December 2013 • Issue 5
In This Issue: • Human Trafficking Update • Fall ODI Conference • New Member Class • Kudos • Community Collaborations • February Training Sessions • Mary Harriman Award Nominations • Sustainer News • Phase I Paperwork • Holiday Shoppes 2013 • JLS Book Club • GMM and Board Briefs
MARK YOUR CALENDARS December 1: Phase I Paperwork Due
December 5: Last Day of Hanukkah
December 7: Sustainer Pie-Making • Blessed Sacrament Parish Center • 9 am – Noon
December 10: December GMM / Holiday Party • Rosamond Gifford Zoo • Social: 6 pm; Meeting: 6:30 pm
December 25: Christmas
January 1: New Year’s
January is NATIONAL Human Trafficking PREVENTION Month Where are we with our issue of Human Trafficking? We have spent the last 3 GMMs, 1 Sustainer Lunch and Learn, and information in the weekly e-blasts educating the membership on Human Trafficking (HT). The presenters have taught us what HT is and that it truly is an issue right here in the Central New York area. At the Sustainer Lunch and Learn speaker Todd Bunnenberg of Homeland Security told the group that how traffickers find their victims varies by city, but here in the Syracuse area the internet and social media are the main source. Through our November GMM speaker Roni Dickhaut (of Homeland Security) we learned more about the “Blue Campaign” which is their effort to battle HT. President Barack Obama has, for the past 4 years, declared January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. “As Americans, we have long rejected such cruelty. We have recognized it as a debasement of our common humanity and an affront to the principles we cherish. And for more than a century, we have made it a national mission to bring slavery and human trafficking to an end. My Administration has been deeply committed to carrying this legacy forward -- beginning with trafficking that happens on our own shores. We have strengthened protections so all workers know their rights, expanded efforts to identify and serve domestic victims, devoted new resources to dismantling trafficking networks, and put more traffickers behind bars than ever before. In the months ahead, we will continue to take action by empowering investigators and law enforcement with the training they need, and by engaging businesses, advocates, and students in developing cutting-edge tools people can use to stay safe. We will invest in helping trafficking victims rebuild their lives. And as one of the world’s largest purchasers of goods and services, the Federal Government will keep leading by example, further strengthening protec-
tions to help ensure that American tax dollars never support forced labor.” – Barack Obama With all that we have learned thus far we are planning to launch the next phase of our advocacy campaign in January in honor of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We have two programs in the works right now. One is an internet safety prevention program. The goal is to teach young teens about the dangers of sexual predators and ways they may be targeted online and through social media. The second will be using the Blue Campaign developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): “The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for DHS’ efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice. The Blue Campaign provides information on training and outreach, how traffickers operate, and victim assistance to help keep the public informed. Increased awareness and training will lead to more tips to law enforcement, which will result in more victims being identified.” – www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign More information will be presented at the December GMM. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Contact the President: Heather Ford Wallace: heatherfordwallace@gmail.com
The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • December 2013 | 1
ODI FALL 2013 CONFERENCE SERIES
This past month, New Members toured the Holiday Shoppes and had a talk with the Fund Development Committee regarding what fund development does, how it affects JLS, and how it directly impacts our mission. The New Members also made a holiday wreath for The Festival of Trees at the Everson Musuem, which will be on display from December 6 – 15. They were super excited about the project and designed a great piece. They will soon be solidifying their commitment to JLS with dues payments and paperwork. We will have a definitive number of New Members soon!
“Fall Organizational Development Institute” Indianapolis, IN October 18 – 20, 2013 This past October, Courtney Bintz and Liz Razawich had the pleasure of attending the 2013 Fall ODI Training in Indianapolis, IN. Greeted not only with open arms but delightful hospitality, both the Junior League of Indianapolis (JLI) and the city were wonderful. The first evening of the training, the JLI hosted a mix and mingle reception at D’Amore, at the top of Indianapolis’ tallest building. At this reception we had the opportunity to meet members of Leagues from all over the US and Canada, as well as to get some amazing views of the city. Beyond the opportunity to explore the city and meet a large number of Junior League members, we were able to participate in amazing training sessions. At each ODI there are different tracks you can participate in: • Achieving Community Impact: Creating Lasting Changes for Healthier Communities • Building Internal Capacity: Strengthening Your League’s Operating Infrastructure • Diversified Fund Development: From Fundraising to Comprehensive Funding • Governing for Excellence: Achieving the League’s Mission through Effective Governance Strategies • Membership Development: Creating Tomorrow’s Community Leaders Each track offers insights into different aspects of the Junior League and provides intense 3-day training discussing almost every aspect of each topic that you could begin to imagine. Based on our positions within JLS, we chose to attend the “Achieving Community Impact” and “Governance for Excellence” tracks. The Community Impact track was moderated by Vicki Clark, and focused largely on the issue-based community programs that JLS is piloting as part of the ALT program. Because JLS has been participating in the ALT program some of the sessions were information we had already learned. However, the sessions that offered new information and new applications gave insight on how to help the League even more with our issue of Human Trafficking. Over the course of this training many topics were outlined from selecting the issue, getting League buy-in, community partner collaborations, and handling current collaborations that no longer fit into your League impact area.
New Member CLASS
Contact the Recruitment / New Member Development Co-Chairs: (l - r) Jackie Azbill: jazbill007@gmail.com Rea Carver: reacarver@yahoo.com
The Governing for Excellence track was moderated by Anne Dalton, and mainly focused on two specific areas: transitioning League boards to the new board structure being piloted by ALT leagues (involving a Governance Board and a Management Team) and nominating. The sessions provided insight as to current issues being faced by Leagues undergoing the management structure transition and how these changes can be applied to both larger and smaller Leagues. Additionally, information regarding the nominating processes at Leagues throughout the country was shared and discussed in depth. In addition to the specific track training sessions, general training sessions were conducted during the breakfast and lunch hours that brought all the information together. Using other League’s ideas and feedback, we were able to return with information with how to attack problems we may face within the League and launching new fun and creative programs. Overall, we would say ODI is a priceless opportunity for anyone who wants to supplement their placement within the League or generally would like to learn more about the entire AJLI organization. We would be more than happy to talk about our experiences at the ODI with any League member, and encourage everyone to reach out to their JLS advisor if you are interested in attending any AJLI trainings.
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KUDOS! Sustainer Amelia Greiner was awarded the 2013 Accomplished Professional Award on October 4, 2013 from the Eldercare Foundation. Jessica Eckerlin gave birth to a boy, Hugh, on October 25 Audra Mueller gave birth to a girl, Colleen, on October 23 ___________________________________ If you would like to submit a Kudos to appear in an upcoming issue of The NOTES, please e-mail the 2013 – 2014 NOTES Editor Whitney Daniels at whitney@wrkdesigns.com
Contact the Fall ODI Ladies: (l - r) Courtney Bintz: courtneyakers24@gmail.com Elizabeth Razawich: erazawich@gmail.com
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS
SUSTAINER NEWS
This year, the Community Collaborations Committee has been working hard to provide volunteer opportunities that fulfill the JLS mis-
We have had a great Fall and are looking forward to the remainder of 2013! Todd Bunnenberg, Special Victims Assistant at Homeland Security in Buffalo, spoke to 23 Sustainers about Human Trafficking at our first Lunch and Learn in late October. The statistics and reality of this issue in our own community is troubling and, at times, difficult to grasp but it is important for all JLS members to be educated on this issue as we move forward. We hope to arrange several more Lunch and Learn events throughout the upcoming year. Our Annual Pie-Making Event will be held on Saturday, December 7th. Sheila Corbishley is once again graciously organizing one of our favorite events and is seeking assistance with shopping for the pie ingredients. Please e-mail her if you can help. We will be meeting again at Blessed Sacrament from 9 – Noon. Hope you will join us! Our first Sustainer R&R of the year was on Tuesday, November 26th at our new location: Scotch ‘n Sirloin. We hope to see many of you at our Holiday Party on December 10th!
sion of “developing the potential of women” and “promoting voluntarism in the community.” We are pleased to announce that the first Becca’s Closet event did not disappoint on either account! The JLS members who attended the “dress sorting” event on Saturday, October 26th reported that they sorted twelve large racks of donated prom dresses and sent the discards to the Salvation Army. JLS member, Betsy McLane said, “Helping these young women feel special and be able to attend an event that is so much a part of the high school experience is very fitting with our mission and focus areas as
well as our focus area of Human Trafficking.” Programs like Becca’s Closet that help young women participate with their peers in traditional high school experiences help build self-esteem that is important to resisting the lure of those who could entice teens into trafficking situations. Several members have expressed an interest in participating in the dress giveaway in the Spring during which volunteers serve as “personal shopping assistants” to high school girls from around Syracuse. Date and time of the giveaway event to follow this Winter.
Contact the Community Collaborations Co-Chairs: (l - r) Meg Husted: meghusted@gmail.com Kim Lynch: klynch2@twcny.rr.com
Sectionals (That Aren’t really sectionals but A Special training session instead!) We will not be having Sectionals this year due to us bringing a fantastic training to the membership. The training will be Strengths Finder. What is unique about this program is that it helps you discover your strengths. Too often we work to fix our weaknesses rather than develop our strengths. This training will help you in your League work as well as your professional career. At the December GMM you will receive the special code to access the online questionnaire. You will need to Source: www.someecards.com complete this by the end of January. On February 11, 2014 we will hold a GMM facilitator present the strategies for applying at the JLS ballroom where we will have a your strengths.
Spirit of Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award The nomination application is posted on Each year we ask for Sustainers’ nominations for the Spirit of Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award. This award celebrates a woman of outstanding leadership in the Junior League of Syracuse who has used her talents and resources to improve the social and economic conditions of others and who exemplifies the Junior League mission and vision.
the JLS website. We value your input and hope you will take a few moments to consider who might be a good candidate for this award. We ask that you please complete as much of the application as possible and forward to either Amy Sumida or Lynn Horowitch by late January. Please help us to honor the wonderful work of our Sustainers! – Lynn and Amy
Contact the Sustainer VP Co-Chairs: (l - r) Lynn Horowitch: lhorowitch@aol.com Amy Sumida: apsumida@gmail.com
Phase I Paperwork Phase I forms are due to your NOMINATING ADVISOR by December 1st. The forms were mailed out November 1st, so if you did not receive a form contact your Nominating Advisor. If you have not submitted your paperwork please do so ASAP so the Nominating Committee can start slating the 2014 – 2015 Leadership Team! Contact the Placement Chair: Kelly Gillespie: gillespie@twcny.rr.com
The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • December 2013 | 3
JLS Book Club
2013 – 2014 Board Members
In November the Book Club discussed “The Book Thief” by Markus Zuzak. It was a fun filled evening of discussions; some book related, some not so book related! We are still trying to plan a movie night, in lieu of a December meeting, to see “The Book Theif” as soon as it’s available in local theaters.
President: Heather Ford Wallace President-Elect: TBA Treasurer: Cathy Dotterer Secretary: Jill Lawlor COMMUNICATIONS VP: Sarah Shea Dempsey Community VP: Linda Dombrow Fund Development VP: Sarah Weber Membership VP: Jennifer Jackson Parliamentarian: Anna O’Neil
Our next meeting will be in January to discuss “The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett: “When her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near Buckingham Palace, the Queen feels duty-bound to borrow a book. Discovering the joy of reading widely and intelligently, she finds that her view of the world changes dramatically... Queen comes to question the prescribed order of the world and loses patience with the routines of her role as monarch.” Library copies will be available at the December GMM. Keep an eye out for an email about the date and time. If you’d like to get a head start, February’s book will be “I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban” by Malala Yousafzai. Members interested in getting on the Book Club e-mail list should contact us.
Contact the Book Club Organizers: (l - r) Jenny Jackson: jennyjackso@gmail.com Anna O’Neil: oneil.anna@gmail.com
Sustainer VPS: Lynn Horowitch & Amy Sumida
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
JLS Office Hours: M/W/Th: 12 – 4 pm Tue: 2 – 6 pm Fri: 9 am – 1 pm NOTES Deadline: 2nd Tuesday of each month NOTES Editor: Whitney Daniels whitney@wrkdesigns.com
Meeting Briefs November GMM: • Guest speaker Roni Dickhaut, Special Agent with Department of Homeland Security Investigations, educated members about Human Trafficking. Roni investigates trafficking crimes in New York from Alexandria Bay to Binghamton. She echoed many of the points shared by the September and October GMM speakers. • One striking fact: There are more “slaves” in the U.S. today than at any other time in history. • Roni described the warning signs that someone could be a victim of labor or sex trafficking, and she urged members to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. • President Heather Ford Wallace said information about the League’s Human Trafficking action plan will be shared at the December GMM. November Board Meeting: • Action plans for Anti-Human Trafficking advocacy are in the works. A committee has been formed to develop training about internet safety that will be rolled out to the community in early 2014. Bridget Yule is researching the “Blue Ribbon Campaign” discussed by November GMM speaker Roni Dickhaut, to see how the League can leverage this program.
4 | The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • December 2013
• Preliminary statistics for Holiday Shoppes 2013 show that more shoppers came through the gate than last year. We had 5,175 shoppers this year versus 4,597 in 2012 (per turnstiles). Final figures will be announced soon, once all the bills are paid. • The League’s annual fundraising appeal is about to begin and Fund Development VP Sarah Weber said it is critical that League members make a donation however large or small. Outside donors place a lot of weight on our membership participation rate when deciding whether or not to financially support the League. • Job descriptions for leadership positions are being streamlined and edited by board members in preparation for the upcoming 2014 – 2015 slating process.
Contact the Secretary: Jill Lawlor: jlawlor@twcny.rr.com
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431 E Fayette Street, Suite 225 Syracuse, NY 13202 O: 315-423-9773 F: 315-471-1464 office@jlsyracuse.com www.JLSyracuse.org Mission The Junior League of Syracuse is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, 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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