2010 11 nov scrawls

ISSUE

02 723 Brooklyn Avenue San Antonio, TX 78215 210.225.1861 ph 210.225.6832 fax www.jlsa.org

Nov-Dec 2010

scrawls

a publication of the junior league of san antonio, inc.

this issue President’s Message P.2 Community Spotlight P.3 Goodwill - Sale P.4 Sustainer Update P.8

The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and

improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

A Hill Country HOLIDAY

junior league of san antonio

2010-11 board of directors Cathy Scanlon President Gretchen Garceau-Kragh President Elect

From The Pages of Flavors

President’s Perspective Cathy Scanlon President 2010-2011

Deep South Pecan Pie ½ stick butter 1 ¼ cups brown sugar Dash of salt ¾ cup dark Karo syrup 3 eggs, well beaten

Debbie Callihan Treasurer Catherine Bell Treasurer Elect Syndi Phillips Board Secretary Lesley Vernor Membership Development Council Chair Lisa Ebrom Community Council Chair Misty Kelley Planning Council Chair Angela Spanley Fund Development Council Chair Jennifer Flores Communications Chair Lis Krimbill Research & Development Chair Celina Montoya Bylaws Chair Debbie Strus Nominating Chair Lucy Peveto Property Planning Chair Chris Green Assistant to the President Rhonda Kolm Calvert Sustaining Advisor Denise Reams White Managing Director

jlsa staff Denise Reams White Managing Director 210-225-1861 ext. 302 denise@jlsa.org Megan Gallaway Membership Program Administrator 210-225-18621 ext. 300 megan@jlsa.org

Our lives are so full with family, work and friend obligations; yet I am still amazed at the work that our League does in the community, and I am grateful for your commitment to this organization.

All of you come to our League from many different avenues of life, but all of you come together wanting to volunteer and participate in our community. It is so exciting to see how you are changing lives.

I was lucky enough on a recent Saturday to spend part of the day with over 90 of our New Members at Boysville for their group project. It was exciting to see the transformation of the Library, resident bedrooms, and landscaping and to see the excitement of the residents of Boysville because of this. It was also great to see the future leaders of JLSA in action.

Each week I receive letters or meet people from our partner agencies thanking us for the work we are doing in the community and for impacting the lives of their clients.

These sentiments serve as a reminder of our mission statement and why we are a part of the Junior League of San Antonio.

us who had the foresight to start such a great organization which has allowed us to build the legacy that is the JLSA. As you gather with family and friends this season, take a few minutes to reflect on the following quote from Nobel Laureate John Nash (A Beautiful Mind), “Perhaps it’s good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to have a beautiful heart. A beautiful heart is that gift...that leads us...into the beauty of giving.”

I wish each of you a very happy and healthy Holiday Season and look forward to seeing you in 2011.

Cathy

1 cup pecans 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 9” inch pastry shell Whipped cream

Cream butter and sugar. Add salt, syrup, eggs, pecans, and vanilla, mixing well. Turn into pastry shell and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.

This is Mohm Swallow’s original recipe from her Cottage Pie Bar that was located in San Antonio in the 1950’s.

Looking to sport JLSA gear?

The Junior League of San Antonio will soon be launching the JLSA Boutique, offering polo shirts and other items to show your JLSA pride!

Items will be available for purchase through our website at www.jlsa.org. Look for more information at upcoming general meetings as well as in the next Scrawls issue.

I am inspired by each of you and appreciative of those that came before

pg. 2

pg. 11

Book Club Update

Community Spotlight

In the spirit of promoting literacy and to provide opportunities to get to know other members, JLSA has a book club. The book club is not a placement, and it is open to any JLSA member or sustainer who wishes to attend. There is no requirement for attendance, and members are free to attend any or all meetings. The courtesy of an RSVP to book club leaders is requested two days in advance to allow reservations at the chosen restaurants.

Fairweather Family Lodge

We are always open to new ideas for books and meeting places. Last year, the book club planned and implemented the Roses brunch as a fundraiser for the League with great success, and we are looking into other similar opportunities with local authors in the future.

For more information about the book club or to RSVP to an event, please contact Christie Fryatt at christiefryatt@gmail.com, (210)633-4243 or Ariana Barbour at arianabarbour@ gmail.com, (512)809-0584. We would be happy to add you to the list serve.

Here is a list of upcoming books and meeting places: January 20, 2011: If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name: News From a Small Town in Alaska

by Heather Lende (at Max’s Wine Dive in the Quarry) February 17, 2011: The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory

(at The Melting Pot, 14855 Blanco Road)

March 17, 2011: Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert (at Nosh, 1133 Austin Highway) April 21, 2011: The Power and the Glory by Graham Green May 19, 2011: Plan Truth by Jody Piccoult

(at 2 Brothers Barbeque, 12656 West Avenue)

June 16, 2011: The Life You’ve Imagined by Kristina Riggle

JLSA Social Events Happy Hour at Coco’s

(at Vela Wine Bar, 5800 Broadway)

(at Z-Tejas in La Cantera)

Ariana Barbour Co-Chair, Family Endeavors

The Fairweather Family Lodge program opened in 2004 as a way to assist homeless women with mental illness and their children.

It was developed as a place that nurtures development and provides a safe environment for these families to remain together.

Their primary goal is to help stabilize the lives of these moms and their kids and provide the long term support necessary to keep families together.

Our volunteers, led by Ariana Barbour and Teri Cardenas, are working with moms to learn life skills, cooking and healthy meal preparation, doing arts and crafts, tutoring for moms who are working on GED and other projects based on the input and talents of our League volunteers. We are also doing activities with the children to let the moms have some learning time for themselves.

Volunteers working with the kids are doing arts and crafts, playing games, reading, providing homework assistance and playing inside or at outdoor breaks. The children range in age from infant to 12 years old.

Moms work on picture frames as a craft project.

Anna-Melissa Cavazos, DeeDee Benavides and Lisa Ebrom paint with the kids.

This fall the placement is working with the resident families so they can create positive memories with each other, putting together picture frames, trick-or-treating, family picture day, decorating cookies and ornaments for the holidays, as well as celebrating those moments spent together too.

Helping them succeed: Our group coordinated a seminar with Pamela Taylor, the CoFounder and Executive Director of Dress for Success. Ms. Taylor spoke to the women about how to dress for situations like job interviews. We will be working with the moms on interviewing skills and resumes. Also, one of our team members will be talking to the moms about the appropriate make-up for job interviews.

Veronica Wolfe making memory boards with kids.

We have opportunities to partner with SA Works including a Winter Holiday Celebration with Santa on December 18.

We welcome any JLSA volunteers who would like to come out and help with our activities.

Volunteers clean up after lunch with the families. pg. 10

pg. 3

Rummage Around Goodwill

New Members

The Junior League of San Antonio and Goodwill have again partnered together to present the “Rummaging Around at Goodwill” on Saturday, February 26, 2011. This is the third year of our partnership with Goodwill to continue the tradition of Rummage.

The New Member program is an exciting and educational opportunity to learn about the Junior League of San Antonio.

Just ask one of our 137 New Members!

The New Member program is designed to teach New Members all about the different facets of JLSA. The ultimate goal is to take intelligent, compassionate women and turn them into intelligent, compassionate community volunteers.

JLSA and Goodwill created a partnership to continue the spirit of Rummage. With Goodwill’s infrastructure to collect and sort donated items year round, and our membership committed to voluntarism and giving back to the community, we have created a perfect collaboration to help the San Antonio community. While this is no longer a fundraiser for the League, “Rummage Around Goodwill” allows our members to continue donating quality items and still give back to the community.

Why Donate More than your Quota?

Most of us only track our $100 donation requirement to Goodwill. By continuing to track all of your donations, you help our community partners. Goodwill Industries gives us gift cards to distribute to our partners based on the dollar equivalent of items donated by League members.

Our goal is to donate $58,000 in items to Goodwill. The more we donate, the more we are able to give back to the community.

So don’t stop at your $100 requirement!

Donate more today, keep track of your donations on the League forms and turn in your forms to the League office.

The more you donate…the more you have a chance to win some fabulous prizes We will be doing several donation drives around town including one at the January General Meeting. You can bring your donated items to the general meeting to help “Stuff Julia’s Attic” and be entered in to win a fabulous prize. Prizes will be given for the “Most Unique or Outrageous

Item,” and “most donated items (based on dollar amount) that evening.” A grand prize will be given to the member who donates the most items (based on dollar amounts) from September 1, 2010 to February 1, 2011. Send in your donation forms or upload them on the JLSA website.

Other incentives include: The Provisional Competition: The Cluster who brings in the most donated items (in dollar amounts) will win a group prize. Sustainers can win too! Join us for a Sustainer Donation Social on January 15th at the Bright Shawl. Prize for most outrageous items brought in that day. Also, a prize will be given to the sustainer who donates the most (in dollar amounts)…donations must be recorded on JLSA site.

Volunteering Member credit will be given for working the day of the sale. Volunteers/New Members are needed the week leading up to the sale to help with pulling items for Julia’s Attic as well as helping with January donation drives. Sign up online beginning in early January for shifts.

Watch for our future eblast for more information about shift sign-up.

For more information, contact Beth Reinhardt, Goodwill Chair/Vice Chair of Community council at breinhardt@ boysvilletexas.org or Lisa Ebrom, Community Council Chair at lisa. ebrom@gmail.com

AMIGOS

Sarah Wannarka Chair

Giving Support to Others

Since summer, this year’s New Members have had the opportunity to tour and attend a game at the Missions Ballpark, experience story time at the Central Library, and tour the San Antonio Museum of Art, as wells as other numerous opportunities. New Members have also served the community by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, Seton Home, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Child Safe. to name a few.

The New Members brightened up Boysville in November for their New Member project. We rolled up the sleeves on our JLSA t-shirts and painting the playground equipment and curbs.

Another team of ladies cleaned and re-arranged the library and donation area.

Amigos is a committee of members who are here to support, encourage, and congratulate the lives and times of our JLSA members.

By the time the JLSA left, Boysville shone like the top of the Chrysler Building! As always, the wheels on the bus go up and down because of the 15 outstanding mentors that guide the New Members through their New Member journey.

BABY NEWS

We send announcements, congratulations, sympathies, and offer assistance to our members and their families when needed.

Sarah Little (Active Resident) and her family welcomed identical twin boys on June 20, 2010. Alexander James arrived at 4 lbs, 2 ozs, and 18 inches. Jacob Louis arrived at 5 lbs, 5 ozs, and 18.75 inches.

Laurie Latham (Active Resident) and her family welcomed a son, Blake Andrew, on September 8, 2010. He arrived at 6 lbs, 7 ozs, and 18.5 inches.

Please contact us when you learn of events that affect our members at amigos@jlsa.org.

Transfer-In

Savannah Blackburn (NM) Katie Popp (A) Erin Blake (A) Jessica Berg (A) Margaret Marble (A) Andrea Tingleff (A) Diane Castillo (NM) Donna Dancer (A) Michelle Sasser (NM) Franki Jenkins (A) Michele McCullough (NM) Lillian Gretzinger (A) Dana Wilkirson (S) Danell Stuckey (A)

Transfer-Out

Melanie Burrows (ANR) Jane Anne Miller (A) Kimberly Hesbrook (A) Cynthia Mendoza (NM) Kathleen Hernandez (S) Allison Ewing (A) Sarah McGehee (NM) Katie O’Connor (NM) Nicole Cunningham (NM) Amanda Adams (NM) Julie Bernhard (NM) Amy Blake (A) Cynthia Martin-Hajmasy (A)

Reinstatement

Kelly Mlcak (A) Melissa Bullerwell (A) Blythe Treuhaft (A) Karol Willy (S)

Status Change (A to AP) Mary Helen Acosta Clarisa Cue Allison Proffitt Reagan Neumann Marian Suarez Ashley Roberts Linda Molina Shannon Jenn Melissa Unsell Michelle Bammell Anne Farringer

Resigned

Anne Flannery (A) Karen Moody (NM) Kate Castellano (NM) Brookes Laswell (A)

Corresponding Secretary Report as of November 30, 2010

Sustainer Update

Boysville Beautification New Members Making A Difference

On Thursday, November 18th the annual Sustainer Brunch was held at the Bright Shawl. Each year this luncheon is a wonderful opportunity for Sustaining members to socialize and meet the newest sustainers. The Sustainer Brunch was a wonderful kick-off to this year’s events for Sustaining members.

Sustainer Community Service Project: Let’s roll up our sleeves, learn about our community partners and help those in need! To kick off the holiday season we will take a tour of the NEW Children’s Bereavement Center to learn more about this great community partner and then we will serve dinner to the families coming to the center that evening. We will need volunteers to help prepare a meal so if you would like to help in this capacity or you want to RSVP to take the tour and help serve please contact Sara Brouillard, Sustainer Liaison at 210-861-9996 or sustainer@jlsa.org Calling all Sustainer Transfers: S.T.U.F.F. (Sustaining Transfers United For Fun) wants you! For more information on monthly events contact the S.T.U.F.F. co-chairs Virginia Hartz (210-8328993, virginiahartz@aol.com) or Cathy Burton (210-785-9253, ccburton@aol.com). Be sure to mark you calendar for December 7th as well for the S.T.U.F.F. Christmas Party at Club Giraud.

Charlotte P. Yochem, J.D. Financial Advisor Registered Investment Advisor Stock and Bond Portfolios Tailored for Each Client

Proud, Involved Junior Leaguer Since 1987 ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Sustaining Transfer 2010, Junior League of San Antonio Sustainer of the Year 2009-10, Junior League of Corpus Christi Sustainer of the Year 2005-06, Junior League of Corpus Christi Board of Directors 2001-2004, Junior League of Corpus Christi

Herndon Plant Oakley, Ltd. 70 NE Loop 410, Suite 830 San Antonio, TX 78216 (800) 888-4894 Toll-free (210) 831-9494 Mobile cyochem@hpo.com

pg. 8

We all know the economy is taking its toll on families, cities and even charity organizations.

Boysville, Inc. is one of those organizations feeling the economic pinch. They are a non-profit that pulls children out of abuse cycles or poverty cycles and teaches them to become an active part of society. This year - they needed our help.

On November 13, 2010 more than 100 new members, mentors and other JLSA members came together to help Beautify Boysville. Our volunteers tirelessly worked on a number of projects including – hanging curtain rods inside the children’s rooms, landscaping, cleaning and reorganizing the kitchen and craft room, and painting the library.

Sustainer Transfers listen as JLSA President Cathy Scanlon delivers the State-of-the-League address during their Opening Luncheon at the Plaza Club on Tuesday, September 14th.

Boysville staff was extremely happy with our work and made it clear – JLSA volunteers made a big difference!

Transfer Profile Susan Lee

Susan Lee, a career Air Force civilian employee, transferred from the Montgomery AL chapter for her career. She is now a Program Manager for the Contracting Career Field Management Team at Randolph AFB, TX.

Finished product!! This is one of the rooms, inside kids’ cottage, after curtains were hung

by JLSA volunteers.

Before the work got started, new members and mentors gathered in groups, based on what they wanted to do for the rest of the day.

A prime goal of Susan’s while she’s in San Antonio is to never eat at the same restaurant twice. So far, she’s been fairly successful but some places are so good they tempt her to go back.

Susan looks forward to helping the San Antonio community through various Junior League projects.

New members brainstorm with mentor on “plan of attack” for Boysville arts and craft room.

New members work hard to tackle library paint job. They cleaned, painted and redecorated the main area and four side rooms! pg. 5

JLSA Important Dates Dec. 7th General Meeting

Dec 8 - 16th Appointed Jobs Sign-up

Whole Foods & Kids In the Kitchen Whole Foods Market partnered with JLSA to benefit the Kids in the Kitchen program on August 25, 2010. A percentage of the day’s sales were donated back to the program. A donation of $3222 was paid out to the Kids in the Kitchen program.

Dec 23rd - Jan 2nd Christmas Holiday JLSA Office Closed

Jan. 11th General Meeting

Jan 12th President’s Chat

Jan 18th Legally Blonde The Musical

Jan 23rd Met Opera Finals

Jan 25th JLSA Board of Directors Meeting

JLSA, Inc. and Met Opera to Give Aspiring Opera Singers a Chance of a Lifetime

Join us for a weekend of inspiring stories, heart-stopping drama, and genuine Texas hospitality --- and that’s just what is going on behind the scenes of this annual singing competition! The JLSA, Inc. will staff the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Southwest Region, January

JLSA and the Kids in the Kitchen team thank everyone that shopped for a cause and invited friends out to do the same!

Dec 9th President’s Chat

Dec. 14th JLSA Board of Directors Meeting

JLSA Helps Opera Dreams Come True 22nd and 23rd at the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall at Trinity University.

Treat yourself to an afternoon of musical musings at “The Finals” on Sunday, January 23rd at 2 pm at Trinity University. Not only will you hear a wonderful concert, but it is free and open to the public. Invite your friends and family to help us celebrate the 52nd anniversary of these auditions and Mag Tobin’s legacy!

The JLSA, Inc. is the only Junior League involved in this national cultural event, so please consider volunteering as we help aspiring opera singers

New Bright Shawl Gallery Exhibition

by Amanda Williams, Bright Shawl Gallery Chair The Bright Shawl Gallery is pleased to announce our new exhibition of paintings by artist Noelle Palm.

Noelle’s colorful and lyrical paintings will be on display in the gallery for three months beginning on November 6, 2010.

Growing up in San Antonio, Noelle began her love affair with festive, bright colors and art. After graduating from high school, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she was chosen to be in the Advanced Painting Program. Her career took her from Chicago to New York, and subsequently from New York back to Texas. She currently resides in Dallas, where she has been working hard in her studio. In her own words, she is “still fascinated by color, but exploring the relationship of materials, mediums, and layers in seemingly simplistic, decorative subject matter.” She sees the diversity of colors and materials as a parallel to the complexities of life, relationships, travel, interconnectedness... and how nothing is ever as simple as it seems -but it doesn’t make it any less pg. 6

beautiful. In fact, it often makes it more so. And sometimes (not always), paring things down to their essentials and not making things too complicated is the easiest way to see this beauty.

For more information about this exhibition or to purchase Noelle’s paintings, please contact Amanda Williams, Bright Shawl Gallery Chair, at gallery@jlsa.org or by calling (210) 225-1861. A percentage of all sale proceeds benefits the Junior League of San Antonio.

Holiday Ole Market 2010 Can you believe it is over? Another Holiday Ole Market has come and gone….and this was the best one yet!!! We want to thank everyone who attended our special events, volunteered their time and invited their friends and family. You played a big role in making Ole a huge success!

We completely sold out each event and had record-breaking ticket sales. Our merchants were fabulous and had such wonderful things to say about the women of the JLSA. We want to especially thank our entire Ole Committee…..you girls ROCK! We had such a blast getting to know you all and it truly took our entire team to make Ole happen.

Thank you for all you did!

Before the event began, we were reminded that all of our hard work will result in more kids getting vision screenings, will provide mentoring to teenage moms and will teach girls to be strong, smart and bold. This is what it is all about and we are thrilled to know that the success of Ole 2010 will be able to help the JLSA community partners in a tremendous way!

Thank you again to the Junior League for all of the support, volunteer hours, and participation you gave to our Holiday Ole Market! We are so thankful we got to be such a big part of Ole this year and we look forward to an amazing Ole 2011!

Aspen Stream (Colorado)

Sincerely, The 2010 Holiday Ole Chairs Jill Peavy, Liz Lamoureux and Laurie Barnes

pursue their dream of singing on the stage of the Met in New York City. Met Opera shifts are eligible for JLSA member credit.

Please see the “Volunteer Shift Signup” area of the JLSA website to choose days and times that are convenient for you. An information reception will be held on January 6th at 6 pm for those interested in volunteering or learning more about The Metropolitan Opera committee. Contact Marjory Newman at marjoryznewman@ gmail.com for more details.