CHAPTER HISTORY
The Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. had its beginnings in Philadelphia PA when the soon-to-be founding Chapter President Jean Wiles first met the soon-to-be National President Nellie Thornton. Mother Jean shared with Mother Nellie her concerns of her oldest son being the only African American child in his entire fourth grade class, and one of three in the entire school. Mother Nellie encouraged her to form a chapter of Jack and Jill in Rockland County, which would provide a positive support group for minority youth.
With the support of the Westchester Chapter, and their chapter liaison Mother Parthenia Brown, meetings were called, agendas written, activities planned and Rockland became a provisional chapter. The Rockland Chapter was approved at the Twenty-Ninth National Convention. Twenty-four women bound by the proximity of their homes and a driving desire to make things better for their children had become the 242nd chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. The Chapter's initial installation occurred on October 20, 1990 at the Park Ridge Marriott. In attendance were National President Nellie Thornton, Eastern Regional Director Sanderal Brown, and a host of family and friends.
The Chapter's first officers were President- Jean Wiles, Vice President- Judith Johnson, Corresponding Secretary- Shirley Mascoll, Treasurer- Alexandreena Dixon, Program Director- Elaine Toney, Journalist/Historian- Valerie Mathews, and Parliamentarian - Erline Everette. The other chartered members were - Claudette Clarke, Olga Davis, Sharon Davis, Eleanor Delfyett, Claudette Engram, Clover Hall, Thelma Henderson, Claudette Jamieson, Helen Johnson, Patricia Mallett, Juanita Mitchell, Frances Osei, Mary Jane Paulding. Winsome Downie-Rainford, Adlett Squires. Faye B. Wilson, and Debra Walker. Our first teen officers were President - Allana Mitchell, First Vice President - Lank Dais, Second Vice President - Kali Engram, Recording Secretary - Aaron Henderson and Corresponding Secretary - Karen Squires.
Other mothers who have served as president of our chapter include Adlett Squires from 1994 - 1997, Elona Collins from 1998 - 2000, Claudette Clarke from 2000- 2004, and Stephanie Miller from 2004-2008, Christine Esanasson from 2008-2010, Holly Zuber Banks from 2010-2012, Icilma Fergus Rowe from 2012- 2014 and Michele Laird- Williams from 2014- September 2015. During the 2012-2013 program year, Chapter President, Icilma Fergus Rowe, and Michele Laird-Williams, Chapter Vice-President, submitted for the chapter boundaries expansion to include Orange County. The boundary expansion request was approved by the National Executive Board and starting program year 2013-2014, our membership drive and intake included Orange County.
Our chapter hosted the Metropolitan Cluster in 1996 and in 2008 and Teen Conference in 2016. Over the years we also had the honor of having Sean Jamieson serve as Eastern Region Teen Treasurer and for the 2015-2016 program year Julian Straughter served as Regional Teen Sergeant of Arms.
Our chapter has hosted fun-filled, well attended fundraisers to benefit Jack and Jill Foundation, as well as local and national non-profit organizations such as The Martin Luther King Center, West Street Day Care Center, CAPS, The Martin Luther King National Memorial Foundation, vic-tims of Hurricane Katrina, St. Jude’s Children Research, and The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to name a few.
Some of the major service projects that the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill have participated in over the years include: Black Expo ('03, '05, '07), Martin Luther King Center Walk-a-Thon, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry Food Drive, Holiday Gift Wrapping to benefit both the American Heart and the American Cancer Society, Child created books on tape for blind children via the American Council for the Blind, , Health Expo (’08, ’09), American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon (’08), Martin Luther King Mul-tipurpose Center Library Literary Fundraiser (’14), March of Dimes/March for Babies(’13,’14,’15), People to People Thanksgiving Baskets (’10, ’11,’12), People to People, MLKMulti-Purpose Center Food Drive (’13,’14,). The Rockland Orange Chapter was recognized by People to People for Community Service Leadership in June 2015 for our years of service, support and food donations.
The Chapter has been the recipient of three Jack and Jill Foundation Grants to host health fairs in Rockland and Orange Counties and to build two reading corners at the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center.
The Chapter has been the recipient of numerous Regional awards, including Chapter of the Year in 2015, and, most recently, 2nd Place Regional Gavel Club Award in 2019.
With the support of the Westchester Chapter, and their chapter liaison Mother Parthenia Brown, meetings were called, agendas written, activities planned and Rockland became a provisional chapter. The Rockland Chapter was approved at the Twenty-Ninth National Convention. Twenty-four women bound by the proximity of their homes and a driving desire to make things better for their children had become the 242nd chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. The Chapter's initial installation occurred on October 20, 1990 at the Park Ridge Marriott. In attendance were National President Nellie Thornton, Eastern Regional Director Sanderal Brown, and a host of family and friends.
The Chapter's first officers were President- Jean Wiles, Vice President- Judith Johnson, Corresponding Secretary- Shirley Mascoll, Treasurer- Alexandreena Dixon, Program Director- Elaine Toney, Journalist/Historian- Valerie Mathews, and Parliamentarian - Erline Everette. The other chartered members were - Claudette Clarke, Olga Davis, Sharon Davis, Eleanor Delfyett, Claudette Engram, Clover Hall, Thelma Henderson, Claudette Jamieson, Helen Johnson, Patricia Mallett, Juanita Mitchell, Frances Osei, Mary Jane Paulding. Winsome Downie-Rainford, Adlett Squires. Faye B. Wilson, and Debra Walker. Our first teen officers were President - Allana Mitchell, First Vice President - Lank Dais, Second Vice President - Kali Engram, Recording Secretary - Aaron Henderson and Corresponding Secretary - Karen Squires.
Other mothers who have served as president of our chapter include Adlett Squires from 1994 - 1997, Elona Collins from 1998 - 2000, Claudette Clarke from 2000- 2004, and Stephanie Miller from 2004-2008, Christine Esanasson from 2008-2010, Holly Zuber Banks from 2010-2012, Icilma Fergus Rowe from 2012- 2014 and Michele Laird- Williams from 2014- September 2015. During the 2012-2013 program year, Chapter President, Icilma Fergus Rowe, and Michele Laird-Williams, Chapter Vice-President, submitted for the chapter boundaries expansion to include Orange County. The boundary expansion request was approved by the National Executive Board and starting program year 2013-2014, our membership drive and intake included Orange County.
Our chapter hosted the Metropolitan Cluster in 1996 and in 2008 and Teen Conference in 2016. Over the years we also had the honor of having Sean Jamieson serve as Eastern Region Teen Treasurer and for the 2015-2016 program year Julian Straughter served as Regional Teen Sergeant of Arms.
Our chapter has hosted fun-filled, well attended fundraisers to benefit Jack and Jill Foundation, as well as local and national non-profit organizations such as The Martin Luther King Center, West Street Day Care Center, CAPS, The Martin Luther King National Memorial Foundation, vic-tims of Hurricane Katrina, St. Jude’s Children Research, and The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to name a few.
Some of the major service projects that the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill have participated in over the years include: Black Expo ('03, '05, '07), Martin Luther King Center Walk-a-Thon, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry Food Drive, Holiday Gift Wrapping to benefit both the American Heart and the American Cancer Society, Child created books on tape for blind children via the American Council for the Blind, , Health Expo (’08, ’09), American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walkathon (’08), Martin Luther King Mul-tipurpose Center Library Literary Fundraiser (’14), March of Dimes/March for Babies(’13,’14,’15), People to People Thanksgiving Baskets (’10, ’11,’12), People to People, MLKMulti-Purpose Center Food Drive (’13,’14,). The Rockland Orange Chapter was recognized by People to People for Community Service Leadership in June 2015 for our years of service, support and food donations.
The Chapter has been the recipient of three Jack and Jill Foundation Grants to host health fairs in Rockland and Orange Counties and to build two reading corners at the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center.
The Chapter has been the recipient of numerous Regional awards, including Chapter of the Year in 2015, and, most recently, 2nd Place Regional Gavel Club Award in 2019.
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
* Jean Wiles (1990-1994)
* Adlett Squires (1994 – 1997)
* Elona Collins (1998 – 2000)
* Claudette Clarke (2000- 2004)
* Stephanie Miller (2004-2008)
*Christine Esannason (2008-2010)
*Holly Zuber–Banks (2010-2012)
*Dr. Icilma Fergus – Rowe (2012-2014)
* Michele Laird-Williams (2014-2015)
* Leslie Solan (2015– 2018)
* Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster (2018-Present)
* Adlett Squires (1994 – 1997)
* Elona Collins (1998 – 2000)
* Claudette Clarke (2000- 2004)
* Stephanie Miller (2004-2008)
*Christine Esannason (2008-2010)
*Holly Zuber–Banks (2010-2012)
*Dr. Icilma Fergus – Rowe (2012-2014)
* Michele Laird-Williams (2014-2015)
* Leslie Solan (2015– 2018)
* Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster (2018-Present)