I s s u e F i v e | M a y 2 0 1 2 A publication of the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.
Scrawls
Our Mission
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.
PRESIDENT’S VIEW
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gretchen Garceau-Kragh President Debbie Callihan President-Elect Cameron Armstrong Community Council Chair Lauren McLaughlin Membership Development Council Chair Catherine Bell Treasurer Chris Green Board Secretary Alison Boone Sustaining Board Advisor Suzie Bacon Board Member-at-Large DeeDee Benavides Assistant to the President Sakkara Biggs Nominating Committee Chair Kristen Henry Treasurer-Elect Korrie Lawson Bylaws Committee Chair/Parliamentarian Open Fund Development Council Chair Kate Stevenson Communication Council Chair Kristal Thomson Planning Council Chair Melissa Unsell Vice Chair of Research and Development
Gretchen Garceau-Kragh 2011-2012 President
“Sometimes I think of Six Impossible Things before Breakfast.” --Alice in Wonderland
W
ow! What a year it has been. The Junior League of San Antonio
did countless amazing things this year and I have each of you to thank. We set our goals high and took some risks, but in the end we were able to accomplish the following, just to name a few: • Regain management of the Bright Shawl and complete a major internal renovation of the property. • Unveil a new Signature Fundraiser, Fête du Cuvée Fine Wine Auction, raising additional funds for our community programs. • Develop new websites for JLSA, the Bright Shawl, Holiday Olé Market, and Fête du Cuvée. • Assisted 60 non-profit agencies, touching the lives of over 500,000 men, women, children and animals. • Increase our visibility in the community with an enhanced public relations campaign • Research and approved a new signature project, focusing on pediatric obesity prevention.
JLSA STAFF Lupita Castrejon-Tijerina Managing Director 210.225.1861 ext. 302 / lupita@jlsa.org Shannon Grabill Financial Administrator 210.225.1861 ext. 301 / shannon@jlsa.org Megan Galloway Membership Program Administrator 210.225.18621 ext. 300 / megan@jlsa.org
Although we accomplished so much, there is still more work to be done. I encourage all of you to build on this year’s momentum by finding the passion that lies within you and putting it into action. With all of us working together, there is no telling what can be accomplished.
OFFICE INFO The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. 723 Brooklyn Avenue San Antonio, Texas, 78215 T:210.225.1861 F:210.225.6832 Email: info@jlsa.org Office hours are changing: Starting June 1 M - T 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. F 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. No summer hours
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Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your President. It is an honor I will cherish forever.
Gretchen Garceau-Kragh 2011-12 President
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FYI
JLSA PAST PRESIDENTS' LUNCHEON At The Bright Shawl The 2011-12 Past Presidents' Luncheon was held on Wednesday, February 29th in the Bright Shawl Board Room. Twenty-Five Past Presidents were in attendance including Amanda Ochse, president from 1956 to 1957 and Louise Thomas, president from 1963 to 1964. President-elect Debbie Callihan gave the group an update on plans for next year, and current president Gretchen Garceau-Kragh updated them on the Bright Shawl renovations, new member class and league fundraising activities, among other topics. Gretchen and Debbie would like to thank our Past Presidents for attending the luncheon and their continued passion and commitment to JLSA.
JLSA WELCOMES A FANTASTIC NEW MEMBER CLASS! 2012-13 New Member Reception was held on March 22, 2012 at The Bright Shawl and welcomed approximately 120 prospective new members to the 2012-13 New Member Program! The reception, organized by admissions chair, Jane Mozingo was a superb event enjoyed by all in attendance, and the women coming into this new class are already on track with phenomenal ideas and inspirations for benefitting our community.
According to Jane, bringing a new class into JLSA is an exciting experience… “I really enjoy the fresh energy that all the ladies enter this year with and I look forward to watching them achieve their goals,” said Jane. Whether the ladies are new to the city and looking to meet like-minded women, or they are carrying on a lifelong legacy passed down from their mothers and grandmothers, the common thread among all of the ladies is the desire to improve our community and the lives of those who need us most. JLSA is thrilled to welcome such a motivated and energetic group of women!
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AMIGOS&NEWS
NEWS A.M.I.G.O.S. would love to hear from you and celebrate your successes or help you through a hard time. Contact us at amigos@jlsa.org. Announcing Our Little Leaguers! • Jenna Hiller and Jared Natho welcomed Geneva Grace - (Nov. 17) 3 lbs. 14 oz., 17.5 in. • Angela and Michael Baublit welcomed Hudson Michael - (Dec. 8) 7 lbs. 8 oz., 19 in. • Britney and Aaron Beumeler welcomed Avery Belle - (Dec. 21st) 6 lbs. 6 oz., 18 3/4 in. • Maurleen and David Cobb welcomed Jackson “Jack” Michael - ( Jan. 19) 6 lbs. 7 oz., 19.25 in. • Helen and Benjamin Tanner welcomed Caroline Nemir - (Feb. 15) 7 lb. 2oz. • Susan and Charles Lee welcomed Alexander Charles - (Feb. 19) 8 lbs. 3 oz., 21 in. • Bonnie and Mark Muecke welcomed Lillie Allen - (Feb. 21) 7 lbs. 7 oz., 20.25 in. • Christina and Ben Martin welcomed Zoe Grace - (Mar. 5) 8 lbs. 1 oz., 19.5 in. • Brooke and Jared Meabon welcomed Steven "Harris" - (Mar. 9) 7 lbs. 2 oz., 19.25 in. • Haley and Dustin Brooks welcomed Claire Elizabeth - (Mar. 20) 4 lbs. 2 oz., 16 in. and twin sister Caroline Emalee 4 lbs. 3 oz. 17.25 in. • Heather and Jonathon Dear welcomed Kenzie Harper - (Apr. 10) 7 lbs., 19 in. Newly Engaged! • Reagan Neumann is engaged to Raymond Karlowicz and they are getting married April 3, 2013 • Janine Kadin is engaged to to Anthony Sears and they are getting married March 23, 2013 Newly Married! • Annie Ecklund married Darin McNeil on March 24, 2012 in Austin, Texas • Carlisle Maxwell married Jamie O'Brien on April 14, 2012 in San Antonio
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY’S REPORT
Your Corresponding Secretary handles the administrative details of membership, including transfers of membership, resignations, reinstatements and membership status changes. If you have a question about your membership status, contact Linda
Linda Molina
Molina. You can email her as well! correspondingsecretary@jlsa.org or (210) 857-1557.
Reinstatement Sarah Hamm (A) Transfer In Jennifer Waldhelm (A) (from Baton Rouge LA) Sue Siebens (S) (from Midland TX) Bridie Isensee (A) (from Houston TX)
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Transfer Out Allyson Foster (S) (to Atlanta GA) Randall Binford (S) (to Franklin TN) Lynne Jarvis (NM/A) (to Tyler TX) Leigh Anne Seale (A) (to Washington DC) Camp Bradshaw (A) (to Jacksonville FL) Lauren Yorek (SNR) (to Baton Rouge LA) Leah du Bois (A) (to Austin TX) Charlotte Yochem (S) (to Corpus Christi TX) Lindsey DeBerry (AP) (to Houston TX) Resignation Christina Tinker (A) (with outstanding obligations) Lyndsey Watson Hutchins (A) (with outstanding obligations) Angela Notzon (S) Doris Daner (S) Mimi Weber (S) Elizabeth Hargis (S) Ashley Fancher (A) Sarah Ponce (NM) Valerie Carrillo (NM) Almeda Doughty Hodge (S) Bridie Isensee (A) (from Houston TX)
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The finish line is in sight. For many JLSA members, May signifies the end of school, the wrapping up of placements and the opportunity to breathe a hearty sigh of relief at the things we’ve accomplished. As Gretchen shared in her President’s Letter, the year has been filled with accomplishments for JLSA, and hopefully you’ve met some personal goals as well.
EDITOR’S NOTE
This edition of Scrawls is focused on highlighting the accomplishments of JLSA, but our work doesn’t stop here. We have a wonderful community around us and we should seize the opportunity daily to make it a better, stronger place. So, look around you, see where you can serve, then dive right in! Natalie Tate, 2011-12 Print Publications Manager
IN-COMING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Sir Winston Churchill
This is what the Junior League does. We are an organization of women who work elsewhere during the day and who come together during the day, at night, and on weekends to accomplish great things through community placements; through in-league placements to support membership; through fundraising to support the league and its projects; and, through communications to promote the league. We “make lives” for our community partners and for each other by our gifts of time, energy, commitment, and volunteer hours. We make lives better by what we do. I am thrilled, honored, and deeply humbled to have the opportunity to serve you as your President next year. I can’t wait to have you join me as we embark on the 2012-2013 Junior League year to impact, change, and “make” lives.
DEBBIE CALLIHAN
2012 -13 PRESIDENT
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Debbie Callihan 2012-13 President
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IMPACT
COMMUNITY IMPACT: YEAR IN REVIEW One of my favorite singers is Jason Mraz. He has a song called “Sunshine Song” with this line: “If this little light of mine combined with yours today, how many watts could we illuminate, how many villages could we save?” This song has been my inspiration as Community Council Chair and I am so very proud of what we accomplished. We can say we have given our combined little lights and have powered some pretty remarkable changes in San Antonio. Beginning in June 2011 when our JLSA members began flooding the city to volunteer, the impact we have all made has been substantial. How substantial you ask? Well, we have directly and indirectly touched 532,626 people in and around the San Antonio area with our community projects! Just to give you an idea of what we have done here are a few results of your hard work.
Cameron Armstrong 2011-12 Community Council Chair
We donated $90,000+ of resalable goods and facilitated “Rummage Around” San Antonio at seven Goodwill locations. SA Works ladies volunteered 4,250 hours in our done in a day projects. Our New Members class redecorated lobbies at 11 Head Start locations. Prevent Blindness volunteers tested over 3,000 kids at 20 schools. Sunshine Singers preformed at 17 nursing homes and lifted the spirits of many seniors in San Antonio. Being a member of JLSA has its privileges and one of the many is your ability to feel amazing with all the work we do in the community. So, be proud and share your little light of mine.
THANK YOU JLSA LEADERS While every JLSA woman impacts the community, our leaders provide the guidance that helps us make San Antonio a better place. A special THANK YOU to our 2011-12 Board of Directors and Leadership Team – your commitment and dedication is greatly appreciated! We’re looking forward to the impact that will be made by our incoming 2012-13 Board of Directors: Debbie Callihan, President
Lisa Ebrom, President-Elect
Carrie Lane, Board Secretary
Sakkara Biggs, Assistant to President
Kristen Henry, Treasurer
Lauren McLaughlin, Treasurer-Elect
Mireya Gideon, Membership Development
Korrie Lawson, Planning
Janet Peavy, Fund Development
Ariana Barbour, Community
Erica Ellis, Communications
Cameron Armstrong, Member-at-Large
Reagan Neumann, Bylaws/Parliamentarian
Jenny Hall, Nominating
Denise Theime, VC Research & Development
Barb Mohs, Sustaining Advisor
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MEMBERSHIP
MEET THE BOARD: BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Introducing Our New President-Elect Lisa Ebrom is celebrating her 10th year in the Junior League this year, and during her upcoming term as President, JLSA will celebrate its 90th anniversary of serving the community. While Lisa will spend the upcoming year “learning the ropes” and preparing for her term representing JLSA to the San Antonio area, she’s already cemented a strong foundation in the League. Lisa’s two sisters encouraged her to join JLSA and since becoming a member, she’s never looked back. She’s served through several different placements, from Community Council chair to public policy to mentoring to nominating and a few others in between. With the 90th anniversary occurring during Lisa’s term as president, she’s looking forward to building recognition for JLSA and furthering our community recognition. She also plans to cultivate an environment where members can grow and enjoy being part of our group of strong, confident women. She’s also looking forward to guiding the League to meet overall goals, and she’s had some tremendous mentors for that. “I am following two talented, capable, intelligent women with different but equally effective leadership styles,” Lisa said of current president Gretchen Garceau-Kragh and incoming president Debbie Callihan.
JLSA NOMINATING COMMITTEE I once had someone tell me they didn’t know they were ready to be a leader until they were asked to lead….. Well ladies of JLSA, I am here asking YOU to think about leadership in the JLSA. It is that time again, when the Nominating committee begins its work to slate the Board of Directors for 2013-2014. I know that sounds like a long time from now, but it really isn’t. Applications and nominations are being solicited now so that they will be in our hands for consideration when we start meeting this summer. If you know of someone or have worked with someone in the League that you think is a candidate for the Board, please nominate them.
complete one of the nomination forms -- The nomination committee only knows you’re interested if you speak up! Nomination applications can be found at www.jlsa. org under Resources/Forms/Nominating. We can’t wait to hear from you! Jenny Hall 2012-13 Nominating Chair
Don’t wait for someone to nominate you. If you think you would enjoy being on the Board of Directors, if you think you have something to contribute, even if you aren’t sure you are ready, W o m e n
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MEMBERSHIP
SUSTAINER HIGHLIGHTS Sustainer Highlights from 2011-12 include a lovely Sustainer Luncheon held on September 13, the dedication of our courtyard in memory of Mrs. Joan Held, a sparkling Holiday River Lights Tour, culminating with the always exciting Volunteer Extraordinaire Luncheon held on March 29 honoring Susie Martin! Special recognition to our Sustainers who graciously opened their home for our April in-home general meetings! And, thank you Sara Brouillard and the entire Sustainer Liaison Committee for planning a wonderful year!
ACTIVE MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Serving. Giving. Leading. Learning. Words of action are the best way to describe the efforts of our Active members during the past year. JLSA gave thousands of hours to the community, created a new community placement, taught children to read and brought families together. Our volunteers painted, cooked, served, read, communicated, shared, and most of all, GAVE. They gave time and money, compassion and resources to our community. Thank you active members, for all you did to make JLSA a success this year.
NEW MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS This year’s New Member class set the bar very high. They completed 1,887 total hours of community service through SA works events, accomplished a new member project that impacted 11 Head Start locations around San Antonio, and, for the first time ever, spearheaded a fun and exciting raffle fundraiser that brought in more than $5,500! New Members, under the leadership of Mireya Villarreal-Gideon and Erica Ellis, were focused on active service and proved that even our newest league members can make a huge impact on our community. Mireya and Erica would like to thank their New Member Committee, comprised of 11 mentors, a Community Awareness Chair and SA Works New Member Chair, for doing an outstanding job this year!
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IMPACT
COMMUNITY: VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION
2011 - 2012 JLSA COMMUNITY PROJECTS • Family Endeavors • Girls, Inc. • Goodwill Industries • Kids in the Kitchen • Metropolitan Opera – Final Year • Prevent Blindness • Seton Home Mentors – Final Year • Summer Reading Camp • Sunshine Singers • C.O.R.E. (Community Out Reach & Education)
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FUNDRAISING
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR 2011 - 12 FUNDRAISING EVENTS: 2011 Holiday Olé Market was held at the San Antonio Shrine Auditorium on Oct 19 – 22 and raised $175,000! It was a true “Shopping – Entertainment Experience.” Special thanks to the 2011 Olé Committee for all their hard work and dedication!
Fundraising 101 Fundraising. When you mention this word, you’ll receive myriad different reactions, from excited conversations to sighs of concern. For many of us, fundraising can be a difficult task. We’re not used to asking for money or help. After all, we’re highlymotivated women who are used to taking care of ourselves.
Our Inaugural Fête du Cuvée Fine Wine Auction was held on March 3, 2012 at The Bright Shawl and raised $80,000. This was truly a spectacular event – thanks to all the inspired planning by the Fête Committee!
Asking for help can be difficult, even if it’s to serve others and benefit the community. These tips for fundraising may help you to be more effective in serving JLSA:
2011-12 New Member Raffle
1. Tell a story. Become acquainted with our projects. You
was held on January 10, 2012 and raised over $5,600! This was a great success – Thanks again to all the efforts of our 2011-12 New Member Class!
are more likely to interest someone in a person – a student from Seton Home who’s going to college because of JLSA volunteer mentorship – than by giving statistics. 2. Ask. While this seems simple, many of us are afraid to “close the sale” on fundraising because we don’t want to force people into action. Give your friends and neighbors the benefit of the doubt and just ask for their help – the worst you can hear is “no.” 3. Show what’s in it for them. People like to see a return on their investment, whether it’s a “green” space in the community, a healthier youth population or a solution to
2011-12 JLSA Annual Fund – has already achieved the $15,000 mark…and still counting! This year’s Annual Fund Drive ends on May 31 so please visit www.jlsa.org and click on “DONATE NOW” to make your contribution!
families living in bad conditions. Give them a vision of what their contributions can do, how they’ll be able to touch lives and serve.
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FUNDRAISING
JLSA GIVING THANKS For more than 87 years, JLSA has helped to shape the social, political, and cultural fiber of San Antonio. Our organization not only impacts the communities we serve, but the thousands of women who have been members as well.
JLSA Giving Back to the Community Day by Day… 2011-12 Grants Awarded
This year alone we have accomplished so much! Our members worked with Prevent Blindness to help screen more than 3,500 children for vision problems, we created the C.O.R.E. placement to help move forward our mission in the community, the Sunshine Singers spread cheer throughout the city, Reading Camp made a positive effect on local 2nd graders, volunteers for Family Endeavors made a wonderful impact at the Family Lodge, and Girls, Inc. taught middle-school girls to be strong, smart and bold… and so much more!! JLSA’s accomplishments make one thing clear: we are smart, well-connected women of action. Whether the drive to improve the city is inherent or inspired by our mission to empower women, members of the past and present have selflessly given the time to make life in San Antonio better. As our League evolves to future changes, bringing in new women and new projects, our members will continue to demonstrate the initiative and compassion that embodies the spirit of one of our city’s greatest organizations.
JLSA awards grants to organizations, projects or initiatives that
Thanks to all our New Members, Actives Members and of course our Sustaining Members! JLSA is a member organization – the premier women’s volunteer organization in San Antonio! We could not be successful without such organized, talented and thoughtful women.
• Development of a community garden for the patients at
we currently partner with. The Junior League awarded $15,000 in grants to five area non-profits for 2012 The 2011-2012 Grant Recipients include: • Art therapy supplies for the Bexar County’s Victim Empowerment Counseling Group;
Clarity Guidance Center; • A set of car seats for each of the seven Foster Care Specialists at the Children’s Shelter;
Also, thanks to our 2011-12 Major Sponsors and Donors, including Americus Diamond, Christus Health, Clear Channel Communications, Deacon Recruiting, Desert Glory, Frost Bank, HEB, Lee Michael's Fine Jewelry, Lewis Energy, Nature Sweet Tomatoes, San Antonio Eye Center, South Texas Money Management, TCI Training, Valero Energy Corporation, Wave Healthcare, Women Partners in OB/GYN; and our in-kind contributors including Blonde Creative, Don Strange Catering, Illusions Rentals and Decor, News-4 WOAI , Republic National Distributing Company, and The Porter Loring Family. Your contributions make it possible for us to serve and make a difference.
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• Completion of the Family Playground Area at Alpha Home; • And the purchase of bilingual books for the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children’s library. The grants were awarded at a special reception on Wednesday, May 2, at The Bright Shawl. Representatives from each of the award winners were on-hand to be recognized and receive their funding.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID San Antonio, Tx Permit No. 144 723 Brooklyn Avenue San Antonio, Texas 78215 T: 210.225.1861 F: 210.225.6832 www.jlsa.org
Our Mission
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.
JLSA CALENDAR 2012
2013
June 12
Board Meeting
January 8 22
July 24
Board Meeting
August 28
Board Meeting
September 11 11 25
Sustainer Brunch General Membership Meeting Board Meeting
October 9 25-27 30
General Membership Meeting Holiday Olé Market Board Meeting
November 5-9 27 December 11 18
Community Meetings Board Meeting General Membership Meeting Board Meeting
February 12 26 TBA 23
General Membership Meeting Board Meeting General Membership Meeting Board Meeting Past Presidents’ Luncheon JLSA - Goodwill “Rummage Around” Sale
March 2 3-8 21 26 TBA
Fête de Cuvée Fine Wine Auction In-Sustainer Homes General Meetings New Member Reception Board Meeting Volunteer Extraordinaire
April 9 30
General Membership Meeting Board Meeting
May
14 28
General Membership Meeting JLSA Board Meeting