ATSYOURERVICE A NOTEFROMTHE PRESIDENT
Board of Directors 2009-2010
Robyn Lynch
President ph:770-983-7703
Bethany Magnus President-Elect ph:770-561-2758
Kara Rogers
Recording Secretary ph:770-532-9484
Gerran Syfan
Corresponding Secretary ph:770-983-3042
Emily Gaddy Treasurer ph:678-943-2011
Kay Parks
Placement Chair ph: 770-532-9990
Shelley Davis
Membership Development Chair ph:770-538-0518
Katie Dubnik CRPD Chair ph:770-654-1891
Mary Meadows
Fund Development Chair ph: 678-989-0428
Eliza Baker
Communications Chair ph:678-450-8829
Elisabeth Baldwin
Member Representative ph: 770-983-2807
Christina White
Immediate Past-President ph:770-530-7790
Fundraising Chairs
Elisabeth Kendrick - Charity Ball ph:770-297-7529
Audrey Thornton - Charity Ball ph:770-536-9552
Jennifer Martin - Thrift Sale ph:678-200-0177
Keri Smith - Thrift Sale ph:770-536-6462
Mimi Collins
Sustainer Advisor 770-983-0279
2010 began with a bang for the Junior League. We were so fortunate to have Vicki Clark come and work with not only our board and League members, she was instrumental in motivating over one hundred community agency executive directors and their boards. Herinspirational message has moved our league to focus on working together to make a real impact on our community. As we research beginning a new project, Backpack Buddies, I am constantly reminded of the nutritional needs that our community’s children face. Your input instarting this project is so important; please participate in the membership survey and the April open discussion.
The Junior League’s hard work and fundraising efforts were very successful this year. The Finance Committee is proud to announce that it was able to offer over 25 grants to local non-profit agencies. I would like to offer a special thank you to the Thrift Sale and Charity Ball Chairs for putting in countless hours to make the events such a success.
I look forward to seeing you all soon...
Robyn
The March General Membership Meeting is open to our kids. Please bring your kids for dinner, reading and crafts. RSVPto the League Office so we will have enough food and craft items for everyone.
Vision Statement
The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County is committed to making Northeast Georgia a better place for children and families. Acting as a catalyst for positive change,we seek new opportunities to impact our community.
Robyn Lynch President
Celebrate MONTH Women’s History
Celebrate MONTH Women’s History
March 2010
The impact women have on history is immeasurable and we are not done yet!
Some notable Junior League women through history:
Mary Harriman Rumsey - Founder of the Junior League—1901; First defender of consumer rights as Chair of the Consumers’ Advisory Board of the National Resource Administration in President Franklin Roosevelt’s Administration, 1933
Eleanor Roosevelt - First Lady; social reformer; humanitarian; author As U.S. Delegate to the United Nations, she chaired the Human Rights Commission during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—adopted 1948
Oveta Culp Hobby - First Commander of Women’s Army Corps 1941; First U.S. Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare 1953
Sandra Day O’Connor - First female U.S. Supreme Court Justice, appointed 1981
Barbara Bush - First Lady; literacy activist
Laura Bush - First Lady; literacy activist
Betty Ford - First Lady; substance abuse prevention activist
Nancy Reagan - First Lady; substance abuse prevention activist
Eudora Welty - Author; Pulitzer prize for The Optimist’s Daughter, 1972
Shirley Temple Black - Child actress; Delegate to the United Nations (1969); U.S. Ambassador to Ghana; Czech and Slovak Republics
Katharine Hepburn - Actress; women’s issues activist
We were honored to have Vicki Clark come and spend time with us not only at our General Membership but also at our Leadership Breakfast. Ms. Clark facilitated training on “Mission Driven Leadership:Boards and Executive Directors Working Together to Change Lives” which was sponsored by The Longstreet Clinic, P.C. The response from all Junior League Members was overwhelmingly positive and appreciative. Part of our mission is to seek new opportunities to impact our community and we believe Vicki Clark helped not only our League, but the community as a whole. Below are a few responses from the attendees of the luncheon.
Many thanks to Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County and The Longstreet Clinic for bringing the “Mission Driven Leadership” workshop to our community! I only wish that more of our board members would have been able to attend!
Ms. Clark was a wonderful speaker and provided such good insight to building stronger, more effective boards. As a young nonprofit organization, we will definitely benefit from her ideas and materials. Likely, we will incorporate many of her suggestions into our work plans for the upcoming.
Again, many thanks to both organizations for offering this beneficial program to us!
Warmest regards,
Kay Blackstock Executive Director
Georgia
Mountain
Food Bank
Vicki Clark Thank You!
I thoroughly enjoyed the luncheon this week with Vicki Clark. This was the right message and the right time. She was incredibly entertaining to say the least and shared very valuable information for everyone in the room – for profit, non profit – board, staff – it was relevant to us all. Well Done and Thank You to the Junior League for once again leading the way! Please share my appreciation to all of Junior League!
Tracy Whitmire Vice President Resource Development United Way of Hall County
I just wanted to say thank you for bringing Vicki to Gainesville and sharing her time with the agencies. We do often hire a consultant or speaker for an hour or two during our strategic planning meeting. That was much more cost effective than hiring someone ourselves. She was so entertaining and had great ideas. Thank you!
Jessica Butler Executive Director Gateway Domestic Violence Center
COMMUNITY IMPACT
As spring is quickly approaching, this means different things to different people.For some, it means planting their gardens or maybe doing some spring cleaning.Some might think of getting out those shorts and flip flops that have been put away all winter.
For us, it means our year is quickly coming to an end, and some will be trying to get their hours completed! If you’ve already completed your hours this year - Great job! For those who haven’t, don’t worry - you still have time!However, this is a reminder that you need to make it a priority. The agencies and our community need you, so please don’t wait any longer.
If you foresee an issue in completing your hours, please contact your advisor, Ashley or Kay - we can’t help you if we aren’t made aware of your circumstance.We do know of some individual difficulties, and we will have some Done in a Day projects that will be available to help make up hours.We will keep you apprised of these as we get them.We have an open door and try our best to accommodate everyone since we know issues arise.
You have until the end of April, but don’t wait any longer! Let’s get out there, volunteer and make a difference in our community!
PLACEMENT SPOTLIGHT
Good News Clinic
Good News Clinic is a completely free clinic that provides medical, dental and pharmacy services. The mission of the Good News Clinics is to offer support and free medical care to the indigent, homeless and low-income people in Hall County who have no healthcare insurance and cannot afford medical care. All services are provided at no charge to the patients. Good News Clinic is a Hall County United Way agency and receives no state, federal or local government funding. Other funding sources include donations from private businesses, foundations, churches, civic organizations and individuals. Many patients also give modest donations in appreciation for the care they receive.
I am a dermatologist and use my training to provide free dermatologic care to Good News patients a half day per month. Dr. A.D. Wright had previously staffed a dermatology clinic there, but due to an extended illness, stopped working at Good News several months ago. I learn from these patients constantly, as their skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis or discoid lupus erythematosus, are at times much more severe than patients I see in my private clinic. I also treat more common diseases such as acne, rosacea and skin cancer. The rewards are tremendous, as the patients are sincerely grateful for the care they receive at Good News, and they express their thanks often. I am thankful I have the opportunity and vehicle, i.e. the clinic, to provide much needed medical care to them.
Good News Clinic was started in 1992, and is the largest free clinic in Georgia. In comparison to other free clinics, Good News tops the charts, as they offer x-rays, ophthalmology, dental services, a full time pharmacist and dispensary. These services are provided at few other free clinics. In 2009, as more and more people were impacted
by the economic downturn, medical patient visits increased by 14 percent and the number of new patients increased by 20 percent. The new patients are often individuals in their fifties or older who, for the first time in their life, do not have health insurance. Many have lost their jobs or have seen their hours decrease and no longer qualify for health insurance through their employers. In 2009, more than 18,000 patient visits were provided for medical and dental services. Additionally, more than 73,000 prescriptions were filled with a retail value of over $4.5 million. Many of these medications are donated by prescription drug companies.
Good News Clinic is staffed almost exclusively by many volunteers, including 41 physicians, 40 dentists, 90 community volunteers, nurses, x-ray technicians, pharmacists and physician assistants. Wow! Members of our Junior League volunteer in different capacities at Good News, as dentists, pharmacists, or in non-medical administrative roles. More volunteers are always needed, as are donations! The rewards are endless, as these patients are in need and are truly grateful for the care they receive.
— Misty Caudell
Kay Parks Ashley Mixon
PLACEMENT SPOTLIGHT
Gateway Thrift Store
I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement this year at the Gateway Thrift Store. I really had no idea how many benefit from this organization.
First and foremost, all proceeds from the store benefit The Gateway Domestic Violence Center. The Gateway Domestic Violence program provides these services for victims of abuse: shelter; classes and support; programs for children;
occupational therapy; and legal help, all of which are free and confidential.Women in the Gateway Domestic Violence program are able to come to the store and get clothing and other items for themselves and their children. Many times these women come to Gateway House Domestic Violence Center with only the clothes on their back. I met one woman who had been hospitalized from abuse and she only arrived there withher hospital gown so she was in need of a lot of clothing.
Secondly, the store benefits many people in our community by providing excellent quality used items (and many times new) for sale at a reduced price.I met quite a few people that were from outside the area, Habersham County and north, that visit Gateway Thrift Store each time they come to Gainesville to go to a doctor’s appointment.
Thirdly, some items which may not be suitable for the store are donated to a Christian charity in the Appalachian Mountain Region where there are many people living below the poverty level. The recipients of these items are also very grateful for Gateway.
The work that I did at Gateway involved helping with receiving donations, writing tax receipts, sorting donations, pricing items, displaying them and helping customers find the items they were looking for. I also volunteered to pick up items left over from some individuals and some churches garage sales
and brought them to theGateway Thrift Store. After the 2009 Junior League’s Harvest Thrift Sale was over, Gateway was one of the charities which was able to review the remaining merchandise and take suitable items to the store. My husband, daughter and I helped with thisprocess as well. I think it was a great experience for my 7 year old daughter.I also helped secure donations from a generous outside business supporter of some racks for merchandise and two carts for bringing donations into the store. Shelia Stephens, the manager of the store, makes everyone’s job at the store even more worthwhile. Sheila has a smile that can light a room and all the repeat customers look for her. She makes each member of the team feel important. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of helping this organization and plan to continue doing so in the future.
T reasurer Update
The first installment of your 20102011 dues are now payable. You may pay your dues by cash, check or credit card at the League office, or pay online using the website.If you choose to pay by credit card, please note that we only accept Visa and MasterCard.Active member dues are $150 in April and $150 in August.Sustainer dues are $70 payable in April.A$10 late fee will be assigned for all dues not paid by May dinner.Per League policy members who have not paid the first dues installment by May 31st will be dropped from membership and a $25 reinstatement fee will apply.Thank you forpaying your dues in a timely manner!
Emily Gaddy
Employee Volunteer Christmas Luncheon
— Vicki Holland
NOMINATING INFORMATION
The following is the 2010-2011 proposed slate of Junior League Officers. The General Membership will vote to accept the slate at the March meeting. Remember a quorum is required for voting so please make every effort to attend.
President Elect:Liza Chapman
Recording Secretary:Emily Gaddy
Assistant Corresponding Secretary:Jill Hegwood
Assistant Treasurer:Tiffany Whitmire
Assistant Placement:Janna Mallis
Assistant Fund Development:Kay Parks
Assistant Member Development:Eliza Baker
Assistant Communications:Callie Flack
CRPD:Gerran Syfan
SPAC-B:Killian Edwards
Thrift Sale Properties:Regina Summerour
Thrift Sale Advanced Donations:Leslie Miller
Assistant Charity Ball: Suzie Hawkins Sally Pittman
As decided by the General Membership vote on February 2, 2010:
Member Representative: Mary Meadows
Nominating Committee:
Lisa Hartley
Melanie Fuller Hill
Jennifer Hollingsworth Leslie Miller
Robyn LynchStaci Vinton
Mary Meadows
Alternate Jennifer Martin
Eliza Baker Alternate Chase Miller
Shelley Davis Alternate Kingsley Peeples
SUSTAINER CORNER
Thank you to all of the Sustaining Members who attended our Sustainer Wine and Cheese Reception before our General Membership meeting with guest speaker Vicki Clark on February 2. It was a pleasure to get to spend some time with you and we hope to see much more of you all at upcoming events.
Sustainers are invited to a reception before our April General Membership Meeting from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm for complimentary cocktails. Please stay for our General Membership Meeting to participate in our strategic planning breakout session.
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
As our provisional year comes to an end I would just like to say what an honor it has been to work with such an amazing group of women. I know that each of you will continue to be a valued member of this League. We will celebrate Tuesday March 16th with an end of the year dinner. Place to be determined.
This year’s new member information wine and cheese was a huge success. Thank you to Bethany Magnus for hosting such a lovely event. Applications are due March 15th and we will welcome our new Members Tuesday April 13th at 6:30 at my home. Invitations to follow. Looking forward to another great year.
Thank you, Shelley Davis
UPDATE
The Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) Committee have been busy with providing nutritious information and activities at Interactive Kids Neighborhood (INK). During the month of January, Allison Wheeler and Ashleigh Fickey spent a Saturday showing kids and parents how to make healthy, delicious banana pudding. Allison and Ashley also demonstrated how to make ice cream in a coffee can. Members of the committee will also be on site at INK during the month of February participating in the “Million Minute Read” program.
On March 13, 2010, the KITK Committee will be participating in the Longstreet Clinic’s “Mom Expo 2010.” We are very excited about this opportunity to exhibit at this fun, informative event for the Moms of Hall County. Not only will we have a display booth, but we will be providing an interactive demonstration during the Mom Expo’s extensive program of the day. Mom Expo 2010 is taking place at Chateau Elan in Braselton from 10 am to 3 pm. Admission is free, and KITK would encourage you to come out and see what other exciting vendors and programming will be offered. To find out more about the Mom Expo, please contact Julie King at (770) 533-6593, or e-mail her at j.king@longstreetclinic.com.
Shining Stars
Juliet Watson—Juliet’s placement is the Guest House and she has already logged over 65 hours!Juliet was also instrumental in implementing a store at the Guest House that was open during the holidays.Thanks Juliet for representing the League so well in our community.
Bethany Sauls Magnus—Bethany did a fantastic job coordinating two very full days with Vicki Clark.Bethany made sure that not only active League members got to hear such an outstanding speaker, but our sustaining members and the nonprofit community as well.Congratulations Bethany and thanks for getting the League off to such an exciting January!
Million Minute Read Update:
Staci Vinton will be reading at the Hall County Library March 1st at 6:30 pm. Staci will be reading some favorites from Dr. Seuss with a special surprise! The Million Minute Read is going strong and we have almost reached our goal of one million minutes read to the children in the State of Georgia and we still have two months to go! As of the end of January the Junior Leagues of Georgia have read over 804,000 minutes. Aspecial thank you to all of those who have been reading and logging their minutes on the website. We have several exciting opportunities as we head into March to get our members in front of the kids in our community and read including the Pajama Story time series at all three Hall County Library branches as well as opportunities with various school systems throughout the county We are so excited about the opportunities we will have to read to the children of our community because a book really can change a child’s life. I’d like to encourage everyone to read to their own children and don’t forget to record the minutes on the Junior League website. Also, if you know of an opportunity where a League member could get involved and read in the community please let me know. Thanks again for all the hard work. Keep reading! Thanks to everyone who particpated in the Georgia Read Week!
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES BIRTHDAYS
Little Leaguers:
Brooke Kalinauskas and her husband welcomed a son named Even James
Kalinauskas on 12/18/09, 9 lbs,11 oz.
Julie Oliver and her husband welcomed a son named Trenton Grant Oliver on 2/1/2010,7 lbs,7 oz
MARCH
Paula Sawyer
Laurie Perry
Dawn Justus
Ada McCrum
Joan Fulmer
Christina White
Sallie Tadman
Karen Shore
Ann Gignilliat
Rebecca Dadisman
Carole Ann Daniel
Cathy Nix
Clarissa Brown
Janet Walker
Jenny Floyd
Carolyn Smith
Joanna Ellenburg
Cathy Miller
Killian Edwards
Jennifer Hollingsworth
Ann Alexander
Linda Cain
Emily Gaddy
Jessica Hulsey
Felicia Burns
Madge Burch
Connie Dixon
Please welcome Allyson Pettit, who is a member transferring in from the Pensacola, Florida Junior League.
Debbie Puckett
Ashleigh Fickey
Kris Erwin
Laurie Samples
Catherine Telford
Bonnie Pippin
Mary Frances Leigh
Jane Hemmer
Cindy Nivens
Kristine Alexander
Jennifer Cagle
Patsy Hicks
Vicki Turner
Lillee Clark
Anne Davenport
Elizabeth Johnson
Lindsay Wells
Heather Hayes
Jean Sawyer
Mindy Ferran
Mar tha Simmons
Wynelle Butts
Betty Livingston
Ginger Jackson
APRIL
Cathey
Caroline Cobb
Lisa Stump
Jane Truelove
Bambi Riley
Maria Calkins
Michele Griffith
Amy Hulsey
Betty Turner
Phyllis Anderson
Patty Wallis
Polly Hood
Janice Rogers
Laura Burns
Kim Bowen
Tricia McDuff
Anna Jacobs
Mary Meadows
Kara Scroggs
Margaret Williams
Mary Beth Begley
Kim Wathen
Renae Ackerman
Lylla Bowen
Paige Richardson
Andrea Timpone
Otellia Steward
Debbie Hardy
Jessica Goebel
Robin Loggins
Remember - a quorum is required to vote on both the Slate and the budget so please make sure to attend the March General Membership Meeting. See everyone March 2!
Lace-up those running shoes and get ready...
D Daattee: : April 22, 2010
P Pllaaccee: : Riverside Military Academy
T Tiimmee: : 5K walkers 6 pm and 5K runners 6:30 pm
A Accttiivviittiiees s w wiilll l i inncclluuddee: : Food, Beverages, Live Music, training programs and more! See me for participant registration forms or pull one off the web at getfitstayfit.com Our team name is the Gainesville/Hall County Junior League Team captain- Gerran Syfan
P.O. Box 1472
Gainesville, GA30503