It’s easy to donate to Goodwill Online shopping can benefit JLSA New concept in Community Placements Nominate Volunteer Extraordinaire 5 5 6 7 AJLI President to visit The ‘true gifts’ of the season Annual Fund starts with a Bang Volunteers tutor at Seton Hmoe 2 2 3 4
DEC 2008
S C R A W L S The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.
JLSA introduces LITERACY San Antonio On October 15th, JLSA invited local media to attend a launch event graciously hosted by Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Many civic leaders, literacy advocates and media representatives participated in this exciting and historic event. Several special guest speakers spoke on different aspects of the issue: County Judge Nelson Wolff spoke about how illiteracy will impact the future development of our city; Margaret Doughty of Literacy Powerline, a Literacy Coalition Consultant, spoke about the importance of communities coming together around the issue of illiteracy and how the Junior League is doing something very unique in San Antonio that will help ensure LITERACY San Antonio’s success; Ryan Sullivan of Senator Carlos Uresti’s office spoke about the importance of advocacy to change legislation around illiteracy; and AJ Rodriguez, the Deputy City Manager, joined the luncheon by video, speaking to the importance of what the Junior League is doing and the impact that LITERACY San Antonio will have on our community. The event was covered by three TV stations and radio affiliates, including Texas Public Radio. Links to view this coverage will soon be available at www.jlsa.org and www.literacysanantonio.org The group was reminded that, in San Antonio, 25% of our residents are functionally illiterate. For the individual, illiteracy means frustration, shame, ignorance and desperation. For our com-
Carolyn Kelley, Tiffany Mills and Kimberly Blackburn at the LITERACY San Antonio launch
munity, illiteracy is at the root of our most challenging social and economic problems: high school drop-out rates, teen pregnancy, child abuse, unemployment, poverty, and crime. For our city’s future, illiteracy produces an uneducated workforce and slows the pace of economic development. By raising literacy rates, we can help improve the outlook on these and other social issues. JLSA announced that in response to this crisis, we are making a significant commitment to be the organizing force behind LITERACY San Antonio. At the heart of LITERACY San Antonio is the belief that San Antonio, united in our objective and working as a whole, can change individual expectations and behaviors. As members of our community, we are all responsible to advocate for and parContinued on Page 3
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DEC 2008
AJLI President to visit, speak at December 9 General Meeting Debbie Brown Robinson has been a member of the Junior League of Houston, TX since 1983. During her Active years, she held numerous leadership positions, including serving as President. Debbie served on the AJLI Board since 1997. In 2003, Debbie sat on the Executive Committee as Association Vice President through 2005, before becoming President. Professionally, Debbie has worked as a paralegal for Baker Botts, LLP and Transco Energy Company and was a natural gas buyer for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation. She also worked as a Department Administrator at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston. Presently, she is the assistant to the Dean of Faculty at The Kinkaid School. Both in her work and her volunteer
activities, Debbie’s abilities to build and maintain relationships and to manage work resources have enabled her to bring others to consensus and to lead various organizations, including the Kappa Kappa Gamma Charitable Foundation and the Gladney Family Association of Houston. Mark Your Calendars! Tuesday, December 9th-6:30 p.m. Wine and Cheese Welcome Reception Honoring Debbie Brown Robinson, AJLI President The Bright Shawl And immediately following at 7 p.m. — the December General Membership Meeting. Debbie Brown Robinson will be speaking about the state and future of the Junior League Movement.
River tour set for Sustainers Sustainers! Mark your calendar for the exciting event planned for December JLSA, Inc. The Riverwalk is expanding! Learn more about the exciting San Antonio River Improvements Project and find out where it is going and how it will benefit the San Antonio community. The tour barge will depart at 6:00 p.m. Meet in the lounge of the El Tropicana Hotel at 110 Lexington. Reception to follow, with cash bar. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6 – 8 pm $10 per person RSVP to sustainer@jlsa.org or 225-1861 ext. 339.
President’s Message
Take time to treasure the ‘true gifts’ of the Holiday Season Last week, as I began to sort through the closets of my three children and clear the way for the new holiday gifts that will soon arrive (and preparing to make another donation to Goodwill), I found myself amazed at the sheer magnitude of “stuff” I saw. I found it easy to place items that I saw no further use for in boxes and bags and prepared to take them to the Goodwill donation station. After I finished going through their closets, I moved to my closet to do the same. Here I was amazed again at the amount of “stuff” I found, but this time, it was much harder to place items in the donation boxes. Why was this true? Even though the items had outlived their usefulness — a sweater from 1985, a leather purse that had seen better days — I could not put them in the box. I realized it was not the item that was difficult to part with, it was the thought of the person who gave me the item that was keeping me from placing it in the box. It’s the person or the relationship that is the “true gift,” not the item. The people in our lives are the “true gifts.” As I reflect at this special time of year, I realize how many
gifts I have in my life, my family, friends and you the JLSA members. I am constantly amazed by the work that you do to make our community a better place for all. You also are gifts to each other by the support and encouragement you provide one another as we work together as “one” to make a difference. This holiday season I hope to “de-clutter,” put those items in the box, focus more on the “true gifts” and to truly let all know how much I appreciate them. So I begin with you, I am truly grateful for all you do and have done for JLSA and our community, I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this organization and the opportunities that have been afforded me through this position. Please take time to be thankful for your “true gifts” and enjoy the spirit of the season. I wish you and your family a happy and blessed Holiday Season! Happy Holidays,
Laura
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DEC 2008
Literacy campaign unveiled Continued from Page 1
ticipate in the advancement of literacy for all residents of San Antonio. LITERACY San Antonio serves as the unifying agent to mobilize the community. LITERACY San Antonio will infuse literacy solutions into our community’s framework, and: • Create a citywide, multi-media, bilingual awareness campaign to unite and focus the community on the literacy issue; • Develop a sophisticated internet clearinghouse that will connect San Antonio’s existing literacy organizations to people who need services as well as people who want to help; • Offer a hotline with grassroots “triage” capability to match people needing literacy services to those best able to help them A unified and empowered community is the only way to
County Judge Nelson Wolff addresses a crowd at LITERACY SA’s launch
address this problem - 100% literacy requires 100% community engagement. Visit www.literacysanantonio.com for more updates on the project, and plan to attend the January General Meeting for a full report. A city that reads, succeeds!
Annual Fund starts with a bang! For the first time in its history, The Junior League of San Antonio’s Annual Fund Campaign had contributions of $1,060 before it started. Thank you to the JLSA members who gave early! “The traditional start date of the Annual Campaign is our December 9th General Meeting,” says Laura Talley, JLSA President. “We’ll have a few surprises and a lively kick off, Junior League style, and we’re delighted that some of our members are happy enough about the Annual Fund Campaign to have contributed early. We’re excited that our members understand how important the Annual Fund is to the financial health of the organization.” Six months into this year we have raised 4.85 times more ($131,000) income from grants, individual and corporate contributions than we did all of last year. The San Antonio Commission on Literacy named The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. “Literacy Volunteer Organization of the Year” for Literacy San Antonio, our Signature Project, in September. San Antonio’s Mayor endorsed LIT-
ERACY San Antonio in a letter written after its public launch on Oct. 15th. You can read the letter at www.jlsa.org and www.literacysanantonio.org We will begin exterior restoration of the Nisbet House in December, and the C.E. R. King House in January. These are the two historic buildings on our campus. The Nisbet House holds our headquarters office and the C.E.R. King House holds the Board Room, Living Room meeting spaces. And of course, we will continue to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. And we can’t do any of this without meeting our cost of operations. That’s where the JLSA Annual Fund helps out. These are the things like: turning on the lights, water, grounds keeping, telephone, security, and many other bills, keeping the Xerox and technology running and up to date, and staff assistance of the volunteers. See you at the Junior League Annual Fund Kick Off, and thank you for your gifts!
Don’t forget holiday fun! The Shops at La Cantera presents Holiday Mingle A Shopping Bash Benefiting The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas Southwest School of Art & Craft Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. An evening of merriment and exclusive holiday offers awaits you at the Shops at La Cantera’s Holiday Mingle Shopping Bash 6-9 p.m. Thursday, December 4 Fountain Court between Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom Advance tickets: $20/person at www.jlsa.org or 225-1861 At the door: $30/person (cash only)
JLSA, Inc. Annual Breakfast With Santa 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, December 6 Tickets: $12.50/person or $45 for a family of four Children under two are free. Tickets available at www.jlsa.org or call 225-1861
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DEC 2008
Improving San Antonio, one life at a time
JLSA volunteers tutor at Seton Home Elizabeth* is a quiet, focused thirteen year old girl with a soft voice and a sweet smile; she is also the mother of two week old John*. She requested to have a tutor come to her room during study hall so she could keep up with schoolwork and care for her newborn. Donna* is studying for her SATs, and is engaged to be married. Amy* is about to graduate from high school a year early and is waiting to hear back from St. Phillips College. These three girls are some of Seton Home’s most dedicated and motivated residents. The residents at Seton Home range in age from 13-19, all are pregnant or new mothers, and all of the girls
have a nontraditional background. JLSA’s mission statement includes, “…improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” This is exactly what the Seton Home placement group strives to do. JLSA volunteers show these young women, whose lives have been so quickly and dramatically changed, that they can continue to move forward. Twice-weekly tutoring sessions cover all subjects, but focus mostly on becoming confident with educational building blocks, the basics of math and English. Seeing education as a priority or even a possibility is a new idea to many resi-
dents. Through tutoring JLSA emphasizes education (completing high school, a G.E.D. program, even applying for college), and plants the seed for the future. Seton Home is a fulfilling placement that is challenging and rewarding at the very same time. Volunteers never know who will come to study hall or who will bring homework, but do know that JLSA volunteers are making a difference in these girls’ lives and improving the community in which they live through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. *To protect the privacy of Seton Home residents, names have been changed.
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DEC 2008
It’s that easy! Donating to Goodwill is simple, convenient, painless By Anne Ahlschwede Can you keep a secret? I, too, hated the hanging, tagging, and sorting required to donate my quota to Rummage! And I was a Rummage CoChair! Last week, I donated my quota to Goodwill and I wanted to share with you my experience. Donating quota to Goodwill was one of the easiest things I’ve done associated with Junior League! Just as I had done in previous years, I cleaned closets and culled through my cabinets, making a list of the items as the pile grew. I pulled down the quota guidelines (from the Member Resources tab on the member home page) and noted the value of each of the items. I filled out the quota form that is at the end of the quota guidelines information. I loaded the items into my car, drove to a Goodwill donation station, pulled right up to the curb where three gentlemen unloaded my car. I gave them the goods, and they gave me a tax receipt – all of which took about a minute! The hardest part of donating was deciding which donation station to go to. It is so convenient! I can think of three donation stations off the top of my head without even looking at the map. (If you need a map, check the Member
Resources tab on the member homepage again!) In order to receive my credit, I sent a copy of the tax receipt and my itemized list into the JLSA office. Now I’m done with my quota for the year! Very simple. So simple, that I will continue to donate throughout the year. (I am trying to follow the one pair of shoes in, one pair of shoes out rule…ask me how that’s going!) Sustainers and Friends can even donate to Goodwill on behalf of JLSA and it is even easier! Sustainers and Friends simply take their items to any Goodwill donation station. Get the tax receipt from the attendant. Tear off the postage paid customer response card at the bottom of the receipt, write “Donated on behalf of JLSA” and the approximate value of the donation. Simply drop the card in the mail! JLSA will receive credit for the donation. If you have any questions or need help making your donation, please call the office 225-1861 ext 301. Plans are in the works for a “Large Item Pick-up Weekend” in January or February. Watch for details and how to schedule this service. Remember to donate now, donate later, and donate often!!!
Anniversary Party plans taking shape The 85th Anniversary Celebration is approaching quickly!
Friday, March 27, 2009 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Bright Shawl Get ready to journey back to where it all began! Join us as we celebrate JLSA’s 85th anniversary. Invitations will be mailed in January and on-line ticket sales will begin shortly thereafter. Tickets are $100 per person. Ticket purchase includes food, drink, entertainment (a fabulous band!) and a $1,000 chip to be used at the gaming tables. Craps, roulette, 21 and Texas Hold ’Em, are among the line-up for the evening at our “Speakeasy.” In addition, ables will be available for $1,500 each. The table will be reserved for your group of 10 all night long. Each guest at the table will receive a $5,000 chip to be used in the casino. Table sales will be limited, so plan ahead! Dress for the event is semi-formal and guests are encouraged to dress in the style of the 20’s. Flappers, Fedoras and Zoot Suits will take you back to 1924! Plan to gather with friends to celebrate The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.’s accomplishments. Go to www.jlsa.org for more information.
Make your online shopping benefit JLSA, too The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. has launched a program that allows members and friends to support our League by making online purchases through the Junior League shopping mall, a website created in conjunction with Fundlink, LLC. 1,300 retailers have joined to help Junior Leagues by donating a portion of their online proceeds. Merchants include Target, Macy’s, Best Buy,
Nordstrom, Barnes and Noble and webbased giants such as Expedia. You do the shopping - they give a donation! The Junior League shopping mall works like any other online shopping vehicle except now our League benefits from the experience. After entering the shopping mall from the link at www.jlsa.org (bottom of the left side navigation bar) and selecting an online retailer to visit, you will be asked to des-
ignate a Junior League to benefit from your shopping experience. Select The Junior League of San Antonio and you will be sent directly to the retailer of your choice to start shopping. The more you shop, the more JLSA, Inc. will earn and all it takes is a few extra clicks! Thanks for shopping for JLSA!
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DEC 2008
League in brief
Introducing a new concept in community placements How would you like to be a part of a brand new pilot program? JLSA is launching a new concept in Community Placements. In an effort to give you more flexibility and greater impact in the community we will now be offering a “MiniPlacement.” A Mini-Placement consists of giving half of your placement time to SA Works and the other half to a regularly scheduled community placement. The four placements from which you will choose are: Seton Home Tutoring, Prevent Blindness, Girls Inc. or a new placement called Reach Out and Read. The appointed jobs committee will also be looking for a special person to chair this new endeavor. It is an exciting opportunity to help JLSA expand its reach and help members feel more connected to the community while developing relationships with fellow members. These pilot placements will be assigned before placement officially begins. So if you are interested in knowing what you will be doing next
year before the rest of the League…or need more information please contact: R&D Chair Sarah Hardin by email at sarah.hardin@nhsanantonio.com
Provisionals get ‘done in a day’ By Lesley Vernor, Chair and Debbie Callihan, Chair Assistant The Provisional Committee The Provisional/New Member Project was held on Saturday, November 1, at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives Meadowland Campus in Boerne. All New Members and other members of the Provisional Committee and Community Council gathered at 9 a.m. to complete the project. The “Done in a Day Project” included organizing and decorating cabins, landscaping the Meadowland Charter School grounds, redecorating the pool house area, organizing and color coding books in the library, and reorganizing art sup-
plies. Members were able to see firsthand the impact of the day by meeting the children afterwards at an appreciation BBQ planned by the kids. What a great day for all!! Prospective members to meet Our first Prospective member information meeting was held a few weeks ago and we had a great turn-out. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 15th in the Board Room of The Bright Shawl. Please encourage your friends, neighbors and co-workers who might be interested in joining the JLSA to attend this informational meeting. Admissions packets are available on the website under the “Forms” tab; the League office; and at the December General Meeting. All applications for admission are due by January 31, 2009. For additional information please visit the JLSA website or email admissions@jlsa.org.
Dear Placement Corner:
q:
a:
I’m interested in a placement next year that is an “Appointed Job.” What is that, and can you tell me more about it? Absolutely! An Appointed Job is a leadership position within the League that includes most placements in Fund Development, Membership Development and Marketing councils, as well as all committee chair positions. These rewarding positions give you fabulous opportunities to work with committees, organize projects, plan special events, learn more about the League and community partners, and of course, make new friends! All Actives and New Members are encouraged to apply for appointed jobs positions for the upcoming year! And applying is quick and easy: First, make sure that your online member profile is up-to-date, with a picture, correct contact information, and the skills portion filled out completely. Then go to the “Forms” tab (under the mem-
ber side of www.jlsa.org.) The Appointed Jobs application will be listed there at the end of December. The deadline for Appointed Jobs applications is Thursday, January 15th and positions will be confirmed by the end of January. If you’d like more information about next year’s lineup of Appointed Jobs, be sure to stop by the Placement Showcase at The Bright Shawl on Tuesday, January 6th! It’s wonderful to hear that you’re interested in an Appointed Job for next year’s placement! I think you will find it to be a fun and fulfilling way to spend the ‘09‘10 league year! -P.C. Have more questions about placement? Go online to www.jlsa.org and check out the Placement Tab. Can’t find the information you need? Contact Billie Rose, Placement Chair, or Judy Crockett, Assistant Placement Chair at placement@jlsa.org for immediate assistance any time! Plus, if your question is featured in Placement Corner, you’ll receive a fabulous prize!
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DEC 2008 Welcome Transfers to San Antonio, JLSA The JLSA Transfer Program is an actual placement and the members get to fulfill various Transfer opportunities on top of their JLSA membership requirements. The group currently consists of 17 fabulous women and we continue to accept new Transfers throughout the year. There are 7 non-placed members who attend many of our events. The committee holds monthly meetings/socials and participates in many League events as a group. Coco Anderson and Audrey Bertagnoli are the 2008-2009 Transfer Co-Chairs. They know first-hand what it is like to be a new member in our League and ask you to please take a moment and introduce when you see Transfers at a meeting or event. They are new to our League and do not know many people outside of the Transfer group. Please give them a warm welcome to San Antonio and the JLSA!
Corresponding Secretary’s Report (October ’08) Status Change Deanna Gelwicks (A) to (ANR) Resigned in Good Standing Amy Beyer (P), Brooke Casanova (P) Erin Foley (A) Reinstatement Liz Braden (AE)
VE nominations sought The Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for the 2009-2010 Volunteer Extraordinaire. The Volunteer Extraordinaire Award is presented each year to a Sustainer who exemplifies the true spirit of voluntarism. Please consider submittting an application as your nominations are very important. Please contact Shandelle Girdley at shandellew@ylcos.com.
Scrawls, JLSA officers and staff Scrawls Co-editors: Casey Johnson & Kate Stevenson Board of Directors Laura Talley-President Anna-Melissa Cavazos-President-Elect Stephanie Nemec-Treasurer Cathy Scanlon-Treasurer-Elect Sarah Fielden-Secretary Gina Porter-Community Council Chair Laura Peel-Membership Development Council Chair Stacy Foerster-Fund Development Council Chair Elizabeth Anderson-Marketing Council Chair Research and Development Chair-Sarah Hardin Strategic Planning Chair-Cynthia Kerby Bylaws Chair-Lisa Keller Board Member-At-Large-Anne Ahlschwede Board Sustaining Advisor-Denise Reams White Assistant to the President-Molly Renaud Managing Director-Carolyn Kelley Community Advisory Board Selim Bingol, Fleishman-Hillard Communications Jelynne Burley, City Public Service Chad Clark, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Kye Kilpatrick Fox, Urban Advisory Services Zina Guerra, IBC Bank Frank Guerra, Guerra DeBerry Coody Joe Izbrand, Fleishman-Hillard Inc. Kaye Lenox, San Antonio Public Library Foundation Vicky Lockwood, Padgett, Stratemann & Co., LLP Robert McAdams, Carneiro, Chumney & Co., L.C. Beverly Purcell-Guerra, San Antonio Woman Magazine Frank Ruttenberg, Bracewell & Guiliani, LLP Tim Banwolf, Winstead, PC Joanne Winik, KLRN Kevin Wolff, Bexar County Commissioners Court
Contact Us T h e J u n i o r L e a g u e o f S a n An to n i o , I n c . 723 Brooklyn Avenue San Antonio, Texas 78215 Phone: 210.225.1861 Fax: 210.225.6832 Email: info@jlsa.org Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Off ice Staff Carolyn Kelley, Managing Director 210-225-1861, ext. 302 carolyn@jlsa.org
Lilian Little, Membership Coordinator 210-225-1861, ext. 300 lilian@jlsa.org Carol Sheridan, Financial Administrator 210-225-1861, ext. 301 carol@jlsa.org
723 Brooklyn Avenue San Antonio, Texas 78215
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