Mountain Messages Junior League of Charleston, WV
Spring 2017 Newsletter
Message from our President-Elect The Junior League of Charleston was started in 1923, and we will soon celebrate our 95th year as a league. We already have a group of sustainers who are working towards organizing a great event to celebrate our 95th year. As I move over into the role of President of the Junior League, I plan to focus this year on the part of our mission which is to develop the potential of women through leadership and trained volunteers. We have done an outstanding job reaching our goals of volunteer hours over the past year and working in the community. But in order to be effective community leaders, we must be properly trained, and we must take action. Over the past 90+ years, we have focused on children at risk and providing them with the ability to live in a nurturing environment. Our signature project has been the Backpack Buddies program. We ensure that children have the proper food to take home and eat when they leave school. The Junior League also needs to once again have a name in the community. People need to know that we are serious about being leaders here. In order to effectively volunteer, we have to have the training to do so. I plan to spend the next year as President of the League focusing on small training sessions for our members to develop their leadership skills to be better volunteers and leaders in the community so that we can make a difference and be a voice in the community.
“People need to know that we are serious about being leaders here.”
Sincerely, Jennifer Herrald
- Jennifer Herrald 2017-18 JLC President
In This Issue
JLC Members attending the 2017 Spring Dinner at Coonskin Park
Member News
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Highlights
Backpack Buddies Update
JLC Flashback
JLC Receives Donation from The 100
Aerial Yoga Social Event at Yoga Power, April 17
Upcoming Service Opportunities Sign up for hours through Volunteer Matters or e-mail Allison Keller: kellerallisonm@gmail.com.
Ronald McDonald House Dinner Prep Wednesday, June 28 Monday, July 31 Monday, August 28 Prepare meals for families staying at Charleston’s Ronald McDonald House. Meet at 5:00 pm to start cooking.
Firecracker 5K Friday, June 30, 3:00 - 7:00 PM Benefits the Childhood Language Center.
Capitol Market ON TAP!
On April 27, JLC member Nicki Holly presented information about our Signature Project, Backpack Buddies, at the inaugural meeting of The 100, a Charleston philanthropy group made up of 100 women who support worthy causes in the community. Through The 100, JLC received $2,150 to help expand Backpack Buddies. This generous donation will allow us to provide nutritional packs to a larger number of at-risk children in Charleston. Thank you to The 100 for inviting us to be a part of their philanthropic efforts!
Our members volunteered 635 hours in their community this year.
Saturday, July 8, 4:00 - 7:00 PM Supports the growth of our farmer’s market.
Girls Night Out Bag Stuffing Monday, August 14 and Tuesday, August 15, 5:30 - 7:30 PM Free pizza! Benefits YWCA.
Other Dates to Remember Fall Provisional Party Wednesday, August 23 Know someone who might be interested in joining the Junior League? Let’s send them an invite! Submit their contact information to Jordan Martin: jordanemartin88@gmail.com.
General Membership Meeting Monday, September 11, 2017 We will kick off the 2017-18 JLC season with our first GMM of the year!
JLC members Laura Suppa and Allison Keller help pack Backpack Buddies bags with snacks.
Backpack Buddies Update This year, JLC broadened the Backpack Buddies Program to include 29 students at Vista View Head Start, as well as 42 students at the King Center Head Start. These areas have a high number of at-risk children, and the King Center serves families staying at the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women and Families. In addition to snacks and extra nutrition, we also included toothbrushes and public health materials like anti-smoking coloring books in the Backpack Buddies bags. Donations of individually packaged, healthy snacks, as well as financial contributions, are greatly appreciated. Ideal foods include cereal, crackers, pudding and fruit cups, and applesauce.
Scenes from the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Fundraiser The Junior League of Charleston held a Cinco de Mayo fundraiser party on May 5th at the Four Points by Sheraton, earning $2,300 for community impact projects, including Backpack Buddies and the Ronald McDonald House Playroom. A successful fundraiser would not have been possible without our sponsors:
Capital Insurance Group
Pritt & Spano, PLLC
Suttle & Stalnaker
Andrew Byrd
EY
Brickstreet Insurance
RBC Wealth Management
Aronfield Creative Marketing &
Simpson Dental Associates
Advertising Agency
2017 May Dinner Members of the Junior League of Charleston gathered at Coonskin Park on May 15th to celebrate the League’s 94th year of service in our community. Thank you to the May Dinner Committee for a lovely evening!
Incoming 2017-18 Board Members from L to R: Susu Kapourales, Maggie Payne, Jordan Martin, Allison Keller, Laura Suppa, Ashley Noland, Jennifer Herrald, Michelle Storage, Ashley Miller, Dana Smook Creasy.
Outgoing 2016-17 Board Members from L to R: Susu Kapourales, Jordan Martin, Allison Keller, Laura Suppa, Ashley Noland, Jennifer Herrald, Maggie Payne, Michelle Storage, Kara Boehm.
New Members and Sustainers Five new members joined the League from the Spring provisional class. New members include: Sara Rhodes, Melinda Greathouse, Ryanne Ball, Kristen Ross, and Shereen Compton. Welcome, ladies! Congratulations also goes out to Kristin Moody, who is now a JLC sustainer after seven years as an active member.
Sara Rhodes Chosen as Outstanding Spring Provisional
Patricia D. “Tricia” Clark Rick Lee, WV Executive Magazine
This Spring’s Outstanding Provisional is Sara Rhodes. Sara was born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and moved to Charleston last year after completing her Master’s in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. She is currently a social worker at CAMC Memorial. Sara’s hobbies include spending time outside exploring West Virginia’s natural wonders. Her dog, Babs, a four-year-old lab mix, often joins her on her adventures!
Sara Rhodes, Outstanding Spring Provisional
After spending many years involved in 4-H, Sara wanted to find an outlet here in Charleston for getting more involved in the community. She looks forward to spending more time dedicated to community service, and also making friends in the League. “I’m really enjoying getting to meet the other girls!” she said when discussing her favorite things about being in JLC.
Rebekah Bostic receives Rebecca Dickinson Goldsmith Scholarship This year’s recipient of the Rebecca Dickinson Goldsmith Scholarship is Rebekah Bostic, a student from South Charleston High School. Rebekah will be attending University of Arizona and plans to study Political Science and International Relations. She has demonstrated an outstanding dedication to community service throughout her high school career. Rebekah hopes to join the Peace Corp after college graduation. We are proud to support a young woman so dedicated to helping others. The Rebecca Dickinson Goldsmith Scholarship is facilitated for the Junior Lorien Suddath, Scholarship Reviewer, presents Rebekah Bostic League of Charleston with her scholarship award at the 2017 May Dinner. through The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. The average amount awarded is $1,200.
Tricia Clark named “Sharp Shooter” West Virginia Executive Magazine selected former JLC president Tricia Clark as a 2017 “Sharp Shooter,” a recognition which highlights the recipient’s outstanding efforts in community service. Tricia is an equity member and tax partner at Suttle & Stalnaker PLLC and has always looked for ways to improve quality of life for families and children in Charleston. Since her time as JLC president in 2001-02, she has gone on to serve on the boards of YMCA of Kanawha Valley and Highland Hospital Foundation. Tricia is a graduate of Leadership West Virginia, and she also has held several leadership roles in Christ Church United Methodist. Congratulations on this prestigious honor, Tricia!
JLC Flashback May 5, 1954 - 63 Years ago The Junior League of Charleston held a musical revue fundraiser titled “Accent on Charleston” on May 20, 1954, at the Municipal Auditorium. Performers included local school teachers, a former Miss West Virginia, members of the Light Opera Guild, and more. JLC capitalized on the popularity of musicals with several music-themed fundraisers during the 1950’s.
Charleston Gazette May 5, 1954
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
jlchas@frontier.com www.JLCharlestonWV.org
Instagram: JLofCharleston
Send newsletter submissions to: Dana Smook Creasy smookd@gmail.com