Where Are They Now? Sustaining Advisors By Cree Merriman-Jourdain | Photos by Jessica Bachmann
Sustaining Advisors Katie Crosby, Alice Wright and Melanee Usdin
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ehind every successful woman is a group of other successful women who have her back. For members of the Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO), Sustaining Advisors are that esteemed class of knowledgeable, poised and powerful women who inspire members and provide counsel to JLNO’s governing body. Their presence as motivators and mentors to all members of JLNO is an invaluable resource of support. These phenomenal women inspire both current and future Junior League leaders while preserving our legacy of sisterhood. Melanee Gaudin Usdin is a retired attorney who spent many years as an Active member of the Junior League before transitioning to the status of Sustainer. Upon joining the League, Usdin did not anticipate the significant impact JLNO would have on her life. She initially became a member to assist a city in need and make new friends. Over time, her interest in charitable causes piqued. 24
Lagniappe | Spring 2020
“My JLNO and AJLI (Association of Junior Leagues International) training gave me access to community boards while I was still an Active League member,” says Melanee. “I transitioned into more volunteer work and eventually went part time as an attorney.” Her philanthropic efforts led her to serve on the boards of Poydras Home, KID smART, and New Orleans Museum of Art. Melanee’s expertise in the legal field led her to an advisory position as a Sustaining Advisor to JLNO’s Board of Directors. She credits this role for giving her a new appreciation for how diligently the officers of JLNO work both inside and outside of the League. “Respect, collaboration and gratitude are skills I learned from JLNO years ago. Being a Sustaining Advisor reminded me of these key components to good governance,” Melanee says. Katie Andry Crosby joined the Junior League in 1988 when she and her husband, Howell, were raising their young
