SYRACUSE 2016-2017 REPORT to the COMMUNITY 2016-2017 Membership Report MEMBERSHIP AND RECRUITMENT We welcomed a wonderful group of 11 women this past recruitment year! We started with a variety of recruitment activities in the summer and early fall and kicked off our new member class in October. Over the course of the year, the new members were able to get to know and understand how the JLS operates. In November new members toured Holiday Shoppes at the state fairgrounds and learned about how we have successfully managed Holiday Shoppes for 20 years! In December the new members served dinner at the Rescue Mission. In January the new members went to Dorothy Day House to cook lunch together, play bingo and provide goodie bags to the families. The February new member meeting was held at the GMM Ballroom where we had a speaker from Vera House - the class learned about this community organization, which has a long-standing relationship with JLS. In March there was a “speed networking” event where active members from each JLS council educated the new members about the respective councils and how all the committees work together to carry out the League’s Mission and Vision. In April we had a new member social at Karen Krogman Daum’s home where we were able to relax and get to know each other even better! We had a year full of learning and fun and successfully presented the wonderful group of 11 women for active membership in May. Thank you to all of the new members for actively engaging throughout the year. Also a big thank you to all of the committee members who helped lead the monthly activities. TRAINING & EDUCATION The Training & Education committee is responsible for organizing guest presentations at GMMs and logistics for the annual dinner. In the 2016-2017 year, T&E hosted five trainings at GMMs (2 cancelled due to weather), four sectionals, and the annual dinner. . Junior League of Syracuse | REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2016-2017 | 1
COMMUNITY National Volunteer Week
During April 22nd-28th, 2017, we participated in the annual and nationwide event known as National Volunteer Week. It was our 3rd time serving our community for this week long celebration. Community Collaborations spent roughly $2,000 over the week for various activities. While there was no income earned during this time, everyone who participated walked away feeling as though they greatly impacted and contributed to the community. At least 40 members volunteered over the course of the week, contributing at least 80 hours total. This blitz had a tremendous impact on the community, both physical and emotional. A large part of the week was spent creating a book nook for the “Little White House of Hope.” This event brought members closer together and provided at least 30 kids access to more books. Thanksgiving Dinner with Westside Family Resource Center The 3rd annual Blodgett Thanksgiving dinner took place November 17th. More than 16 women, including some children and spouses, showed up to help set-up, serve and clean up from serving over 225 people a Thanksgiving dinner they wouldn’t otherwise afford to have. We cumulatively spent at least 45 hours working here. Other organizations also offered their assistance during this event, but JLS had the largest presence. Activities for Women and Children at Chadwick Residence The event that took place at The Chadwick Residence on Sunday, October 23rd was an example of the many ways Junior League of Syracuse gives back to the community by providing hope, encouragement, and joy to those in need. We offered a wonderfully received brunch that included homemade casseroles, breakfast pizza, bagels, cookies, juice, and hot chocolate. There Junior League of Syracuse | REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2016-2017
were roughly ten women, in residence, and three children that participated. We engaged in a heated game of BINGO with small Dixie cups of candy as prizes amid laughter and friendly banter and of course cookie decorating. It was a fun-filled and uplifting event that the women both enjoyed and benefitted from.
Valentine’s Day Tea Sometimes JLS volunteers places to help impact the community in a very serious fashion, and sometimes we do it to bring smiles to those who need it. Around Valentine’s Day, we did just that. Over the course of the fall, our members generously donated several racks full of business attire. We used these clothes for My Sisters Closet, whose clients came to shop and bring home those cloths for future interviews. While at the CNY Philanthropy Center, these ladies were greeted with a light dinner, music and a guest speaker. Overall, this event cost us roughly $400 and affected 17 Women from the center. The 4th Annual STEM Expo On April 28th, 2017, the STEM committee brought our 4th annual STEM Expo to Danforth middle school. By spending $1500 JLS, brought medical professionals and an African American Female Docotor as the main speaker. The committee of 6 spent over 50 hours of their time planning and executing this immensely successful event. This expo impacts the community by encouraging young women to remain in school and to follow their passion. It shows that these students can go onto college no matter what the circumstance, and that they can do anything that they put their mind to.
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HOLIDAY SHOPPES This year we celebrated the 21st Anniversary of our Holiday Shoppes event! The Holiday
Shoppes is our main League fundraiser and the proceeds are used to fund a number of our community projects throughout the year. We had over 4,000 attendees who shopped their way through the Horticulture Building! Each year, we strive to provide a fun, exciting Holiday atmosphere and the feedback we received from our shoppers was wonderful. This year, we were grateful to collaborate with one of our long time vendors (Natural Creations) who assisted in supplying us with live trees for our décor. The trees were a beautiful touch and we were so thankful for their support! Additional “thank yous” go out to the volunteers who provided extra hands to assist in transforming the Horticulture building into a true Winter Wonderland.
Our merchant mix this year was diverse with both new and returning merchants. All were excited to attend and their enthusiasm was appreciated. Many of our merchants shared how much they love the Holiday Shoppes and look forward to the show each year. We are always thrilled to hear this type of feedback! We could not make this show happen without the support of all League members. Our Junior League ladies go above and beyond, taking additional shifts when needed, doing it all with contagious energy and a smile. We were so fortunate to have a very strong showing of sponsors this year as well. We are so thankful for the culmination of support from everyone involved and we look forward to another exciting year ahead!
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WINE PULL The Junior League of Syracuse’s 2nd annual wine pull, Corks, Forks, Brews and Chews, was held Thursday May 11, 2017 at OneGroup Center. An evening of a little bit of chance, mixed with good food and great company made the event a huge success. There were 81 people in attendance and the JLS raised $2,131. The objective of the event is to raise awareness about the Junior League of Syracuse’s mission and membership, and provide an additional fundraiser for the league. The event was open to the public and we had new members, potential new members, actives, sustainers and community members attend. Thank you to all the companies that helped make the event possible: OneGroup for hosting the event, Diamond Catering, Bull N’ Bear, Mitsuba, Costco, Freedom of Expresso, and Spaghetti Warehouse for supplying the delicious food, and our wonderful raffle donors, Empire Brewery, Jefferson-Clinton Hotel, Mirbeau Inn and Spa, Chris Murray Photography, Feldmeier Equipment, Chocolate Pizza Co., Essentially Good, Mackenzie-Childs, Olive on Brooklea, Onondaga Beverage, Pure Barre Syracuse, Sweet on Chocolate and Syracuse Yoga. Thank you to all the league members, including the fund development committee and the executive board, who donated their time and resources to making this event the best it could be.
ANNUAL APPEAL
Over 60 members contributed to this year’s Annual Appeal raising approximately $3,900! Thank you to all the supporters of the Junior League of Syracuse! Without your contributions, we wouldn’t be able to have a meaningful impact on the Central New York community.
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SUSTAINER EVENTS Sustainer R&R events began in July and continued through the year on alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays to allow more members to participate. We also added the feature of designating one or two hostesses for each event and explored some new venues. The R&Rs provided a great opportunity to explore options for other Sustainer activities, spread the word about JLS activities, and generally keep in touch with each other. Some attracted over twenty members. The Sustainers’ League year kicked off in earnest in September with the annual Golf Outing and Dinner at Drumlins organized by Susan Cronin and Anne Miller with assistance from Jeanne Jackson. In November, many Sustainers worked one or more shifts at the 2016 Holiday Shoppes, gretting shoppers at the door with holiday greetings and raffle tickets for sale. In early December, 21 Sustainers plus a Sustainer mom and a Sustainer daughter gathered at the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center for our Annual Pie Making extravaganza. In three hours, the ladies made 66 apple pies to brighten holiday meals at the Rescue Mission. Special thanks go to Sheila Corbishley who once again organized the event, to Sheila’s husband Bernie and daughter Katie and to Martha Tooley who helped deliver the pies to the Rescue Mission, to our shoppers Barb Stratton, Anne Miller and Martha Tooley, and especially to Fr. Peter Reddick for allowing us to take over the Parish Center for the morning. April was a busy month for Sustainers. Jeanne Jackson organized a Lunch and Learn event at the office and warehouse of the Central New York Food Bank. Ten members arrived with donations of nonperishable items to hear Food Bank staff’s description of how the organization gathers and distributes food to pantries and meal programs over a multi-county territory in Central New York. Judy Winslow and husband graciously opened their home for the Sustainer’s annual Spring Cocktail Party in late April. A very special Thank You to Judy who handled every aspect of the party from the invitations to clean-up. The 2016/17 Sustainer year closed out the presentation of two awards at the JLS Annual Dinner in June. Mary Pat Oliker was honored with The Spirit of Mary Harriman Award for Community Service in recognition of her support for several community organizations as well as the Junior League of Syracuse. Mary Pat received a beautiful Stickley clock, donated by Aminy Audi, the represent the award. Deborah Donohue received the Sustainer of the Year Award for her years of work organizing the Sustainer Bookclub. Junior League of Syracuse | REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2016-2017
COMMUNICATIONS The JLS Communications Council continued its role to support community, membership, and fund development activities within the League. Throughout the year, the public relations team brought awareness of League initiatives to audiences outside the JLS. The group developed media releases for efforts including new member recruitment events and community projects including the Valentine’s Tea. The group also completed a member recruitment brochure, work on which had been started in the prior year. Similarly, the social media team used platforms including Facebook and Instagram to promote Junior League activities and opportunities to members, community partners, and supporters. Highlighted initiatives included member recruitment events, community activities including April National Volunteer Week, and the JLS STEM Expo. The PR and social media teams collaborated to support League fundraisers Holiday Shoppes and Corks, Forks, Brews and Chews. Traditional and digital advertising helped raise awareness and generate excitement among internal and external audiences. On social media, member enthusiasm for these fundraisers helped in bringing these events to more individuals than ever before. The NOTES had a redesign that utilized new AJLI branding elements and refreshed the publication’s look and feel. The website team oversaw the management of the public and members’ websites throughout the year. The public website was refreshed with new community, membership, and fund development content, and the members’ website was frequently updated with opportunities of interest to League members. The communications leadership team collaborated to develop a process to manage the increasing number of requests for coverage by the PR, social media, website, and/or NOTES teams. The team successfully implemented that process through the rollout of an online tool on the members’ website. Junior League of Syracuse | REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2016-2017 | 7