Central Region Review August 2023

RD TORII RANSOME FREEMAN Greetings Cool and Classy Mothers of the Central Region, I am grateful to have received your support to serve as the 27th Regional Director of the Central Region.

As shared during my campaign journey, I am because she did... My grandmother, Ruth Johnson Ransome, stepped out on faith, that the opportunities for her children could be more, through their experiences with Jack and Jill. She leaned in with hope in 1938, and I am thankful that she did as I now can shower her great-grandchildren with opportunities she could only have dreamed of. So here we are in 2023 about to embark on the start of our programming year. Many of us have sent little ones, middle ones and some big ones... off to their first days of class. May each of them be safe, dream big, and have impactful days ahead.

As we begin our year I would like to send a heartfelt welcome to all of our new mother members who are about to enter their first year of Jack and Jill programming. Thank you for joining us and working together for the good of all of our children. I would like to send a shout-out to all mother members who are returning to the journey to continue to seek the value of Jack and Jill and finally, I would like to say a special thank you to each mother member who has now graduated to the level of Associate and gave of themselves along the way to make a better place for our children.

To all mothers of Central Region - Jack and Jill of America, Inc. your unwavering love, your strength, and your selfless acts of kindess and dedication, improve our organization and make the world brighter. May each of your days be filled with joy and appreciation for the incredible role you play in shaping lives and nurturing hearts.

As we step forward endless possibilities await. Let us embrace new experiences, learning opportunities, and grow our regional might.

Challenges may arise, but remember, each obstacle is a chance to develop and become stronger. Let's all remember to keep our mission insight... while we keep our spirits resilient and navigate this programming year with determination and grace for the good of the children.

Read, Set, Lead!

Torii Ransome Freeman

Regional Director

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JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INC. LET US NOT FORGET...

OBJECTIVES The OBJECTIVES of this non-profit organization are: To create a medium of contact FOR CHILDREN which will stimulate growth and development; and To provide FOR CHILDREN, constructive educational, cultural, civic, recreational, health and social programs AIMS The AIMS of this organization are: To aid mothers in learning more about THEIR CHILDREN by careful study.

To seek FOR ALL CHILDREN the same advantages which we desire for our own.

To support all national legislation aimed at bettering the conditions of ALL CHILDREN. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES •Commit to Serving a Higher Purpose •Commit to Keeping Children First •Commit to Building Harmonious Sisterly Relationships* •Commit to Being Knowledgeable •Commit to Being Strategic •Commit to Being Accountable •Commit to Being Kind PAGE TWO | CR REVIEW

JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INC. LET US NOT FORGET...

MISSION Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

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NT MICHELE HENRY-MCGEE Greetings, Members of the Cool and Classy Region!

I pray you are excited as I and the entire National Executive Board to begin the 2023-2024 program year.

As our children are beginning a new school year and elevating their greatness, so is your National Executive Board under the dynamic, fearless, and caring leadership of our National President Kornisha McGill Brown.

Congratulations again to our 2023 graduates!! Please make sure to keep them engaged with Jack and Jill through our Alumni Connections Task Force and the Mothers Away From Home program.

I am rooting for them and know they will be successful on their chosen paths. To our 2023 graduated mothers, enjoy what's yet to come, and save a seat for me on the Associate's bus.

It was so great to see so many of our families on the Greek Isles Cultural Trip. Although, I complained about being on that canoe about 80% of the time, I really did have a good time and am so glad I went. Thank you to our families for celebrating another birthday with me as we cruised.

When you're pushed out of your comfort zone, knowing you have family with you to catch you if you stumble (or miss the boat) makes it better.

I look forward to spending time with our newly elected Central Region Executive Board this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota as they are joined by their counterparts from the Far West, Eastern, MidAtlantic, Mid-Western, South Central, and Southeastern Regions for a week of leadership training and team building. Please keep RD Torii, RT Sandra, RS JoAnna, and Foundation MAL Shante in your prayers as they embark on a journey to provide the best of themselves to our Region, and let's send our thanks to IPRD Suzanne as she jumps fully into her next phase as she patiently awaits 2025.

I look forward to welcoming our Central Region families to the 2023 On the Hill Teen Legislative Summit next month. This biennial event is always such a great opportunity for our teens as they get a cultivated opportunity to advocate for themselves, their peers, their families, and their community. They embody leadership in action, and I am always so proud to witness their advocacy.

Led by our Regional Legislative Chair Trina Payne-Grier of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter and our Regional Teen Legislative Chair Marian Williams of the St. Clair County Chapter, the 2023 Central Region delegation will include 28 teens representing 12 of our chapters. Please make sure our leaders know the issues that are important to you as they will represent the voices of our Region.

I highly anticipate seeing many of you this Fall at our Mother and Teen Area Workdays. Area Workday presents such a great opportunity to learn more about Jack and Jill. There's always more to learn about updated policies and procedures, governance, process, programming, finances, and everything Jack and Jill. Conference and convention are about the business of Jack and Jill, but Area Workday is about learning Jack and Jill. There's something for every member, and as I always say, "Our children get out of Jack and Jill what we put into Jack and Jill." Let's make this year the year we pour into Jack and Jill as much as Jack and Jill pours into our families.

Finally, the new program year is just around the corner. I see it in sight. I wish each of our 18 chapters and all of our families a great year, and I send my love to each of you. We are in great hands with RD Torii and the entire REB.

NT Michele

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RT SANDRA MCKINNEY 2023 Internal Chapter Financial Evaluation is due August 31st.

Please send to: Finance@jack-and-jill.org, jjntmichele@gmail.com and rtsandra@jackandjillcentralregion.org The chapter's Internal Evaluation Committee shall conduct a review of the chapter financial practices and review financial statements at the conclusion of each fischal year using the national standardized form. It is recommended that this elected comittee of at least three mothers (not including any current financial officers) shall meet after year end financial statements have been completed to ensure all financial statements are correct and review or evaluation.

If a chapter elects to do an external audit, that does not substitute for an internal evaluation. All chapters must complete the internal evaluation. Failure to complete an evaluation by the August 31 deadline will result in a $100 late fee assessed, no exception.

National and Regional per Capita reports and payments are due by Saturday, September 30, 2023, 11:59:59PM respective to your local time.

Please do not wait until the last minute to submit. A National late fee of $100.00 per member reporting late will be assessed beginning October 1, 2023, without exception.

Regional late fees will also be assessed.

Regional Per Capita - Mothers $100 Regional Per Capita - Associates 100 Regional Per Capita - Teens 40 Regional Conference Assessment 25 Regional National Convention Assessment 25

Chapter Financial Officer Chats and Monthly Meetings will start in September.

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RS JOANNA BOWIE-PRUITT 2022-2023 Conference Attendance Verification Process 1 in 4... due August 31

Each mother member should have received communication via Central Region chapter leadership regarding their current 1 in 4 status.

Please be advised that the 2022-2023 1-in-4 conference attendance verification process will be conducted electronically through Digital Cheetah as it was last year.

Per our National Constitution and Bylaws Article 1, Section 1A, #2: "To maintain membership, a member must be in good standing. Good standing as used in this document means a mother must be active and financial. Active is defined as participating in local chapter activities, sponsoring age-group activities and supporting the Foundation. A member in good standing shall be required to attend one (1) national convention or one (1) regional conference or one (1) regional area workday or cluster or one (1) teen conference on a rolling four (4) year period for the duration of her membership tenure. Financial is defined as having paid all chapter, regional and national dues, assessments and fees. A member who is not financial at any time during a program year shall not be entitled to vote until she resumes the status of being financial."

New Mothers from Spring 2023, Mothers who tenured out in Spring 2023 and Mothers on Leave of Absence must also satisfy the 1-in-4 verification requirement.

All Chapter Mothers must complete the 2022-2023 1-in-4 Conference Requirement Acknowledgement Form in Digital Cheetah acknowledging their conference attendance.

Stay Tuned ... Chapter Secretaries Meetings Monthly meetings will be scheduled to check-in with Chapter Recording and Corresponding Secretaries to provide an opportunity to connect and learn from one another. Stay tuned for the calendar invite.

Mark Your Calendars for Central Region Dates!

See the calendar listing included in this news blast and add to your personal and chapter schedule of events.

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MAL SHANTE' TURNER

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REGIONAL TEEN OFFICERS 2023 - 2024

Regional Teen President, SirMichael Carrington Williams-Thomas (DES) Regional Teen Vice President, Alijah Hunter (ESL) Regional Teen Secretary, Jeremiah Eli Little (SSD) Regional Teen Treasurer, Riley Grier (NWA) Regional Teen Foundation Chair, Amaria Love (GLR) Regional Teen Chaplain, Dallas Thornton (SCC) Regional Teen Parlimentarian, M'Jai Watkins (CMO) Regional Teen Sergeant at Arms, Donnell Bolton II (KCK) On the weekend of August 11-13, RTA Lorraine Muhammad and the Central Region RTOs were in Northwest, Arkansas, to kick off the 2023–2024 programming year. The RTO‘s had an amazing retreat. The officers spent many hours brainstorming ideas and events for conducting this year’s Area Workday and Teen Leadership Conference. They are very excited to serve as officers and are ready engage with teens of the Central Region.

They worked hard on the task at hand, and worked intentionally to get to know each other. Laughter and music were heard near and far as they produced their team outcomes.

Stay tuned for additional photos of and messages from the Central Region RTOs. PAGE EIGHT| CR REVIEW

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REGIONAL APPOINTMENTS

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REGIONAL APPOINTMENTS

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REGIONAL APPOINTMENTS

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