Welcome to 2021, y'all! It's absolutely unreal that we're already more than halfway through the League year But time flies by when you're as busy as we've been!
Despite the enduring global pandemic, we've done our best to try to keep up some of our favorite annual traditions, - continued on page 2
06 04 05 03 LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT WHAT'S INSIDE LESLEY SHAMBLIN
W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 MOUNTAIN MESSAGES 18 CALIFORNIA AVE • JLCHARLESTONWV ORG Volunteer Opportunities Holiday Party NICU Stocking Drive Spring Fundraiser Membership Update Dates to Remember 2020-21 Placements Member Spotlight
LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
even though they look a little different because we aren't able to gather together like usual Back in December, we didn't let having to cancel our holiday party dampen our spirits and instead celebrated with a virtual cocktail class hosted by active member Emily Watson We were delighted that some of our sustainers were able to join us, too! And we always look forward to hearing from our local Girl Scout troop each March and breaking our diet resolutions with those irresistible cookies. This year, the gals in the troop prepared a special video for us to watch during our February meeting so we didn't miss out
Our members have also been busy volunteering in our community, most recently crafting valentines for folks in local nursing facilities and assisting with the health department's Saturday vaccine clinics I am absolutely in awe of the work active member and past president Jenn Herrald Oakley has been doing to coordinate the county's COVID-19 response! Thanks for the efforts of all the superwomen in our League, we are on track to far surpass the total service hours we completed prior to the pandemic in the 2018-2019 League year I am so very proud of that
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As we all turn our faces toward spring and desperately hope for warmer weather, the League is also gearing up for our spring fundraiser We've got some exciting ideas floating around and hope to share them with you soon Until then, stay warm and cozy! WINTER 2021
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CANDACE NELSON Community Committee Chair
We have completed 373 volunteer hours so far this year! Thanks to everyone for stepping up to serve our community, even during the midst of a pandemic
Where to find a running list:
Facebook: Junior League of Charleston, WV - Private Group Member Essentials: A running list of volunteer opportunities in the Member Portal.
Any questions or volunteer suggestions, feel free to reach out.
Email your hours to volunteerjlcwv@gmail.com
Ongoing volunteer opportunities:
Blood donation: 1 hr per donation
RMHC dinners: 1 hr for $15 food or monetary donation.
Girl Scouts: 1 hr for $15 donation
Manna Meal: 1 hr for $15 food or monetary donation.
KCHD COVID clinic - email Jenn at Jennifer@kanawha us; minimum of 4 hour shifts
Valentine's Day Card Project
We delivered 187 cards to residents of Teays Valley Manor Retirement Community, Kanawha Place, SweetBriar Assisted Living and RMHC. Various Community Service
We have donated meals to healthcare professionals, bought toys for CAMC, made food for Manna Meal, adopted folks from the Salvation Army tree for the holidays.
A grant has been secured to provide some additional funding for the upcoming year
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MIXOLOGY HOLIDAY PARTY
We could not end 2020 without our annual Junior League holiday party! Due to the continued pandemic, this year's event was held virtually Emily Watson (Active) provided an awesome mixology class that allowed all those who attended to learn how to mix a few new drinks and enjoy themselves while mingling in the chat Both active and sustainer members attended and enjoyed the drinks and fellowship
NICU STOCKING DRIVE
KARA BOEHM NICU Liaison
On December 22, we delivered 119 books, 58 onesies, and 33 animal pacifier clips to CAMC Women & Children's Hospital NICU.
SPRING FUNDRAISER
JUDY WATKINS
Spring Fundraiser Chair
Planning Committees and Marketing Committees have already begun meeting A lot of good ideas are being floated at the moment Be looking for more details as we move out of the planning phase soon We may just be spreading "Sunshine" with the community members.
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GIRL SCOUT TROOP 33266
COOKIE SEASON MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Each year our League members support Troop 33266 during their cookie sales This year you can pick up your tasty treats at their drive-thru cookie booth! On Friday, Feb 26th, all you have to do is pull up and order from a cookie menu for COVID safe cookie service between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM at Barone Brother's Pizza off the Mink Shoals exit
Not able to make the drive-thru? Just click the logo below to place your order online and have them delivered to your front door.
RYANNE BALL Membership Committee Chair
The JLC book club enjoyed The Duke and I by Julia Quinn in January and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett in February Pick up Murder on Staunton Road by Charlie Ryan & Mitch Evans and join the zoom call on March 29 at 7p to discuss and catch up with other JLC members
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE EASTERN PANHANDLE FACEBOOK COM/JULEPWV @JULEPWV
Shout out to the newest Junior League in West Virginia Drop by one of their social media pages and show some support.
dates to remember WINTER 2021 PLACEMENT MATCHING TOOL OPENS MAR 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MAR 8 JLC GMM MAR 8 APR 12 J L O F C H A R L E S T O N , W V | W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 N E W S L E T T E R PAGE | 05
NEW WEST VIRGINIA JUNIOR LEAGUE
2020-21 PLACEMENTS
President: Lesley Shamblin
President Elect: Taylor Bailey
Treasurer: Erin Deegan
Treasurer Elect: Myranda Pike
Executive VP: Kristen Ross
Secretary: Samantha Nygaard
Membership Committee Chair: Ryanne Ball
Placement Advisors: Laura Suppa
Sammons, Ashley Miller, Jordan Martin, Megan Kueck Provisional Development
Chair: Emily Watson Sustainer Development Chair: Jessica Westfall
Historian & Newsletter Editor: Tracy Bess
Membership Committee Members: Melinda Greathouse, Rachel Taylor & Katie Robeson
Fundraising Committee Co-Chairs: Judith Watkins (Spring), Adrienne Kastan (Fall)
Fundraising Committee Members: Ashley Miller, Kayla Bays, Laura Babiak, Candice Harlow, Mikayla Dent
Grant Coordinator & Scholarship Reviewer: Beth Belcher
Community Committee Chair: Candace Nelson
Signature Project Co-Chairs: Blair Wessels & Summer Ray
Ronald McDonald House Board Member: Jennifer Herrald Daymark Board Member: Emily Spradling
NICU Liaison: Kara Boehm
Gabriel Project Liaison: Maggie Payne
Public Relations Coordinator: Candace Nelson
Website & Social Media Coordinator: Candace Nelson
Community Committee Members: Maggie Payne
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
ELLEYSE GEMONDO
Hometown: Bridgeport, WV
Occupation: Liquor Sales Representative
Years in Junior League: Fall 2020 provisional member
Hobbies: Traveling, Playing/Hanging out with my husky, shopping, scrapbooking, dancing
Favorite JL Moment: Holiday zoom cocktail party, volunteering for the COVID vaccinations clinic, and being able to be a part of history
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite Book: How Starbucks Saved My Life
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