J U N I O R L E A G U E O F O K L A H O M A C I T Y, I N C .
www.jloc.org
SPRING 2022
Women Building a Better Oklahoma City
President’s Letter To my JLOC family, I recently started reminiscing about the very beginning of the 2021-2022 Junior League of Oklahoma City year. I thought back to the May General Membership Meeting where we rejoiced about the potential of the upcoming year and good times that were ahead of us. I also thought about the promise we all made to JLOC and its work in the community. As we all know, this year did not turn out exactly as we envisioned back in May. However, despite some of the setbacks and obstacles that we as JLOC faced this year, one message rose above all others – COMMITMENT. “Commitment is an act, not a word.” —Jean-Paul Sartre The women of JLOC persevered and their actions more than their words proved their commitment to and engagement with this organization and the work that it does. The pandemic continued to snarl our efforts to be a unified group again and to provide all of the amazing services we provide to the community. JLOC members never gave up, finding unique ways to serve our community and to come together to train and develop as leaders. We worked through a major staffing change which presented challenges but overall presented opportunities for our members to learn more about the administration of JLOC and about the technology that surrounds us every day. The Board of Directors doubled-down on their commitment to strengthening the core of our organization, creating the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, passing a new Code of Conduct for members and employees, and ensuring that our laws and policies are consistent with the rights and obligations of our membership. Overall, to me, this was a banner year for JLOC. Coming out of last year’s struggles and let downs, members continued to rally behind JLOC, finding new ways to engage with each other and the community, while being ever committed to the mission, vision, and values that are the core of the Junior League of Oklahoma City.
REACHING OUT STATEMENT The Junior League of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Inc. reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to voluntarism. The Junior League of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or national origin.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION The Junior League welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.
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I will always be ever so proud of the amazing work we achieved this year and each member’s recommitment to our JLOC. Love, Ann Richard-Farinha JLOC President 2021-2022
Contents SPRING 2022
LINK VISION To inform members and increase awareness of Junior League of Oklahoma City, Inc. projects and events.
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IMPACT [
events ]
Mistletoe Market Whale of a Sale Community Projects
2021-22 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Ann Richard-Farinha PRESIDENT-ELECT Sheena Hollander ADMINISTRATIVE VICE PRESIDENT Hillary Ashton BYLAWS CHAIR Kristin Van Nort CHIEF OF STAFF Becca Sullivan COMMUNICATIONS VICE PRESIDENT Sarah Hartman COMMUNITY VICE PRESIDENT Marcella Morgan EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT VICE PRESIDENT
Stephanie Hinton FINANCE VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Crissup Sunnarvik FUNDRAISING VICE PRESIDENT Chelsea Rickett MEMBERSHIP VICE PRESIDENT Julia Daine NOMINATING CHAIR Angie Huffaker SUSTAINING ADVISOR Beth Shortt
LEAGUE LINK STAFF CO-EDITORS Mindy Johnson (A) and Brenda Jones
Barwick (Jones) (S) COMMUNICATIONS VP Sarah Hartman CONTRIBUTORS Barbie Bahner, Jennifer Fillmore,
Hayley Moore, Allyson Lambert
League Link is published by the Junior League of Oklahoma City, Inc.
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CHANGING LIVES [
projects ]
Community Project Letters Dress for Success EmpowHER
EMPOWER [
p e o p l e]
Member Spotlights Sheroes
A YEAR IN REVIEW Nearly Weds, Little Leaguers, Courtesy and Recognition League Social Highlights Membership Updates First Year Actives Membership Service Awards (5, 10, 15 year) Leadership Institute League Owned Businesses
HEADQUARTERS The Junior League of Oklahoma City, Inc. 1001 NW Grand Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Phone (405) 843-5668
ON THE COVER:
Fax (405) 843-0994
The OKC letters at Wheeler Park.
www.jloc.org
FUNDRAISERS Mistletoe Market Legacy & Legends Whale Of A Sale Annual Campaign
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Impact [ events ]
2021 Mistletoe Market
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he 2021 Mistletoe Market Committee set out to make this year’s event one for the books by making the move to the new OKC Convention Center. The leadership and volunteers diligently worked to make the merchants feel appreciated and showed the most hospitality possible as we moved back to an in-person event. We are pleased to announce that we raised more than $115,000 at the 2021 Mistletoe Market - this includes ticket sales, donations, Mistletoe Money, t-shirts and the online Silent Auction. The Mistletoe Market Committee had to rethink how to keep the tradition of the market going, while keeping in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic was still looming and there was the potential to need to pivot at the last hour. These efforts had to be carried out by all of committee chairs under the leadership of Lauren Ottoway Johnson and Jeanie Butts. Together, they led their team with style and grace. There were 85 vendors who set up shop, and numerous shoppers and members of the Oklahoma City community who supported
JLOC’s largest fundraiser, which ran from November 4-7. The funds raised at Mistletoe Market help support our community projects and further our mission by allowing us to send trained volunteers into the Oklahoma City community. The Preview Party was a great kick-off where attendees enjoyed cocktails, live music, food tastings, wine pull, Kendra Scott jewelry pull and, of course, shopping! It was also the kick-off for the online silent auction. A big shout out to the special events chair and vice chair, Kendall Morgan and Whitney Tatum, along with their committee, for acquiring and hosting a successful online auction. There were items in almost every price range with a variety of tastes for people to choose from. Another Mistletoe Market tradition is the sale of t-shirts for members to wear during their shifts, and out in public to promote the event. Members look forward to the design and creativity that the print and marketing chair and vice chair come up with each year to accompany the theme. Thank you to all of the amazing members who volunteered their time and talents to make Mistletoe Market a triumph.
MISTLETOE MARKET SPONSORS SAPPHIRE SPONSOR $10,000
Tyler Media MidFirst Bank Variety Care News 9
SILVER SPONSOR $5,000
Cumulus Eventures Santreece Foundation
BRONZE SPONSOR $2,500
405 Magazine Crowe & Dunlevy DeBee Clark Lauren & Rich Johnson KFOR
COPPER SPONSOR $1,000
Cynda and Larry Ottaway Jeanie & Ben Butts
FRIEND SPONSOR $250
Edible OKC Metro Family OKC Moms Blog
SEAS THE DAY! Whale of a Sale Returns in 2022 Junior League of Oklahoma City’s upscale rummage sale, better known as Whale of a Sale, returned in April of 2022. Held on April 1-3 at Quail Springs United Methodist Church, the event was a success, raising funds which will be used to support JLOC’s community partners, as well as the development and training of women throughout the OKC metro. Preparing for this event was no small task! Event co-chairs Piper Wiewel and Kimberly Swan coordinated this year’s Whale of a Sale. Drop-off events were held on March 12, 13, 26, and 27, during which items such as furniture, home décor, housewares, appliances, holiday décor, books, board games, tools, new and gently used clothing, accessories, designer handbags, shoes, toys and bedding were accepted.
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Our goal was $10K in 3 days which includes presales. We hit our goal on Saturday around 2 pm and concluded by raising more than $12,000, not including our in-kind donations. The event was set up by the League’s active and provisional members the week preceding the event, led by Whale of a Sale’s dedicated committee members. A preview party was held on Thursday, March 31, from 6:00-9:00 pm—for League members only— in exchange for a $5 entry fee or a box of tampons donated to EmpowHER. The event took place on Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Sunday, April 3, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success, once again!
YEAR IN REVIEW
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Although Junior League placements faced numerous obstacles due to the inability to meet in-person this year, League members got creative to serve our community!
Wellness for Life Concordia Senior Living
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s COVID restrictions began to ease, we were thrilled to receive the go-ahead to enter the Concordia Senior Living facility and interact with residents this League year! In early September, we had a great orientation with Concordia leadership and mapped out the year. We then kicked off our year and activities. Members and residents made uplifting posters to hang for Alzheimer’s awareness and we dropped off projects they could complete on their own time. For Thanksgiving, our activity included “Blessing Bags” where the group decorated small craft bags for each resident and staff member. The bags would then be placed in common areas so residents could drop notes into them for each other leading up to the holiday. “I’m thankful for you because….” messages were encouraged to lift all spirits. We did some other holiday activities as well , including “Where Were You When?” Members helped residents put together little albums sharing what they remember from important
events in history or in their own lives, such as ‘Where were you when we landed on the moon?, ‘Where were you when the Berlin Wall came down?’ Our Valentine’s activities were a hit! We had a craft activity, a photo booth for the seniors to enjoy, and trivia – the residents were really competitive! It was so much fun that we decided to replicate it around a St. Patrick’s theme for our March activity. For our April activity, we tied it back to our mission and volunteers chalked their sidewalks with uplifting spring and health-related messages. Members and residents enjoyed this activity and we made it a party. We are wrapping up the year with a spring activity for the residents, tying in our original raised garden plots from a few years ago. The members of this placement enjoyed participating and making connections with Concordia residents.
Kids on Track The Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County
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n Mondays from 5:30-6:30 p.m., JLOC volunteers come together at the Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County to facilitate the Kids on Track Placement. Kids on Track teaches children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County to set fitness goals and participate in exercise as important parts of physical and mental health. Junior League volunteers train with the members of the Club, ages 6-12 years, over the course of the semester leading up to their celebratory training finale – a one or two-mile fun run/track event. JLOC volunteers educate Club members on healthy activities to support their running goals, encourage a fitness routine for participants to use throughout the week, and monitor their progress. JLOC volunteers plan the final fun run/track event for Club members, as well as run alongside Club members who participate in other community runs, such as the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon run in April of each year.
Due to COVID-19, JLOC began to volunteer in mid- September. In total, nine volunteers have given 214 volunteer hours and hosted 15 sessions, in addition to a Volunteer Training hosted by the Club. There are still 10 more sessions to complete the semester. Additionally, our volunteers have provided snacks/ water weekly to ensure Club members are hydrated after each training. Volunteers also played outdoor and indoor games to engage with the Club members and encourages participation. Lastly, the JLOC volunteers assisted in the annual holiday celebration where the Club members received brand new running shoes. JLOC volunteers will continue to volunteer until the end of the school year, where we will present the Club members with a second pair of running shoes as a ‘thank you’ for participating in the program and completing the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.
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Impact YEAR IN REVIEW
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Children’s Hospital Events OU Children’s Hospital
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ur committee started planning this League year with OU Children’s Hospital in hopes that we would resume in-person volunteering for both Zone Night and Prom Night. While the Junior League of Oklahoma City planned to volunteer in-person at The Zone in September, unfortunately with the delta variant surge, the hospital canceled all volunteering opportunities with external partners. In July, we packaged Zone To Go’s (ZTGs) for 50+ inpatients to complete a craft at the comfort of their bed. Each month we packaged 50+ ZTGs with supplies to complete a different craft on their own, varying from making their own aquarium to painting their own miniature pumpkins. We packaged over 500 ZTGs in a 10-month span. For our outpatients, we planned and hosted our annual Prom Night virtually, due to the delta and omicron variant, for girls and boys to dress up for their own Prom Night. In planning for the virtual Prom Night, our committee packaged 65 Prom To Go’s (PTGs) that contained sparkling cider, champagne plasticware, protein snacks, and various items related to the theme – Let’s Take a
Trip All Around the World! We held two drive-thrus at OU Children’s Hospital to allow both the patients and parents to pick out Prom attire to wear during the virtual event. During that time, they picked out their attire, received their PTG and Prom t-shirt. In a typical League year, the event would have been held in January, but we were hopeful that if we pushed it to the spring, it would be held in-person. In preparation for Prom Night, we held four Prom Planning Meetings and two packaging meetings to put the PTGs together. We were able to receive donations for five of the six raffle prizes we gave to patients during Prom Night. We had three Special Guests and two JLOC Board Members attend Prom Night to ensure the evening was still special for the kids, even with it being virtual. We concluded the evening announcing the 2022 Prom Queen and King, which were selected by OU Children’s Hospital Child Services Specialists.
INFANT CRISIS
Kids in theKitchen & Top Chef The Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County This year, in Kids in the Kitchen, we conducted 22 1.5 hour weekly sessions at the Boys and Girls Club. During these sessions, we focused on teaching the children about healthy foods for a healthy lifestyle. The Junior League provided healthy snacks and an activity to go along with it. Each week we had a theme for the activity and the snack. Some of the favorite activities included creating a healthy lunchbox by drawing healthy foods that can go
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into a lunch box. Eating the rainbow by creating rainbows out of healthy foods of different colors. Around the holidays we made reindeer snacks with fruits and vegetables and Santa Kabobs with grapes and strawberries. At the end of the semester, we had a party to celebrate the success and provided the kids with healthy snack bags and outdoor toys such as jump ropes and frisbees – an incentive to get the children active over the breaks.
PROJECT
EmpowHER Project EmpowHer kicked off the year with a packaging party at the first General Membership meeting. Through donations and Pink Week packaging parties, JLOC Members have been able to provide more than over 35,000 period products to partner agencies. In addition, we have been able to add 7 new partner agencies to our distribution list.
YEAR IN REVIEW
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Dress for Success
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ress for Success, whose mission is to help women in Oklahoma City find appropriate interview clothing and provide job readiness training to enter the workforce or seek to expand their employment opportunities, completed its first year as the Junior League of Oklahoma’s most recent placement. Dress for Success’s mission is a natural partnership for the Junior League, as both of our organizations exist to fundamentally empower women with the ability to improve their lives. Dress for Success and the Junior League embarked on a new project together helping the Department of Corrections (DOC) prepare soon-to-be released inmates for their next steps back into the community. Our volunteers went to the Dress for Success office on the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Each session our members provided encouragement and
ensured that every woman we worked with had a printed resume ready to go that would be waiting for her upon her release, along with a folder of resources. Volunteers held mock interviews and challenged them to think through how to answer more challenging interview questions that may arise. The one-on-one mentorship allowed our members to get to know the ladies from the DOC on a personal level. The relationships we have been able to make this year with other women in the community have been powerful. Towards the end of the volunteering year, several of these ladies came back in after being released and volunteers had the ability to help style them with outfits for their future job interviews. The women we have been able to work with have a great deal of potential, and we are so thankful to the Dress for Success organization and the Department of Corrections for allowing us to be a part of their journeys!
Food & Fun at Pivot The Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County
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olunteers in this placement had a year full of fun! JLOC donated supplies for yard games such as Volleyball, Bocce Ball and Hey Hey Burrito. The highlight of the year was the Extreme Animals visit, bringing the zoo to our kids. They got to hold baby kangaroos, lemurs, snuggly sloths and more! JLOC took the teens to play games, laser tag and bowling at Main Event. We did a variety of activities throughout the year that included pumpkin carving, board games and puzzles, cookie decorating for christmas and even attended a Thunder Game! A league member did a cooking class with teaching about cooking on a budget (spaghetti, tacos, and stuffed bell peppers). Special guest, Jonathan Meyer, a musician came and did a
presentation and taught them some tips and tricks. Overall we had a wonderful year!
Events this year: -Yard games with JLOC donating supplies: Volleyball and net, Bocce Ball, Hey, hey Burrito -Extreme Animals visit with up close contact with baby kangaroos, boa constrictors, and more! -Main Event visit. Teens played games, laser tag, and we bowled with them. -Jonathan Meyer musician came and did a presentation and taught them how to do some tricks -A league member did a cooking class with teaching about cooking on a budget (spaghetti, tacos, and stuffed bell peppers) -Pumpkin Carving -Board Games and Puzzles
WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS Volunteers in this placement coordinated activities each Wednesday for adults and children at the Thelma Gaylord Emergency Shelter. Participants enjoyed multiple art
YWCA
projects including making rock painting, decorating LED candles, learning to pageant walk with confidence, making slime and more. Volunteers helped residents celebrate
-Thanksgiving shared meal from Cracker Barrel with basic table setting lesson -Cookie Decorating for Christmas -Model Cars and Painting -Trampoline Park -Thunder Game
various holidays with themed activities including pumpkin painting, Halloween cookies and treat bags, decorated felt wreaths, stockings, and ornaments! We had a packaging party for pink week and packaged 70 tampon packages for project EmpowHer (around 700 tampons). 7
Changing Lives
[ projects ]
p
PROJECT EMPOWHER UPDATE
roject EmpowHER is the Junior League of Oklahoma City's signature project. Its mission is to empower menstruators in the Oklahoma City Metro by providing access to menstrual supplies and health education. Period poverty (lack of access to period supplies) has a negative physical and emotional impact on menstruators in need. Over one-third (38%) of low-income women report missing work, school, or similar events due to lack of access
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to period supplies. No one should have to make these choices, yet this is happening in Oklahoma City. This is why the Junior League of Oklahoma City is committed to ending period poverty through Project EmpowHER. This year, JLOC Members have provided more than 35,000 period products to partner agencies and have added 7 new partner agencies to our distribution list. To contribute to Project EmpowHER’s mission by hosting a packaging party, please contact Project EmpowHER Chair at empowher@jloc.org.
Community Project Letters
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Empower [ people ]
Sustainer Spotlights We “Zoomed” with two accomplished sustainers to talk about JLOC, their achievements, and to reminisce on fond memories from their time as active members of the Junior League of Oklahoma City.
Shelly Soliz Joined in 1998
When and why did you join The Junior League? I joined the league later in life and
had been serving in another group called the Junior Hospitality, Inc. for 13 years, including serving as their President. It was recommended to me to join the League by my friends who joined and I didn’t quite understand why or what the League could have offered me? They persisted (thank goodness) and I joined when I was 38 years old with Mary Delafield who I knew from the other group, I knew it would be a lot easier to join if I knew at least one person! At that time you had to join by your 40th birthday, and I was getting close! Mary and I served in the Remarkable Shop together for the first year, with Elaine Degusti, and worked the men’s consignment items on Fridays, and that was
24 years ago. When I was on the board we actually voted to allow women to come into the league as late as 50. We received a lot of requests that women who raised children early in life were ready to volunteer. We were missing out on a lot of good volunteers. Now, there isn’t an age limit on joining. What do you love about the league?
One of my loves in the League is the training. We have an amazing training program and I’ve learned that over the years it is one the BEST gifts of membership! I tell others it is worth thousands of dollars in training in exchange for our league membership and the time we invest in it! Advice for provisional or active members?
You get as much out of the league as you’re willing to put in it. Be open to the possibilities when you are asked to do something. I was asked to do some things, sometimes things I didn’t think I could do, but when I tried it, I was successful and had a great year. Have an open mind-set whenever you are asked to serve in a position that you have never thought of! I have served in many capacities and created many lifelong friendships during my active and sustainer years. I served on the Board for a year and it was one of the most consuming times but a growth-filled year. I learned many skill-sets that I use today even in my professional life, and was hired in a job 15 years ago because of my League experience. I created the Monday morning email because of all the emails that were going out during the week; we condensed email’s to once a week, and that’s what you see today. Fun opportunities and experiences have arisen because of the League. Also, the PRF (personal record file); you can use that for resume building as it is a great tool to keep track of your experiences in AND out of the League if you keep it updated. What impact do you feel you’ve had in the community during your tenure with the league?
Being in the league, I’ve participated in things 10 SPRING 2022
that I would have never done on my own, or been exposed to. Years ago, I had a placement for backpacks of supplies for foster kids at Citizen’s Caring for Children. Something I would have never have found on my own and the league is great about organizing those community involvements. On the flip side of that, there are other amazing things we get to do as league members that we would have never get to do on our own. We had a hard hat tour of OK Contemporary Art Center before they even opened, while still under construction. I would have never been able to see that on my own! Also, The Leadership Institute I’m enrolled in this year, has been very interesting with the programming has been made very appropriate for our times and growth-oriented for wherever you are in life. Apply for it next year if you can, I hear the same programs will be presented by Leader Megan Sittig. Things we experience as league members are experiences that most people may never get to do. On the other hand, we get to give back by serving in the community placements. As we leave Active membership in the league we are taxed to go out and serve in the community. We are trained volunteers who are organized AND who get things done. We take that skill set we’ve learned in the league and share what we’ve learned with others across our own cities. Because of the league, I’ve grown so much personally and professionally. My friendships and connections have grown because of the league; coming together for the common good that benefits the Oklahoma City metro area. Are you involved in any other organizations?
I’ve been active as a sustainer in the League for the past 8 years, with placements in 6 of those years. Going forward, I’m helping Whitney Tatum with the Mistletoe Market Special Events this year. I’ve never served in Mistletoe Market, so I’m excited about the opportunity. I’ve been the HOA President in our neighborhood for the past 3 years which is a big job. My world is very enriched by my time in the League and the work that I am able to do because of my training with JLOC. Remember to be “open to the possibilities”, and you will be richly rewarded!
Gina Burchfiel Joined 2002
Why did you join the Junior League? I wanted to be part of a volunteer community that also offered personal growth opportunities. A friend introduced me to JLOC and the rest was history. What is one of your favorite parts of JLOC?
One of my favorite parts is the meaningful and longtime friendships gained. Not only do I get to serve the community, I get to meet great women...women that I can count on at any time down the road - and really in any city. Many placements that I held or committees on which I served helped develop and nurture these friendships. One of my favorites was serving on Nominating and also acting as Nominating Chair. What impact do you feel you have had on the community during your tenure in JLOC? I don’t
know that I can say I individually had an impact anywhere, but I can say that being a small part of advancing the mission of JLOC certainly has an impact everywhere. I really enjoyed serving
as project chair of the YWCA Financial Literacy project. It was new and needed curriculum written and a public event created. I hope my skills in getting that project off the ground helped impact the women that attended those sessions as they transitioned away from abusive situations as well as the public who attended our big “Money Mania” event, which was so fun. That event logo still makes me smile. It was an honor to be a part of that. Any advice to provisionals? Use the JLOC in every way you can. Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in an area you would never have thought you could do. Let JLOC train you to do things you never thought you could do. Should I have been Finance VP? Probably not - but JLOC took a chance on me and I learned so much about running a small non-profit. I was able to translate that experience into running a small non-profit in my own work-related industry which served many communities all over the state. Let JLOC take you out of your comfort zone. Let JLOC help you spread your wings so you can really fly!
ACTIVE SPOTLIGHTS Samantha McEntire Joined in 2019
Why did you join the JLOC? When I was in high school and college I volunteered a lot with different organizations. Once I started working I lost those connections and really missed volunteering. One of my friends at work, Kajal, was very involved with JLOC and I finally asked her about joining. I was so excited to find a fellow group of women interested in helping our community! What life accomplishments are you most proud of? Being a project manager for JLOC is
something I’m very proud of. I love using my leadership and organizational skills to help support JLOC and love interacting with the volunteers and community partners. What’s your favorite part about the JLOC?
Being around so many amazing women, and building friendships with them. What do you hope to contribute to the JLOC?
I hope to keep putting my leadership and organizational skills to continue helping the JLOC mission, and share the things I’ve learned with other JLOC volunteers. What other organizations are you involved with? Right now I’m just involved in JLOC.
Hayley Moore Joined in 2013
Why did you join the JLOC? I joined JLOC to network and make connections with other women in the community and get involved in volunteer opportunities with our nonprofit partners. What life accomplishments are you most proud of? I am always proud to see my company’s
documentary film work screen at events or be honored with awards. Our whole team at Lampstand works really hard to share stories of impact for our corporate and nonprofit clients, so it always fills me with so much joy to show others their hard work.
What’s your favorite part about the JLOC?
My favorite part about JLOC is meeting new women who are doing amazing things in the community and beyond. It can be difficult for adult women to make new friends in the wild, but the Junior League gives us common ground and breaks down the barriers we have to building new friendships. What do you hope to contribute to the JLOC?
I hope that the work I do through my roles in the Junior League enables our members to build lifelong friendships that enrich their lives and help them progress personally and professionally. What other organizations are you involved with? I volunteer with the Cavett Kids
Foundation as a camp counselor. 11
Empower Zoe Butts Joined in 2016
Why did you join the JLOC? I joined JLOC to give back to my community and make great friends along the way. I grew up with the best role model on how to volunteer and support your community, my mom Jeanie Butts! She instilled in me at a young age the importance of giving back through volunteering, and that’s exactly why I joined the League. What life accomplishments are you most proud of? I am most proud of being an aunt to my
niece, Mille Brady. I’m also very proud of my developing career as a lawyer. What’s your favorite part about the JLOC? My favorite part about JLOC is the opportunity
to grow as a leader through new experiences each year. Through my training with JLOC, I’ve learned to embrace all sorts of challenges (expected and unexpected) with preparedness, organization and grace. What do you hope to contribute to the JLOC?
I hope to contribute to my community and make a change for the better, which has been my primary focus this year through Project EmpowHER. I also hope to continue to grow as a leader and to make long-lasting, positive relationships with JLOC friends. What other organizations are you involved with?
Outside of JLOC, I am involved in several professional groups where I have the opportunity to network and collaborate with other attorneys to support the legal community in Oklahoma City.
PROVISIONAL SPOTLIGHTS Jordan Wilson Why did you join the League? Being in the film industry, our hours are long and I was looking for other opportunities to meet new people and engage with the community. My grandmother was a house mom for a sorority in OU and had many friends in the league as well as my mother had friends in the league. I grew up hearing about the league and different community involvement projects that allowed connection with others through those projects. It is a great opportunity to connect with other women in Oklahoma City. Have you enjoyed your provisional year? Yes, it has exceeded my expectations. It has been a blast! I’ve really enjoyed getting to be involved and meet so many wonderful women! What do you hope to contribute to the Junior League as you embark on your first Active year? I’m
excited to serve as a member-at-large on the
Communications Council next year. There is a lot of opportunity to add to the way that we are reaching out to the community and communicating within the league itself. Being in the film industry I have a lot of ideas of tying in visual elements for communication within the league and for archival purposes and how we reach out to the community. I would like to help expand the way we share the Junior League’s mission as most of my friends haven’t heard about junior league. I was shocked knowing how involved the League is in the community and most of my friends being in the film or arts industry throughout Oklahoma haven’t heard of Junior League. I think there is a lot of opportunity to expand our presence to the community outside of the league and I hope to help with that. What has been your favorite part about the League so far? Getting to meet the people that I have. I
have been surprised by the amount of people that I’ve been able to connect with and have found a genuine connection. I already have had the op-
Tianna Carter Why did you join the Junior League? Born and raised in Oklahoma City, I was looking for more community based organizations. I had heard about the League in passing before, but wasn’t sure what it entailed until I joined. A couple of months before, I sat in on an informational call at the end of 2020. I joined because I felt like the League needed more color. What is your favorite part of the Junior League so far? The year has been good so far. I gained so
much from the focus groups from the last general membership meeting. We talked about how the provisional year has changed with committees and it was a much needed perspective. What do you hope to contribute to the League as you embark on your first Active year? One of my goals
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portunity to make some really good friends. That’s been the best part to me so far. What other organizations are you involved with?
I volunteer with the Film Education Institute of Oklahoma (FIEO). Their focus is to build the crew base in Oklahoma and I’ve been an instructor for their workshops. We train and prepare individuals to work on set. Mentoring people who are interested in breaking into the film industry in Oklahoma and facilitating their ability to learn and grow. is to bring the League to the east side of Oklahoma City. I joined the Community Committee and one of our first activities for community service was a project I mentioned on the east side. I received feedback from the advisors that they have never done anything on that side of town before. I feel like my purpose in joining has already been fulfilled, but that is why I jumped in to see more things being done in the east side of Oklahoma City. Next year, I will be PACE MAL and I feel like I’ll be able to do a lot more and understand the committees next year to see where change with diversity is needed. What other organizations are you involved with?
With covid, I’m not super involved in organizations outside of my sorority. Before covid, I was involved with the Regional Food Bank, volunteering every other weekend. I started volunteering with them in high school and it’s a good place to be.
H
elen Ford Sanger Wallace, who served as the 1979-1980 Junior League of Oklahoma City President, was honored last fall at the University of Oklahoma. She was a 2021 OU Regents’ Alumni Award recipient and a familiar face in the community. Wallace featured those who ensured that nonprofit groups, charities, schools and service groups were recognized for their important work in making Oklahoma City and its environs a better place to be. A group of friends, including past League Presidents, showed their admiration for Wallace by rais-
Marnie Taylor named 50 most powerful Oklahomans Nancy Anthony named 50 most powerful Oklahomans Christy Everest named 50 most powerful Oklahomans Polly Nichols John F Kennedy Service Award Jenefar de Leon-Cossey Named to Wes Welker Foundation Board Janelle Archer Honored at the Greater Oklahoma City Panhellenic Women of the Year luncheon
Helen Ford Sanger Wallace ing more than $100,000 for an endowed scholarship in Wallace’s name. The scholarship as well as a student gathering place in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication are both dedicated to Wallace. Wallace retired in February as a journalist after more than 60 years with The Oklahoman. She was a connector and inspired others to act within the community.
Amy Cottrell Honored at the Greater Oklahoma City Panhellenic Women of the Year luncheon Kelli Hayward Walsh Honored at the Greater Oklahoma City Panhellenic Women of the Year luncheon Debby Hampton Honored at the Greater Oklahoma City Panhellenic Women of the Year luncheon Carleen Burger Honored as an inductee of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame
13
Empower
A Year in Photos
14 SPRING 2022
15
Empower
League Social Highlights
F
or nearly a century, the Junior League of Oklahoma City has created a network of women leaders who have built bonds of friendship while serving the community together. These bonds are built through countless hours of training, volunteer opportunities, and social events. Lifelong friendships have been shaped during car seat safety checks, nominating committee meetings, and Robert’s Rules of Order training. Many of us have become best friends, shoulders to cry on, and that check-in at the end of the night to make sure we made it home safely from dinner. Our time together, whether required or volunteered, began to mean more as our relation-
16 SPRING 2022
ships deepened and expanded throughout our membership, all cultivated by the time spent together through the League. But never has our time together felt quite as important as the year following a global pandemic that left many of us homebound for months, leaving video conferencing as our primary outlet to social interaction. When we were finally able to meet in person again in 2021, we knew that the role of the Networking and Social Committee would mean more than ever to our League. Our committee was comprised of fourteen volunteers who signed up because they had a desire to connect with other members and cultivate opportunities for others to connect as well.
The committee planned and executed over fifty events for members ranging from movie nights to horseback riding to glass blowing and beyond. We took catching up from a year of Zoom calls very seriously and worked hard to make sure there were opportunities for Sustainers, Actives and Provisionals to interact. As we transition into a new League year, the committee will be shaping our social and networking opportunities to make them better and even more accessible to our members, because we know the importance of making those connections that build lifelong friendships. I encourage you to sign up for the next event you see and join as we build friendships and impact our community together!
17
A Year In Review Courtesy & Recognition
t
he Courtesy & Recognition Committee is designed to spread love to the Junior League of Oklahoma City membership. Each year, the co-chairs bring their unique ideas on how they would like to celebrate and recognize the wonderful life events of our members. This year, the committee sent letters celebrating all manner of life events and changes as well as condolences. This year the co-chairs were able to send both a burp rag and a bib to the sweet newborn Little Leaguers. The committee members loved being able to get creative and share joy with other members they may have never met to increase morale among our members. Courtesy and Recognition Committee Co-Chairs, Claire Consoli (1) and Heather Cook (2).
1
2
NEARLY WEDS
Audrey Harrah & Grayson Katigan February 17, 2022 18 SPRING 2022
Jennifer Harrison & John Randolph June 4, 2022
Kelsi Hildreth & Dr. Chet Wilson December 10, 2022
NEWLY WEDS Alicia & Chris Pool September 18, 2021 Broken Bow, OK
LITTLE LEAGUERS
“A happy baby has shining eyes. It walks open-hearted into the world and spreads magic.” —SIGRID LEO
Catherine Elliott Tokarz
Poppi Evelyn Consoli
Conner David Williams
Arrived 09/17/2021 to Catherine Armitage
Arrived 01/05/2022 to Claire Consoli
Arrived 02/03/2022 to Jena & Evan Williams
Cillian Merritt Parham
Henry Andrew Edison Bahner
Julia Rose Stewart
Arrived 06/17/2021 to Moira McCarthy
Arrived 04/07/2021 to Barbie Bahner
Arrived 06/13/2021 to Vanessa Peterson
19
A Year In Review
League Owned Businesses marketing campaigns for Oklahoma and national companies, government entities and associations. From strategic planning to full implementation, we focus on delivering results for our clients to be heard anywhere.
HEALTH ChiroHer Michelle Andrews, DC ChiroHer | 4416 N Western Ave OKC www.ChiroHer.com o: 405-213-1072 c: 618-559-5395
ART & DESIGN
EVENT PLANNING/STYLING
INTERIOR DESIGN
Creations by KKM
Heritage Interiors
Custom Embroidery, tie dye, and resin art Owner: Kendall Morgan
Festivity Events
Owner: Jacquetta LeForce, Interior Designer 602-867-2275, jacquettaleforce@yahoo.com I am very passionate about providing solutions for your home with the expertise gained from my curated career.
Goods Owner/Designer: Myriah Downs thegoodsokc@gmail.com
Owner: Katie Ringwall festivityeventsbykr@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/festivity_ events_by_kr/
FINANCIAL
PERSONAL CARE & WARDROBE STYLISTS
Howell Gallery Owner: Linda Howell, Designer/ Gallery owner 405-840-4437 lch@howellgallery.com Howellgallery.com Interior Design business started in 1972, Art Gallery started in 1989
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
Lemonheads Mobile Detailing Owner: Jamie Benda, Scheduling Clerk 405-283-2750 info@lemonheadsdetail.com lemonheadsdetail.com
20 SPRING 2022
Synergy Wealth Management
Carlisle Collection
Owner: Samara Terrill, Wealth Manager 832-746-1205, samara@synergywmgmt.com www.SynergyWMgmt.com We are a full financial firm; IRAs, Institutional Money Management, Asset Management, Retirement & Estate Planning, Comprehensive Employee Benefits, and Life, Health, Home, Accident and Auto Insurance.
Owner: Shelly Soliz, Wardrobe Stylist 405-831-2157, Shelly@ShellySoliz.com shellysoliz.carlislecollection.com Executive Wardrobe Stylist, Featuring fashion collections including: Carlisle Collection, Anatomie Travel & Lifestyle Clothes, Peach Athleisurewear, and Freida Rothman Jewelry. We help women look their best for Casual, Travel, Business, and Special Occasions.
GRAPHIC DESIGN/ADVERTISING PR/MARKETING
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jones Public Relations Owner: Brenda Jones Barwick 405-516-9686, Brenda@jones.pr Jones.pr Jones Public Relations specializes in comprehensive, integrated communications
Mindy Dawn Photography Owner: Mindy Johnson mindydawnphotography@icloud.com www.mindydawnphotography.com
JLOC would like to promote and support our member-owned businesses. Shop Local. Shop JLOC owned businesses.
REAL ESTATE & STAGING Merritt Properties Moira McCarthy-Parham, Director of Public Relations and Development Mparham@merrittproperties.net (405) 495-6870 http://www.sandplumok.com/ http://www.dogwoodcreekok.com/ Merritt Properties is a multi-generational, family- operated property management consortium specializing in commercial and residential properties throughout the state. Our holdings include SandPlum Assisted Living and Dogwood Assisted Living Centers featuring 70+ rooms and offering 3 levels of customized care tailored to resident’s individualized preferences. Please call us today! Security deposits will be waived for anyone that mentions the Junior League of Oklahoma City!
Rose Team Homes powered by eXp Realty
Bondi Bowls Owner: Claire Consoli https://bondibowls.com/stillwater-ok/ stillwater@bondibowlsusa.com
RETAIL & CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Black Swan Boutique Owner: Kimberly Swan (405) 842-SWAN, theblackswanok@yahoo.com www.BlackSwanBoutique.com Nichols Hills Plaza, 6454 Avondale Drive, Nichols Hills, OK 73116 beauty. fashion. simplified. We want you to always feel BEAUTIFUL in our unique FASHIONS with a SIMPLIFIED process with curated collections and four
convenient delivery options with you in mind! It’s just a click away, so order today! Curbside + In Store + Local Delivery + Ship to You
Couture Collective Owners: Cortney Smith & Christy Wilson 405-625-6481, info@cc-okc.com www.cc-okc.com Couture Collective founders, Cortney and Christy, met while volunteering with the Junior League of Oklahoma City. Our Mission: Shopping with a purpose. Couture Collective is dedicated to fashion, fun and philanthropy. As a socially conscious company, each month a percentage of our proceeds is donated to a different nonprofit in the great state of Oklahoma.
Owner: Katie Rose, Realtor 405-514-8202, katie@roseteamhomes.com Roseteamhomes.com We’re a family real estate team that services the entire OKC Metro.
Staging Oklahoma Owner: Kimberly Swan, Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM) 405-742-4476, kimberly@stagingoklahoma.com StagingOklahoma.com Staging to Live, to Sell, and to Work. Staging for your Life!
RESTAURANT
Nashbird Owner: Jenny Dunham 405-600-9718, Jenny@nashbirdchicken.com Nashbirdchicken.com Nashville style hot chicken restaurant. Downtown OKC: 1 W. 9th St. OKC, OK 73102 Edmond: 17 E. 5th St. Edmond, OK 73034 Norman: 214 E. Main Str. Norman, OK 73069 21
A Year In Review
Membership Service Awards SUSTAINER EMERITUS STATUS Carol Troy
Karen Luke
Josephine Thweatt Edwards
Lela Sullivan
Kay Oliver
Barbara Bolen
Mary Anne Malone
Pam Smith
Nancy Ellis
Carla Cox
Paula Stover
Chelin Satherlie
Kris Frankfurt
GIVE TO THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
Text “GIVE2JLOC”to 44-321 Your support is needed now more than ever to continue funding our community projects in Oklahoma City! 22 SPRING 2022
YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS 5 Years Active
Katherine Nash Rebecca Harris Jillian Neville Lauren Fassio Jena Williams Katie Wilson Heather Tikhonoff Brittany Attaway Zoe Butts Jennifer Burgess-Wright Sarah Dozier Michelle Frazier Audra Kedy Elizabeth Bomhoff Janelle Archer Ashley Feeback Laura Reese Kelsey Johnson Magon Hoffman Brooke Powell Stacie Nguyen-Paradise Sammie Valentino Brandi Bowers Ilse Salazar
10 Years Active Jennifer Burke Jessica Hunt Brittany Neumann Ashley Cambell
15 Years Active Ann Richard-Farinha Katherine Hager
MEMBERSHIP LEAVE OF ABSENCE – EFFECTIVE 6/1/2022 Abby Johnson Alicia Deaton Calley Simpson Jillian Neville Kristin Fasking Lauren Riepl Molly Williams Monica Smith Ruth Davis Sandra Andersson Smith SABBATICAL – EFFECTIVE 6/1/2022 Heather Whiteside Jamie Herrera Jessica Hunt Kelly Collins Morgan Lankford SUSTAINER – EFFECTIVE 6/1/2022 Ann Richard-Farinha Bria Hanlon Chelsea Rickett Dana Gillett Emily Crouch Jennifer Burke Katelyn Hudson Laura Neal Lauren Blick Lauren Ottaway Johnson Lindsay Riddel Moira McCarthyParham Nichole Glover Rachel Henderson Sarah Klepacki Shannon Berlin Shannon Stiger Tina Izadi RESIGNATION – EFFECTIVE 6/1/2022 Alejandra Villar Allison Dumas Anne Holbrook Brandi Bowers Brook Tipton Danielle Lapsley
Daryn Brady Emily Eischen Martin Jane Politte Jami Leuschen Jennifer Anderson Kathie Darr KK Palmer Marilyn Barragree Paige Hatcher Rebecca Smith Stephanie Hodge Susan McPherson RESIGNATION Morgan Cason Christina Taylor Victoria Powell REINSTATEMENT Janie Kingsinger (Sustainer) Katherine Nash (Active) LEAVE OF ABSENCE – THRU 5/31/2022 Alexis Wild Allison Dumas Clara Wilson Hannah Moore Ileanna Wright Jessica Gracon Kathie Darr Katie Duke Katelyn Hudson KK Palmer Lauren Willingham Mary Griggs Maggie King
Marissa Haley Morgan Cason Morgan Wong Nina Barker Rebecca Smith Samantha Collins Samantha Corriero Sarah Klepacki Tina Izadi Whitney Cox SABBATICAL – THRU 5/31/2022 Bria Hanlon Emily Crouch Jacquelyn Wright Nadine Davis Shannon Stiger Whitni Hays TRANSFER OUT Aimee Cooper (Active) Tulsa, OK Amanda Quelly (Active) Shreveport-Bossier, LA Angela Shen (Active) Austin, TX Aubree McGee (Active) Minneapolis, MN Bridgette Nichols (Active) Tulsa, OK Claire Alexander (Active) Houston, TX Courtney Mueller (Active) Kansas City, MO Erin Laumer (Active) Chicago, IL
Jamie Jackson (Active) Collin County, TX Jessica Leonard (Active) Boise, ID Jessica Steffan (Active) New York, NY LaLinda Harrison (Active) San Antonio, TX Lydia Sullivan (Sustainer) Tulsa, OK Megan Hansen (Active) Denver, CO Megan Young (Active) Dallas, TX Taryn Sheldon (Active) Austin, TX Taylor Rockefeller (Active) Little Rock, AR Teryn Moorman (Active) Tulsa, OK
TRANSFER IN Alley Cottrell (Active) Austin, TX Allyson Lambert (Active) Houston, TX Angela Cheatwood (Active) Midland,TX Elizabeth Davidson (Active) Quad Cities, IA/IL Julia Olsson (Active) Birmingham, AL Julie Fomenko (Active) Corpus Christi, TX Kelsey Racy Shaver (Active) Dallas, TX
Lauren Hoops (Active) Tulsa, OK Lauren Kamp (Active) New Orleans, LA Lauren Tipton (Active) Houston, TX Lauren Watts (Active) Charleston, SC Leslie Rothe (Non-Resident Sustainer) Dallas, TX Margaret den Harder (Active) Tulsa, OK Margot Marcin (Active) Philadelphia, PA Mary Alice MacDiarmid (Sustainer) Northern VA Melanie Gray (Sustainer) Chicago, IL Meredith Koomson (Active) Albany, GA Nicole Bell (Active) Emerald Coast, FL Rachel Palmer (Active) Tulsa, OK Sarah Decker (Active) Austin, TX Sarah Hare (Active) Dallas, TX Theresa White (Active) San Antonio, TX Victoria Tran (Active) Washington DC
* All known status changes as of April 5th, 2022
Adorn helps businesses and residential clients create amazing first impressions with custom container gardens and outdoor décor. ELIZ ABE TH RICHARDSON
elizabeth@adornokc.com 405.255.1730 www.adornokc.com 23
A Year In Review
League Pets
We are so thankful for our furry friends that got us through another year!
Thea Roegner—Rosie
Jess Leonard—Ainsley & Berkeley
Colleen Trammell—Chuck
Audra Kedy—Emmy (left) and Branch (right)
24 SPRING 2022
Mindy Johnson—(left to right): Beau, Ollie, Reece
CONGRATULATIONS
to our Provisional members who are moving to Active status for 2021-2022! Melissa Godinez- DeCuire Sarabeth Victoria Ostapowich Christina Troxtell Artisha Woody Reema Burger Codi Mariah Jacobsen Andrea Allison Danielle Cotto Lauren Carter
Emily Isbill MaryAnn Teresa Grover Jessica Hutton Mary Cornelsen Bethany Scott Katherine Kirklin Saint Jennifer Nguyen Koshia Silver Sarah Stewart
Kyla Smith Rachel Baugh Taylor Trousdale Michelle Manwarren Rae Stewart Bailey Buchanan Amy Parsons Michelle Ramirez Whitney Denise Robison-Cokely
Madeline Sigler Audrey Ruth Harrah Frances Jane Fuller Jordan Wilson Michelle Cleveland Jakey Dobbs
Chaunté Gilmore Lindsay O’Shea Summer Diane Sellers Taylor Royer Taylor Renee Tyson Abbey Pizel
Stephanie Lee Tianna Carter Andrea (Andi) Nichole Kulka Janis (Mattie) Madelyne Baert Kate Dickens
IT’S OUR PASSION! Helping you to be informed and safe is our passion. As the only locally owned news station in Oklahoma, we feel a deeper connection to you, our neighbors. For exceptional news and weather, join us! Amanda Taylor & Karl Torp Weekdays 5, 6, 10P
WE ARE OKLAHOMA’S OWN 25
A Year In Review
2020-2021 Leadership Institute Graduates
C
ongratulations to the 2022 Leadership Institute: Negotiate a Life You Love Graduates! This group of inspiring, determined, inquisitive, creative, bold and fun leaders have spent the year investing in their leadership development. The skills, connections, resources, knowledge and
Audra Kedy Anna Smith Allyson Meron Andrea Flores Raygosa Pam Campbell Rachel Benbrook Gina Burchfiel Ashley Feeback Mandy Green Krissy Holman Kristi Leonard Stephanie Manek Christina McCarthy Kendall Morgan 26 SPRING 2022
friendships gained through the Institute are valuable and something that will be carried through life in The League, community, businesses and personal leadership positions. Cheers to a life you love, Megan Castles Sittig
Marcella Morgan Kathy North Elizabeth Rice Lauren Riepl Natasha Seymour Lathonya Shivers Celia Silk Shelly Soliz Lesley St. John Cassidy Sullivan Whitney Swyden Jennifer Vickery Meredith Wegener Molly Williams
Holiday Soiree
Time-honored commitment. You have dedicated your life to your family and profession, and that has afforded you many great accomplishments. You deserve a more prestigious banking relationship. One with a solid foundation steeped in tradition and local roots. One with concierge-level service and solutions designed to fit your lifestyle. One that values commitment the way you do. Discover an unparalleled banking experience today at MidFirst Private Bank. midfirstprivatebank.com 405.767.7380
Member FDIC
27
Women Building a Better OKC
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MISSION
VISION
The Junior League of Oklahoma City, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
The Junior League of Oklahoma City, Inc. will empower volunteers to impact our community and enrich lives.
FOCUS Women Building a Better Oklahoma City
CORE VALUES (I.C.A.R.E.) Integrity Connection Accountability Respect Excellence
WWW.JLOC.ORG