June 2015 • Issue 9
In This Issue: • Outgoing President’s Message • Community Collaborations • 95th Celebration Recap • TMR Community Service Award • Annual Dinner Reminder • Sustainer News • Kudos • Website Profile Update • Meeting Briefs
MARK YOUR CALENDARS June 9: Annual Dinner/June GMM • Social & Cash Bar 6:00 p.m.; Dinner 6:30 p.m.; Meeting Call to Order 7:00 p.m. • The DoubleTree Hotel
June 16: June Board Meeting • Meeting 6:00 p.m. • JLS Office
OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear JLS Member The Junior League of Syracuse is celebrating another amazing year! Every member has worked together to further our mission and vision. I want to thank the Board, Leadership Team and Committee Members for all their hard work this year. You all have made it possible for us to achieve what we did. Here are some of the highlights from this year: We have made great strides in improving our infrastructure and keeping the JLS positioned for the years to come. We have a new website and back of the house operating system as well as transitioned to a new accounting firm. Continued our issue-based work raising awareness on the issue of human trafficking. We held a lunch and learn for business leaders, filled toiletry bags for a youth shelter, brought survivor Theresa Flores to Syracuse to speak to the league (GMM) and the public (HT Breakfast) on her personal story of survival. We also participated in the SOAPs outreach project where we visited 20 hotels and distributed 4,000 bars of soap. We had several news stories done on our human trafficking efforts this year. 3rd annual STEM expo. A huge thank-you to the committee and members who worked to make this event a success. The 19th Holiday Shoppes celebrated another great year. New vendors and over 5,000 visitors again this year. We received an award for “Outstanding Fund Raiser” for this event. Celebrating our 95th year! A huge thank-you to the 95th Committee who worked to make this event happen. We have continued to support our sustainers with a budget to help cover the costs of some of their events. Sustainers continued with their Holiday Pie Baking, R&Rs, Golf Event, Lunch and Learns and Cocktail Party. I want to personally thank all the sustainers who have supported our human trafficking efforts and those who have attended GMMs. Your support and participation is much appreciated! Our GMMs had fantastic speakers this year. A huge thank-you to the Training and Education Committee. Your work and attention to detail was outstanding this year. I am so proud of what we have accomplished this year. The League is moving in such a positive direction. We are fortunate to have Jenny Jackson Donahoe taking the lead. She will do a fantastic job as President. Her energy and dedication will keep the league moving forward. I want to personally thank her for all her help and support this year! Sincerely, Heather Ford Wallace
Contact the President: Heather Wallace: heatherfordwallace@gmail.com The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • June 2015 | 1
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS On May 1, 2015, The Junior League of Syracuse held a very successful Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) education event at Danforth Middle School in Syracuse, with over 60 students participating. The Junior League STEM committee recruited a wide variety of tech presenters including the sheriff’s department bomb squad, and representatives from Lockheed, SAAB, and other local companies and organizations. Gwen McLeod was the keynote speaker and Junior League member Caeresa Richardson and another engineer assisted Gwen in interacting with the audience. At the conclusion of the event, each student received a book bag with a water bottle, notebook and pen. Since Danforth school is a magnet school for STEM for the City of Syracuse school district, our event was particularly relevant and supportive of their focus on technology.
95TH CELEBRATION The Junior League of Syracuse recently hosted a 95th Anniversary Celebration on May 14, at Drumlins. This event featured numerous displays outlining the organization’s history and assistance in the development of many of our community’s most recognizable educational and service oriented organizations, including The MOST, the Erie Canal Museum, Vera House, the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center and many others. Thank you for everyone who attended and joined us in celebrating all The Junior League of Syracuse has accomplished throughout its 95 years!
This event requires a great deal of planning and coordination to pull off, and next year’s STEM event at Danforth has already been scheduled for April 1, 2016. Contact the NOTES Editor: Carrie Ryder: carrieryder77@gmail.com
Contact the Community Impact Collaboration Co-Chair: Beth Edward: beth.edward@gmail.com
2 | The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • June 2015
THURSDAY MORNING ROUNDTABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Hello Sustainers!
Congratulations to Oneita (Nita) Pierson, our 2007 Spirit of Mary Harriman Award recipient, who was recently presented with the Community Service Award by the Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR)! Nita was nominated by other members of the TMR for her “Meritorious Service to the Community”
Please join us at annual dinner on Tuesday, June 9, to honor Mary Jewell Mathews as the receipient of the “Spirit of Mary Harriman Award”.
SUSTAINER NEWS
Nita has given much of her time to the community, primarily while taking on the responsibility of the Director of Volunteer Services at Crouse Hospital in 1974. Though Nita has retired from her position as Director, she is still a staple at the information desk at Crouse. Nita continues to embody the spirit of Mary Harriman, spreading the mission and vision of The Junior League of Syracuse, by volunteering with the Margaret Charters Reading Program (a reading one-on-one mentoring program at the Dr. King Elementary School), as well as through gardening with the Syracuse Garden Club at Lorenzo in Cazenovia. Last February, Nita was also highlighted in the Eagle Bulletin Newspaper as “Volunteer of the Month”.
We will also be announcing this year’s Sustainer of the Year . . . who knows, it might be YOU, so we hope you can come. The monthly R&R’s have been well attended at Pascale Italian Bistro at Drumlins. These get-togethers will continue through the summer, so watch for the email reminders and come for some fun! Have a great summer!
TMR is an award-winning public service program sponsored by University College of Syracuse University. TMR is a weekly civic forum that brings together a select mix of citizens to learn about and discuss community issues and problems. To learn more about this program, please visit the below link: http://parttime.syr.edu/about-us/programs-opportunities/community-programs/ thursday-morning-roundtable/ Several other Junior League of Syracuse members have also been recognized with this TMR award, including: Lucia Whisenand: 2009-2010 Sara Mcllvain: 2007-2008 Michele Jones Galvin: 2001-2002 Jerri Wilson: 1999-2000
Contact the Sustainer VP: Amy Sumida: apsumida@gmail.com
JLS BOOK CLUB • Tuesday, July 7th: “The Orphan Train” by Christine Baker Kline • This meeting will take place at Borio’s Restaurant, 8891 McDonnell’s Pkwy., Cicero, NY 13039. • Time : 7 p.m.
Pictured (L to R): Rick Petit (Husband of JLS Sustainer Joanne Petit), Nita Pierson, Lucia Wiseand (former President and Mary Harriman Awardee).
Contact the President-Elect: Jenny Jackson: jennyjackso@gmail.com
Contact the Book Club Organizer: Jackie Azbill: jazbill007@gmail.com
The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • June 2015 | 3
ANNUAL DINNER/JUNE GMM
KUDOS!
Please join us as we celebrate the completion of the 2014-2015 League year (Annual Dinner) and vote in the new leadership and kick off the 2015-2016 year (June GMM). We will be celebrating our Spirit of Mary Harriman winner Mary Jewell Mathews for all she does in our community.
Rachel Nelson had her baby, Aria Storey, on May 3.
Dinner tickets are $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased via check to the JLS or by visiting the Annual Dinner entry in the members’ website News and Reminders section.
Katherine Dopulos received her certificate of advanced study in data science from the Syracuse University School of Information Studies in May.
Members may attend the meeting only portion at no charge (please register on the members’ website). We will be voting on Holiday Shoppes Membership Requirements and Bylaws changes, so please submit your proxy if you are unable to attend. Location: DoubleTree Hotel 6301 State Route 298 East Syracuse, NY Agenda: Social & Cash Bar - 6:00 p.m. Dinner - 6:30 p.m. Meeting Call to Order - 7:00 p.m.
WEBSITE PROFILE As a reminder, our new website is up and running! Visit the website at www.jlsyracuse.org and then go to the Members Only Login page. Please take a moment to review your member profile to make sure your contact information is up to date. Have a change? The “edit profile” tool can be used to update information yourself.
4 | The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • June 2015
Samantha Millier had her baby, Ainsley Leland, on May 1. Jackie Azbill finished Philadelphia’s Broad Street Run in May, raising funds for the American Cancer Society.
Congratulations to the 2014-2015 New Member Class, inducted into active membership at the May GMM. A job well done to the STEM Expo Committee, for their collaborative partnership with Danforth Middle School in presenting the JLS third annual event. Thank you to everyone who attended the 95th Anniversary Celebration event on May 14, 2015, at Drumlins. ___________ If you would like to submit a Kudos, please e-mail the NOTES Editor Carrie Ryder at carrieryder77@gmail.com
MEETING BRIEFS May GMM: The Junior League of Syracuse General Membership Meeting was held Tuesday May 12, 2015, at the JLS Office (CNY Community Foundation Ballroom), located in Syracuse, NY. President Heather Ford Wallace called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Mission & Vision was read by Jackie Azbill. The approval of the April GMM minutes were approved as submitted - Kelly Gillespie, Secretary. Announcements: • New Member Class Vote - Audra Meuller/Amanda Spence. Motion to vote eight new members into active membership made by Audra Meuller and seconded by Sara Ames. All in favor and passed. • Community Updates - Beth Edward/Cheryl Saidel. The STEM Expo was a success, more info coming soon on upcoming collaborations with Little White House of Hope and Salvation Army Playroom.
Website Presentation - Heather Wallace and Jessica Murray presented the JLS member site to membership. • Reviewed logging in, the News and Reminders Section, Profile, Calendars and more. • Members are encouraged to review their own profile section and ensure all information is accurate. Members are able to edit their personal and placement information where necessary. • Calendar - Recurring committee meetings should be sent to admins to populate in calendars. Includes ability for members to register for events directly in their calendar. • Members are encouraged to download the “Seeing Spot” App, a Digital Cheetah app that allows access to the website on your mobile device. Members are able to ‘check in’ to GMMs, view calendars, directory, etc. Use your JLS website login username and password to log into app. Meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m. The next meeting will be the Annual Dinner, held June 9, 2015, at The DoubleTree.
Contact the Secretary: Kelly Gillespie: gillespie@twcny.rr.com
ADVERTISE WITH JLS! Contact the NOTES Editor Whitney Daniels at whitney@wrkdesigns.com for more information.
THE NOTES BY MAIL Any member who would prefer to receive a copy of The NOTES via USPS can notify the office at office@jlsyracuse.com. Many thanks in advance!
READ THE NOTES ONLINE You can now read The NOTES online on the JLS website: www.JLSyracuse.org or on Issuu at: issuu.com/jlsyracuse The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • June 2015 | 5
431 E Fayette Street, Suite 225 Syracuse, NY 13202 O: 315-423-9773 F: 315-471-1464 office@jlsyracuse.org www.JLSyracuse.org MISSION The Junior League of Syracuse is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. VISION The Junior League of Syracuse will be an organization of diverse women committed to enriching the quality of life for women, children and their families in the Central New York Community.
Find the Junior League of Syracuse Online! Visit JLSyracuse.org for direct links.
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