SPRING 2018 ISSUE
LEAGUELINES NEWSLetter Contents
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF AUSTIN PRESIDENT’S LETTER
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SUSTAINING PRESIDENT’S LETTER
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KEEPING IN TOUCH OVER THE SUMMER
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LEAGUE LIFE BALANCE
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INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON CREEKMUR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FUND
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DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
WHY GIVE? LEAGUE MEMBERS SHARE WHAT GIVING TO THE JLA MEANS TO THEM
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HOW THE LEAGUE PRODUCES LEADERS: RISÉCANDELARIA
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AMPLIFY AUSTIN RECAP
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SPOTLIGHT ON ANOTHER LEAGUE
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BUNNY BRUNCH 2018 THE MAD HATTER RETURNS
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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THE GROWTH OF SOCIAL MEDIA
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THE NEW JLA LOGO
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
Same League, New Logo
We’ve finished off another great year! Thanks to each and every one of you for your contributions to The Junior League of Austin in 2017-2018.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to LeagueLines! Cheers to another great and successful League year in the books! Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers. The Junior League of Austin would not be such an amazing organization without the dedication and countless hours you put forth for serving the Austin community. I also want to extend a very special thank you to my LeagueLines Committee; you are all wonderful women, and together we have learned a lot about team work and what it takes to put together this collaborative publication. I truly appreciate the level of commitment, enthusiasm and most of all, the support all of you have given me throughout the year. In our last issue we feature an article near and dear to many of us - League Life Balance. You can also read up on how to keep in touch with your JLA friends over the summer. Enjoy reading the recap on our Spring Events and of course the features about how the League is producing leaders. Back by popular demand, we have a spotlight on another league; an interview with a member from The Junior League of Washington, D.C. and much more. Any and all feedback on LeagueLines is always welcome. Please continue to share your great stories with next year’s committee and be sure to submit great photos from your work in the community. We would love to hear how we can improve for the next publication and keep the content relevant for you; send your ideas to leaguelines@jlaustin.org. Happy Reading & Happy Summer!
Lauren Cronin 2017-2018 LeagueLines Editor
2017-2018 LEAGUELINES COMMITTEE LeagueLines Editor Lauren Cronin
Art, Design and Layout Editor Sydney Hayslett
Copy Editor Christie Finnigan
Photography Editor/Photographer Isis Valencia
Art, Design & Layout Assistants Julie Humble Julie Winn Neff Keith Elizabeth Statler Megan Arnold
Literary Assignments Editor Erika Lueker-Tarango
Sustaining Advisor Beth Allen (Kirkgard)
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Writers Amber Myers Sarah Paolozza Lindsey Wiese
I want to start by saying thank you. It has been a true honor to lead The Junior League of Austin (JLA) for the last 12 months and to represent this amazing 2,600+ member organization. Each of you plays such a critical role in ensuring our success, and your work this year has paid off. We continue to watch our membership grow and increase our community impact year over year.
LETTER FROM THE
PRESIDENT
This year we worked with our largest portfolio of 35 community partners, collected more than 35,000 coats, responded to multiple natural disasters, fed 1,400 kids on the weekends for an entire school year and launched our newest signature program, KICS - Kids in Cool Shoes. All of this was accomplished while breaking ground on our new home, The Community Impact Center (CIC), and selling our beloved long-time home, The Square on Parkcrest. What an amazing year it has been. In addition to thanking our membership, I want to say a special thanks to our amazing Board of Directors. This year’s Board was tasked with making many decisions, and they rose to the challenge. After working closely with this Board I know we are in good hands for years to come. As my days of being an Active Member come to an end, I find myself quite nostalgic of my 14 years. This organization has given me so much – personal and career growth, exposure to real issues in our community, and best of all, a lifelong group of women I am proud to call my friends. For that I will always be thankful. Best,
Julie Hall Julie Hall 2017-2018 President
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LETTER FROM THE
SUSTAINING
PRESIDENT
What an incredible year The Junior League of Austin (JLA) has had! I am perpetually astonished with the continued energy and enthusiasm that our Active Members have while engaging in the League volunteer placements, activities, and fundraising events. The commitment of the League to invest in its members through leadership training and hands-on experience is reflected in the success of its newest venture – KICS, Kids In Cool Shoes, the recent addition to the League’s signature projects, in which children in need receive a pair of new sneakers; and Austin Entertains, a community fundraiser sold out in only its second year! I am humbled and amazed as I continue to watch our membership reach beyond the present and plan for the future. The Community Impact Center (CIC), once a dream, is now in the beginning stages of the building process and will be a home for all of our current and yet-to-be-imagined programs and projects. It’s been an honor to serve as the Sustaining President this year – the League is definitely sustaining itself while continuing to drive forward into the future.
Morgen Hardin 2017-2018 JLA Sustaining President
2017-2018 JLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Julie Hall
Administrative VP Elizabeth Andrews
Bylaws/Parliamentarian Ashley Hight
President - Elect Amy Hurt
Communications VP Laura Lee Daigle
Treasurer-Elect Genny Hill
Assistant to President Jennifer O’Connor
Fund Development VP Shannon Creekmur
Nominating Chair Nicole Elliott
Treasurer/Finance Ann Townsend
Membership Development VP Carrie Semple
Strategic Planning Chair Leslie Moore
Recording Secretary Lauren Price
Member-at-Large Tania Leskovar-Owens
Sustaining President Morgen Hardin
Community VP Amanda Eldridge
Member-at-Large Minty Sellers
Technology Chair Michelle Lupton
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KEEPING IN TOUCH OVER THE SUMMER By Amber Shanafelt During The Junior League of Austin (JLA) year, it is easy to keep in touch at General Meetings and Committee Meetings, but how do you stay plugged in over the summer months? Social media tops the list of ways to stay in touch. Active Member Tima Brown, who took a year off to welcome her new baby boy, said, “For better or worse, social media is a great way to keep tabs on the gals I adore. It’s so easy to cheer on work accomplishments and share in travel adventures, kid’s milestones and home renovations.” For anyone trying to go old school, there is always the traditional happy hour. So many of Austin’s hip restaurants have wonderful patios and affordable happy hour options. Another great traditional option is to start a book club or play-date group with JLA friends who live in your neighborhood. If you want to learn a new skill, look for the e-blast with information about how to sign up for Spanish Immersion Classes over the summer at the JLA Headquarters. The takeaway is: don’t forget about JLA after that May meeting!
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League Life Balance By: Sarah Paolozza
Striking a balance between work and your personal life is a hot topic these days, and there’s no shortage of material out there to help someone seeking equilibrium. Work, for most of us, is no longer a nine-to-five commitment. Our work has become increasingly digital, and it’s hard to draw a line between when work ends and your personal life begins - even with the popularity of flexible schedules, work-from-home, and unlimited time-off policies. Technology has made our professional and work lives intermingled, almost all day long, and balancing them takes a much more conscious effort. Weave in another time commitment or obligation like membership in The JLA, and finding balance can prove to be challenging. However, we only need to look to our fellow members to see that balance is finding joy in these things we choose to do to lead a more fulfilling life. To help our readers who struggle to find balance between work, personal life, and League obligations, I spoke with several members to get their tips. As we are aware, most of our membership works full-time, and many have demanding jobs as well as families. By their very nature, League members are inclined to be juggling a lot of things in life, and they can be a great resource for understanding how to “do it all” and stay happy and sane. The most common piece of advice I received in speaking to other League members (whose placements range from community partners to leadership roles within the League) was to carefully review the placement options each year and consider the following when deciding: • •
Location – How far is it from where I live/work? Do I need to be there in person for each shift, or is location flexible? Time commitment – Is it fixed or flexible? If it’s fixed, do the fixed shifts work for my schedule? Does it feel like I’d be pushing it to complete my shift each week, or does it seem like an easy commitment?
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• •
Interest – Does it sound like something I would enjoy doing, or am I simply choosing it because it seems “easy” or the schedule works best? Skills required – Do I have the skills needed such that it would be an easy adjustment? Or, do I want to learn the skills that the placement purports to offer?
Most members said that they heavily consider the time commitment required. For those with demanding jobs with unpredictable hours, or with kids or dependents to take care of, the flexibility of the placement was of utmost importance. But location and skill level can factor into time commitments too. If you don’t already have the skills noted in the placement (maybe it’s graphic design, photography skills, or a certain kind of software), it maybe a great opportunity to learn, but could require you to spend more time getting ramped up into the role. So decide what you want out of the placement first, and choose accordingly. Also, if you’re choosing a shift based on flexible scheduling, but it’s an hour away from your home, you should factor that in to how much time you can expect to spend at your placement. Many of us are in the League to give back to our community in a way that is both gratifying and impactful. Choose a placement that you are passionate about that has a cause or mission that speaks to you. At the end of the day, the more you enjoy what you’re doing with the League, the less it will feel like something that is taking time away from your family or your work, and your volunteer work will energize you. Once you’ve found a placement that excites you and works with your schedule, there are a few more tips from fellow members to help you maintain balance: •
Talk to your partner and support system about what you’ll be doing, and get their buy-in and support. If they know what
•
•
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to expect and are onboard with your work in the League, they’ll be more inclined to help pick up the slack in times where it’s needed. Tell your work partners about your League membership and placement. It will help them understand your other commitments and why sometimes you may not be as flexible in attending things like late meetings or weekend functions. Plan and stay on top of things! Whether you use a paper planner or your Google/Outlook calendar, take time to schedule your obligations in advance where possible. Add your General Meetings, scheduled placement meetings and deadlines, and League events as soon as you have the dates and times. A little planning goes a long way to help maintain sanity when life gets busy, and it will prevent you from overscheduling yourself by accident. Don’t procrastinate. It’s easy to put off League responsibilities outside of your placement, like attending General Meetings or training events. However, that can lead to obligations piling up late in the year, and then if life gets busy on top of that, things can get overwhelming quickly. Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today – your tomorrow self will thank you!
Finally, don’t forget why you chose to join the League in the first place. Every year, you should ask yourself if you’re getting what you wanted out of your membership, and if you’re enjoying yourself. If you’re not, reach out to a fellow League member and talk about it! Maybe you just need to try a different kind of placement or rearrange priorities. Remember, your membership should be challenging from time to time – we’re doing big things, and challenges usually result in growth – but, we all want it to be rewarding and fun for each other too.
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SHANNON CREEKMUR
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FUND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL BY: SARAH PAOLOZZA Corporate sponsorships are a key part of keeping The Junior League of Austin (JLA) running and funding our various initiatives. Corporate sponsors may donate directly to the League, to specific initiatives like Food In Tummies (FIT), or may provide their sponsorships to events like A Christmas Affair (ACA). The Fund Development Council (FDC) works to bring in sponsors and funds for all of these JLA initiatives and programs. I was interested to understand how the corporate sponsorship process works, so I connected with the current Vice President of the FDC, Shannon Creekmur, to talk about this aspect of fundraising at the League. LeagueLines: How does the FDC find corporate sponsors? Shannon Creekmur: Some of our corporate sponsors have been partners for years and return to support our programs. We utilize the Prospecting Committee and FDC to brainstorm and discuss potential sponsorships and major in-kind requests for the League. We also discuss potential sponsorships throughout the year at Board Meetings. LL: How are corporate sponsorships utilized in the League? SC: Some corporate donations come in the form of annual contributions, planned giving, major gifts, or one-time donations. There are also corporate sponsorships that help support JLA special events as long as they have brand visibility as a sponsor during events at ACA or Austin Entertains. The cash donations the JLA receives from corporate sponsors goes toward our signature programs: Coats for Kids (CFK) and FIT, and also helps fund grants the JLA provides to 35+ non-profits. Sponsorships include corporate and individual donations. LL: Given that we have several initiatives to find resources for, is it difficult to find potential sponsors in Austin? SC: As we continue to add new fundraising events, we look to diversify our sponsorship pool so that we are not returning to the same sponsors for every JLA fundraiser. Austin has a good pool of potential sponsors; it’s all about finding the sponsors that align with our mission and goals. LL: What kinds of things does the FDC do to set JLA a part from all the other organizations seeking sponsorship from the same companies? SC: One thing we do is tell our JLA story and how we work to impact the Austin community. We’re not just any group of volunteers, we are a group of women making an impact in our community through community partnerships, signature programs and leadership development. In the 2016-2017 year through today, JLA has given more than 160,000 volunteer hours and invested more than $815,000 back into Austin. We let our corporate sponsors know that they help contribute to our vision and work toward a more vibrant Austin community with their support.
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LL: What are some of our longest running corporate sponsors at JLA? SC: There are quite a few. Some of our longstanding sponsors include: IBC Bank, Whole Foods, HEB, Bank of America, Randalls, Keller Williams, and the Nelson Puett Foundation. LL: Are there some newer sponsorships that we’re particularly excited about or that are proving to be an especially great match for us? SC: We are really excited about St. David’s HealthCare, which sponsors ACA and Bunny Brunch, year after year. In addition, about 500 members of their leadership recently took part in a FIT backpack stuffing exercise. LL: How many people in the League work on finding and setting up corporate sponsorships? SC: The FDC VP utilizes the FD Council, Prospecting Committee and Board Members to find new sponsors and onboarding these sponsors is done through the FDC VP and the Council. LL: What should someone in the League do first if they’d like their company to become a sponsor? SC: Contact the Fund Development VP at funddevelopmentvp@ jlaustin.org with your name, donor suggestion, and connection to the donor. LL: What is the general process for onboarding sponsorships once a company has expressed interest? SC: Once I have spoken to or visited a potential sponsor and they’ve committed to a donation, their information gets entered into the sponsorship form which goes into Digital Cheetah. If they are sponsoring a specific event like ACA or Austin Entertains there are sponsorship benefits associated with the event a sponsor will receive. LL: What’s the most challenging hurdle in attracting or setting up sponsors? SC: One challenge in attracting new sponsors is making sure we convey our story and dispel preconceived notions they may have of The Junior League of Austin. Sometimes people may see events like ACA and think all we do is put on parties, but we have to remind them that our fundraising events are vehicles by which we raise funds to put back into the community through our community partners and our signature programs like FIT and CFK. LL: Is there anything else that you think League members should or would like to know about Corporate Sponsorships? SC: If League members have a potential lead on a sponsor please contact the FDC VP! Information on how potential sponsors can support the League can be found at www.jlaustin.org/support/ Also, it’s wonderful if JLA members help the FDC by thanking any of our sponsors when you visit their stores or businesses.
Why Give?
League Members share what giving to the JLA means to them by: AMBER SHANAFELT
As members of The Junior League of Austin (JLA), we receive a lot of messaging about the Capital Campaign, including requests for donations and logos of corporate donors at the bottom of every e-blast. But why exactly do our members give? A few members shared their reasons with LeagueLines. “We give to improve our community and make it a better place to live. By giving to The Junior League of Austin (JLA), the positive effect on our community is widespread due to the reach of the community partners the League supports.” Sharon Morgan, Active member. *Her company, Mesa Vinyards, L.P., also gives to JLA. “Whom much is given, much will be required. For that reason and more, I am a donor to both The Junior League of Austin (JLA) and the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI). I know that my gift to each organization serves as a catalyst of change for women around the world and allows them to make communities better.” Terri Broussard Williams, Associate Active member and Board member, Association of Junior Leagues International “Not only is The Junior League of Austin (JLA) a great women’s organization that I’m happy to be a part of, but the work it does for the Austin community is remarkable. The League has given me so much knowledge, friendship, and growth that giving back to JLA is the least I can do. I own a blog called Austinite Spotlight where I cover stories on those who give back to the Austin community, and the League does that and more! Austinite Spotlight recently sponsored a page for Capitalines. It was a great opportunity for me to share my business with everyone and give back to the League at the same time!” Sheridan Butler, Active member
“I give because I want to make a difference in our local community, and The Junior League of Austin is making a tangible difference right here in Austin.” Lacey Pumphrey, Active member “It was important for me to donate, because it‘s truly an investment in the community. The Community Impact Center (CIC) will serve as The Junior League of Austin Headquarters, and it will also be available for all of Austin’s nonprofits to use. It is for the city as much as it is for the League.” Rekha Akella, Active member “Having packed backpacks for hungry children through the Food In Tummies - FIT program and seeing the eyes of a child light up in choosing their coat through Coats for Kids (CFK), I am glad to help support the League and its programs, because I see the direct impact the funds have in building up our community.” Araminta Sellers, Active member, JLA Board Member-at-Large “As a member of The Junior League of Austin (JLA), I know first hand how the money we raise is spent and what services we provide for the community. As a business owner, I am confident that my dollar is being spent wisely and doing the most good, while giving me excellent exposure to my target market.” Lisa Kaspar, Active member
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HOW THE LEAGUE PRODUCES LEADERS:
SPOTLIGHT ON RISÉ CANDELARIA by: Amber Shanafelt LeagueLines: Why did you join the League? Risé Candelaria: I wanted to network with women who were passionate about volunteering and eager to learn new skills while doing so. I was seeking a way to expand my friendship network, and become more involved in my community in Odessa, TX. When the call for membership went out, I was excited about an opportunity to join there. After I moved to Austin, there was no question about transferring my membership to get to know this unique community and the women who make an impact within it. LL: What are all of the placements that you have had in The Junior League of Austin? RC: I’ve held various roles focusing on Baty Elementary with Food In Tummies - FIT, the Researchers Committee, Chairing the PR/Marketing Committee, and Non-Profit Training. LL: What is your life like outside of the League? RC: In my work life, I’m a Professor of Communication Studies at Austin Community College. In addition to teaching, I serve as the Assistant Department Chair for Faculty for my department, where I coordinate hiring and performance evaluations for our Adjunct Faculty members. I have also served as a Faculty Senator for the ACC Cypress Creek Campus this year. Personally, my husband Caesar and I live in North Austin (Jollyville area!) and he works for a technology company named Actian, where he is a Cloud Engineer. We have a Westie named North who helps to keep us entertained. LL: What did you learn during your Provisional year that still helps you in the League? RC: I feel one of the most valuable lessons I learned was to remember to be engaged and to seek out opportunities, but to also remember... “You can do anything, but not everything.” Part of what makes The Junior League so fun is that you are forced out of your comfort zone, and good things happen as a result! You may overcome shyness, become bolder about sharing your talents, or even learn something new. That being said, sometimes you have to remember to focus on one thing at a time. Doing something well is better than doing a lot of tasks halfway, so be selective, dedicated, and work smart. LL: Why do you think you have been successful in League leadership? RC: Volunteering, being social and active have been passions of mine from an early age. This organization allows me to take some of my strengths and develop new ones as well! I believe I have become successful because I’m willing to grow and develop but still place importance on completion and follow-through. Sometimes, volunteer life means getting messy or dirty, and learning how to manage those situations with grace is something that also helps you be a more successful leader.
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Public Relations / Mar
keting C hair
2017 - 2018
LL: What skills have you learned through League leadership? RC: Here are my top three. Gratitude. Saying thank you to everyone for what they do, or that you appreciate them and their talents goes a long way and can help build bridges and networks! We do amazing things on a daily basis, and anytime you can recognize someone’s efforts goes a long way to contributing to their happiness and yours. Time management. There is a reason we have League meetings scheduled when we do! Much of time management comes with learning how to schedule your meetings, tasks, and conversations in and out of JLA. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about your “real job,” because what’s going on with us is so much more fun and exciting. You have to learn to balance the time and attention given to both work and fun things -- I’m only able to volunteer because I work. Balance. The immediate thought is about work-life balance, but what I have learned goes beyond that. Balance as a leader means being able to take charge but also empowering your team to do their jobs well. I know my skills and talents, and I know I have a desire to see jobs through to completion. My job as a leader is not to always demonstrate those traits, or use them constantly; I need to learn to rely on my team and committee as much as I would rely on myself in that situation. The other part of this is recognizing when someone may need help or even asking for help. To me, a leader must be willing to teach and guide, and also be willing to learn at all times. LL: Has mentorship from another League member affected your path in the League? RC: I am inspired by so many of my fellow members, especially with my volunteer path. I have been encouraged to keep an open mind about the opportunities that are in front of me and to also seek out engaging and challenging areas and projects. While leadership positions tend to naturally get the most attention, sometimes it’s the “behind-the-scenes” jobs that are the most enriching and important
roles to fill. I have also appreciated the encouragement to seek out other leadership opportunities in other organizations too! I don’t know that I would have been brave enough to seek out a nomination for Faculty Senator at my job or to even consider being a leader in another organization without a gentle push and encouragement from my fellow League members. LL: Did you have a goal in mind for what leadership positions you wanted to hold when you were a new Active member? RC: Not at all. In fact, it’s been an unplanned journey for the most part! I know some members seek out specific positions or committees, or have a specific project on their agenda. Personally, I just want
to volunteer with good, reliable people and enjoy myself while doing the work. I think it’s a good idea to think of bigger picture leadership goals; think what skills and talents I have, what jobs/tasks I want to do, and what will be the best positions to accomplish that? And, of course — reflect on where your life and schedule are in tandem with those ideas! LL: What advice would you give to Active members who want to be in leadership positions? RC: Be brave. Own your volunteer and member experience in this
organization. Speak up and let someone know you have talents and time to share. Sign up for outside opportunities or events beyond the General Meetings, and then say hi to new people! Introduce yourself and get outside of your comfort zone as much as possible. Your leadership experience is entirely what you make of it, but it is also what you want to get out of it. A willingness to learn, grow and work cooperatively with others is a trait that many of us appreciate and seek in our fellow committee members. LL: Is there anything that you were surprised by in one of your leadership positions? RC: Honestly, not really. Again, I had some wonderful mentors and friends who reminded me constantly to take things one day at a time and gave advice when needed. If anything surprised me, it was how much support I truly have — and how much others wanted me to succeed and be a part of the committee, team, project or whatever. Every person and every task is important to the bigger picture. Keeping the bigger picture, our mission and our impact in mind during your most stressful moments should help you overcome any obstacle that volunteer life throws at you.
AMPLIFY AUSTIN HELPS FILL FIT BACKPACKS! by: Sarah Paolozza Provisionals and the Fund Development Council (FDC) began this year’s Amplify with an Amplify Kick Off party on March 1. Social media posts and donor appeals through MailChimp were sent out to past donors announcing the start of the 24hour giving period. The Junior League of Austin (JLA) received $12,802 during the March 1-2 period and received a few more donations through our fundraising page after the end of Amplify, for a grand total of $13,097. With the funds, we filled more than 2,600 backpacks for our Food In Tummies (FIT) program and created more awareness of JLA and FIT!
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SPOTLIGHT ON ANOTHER LEAGUE:
WASHINGTON DC
INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA PECHULLIS by: CHRISTIE FINNIGAN
In an effort to gain insight into Leagues across the country, we’re highlighting The Junior League of Washington (JLW) in Washington, D.C. In an interview with Active member Melissa Pechulis, we’ve learned some interesting similarities and differences between our organizations. For instance, we both hold a big holiday market fundraiser, but Washington D.C.’s concentrated youthful city broods differences like its own League house and having to mindfully locate events near metro stations for members’ accessibility. Official name - The Junior League of Washington (JLW) Website - www.jlw.org/ Serves Washington D.C., and the suburbs of DC in Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland Membership Dynamics: 2,362 Total members 1,222 Active members 278 Provisional members 862 Sustainers
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LeagueLines: What is your big fundraiser for the year called and can you tell me a little about it? Melissa Pechulis: We have two big fundraisers, one in the fall and one in the spring. Fall - Holiday Shops www.jlw.org/holidayshops/ JLW’s large shopping event has been held at various locations in D.C. through the years. This year it was at Dock5 Union Market.
There are a large number of vendors who set up tables for three days to sell their items. A percentage of each sale goes back to the JLW as well as funds raised from ticket sales ($5/weekend) and special events (which could include pet photos with Santa!). Spring - Tossed & Found www.jlw.org/tossedandfound/ Our large rummage sale is based off of League members’ donations. This event has been around for more than 34 years, and more than $2 million has been raised. Last year’s rummage sale raised more than $150,000. We encourage all members to donate, but Actives every Active member is required to donate at least $50 of goods, with only 20% of that value deriving from items of clothing. This event is usually held in the Crystal City sub-section of Arlington, VA. We try to make all of our events near a metro since many members do not have cars. LL: Where are your meetings held? How often are meetings held? MP: We have a League house located in the Georgetown area of Washington D.C. Some members take the metro to Foggy Bottom and walk, but most will drive as Georgetown is the one part of D.C. that does not have a metro stop. There are two General Meetings each year, but the entire membership does NOT attend as there is not enough space. It’s usually capped around 150-200 members depending on the location. We’ve held meetings in various locations, including the National Zoo. LL: What are your League’s signature causes or programs? MP: The JLW focuses on literacy in the Washington D.C. area. Unfortunately, the literacy rate in Washington D.C. is the lowest in the nation. We partner with the Library of Congress every September to provide volunteers for the popular National Book Festival. www.loc.gov/bookfest/
LL: What are you most proud of in the JLW? MP: I’m most proud of the work that we have done in the D.C. metro area. We have more than 2,000 women dedicating multiple volunteer shifts a year to enrich the wellbeing of D.C. residents. That has made a visible positive impact on our community.
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The Mad Hatters Return By Lindsey Wiese
A Mad Hatter's Tea Party was a hit this year! Whether you were seeing it through the ‘looking glass’ or through your own eyes, the beautiful setting of The University of Texas Golf Club made this a great spring event enjoyed by all ages. This year’s sold out event came with a few new twists: VIP tickets gave people the option to arrive an hour early, bypass the line for Wendell the Easter Bunny, and receive a wonderful deluxe Easter basket. There was so much entertainment for the whole family including egg hunts, a petting zoo that included a popular baby wallaby, a charming balloon twister, Alice in Wonderland- themed croquet matches, colorful cotton candy machines, and face paintings. As we reflect on 2018’s event, much of the success of Bunny Brunch came from the wonderful Spring Events Committee members and the Spring Events Chair, Julie Hildebrand.
#BunnyBrunch #JLAustin
“Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least as fast as that!” –The Queen of Hearts
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Stephanie Bazan was honored with a Professional Service Award for her time, effort and commitment to Latinitas in 2017. She was one of four women honored at the Latinitas Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday, April 19. Council Member Sabino Renteria along with staff and board members were in attendance.
Knox Milo Wiese Born February 1, 2018 to parents Lindsey & Ryan and big sister Alexandra August
MacLain Alexander Neusel Born June 20, 2017 to parents Maggie & Kit
Rekha Akella and Chris Roarty were married on May 12, 2018 in a traditional Indian ceremony at the Westin Hotel in the Domain in Austin, Texas.
Let’s Celebrate! Congratulations!
Jack Bruce Brown Born February 27, 2018 to parents Tima & Ryan and big brothers Benjamin & William
Berenice Craig served as the Chair of the 2018 Saint Louise House Mother & Me Tea. This event took place on Sunday, May 20 Barr Mansion. Saint Louise House works to empower homeless women with children on the path to self suffiency. This event is a day for celebrating the strength of mothers everywhere, helps introduce families to the work of Saint Louise House and raises funds for the families currently in their program. Thank you to everyone who came to support a fellow League member working for the good of our community!
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The Growth of Social Media By Kathryn Saul, Social Media Chair The Junior League of Austin’s social media presence continues to grow just as our membership size and involvement within the community continues to expand. This year, more than ever, we have had hashtag signage and reminders at events which undoubtley helps to spread the word on our JLA impact within the Austin community. There is a solid, core group of members who consistently like, retweet and share posts. As we continue to expand our message and engagement within the Austin community I encourage all members to continue to share JLA’s accomplishments through social media. This month our Facebook page has more than 5,710 followers as compared to 4,980 last April and 4,370 in April 2016. On Twitter we have almost 3,000 followers and more than 3,200 Instagram followers. Our average Facebook post reaches 1,500 people with our larger events such as Coats for Kids and A Christmas Affair reaching approximately 5,000-10,000 people. This year we incorporated more Facebook live and InstaStory coverage at all JLA events. The A Christmas Affair City Proclamation and tree reveal was streamed on Facebook Live and reached over 5,700 people (25 live) with almost 4,000 people viewing the video, and 130 like/loves.
Followers By Social Media Outlet Facebook: More Than 5,700 Instagram: More Than 3,200 Twitter: almost 3,000 To assist with outreach and ticket sales on our events we incorporated “boosting” Facebook posts as part of our social media strategy for events such as A Christmas Affair, Coats for Kids, and Austin Entertains. For example, just one of our Austin Entertains videos leading up to the event when boosted reached more than 10,500 people, with more than 5,800 watching the video, and 100 people clicking on the purchase tickets link.
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While our JLA sponsored events generate much social media content we still would love to share more about what you are doing in the community. Next year we’re calling all JLA members who participate in DIAD, training events, FIT shifts, and behind the scenes work to send their photos to socialmedia@jlaustin.org so we can highlight all of our amazing volunteers. It is an exciting future for social media at The Junior League of Austin. As we build our new community impact center, social media will be a great way to show our progress. We can also leverage the power of social media to gain traction around our new JLA program Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS). Also new for next year, the Social Media Committee will be managing and expanding The Junior League of Austin Members Exchange Facebook group to allow for broader membership participation and consistency with JLA messaging. The exciting part about the position of Social Media Chair is that this is a position where you truly get to see the breadth of all the League activities and innerworkings. I have enjoyed participating in large League events, learning about individual community placements, grants and awards and so much more. Through reviewing content for postings, cross-postings, tagging and liking, I was able to form relationships with other members across committees and organizations with whom we work. It has been incredible to see how much our members do, in-League and out of League -- we had six Austin Under 40 Finalists! It’s also interesting to see
the similarities and differences between how Leagues across the country use their social media. For example, every League has a strategy and advertises their version of ACA or holiday market and the various causes and organizations with whom they partner. We can learn from other Leagues and expand our social media strategy by seeing what is working for others.
“I am walking away from this placement with a deeper understanding of the strategy behind social media and how much it differs from personal posting. It’s not as simple as posting about yourself when its content generated by another; it has to be woven into a larger narrative and viewed through a different lens.” I have never participated in social media for an organization before, and this was a great learning experience for me. I am walking away from this placement with a deeper understanding of the strategy behind social media and how much it differs from personal posting. It’s not as simple as posting about yourself when it’s content generated by another, but has to be woven into a larger narrative and viewed through a different lens. The Social Media Committee is a mighty Committee of three and when it comes to events like, A Christmas Affair, it’s all-hands-on deck for capturing photos, InstaStory, generating post verbiage and tagging across platforms. This is where the larger League becomes the social media committee and we benefit when people send us photos of moments from their experiences at JLA events or in the community. I always love reflecting during the May General meeting as leadership shares the statistical recap of the League’s impact over the past year. All the shifts and hours we each put into this League and into the Austin community we all care about is truly amazing. I encourage us all to be proud of our accomplishments and share those more with next year’s Social Media Committee so we continue to make our League and Austin shine. And remember, lots of likes never hurt!
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Our JLA logo has served us well for over 15 years, but with the new building in development the timing was perfect for an update on our League’s branding and logo. The process began earlier this year with the develop of our new messaging house, which was featured in the fall issue of LeagueLines. The next step was to work with Astrisk, a local design firm, that is also working on the signage and other aspects of the new Community Impact Center, to create a new logo and identity system for The Junior League of Austin. Astrisk met with a small committee made up of the President, PresidentElect, Members of the CIC committee, Communications VP, Communications VP-Elect, and PR Chair and PR Chair Elect to review our current marketing and usage, other local logos, as well as those of other Leagues around the country. After a very thoughtful and detailed process a beautiful new logo has been designed that is very clean and simple, yet represents our impact on the Austin community as well as our strength as women leaders. Astrisk also proposed three tagline options, which were sent out to membership for a vote. The winner by a large majority:
Women Building Community The new logo was presented to membership at our May General Meeting. Take a peek here at our new branding, which will be rolling out over the summer and fall of 2018. This clean yet impactful identity includes the logo, tagline, and JLA colors, and will be incorporated into future materials as well as throughout the Community Impact Center.
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