Mountain Messages Junior League of Charleston, WV
Fall 2016 Newsletter
Message from the President “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” - Marjorie Moore This quote feels quite fitting for this particular newsletter in the midst of this tempestuous election season. No matter how we vote or what we believe politically, we come together in our desire to volunteer and, hopefully, continue to make Charleston the kind of community we want to live in. The start of this league year has been quite busy! We have already logged nearly 350 volunteer hours in less than 3 months, packed over 450 bags of food for our Backpack Buddies, planned another successful Halloween party at Sojourner’s, seen the completion of the new playroom at the Ronald McDonald House, had our first annual Touch-A-Truck event, and helped with the hugely successful Girls Night Out.
“I am thrilled by the amazing things we have done thus far in our community and for the
prodigious opportunities to come!”
The season for change is upon us. Change for our country on the highest level, change within our state at every level, and change within the league. This year will bring new fundraisers, growth for our Backpack Buddies signature project, the inclusion of our sustainers even more than in previous years, and an update of our bylaws and policies and procedures.
- Katie Thompson Berger, JLC President
I am thrilled by the amazing things we have done thus far in our community and for the prodigious opportunities to come! Happy Fall Y’all! Katie Thompson Berger
In This Issue
2016 Touch a Truck Fundraiser to Benefit the Ronald McDonald House
Fall Member Events
Touch-A-Truck Highlights
2016-17 Board of Directors
Member News
JLC Flashback
Ronald McDonald House Playroom Ribbon Cutting
Wine Tasting Selection, September 14
Fall JLC Member Events
JLC sponsored and planned the playroom inside Charleston’s new Ronald McDonald House. A ribbon cutting for the playroom took place on October 16th after Touch-A-Truck. Members, supporters, and sustainers were in attendance. JLC has a long history of supporting our city’s Ronald McDonald House, and we are happy to continue that legacy by sponsoring the new playroom.
Wine Tasting Wednesday, September 14, 2016 JLC members enjoyed good company as well as delicious wine and snacks at a personalized wine tasting at Capitol Market’s Wine Shop.
WVU Watch Party Saturday, October 15, 2016 General members, provisionals, sustainers, and guests were invited to cheer on WVU at Recovery Sports Grill.
Cupcake Decorating Party
RMH Playroom
Happening soon! Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 A sweet night out for the Junior League! Decorate a cupcake at Cakes by Appointment. Thanks to Allison Keller, Membership VP, for planning fun and enriching membership activities!
Save the Date! Holiday Party: Tuesday, December 6th at Vino’s Bar and Grill New Year’s Eve Bash: December 31st, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Four Points by Sheraton. Early bird tickets $125 until December 1, $150 after that.
WVU Football Watch Party, October 15
Backpack Buddies Expanding in 2017 This year, JLC will broaden Backpack Buddies, our signature service project. In 2015-16, we provided supplemental nutrition bags to King Center Pre-K students. This year, we will expand to serving children at three schools, providing supplemental food for children to take home on the weekends. Donations of individually packaged, healthy snacks, as well as financial contributions, are greatly appreciated. Volunteers are needed on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. to help with Backpack Buddies bag stuffing. Meet at the JLC office.
Scenes from Touch a Truck 2016
Touch-A-Truck Fundraiser The Junior League of Charleston held its first Touch-A-Truck event on October 16th. With 125 children attending, it was a successful and very fun debut fundraiser. A big thank you goes out to everyone who donated their time to bring a truck or other equipment, including:
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Tyler Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Charleston Fire Department Yeager Airport Police Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority Boone County Ambulance Authority Persinger & Associates PRAY Construction WV National Guard Cragg & Son Tree Company
Some crowd favorites were the Sheriff’s bomb squad robot and Kanawha County’s interactive, remote-controlled mini-ambulance, KC. Many families said they’re looking forward to the event returning next year! WOWK and WSAZ both covered Touch-A-Truck. Those news stories are available online here and here.
Board of Directors 2016 - 2017
President
Katie Berger
President-Elect
Jennifer Sayre
Secretary
Laura Suppa
Treasurer
Maggie Payne
Director at Large
Kara Boehm
Membership VP
Allison Keller
Secretary, Laura Suppa:
Communications VP
Ashley Noland
“Member records and meeting minutes.”
Community VP
SuSu Kapourales
Nominating Chair
Lindsey McIntosh
Provisional Co-Chair
Michelle Storage
Provisional Co-Chair
Jordan Martin
Membership VP, Allison Keller:
Ways and Means VP
Megan Knight
“Build and support JLC community.”
Placement Chair
Jenna Everhart
Board members describe their position in five words… President-Elect, Jennifer Sayre: “Sidekick, successor to the president.”
Director at Large, Kara Boehm: “Member liaison. Connect. Inform. Relate.”
Communications VP, Ashley Noland:
Thank you for your service, board members!
“Communication, public relations, mar-
keting, fun!” Provisional Co-Chair, Jordan Martin: “Guide provisionals through provisional
Reminder for holiday shopping!
process.”
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Junior League of Charleston whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Use this link to shop: https://smile.amazon.com/ ch/55-0491773
A Fall Provisional Welcome Party was held on August 30th at the home of Brandi Conroy. Nine potential new members attended.
Member News Births & Family Additions
Sustainer Tara Markham welcomed son Paul Gordon on July 2. Sustainer Kortney Major welcomed son Tad Aulden on October 11. Lorien Suddath welcomed son William Fletcher, August 15. Kathleen Weekley and her husband have been approved as foster parents.
Engagements & Marriages
Megan Callaghan and James Bailey, engaged June 18. Allison Sutherland and Shawn Holstein, engaged August 28. Michelle Johnson and Jonathan Storage, married July 2. Jennifer Casto and Jeremy Runnels, married August 13. Susu Kapourales and Roger Lambert, married September 3.
Professional & Other
Kara Boehm celebrated her 10 year anniversary as a Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Management. Allison Keller was reclassified in her position with the State, becoming a level 3 Environmental Inspector. Hillary Homburg presented at the American Dental Association’s Annual meeting in October on her work with the National Give Kids a Smile Program. She also currently serves at the Secretary and Treasurer of the Kanawha Valley Dental Society. Ashley Noland accepted a new position as Executive Director of the Childhood Language Center.
Mary Jean Davis Receives Spirit of the Valley Award The YMCA of Kanawha Valley selected JLC Sustainer Mary Jean Davis as the receipient of the Spirit of the Valley Award, an annual honor which recognizes an exceptional community leader. Mary Jean received the award on August 17 during a luncheon ceremony. She has served on Charleston City Council for 17 years and has been deeply involved in community development for much of her life. She is dedicated to lifelong community service, supporting organizations such as the Charleston Land Trust, Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, Project West Invest, the Historic Landmark Commission, the Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau, and more. She got her start in voluntarism and service with the Junior League of Charleston.
I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. Albert Schweitzer
Our members have recorded 348 hours volunteering in their community so far this year.
Mary Jean Davis
Sam Owens, Gazette-Mail
JLC Flashback September 17, 1971 - 45 Years ago The Junior League of Charleston opened an ecology information center to provide the public with information and guidance about environmental concerns in the Kanawha Valley. The League was also advertising a “Town Hall Series� fundraiser, featuring Art Linkletter and other speakers.
Charleston Daily Mail, Sept. 17, 1971
Our Mission The Junior League of Charleston is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Contact Us
Get social with us! Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlchas/
Junior League of Charleston, WV 405 Capitol St, Suite 501 Charleston, WV 25301 (304) 346-5856
Twitter: @JLCharlestonWV
Instagram: JLofCharleston
jlchas@frontier.com www.JLCharlestonWV.org
Send newsletter submissions to: Dana Smook Creasy smookd@gmail.com