There are not enough superlatives that I could list to express this past year as President of the Junior League of Gainesville - Hall County. One lesson has remained with me after all this: the importance of continuity. I recently had a conversation with past-president Havolynne Saxon about how it feels like we, as leaders, try to reinvent the wheel when we step into a position of “power” and the disappointment that develops when your time runs out. I am guilty of having a laundry list of changes I wanted to execute, and as I began reflecting on my year this past month, I realized I did not get to check as many boxes as I would have liked. At first, I was extremely disappointed —if you are a middle child people pleaser, you can definitely relate, but then I had a pivotal realization — Strong foundations are laid one brick at a time, never dismantling the bricks that were laid before, but strengthening and buttressing the whole structure so that when it is finished, it will withstand the tests of time. Although I had naive ideas of structurally changing our “building,” not checking all those aforementioned boxes has been the greatest lesson. I was very fortunate to have had past-presidents, board members and leaders that I could call, email, or text, who were always willing to give me generous words of wisdom and advice, or merely let me vent about frustrations. I never assumed I knew it all —texting past-president Lindsay Addison right before a vote because I could not remember exact policy — and that is where my most personal development has come from as I reflect on the women before me; their experiences and their reasons “why.”
As you move forward in leadership - either as an Active member in the League or a Sustainer in the community - remember the foundation that the League has given you in voluntarism, acting as a catalyst for change in our community and the strength in our membership. Words cannot express how thankful I am to the 2018 - 2019 Board of Directors. I was lucky to get you as part of my team and sounding board, but more importantly I was given the opportunity to get to know you all on a personal level and can now call you my friends. I am also thankful to the Management Team and all the leaders within the League. There are too many thank yous to list, but you know who you are. It is with some sadness, but mostly good cheer, that I am happy to pass on the reins to my friend, Amanda Secunda. The League is in excellent hands with Amanda, and I am excited to see where she leads us.
The League is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and lead- ership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
2018 - 2019
EXECUTIVE VP
Angie Kennedy
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Chelsea Sullivan
THRIFT SALE
Britt Sawyer
Jen Nicholson
ASSIST. CHAIRS
Darby Shank
Kaitlin Pharr
CHARITY
Melanie Martin
Anne Bleakley Jones
FUND DEVELOPMENT
Lindsay Sikes
COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Emily Morgan
FEEDING
Jennifer Mullis
LITTLE
Amanda Bruner
SPAC
Taylor Ewing
DIAPER
Emily Morgan
Keri Turner COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Whitley Miller
INTERNAL
Suzanne Cindea
Olivia Shockley PLACEMENT
Blythe Nicholson
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Jennifer McCall
DIAPER BANK
This year has been an exciting year for the Diaper Bank of North Georgia. Since its inception in October 2018, we have partnered with four local non-profits: Family Promise of Hall County, SISU, Little Steps Community Day Care, and Gateway Domestic Violence Center. These Partner Agencies are dedicated to ending the diaper need in our community by distributing diapers to families in need. As of May 2019, we distributed 45,000 diapers to our four Partner Agencies. With our partnerships, we have helped 409 families care for 699 children. We were also accepted into the National Diaper Bank Network which gives us the resources needed to reach even more families this upcoming league year.
If you have any questions, would like to get involved, or donate please contact Erin Webb! erin.webb816@gmail.com
BUILDING/POOL COMMITTEE
Chelsea Grimes
LEAGUE
Lauryn White
PR/EVENTS
Megan Strickland
Lizzy Phillips
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR YEAR
This is my third year in the League, I’ve always loved the community impact that JL has, but Breakfast with Santa was the experience that drove home how much influence and impact that the league has. Seeing the joy that Breakfast with Santa brought to the kids’ faces really warmed my heart! I love that Breakfast with Santa is an opportunity to not only provide some relief to families during the holidays, but also provides an experience to JL members to directly see the impact on children in our community.
Breakfast with Santa
League Treasurer, Ashton Meeks, wins Hall County Dancing for a Cause
“DIAD” in action!
League Year Kick-Off BBQ
Power of the Purse
Gainesville Jaycees Young Woman of Year 2018 awarded to sustainer, Jenny Floyd
Christmas Dinner Meeting
NICOLE COLUMBO
Sustainers at Marketplace!
Provisional Members gardening and cleaning at Whispering Angels Youth Ranch.
Volunteering at Edmondson Telford Center
LITTLE BLACK DRESS INITIATIVE ENOTA PANTRY
Feeding Our Future has undergone dramatic changes over the League year. We wrapped up distributions at the League Lodge in December and are focusing efforts on expanding pantry programs in the schools. Enota Elementary has been our pilot program. With partnership from the Junior League, the school counselor, Carol Ann Ligon, is running a food and needs pantry serving families at Enota, as well as other city schools. The pantry distributes food, clothes, and hygiene items throughout the school year. 4th and 5th graders from the student council assist in organizing and maintaining the pantry. Gainesville city school system families in need can contact their school social worker for more information on the program.
We are also excited to expand our program with a new food pantry in the Hall County Schools at Chicopee Woods Elementary. They are preparing to begin distributions at the start of the school year this August! We will also be partnering with one more school this year.
Our 4th annual Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) was a huge success! Every two years we give community nonprofit organizations that specifically focus on poverty the opportunity to apply to be named our LBDI community partner. This marked the second year of our two year partnership with Good News Clinics.
This year, the initiative took place the week of March 11-15 and for those five consecutive days, Junior League members, Sustainers, Good News Clinics staff, and Board of Directors committed to wearing the same black dress or outfit. We promoted the initiative via social media and were able to increase awareness of poverty as well as how the Junior League of Gainesville Hall-County & Good News Clinics are working to eradicate it.
During the week, we also had numerous community members and businesses get involved with our event. Porch Sense Candle Co. created a special edition LBDI candle that was available for purchase in Green’s Grocery, Riverside Pharmacy, Tap It, and Southern Nest. Tap It hosted our end of week celebration, which was well attended, and they graciously donated a portion of proceeds to the LBDI as well as donating gifts for door prizes. This year we raised more than $13,000 for Good News Clinics to provide medical and dental services to those who are unable to afford them. This brings the total raised in the past two years from our LBDI to over $40,000 for Good News Clinics. Through this initiative, we were able to make a substantial impact to raise awareness of poverty and its effects in our community, as well as raise money to improve the lives of our neighbors in need through the services of Good News Clinics.
THRIFT SALE
We are proud of our Provisional, Active, and Sustaining Members who made the 54th Annual Thrift Sale Event a success! We’re proud to have been able to assist those in our community who are in need of our donated items, as well as provide a place for others who just love to shop and find things to add to their collections!
We are most proud of the efficiency of moving into the Civic Center, unpacking and organizing our donated items, and selling a majority of our items on Sale Day! In addition, we provided over 40 boxes of clothes to local charity at a discounted rate. This organization’s appreciation made Thrift Sale truly worth all of the hard work!
“I look forward to Thrift Sale every year because it is a time for all of the ladies in the League to work together for an entire week. This particular event helped me appreciate all that we do for our community, as well as get to know new, current, and sustaining members!”
BRITT SAWYER | 2018 THRIFT SALE CO-CHAIR
FOR THE 55TH ANNUAL THRIFT SALE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2019
We want to make 2019 the best Thrift Sale to date, and we need your help! Whether you’re a new, active, or sustaining member – we are looking to you to help us with donations and with spreading the word to our community!
SAVE THE DATES
JUNE 15SEPTEMBER 15
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
Sustainer pick-ups will take place
Storage unit is open for Sustainers to drop off items
Dear Sustainers, Thank you for your interest in donating to this year’s Thrift Sale. To be assigned a pick up please make sure your annual dues have been paid.
You should be receiving a post card with your assigned member’s contact information. Please feel free to contact that member to schedule a pick-up.
If you have any questions email us at jlthriftsale@gmail.com.
Thank you for your help in making this year’s sale amazing!
SINCERELY, KAITLIN PHARR & DARBY SHANK
2019 THRIFT SALE CO-CHAIRS
Gibson, Jettie Jones,
Kate Park, Macie
Reeves, Marimartin Towns,
Belle of the Ball, Mary Keys Payne.
Congratulations to the 2018 Belle of the Ball, Mary Keys Payne, a senior at Lakeview Academy, representing the Gainesville Jaycees
Emma Kate Park, a senior at Lakeview Academy, representing Rotary Club of South Hall County
Jettie Jones, a senior at Lakeview Academy, representing Gainesville Phoenix Woman’s Club
Caroline Gibson, a senior at North Hall High School, representing Rotary Club of Braselton
Macie Lee Reeves, a senior at North Hall High School, representing Rotary Club of Gainesville
Marimartin Towns, a senior at Gainesville High School, representing Kiwanis Club of Gainesville Mary Keys Payne, a senior at Lakeview Academy, representing Gainesville Jaycees
Special thanks to Olivia Shockley for planning such a beautiful May Dinner!
The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County has been an active force in making our community a better place for women and children since 1951. We are an all-volunteer organization of women committed to promoting volunteers, developing the potential of women, and improving our community. Through the volunteer efforts of our members, the women of Junior League have made great contributions to our community.
Our programs are largely supported by volunteer service and fundraising events, but they are even stronger because of the support of community partners. In order to continue to meet the needs of families in our community, we continue to seek community support from area businesses like yours. We hope you will consider partnering with us this coming year as a sponsor of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County in our efforts to continue to make a significant impact on the lives of women and children in our community.
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, please contact Liza Vasyliv at yvvasyliv@gmail.com
April Showers Bring May Flowers
Partner with the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County
