Fall 2014
MOUNTAIN MESSAGES
back to school edition
2014-2015 Board of Directors President President-Elect Secretary Treasurer Treasurer-Elect Membership VP Community VP Communications VP Ways & Means VP Director-At-Large Nominating Chair Placement Chair Provisional Development Co-Chairs Sustainer Advisor
Kortney Major Tiffany Hoke Meghann Caldwell Kathleen Simpson Erica Barker Kara Boehm Nicki Holly Lauren Jarvis Elizabeth Yeager Shana Clay Kristin Moody Laura Boone Jenny Herrald Kassie Moore Amy Swann
www.jlcharlestonwv.org
The Major Message Welcome to the 2014-2015 Junior League of Charleston (JLC) year! I am humbled and excited to serve as your president – what an honor! I am very grateful for this opportunity and will strive to do all I can to continue forward with the success of our League. JLC means a lot of things to me. First, it’s a home-away-from-home of sorts. I feel comfortable here and happy! JLC also means friendship. I’ve made life-long friends through JLC, friends who have been there for me and are always supportive. Finally, JLC means learning. I have learned something new each League year; I’ve learned how to lead, be a listener – not just a talker, entertain, re-work a budget, expand my writing and public speaking skills, and so much more. Being an active member of JLC has been a rewarding experience. My hope for each member this League year is for each of you to experience a little bit of what I listed above: a home-away-from-home, amazing friendships, and lots and lots of learning! The experiences you will have and the skills you will learn by being a member of JLC are irreplaceable. The 2014-2015 League year promises to be an exciting one: a big change with our cookbooks; unique and exciting membership events; new partnerships where we can cultivate current skills and learn new ones; and, the continuation of our successful, new fundraiser Women on the Move. As your President, I’m always available to talk on the phone or meet in person. I’m here to answer questions about the League. I’m here to be a friend. I’m here to be a leader. But most importantly, I’m here to help you get the best possible experience from your time with the Junior League of Charleston. Here’s to a successful League year. Now let’s get to work! Best, Kortney Major
Junior League of Charleston
Cookbooks and Cocktails On August 14, more than 50 Sustainers, Actives, and potential Provisionals gathered at the home of Libby Stultz. Libby, a Sustainer, graciously hosted this large group for the annual Cookbooks & Cocktails event. Sustainers, Actives, and potential Provisionals were able to mingle with one another and sample a number of delicious dishes from Mountain Measures and Mountain Measures: A Second Serving. Cookbooks & Cocktails also serves as an opportunity for potential Provisionals to learn more about membership in the League, as well as our mission of promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community. We look forward to the participation of these women as Provisional members during Fall 2014. We thank all the Sustainers and Actives who purchased cookbooks at the event. We also give a very big thank you to Libby Stultz for welcoming us into her beautiful home. The Provisional Development Co-Chairs hope to host other events throughout the year. If you are interested in hosting a Junior League event at your home, please contact Jenny Herrald or Kassie Moore.
Jenny Herrald jenny.herrald@gmail.com (434) 825-5464
Kassie Moore k.moore3189@gmail.com (865) 250-1127
www.jlcharlestonwv.org
Membership Spotlight Elizabeth Yeager
Hometown: Charleston, WV Alma Mater: West Virginia University Profession: Communications Associate for the West Virginia Division of Culture and History Position(s): Currently – Ways and Means VP 2014-2015; Past Positions – Pumpkins in the Park Activity Chair 2012, Building Community over Cocktails Chair 2013, Scholarship Chair 2013 and 2014, Women on the Move Chair 2014 How long have you been in the JLC: Three years What’s your favorite part of being a member of the JLC: I love volunteering and helping my community whenever and however I can but I think the best part is being connected to smart women who are dedicated to making positive changes to the Charleston area. I love seeing the ladies in the JLC take charge and I take pride telling people that I am a member. There is nothing more powerful than a woman in motion! Why did you join the JLC: My mother, Anna Yeager, was involved with the JLC my whole childhood. I saw how she flourished in her different roles within the JLC and was able to better the community from it. I realized I wanted to be able to share in that experience with her and I am ever so grateful that she encouraged me to join. Fun Fact(s): I am the middle of three girls, a proud new aunt to a beautiful baby boy, a total foodie, and I have met some of my very best friends through the JLC.
www.jlcharlestonwv.org
Women on the Move As you know our brand new spring fundraiser, Women on the Move, was a success – so much so that we have decided to forego our previous fall fundraiser, Pumpkins in the Park 5k Fun Run & Walk, and focus on one event. We all enjoyed PIP but like many fundraisers, this one had run its course (literally and figuratively). Having one fundraiser puts more pressure on it to bring in the big bucks, but I see it has a motivation to make Women on the Move an even bigger success than last year! I’m extremely happy to have Jennifer Workman and Brittany Stonestreet as our Spring Fundraiser Co-Chairs for this year. They have been working very hard on planning every detail, enhancing what worked, fixing what didn’t and coming up with ideas for potential speakers. Last year, we had more than 100 ladies in attendance to hear our wonderful speakers: Nikki Bowman and Morgan Robinson. Nikki, our keynote speaker, is a former member of the Junior League of Jackson, MS and is the owner of New South Media, Inc. which owns and operates the popular magazines WV Living, WV Weddings, and WV Focus. While munching on delicious food from Paterno’s at the Park, we celebrated women and were inspired to become motivated and passionate about our lives, our community, and our careers. Nikki focused on how the Junior League of Jackson helped her to be a community leader, have the confidence and courage to stand out and that without passion you will never be able to create the life you truly deserve. She also came up with a great term – ‘possibilitarian’ meaning that we must strive to turn possibilities into realities. We are already busy brainstorming ideas about who could be our keynote speaker and how we can make this event better for years to come. If you have any suggestions, please contact Liz Yeager. Liz Yeager (304) 421-0632 eyeager5@gmail.com
Junior League of Charleston
Little Leaguers In the past several months, our JLC family certainly has grown!
Katharine Elizabeth Boone Parents: Laura and Floyd
Blaire Elise Gregory Parents: Tiffany and Tate
Ruby Madeline Major Parents: Kortney and Robb
Alice Clara Bowles Parents: Jenna and Matthew
www.jlcharlestonwv.org
A Look Back at 2013-2014 During our 90th year, the JLC was busy! Active members averaged 6 volunteer hours each, with many going above and beyond. As a League, we contributed more than 210 hours of service to a variety of community organizations. Looking back, it seems gardening and feeding those in need became the unofficial theme of 2013-2014. For our first full year of Backpack Buddies, we partnered with Chesapeake Elementary and filled nearly 1,000 bags for students in need. JLC members spent time working at the Manna Meal garden, moving tree branches and rocks, weeding, and installing irrigation lines. Joining with a local Girl Scout troop, members helped the troop earn their gardening badge. Last year, members also spent time preparing and serving meals at the Manna Meal Kitchen, Ronald McDonald House, and special Thanksgiving dinners for students in after-school programs at Emmanuel Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. We also worked to secure $3,000 in grant funding for the Bob Burdette Center to purchase new exercise equipment, in addition to leading their students in our Junior League On The Move program. Junior League of Charleston
Save the Date SEPT
18
OCT
4
Membership Happy Hour Vino's 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Thin Mint Sprint 5K Hurricane - Valley Park 8 a.m.
SEPT
25
OCT
13
Murder Mystery Dinner Woman's Club of Charleston 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
October GMM Social starts at 6:30 p.m. Meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Thank You Thanks to Kortney Major, Liz Yeager, Tiffany Hoke, Lauren Jarvis, and all of our new moms for providing content or photos for Mountain Messages. We greatly appreciate the help! Also, please send any event photos or information you would like included in Mountain Messages to Meagan Shelton. Meagan Shelton meaganshelton@yahoo.com www.jlcharlestonwv.org