JUNIOR
LEAGUE OF GAINESVILLE - HALL COUNTY
Over the course of the last year, I’ve been able to watch, listen and learn. These months have given me perspective on where the Junior League of Gainesville - Hall County has been, where it is headed, and wrap my head around being your President. I’m asked almost weekly if I’m “ready” to hit the ground running, if I know what I want to do or accomplish, and if I am “ready.” The first and last questions are easy to answer. Hit the ground running? No, I am more of a stroller rather than a runner. Am I ready? Ha, I’m as ready to be your President as I was at becoming a parent – not very. My oldest child is 6 years old, and we have both survived this far. So I’m pretty confident that we all shall survive, and THRIVE this year.
I’ve had a harder time putting words together to answer the second question, and then during the board retreat, in the sitting room of The Tumlin House, it all came together. I had the opportunity to get to know our board on a personal level. Nine diverse women who are coming together to guide our organization that empowers and invest in woman, of all ages, to reach their fullest potential. Reflecting on the weekend, a lightbulb went off – pour into each other. We need to pour into each other. All of the good work that we do for our community is wonderful, but it is second to what we pour into each other. Junior League isn’t just about our projects, how much money we raise, or even our membership status. It is about being a part of a strong network of women who inspire each other to be better individuals and lead with compassion. When we encourage each other, get to know one another, when we cause each other to change the way we think, when we challenge the status quo, and when we align to form solutions, we have poured into each other – only then will our league thrive.
We are over 300 women strong, and all of us have one thing in common – our imperfections. As this year unfolds, I encourage all of us to acknowledge our own imperfections first and the imperfections of our fellow members second – if at all. Then pour what you have to offer into a fellow member; and most importantly, be ready to receive what your fellow member must pour into you.
We are a powerhouse of dedicated, professional, well-educated women who have much to give to our community, and even more to give to each other. I challenge you all to recognize the power we have together. This year, I hope that no matter how different we may be as individuals, we strengthen our skills to have tolerance, acceptance and find the value in others. However big our differences may be, there is far more that unites us than divides us. That unconditional positive regard for everyone, the ability to stay at the table to listen, and respect the differences; and through those experiences, expand our own hearts. I hope that we continue to craft our league into what it needs to be.
I would like to thank all of the Sustainers who continue on this journey with us and the Active members who have recommitted for another year. Our Sustainers are our history, but we don’t want them to remain in the past! We are looking forward to reengaging and reinvigorating our Sustainer base this year and hope to see many of you at upcoming meetings and events.
As your President for the 2018-19 League year, I am honored to serve all of you. We have an exceptional legacy to serve as our foundation, as we work to build a better League and a better Gainesville - Hall County.
Caroline Nix
The League 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: Caroline Nix | president@gainesvillehalljuniorleauge.org
• Any “big picture” or future planning/vision questions
Executive Vice President: Angie Kennedy | awhighsmith@gmail.com
• Any questions about the day-to-day management of League
Secretary: Christy Malcom | christyjmalcom@gmail.com
• Questions about attendance, leave or transferring Leagues
• Materinity Leave or Leave of Absences must be requested and approved by the Secretary
Treasurer: Ashton Meeks | ameeks514@gmail.com
• All things financial and dues questions
Nominating Director: Lauryn White | laurynswhite@gmail.com
• Any questions about the nomination process or leadership job descriptions
Financial Director: Chelsea Sullivan | csullivan@rushtonandcompany.com
• Questions about sponsorships/donations
• Information related to fundraisers and fund development
Membership Director: Keri Turner | keriaroberts@yahoo.com
• Information on joining the League
• Questions about placement/DIAD opportunities
• Conferences, training, and other development opportunities
• Questions about membership obligations
Community Outreach Director: Randi Moore | randi.orr14@gmail.com
• Anything related to Feeding our Future and the pantry/distributions
• Questions about the Little Black Dress Initiative
• Ideas for new programming opportunities
Communications Director: Whitley Miller | whitleybjones@gmail.com
• Any information related to news media or general publicity of the League
• Any questions about Junior League email newsletter or social media
• Any questions about the League Log
• Any questions about the website
Facilities Director: Melissa Dunlap | melissa.anderson11709@gmail.com
• Questions about pool membership and policies
• Room/building rental inquiries
• Any issues regarding the League Lodge
Charity Ball: Anne Bleakley Jones | abhughs@gmail.com & Melanie Martin | mmartin0193@gmail.com
• Any questions related to Charity Ball
Thrift Sale: Jennifer Nicholson & Britt Sawyer | JLthriftsale@gmail.com
• Any questions related to Thrift Sale
Office Manager: Amy McNeilly | info@gainesvillehalljuniorleague.org
• Office Hours: Tuesday | 4pm - 7pm Thursday | 9am - 1pm Friday | 9am - 1pm
Members of the Board and Management Team enjoyed a fun weekend of planning and bonding time at the Tumlin House in Dahlonega. They are ready to take on a successful and fun year!
This past spring Caroline Nix, Amanda Secunda, and Angie Kennedy traveled to Memphis,TN for the annual AJLI Conference.They each came back excited about new things they had learned and ready to kick-off a great League year with new, fresh ideas!
Kayla Spurlock
Mollie Amerson
Ashlyn Jones
Leah Stewart
Kayla has lived in Gainesville for four years and is originally from Colorado Springs, CO. She married her southern prince and they have a 4 year old daughter. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, but is currently staying at home to raise her family during this chapter in her life
Starbucks order: Iced vanilla coffee and don’t forget the cake pop!
Favorite restaurant in Hall County: Alpha Gyros
What would you like to see our League support in the future: Humane Society/animal abuse
Mollie is a first grade teacher at Gainesville Exploration Academy. She is originally from Chattanooga and has lived in Gainesville for 2 years now. She has two fur babies, a black lab named Wrigley and a cat named Tilly. Her and her fiancé are getting married in March and she currently spends her free time obsessing over weddings on Pinterest.
Favorite show to binge watch: Friends
Best book read in past year: The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Atlas Pizza
Ashlyn is originally from Tifton, GA and works as a VDC Engineer for Carroll Daniel Constructions. Her family is composed of her four best friends AKA her mom, dad, brother, and sister!
Favorite show to binge watch: Criminal Minds. I should have been a behavior analyst in another life!
Best Podcast you’ve listened to in past year: Small Town Murder & Crime Junkies.
Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Atlas, hands down.
Leah moved to Gainesville (Forsyth County) in early 2017. Her husband is a Gainesville native, so they are happy to now call this town “home”. Leah graduated from UGA in 2012 and began her career in insurance.
Starbucks order: Iced Coffee with Cream and White Mocha
Favorite show to binge watch: Shameless
Best Podcast you have listened to in past year: Up and Vanished
Sarah Creel is a stay at home mom to two sweet little boys - Ethan (3) and Jackson (17 months). Before becoming a mom she was a pediatric pharmacist with an emphasis in pediatric oncology.
Sarah and her husband just celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary and they are originally from Tennessee.
Starbucks order: Grande skinny vanilla latte - which I order pretty much every day!
Favorite show to binge watch: Game of Thrones and The Crown
Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Eat at Thai - I think I eat there at least once a week!
Anna is a tax associate at Rushton & Company here in Gainesville. She is currently studying to get her CPA license and just graduated from UNG with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Information Systems. Anna grew up in Gainesville and currently lives in Murrayville with her fiance, two dogs, and cat.
Favorite show to binge watch: I love The Office; I try new shows but I always end up re-watching the office.
Best book you’ve read this year: I recently read All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and it was incredible. What would you like to see our League support in the future: I would love to see the League provide help for victims of domestic violence and child abuse
Alexis Koch
Madison Gee
Michaela Smith
Lisa Vasyliv
Alexis says she is lucky enough to call Gainesville her hometown. She is a first grade teacher at Gainesville Exploration Academy. Target is her addiction and she loves to spend my free time attending Georgia football games.
Best book you’ve read in past year: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Since I am from Gainesville my favorite restaurant is Longstreet Cafe of course! What would you like to see our League support in the future: I would love to aid to the poverty and homelessness issue in Gainesville. Being a teacher in Gainesville City is hard because you see first hand how poverty effects the students at school and in their home life.
Madison Gee was born and raised in Gainesville and attended UGA where she received her degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught first grade in Gwinnett for three years and just started teaching first grade at Gainesville Exploration Academy. Madison and her husband, Jake, were married in March and bought a house just a few blocks down from the League Lodge. She is excited to finally be living and teaching in the city.
Best book you’ve read in past year: I am currently reading ‘Girl, Wash Your Face’ by Rachel Hollis and it is awesome!
Favorite restaurant outside of Hall County: In college, my favorite restaurant ever was Marti’s at Midday in Athens-the best pimento cheeseand chicken salad!
What would you like to see our League support in the future: Being in the education field, I really support issues surrounding education and children. I would love for there to be a way to support parents with their children’s education at home through resources since many feel they are not able to because of the language barrier.
Michaela Smith is the fourth of five children and grew up in Flowery Branch. She is currently getting her Masters Degreee in Secondary Social Studies Education at the University of Georgia. Michaela also works with Attorney Tom Csider as his assistant. She enjoys watching movies, going to concerts, and spending time with her family.
Best book you’ve read in the past year: Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham Favorite Restaurant in Hall county: Avocados
What would you like to see our League support in the future: I would love to see the league aide, places like Gateway and help women and children that face domestic violence. I would also love for the league to get involved with New Hope counseling and help people fight their addictions
Liza Vasyliv is originally from Novovolynsk, Ukraine. Her family moved to America 24 years ago and have lived in Georgia ever since. She is currently a tax accountant at Rushton and Company.
Starbucks order: strawberry acai refresher
Best book you’ve read read this past year: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Atlas Pizza.
Mary Hamilton Wall is Gainesville native, but grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama from 8 - 19. She loves being back in her hometown. She works at Kubota Manufacturing of America in material planning.
Starbucks order: Tall nonfat latte with one sugar in the raw Best book you’ve read in past year: Wonder by R.J. Palacio…no better book than one that reminds us of the beauty all around us.
Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Mellow Mushroom
Elizabeth Pittman
Tracey Patton
Kelsey May
Elizabeth Pittman recently moved back with her puppy, Joey, to her hometown, Gainesville. She is currently working for the County as the Sustainability Officer helping to make our county more efficient.
Favorite show to binge watch? Grace and Frankie Favorite restaurant in Hall county: Sweet Magnolia’s What would you like to see our League support in the future: Educating Hall County on Waste Management
Hannah Coleman is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, but has lived in the United States since she was about 8 years old. She grew up as a competitive ice hockey player, turned ballerina and modern dancer where she trained with Atlanta Ballet, Alvin Ailey in NYC, and DanceFX in Athens. Now I am an avid Crossfitter. She received two undergraduate degrees from The University of Georgia, which is where she met her husband, Matthew. After undergrad, Hannah attended law school at The University of Georgia School of Law (making her a double dawg…Go Dawgs!). Hannah and Matthew moved to Gainesville in August of 2017 so that she could start her career as an attorney at Smith, Gilliam, Williams, and Miles, P.A. They have two cats, enjoy travelling, and are huge Georgia Bulldogs fans.
Starbucks order: Depends on the season…I go to Starbucks a lot! Iced coffee with cream and sugar in the warm months and Non-fat caramel latte in the cold months.
Favorite restaurant outside of Hall county? The Last Resort in Athens
Best book you’ve read in past year: Lean In by Sheryl Sanberg is a must read for all women!
Sarah Maslowski and her husband, Thomas, moved to Gainesville three years ago due to his job. They have three fur babies, Georgia, Charlie, and Texas. She is a real estate agent with Keller Williams and originally grew up in Valdosta. When Sarah is not helping people find their dream home, she loves to relax on the lake with a good book or go on a hiking adventure.
Best Podcast you’ve listened to in past year: Dirty John
Favorite Hall County restaurant: Atlas Pizza.
What would you like to see our League support in the future: I would love to see the issue of sex trafficking or child sexual abuse addressed.
Tracey and her husband, Chris, and have been married for almost 4 years and live just outside of Gainesville in the North Hall area. They have 2 fur babies a dog, Winston, and a cat, Rupert. Tracey has worked at Willis Investment Counsel since graduating from The University for North Georgia with her accounting and finance degrees in 2012. She loves living and working in Hall county and is excited to being joining Junior League.
Starbucks order: Cascara cold brew
Favorite show to binge watch: I’m really loving Madame Secretary right now!
Favorite restaurant in Hall county: I love Natural Juice Cafe!
Kelsey moved to Gainesville one year ago from Chattanooga, TN. Originally from Memphis, TN, she moved to Chattanooga in 2012 to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Kelsey graduated from UTC in 2016 with a Bachelor’s in Child and Family Development. She is currently working as an Insurance Agent at The Norton Agency.
Best book you’ve read this year: Girl, Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis
Favorite restaurant in Hall County: Yellow Fin
What would you like to see our League support in the future: I would love to see Junior League help lower-income families gain access to resources to further help their children excel in school.
It’s that time of year again - the one you’ve been waiting for all year long - THRIFT SALE! This year’s Thrift Sale is moving forward with momentum like never before! For over 50 years, members of this Junior League have made an incredible difference in the lives of our neighbors in need by serving at our Annual Thrift Sale. The purpose of Thrift Sale is simple: serve our community by providing the opportunity to purchase gently used, much needed items at an extremely discounted price. The impact of Thrift Sale is hugenot only on the lives we touch and the families we serve, but also for us as League members, as we encourage one another to develop into leaders and promote volunteerism and service in our community. This one weekend of thrifting changes lives. We are so glad you are part of this initiative and thank you in advance for all your hard work and involvement in Thrift Sale. Cheers to 2018 Thrift Sale being the best yet!
BRITT SAWYER & JENNIFER NICHOLSON | 2018 THRIFT SALE CO-CHAIRS
What is Thrift Sale? Thrift Sale is our big event of the League year and is one of the longest standing fundraisers around, celebrating its 53rd anniversary this year. It’s an exciting time where active members and sustainers come together to provide a great service to our community.
What are my Member Responsibilities?
Each active and provisional member of the League is responsible for serving on one Thrift Sale committee (Advanced Donation & Promotions, Pick-up & Storage or General Work Shift), working ONE shift on Move-In Day (9/30), and working ONE shift on Sale Day (10/6) at the Gainesville Civic Center.
COMMITTEES All members should already be assigned to one of the following committees:
• General Workshift
• Pick-up and Storage
• Advanced Donations
• Properties and Promotions
SALE DAY SHIFTS
Oct. 6, 2017 | 9 am – 2 pm
• First Shift 8:30 am – 11:30 am
• Second Shift 11 am – 2 pm
Please see the sale day shift assignments below. If you do not see your name, contact the Thrift Sale Chairs ASAP at JLThriftSale@gmail.com
What
if I can’t fulfill my assignment?
If you are unable to work your scheduled shift, it is your responsibility to find another member to swap with or cover your shift for you. Failure to fulfill your committee duties or find coverage for your sale day shift will result in a fine. Anyone who swaps shifts or is unable to fulfill their Sale Day requirement is asked to email Britt Sawyer and Jennifer Nicholson at JLThriftSale@gmail.com.
How Much in Quota do I Need? Each active and new member of the League is responsible for pricing and bringing $175 worth of quota/merchandise to the Civic Center during sale week (deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 2 by 12:00pm). Your quota sheet must be turned in and quota checked upon drop off. In addition to quota:
Active Members: provide 20 plastic bags, 2 XL boxes, and 1 roll of maskingtape. New Members: provide 2 XL boxes, 1 roll of PACKING TAPE and ONE black Sharpie.
QUOTA
DROP OFF HOURS: Sunday, September 30 3:00pm – 8:30pm Monday, October 1 8:30am – 8:30pm Tuesday, October 2 8:30am – 12:00pm
How do I Price my Quota? Pricing sheets can be found at www.gainesvillehalljuniorleague.org. The pricing sheet should be used as a guide to price your items. Please price your items BEFORE you turn in your quota by using a black Sharpie marker to write the price on a piece of masking tape.
Adult clothing does not have to be priced.
What about clothing? We are happy to accept adult and children’s clothing, however the quota rules are different for each. Please review the specific guidelines for adult clothing quota and children’s clothing quota.
ADULT CLOTHING
Only $15 of your total may be attributed to adult clothing, although you may bring more to donate if you wish. Each adult clothing item is priced at $0.25 each, so please be aware only 60 pieces will be recognized as your quota, and the rest will purely be a donation.
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
Please keep in mind we are in need of CHILDRENS CLOTHING. There is no limit to the amount of children’s clothing you donate, and all children’s clothing will go towards your quota. Each piece of children’s clothing is priced at $.50 each. The children’s clothing needs to be in good condition, with minimal stains and gently used.
Do you accept books? We ARE accepting children’s books this year. Please note these items will not go towards your quota and do not need to be priced.
What other items are not accepted? We DO NOT accept the following items: Undergarments, bathing suits, car seats, knives, mattresses, plastic food containers, stuffed animals, adult books, shoes, or items worth less than .25.
What if my quota exceeds $175? Great! We can always use more merchandise. In fact, the member who brings in the largest amount of quota is dubbed “Prize Girl.” In the past the prizes for “Prize Girl” have included paintings, and spa gift certificates, so clean out your house and call family and friends to see if they have any donations to help your chances!
Sustainer Coffee
Thursday, October 4 | 10am. – 1pm.
Gainesville Civic Center
Sustainers get in free for the first look at the sale and all items are DOUBLE priced.
Double-Price Shopping
Thursday, October 4 | 5-8 pm.
Gainesville Civic Center
$5 admission for general public. It’s an opportunity to get “first dibs” on the merchandise; however, all merchandise is sold at DOUBLE the marked price.
Without diapers, infants and toddlers cannot participate in early childhood education programs. Without child care, parents cannot go to work or school, or further provide for their families.
families struggle with diaper need diapers needed each day per child
diapers must last all day in some families We are so excited to begin a new chapter in Strengthening Families! The Diaper Bank of North Georgia has been busy opening its doors to Partner Agencies in the Gainesville/Hall County area. We are currently accepting applications and anticipate accepting three Partner Agencies into the program by the end of this year. Our first drive was held from September 5-12th!
