SPRING 2014 EDITION

FOCUS

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Stephanie Smith President Julie Gheen President-Elect Amy Zimmer Recording Secretary Meghan Crane Treasurer Tracey Kevelighan Assistant Treasurer Shiela Jones Communications Council Director Abigail Sigal Community Programs Council Director Nikki Braddock Fund Development Council Director Meggie Midbo Membership Council Director Noelle Schiffer Sustainer Director

MISSION

The Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential

of women, and improving the community through

effective action and leadership trained volunteers.

Its purpose is exclusively educational and

charitable.

VISION

The Junior League: Women Around the World as

Catalysts for Lasting Community Change.

REACHING OUT STATEMENT

The Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan, Inc.

reaches out to women of all races, religions and

national origins who demonstrate an interest in

and commitment to voluntarism.

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

By: Stephanie Smith, President

It has been a busy League year!

In September, the Social Fundraising Committee

hosted a kick-off event at Dick O’Dows in Birmingham.

The committee, led by co-chairs Stacy Traina and Kelly Finley, were guest

bartenders for the evening. It was a hugely successful event and a great way for

members to mix and mingle after the summer break.

On October 20th, the League hosted the 20th Annual Pumpkin Patch. The event

provided children and their families a safe and fun environment to celebrate

Halloween. All goodies were nut and candy free in an effort to promote the

League’s community impact initiative to combat childhood obesity. Congrats to

co-chairs Jillian Bommarito and Sarah Ambrose and their committee for another

successful event!

October 20th was a busy day for League members, as the JLB also participated in

a symposium hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. The event

was an informative panel discussion to bring community awareness to the issue

of Human Trafficking. Speakers included Jane P. White, the Michigan Human

Trafficking Task Force Director, and the JLB’s own, Emily Todebush, among

others.

On December 11th, the League was honored to host a Town Hall meeting with

Attorney General Bill Schuette and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard to

bring community awareness about the tragic occurrence of human trafficking in

this area. The JLB is continuing its efforts to bring awareness and education

around this issue. For the second year, JLB volunteers participated in the

distribution of soap to area hotels labeled with the human trafficking hotline

number, prior to the North American International Auto Show.

The Community Impact Committee has expanded the Kids in the Kitchen

programming to include yoga classes. In addition, the committee and the new

member class partnered with Little Green Gardeners to build a community

garden at the South Oakland YMCA.

In February, the New Member class celebrated the Mitten State with a successful

Made in Michigan fundraiser. As the end of the year approaches, members are

eagerly looking forward to the introduction to the League’s first signature event,

Spring Sophisticate, and the 6th Annual Dash for Destiny on May 4th. Both are

guaranteed to be can’t miss events! I hope to see you there!

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NEW MEMBERS TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGE WITH LITTLE GREEN GARDENERS!

This years’ new member class of almost 70 women has an exciting new

challenge for their New Member Project! Working hand in hand with Little

Green Gardeners, founded in 2011 by League member Kristen Urcan, this

year the League is teaming up to put in a garden at the South Oakland

YMCA in Royal Oak. Several new members and active members have

already gotten the gardens started by adding compost to the six raised beds placed on the north end of the YMCA property near

Woodward at 11 mile road.

Little Green Gardeners mission is building vegetable gardens in elementary schools and teaching gardening to children for their

educational, physical, environmental and emotional health.

The League’s New Member class will be responsible for planning and fund-raising for the garden’s kick-off event. The fund-raiser

took place on February 23, 2014 at Camp Ticonderoga in Troy and the kick-off will be later in the spring.

The kick-off will most likely be an expo style event with a “family wellness” focus (a public event that could be similar to the Kids in

the Kitchen events.)

“We are excited to team up the new members in such a great hands on community project,” said Joey Molnar, Membership

Development Chair. “Teaming up with both the South Oakland YMCA and the Little Green Gardeners is a perfect way to put the

League’s mission into action by “…improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” Molnar

continued.

One of the primary goals of Little Green Gardeners is to encourage children to enjoy trying and eating fresh vegetables. Since

studies show that children are more likely to enjoy eating vegetables when they have grown them themselves, vegetable gardening

provides an invaluable learning experience for children. They also feel passionate about helping kids get away from things like video

games, and instead get back to the basics of being outside, breathing fresh air, and moving around. Additionally, they have an

interest in teaching our future leaders about the environmental benefits of local growing, which include reducing fuel use from

transportation, and reducing pesticide use, just to name a few. As gardening teaches children to be patient, the sense of

accomplishment that children gain when all of their efforts finally produce the first signs of vegetables, is a valuable life experience

and tool.

When the garden is complete, YMCA, Little Green Gardeners and JLB volunteers will maintain it through the summer growing

season.

Through activities such as donating vegetables to a soup kitchen, and selling vegetables at The Farmer's Market, the children have

the opportunity to learn about social responsibility and entrepreneurialism. Additionally, teachers use the garden as a hands-on

tool when teaching subjects such as science, math, etc. Rather than just learning about how plants grow, the garden enables the

children to actually watch how they grow. Math skills are taught as they plan the spacing for the garden, and as they add and divide

up the vegetables they produce.

By: Susie Sherman-Hall

To learn more about Little Green Gardeners, go to www.littlegreengardeners.org

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LEADING CHANGE By: Stephanie Smith, President

As the needs of

the community

change, Junior

Leagues must also

change and

transform. League

leaders have to be

able to guide

members through both change and transformation. Change fixes the past while

Transformation creates the future. Junior League leaders are often compelled to

do both at the same time. It can be scary and it impacts each and every League

member. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Association of Junior

Leagues International, Inc. Fall Leadership Conference in Detroit. During the

conference, Vicki Clark presented on Leading Change and Initiating

Organizational Renewal, which focused on successfully leading through change

and transformation. To be successful, Ms. Clark noted it is important to

remember the following:

1. Understand the importance of people.

2. Appreciate that people throughout the organization have different reactions

to change.

3. Be aware that transformation is not just an event, but a mental, physical,

emotional process.

4. Be candid.

5. Be sure to appropriately “set the stage” for change.

6. Note that transformation is different than incremental change.

7. Be sure to negotiate the new goals between members, leadership, and the

League as a whole.

8. Be sure members understand the planned change and transformation. Do

not just assume it was what they heard or read from leadership.

9. Never underestimate human potential.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to

create many ripples.” –Mother Teresa

Have you had a chance to brush up on

what it is that we do as a League to

impact our community? Do you have an

elevator speech for friends or curious

community members on how the JLB

impacts our community? Please check

out our new Case for Support color

PDF. This document helps showcase our

goals and activities throughout the year.

It can be found under the Member Area

on the JLB website at www.jlbham.org

under Case for Support. This document

should be used at any JLB event to

help educate the community about our

programming, acquire new members

and aid in seeking donations. This

document needs to be printed in color,

which you can request on the JLB

website in the member area.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COUNCIL- CASE FOR SUPPORT By: Abigail Sigal

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MADE IN MICHIGAN NEW MEMBER EVENT

96 people attended the wildly successful

Made in Michigan New Member Event at

Camp Ticonderoga in Troy, MI. The

League is proud to announce that after

working

tirelessly to

garner raffle

items, create

a marketing

plan, develop

a Michigan

themed trivia

game, sell

tickets and

decorate the

space and

much, much more, the New Members

raised approximately $5000!

The League invests in its leaders by

sending members on paid trips to

attend leadership trainings hosted

by the Association of Junior Leagues

International (AJLI).

Organizational Development

Institute (ODI)

Each year the League sends members to AJLI’s Organizational Development

Institute (ODI) trainings, which are offered twice a year in various locations

around the United States. These conferences feature workshop training sessions

and specialized training tracks based on leadership position. This year Shiela

Jones and Joey Molnar attended the ODI training in October in Indianapolis. And,

Tracey Kevelighan and Emily Todebush attended the ODI training in February in

Fort Lauderdale.

The number of members sent to trainings varies each year based on the available

training budget and developmental needs of the League. However, the League

remains committed to providing training opportunities for its leadership. We

anticipate sending members to ODI training in Kansas City, MO in October 2014

and in Grapevine, TX in February 2015. When selecting members for ODI

trainings, the League looks for current or future League leaders who have not yet

had the opportunity to attend ODI. Interested? Talk to your Membership Advisor

or the President Elect for more information.

Leadership & Annual Conference

The League also has special training opportunities for its incoming Presidents.

Each year the League sends it’s President-Elect and President Elect-Elect to the

Winter Leadership Conference and Annual Conference hosted by AJLI. Shiela

Jones and Julie Gheen attended the Winter Leadership Conference in Scottsdale,

AZ where they participated in workshops aimed at preparing them for their

future roles and building a collaborative partnership with each other. They were

also able to network with the leaders of the other Michigan leagues. In May they

will travel to St. Louis, MO for the AJLI Annual Conference. At this conference,

they will further develop their leadership skills in workshop sessions, as well as

represent The League in AJLI Plenary Sessions, which include discussions and

voting on international Junior League issues.

More Information

Talk to your Membership Advisor or the President Elect for more information on

The League’s involvement with AJLI trainings. For more information visit the

Training & Meetings tab on the AJLI website (www.AJLI.org). While you are there,

check out the webinar trainings hosted online by AJLI and other trainings

resources available to members from their home computers!

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YOU SHOP. AMAZON GIVES.

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your

eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Junior

League Of Birmingham Mich Inc whenever

you shop on AmazonSmile.

AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know.

Same products, same prices, same service.

Support the JLB by shopping today at

www.smile.amazon.com.

SUSTAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD The Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan Inc. is proud to announce a new award. The Sustainer of the Year Award

celebrates a woman of outstanding leadership in the League who has used her talents and resources to improve the social

and economic conditions of others. She exemplifies the Junior League mission and vision. She has made a positive impact

in the League and the community, and her volunteer work continues in the tradition of our founder, Mary Harriman.

This award is given to honor a sustaining League member who generously and thoughtfully shares her time and talent

within her community. All Sustainer of the Year candidates should have a strong history of support and involvement

within the League. Nominees will have embraced the League's mission of lifelong voluntarism with community leadership

outside of the League. This award pays tribute to a Sustainer who best exemplifies the embodiment of League ideals - one

who gives of herself in both time and talent.

Nominating Criteria

Any member (Active, Provisional or Sustaining) in good standing may submit nominations that

are voted on by the Active Board of Directors.

Each nomination submission should identify the following:

1. How has the nominee made a difference in the community

2. What community issues has she addressed?

3. What have been the most significant and lasting contributions she has given to the League

and to the community?

Please consider nominating your favorite Sustainer next year! Deadlines for nominations will be published in eblasts

and on social media. Please email completed nominations to office@jlbham.org or mail to:

The Junior League of Birmingham

Sustainer of the Year Nomination

460 North Old Woodward Avenue

Birmingham, MI 48009

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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COUNCIL-VOLUNTEER UPDATE

I am excited at the momentum of our League, as we have many

accomplishments to be proud of. I want to personally thank each League

member for her generous volunteer time throughout the year. I realize that we

are all busy with our lives and taking time to participate shows that you are

dedicated to improving the community. Over the last few years League

volunteers are making firmer commitments to attend volunteer projects of

choice. This is a huge positive step forward!

We still have many upcoming opportunities to help you achieve your minimum

10-hour JLB

requirement. Please

note you are more than

welcome to volunteer

for more than just 10

hours throughout the

year. Remaining

opportunities include

Kids in the Kitchen, Girls

on the Run 5K, Dash for

Destiny, Celebrate

Birmingham Parade and new June, July and August summer volunteer

opportunities with Little Green Gardeners at the South Oakland Family YMCA in

Royal Oak, just to name a few.

Please check the volunteer calendar frequently to see upcoming volunteer

opportunities. Volunteering is a way to gain a first hand knowledge into what we

do within the community. By trying different types of activities, you will broaden

your knowledge. This process will help you develop the knowledge and skillset

required to speak on behalf of the League.

Volunteering is also a great place to meet other League women and to make new

friends. Having first hand knowledge can help you share your personal story on

how you have grown as a trained volunteer and impacted our community. If a

volunteer shift is full please call the volunteer coordinator for that shift. You may

be able to get involved anyway, especially if the project is something that you

really want to be involved in.

On September 26, President Elect, Julie

Gheen, President Elect Elect, Shiela

Jones, and I were honored to attend the

New Horizons 49th Annual Awards

Ceremony and Banquet. New Horizons is

a vocational rehabilitative center whose

primary goals focus on preparing people

with disabilities for competitive

employment and providing the necessary

skills to assume responsibility for their

own long-term success. A small Junior

League of Birmingham committee that

saw a need for this type of service in the

community started New Horizons in

1964. New Horizons is now operating in

eight different counties and they placed

over 700 people in employment last

year. The Annual Awards Ceremony and

Banquet honored the organizations’

consumers for their hard work and

accomplishments. It was a humbling

experience, and one the three of us will

never forget. As New Horizons looks

forward to celebrating their 50th

Anniversary in the coming year, the

League is excited to renew their

relationship with this amazing

organization.

NEW HORIZONS REHABILITATION SERVICES By: Stephanie Smith, President

By: Abigail Sigal

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CONSULTING

SALES

STAFFING

SUPPORT

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BIRMINGHAM 460 North Old Woodward Ave Birmingham, MI 48009

248.203.9841 ph 248.203.9847 fax

www.jlbham.org

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