 70th anniversary in 2011, express to the members of the Junior League sincerest gratitude for its many years of volunteer service to the City of Jackson and the entire State of Mississippi and extend heartfelt wishes for many more years of success in all of its future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Junior League of Jackson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.