JLB Newsheet Spring 2018

NEWSHEET .

VOLUME 90 NUMBER 2 A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E

JUNIOR

LEAGUE

OF

SPRING 2018 BIRMINGHAM

2017-2018 CORPORATE SPONSORS

For over 50 years, Baptist Health Foundation has been a leader in healthcare philanthropy and is committed to the health and well being of our community.

We are proud to support the mission and members of the

October 18 - 20, 2017

Junior League of Birmingham.

To learn more about what we do to support health and wellness in our community visit us at www.baptisthealthfoundation.com

Helen Keller

Uncompromising

We believe the most significant investment made is the investment in a life of uncompromising commitment.

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NEWSHEET T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

VOLUME 90 • NUMBER 2

SPRING 2018

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ABOUT THE COVER: JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BIRMINGHAM MEMBERS JULIA MEYERS, BEVIN TOMLIN, SARAH ELIZABETH MOREMAN AND LINDSEY TANNER WORK IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA THROUGH THEIR LEAGUE SERVICE. Photography by Megan Watson

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IN EVERY ISSUE

PROJECTS

4 Letter from the Editor

18 Serving Women in Crisis

6 Publications Staff

26 Combating Human Trafficking

8 President’s Message

29 Children’s Harbor & Family Place Library Anniversaries

10 Corporate Sponsors 45 Community Projects

Newsheet, the magazine of The Junior League of Birmingham, Inc., is published two times per year, fall and spring. Contents of Newsheet may not be reprinted without permission from The Junior League of Birmingham, Inc. Inquiries may be sent by e-mail to: publications@jlbonline.com, by phone: 205.879.9861 or by mail: Newsheet The Junior League of Birmingham 2212 Twentieth Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35223

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S M E M B E R S P OT L I G H T S

14 New Torchbearers Tapped

30 Actives Ashley Wrencher & Sarah Elizabeth Moreman on the TED Stage

20 JLB by the Numbers

32 The Provisional Class 43 Sustainer Nancy Smith’s Choral History

FUNDRAISERS 12 Community of Lights Continues 22 Bargain Carousel’s Legacy

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34 JLB Strategic Planning 35 In Memoriam: Dottie Haynes Krusen 36 Beeson Funds Granted 38 Overcoming Pregnancy and Infant Loss 40 JLB Planned Giving 41 Recipes

IN ALABAMA, FAMILY MATTERS. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama knows you depend on us to help take care of your family. From free tools & services to the largest network of doctors and hospitals in the state, we provide peace of mind. So you’re free to enjoy the moments that matter with the ones who depend on you.

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NEWSHEET JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BIRMINHGAM

VOLUME 90 • NUMBER 2

SPRING 2018

NEWSHEET STAFF Editor

Anna Hartzog

Assistant Editor

Maria Rosales

Writers

Courtney Carson Alana Frederick Katherine Pockman Loren Spiller Rachel Wilson

Photography Chair Photographers

Megan Watson Nicole Alberson Anna Coreno Melissa Donaldson Sarah Gaskin Kelly Ireland Caroline Quick Stewart Richards Emily Ruzic

Layout Designer

June Clark

Food Stylists

Lizzie Holt Tate Maddox

Ad Sales Manager

Rukiya McClain

Ad Sales Team

Bebe Goodrich Sarah Simpler L’Tryce Slade

JLB EXECUTIVE BOARD President President-Elect Communications VP Community VP Finance VP Fund Development VP Membership VP

Whitney Poole Karen Grahn Heather Brewer Alice Jackson Emily Jensen

Planning VP

Wendy Johnson

Volunteer VP

Lucy Anderson

Nominating Director Member Liaison

Lauren Hayes

Angie Smith

Recording Secretary

Julie Pearce

NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

I

am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had this year to delve into the work of the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) as Editor of Newsheet. In this positon, I have a unique opportunity to see the many ways our members serve the city of Birmingham and surrounding communities.

We hope to bring you a glimpse of some of those specific areas of service through the articles we’ve included in this issue.

In these pages, you’ll find an update on our centennial campaign that is raising funds for a permanent home for One Place, a collaboration that serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. In recent months, the media has shined a light on the prevalence of violence against women in our culture. I think this makes our campaign more important than ever. You will also see an article specifically about our Crisis Center rape response advocates who take shifts every month to be on call and available whenever a person seeks medical or legal services after an incident of sexual assault through the Crisis Center. Additionally, you will find information about the JLB’s new pilot placement that serves as a response to human trafficking in our area. Members of the JLB are serving as activists with government officials throughout the state to bring awareness and seek solutions.

The JLB is taking a stand against sexual assault and human trafficking, whether that means quietly holding the hand of a victim, loudly advocating for new initiatives and legal rights, or passionately raising money in support of services and protections.

I am in awe of the many ways in which the League serves our community and the incredible impact of our 2,351 members throughout the city. If you are not currently a member or financial supporter of the JLB, I hope that you will consider becoming one as you read the pages of this issue and see just a fraction of the programs and initiatives of the League. I truly believe there’s no other non-profit, service-oriented organization in Birmingham that impacts our city to the degree that the Junior League of Birmingham does every year. Won’t you consider joining us?

Sincerely,

Martina Winston

Governance/Bylaws

Sustainer Advisor

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Katy Eldridge Elizabeth Burgess

Letter from the Editor

Penney Hartline

Anna Hartzog Newsheet Editor

318 families

Your commitment to those you care about, your dedication to supporting local events, the way you enjoy life. You are the ones who make this community great, and we are honored to be a part of it. Every day, you inspire us to find ways to make banking easier, serve you better and help you keep life moving forward.

1.800.regions | regions.com

Š 2017 Regions Bank. Regions, the Regions logo and the LifeGreen bike are registered trademarks of Regions Bank.

The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

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JLB Publications Staff

NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

COURTNEY CARSON Newsheet Writer

JUNE CLARK Director of Internal Communications

ANNA CORENO Photographer

VANESSA DANIEL Creative Committee Member

TAYLOR DAWSON Creative Committee Co-Chair

JENNIFER DOWDLE Between the Lines Writer

REBEKAH FITTS Director of External Communications

ALANA FREDERICK Newsheet Writer

KAREN GRINER Creative Committee Co-Chair

SHANNON HAMILTON Between the Lines Editor

ANNA HARTZOG Newsheet Editor

KELLY IRELAND Photographer

WHITNEY POOLE Communications VP

SARAH RIDGEWAY Creative Committee Member

LOREN SPILLER

Newsheet Writer

MEG LOVETT Between the Lines Writer

RUKIYA MCCLAIN Ad Sales Chair

CAROLINE QUICK Photographer

STEWART RICHARDS Photographer

MARIA ROSALES Newsheet Assistant Editor

L’TRYCE SLADE

Ad Sales Team Member

MEGAN WATSON Photography Chair

RACHEL WILSON Newsheet Writer

NOT PICTURED

CLAIRE CROSSER Creative Committee Member

KATHERINE POCKMAN Newsheet Writer

SARAH GLOVER Ad Sales Team Member

NICOLE ALBERSON Photographer

MELISSA DONALDSON Photography

KENDRA QUANDT BTL Writer

REBEKAH SMITH BTL Assistant Editor

RACHEL BURCHFIELD BTL Writer

BEBE GOODRICH Ad Sales Team Member

CAROLINE ROMANO Social Media Assistant Chair

LAUREN BURTON Creative Team Member

TIFFANY LINN Creative Committee Member

EMILY RUZIC Photographer

SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGAN WATSON

ASHLEY KAPPEL Social Media Chair

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President’s Message

“Individually, we are one drop.

Together, we are an ocean.”

-Ryunosuke Saturo

community and those most in need. There can be no question, that as a group we are incredibly impactful in all we do.

But we are an impactful group because we are made up of truly incredible women. It is not a coincidence that two articles with two entirely different focuses remind us that there is no such thing as a little thing—whether it’s helping victims after a natural disaster or providing respite to families and children dealing with chronic and life threatening illnesses, every little bit we all do makes a difference. The difference the spirit of an individual can make is well demonstrated by the individuals featured this spring: whether it’s Nancy Smith inspiring the choral group and its listeners, Dottie Haynes Krusen’s infectious volunteer spirit, Julia Meyers’ passion for a cause, or each of the other women featured in this issue—they all inspire us to do more and be more and make a difference. It is our women, all working together that makes us who we are.

There can be no question that, collaborating across the League and across our community, we will continue to have an incredible impact as we build a better Birmingham!

Best,

Katy Eldridge JLB President

The Junior League of Birmingham is an organization of women committeed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSIE KURZ

O

bserving on a daily basis the many and varied things the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) does as an organization to impact our community is truly awe-inspiring.

Even more incredible is watching what the many women we are lucky to call members do both within and outside of the JLB. It is inspiring to see just a small portion of those activities and women featured in this edition of Newsheet.

Our 96-year history comes alive in the pages of this issue. The history of our Bargain Carousel fundraiser is a wonderful example of the attributes of our organization.

First, its longevity as a successful fundraiser exemplifies the sprit of our members to raise funds year over year to support the many necessary community projects we power—projects that would not otherwise happen but for the JLB funding them with those raised dollars and staffing them with trained volunteers. Second, the ways in which the fundraiser has shifted and changed with the times is a testament to the JLB’s dynamic nature and ability to change as needed (and even proactively in advance). Finally, but perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that in all things we do we combine having fun with effectively serving our

that serving the community today leads to a better tomorrow.

PNC is proud to support the Junior League of Birmingham.

We appreciate all you do for our community. pnc.com

Š2017 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

2017-2018 CORPORATE SPONSORS AMBASSADORS

Baptist Health Foundation

PARTNERS

Blue Cross Blue Shield/ The Caring Foundation Gigi’s/The Lili Pad PNC Regions Bank

SUPPORTERS

Alabama Outdoors Children’s of Alabama EBSCO Industries, Inc. Hill Crest Foundation iBERIABANK Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. Western Supermarkets

SPONSOR

The Daniel Foundation of Alabama

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CONTRIBUTORS

Big Marketing & Communications, Inc. Brasfield & Gorrie Burr and Forman LLP Grandview Medical Center HealthSouth Corporation Medical Properties Trust Planet Fundraiser Protective Life Corporation Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust Three Sheets Vulcan Materials Foundation

FRIENDS

Alabama Power Foundation Dent Moses, LLP Dunn-French Foundation Hoover Metropolitan Complex Learning Express Toys Penske ServisFirst Bank Tacala, LLC Wells Fargo

DONORS

American Family Care Ashley Mac’s, Inc. Avani Rupa Fine Jewelers B. Prince Baker Donelson Birmingham Business Journal CGI Group, Inc. FlashBar Good People Brewing Company Jemison Investment Company, Inc. Local Taco Mauldin & Jenkins Mobile Attic Nothing Bundt Cakes PropHouse Birmingham Taco Mama Tonya Jones Salon Spa Vulcan Value Partners

PA S S I N G T H E T O R C H

J LB C O MMU N I T Y OF LI GH TS CO NTI NUE S TO SH I N E B R I G HT B Y

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only did the JLB provide immediate funding to support the renovations necessary to operate in our current home, but the Community of Lights campaign expressed to the larger community that One Place is a viable, authentic collaboration, worthy of a long-term investment. That alone has opened doors to additional relationships we never dreamed possible as a young organization.”

The JLB hosted a campaign event at Vulcan Park in May 2017 to celebrate the success of the campaign’s first year and recognize the inaugural class of 20 torchbearers. Torchbearers are a diverse group of community leaders who have committed to raising at least $10,000 each for Community of Lights.

“The torchbearers carry the light of the campaign into the community. Through the diversity of those selected, our goal was to cast a wide net, bringing in a cross section of donors and building awareness of the Junior League and the project,” says Lindsey Tanner, JLB Centennial Campaign Chair. “In the first year, we received 653 donations from new donors. As a non-profit, the ability to cultivate this many new donors in one year through one campaign is unprecedented.”

The inaugural torchbearers exceeded their $200,000 goal by raising more than $250,000. According to Torchbearer Brett Shaffer, the group cheered each other on.

“Getting encouragement from each other—through kudos and even a little good-natured bantering—gave me the extra push I needed to get across the finish line,” Shaffer says. “Also, Lindsey’s belief in our ability to exceed our goal was key to this group’s success.”

To light the way in 2018, the torchbearers have passed their flames to a new group. This ‘passing of the torch’ will continue each year throughout the campaign.

Tanner says bringing in new torchbearers will help keep the campaign’s momentum, not only to reach new donors but to increase awareness of One Place.

Shaffer says before the campaign he was not familiar with One Place—so he wasn’t just fundraising. “This was also a marketing and educational campaign, and I think that is just as important as raising money. It did not The current temporary home of take long for me to fall in love with One Place’s mission.

OnePlace Family Justice Center Domestic violence has no race, gender, socioeconomic

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEAGAN WATSON

lthough the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) will not celebrate its centennial anniversary until 2022, Community of Lights, the League’s centennial campaign, is underway and giving Birmingham reason to celebrate.

The five-year campaign, which officially launched last year, is helping improve the lives of women and children in the Magic City by raising funds for a gift to One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center.

The campaign’s goal is to raise a minimum of $1.25 million as the lead gift toward funding a permanent home for One Place, which serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

A nonprofit collaboration between the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the Birmingham Police Department, the YWCA and the Crisis Center, One Place provides coordinated services to victims, including forensic nursing, counseling and legal services, job placement and public benefits assistance, safety planning and more. Housing these services together helps victims access counseling and support as they navigate the complex maze of reporting and prosecuting cases against abusers.

“It’s hard to put into words what it means to have the Junior League of Birmingham exhibit such incredible, tangible support for the development of One Place,” says One Place Executive Director Allison Dearing. “Quite simply, it brought us to life. Not

victims, while also allowing them to work together and learn from each other. The building has a playroom as well for victims’ children. With glass walls, the room allows parents to see their kids but ensure they are insulated from certain meetings with advocates and counselors.

Preparing for the Future One Place continues to grow, and, even in its current building, needs more space to expand the assistance it can offer. A permanent home in a larger facility will allow One Place to serve more victims, house more agency partners and possibly operate closer to the courthouse.

By helping One Place prepare to expand further, ComCommunity of Lights Chair Lindsey Tanner with munity of Lights is helping ensure the nonprofit can James Dedes and Torchbearer David Loper extend the reach of its services in the future.

“Because the Junior League of Birmingham has a or educational boundaries—it affects everyone in every neighrich history of supporting safety and crisis intervention borhood, and this is an opportunity to be a part of the solution.” measures across the community, it is truly a privilege to partner The JLB Centennial Campaign Committee works closely with on this journey toward providing coordinated services under one the torchbearers to support them throughout the year. Shaffer roof,” says Dearing. “When we look ahead over the next four says he agreed to be a torchbearer because he knows what the years to 2022, it is exciting to imagine all that can come from League can do. this amazing partner“I have many good friends in the JLB and know when this ship, especially for the group sets its mind to accomplishing something, these women survivors of domestic will get it done,” says Shaffer. “They made fundraising and sharviolence and sexual asing One Place’s message easy.” sault who deserve our According to assistant chair Anne Lary, the committee is very best efforts.” constantly brainstorming and looking for opportunities to build on Both the League and the success of last year. “We hope we can say each year grew the community look difexponentially and that we reached new torchbearers and donors ferent today than they who might not otherwise have known about the campaign to did on May 10, 1922 grow JLB relationships and awareness of One Place.” when the JLB held In addition to Tanner and Lary, the Centennial Campaign Comits first meeting. But mittee is made up of Event Coordinators Mary Cox Brown and Community of Lights Sarah Peinhardt, Finance Liaison Rebecca Eatman, Historian is carrying forward the Kristen Watson, Marketing Liaison Anna Sullivan, Kacee Sims, JLB vision of building Logan Hiatt, Alison James and Melissa Wood. partnerships for a better Birmingham with the About One Place same light that inspired Getting its start as a pilot program in 2014, One Place moved members almost 100 to a borrowed space in the basement of the District Attorney’s years ago. Tanner says Office in 2015. Then in 2016, the United Way of Central Alabama with the support of sold a building on Birmingham’s Southside to One Place for $1. both former and new Through a grant from JLB’s Beeson Fund and other partners, torchbearers, donors One Place renovated the space and moved in last year. and League members, One of the greatest benefits of the building is that it allowed the JLB is well on its One Place to expand its hours and offer victims assistance five way to celebrating 100 days per week. The building houses four agency partners, giving years by reaching its these organizations dedicated offices and space to meet with campaign goal. §

J O I N U S TO ILLU M INATE THE PAT H S OF VI C TIMS OF DOMESTIC V I O L E NC E A N D SEXUAL ASSAULT www.C o m mu n it yo f L ig h t s.Swe l l Gi ve s.c om SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

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201 8 CO M M U N I T Y O F L Susie Abbott

carrying the torch of Jarralynne Agee

carrying the torch of Kristin Ritter

Robert Agee

Robert Baugh

carrying the torch of Ragan Cain

Kitty Brown

Josh Carpenter 16

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carrying the torch of Sam Heide

carrying the torch of Tracey Morant Adams

L I G H T S TO R C H B E A R E R S carrying the torch of Dafina Ward

Michelle Clemon

Mitch Cohen

carrying the torch of Kim Rogers

Kathryn Corey

Will French

carrying the torch of Brett Shaffer

carrying a torch for the Junior League of Birmingham

carrying the torch of Brian Giattina

David Germany SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

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201 8 CO M M U N I T Y O F L Alison Grizzle

carrying the torch of Joyce Vance

carrying the torch of Corey Hartman

Amy Jackson

Lucy Thompson Marsh

carrying the torch of Leigh Davis

Jenny McCain

Phyllis McCombs 18

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carrying the torch of Allison Black Cornelius

carrying a torch for the Junior League of Birmingham

L I G H T S TO R C H B E A R E R S carrying the torch of David Loper

Gregg McCormick

Jay Pigford

carrying the torch of Tonya Jones

carrying the torch of Bruce Lanier

Ruth Penton Polson

Clay Ryan

carrying the torch of Bob Battle

carrying the torch of Ford Wiles

Terry Smiley SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

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R E S P O N D I N G T O S E X U A L A S S U A LT

JL B S E RVES WOMEN AT T H E C RISIS CENTER B Y

M A R I A

R O S A L E S

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he #MeToo movement has received a lot of media attention recently as more and more women are encouraging each other to speak up about their encounters with sexual harassment and abuse. #MeToo spread widely through social media with around 12 million posts and reactions within the first 24 hours of inception. This prompted women from across the country to post about their experiences with sexual harassment, assault, and abuse using the hashtag.

The Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) has worked for many years to help victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse through programs and partnerships with organizations like the Crisis Center. #MeToo has provided many organizations with a new platform on which to raise further awareness about the topic. Since the movement escalated in October, the Crisis Center has had an increase in calls from sexual assault and harassment victims, and JLB volunteers have risen to the task providing aid to victims.

Grace Harrelson, Chair of the Crisis Center Rape Response Advocate Program, says the movement has had a big impact on people in our area. “The #MeToo movement absolutely translates into our work because the movement is about empowering survivors to tell their stories—no matter if it happened days or years ago—and encouraging others to listen and empathize,” she says.

“Unfortunately, we also see the negative impacts of #MeToo. When there is survivor shaming, as we’ve seen in some recent well-known cases, survivors can be scared to come forward. What we do is tell every survivor ‘We believe you. We are sorry for your pain. We’re here to help.’”

Harrelson says she chose to volunteer at the Crisis Center because she is “inspired by the bravery of the women and men who do come forward.” She has seen the courage it takes for victims to face their attackers in a courtroom, to speak to a counselor and to tell their families. “Rape Response is a place of healing, and that is the process I love being a part of.”

First-year active member and Rape Response Advocate Heather Scott believes in what the JLB is actively doing to assist victims.

“The Crisis Center’s Rape Response program provides survivors with a safe, quiet and comforting space to tell their stories on what is quite possibly the worst night of their lives,” she explains.

“More than once, after working with a survivor or their family, I’ve been told that the Crisis Center is a blessing, and that they couldn’t thank us enough for just being there for them.”

Along with the Crisis Line, Teen Link, Kids Help Line and Senior Talk Line numbers, The Crisis Center has a Rape Response Hot-

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Crisis Center PREA Coordinator Jesse Mitchell with JLB volunteers Stacie Tubb, Laura Faulkner, Niki Lim, Heather Scott, Myeisha Hutchinson and Rhiannon Reese line where survivors of sexual assault can call and arrange to come in to the center.

JLB advocates are on-call at the Crisis Center to provide a supportive hand to hold and share encouraging words to let survivors know they’re not alone. Advocates are trained to provide information regarding legal services, crime victim compensation and women’s shelters. Within 24 hours, an on-staff counselor from the center will reach out to set up counseling services for clients as well.

Rhiannon Reese, the Clinical Director of Crisis Services and Rape Response Coordinator, says that the JLB advocates are there to help meet the needs of survivors by keeping their best interest in mind. They also help to interface with police if a report is filed and with trained SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) volunteers. Rhiannon adds that the SANE exams are important when collecting evidence as they are able to obtain about 80% more evidence than from a typical exam in the emergency room.

“We see about 30 people a month for rape response services in the Crisis Center,” says Reese. “Our JLB advocates go above and beyond to make sure the survivors get the care they need.”

“In the U.S., someone is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds but only 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men report rape or attempted rape in their lifetime,” Niki Lim, a Crisis Center Rape Response Advocate, says. “That’s a huge gap. I hope the #MeToo movement gives more individuals the courage the speak up.”

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Crisis Center has many events, like panel discussions, therapeutic workshops and fundraisers planned throughout the month to support both victims and advocates while raising wider awareness among members of the community. The women of the JLB are proud to support the Crisis Center and victims in the Birmingham area. §

JL B

BY T HE NUMB ERS Junior League of Birmingham volunteers give tens of thousands of hours in service every year. We are proud of the impact we have in our community.

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547

NEI GH B O RH O O D ACA D E M Y

MEALS ON WHEELS 547 meals delivered

40 children tutored/mentored

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+ J L B VO LU N T E E R HOURS

100,000 1,960

FO O D B A N K Distributed food to 1,960 households

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JLB DIAPER BANK Distributed more than 100,000 diapers a month

566

70,500

SH O P, SAV E , A N D S H A RE

MAR KET NOEL Market Noel raised over $70,500 from general admission and special event ticket sales alone

566 retailers participated (144 of those were new to SSS)

$ 1,687 people downloaded the SSS card via the Planet Fundraiser app

OV E R 1 ,1 0 0 RECEIPTS WERE SNAPPED DURING T H E 1 2 D AY S S S P E R$I O D

Record breaking attendance of over 6,700

60,000

684

BAR GA I N CA RO US E L

MIGHT Y MEN

Over $60,000 in merchandise donated

Approximately 684 mighty men hours in service of Bargain Carousel

55,000

J LB VOLUNT EER HOUR S 2351 members volunteer 55,000 hours serving the Birmingham community each year

GIVING BACK

BARGAIN CAROUSEL E V O LV E S O V E R T H E Y E A R S

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C O U R T N E Y

ust as the retail landscape in Birmingham has evolved over the last century, the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) has explored a variety of fundraising endeavors to support its work in the community during the past 96 years.

While it has taken many forms, selling new and consigned merchandise has played a role in JLB philanthropy since the beginning.

One of the most successful fundraisers undertaken by the League in the 1930s was called The Shop, featuring clothes purchased at merchandise markets as well as fine hand-sewing by JLB members. Toys sold for 5 to 25 cents, and net profits were in the hundreds of dollars most years.

JLB fundraising remained anchored around The Shop over the next decade. The Shop purveyed varietal goods including layette and children’s clothes, toys and home accessories until 1947, when it was converted to the Nearly New Shop. Each League member was required to donate $10 in quota to the shop, which was located in Birmingham’s Five Points South.

The Nearly New Shop grew during the 1950s and remained a profitable endeavor that supported JLB operations and community projects for decades.

In 1981, a new idea took the place of The Nearly New Shop with the birth of Bargain Carousel. With contributions from as many as 1000 members as well as donations of new merchandise from area retailers, Bargain Carousel has been labeled the “Largest Garage Sale in Birmingham.” Bargain Carousel provides shoppers with quality used and new items at very affordable prices. All proceeds from the sale go directly back into the community through the League’s projects. The sale was initially

C A R S O N

held every two years, but now takes place annually, and members are now expected to donate $100 worth of merchandise.

“Bargain Carousel is unique in that the reach goes beyond just those who attend,” Elizabeth Burgess, JLB President-Elect, says.

“It provides an opportunity to purchase many of life’s necessities at greatly reduced prices, and it helps fund the many community projects that the JLB supports through the revenue raised.”

This year’s sale will return to the former Winn-Dixie shopping center near the intersection of Interstate 459 and John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover. The former grocery store, provided by Baptist Health Foundation, will be set up to resemble a department store, divided into sections such as women’s, children’s, and men’s clothing, kitchen, outdoor, toys, appliances and furniture.

The sale kicks off with Bargain Bash on April 26 at 6 p.m. The event includes a silent and live auction, music, food, and early shopping opportunities. The auction will again feature mobile bidding. This aspect not only results in increased donations, but makes purchasing items easier for guests and those unable to attend in person.

A $40 Bargain Bash ticket allows entry at 6 p.m. for shopping and a $30 ticket allows entry at 7 p.m. Prices for all items are double the amount on the tag during Bargain Bash.

Tickets for the April 28 public sale will be available onsite from 2 to 6 p.m. on April 27 and are numbered for order of entry. The doors open at 8 a.m. Saturday with a $10 admission charge, and at 10 a.m., the price drops to $5. Sunday admission is free, and all items are half price.

“Bargain Carousel’s purpose is two-fold,” says Bargain Carousel Chair Marianne Gilchrist. “The sale raises money for the

Nearly New Shop Chair Dottie Haynes Krusen moves items into a new space in 1955.

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PHOTOGRAPHS FROM NEWSHEET ARCHIVES

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League’s 37 projects serving women and children in the metro area, and it allows us to sell quality items at deeply discounted prices to individuals who can benefit from them.”

“It’s so nice to be able to do something special with items my children have outgrown,” says JLB member Marissa Walker.

“When I donate these items to Bargain Carousel, I know they will go to someone who really needs them and the funds used to purchase them will go back into our community to help those in need across our city.”

For more information, visit BargainCarousel.net. §

Jane Brownell and Akie McGrif at the Nearly New Shop in 1949

Proudly supports the Junior League of Birmingham

www.iberiabank.com SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

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FIGHTING FOR CHANGE

JLB IN I T I AT ES PROGRAM TO C O MB AT H UMAN TRAFFICKI NG B Y

K AT H E R I N E

P O C K M A N

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ennifer is a Birmingham realtor who was grabbing a quick coffee while in the midst of renovating a home in Shelby County. As she had been renovating all morning, she admittedly did not look her best and was wearing shabbier clothing than she typically does. As she was paying for her coffee, a woman talking on the phone in the next line looked over and abruptly ended her phone conversation. She asked Jennifer, “Do you travel?” Jennifer said she thought it was a strange question but answered, “Not really.” The woman replied back, “Why not?

That’s what I do, I get paid to travel.” Then, she passed Jennifer her business card and told her to give her a call.

At the time, Jennifer thought it was unusual but did not really think much about it. It was not until a few weeks later that she read about a similar situation and realized what had occurred. She looked rough enough for someone to think she might be in a desperate situation and would be an easy target for human trafficking.

She says what frightens her most is that the woman did not look like someone who would raise a red flag. “I saw just how easy it would be to get someone who was going through a rough patch tricked into something horrific,” she says.

The Human Trafficking Epidemic The Alabama Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation states that human sex trafficking is a $32 billion industry and over 13 million children are trafficked across the world. In recent years, many organizations such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) along with the Alabama Coalition to End Sexual

JLB member Julia Meyers with Vestavia Mayor Ashley Curry.

Exploitation have begun shining a spotlight on the human trafficking industry to save those who are caught in its grasp. Human trafficking is a problem right here in Birmingham, Alabama due in large part to the two major interstates that run through our city. Interstate 20 is commonly referred to as the “Sex-Trafficking Superhighway.”

The Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) is now joining in the fight against human trafficking with the newly formed Anti-Human

human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in america.

the average age of a sex slavery victim is 12.

Globally, an estimated 1 million children are forced into prostitution each year, totaling nearly 21 million children who are currently being sexually exploited for financial gain.

those being forced into prostitution are victims, not criminals.

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NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

50% of sex slavery victims are under the age of 18 when first used for commercial sex.

human trafficking is a $32 billion dollar industry. alm o s t 4 0 pe r c e nt of th e maj o r h u man traffic k ing h u b s in t he U .S . cal l th e so u th east h o me .

many v ic tim s a r e c ont r olle d t hr oug h t hr eats o f v io le n c e , m a nipula t ion, a nd l i es. dr ug a d d ic tio n c a n of t e n be a f a c t o r.

Trafficking Committee headed up by long-time advocate Julia Meyers. Her passion to help trafficking victims stems from her brother’s dedication to the cause. Meyers explains that her late brother Paul, a public defender in a small Tennessee town, would tell her how he desperately wanted to help the women he saw return to his office over and over again charged with prostitution.

These women would express to him that they did not have the family life that he did and that they were essentially hopeless with no education or skill set to fall back on.

Many women who are trafficking victims come from backgrounds of abuse or drug use, and many teenagers who become trafficking victims have run away from home or, in the most shocking of situations, have been sold into trafficking by their parents to fund their parents’ drug addictions. Furthermore, a third of runaways are lured into human trafficking within 48 hours. Meyers says her brother never saw a single one of the women he represented on prostitution charges break the cycle. “This is a personal project that is very near to my heart, and I will not let anything or anyone stop me from helping these women and children.”

Joining Meyers this year on the JLB Anti-Human Trafficking Committee are Emily Feinstein and Abby Grace Brown. “We see the work of this initiative to provide primary, secondary and tertiary education and intervention to our local and state community,” says Feinstein. “Primary education focuses on providing awareness and prevention. Secondary focuses on early intervention and prevention for further trafficking. And lastly, tertiary education provides the appropriate response and support for the survivors to move beyond and heal, as well as accountability and justice for those facilitating the trafficking.”

The Pornography Link The League held a member training session in November 2017 focused on the dangers of pornography in the digital age and how parents can best protect children from its devastating effects. The proliferation of pornographic materials has contributed to decreased body image, sexual dysfunction, increased STDs, and an increased belief that women enjoy sexual violence. These factors fuel the sex trafficking industry.

Dr. Melea Stephens, a local National Center on Sexual Exploitation board member, spoke on how pornography has become a public health crisis. “Since 2009, there have been 30 neurological

studies and 40 peer-reviewed articles that support the existence of porn addiction and assess the negative impacts of porn usage on the user’s brain structure and function. In 2015, one pornography website had 87 billion views. That is twelve videos per person on earth. At any given time of the day, there are 49 million people accessing pornographic materials in the U.S. Stephens says that parents can help protect children through communication. One book she recommends is Good Pictures, Bad Pictures by Kristen Jenson and Gail Poyner, which helps children form a plan to preserve their innocence should they be exposed to inappropriate images. She also encourages parents to use internet filters such as Disney Circle at home to block inappropriate sites.

A Commitment to Education and Action The committee has also worked to educate the public through social media. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, the committee posted information on how individuals can get involved. Posts were added about how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and on beneficial websites that contain educational information about how one can help in the fight against human trafficking. One website called

JLB member Emily Feinstein with Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch.

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h uman tr affi c k i n g i s t h e s e c on d la r gest cri m e i n a m e r i c a . w ith an a verag e l i f e s p a n o f 7 y e a r s , c h ild v ic tim s d ie due t o HI V, d ru g s , S T D s , s ta r v a tio n , a n d r ape.

chi l dr en a re f o rce d to p ro v id e s e xual acts to a n a v e ra g e o f 1 5 me n p er n ight . nearly 90% of prostituted women say they want out immediately. but the decision is in the hands of their pimps, their boyfriends or husbands, their addictions, or their children’s financial support.

Northstar soccer players sharedhope.org provides information about how our state is doing combating human trafficking. Other posts contained information on how to report suspected involvement in human trafficking as well as information from organizations such as the Polaris Project and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign.

“Education is so important because we must change society’s mindset about human trafficking victims,” Meyers says.

To further spread awareness, the committee worked alongside the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force to encourage Birmingham area mayors to declare the month of January Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The mayors of Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, and Homewood have all shown their support.

Meyers also plans to address another big need concerning underage victims of human trafficking. Recently, the Safe Harbor Bill was passed, which mandates that underage trafficking victims not be charged with a crime as they are recognized as helpless victims forced into prostitution. There still, however, remains an unresolved issue.

“Unfortunately, for those who are under 18 there is no viable place for them to go after they are recovered, therefore they end up right back into the same situation,” explains Meyers. “These

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young victims usually come from abusive family situations, so the only option right now is to place them in foster care with families that may not have the training necessary to help the victims heal.

It is my great hope that eventually an intake facility can be funded and created for these victims to reside.” To help provide funding for such an intake facility, Meyers worked along with NCOSE to host the Rescue Innocence Project Gala on February 22, 2018 at The Club. The event featured Ed Smart, the father of Elizabeth Smart, as the keynote speaker and is planned to be an annual event to raise awareness and funding.

In addition to holding more member educational training opportunities, due to high interest from JLB members who want to get involved, future plans of the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee include setting up a new volunteer placement. Meyers says JLB members will assist the Children’s Policy Council in trainings for school faculty on how to identify the signs of sexual abuse and trafficking. League members will also work with local hotel and motel employees on recognizing the signs of human trafficking and on creating a plan for what to do when they witness suspicious activity.

For more information on ways to get involved, visit sharedhope. org or follow the Abolish Movement. §

TO REPORT SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CALL THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE 1-888-373-7888 NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

STATISTICS FROM ARKOFHOPEFORCHILDREN.ORG

take to the field

C E L E B R AT I N G M I L E S T O N E S

C H I L D R E N ’S HARBOR AND FAM I LY P LACE LIBRARY B Y

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his year, the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) will celebrate big anniversaries with two special community partnerships: Children’s Harbor Prime Time & Weekends and The Birmingham Public Library Family Place Library.

For around twenty years, the JLB has partnered with Children’s Harbor to run the Prime Time & Weekends program, providing fun activities for patients at Children’s of Alabama and their families. Once a month, JLB members plan activities for patients and their families to take a break from the difficulties of hospital life. Volunteers coordinate themed events, catered food, arts, crafts, and games.

JLB Children’s Harbor Assistant Chair Mitchell Walters says the opportunity is rewarding for the JLB members. “It is a pleasure to meet the patients, their families and friends, and I hope that we are able to give them a fun place to relax and a little bit of joy during our Sunday parties,” she says. “I leave each event with a full heart, inspired by the strength, love and hope of each sweet child.”

According to Rachel Rounsaville, Children’s Harbor Director of Philanthropy, no other children’s hospital in the country has a program like Children’s Harbor. She says small things aren’t small to patients and their families.

“Because many of us are blessed with healthy children, there’s a need to educate the community on what it takes to care for

R A C H E L

W I L S O N

and raise a child with a serious or chronic illness,” says Rounsaville. “When those problems are better understood, solutions that would have seemed insignificant, like playing games or eating a meal together as a family at Children’s Harbor, become much more meaningful. These fun activities are actually life-changing. Children’s Harbor is so grateful to have been partners with the Junior League of Birmingham for the past twenty years and we hope to work together for many more.”

The Birmingham Public Library has partnered with JLB for ten years through the Family Place Library program. The placement serves to foster a sense of community by offering a healthy place for the family to learn, grow and play and is founded upon the belief that strong families are the basic building blocks of a healthy community.

One of the programs that Family Place Library offers is 123 Play with Me. This program is offered to children from birth to three years of age. Parents and guardians are given the opportunity to play with their little ones, and JLB volunteers assist with toy set-up, a fun craft project, music time, story time and then clean-up. Volunteers are even encouraged to bring their own children in order to encourage participation in play time.

“The JLB provides financial support for the purchase of toys and equipment for the workshops but most importantly they provide well-

JLB volunteer Caron Hutchison paints a child’s face at Children’s Harbor.

trained volunteers,” says Janine Langston, the Regional Library Manager of the Birmingham Public Library. “When JLB volunteers bring their own children to the workshops, they are able to model positive parenting behavior. They develop relationships with each of the parents and children who attend and have the opportunity to share lessons they have learned from their own experiences as parents.”

JLB Family Place Library Chair Tiffany Adams shares that she has seen the mutual benefits of the program in her own family’s life. “I am so grateful for the opportunities the League has provided for me to be able to serve alongside my children, specifically through the 123 Play with Me Family Place Library placement. We have been able to visit wonderful libraries tucked into unique communities all over Birmingham and play and learn alongside an amazingly diverse group of mothers and fathers and grandparents who all desire the best for their children. I know my children will be influenced for the better because of these opportunities to experience at an early age the richness of a life lived in diverse community.”

League volunteers look forward to continuing to engage with community partners serving such vital roles in the Birmingham area for decades to come. §

A mother reads to her daughter at a Family Place Library session.

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New Slice Location Coming soon!

3104 Timberlake Drive

MEMBER PROFILES

JLB WOM E N S HI NE ON TH E T E D S TAG E B Y

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A L A N A

unior League of Birmingham (JLB) active member Ashley Wrencher and provisional member Sarah Elizabeth Moreman, are undoubtedly two “women who rock.”

Wrencher and Moreman were two of 16 speakers selected from over 160 applicants to give TEDxBirmingham talks on March 24, 2018 at UAB’s Alys Stephens Ashley Wrencher Performing Arts Center.

The theme for the conference was “Before X After” and focused on finding definition and meaning through change—when the before becomes the after.

Wrencher was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. She graduated from Faulkner University with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. She now resides in Birmingham with her husband, Warren, and two daughters, Desiree and Olivia. When she is not busy with her job as a Human Resources Conversation Analyst at Regions, she serves as JLB Project Yummy Co-Chair, organizing and assisting the provisional class with their assignments.

“Ashley has been a great support this League year as the Project Yummy Co-Chair,” says JLB Project Yummy Chair Treshia Coleman. “She is a natural encourager and loves to help people.”

As a lover of public speaking and an active member of Toastmasters International, Wrencher explains she always knew she wanted to give a TEDx talk. So when the opportunity presented itself, she did not hesitate to apply. After considering various topics, Wrencher decided to focus her TEDxBirmingham talk on her experience as a tornado victim. Specifically, Wrencher discussed her life before and after the tornado, how she survived the disaster and the lessons she learned from the experience. “I wanted to use my experience to encourage others to act and help in the way that I was helped,” Wrencher explains. “There is no such thing as a little thing—every little bit matters.”

Moreman is a native of Auburn, Alabama. She received her

F R E D E R I C K

bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University and her doctorate from The University of Alabama. She now resides in Birmingham where she works as an educational technology consultant for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and an English instructor at Jefferson State Community College. Moreman joined the League shortly after moving back to Sarah Elizabeth Moreman Birmingham to begin what she describes as a new chapter in her life.

“Birmingham gave me so much when I started my new chapter,” she explains, “I would like to give back to the community and help it grow as part of revitalizing the Magic City.”

Moreman, who is also an active Toastmaster, says she felt led to share her experiences through public speaking. Her TEDxBirmingham talk focused on communication. In particular, Moreman discussed her own experiences as a teacher and the development of her pedagogical method, which emphasizes that communication is more than simply hearing and listening.

“Sarah Elizabeth is one of the most dynamic women I know,” says JLB Active Laura Catherine Mason. “I am certain she will do great things and inspire others in this community the way that she has inspired me through our friendship.”

Wrencher and Moreman both say they hope that JLB members will learn from the experiences they described in their talks and be inspired to bring about change that transforms the “before” into the “after.”

“Part of the Junior League of Birmingham’s mission is improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers,” says Communications VP Whitney Poole.

“Seeing two of our trained volunteers, Sarah Elizabeth and Ashley, living this example as leaders in our community is truly inspiring. JLB is so proud of this accomplishment for both of them and of their willingness to tell their stories.” §

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THE PROV I SI ON A L C L ASS

2017-2018 Each year, the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) invites women in the community to information sessions to learn more about joining our organization. The women who attend learn about the JLB’s mission and are encouraged to apply to become members. Those who apply and then accept their invitations to join become the next year’s provisional class. Our provisional women spend one year getting in-depth training in a variety of areas, including the League’s history, our current involvement in the community and practice of effective volunteering, and the future vision of the organization. After that year, provisionals move on to begin their 10 years of active service with the JLB.

TOTAL NUMBE R OF PR OV ISION A LS = 1 59 AV E R AGE AGE = 33

89% FULL-TI ME

EM P LOYM E N T

5% PART-TI ME 6% NOT EMPLOYED OUTSI DE THE HOME

What provisionals love about Birmingham:

FOOD SCEN E DIVER SITY OF THE PEOPLE R A ILR OA D PA R K

40% DO HAVE CHILDREN

6 0 % DO N ’ T H AV E C HI L D R EN

CLOSE COMMU N ITY FEEL R ICH HISTORY B A R ON S GA MES MOU N TA IN VIEWS A N D HIKIN G TR A ILS HIP DOWN TOWN VIB E B R EWER IES

SO C I A L ME DI A ACCO U NTS

MU SIC VEN U ES OU TDOOR MA R KETS A N D FESTIVA LS SOU THER N HOSPITA LITY PR OGR ESS

9 4% USE FAC E B O O K

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3 4% USE TWI TTER

NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

93% USE I NSTAGRAM

61% USE LI NKEDI N

OUR PROV ISION A LS HA IL FR OM A L A BAM A G E O RGI A

TENNESS EE

NE W YOR K

NO RTH CARO LI NA M I C H I GAN

LOU ISIA N A

FLOR IDA TEXAS

MISSOU R I

ILLIN OIS

VIR GIN IA

CA LIFOR N IA

SOU TH CA R OLIN A

MA IN E

IN DIA N A

OKLA HOMA

A R IZON A

AND GERMANY!

I N T E R E ST I N G FAC TS W HY OUR PROVISIONALS JOINED TH E JLB:

B E I NG B ORN AND RAI S E D I N O RLA N D O I H AV E B E E N TO D I S N EY OV E R 5 0 0 T I MES !

ME A NI NGFUL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNI T I E S

I L I V E D ON AN I N D I A N RES ERVAT I O N I N S OU T H DAKOTA.

TO MEET OTHER WOMEN

I S ELL C H O CO LAT E FOR A L I V I NG.

TO MAKE A DI FFERENCE I N THE COMMUNI T Y

I H AD S N A K ES AS P E TS .

P E R SONAL AND PROFESSI ONAL DEVELOPME NT TO B E MENTORED BY LEADERS I N BI RMI NGH AM TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THEI R CHI LDRE N TO DEVELOP LEADERSHI P SKI LLS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BI RMI NGHAM

“As my provisional year comes to an end, I feel like this is one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. I love being a part of an organization that does so much for our beautiful city and helps our fellow neighbors.”

I G REW U P I N WE ST E RN EU RO PE MOST O F MY L I F E .

MY WI F E AND I RE C E NT LY B E C AME F OST ER PA REN TS .

I T EAC H YO G A I N MY F RE E T I ME .

I U S E D TO WO RK I N P RODU C T I ON FOR T H E T YRA BA N KS TA LK S H OW .

I ’ V E KNOWN MY H U S B AND S I N C E W E W ERE 13 , B U T WE D I D N ’T MA RRY U NT I L WE WE RE 4 0 .

I ’ V E L I V E D I N SAU D I A RA BI A AND H O N G KONG .

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W O R K I N G S T R AT E G I C A L LY

BU I L D I N G A BETTER JLB B Y

L O R E N

H AW K I N S

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s the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) moves closer to its 2022 centennial celebration, we face an important question: where does the JLB need to be in four years to prepare for the next 100? A new strategic plan, launched in January 2018, begins to develop a roadmap to get there.

“Strategic planning is especially important for a volunteer organization like ours,” says Planning Vice President Wendy Wallace Johnson. “Our leadership changes every year, and membership is split among committees. A strategic plan is the only effective way to ensure we have our eyes on end goals important to the organization and community and that we’re moving forward together.”

JLB’s planning council began work on a five-year rolling strategic plan aligned to the League’s mission and vision during the 2015-16 League year. While the League’s strategic focus areas, member-

S P I L L E R

ship, message, money and mission have not changed from previous strategies, the structure and approach of the new committee is what differentiated it from past strategy-planning efforts, says JLB President-Elect Elizabeth Burgess.

“We realized that, while strategic plans might have been developed in years past, continuity in leadership wasn’t in place to ensure that plans were fully implemented.”

With the creation of a planning council, the League ensures more consistency in execution and buy-in to the plan, year over year, as many council members serve multi-year terms. Johnson says this continuity will help ensure the plan’s successful implementation.

“As a League, we don’t want to reinvent the plan each year,” says Assistant Planning Vice President Toni Leeth. “We clearly state where we want to go over the next five years, but allow flexibility for

Junior League of Birmingham Five-Year Strategic Plan

2017-2022 MEMBERSHIP

MESSAGE

MONEY

MISSION

Attract and retain engaged and diverse life-long Members

Increase the awareness of the JLB brand and cultivate the understanding of our mission and vision

Increase resources to support our mission and vision

Increase the positive impact of JLB for our members and the community

• Maintain JLB’s position as a top 10 League

• Realize 25% year-overyear annual growth in social media reach

• Increase Return on Investment (ROI) of JLB fundraisers

• Increase impact in community as measured by community research evaluation of members and partner agencies

• Achieve and maintain a total membership of 2,500

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• Maintain overall member satisfaction at or above 8.4

• Increase open rate of JLB electronic publications to 55%

• Increase the financial support into JLB of the prior year through grants, corporate solicitations and annual giving

• Increase percent of our members who are highly favorable (9 or 10) of the overall member experience to 55%

• Achieve 100% compliance with JLB brand standards

• Increase number of planned gifts to 50

• 100% of JLB leaders have completed “elevator speech training”

• Ethnic diversity of JLB leadership mirrors that of JLB active membership

• Achieve year-over-year increase in positive media mentions

• Increase annual dollars into the community by 15% (exclusive of Beeson and of value of volunteer hours)

NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

• Increase reach of JLBtrained leaders in the community through non-profit employment, board service, and/or serving as an elected official • Increase number of partner organizations involved with JLB initiatives

2017-18 Planning Council Wendy Johnson Planning VP Toni Leeth Planning Assistant VP Katy Eldridge President Elizabeth Burgess President-Elect Lauren Roberts Immediate Past President Becky Holt Training Director Ginny Webb Nominating Committee Martina Winston Member Liaison Caroline Bolvig Sustainer Advisor Rebecca Beers Elizabeth Scribner Julia Gardner Bevin Tomlin each year’s leadership team to identify specific one-year goals that help get us there.”

Member Input “Building this plan involved reflection on our past— where we have had impact and what hasn’t worked,” says Leeth. “That required a significant amount of input from our members and external stakeholders.”

The council started with research, seeking internal and external feedback through focus groups, surveys and membership data. A member survey opened in October 2016, resulting in nearly 5,000 unique data points. Eightyone members participated in ten focus groups, conducted from December 2016 to April 2017, providing more than 15 hours of feedback. Focus groups included JLB staff, provisional, active and sustaining members, past presidents and community leaders. Then, the council spent four months analyzing all the information.

“Without all these sources of feedback, we wouldn’t fully understand where we started and where we should be looking to improve and grow,” says Burgess. “Membership feedback provided the foundation for our strategy, which is one of the strongest aspects of this plan. This process ensured the diverse voices of our membership were heard.”

Johnson adds that the focus groups were as rewarding as they were necessary. “Meeting with League members in all stages of their League careers was invaluable. Every member who participated was purposeful, honest and thoughtful with her answers. There was great discussion that sparked many quality ideas.”

In the latter part of 2017, the council developed the actual plan and presented it to members in January.

The Path Forward “For this strategic plan to be meaningful and truly represent the next five years of the JLB, it has to be a group effort,” says Leeth. “Today’s board has ushered in the plan, but it will be members and leadership teams in the next five years who will make it happen.”

During their February leadership retreat, the 2018-19 board spent a lot of time reviewing the strategic plan to begin developing goals for the coming year.

“Having this plan in place for our next leadership team is invaluable as we lay out plans for the next year,” says Burgess. “We have a clear path. And because it represents

our membership’s priorities, we think we can passionately engage all of our members in moving it forward.”

Leeth, who will take over as planning vice president next year, says the council hopes to continue to hear from members as the plan is implemented. “With the changing face of the League and challenging issues the JLB is addressing, we have our work cut out for us. We’re going to continually evaluate the plan and our progress to make sure we’re on the right path forward.”

Johnson says she’s proud of the results of the last two years and the council’s work. “We have amazing and talented members in our League, and we have an obligation to provide a meaningful experience for them as we strive to fulfill our mission. If we reach our goals through this plan in five years, we will certainly be a stronger organization, and our community will benefit as a result.” §

IN MEMORIAM

DOTTIE HAYNES KRUSEN B Y

N I C O L E

C A S T O N

Loving daughter. Caring mother. Ardent friend. Dutiful volunteer. These are just a few ways to describe Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) member emerita Dorothy “Dottie” Haynes Krusen (1926– 2018).

Krusen served the League in a vast number of leadership positions including president and a member of the board of directors. Krusen was a Birmingham native; graduating in the first class of Brooke Hill School, which is now incorporated under the Altamont School. Krusen attended the prestigious Smith College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Music. Finding her way back to Birmingham after college and as a devoted member of the League, she fully committed herself to the agenda of the Junior League Capital Fund. In 1990, Krusen’s hard work led to the development of the Dottie Haynes Service Award. This accolade is awarded to a member who surpasses a level of adherence and service to the League.

Not only did Krusen dedicate her time and energy to the Junior League, she was also involved in numerous board and civic causes throughout the city, including Daughters of the American Revolution, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and Alabama Foundation of Hearing and Speech. During her time living in Tampa, Florida, Krusen became very involved with the Red Cross of Tampa Board of Directors.

Krusen passed away on February 5, 2018, and services were held on February 9, 2018 at Independent Presbyterian Church, where she was a lifelong member. Krusen will be remembered for her allegiance to not only her family members and loved ones, but to the greater good of Birmingham and its citizens.

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PLANTING SEEDS OF CHANGE

JLB G R ANTS BEESON FUN D S TO LOCAL CAUSES B Y

C O U R T N E Y

C A R S O N

I

n 2001, the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) received a generous gift from philanthropist Lucille Stewart Beeson. She bequeathed 4.3% of the net income from her residual trust to the League. She requested that the JLB use the funds to expand its charitable reach, enabling a greater impact in the Birmingham community.

Annually since 2002, the JLB Beeson Community Fund has granted between $210,000-$425,000 to nonprofits whose missions align with the League’s and whose work in the community will make a lasting change.

The fund provides financial support without a volunteer component, unlike the League’s other commitments to community partners. The committee is separate from the JLB Community Research Process and operates like a charitable foundation, now receiving over 60 grant applications a year from non-

2017 BEESON FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS A. G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club Christ Health Center Collat Jewish Family Services Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund Junior League of Birmingham— Community of Lights Junior League of Birmingham— Summer Adventures in Learning REV Birmingham Sight Savers America Special Equestrians St. Vincent’s Foundation STAIR The Wellhouse

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NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018

A N D

L A U R E N

R O B E R T S

profits all over Jefferson and Shelby counties. The committee consists of 12 voting members, all of whom are present or past JLB leaders with a passion for and understanding of the Birmingham community. Four of the members are Sustainers, including Susie Abbott, who is serving for the second time.

“Since I was the treasurer when the League received Mrs. Beeson’s gift, I had the privilege of serving on the committee at the beginning,” says Abbott. “It gives the JLB the ability to support agencies that are not a good fit for volunteers, as well as capital and capacity for building projects. It is fun to connect with the current Actives while identifying the best use of Mrs. Beeson’s legacy.”

This year’s committee selected 12 programs to support, for a total of $419,000, including $100,000 to the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club (AGGBGC) for their capital campaign to build a new facility and $100,000 to Christ Health Center to build a nonprofit behavioral health center.

AGGBGC Resource Development Assistant and JLB active member Kim Bethune Brown says, “I have had the opportunity to be involved in and see so many wonderful projects be completed

by JLB. I am really excited about our partnership. For over 50 years, AGGBGC has been a safe haven for the children from challenged neighborhoods of this community during the vulnerable hours of 3 to 7 p.m. As we move into the next 50 years, a new facility is needed to continue this tradition. Funding from the JLB Beeson Fund will help us get to the next level and serve more children, more often. For that, I could not be prouder to be a member.”

Frank E. Adams, AGGBGC Chief Executive Officer, echoes Brown’s sentiments. “We are proud to prepare for our future based on the needs of the children, youth and communities we have served historically,” he says. “With a 21st century facility that provides a more appropriate platform for the age- and gender-specific programming that is unique to our members’ current experiences, we will be able to serve more youth in more impactful ways.”

Another recipient, Christ Health Center, will use Beeson funds to provide the children’s lobby for its new behavioral health center, which will be named in honor of the JLB. “We are blown away by the generosity and vision of JLB and the Beeson trust,” says Dr. Robert Record, Chief Executive Officer of Christ Health Center. “Because of our partnership with the Junior League of Birmingham, we have recruited two psychia-

trists and are building a 6,300-square-foot new behavioral health center to serve the tremendous mental health care needs of so many children in our community. Together, we are going to make a difference in the lives of individual patients and in the health of our city.”

Other recipients of Beeson funds in 2017 include Collat Jewish Family Services to help care for adults with Alzheimer’s, Historic Bethel Baptist Church to help renovate the church’s historic parsonage, REV Birmingham to support its corner food markets in food-insecure neighborhoods, Sight Savers America to provide eye care to children, Special Equestrians to help with tuition for equestrian therapy for special needs children, St. Vincent’s Foundation to provide scholarships to women seeking medical careers through Jeremiah’s Hope, STAIR for their new resource office, and The Wellhouse for a van to transport human-trafficking survivors to and from various appointments and work. §

JLB Beeson Committee members present awards to this year’s recipients.

BEESON FUNDS MAKE ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND POSSIBLE AT THE ZOO In 2016, the JLB awarded Beeson funds to the Birmingham Zoo to build a brand new, completely accessible playground. The new park and playground is located at the zoo, but outside of the admission gates. It offers a safe and inclusive community space where children can learn and play. The park and playground opened in September of 2017 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the League and is one of multiple projects completed by the JLB at the zoo.

JLB leaders take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the zoo’s new playground.

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OVERCOMING GRIEF

P RE G N A N C Y AND INFAN T L O S S A F F ECTS MEMBER S B Y

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evin Tomlin, an eighth-year active member of the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB), knows something about loss. Her second daughter, Leah, was born on January 7, 2013. Just before Leah was born, doctors realized something was wrong. She was born with group B strep and rushed to Children’s of Alabama where she was placed on a heart and lung bypass machine. Leah passed away due to complications only a week later.

Tomlin is not the only person in the JLB to experience this devastating type of loss. For that reason, JLB leaders decided to host a special program during the month of October, which has been designated as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Month.

Katy Eldridge, JLB President, explains the reasoning behind hosting the program this year. “We had a member let us know it was something she felt we should do to help our membership, and when we heard the idea, we thought she was right. We spend so much time serving others, sometimes we neglect taking care of ourselves. We thought this was a wonderful way to serve our members and the community with respect to a need that affects so many, but is not often readily talked about or addressed. We were just thrilled to serve our members in a meaningful way.”

Tomlin agrees that the program met a need shared by many women in the JLB. “Pregnancy and infant loss affects one in four women,” she says. “In a group of nearly 2,500 women, I knew there had to be many women that have experienced this pain, and knowing you’re not alone is so important. It seemed like a natural fit for the JLB to recognize this and provide a space for our membership of women to have their babies remembered and experiences recognized.”

Tomlin is a strong believer in the power of healing through acknowledging and openly discussing loss. She began a weekend retreat called (in)Complete Retreat for bereaved mothers through Leah’s Legacy, a nonprofit foundation she and her husband began. Tammy Bond, a counselor at Wellspring Christian Clinic, Inc., has served as facilitator at

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these retreats.

Bond also led the Remembrance Day Program at the JLB building in October. During the program, women were able to share about their experiences with loss. Bond talked about coping with grief and resources available to help during the most difficult moments. At the conclusion of the program, each attendee was handed a white rose as a slideshow played showing the names and birthdates or due dates of lost loved ones.

When asked about the importance of programs like this, Tomlin says, “It helps in the healing. One thing we say at the retreat is, ‘if you can feel it, you can heal it’. Talking about it helps you to feel the experience, the pain, the loss.”

Jess Mason, chair of JLB’s The League Cares (TLC) Committee, hears of many of the losses affecting JLB members. “TLC has received many requests the past few years with regard to pregnancy and infant loss. Whether it is an early miscarriage, a stillbirth or loss after birth, it can be so traumatic and devastating. It has also happened to me.

And when you have walked in those shoes, you know that it absolutely levels a person’s heart. It is so important that we acknowledge these losses, reach out and lend these members our care and support. As a League, we must let our members know that we hear them, see them and are here to help them shoulder that burden of grief.”

League leaders plan to continue supporting JLB members through valuable and meaningful programs. If you know of a member who has a particular need, please reach out to TLC through the JLB member homepage. §

1 in 4

women experience the loss of a pregnancy or child

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PLANNED GIVING

GE N E R AT I ONS FUND B Y

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A L I C E

J A C K S O N

lthough most people may prefer not to think about it, estate planning is an important process that requires thoughtful consideration. Planned gifts to alma maters, churches and beloved charitable causes are becoming increasinglly common. Junior Leagues throughout the world have begun efforts to boost planned gifts of cash, stock, real estate, and other tangible personal property that may be bequeathed. The Junior League of Birmingham (JLB)’s Generations Fund exists to receive such gifts, and ensure they are put to good use in our community.

Sustainer Linda Stone recently adjusted her will to include a gift to the JLB. “I believe in the mission of the Junior League,” she says. “As a pediatrician, I have taken care of children most of my life, so the mission of caring for women and in particular, children, is something important to me. The JLB is a well-run organization that we know will use our money for the greater good, to serve the people we would like to serve.”

Active member Lauren Kallus has also included the JLB as a benefactor in her will. “Making a will is very personal, and the process helped me to define what is truly important to me,” Kallus says. “Supporting the Junior League’s mission to improve our community and develop the potential of women is a part of the legacy I would like to leave for the future.”

The idea of the League having the ability to grow and sustain itself for generations to come appeals to members and those beyond the League who believe in the JLB mission.

“If you’re a member of the JLB, [membership] must mean something to you,” says Stone. [By designating the JLB in your will], you are helping the legacy of the League go on well past your involvement.”

Active member and Certified Financial Planner Marla McCulley says, “Educating our members about planned giving is important because they can easily transfer assets to nonprofit organizations effectively while also realizing personal tax efficiency.” Furthermore, McCulley says that speaking to an estate attorney or financial planner is key. “They can guide you to giving in smarter, more thoughtful ways.”

If you have included the JLB in your will or estate, please contact Alice Jackson, Fund Development Vice President at funddevelopmentvp@jlbonline.com. For more information about how to include the JLB in your estate, please talk to your estate planning attorney or a financial planner. The impact your legacy may leave on the JLB will help to make an incredible dif42 NEWSHEET | SPRING 2018 ference in the lives of women and children.

FIND THE PERFECT GIFT! Jewelry, Baby Showers, Teachers, Kid & Tween Birthdays, Holiday

WE’RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Monday - Friday 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday Nights (1st & 2nd of the month)

All proceeds benefit the mission and projects of the Junior League of Birmingham.

SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH GASKIN

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SPICY PICKLED BEANS Serves 8-10

INGRAM’S CHICKEN SALAD Serves 10

8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed 8 ounces fresh wax beans, trimmed ¼ cup kosher salt ½ cup sugar 1 ¼ cups red wine vinegar ½ cup sherry vinegar ½ cup vodka (optional)

2 tablespoons mustard seeds 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper 2 teaspoons fennel seeds 4 garlic cloves 4 sprigs dill weed 2 bay leaves

Bring enough water to cover the beans to a boil in a medium saucepan and add the beans and salt. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until tender-crisp; drain.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Pour the vinegar mixture over the beans in a nonreactive heatproof bowl and toss to coat. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Discard the dill weed and bay leaves and drain, if desired, before serving.

Catherine Norville Bedingfield

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 8) 1 ½ cups mayonnaise 1 tablespoon dill weed 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon celery seeds Salt and pepper to taste ¾ cup red grape halves ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted

Combine the chicken with enough water to cover in a stockpot and cover.

Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the chicken to a platter and let stand until cool. Process in a food processor until ground.

Combine the ground chicken, mayonnaise, dill weed, onion powder, garlic salt, celery seeds, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Stir in the grapes and pecans. Chill, covered, until serving time.

Nina Haas Daniels

© Tables of Content, page 49 © Tables of Content, page 90

BAKED FRENCH TOAST

SOUTHWEST COUSCOUS

Makes 10 (2 ½ x 4 ½ - Inch) Slice Servings

Makes 6 (1-cup) Servings

1 (9-ounce) loaf dry French bread 3 eggs 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 ¼ cups milk

2 cups chicken broth 1 (10-ounce) package plain couscous 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 large avocado, chopped 2 cups grape or cherry tomato halves

½ cup all-purpose flour 6 tablespoons dark brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ cup (½ stick) butter or margarine 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped green onions 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 2 teaspoons olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Cut the loaf diagonally into 1-inch slices and arrange cut side down in a single layer in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth. Stir in the milk until blended and pour over the bread slices, turning to coat. Chill, covered, for 8 to 10 hours. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until crumbly to form a streusel. Turn the bread slices and sprinkle evenly with the blueberries and then the streusel. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares to serve.

Bring the broth to a boil in a medium saucepan and gradually stir in the couscous. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and cool. Add the beans, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro and green onions and mix gently. Stir in the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator, adding the avocado to the chilled pasta just before serving.

Katherine Lavallet Tortorici

Rami Marie Perry

© Tables of Content, page 25

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© Tables of Content , page 128

S U S TA I N E R P R O F I L E

JL B CHORAL G RO UP H A S A F RIEN D IN NANCY S M IT H B Y

K AT H E R I N E

P O C K M A N

SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLINE QUICK

S

ustainer Nancy Smith of Mountain Brook has been an mother told me that she had never gone over to anyone before. integral member of the Junior League of Birmingham This was a big experience for both the mother and the daughter.

(JLB) Choral Group since its inception and has been perI was just happy to be there. We have had wonderful things hapforming with them since the very beginning. It all started when pen, and we really connect with people.”

JLB member Kitty Scott heard the New Orleans Junior League’s When Smith is not gushing about all the positive experiences ensemble sing at a regional meeting and suggested that the lashe has had during choral performances through the years, she dies in Birmingham start a similar group. The idea was a popular is singing the praises of her fellow choir members. She explains one, and six members, including Smith, met to discuss forming that the group now boasts over 60 members of all ages. Many a choir. Under the leadership of Scott and Eleanor Walker the members also sing in their church choirs, while there are others choral group flourished, and now, over 53 years later, Smith still who do not read music. She credits director Amy Murphy with delights audiences as she and fellow singers perform throughout forming such a unified choral group. the community at venues such as nursing homes, cancer wards, “Amy is a great teacher who is children’s hospitals, the Excepvery clever, funny and engagtional Foundation and throughing,” says Smith. “She is such a out the world, including Carnegie delight to perform with because Hall, Vienna and Rome. she is so conscientious of each “Nancy Smith is a true legend and every one of us and of evof the JLB Choral Group. She is eryone in the audience.” not only faithful to our mission Murphy also speaks very with her time and talent, but she highly of Smith saying, “Our last also researches all of the agensong this spring is ‘You’ve Got cies that we visit in order for our a Friend’ by James Taylor, and group to have the most impactful Nancy announces that piece. No outreach experience. We all look truer sentiment could be said of up to Nancy and hope that we this charter member. Not only have the same level of energy, is she a talented alto, but she is enthusiasm and commitment afthe group’s greatest cheerleader. ter 50 years,” says Amy Roberts We are so blessed that the JLB about her fellow choir member.

Choral Group is a placement Smith says she has always where Actives and Sustainers enjoyed music and sang in choir work alongside each other. My during both high school and life has been enriched by her becollege. Later, recognizing the ing such a large part of my JLB importance of music in her life, experience.” she and her husband made it a Since joining the League Sustainer Nancy Smith performs with the JLB Choral Group. point to introduce music to their in 1951, Smith has served in four children by regularly singing several additional roles. She to them and teaching them songs. headed up the formation of the Birmingham Children’s Theatre “Music is a magical thing, and it can be very therapeutic,” and started a transfer club within the League. Smith stays active Smith says. “It connects people and soothes people. It can make outside the League by serving on the Glenwood board, playing people laugh, and it can make people cry. The JLB Choral Group golf and enjoying time with her nine grandchildren. has moving performances all the time. For instance, we sing at As for the future, Smith is looking forward to continuing to sing nursing homes and hear back from the staff that the residents and enjoy fellowship with the Choral Group. She jokes that she talk about us for days. In fact, every time we sing something is also anticipating many more alto solos in the future. “The JLB memorable happens.”

Choral Group is something that the JLB as a whole should be Smith recalls a moment that touched her heart while singproud of because it spreads the name all over the community. ing at the Lovelady Center in Birmingham last year. “A little girl It is something good, and music reaches across and touches about three or four years old ran over and hugged my knee. Her people.” §

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2017-2018 COMMUNITY PROJECTS EDUCATION

HEALTH

Better Basics—Birmingham Reads

Children’s of Alabama—Family Fun Times

Better Basics—Imagination Library Birmingham Botanical Gardens—Can You Dig It? Birmingham Children’s Theatre— From Page to Stage – Readers’ Theatre Birmingham Public Library—Family Place Library Girls, Inc.—Teen Leadership Junior League of Birmingham— Essentials Pantry and Positive Behavior Incentive Program Neighborhood Academy—Summer Learning Preschool Partners—Parent and Children’s Education Program Vulcan Park and Museum—Learning Adventures Field Trips Youth Leadership Forum—YLF Logistics Committee

FINANCIAL STABILITY Junior League of Birmingham— Bargain Carousel Impact Alabama—SaveFirst Pathways—Invest in You

SAFETY AND CRISIS INTERVENTION

Children’s Harbor—Prime Time and Weekends

AL Center for Law and Civic Education—Jefferson County Teen Court

Exceptional Foundation— Enrichment Activities

Community Food Bank—Mobile Food Pantry Program

FOCUS on Recovery—Art as Therapy for Children of Recovering Addicts

Community Partnership of Alabama—Meals on Wheels

Junior League of Birmingham— Choral Group

Crisis Center—Rape Response Advocate Program

Junior League of Birmingham— Diaper Bank

Junior League of Birmingham— Corps of Volunteers

Junior League of Birmingham— Project FIT Kids

Junior League of Birmingham— Human Trafficking Pilot Program

Junior League of Birmingham— Project Yummy

Junior League of Birmingham— Second Servings Community Refrigerators Pilot Program

Junior League of Birmingham —Intergenerational/Aging Pilot Program

YWCA—Children in Crisis

Magic Moments—Magic Moments Fulfillment NorthStar Youth Ministries—Soccer Club U6 Program UAB at Children’s of Alabama—Every Moment Matters Vineyard Family Services—Backpack Buddies Mother’s Milk Bank of Alabama— Milk Bank SPRING 2018 | NEWSHEET

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