Junior LAOH Scrapbooks top all in national contest

Photo

The Junior LAOH Golden Rose Division took the top award in a national scrapbook competition recently. From left to right are Morgan and Brighid Donnelly, juniors; Audra Pesko, scrapbook committee; Heather Foust and Megan Wilson, juniors; and Alexis Jacobs, Christine Kerrigan, Isabel Stoeber and Rachel Kepley (president), scrapbook committee. Not pictured are Brianna and Ashley Thompson, Mary Kate Kelty, Erin Loomis and Kristen Eckman, all on the scrapbook committee. Also not pictured are juniors D’Ella and Millie Heschmeyer, and Cynthia and Victoria Romeo.

YOUNGSTOWN

The Junior Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 6, Mahoning County, Junior Scrapbook Committee won first place in the national biannual AOH-LAOH National Convention at the Turning Stone Convention Center in Verona, N.Y., in July.

They also won first place in 2010 and finished second in 2008.

Amy May, LAOH Mahoning County president, accepted the prize on behalf of the juniors, who designed, selected, and planned categories and completed the scrapbook.

Connie Thompson provided scrapbook design assistance.

Junior membership is open to Catholic girls, ages 6 to 18 years, with Irish ancestry by birth or descent.

The patroness of the Juniors is St. Brigid of Ireland, and also honored are St. Patrick and the Blessed Mother, the Golden Rose Queen of Ireland.

Meeting topics vary each year as juniors promote their American patriotism and have opportunities to research and learn Irish history; study customs; play the tin whistle; investigate ancestry; plan several service-charity projects, including a Relay For Life team; bake Irish recipes; plan a May crowning and more.

Dues are $3 per year, and 50 cents is collected at meetings for the missions. The enduring benefit is bonds of friendship and leadership skills. The junior motto is to promote “friendship, unity and Christian charity.”