Download - JLB Focus - Spring 2014
SPRING 2014 EDITION
FOCUS
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stephanie Smith President Julie Gheen President-Elect Amy Zimmer Recording Secretary Meghan Crane Treasurer Tracey Kevelighan Assistant Treasurer Shiela Jones Communications Council Director Abigail Sigal Community Programs Council Director Nikki Braddock Fund Development Council Director Meggie Midbo Membership Council Director Noelle Schiffer Sustainer Director
MISSION
The Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential
of women, and improving the community through
effective action and leadership trained volunteers.
Its purpose is exclusively educational and
charitable.
VISION
The Junior League: Women Around the World as
Catalysts for Lasting Community Change.
REACHING OUT STATEMENT
The Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan, Inc.
reaches out to women of all races, religions and
national origins who demonstrate an interest in
and commitment to voluntarism.
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
By: Stephanie Smith, President
It has been a busy League year!
In September, the Social Fundraising Committee
hosted a kick-off event at Dick O’Dows in Birmingham.
The committee, led by co-chairs Stacy Traina and Kelly Finley, were guest
bartenders for the evening. It was a hugely successful event and a great way for
members to mix and mingle after the summer break.
On October 20th, the League hosted the 20th Annual Pumpkin Patch. The event
provided children and their families a safe and fun environment to celebrate
Halloween. All goodies were nut and candy free in an effort to promote the
League’s community impact initiative to combat childhood obesity. Congrats to
co-chairs Jillian Bommarito and Sarah Ambrose and their committee for another
successful event!
October 20th was a busy day for League members, as the JLB also participated in
a symposium hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. The event
was an informative panel discussion to bring community awareness to the issue
of Human Trafficking. Speakers included Jane P. White, the Michigan Human
Trafficking Task Force Director, and the JLB’s own, Emily Todebush, among
others.
On December 11th, the League was honored to host a Town Hall meeting with
Attorney General Bill Schuette and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard to
bring community awareness about the tragic occurrence of human trafficking in
this area. The JLB is continuing its efforts to bring awareness and education
around this issue. For the second year, JLB volunteers participated in the
distribution of soap to area hotels labeled with the human trafficking hotline
number, prior to the North American International Auto Show.
The Community Impact Committee has expanded the Kids in the Kitchen
programming to include yoga classes. In addition, the committee and the new
member class partnered with Little Green Gardeners to build a community
garden at the South Oakland YMCA.
In February, the New Member class celebrated the Mitten State with a successful
Made in Michigan fundraiser. As the end of the year approaches, members are
eagerly looking forward to the introduction to the League’s first signature event,
Spring Sophisticate, and the 6th Annual Dash for Destiny on May 4th. Both are
guaranteed to be can’t miss events! I hope to see you there!
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NEW MEMBERS TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGE WITH LITTLE GREEN GARDENERS!
This years’ new member class of almost 70 women has an exciting new
challenge for their New Member Project! Working hand in hand with Little
Green Gardeners, founded in 2011 by League member Kristen Urcan, this
year the League is teaming up to put in a garden at the South Oakland
YMCA in Royal Oak. Several new members and active members have
already gotten the gardens started by adding compost to the six raised beds placed on the north end of the YMCA property near
Woodward at 11 mile road.
Little Green Gardeners mission is building vegetable gardens in elementary schools and teaching gardening to children for their
educational, physical, environmental and emotional health.
The League’s New Member class will be responsible for planning and fund-raising for the garden’s kick-off event. The fund-raiser
took place on February 23, 2014 at Camp Ticonderoga in Troy and the kick-off will be later in the spring.
The kick-off will most likely be an expo style event with a “family wellness” focus (a public event that could be similar to the Kids in
the Kitchen events.)
“We are excited to team up the new members in such a great hands on community project,” said Joey Molnar, Membership
Development Chair. “Teaming up with both the South Oakland YMCA and the Little Green Gardeners is a perfect way to put the
League’s mission into action by “…improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” Molnar
continued.
One of the primary goals of Little Green Gardeners is to encourage children to enjoy trying and eating fresh vegetables. Since
studies show that children are more likely to enjoy eating vegetables when they have grown them themselves, vegetable gardening
provides an invaluable learning experience for children. They also feel passionate about helping kids get away from things like video
games, and instead get back to the basics of being outside, breathing fresh air, and moving around. Additionally, they have an
interest in teaching our future leaders about the environmental benefits of local growing, which include reducing fuel use from
transportation, and reducing pesticide use, just to name a few. As gardening teaches children to be patient, the sense of
accomplishment that children gain when all of their efforts finally produce the first signs of vegetables, is a valuable life experience
and tool.
When the garden is complete, YMCA, Little Green Gardeners and JLB volunteers will maintain it through the summer growing
season.
Through activities such as donating vegetables to a soup kitchen, and selling vegetables at The Farmer's Market, the children have
the opportunity to learn about social responsibility and entrepreneurialism. Additionally, teachers use the garden as a hands-on
tool when teaching subjects such as science, math, etc. Rather than just learning about how plants grow, the garden enables the
children to actually watch how they grow. Math skills are taught as they plan the spacing for the garden, and as they add and divide
up the vegetables they produce.
By: Susie Sherman-Hall
To learn more about Little Green Gardeners, go to www.littlegreengardeners.org
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LEADING CHANGE By: Stephanie Smith, President
As the needs of
the community
change, Junior
Leagues must also
change and
transform. League
leaders have to be
able to guide
members through both change and transformation. Change fixes the past while
Transformation creates the future. Junior League leaders are often compelled to
do both at the same time. It can be scary and it impacts each and every League
member. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Association of Junior
Leagues International, Inc. Fall Leadership Conference in Detroit. During the
conference, Vicki Clark presented on Leading Change and Initiating
Organizational Renewal, which focused on successfully leading through change
and transformation. To be successful, Ms. Clark noted it is important to
remember the following:
1. Understand the importance of people.
2. Appreciate that people throughout the organization have different reactions
to change.
3. Be aware that transformation is not just an event, but a mental, physical,
emotional process.
4. Be candid.
5. Be sure to appropriately “set the stage” for change.
6. Note that transformation is different than incremental change.
7. Be sure to negotiate the new goals between members, leadership, and the
League as a whole.
8. Be sure members understand the planned change and transformation. Do
not just assume it was what they heard or read from leadership.
9. Never underestimate human potential.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to
create many ripples.” –Mother Teresa
Have you had a chance to brush up on
what it is that we do as a League to
impact our community? Do you have an
elevator speech for friends or curious
community members on how the JLB
impacts our community? Please check
out our new Case for Support color
PDF. This document helps showcase our
goals and activities throughout the year.
It can be found under the Member Area
on the JLB website at www.jlbham.org
under Case for Support. This document
should be used at any JLB event to
help educate the community about our
programming, acquire new members
and aid in seeking donations. This
document needs to be printed in color,
which you can request on the JLB
website in the member area.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COUNCIL- CASE FOR SUPPORT By: Abigail Sigal
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MADE IN MICHIGAN NEW MEMBER EVENT
96 people attended the wildly successful
Made in Michigan New Member Event at
Camp Ticonderoga in Troy, MI. The
League is proud to announce that after
working
tirelessly to
garner raffle
items, create
a marketing
plan, develop
a Michigan
themed trivia
game, sell
tickets and
decorate the
space and
much, much more, the New Members
raised approximately $5000!
The League invests in its leaders by
sending members on paid trips to
attend leadership trainings hosted
by the Association of Junior Leagues
International (AJLI).
Organizational Development
Institute (ODI)
Each year the League sends members to AJLI’s Organizational Development
Institute (ODI) trainings, which are offered twice a year in various locations
around the United States. These conferences feature workshop training sessions
and specialized training tracks based on leadership position. This year Shiela
Jones and Joey Molnar attended the ODI training in October in Indianapolis. And,
Tracey Kevelighan and Emily Todebush attended the ODI training in February in
Fort Lauderdale.
The number of members sent to trainings varies each year based on the available
training budget and developmental needs of the League. However, the League
remains committed to providing training opportunities for its leadership. We
anticipate sending members to ODI training in Kansas City, MO in October 2014
and in Grapevine, TX in February 2015. When selecting members for ODI
trainings, the League looks for current or future League leaders who have not yet
had the opportunity to attend ODI. Interested? Talk to your Membership Advisor
or the President Elect for more information.
Leadership & Annual Conference
The League also has special training opportunities for its incoming Presidents.
Each year the League sends it’s President-Elect and President Elect-Elect to the
Winter Leadership Conference and Annual Conference hosted by AJLI. Shiela
Jones and Julie Gheen attended the Winter Leadership Conference in Scottsdale,
AZ where they participated in workshops aimed at preparing them for their
future roles and building a collaborative partnership with each other. They were
also able to network with the leaders of the other Michigan leagues. In May they
will travel to St. Louis, MO for the AJLI Annual Conference. At this conference,
they will further develop their leadership skills in workshop sessions, as well as
represent The League in AJLI Plenary Sessions, which include discussions and
voting on international Junior League issues.
More Information
Talk to your Membership Advisor or the President Elect for more information on
The League’s involvement with AJLI trainings. For more information visit the
Training & Meetings tab on the AJLI website (www.AJLI.org). While you are there,
check out the webinar trainings hosted online by AJLI and other trainings
resources available to members from their home computers!
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YOU SHOP. AMAZON GIVES.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your
eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Junior
League Of Birmingham Mich Inc whenever
you shop on AmazonSmile.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know.
Same products, same prices, same service.
Support the JLB by shopping today at
www.smile.amazon.com.
SUSTAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD The Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan Inc. is proud to announce a new award. The Sustainer of the Year Award
celebrates a woman of outstanding leadership in the League who has used her talents and resources to improve the social
and economic conditions of others. She exemplifies the Junior League mission and vision. She has made a positive impact
in the League and the community, and her volunteer work continues in the tradition of our founder, Mary Harriman.
This award is given to honor a sustaining League member who generously and thoughtfully shares her time and talent
within her community. All Sustainer of the Year candidates should have a strong history of support and involvement
within the League. Nominees will have embraced the League's mission of lifelong voluntarism with community leadership
outside of the League. This award pays tribute to a Sustainer who best exemplifies the embodiment of League ideals - one
who gives of herself in both time and talent.
Nominating Criteria
Any member (Active, Provisional or Sustaining) in good standing may submit nominations that
are voted on by the Active Board of Directors.
Each nomination submission should identify the following:
1. How has the nominee made a difference in the community
2. What community issues has she addressed?
3. What have been the most significant and lasting contributions she has given to the League
and to the community?
Please consider nominating your favorite Sustainer next year! Deadlines for nominations will be published in eblasts
and on social media. Please email completed nominations to [email protected] or mail to:
The Junior League of Birmingham
Sustainer of the Year Nomination
460 North Old Woodward Avenue
Birmingham, MI 48009
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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COUNCIL-VOLUNTEER UPDATE
I am excited at the momentum of our League, as we have many
accomplishments to be proud of. I want to personally thank each League
member for her generous volunteer time throughout the year. I realize that we
are all busy with our lives and taking time to participate shows that you are
dedicated to improving the community. Over the last few years League
volunteers are making firmer commitments to attend volunteer projects of
choice. This is a huge positive step forward!
We still have many upcoming opportunities to help you achieve your minimum
10-hour JLB
requirement. Please
note you are more than
welcome to volunteer
for more than just 10
hours throughout the
year. Remaining
opportunities include
Kids in the Kitchen, Girls
on the Run 5K, Dash for
Destiny, Celebrate
Birmingham Parade and new June, July and August summer volunteer
opportunities with Little Green Gardeners at the South Oakland Family YMCA in
Royal Oak, just to name a few.
Please check the volunteer calendar frequently to see upcoming volunteer
opportunities. Volunteering is a way to gain a first hand knowledge into what we
do within the community. By trying different types of activities, you will broaden
your knowledge. This process will help you develop the knowledge and skillset
required to speak on behalf of the League.
Volunteering is also a great place to meet other League women and to make new
friends. Having first hand knowledge can help you share your personal story on
how you have grown as a trained volunteer and impacted our community. If a
volunteer shift is full please call the volunteer coordinator for that shift. You may
be able to get involved anyway, especially if the project is something that you
really want to be involved in.
On September 26, President Elect, Julie
Gheen, President Elect Elect, Shiela
Jones, and I were honored to attend the
New Horizons 49th Annual Awards
Ceremony and Banquet. New Horizons is
a vocational rehabilitative center whose
primary goals focus on preparing people
with disabilities for competitive
employment and providing the necessary
skills to assume responsibility for their
own long-term success. A small Junior
League of Birmingham committee that
saw a need for this type of service in the
community started New Horizons in
1964. New Horizons is now operating in
eight different counties and they placed
over 700 people in employment last
year. The Annual Awards Ceremony and
Banquet honored the organizations’
consumers for their hard work and
accomplishments. It was a humbling
experience, and one the three of us will
never forget. As New Horizons looks
forward to celebrating their 50th
Anniversary in the coming year, the
League is excited to renew their
relationship with this amazing
organization.
NEW HORIZONS REHABILITATION SERVICES By: Stephanie Smith, President
By: Abigail Sigal
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CONSULTING
SALES
STAFFING
SUPPORT
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BIRMINGHAM 460 North Old Woodward Ave Birmingham, MI 48009
248.203.9841 ph 248.203.9847 fax
www.jlbham.org
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