Chapter History

Chapter History

On December 2, 1990, a group of about thirty mothers met at the home of Penny Walter Nash in Katonah, NY to begin the process required to form an Upper Westchester chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. ​
The group was approved for Provisional Group status on April 11, 1991, with 77 families on the initial roster.  All children’s groups met for their first monthly activity in April 1991. Strong bonds quickly formed among the children and new friendships in the ranks of the membership.

Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter Charter Members

  • JoAnne Armstrong
  • Sheila Banks-McKenzie
  • Minnie Bannister
  • Clara Bass
  • Michelle Benjamin
  • Carolyn Bentham
  • Beverly Blount
  • Myrnae Patterson Burns
  • Brenda Cambridge
  • Juanita Carver
  • Rose Clunie
  • Earlene Cox
  • Evelyn Crenshaw
  • Kary Cyprian
  • Linda Davis
  • Angela DeLeon
  • Connie Epps
  • G. Sonja Farr
  • Aida Gerguson
  • Lyndia Foriest
  • Ruby Galiber-Wint
  • Maxine Gibb
  • Wendy Robinson Gillman
  • Bernice Giscombe
  • Annette Govan
  • Cheryl Greene
  • Sharon Grey
  • Carmen Hamilton
  • Adrienne Hayes
  • Jeanette Honeywell
  • Verna Hopkins
  • Telka Howard
  • Denise Irish
  • Doryl James
  • Verona Jeter
  • Joanne Johnson
  • Jerretha Jones
  • Lelia Jordan
  • Geraldine Kearse
  • Leslie McDonald
  • Vanessa McFarlane
  • ​Roxanne McNeil-Johnson
  • ​Hyacinth Miller
  • Tonieh Moshier
  • Shirley Mosley
  • Sheila Murray
  • Pennye Walters Nash
  • Carol Nixon-Little
  • Francine Ogaard
  • Gloria Outen
  • Renee Peerman
  • Troy Pinkney-Ragsdale
  • Barbara Richberg
  • Mattie Roberson
  • Sandy Robinson
  • Candy Saxton
  • Leleith Smith
  • Patricia Soso
  • Radiah Sumler
  • Eloise Thomas
  • Deborah Ellis Timberlake
  • Jennifer Tronchin
  • ​Lorraine Webb

On July 22, 1992, the delegates at the 1992 National Convention in Orlando, FL, approved the formation of the Mid-Hudson Valley Provisional Chapter. On October 17, 1992, National President, Nellie Thornton installed the 218th Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter and initiated 65 members. The first President of the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter was Penny Nash. Other women who have served in this capacity, in order of service are:
1992 - 1994 Pennye Nash
1994 - 1996 Denise Bowser-Irish
1996 - 1998 Deborah Timberlake
1998 - 2000 Carmen Hamilton
2000 - 2002 Bebe Stukes
2002 - 2004 JoAnne Richardson*
2004 - 2006 Avis Wiggins
2006 - 2008 Avis Wiggins
2008 - 2012 Sharon Eason
2012 - 2014 Margaret Gibson
2014 - 2015 Sharon Eason
2015 - 2018 Karen St. Vil
​2018 - 2022 De-Angela Watt
​2022 - 2026 Dawanna Veneable

​*deceased

The Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter is proud to be the home of 3rd Eastern Regional Secretary, Margaret Gibson and past Eastern Region Teen President, Audrey Watt.
Our chapter received the following awards and recognitions of the years:

  • Superior Program Handbook Rating - 2012 through 2023
  • 2013 Jacqueline Robinson Regional Competition Grant
  • 2015 2nd Place Award Eastern Region Superior Handbook Competition
  • 2017 MHVC Teens won 3rd Place Overall Banner Competition 67th Teen Conference in Boston
  • 2019 3rd Place Eastern Region Chapter of the Year
  • 2019 1st Place Eastern Region Legislative Award
  • 2019 3rd Place National Legislative Programming Award
  • 2020, 2021 and 2022 3rd Place Eastern Region Treasurer of the Year
  • 2020 Community Service Award from Nu Psi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
  • Five Star Chapter of Excellence at 44th National Convention - August 2020
  • Five Star Chapter of Excellence at 45th National Convention - July 2022​
  • 2023 Eastern Region Chapter of the Year
  • 2023 Eastern Region Top Foundation Contribution per capita
  • 2023 Eastern Region Second Place Overall Foundation Contribution
  • Five Star Chapter of Excellence at 46th National Convention - July 2024

Eastern Region Offices & Committee Representative

Joann Richardson - 2003 Regional Program Director
Margaret Gibson - Eastern Regional Scribe 2011
Margaret Gibson - AIM for Healthy Living Coordinator 2012
Margaret Gibson - Community Service Chair 2013
Margaret Gibson - Regional Protocol Chair 2014
Margaret Gibson - Eastern Regional Secretary 2015-2019
Teen Audrey Watt - Regional Teen President - 2017-2018
Dawanna Veneable - Eastern Regional Chaplain and Chair, Chaplains Council, 2023 - 2025 and 2024 - 2026 National Small but Mighty Chapter Support Task Force
Dawanna Veneable - Bylaws, Technology, and Policies & Procedures​
Jennifer Joly - Strategic Planning and Programming
​Sheryl Warren - Finance, Legislative, and Logistics
​Janice Byndloss - Regional Membership Committee 2021-2022
Karen St. Vil - Regional Historical Task Force Chair 2021-2022
De-Angela Watt - Regional Nominating Committee - 2021-2023
Robin Williams - Regional Protocol Chair 2020-2022
Tiffany Mizen - Regional Editorial Committee, 2022 - 2024