The JLBR Addresses Diaper Need in the Community

Marjorie Hollman, Harlee Samuels, Dee Lewis, Sarah Flynn

The Junior League of Boca Raton Diaper Bank is a new initiative this year that will address the issue of "diaper need" in this community.  Once a month the Diaper Bank Committee will hold a Diaper Distribution Day, as well as various diaper drives in order to restock our inventory so that families in need can continue to receive this important service.

This past week has been very busy for the Junior League of Boca Raton's Diaper Bank Committee.  On Tuesday, August 16th the Committee held its monthly meeting at Cabana El Ray on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.  Led by Chair Gina Griffin, the Committee enjoyed dinner and planned for our first Diaper Distribution Day on Saturday, August 20th.  

When Saturday arrived, several Committee members assisted by Done in a Day (DIAD) volunteers met at the storage facility to transport diapers to Florence Fuller's east campus.  There representatives from the selected organizations who will receive diapers this year -- Caridad Center, Family Promise, Florence Fuller Child Development Center and Milagro Center -- picked up 2,800 diapers that they will then pass on to the families they serve.  

Make sure you Like us on Facebook in order to see what we are up to and to learn how you can be involved!

Looking ahead with 2011-2012 JLBR President Nancy Dockerty

I recently attended the AJLI Conference for President-Elects and President-Elect-Elects with Jackie Reeves in New Orleans.  True to our mission statement of “ ..improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers,” this conference had some amazing sessions on leadership. One in particular that stood out to me was on Servant Leadership, facilitated by Vicki Clark. Robert Greenleaf coined the term servant leadership in his 1970 essay, titled “The Servant as Leader,” where he describes the servant leader as one who leads by serving others. I thought, “YES that’s it, that’s exactly what a Junior League President does and it’s exactly why I’m thrilled to be the incoming President.  I can do that; I can serve our membership by empowering them to use their talents to accomplish the League’s goals.” People often ask why I want to be a League President and it always seems hard to explain. I’m not a coach, or a cheerleader, or a motivator, but when I learned more about servant leadership, I realized, yep that’s my personality, encouraging others to bring out their best, and when we do that together as volunteers in the League it has a tremendous impact on our community.

Looking back with 2010-2011 JLBR President Samantha Vasallo

Wow! It’s so hard to believe that we are almost through the League year!  I continue to be amazed by the passion and dedication of our members, both to our League and our Community.  I have seen such enthusiasm at our General Membership Meetings, commitment and hard work from each of our councils and fundraisers, amazing creativity and eagerness in committee activities, and countless other examples of positive energy among our membership.

Every member has a role to play in the continued success of the JLBR.  The League is sustained by the collective efforts of each member.  Edith Wharton once said there are two ways of spreading light – to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  I love the idea that each person can have a role to play in the great works that we as a League all accomplish together.  There are simply different roles to play, and all are important as we work to achieve our mission and live our legacy.

Based on our League’s achievements over the past several months, you have all clearly demonstrated that you do believe that tomorrow can be better than today.  You actions, and not merely your words, have consistently show optimism that not only can tomorrow be better, but that we can be a part of making it better.

As a result of our efforts and collaborations more than 4,000 children were reached through the Spirit of Giving Network with the annual Back to School Bash and Holiday Gift Drive.  We also:

One JLBR Member's ODI Experience

by Sara Ritzler

In March, the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) held their first Organizational Development Institute (ODI) conference of 2011 in Tampa. Junior League of Boca Raton members Marya Gill, Jackie Schatz, Allison Lane, Shannon Moriarity, and I were honored to represent our League at the 3 day event which brings together representatives from Leagues all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and even London. ODI is a powerful experience designed to help develop our potential as League members through workshops, discussions on thought provoking topics and networking opportunities. The goal is to then bring those skills and ideas back to our own Leagues.

The opportunity to interact with other League members is both inspiring and enlightening. It was a fantastic and humbling experience to witness the power of nearly 160,000 women from 292 Leagues making a crucial difference in their communities. Over the course of the conference I was fascinated to learn about the various projects and issues other Leagues have undertaken.

• The Junior League of Atlanta is working on a Pilot Project to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
• The Junior League of Alexandria, La. partnered with Pregnancy Care Closet to help teenage mothers shop in the closet if they completed parenting classes.
• The Junior League Long Beach teamed up with their local metal health department to raise awareness for perinatal depression.
• Several leagues including those in Memphis, Baton Rouge and Kalamazoo have a “Cinderella Project” where gently used dressed are donated to junior and senior girls in need of a prom dresses.
• The Junior League of London is working on a project to foster an interest in reading and a love of books to young children from low-income families. The League is working with Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library and Penguin UK to mail one book per month to each enrolled child.

The list goes on and on but I think you get the point. ODI is an incredible League conference that every Leaguer should participate in at some point during their League experience. It reaffirmed my love of the League and a desire to make a important difference in our community.

FORE!

Golf is in the air! Have you all seen the movie The Wedding Date? If you have, remember the scene where they are at the joint bachelor/bachelorette party all decked out in crazy golf attire? Well, last month two of my friends who were getting married did the same thing! We all put on our randomest combination of golf wear and and had a good time. Check out these crazy socks!

Needless to say, we had a blast! Not two weeks after that, another friend decided to go mini golfing for his birthday. Can you remember the last time you went mini golfing?! Well, for me it was awhile -- but I still managed to win a bet at the 17th hole by sinking my ball in first.

At the rate this year is flying by, it will be April 15th before we know it! Besides being the last work day before taxes are due, April 15th is also the day of the Junior League of Boca Raton's 3rd Annual Golf Classic at Royal Palm Country Club. The event will bring local businesses and community partners together with the goal of raising essential funds for our community projects.

So, I suggest you gather up a group of friends and meet us on the green!

Stay tuned to JLBR in Action for more information as the event gets closer. If you'd like to know more about it sooner than later, visit the Junior League of Boca Raton's website, or call us at 561-620-2553.

Booster Seats and Baby Bottoms

Wanna hear about two quick and easy ways you can help the Junior League of Boca Raton help our community?

"Quick...easy...help....?"  Yeah, I thought you would.

Booster Seats

Did you know that Florida's law requiring child car restraints only up to age 3 is the most lenient in the country, according to the National Transportation Safety Board?  The Junior League of Boca Raton, together with other Junior Leagues in Florida, have made booster seat legislation a priority issue for which we advocate. Click here to learn more about our take on the issue and what we are doing.

How can I help?
For $25, you can donate a booster seat. All you have to do is visit our website, jlbr.org, to donate, and we'll take care of the rest.  All money collected will go to purchasing booster seats and donating them to local organizations whose clients have a need for them. These organizations will be identified through the Spirit of Giving Network.

Baby Bottoms

Did you know that 1 in 3 moms are struggling to provide diapers for their babies? The Junior League of Boca Raton is partnering with the Huggies® Every Little Bottom program to raise awareness about diaper need and to help address the need in our community and across the U.S.

How can I help?
Donate diapers! You can bring them to the our office at 261 NW 13th Street in Boca. Or you can donate money on our website and we'll buy the diapers for you.

A Provisional Point of View

The Junior League is a complex and active group of women working in various capacities to support both itself and lend support to the community at large. Because the Junior League is such a dynamic organization, members first engage in a Provisional period of training and volunteer activities to prepare them for effective community involvement and active membership.

Shawn Sherlock, a current Provisional Member of the Junior League of Boca Raton, shares her experience:

The list is endless in the reasons why ANY one woman should or would join the Junior League of Boca Raton. But, topping the list of why “I” specifically joined: to be part of a group of strong and passionate women who want to truly want to make a difference in their community. I soon learned one way I could make a difference was by learning from our fantastic leaders. From the get go, I have taken the time to meet with JL chairs and committee members to learn the ropes so to speak. Thus far, it’s been a fantastic way for me to learn how by being a member can go a long way in working with vendors in your area. It’s especially been fantastic in aiding my role as Co-Chair for this March’s “Sex in the City” themed General Membership Meeting. I look forward in further engaging myself with my leaders as I delve into the new role of Incoming Chair Elect for The Bridge, the Junior League of Boca Raton's magazine. I would also like to say that anyone who joins the League would also agree the bonds within this group are so strong. The relationships that start here last for a lifetime. I am truly honored to be part of such a force. I look forward to a fantastic 2011 and many years to come!


Click here for more information about joining the Junior League of Boca Raton.