ISSUE 4 | SUMMER 2021
IN THIS ISSUE ¥ Spirit of Mary Harriman Award ¥ New Members’ Bios ¥ Sustainer Update ¥ Book Club ¥ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ¥ Congrats & Condolences ¥ Community Updates ¥ Leadership Team
May Book Club ¥ 5/27/21 ¥ 6 PM - 8 PM • See Seeing Spot for Location GMM & Annual Meeting ¥ 6/8/21 ¥ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ¥ Zoom Check the member’s website for full registration and event details.
22ND Annual Spirit of Mary Harriman
Community Service Award Honoree
BARBARA STRATTON Barbara Stratton’s actions as both an Active and Sustaining member of the Junior League of Syracuse epitomize the spirit of Mary Harriman. Joining the League in 1976, Barb served ten years and rose to leadership in several roles, including Treasurer, Public Affairs Chair, Nominating, and on NYSPAC. During her 36 years as Sustainer, she has never paused in her efforts to benefit the Central New York community: volunteering, organizing donation drives & fundraising events, serving on boards, and more. With her time, talent, and treasure, Barbara has made meaningful contributions to girls’ and women’s health, child welfare, literacy, animal welfare, conservation and the environment, increasing civic participation, promoting preservation and the arts, and support of veterans. Her impact has been across CNY from Oneida to Wayne and Oswego to Cortland counties. continued on page 2 The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES •Summer 2021 | 1
Spirit of Mary Harriman cont... The Spirit of Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award annually celebrates a woman of outstanding leadership in the Junior League of Syracuse. She is a person who uses her talents and resources to improve the social and economic conditions of others and epitomizes the League’s mission and vision. She has made a positive impact in both her League and her community. The tradition and dedication of our Founder, Mary Harriman, lives on in this woman.
Barbara stays involved in JLS continually and is a mentor and an inspiration to Actives and younger Sustainers. She not only served twice as Sustainer Vice President, Barb supports every League event. She volunteers for shifts at every Holiday Shoppes, participates every year in pie making for the Rescue Mission, hosts R&R’s for Sustainers, and she went above and beyond for the 100th Anniversary Projects. In addition to Co-Chairing the Diaper Bank Project, Barb worked on the Rescue Mission, Vera House, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and Access CNY Projects. Quotes from those who nominated Barbara for the Spirit of Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award best describe her commitment to the League and to our community: “Barb started the 100th year volunteer projects with a bang! She was one of few Sustainers to take part in the January project with the Rescue Mission.” “Over several days, Barbara cleaned, scraped, spackled, and painted, climbing up and down ladders. She scooted along the floor, painting radiators.” “She had a “take the bull by the horns” attitude and her spirit was contagious.” “[As Co-Chair of the Diaper Bank Project,] she did not miss one step when her active co-chair had to isolate due to Covid exposure; she just continued to push forward!” “Barbara is not afraid to get her hands dirty.” “Barbara is a thoughtful, caring, and considerate individual who has a heart-of-gold, and is always willing to step up and step in when needed.” “She has always demonstrated herself to be a role model as a strong, independent woman.” “Barbara is always available to work and serve when asked.” “She rewards the volunteers that she recruits with the best homemade treats!” “Even through difficult moments in her life, Barbara as presented herself with a smile on her face and an enthusiastic attitude to help and get involved whenever possible.” Barb has always been a strong an independent woman. In addition to her volunteer work and community service, Barb continues to work at Kohl’s in Fayetteville where she has worked since it opened. Up until recently, Barb always worked two jobs! She lives in DeWitt and has two children – her son, Jeff, who lives in Colorado, and her daughter, Sherri and her husband, Dave, who live in Oswego County. Congratulations to Barbara Stratton, our Spirit of Mary Harriman Community Service Award honoree for 2021!
Donna Hamilton & Janet Burman Sustainer VPs
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COMMUNITY The Community Collaborations committee is celebrating the end of another successful league year! The entire National Volunteer Week was heavily attended by the members and a great success. This league year culminated with an in-person STEM Field Day Event at the Boys and Girls Club (Central Village location). It was sponsored by the C&S Foundation and Chick-fil-A. In all, over 50 children and numerous families were supported through a day of science and fun. The children made cards for the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital patients, learned about recycling, planted pea and beans, decorated reusable canvas bags, took free books home, and learned all about energy and energy loss in homes. The children took home sandwiches from Chick-fil-A, a bag of snacks and a bag of toys. It was quite the successful event! Quotes from members of the STEM planning committee: Francesca Neilly – “What a wonderful experience! This event was wildly successful because of all the smiling faces from the kids. This is truly what the Junior League is all about.” Kimber Doolittle – “I had so much fun working on our STEM programs this spring. Our field day was especially an amazing day. You put together these curriculums and there is a lot of planning and effort that goes into it, but when you see the kids smiling and learning – genuinely enjoying themselves – it makes it all worth it. I love talking and interacting with the kids and was highly impressed with their recycling knowledge at the recycling relay race! There were kind, creative and very grateful. Spending the day with them made my week and put so many of my everyday qualms and worries in perspective. After so much time secluded from the world due to COVID, it was a great first event back out in the community.”
Season Seferyn
Community/ 100th Committee
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JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SYRACUSE
LEADERSHIP TEAM AND COMMITTE DESCRIPTIONS GOVERNANCE BOARD President - Amanda Perrine President-elect - Slated Fall 2021 Executive Vice President - Kate Zwecker Treasurer - Nicole Davis Assistant Treasurer - TBD Secretary - Holly Scrano Nominating Director - Susan Shubmehl Nominating Advisors - Rea Carver, Casey Duffy, Julie Garcia, Jennie Junta and Francesca Neiley Sustainer(s) Directors - TBD Diversity Equity& Inclusion (DE&I - Ad Hoc Committee) Chair - Jessica Murray
MANAGEMENT TEAM COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL VP - Katina Karl Communications Council VP - Katina Karl Visual Identity Chair - Heather Wallace NOTES Editor - Lauren Hochenberger Marketing Chair - Emily Holdorf COMMUNITY COUNCIL VP - Season Seferyn Community Collaborations Chair - Camille Marcotte Public Policy Chair - Jessica Pease FUND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL VP - Jen Baker Fund Development Chair - Jill Grant Holliday Shoppes Chairs - TBD MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL VP - Julia Kane Education & Training Chairs - Michelle McGillivray and Vicky Wejko Membership Development and Recruitment Chair - Maeve Lanning “The growth and development of people, is the highest caring of leadership.” Harvey S. Firestone
COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
The Nominating Committee serves as the “HR Office” of the League. Nominating Advisors develop a leadership slate, coordinate and approve members selected to attend AJLI training, coordinate the selection process for League awards and offer guidance to members to help them grow in their positions.
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COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL:
The Marketing Committee: The marketing committee coordinates all internal and external communications for the League including member communications, advertising, PR, and social media. The Visual Identity Chair: The visual identity chair is responsible for ensuring the consistency of the JLS brand throughout all materials including the NOTES.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL:
Community Collaborations Committee: The Community Collaborations Committee leads the selection and implementation of community activities consistent with the policies and priorities of the JLS. The Committee strives to ensure that the League’s activities are appropriate considering the size and resources of the League’s active membership. Public Policy Committee: The Public Policy Committee works in conjunction with NYSPAC to bring awareness of policy issues impacting women and children in New York State and to advocate for issues that have been deemed a priority for the League.
FUND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL:
Fund Development Committee: The Fund Development Committee oversees the development and management of donors, sponsors, and grantors, including research, identification, solicitation, cultivation, recognition, and records management. Holiday Shoppes Committee: The Holiday Shoppes Committee is responsible for executing all elements of a successful Holiday Shoppes. Their responsibilities include securing sponsorships and raffle items, staffing, overseeing logistics and decorations, communicating with merchants, securing merchants, and overseeing the Holiday Shoppes budget. Marketing for Holiday Shoppes is coordinated by the Communications Council.
MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL:
Education and Training Committee: The Education and Training Committee is responsible for providing opportunities for members to grow their leadership abilities to be able to better serve the community as volunteers. These opportunities include securing GMM speakers, organizing sectionals and executing training conferences. The committee also provides opportunities for member engagement. Membership Recruitment and Development Committee: The Membership Recruitment and Development Committee is responsible for recruiting new members and executing a half-year training program that enables new members to become Active members of the JLS. The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES •Summer 2021 | 4
ANNUAL DINNER Junior League it’s time again to gather and celebrate the year! We will also be honoring our award recipients. We have gotten creative and want to invite you to join together with Junior League members in your Neighborhood Group. By now you probably have received communication about gathering for a watch party with your own unique theme. We hope you will consider hosting a watch party or taking part in one going on. Even if you can’t, you can still take part in the fun by dressing for the theme as you watch from home. Tuesday, Jun 08, 2021, 06:30 PM Please RSVP to your neighborhood group We hope to see you there!
Victoria Wejko
Julie Palmer
Education & Training Co-Chair
Communications VP
Barb Genton relaxes at SAGE Upstate where she volunteers.
Jef Sneider and Gwen Kay at their home.
When we began giving charitably together, we both agreed on one thing: we wanted to advocate for children. Our fund supports Read more at organizations that provide cnycf.org/SneiderKay early childhood education, child care and literacy.
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The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES •Spring 2021 | 5
BOARD BRIEFS MARCH 2021 Active agenda – items for discussion MANAGEMENT / OPERATIONS: • NBT Bank Presentation • Community Foundation Presentation COUNCILS • Fund Development (Marie N-Fund Development VP) • NATD and Centennial Celebration • Membership Renewal • DEI Org Chart (Amanda P-President-Elect) • Timing of the Governance Management Split (Kate Z-EVP) • Communications Council Restructure (Kate Z-EVP and Julie P-Communications VP) • Strategic Planning (Audra M-President) o Top Issues Impacting Communications
APRIL 2021 Active agenda – items for discussion MANAGEMENT / OPERATIONS: • May Board Meeting Date (Audra M-President) • Office Hours May/June (Audra M-President) COUNCILS • Membership (Julia K- Membership VP) • GMM • Communications (Julie P- Communications VP and Kate Zwecker-EVP) • Marketing/Visual Identity/Communications Restructure • Community (Season S-Community VP) • STEM • Collective Impact Process (Amanda P-President-Elect) • New Council-(Audra M-President) • Awards-(Audra M-President) • Strategic Planning (Audra M-President) • Top Issues Impacting Communications
MAY 2021 Active agenda – items for discussion MANAGEMENT / OPERATIONS: • Copier (Audra M-President) • Insurance (Audra M-President) • Dues (Audra M-President) • Current Budget & Proposed Budget (Julie G-Treasurer) COUNCILS • Membership (Julia K- Membership VP) • Annual Dinner • Community (Season S-Community VP) • STEM • 2021-2022 League Volunteering • Holiday Shoppes Ad Hoc Committee (Kate Z-EVP) • Holiday Shoppes Vote (Audra M-President) • Strategic Planning (Audra M-President and Kate Z-EVP) • Review Plan in Final Form
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION UPDATE In March the JLS was among 13 Junior Leagues to be awarded a grant from the AJLI DEI Accelerator Fund, created to help individual Junior Leagues accelerate innovative programs to improve Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs in their Leagues and communities. Many thanks to the Fund Development committee for their partnership in pursuing this opportunity. Among the initiatives funded by this grant, the May 11 GMM featured a one-hour training open to all League members. Angela Douglas, co-Executive Director at Vera House, spoke to members about “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Moving the Needle.” The video recording and slide deck of Angela’s presentation has been archived on the JLS’ members’ website - visit members.jlsyracuse. org, Member Resources to locate these materials. Thanks also go to our Education and Training committee for their partnership in bringing this opportunity to the JLS membership. Also this month, on May 10 members of the active and Sustainer book clubs held an enriching discussion of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Be on the lookout this summer and beyond for additional opportunities where members will come together to explore DEI topics through shared reads and discussion. Finally, Audra Mueller, Vicky Wejko, and Kate Zwecker spoke at the April GMM about their experiences participating in AJLI’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. The Racial Equity Challenge is open to all League members, and was recently revised to a new abbreviated length while still offering excellent resources and insightful group discussion. Learn more about the challenge at ajli.org/?nd=10_day_racial_ equity_challenge, and/or feel free to contact Audra, Vicky, or Kate with questions.
Jessica Murray
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 6 | The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • Summer 2021
FUND DEVELOPMENT HOLIDAY SHOPPES AD HOC – we are looking forward to some amazing collaborative brainstorming for this year’s 2021 Holiday Shoppes event. After the craziness of planning for last year’s event during the pandemic, our leadership felt like this would be the perfect time to reassess the whole Holiday Shoppes process. We have so many experienced members coming to the planning table with this committee and we can’t wait to share the results. Thank you so much to those that stepped up to impart their wisdom and vision for the future! ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP AND DONOR THANK YOU (JANUARY 1, 2021 – MAY 15, 2021) – Thank you to the membership for being so diligent in getting your annual dues paid on time. And THANK YOU so much for the recent and generous contributions to our Annual Fund/Mission Support, Community Allocation, Jerri Wilson and Centennial Scholarship Funds. Your gifts signal a confidence in our work that is truly meaningful to our board and leadership. These funds support not only our operations but also allow us the flexibility to invest in new strategic initiatives that move our community and league forward. Your gifts enable us to be responsive to our community’s most pressing needs. Judy Winslow Margaret Karim Georgeann Redmond Jeanne Jackson - In Memory of Margaret Feldmeier Mary Pat Oliker Nancy Morse Sally Porter Tuttle Debra Hopkinson Caroline Brust Priscilla Soden - In Memory of Sally Attridge Theresa Russo Barbara Tresness Marion Hancock Fish Martha Squire - In Memory of Joan Barrett Byrne Judith Grabau Susan Cronin Kathryn Lowenburg - In Honor of JLS Past Pres.
Sara Ames - In Memory of Emily Carver Anne Miller Betsy Mariotte-Mclane Barbara Stratton Pamela Donaldson Ryan Mary Ellen Reistrom - In Memory of Helen Druce Sally Sheehan Sharon Northrup Linda Dombrow Maudie Ritchie Mary Jewell Matthews - In Honor of Amy Sumida Janet Burman Margery Burstein Diane Steckle - In memory of Noreen Falcone Barbara Benedict Sarah Hansen Jeryl Reitzel Donna Hamilton Tracy Tajbl Martha Holly Loew
Barbara Flintrop Carolyn Souser - In Memory of Joan Poorman Mary O’Hara Mary Bradly Jan Greco Jan Daum Susan Lowitz Jane Roller Jean Soper Patricia Haggerty Tracey Noble Season Seferyn Martha Squire Lauren Hochenberger Eileen Hathaway Krell Maria Miller Julia Kane Maeve Lanning Sarah Saidel Clark Tucker Audra Mueller
Lynn Horowitch Heather Wallace Casey Duffy Jessica Murray Amanda Perrine Amy Sumida Michelle McGillivray Jennifer Baker Elizabeth Lane Anna O’Neil Julia Palmer Sheryl Capozzi Nicole Davis Jill Grant Katie Lannon Elizabeth Iamondo Joan Barrett Suzanne Kuntz Carolyn Souser Kathy Lowenberg Sally Sheehan Barbara Flintrop Deryn Pomeroy Hon.Karen M.Uplinger
For over 100 Years now, the JLS has developed our members to be valued community leaders and volunteers. With the help of your financial support and investment in the Junior League of Syracuse, our members have been instrumental in the development and growth of more than 100 educational, cultural, human service and philanthropic assets in our community. Your membership and generous appeal donations truly sustain our organization’s mission and our ability to benefit and provide civic leadership to the local community in which we serve. It has been my pleasure and honor to serve as FD VP for the past several years. Best wishes for a bright summer.
Marie Norkett
Fund Development VP The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES •Summer 2021 | 7
SUSTAINER UPDATE It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another League year. Who would have known all the twists and turns we would encounter? We started our year in the middle of a pandemic that no one thought would last as long as it has. Holiday Shoppes was a virtual event. We weren’t able to gather in-person for our annual Pie Making event, but we overcame the challenge and donated pies instead. Along the way, we were able to gather for some R&Rs, and those who attended our Golf Outing had a great time (thank you Anne Miller and Susan Cronin!), and enjoyed a beautiful day. However, it’s not over yet. We have plans to end the League year with a bang – recognizing fellow Sustainers, and having our annual Cocktail Party! MARY HARRIMAN AND SUSTAINER OF THE YEAR AWARDS A committee was created to review the nominations submitted and decide who would get the Mary Harriman Award. The committee was chaired by Janet Burman, and comprised of two Active members, a Sustainer member, and a Mary Harriman Award recipient. Nominations were open to Actives and Sustainers to submit. The committee assessed and discussed the several nominations submitted, and unanimously chose Barbara Stratton to receive this year’s Mary Harriman Award! Congratulations Barbara! We would like to thank all those who submitted a nomination, and thank the committee members for their time. Similarly, a committee to select the Sustainer of the Year Award recipient was created and Chaired by Donna Hamilton. The committee included a past Sustainer of the Year Award recipient and a Sustainer member. The committee reviewed and discussed the nominations submitted, and chose Janet Burman to receive this year’s Sustainer of the Year Award! Congratulations Janet! Again, we would like to thank those who submitted a nomination, and thank the committee members for their time. R&RS CAME BACK With spring arriving, the weather getting warmer, and members being vaccinated, many were itching to get together for an R&R. In April Janet and Donna hosted an R&R at the Limp Lizard on Onondaga Boulevard. Although the crowd was small, all who attended enjoyed a delightful evening of comradery and conversation (not to mention the wine)! The May R&R, hosted by Wendy Carl Isome and Stephanie Macero, took place at Café 119 in the Village of Manlius. Once again, the weather cooperated and all in attendance enjoyed a splendid evening (and not being required to wear a mask if vaccinated)!
Considering all we have been through with the pandemic, and each of us managing our own struggles of being in “lockdown”, we were fortunate to be able to get together for some socialization and celebrate the friendships we hold near and dear. We would like to thank all the R&R hosts who made this year possible: Barbara Stratton & Mary Richardson (July); Margaret Karim & Maureen Wopperer (August); Karen Uplinger & Jane Roller (September); Addie 8 | The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • Summer 2021
Silvia, Lisa de Silva & Betsy Sedgwick (October); Lynn Hamilton Johnson and Cheryl Saidel (November), and Wendy Carl Isome and Stephanie Macero (May). COCKTAIL PARTY IN JUNE Zoom meetings, working virtually from home, wearing yoga pants as your pajamas and your work attire, coordinating the color of your mask to go with your yoga pants, remote learning for our children and grandchildren, curbside versus online shopping, having to order food to have a drink at the bar. This has been our lives for a year and half. As New York and Onondaga County start to reopen, it is time to celebrate a sense of normalcy. However, we felt it was still too soon to ask a Sustainer member to host the cocktail party in her home. Therefore, we have arranged to have the annual cocktail party at Bellevue Country Club on June 16th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. We are excited to be able to, once again, have this traditional event at a not-so-traditional venue. Please look for the invitation in your mailbox and reply as soon as possible as we still have to accommodate capacity restrictions. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Sustainers for making our CoSustainer VP year memorable and fulfilling. It has been a pleasure serving in this role. We hope that we met your expectations and served you admirably during a difficult and unimaginable time. We also would like to thank the Active membership for supporting us and including our Sustainers to participate in the various activities and events that took place this year. It was enjoyable and gratifying to be able to work together toward a common goal. We are sure that whoever is nominated to fill the position of Sustainer VP (or CoVP) will find it as rewarding as we have.
JOINT Stay safe and be well! BOOK All the best from your Sustainer VPs, CLUB
MAY 10TH
BOOK CLUB The book club had a fantastic March meeting outside at the park across from the philanthropy center with some Zoom attendance. The discussion on American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins was varied and talked about the controversies of the book, the importance of reading books about experiences other than ours, and much more. In May we met with the Sustainers to discuss Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson and we will be meeting in a couple of weeks to discuss The Futilitarians: Our Year of Thinking, Drinking, Grieving, and Reading by Anne Gisleson. This will end our book group for the 2020-2021 League year, but we will be back in July! I have enjoyed coordinating the group over the past few years and look forward to Anna O’Neill coordinating beginning in the 2021-2022 year. Watch Seeing Spot for upcoming meetings and book choices!
Amanda Perrine
President-Elect
Congratulations • Amara Kattrein who was married this March to Garrett Ordway • Courtney Jones who was married this April to Kyle McCarthy • Marisa Wright on the birth of her second son, Maclin Leonard, May 10
Donna Hamilton & Janet Burman Sustainer VPs
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MEET OUR NEW A KATHLEEN CAROSCIO
PRIYA SIKKA
I have been living in Syracuse for four years with my husband, Tom, and two golden retrievers, Duke and Bailey. I am originally from two hours south (Big Flats, NY). I am a licensed master social worker, and am currently working with chronically ill/ dying elderly. In my free time, I love cooking, baking, hiking, and spending time with family. My volunteer interests include homelessness, underserved populations, and women/children.
Priya Sikka is from Ontario, Canada and moved to Syracuse in 2018. She has worked in international education and medical education, coordinating educational opportunities here and abroad. She loves to travel, cook, garden, make art and spend time with her friends and family.
ELISABETH CABOT Hi! My name is Lilli (Elisabeth) Cabot and I am from Chestnut Hill, MA. I recently moved to Syracuse from New York City for my current job as a psychology research assistant at Syracuse University and I will be applying for clinical psychology PhD programs in the fall. I attended Villanova University where I earned my BA in psychology, and I went on to earn my MA in psychology from The New School for Social Research in New York City. I enjoy spending time outdoors, on the boat, playing golf and tennis on Cape Cod in the warmer months and skiing in the winter months. I also enjoy cooking and entertaining with friends and traveling.
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LAURA CRANDALL Laura Crandall is a mother of three, wife, friend, daughter, and sister. Laura is very community and goal-oriented. Laura currently works at SUNY ESF as the Director of Student Involvement and Leadership running the Orientation program, Commencement, advises the Student Association, clubs, and runs the ESF Food Pantry. She is Mentors in Violence Prevention certified, secretary to the Parent-Teacher Organization, on the ESF Alumni Association Board, and Vice President of Vobress, Inc. She received her Masters degree in Higher Education at Syracuse University and Bachelors degree from ESF. Laura worked in a number of offices at Syracuse University including the Housing and Meal Plan Office, Off-Campus Services, and Orientation. Laura is from Buffalo, NY but is proud to live in Syracuse since 2001. She resides in Liverpool with her partner David Crandall, two daughters Avery and Adelyn, and son Hudson.
CTIVES EMMA GEYER I grew up in Liverpool NY and completed my undergrad at SUNY Oswego and recently graduated with my Master in Public Health from University at Albany. I currently work in health policy for a local non-profit. I am passionate about health & wellness and love to spend my free time outside and with my friends, family, and my dog. I am excited to be a part of the JLS community and to meet other inspiring and like-minded women while serving our community.
COLLEEN SEWALL Hi, my name is Colleen Sewall. I am 21 years old and I am currently finishing up my undergrad degree in marketing and graphic design at SUNY Oswego. I am hoping to enter a career in the non-profit field and to later continue my education. My interests are traveling, hiking, drinking coffee, and watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.
PAST PRESIDENTS’
Zoom Cocktail Hour
The past presidents’ lunch is a long-time tradition to introduce former League presidents to the incoming president. With COVID, we had to cancel last year and decided to make this year’s a virtual nighttime cocktail hour. We had attendees from multiple states, including some who had not been able to attend in years, if not decades, and we all decided to include a virtual component once we are able to meet in person again. The cocktail hour started off with attendees catching up and stories of years and fundraisers past. 2019-2021 president Audra Mueller then read the mission, vision, and diversity and inclusion statement, and discussed her time as president. Audra faced many challenges, but has led the League through a global pandemic and the hundredth year beautifully. I then introduced myself, spoke about my time in the League, and discussed my goals as we focus on kicking off the next 100 years of the JLS, with my priorities being a strong focus on the 2021-2026 strategic plan, the governance/management split, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and increasing training opportunities for League members and our community partners. As incoming president, I am honored to be part of a long line of strong women who have made the League what it is today. Meeting them virtually was wonderful and I look forward to seeing even more in-person over the next two years, particularly at the Centennial Celebration on June 10, 2022.
Amanda Perrine
President-Elect
! u o y k Than
Cicero The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES •Summer 2021 | 11
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MISSION: The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. (JLS) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. VISION: The JLS 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. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT: The JLS welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities. 12 | The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc. • The NOTES • Summer 2021