Bridging A Lifelong Connection

BRIDGING A

LIFELONG CONNECTION

by Candace Williams

Stop by the Junior League building on any given Tuesday and you will find a group of Sustainers enjoying games of Bridge. The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has nearly 1,000 Sustaining members, who serve in advisory roles after years of active service. Some of the JLC’s longest serving Sustainers have been meeting for more than four years to catch up and connect over a game of Bridge. Sometimes Bridge attracts enough ladies for one table of four and at other times there are enough for four tables. For this group of Sustainers, this weekly gathering is a way to stay connected and reminisce about old times.

Joana Wardell is originally from Charlotte and joined the JLC in the early 1980s when she moved back to the area after graduate school. She wanted to find out what was going on in the community. Joana’s favorite placement was The CRIER, where she created an animated character called Letty to represent the women of the League for one of the issues.

Barbara Bernath was interested in volunteer work, so when a friend introduced her to the JLC, she jumped right in and served in leadership roles including being on the Board of Directors. Barbara was provided key volunteer opportunities, including being the JLC representative to Leadership Charlotte’s fourth class.

Introduced to the JLC by a friend when she was just 18 years old, Susan Mason’s mother encouraged her to accept the invitation. She remained an active member from age 24 to 41, serving in leadership roles and various placements. She has been a Sustainer for more than 30 years. Susan says the placements are what kept her active for so long. She added that the JLC provides great training on how to be a leader.

According to this group of Sustainers, the JLC is a wise way to spend one’s time. The reasons these fabulous women joined are largely the same reasons new members join today. They were invited by friends, desired a sense of community, wished to volunteer, and wanted to grow personally and professionally. They found value in the friendships they made, the comradery they experienced, and are proud to have taken advantage of the opportunity to make a difference.