For nearly two years, cultivating community has been a challenging objective. The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County, like so many other organizations, has worked incredibly hard to ensure that we are able to continue serving our partner agencies, our membership, and our community as a whole. Even in the face of adversity, I continue to be inspired by our membership’s heartfelt passion for the Junior League initiatives that serve our community. It is because of that passion and unfailing dedication that the League and its members have been able to consistently serve our community well.
Our membership has already accomplished so much in the first few months of this League year. A new school has been added to the Feeding our Future program. Hundreds of diapers have been packed for our Diaper Bank. Our first-ever book drive in honor of Georgia Pre-K Week, benefiting SISU, was a huge success. The Charity Ball committee is hard at work preparing for our largest fundraiser of the year, with four wonderful Belle candidates and their sponsoring clubs helping in that effort. Recruitment for the newest Provisional Member class provided 18 women that are eager to serve. These are just a few of the many things that are happening “behind the scenes” every day to ensure that the League’s legacy of serving our community and developing passionate leaders will continue for many years to come.
It is an honor to serve you all. I have had the privilege to work alongside many exceptional women during my time as a member of the League. I attribute some of my most treasured mentors and dearest friends to my involvement throughout the years. It is often said that you get out of the League what you put into it. I can say that has been irrefutably true for me. I encourage you to make an effort to connect with members that you may not know. Ask committee chairs about a program you are interested in. Your passion for the Junior League is a strong connection we all share. Use that passion to make connections, build new friendships, and create a better community for yourself, our partner agencies, and our neighbors. You make a difference, and for that, I am so grateful.
Sincerely,
Ashton Meeks
The Junior League Gainesville-Hall County
President 2021-2022
Our Mission
Established in 1951, The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action of leadership of trained volunteers.
Senior Tax Accountant, BatesCarter & Co., LLC Merritt Stewart
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS
BIRTHDAY: MAY 17
Legal Assistant, The Godsey Firm Christen Hunte
Dorreka Faulkner
BIRTHDAY: OCTOBER 16 Hall County Juvenile
Lauren Williams
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 21
Cardiac Cath Lab
Registered Nurse, NGMC
BIRTHDAY: MAY 5
Communications Director, State of Georgia Haley Barrett
Macy Carswell
BIRTHDAY: AUGUST 16
Owner/Operator, Chattahoochee Grill & Sales
Designer? Martin’s Furniture and Design
Lauren Hunter
Amanda Brock
Molly Knight
Elizabeth Johnson
Olivia Coley
Courtney Parm
Amelia Brock
Kindle Gee
Rachel Funk
Kelly Conklin
BIRTHDAY: JANUARY 21
Olivia Smith
BIRTHDAY: JUNE 10
Realtor, Keller Williams Lanier Partners
BIRTHDAY: SEPTEMBER 23
Audit Staff Accountant, BatesCarter & Co., LLC Erica Clark
Desarae Valadez
BIRTHDAY: MARCH 20
Esthetician, Lumieaux
Emily Smith
BIRTHDAY: MAY 27
FROM OUR SUSTAINER DIRECTOR
I’m looking forward to serving as Sustainer Advisor for the League. My time as an active member in the League was a time of growth and appreciation for the work that this organization accomplishes in our community. These ladies, with whom I serve, are strong, thoughtful, and committed to finding ways to live out our mission... just as past members have been.
Sustainers are such an important part of this League. We carry the history of the League collectively and through our individual experiences. We are the many reasons why so many women and children in our community have the ability to improve their lives. We are the trained volunteers. We are the ones who can offer a unique perspective of preserving traditions while supporting new ideas and directions. And we can encourage those who are serving now.
I hope all of you will join us as we gather through the year. Encourage friends who may not be a sustainer now, to reconnect with us again. Be on the lookout for upcoming Sustainer events, and please be sure to reach out with any suggestions.
Dixie Truelove SUSTAINER DIRECTOR
For more than a century, Junior Leagues have empowered women, strengthened communities, and improved lives. Our League's representatives met and learned from Leagues across the world, while sharing our League’s initiatives and collectively addressing challenges the Association faces. Additionally, a new AJLI Mission Statement was approved, which can be found at www.ajli.org. Chelsea, Leah, Ashley, and Ashton returned from the 100th Annual Conference with new ideas and a renewed sense of passion about making the Junior League of GainesvilleHall County the very best it can be for our members and the greater community.
Our President, Chelsea Sullivan; Fundraising Director, Leah Stewart; Recruitment Director, Ashley Davis; and Immediate Past President, Ashton Lewis, represented the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County at the Association of Junior League International’s 100th Annual Conference hosted in Dallas, TX in May. suggested headline
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
We sent 10,000 diapers to Cape Coral, FL with Grace Community Church for hurricane relief
Jennifer Mullis CHAIR
Kaitlyn Vann CHAIR
Kristin Varnadore
ASSISTANT CHAIR
Margaret Christie
ASSISTANT CHAIR
DIAPER BANK HIGHLIGHTS
We recently added a new partner agency, United Way of Hall County.
CURRENT PARTNER AGENCIES
Hall-Dawson CASA
Family Promise/Little Steps Treehouse Gateway Sisu United Way
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As of our distribution on Oct 21, we have distributed 80,825 children’s diapers
19,099
Pounds of food distributed Jan-Sept 2022
Our goal is to serve 50 families at each school pantry. This would account for 250 families from schools all over Hall County.
OUR SCHOOLS
Enota Elementary
Howard E. Ivester Early College
Lyman Hall Elementary
Gainesville High School
Sugar Hill Elementary
535
Households served Jan - Sept 2022
We now have a fully operational pantry at five schools. This year, we added Sugar Hill Elementary School and moved the pantry from Chicopee Woods Elementary to Lyman Hall Elementary to allow for more space. We also provided a freezer for the Lyman Hall pantry. Families of Gainesville City and Hall County students should reach out to their school social worker if they are in need of food.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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Please contact Casey Abernathy for questions or more information at jlfeedingourfuture@gmail.com Name Name
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TH ANNUAL
Charity Ball
We celebrated the 70th Annual Charity Ball Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 raising more than $210,000. The funds the Belles raise on behalf of the Junior League allow us to champion positive change in our community through our various initiatives and programming efforts such as Feeding our Future, the Diaper Bank of North Georgia, Done-in-a-Day projects, and our Signature Grant.
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Belle of the Ball
Allie Lazenby, representing the Rotary Club of Gainesville, was crowned the 2022 Belle of the Ball. Allie is a senior at North Hall High School and is the daughter of Shane and Jennifer Lazenby.
This year six Belle candidates represented various organizations across Hall County with three of the organizations sponsoring Belles for the first time. We are thrilled to welcome Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, Girls Unlimited and WomenSource as partners and look forward to expanding our reach even further.
Allie Lazenby
OUR SPONSORS
BECOME A SPONSOR
2022 – 2023 CALENDAR
Because of the generous contributions of local businesses, we are able to continue to make an impact on the lives of women and children in our community. We hope you will consider partnering with us in our efforts to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve our community. Visit our fundraising website at www.jlghcfundraising.com or SCAN HERE.
FEBRUARY
5th 12:00PM - 4:00PM DIAD: Edmondson Telford - Blue Ribbon Run 7th General Membership Meeting 6:00PM • Cocktail Hour 6:30PM • Meeting begins - Leadership Slate Presented to General Membership 11th 9:00AM - 1:00PM Diaper Packing 14th 6:00PM Book Club 21st 6:00PM Diaper Packing 6:30PM New Member Meeting – Little Black Dress Initiative
The Times Advertisement Design Due: Diaper Drive (Community Outreach Director/Diaper Bank Co-Chairs) 28th 6:00PM Board Meeting
MARCH
General Membership Meeting 6:00PM • Cocktail Hour - Bring a Friend Night! 6:30PM • Meeting begins - Leadership Slate Presented to General Membership 11th 9:00AM - 1:00PM Diaper Packing 3rd - 17th Diaper Drive 14th 6:00PM Book Club 20th The Times Advertisement Design Due: EOY Meetings Open to Prospective Members (Recruitment Director) 21st 6:30pm New Member Meeting – Visit The HUB 6:00pm Diaper Packing 28th 6:30pm Board Meeting
APRIL
General Membership Meeting 6:00PM • Cocktail Hour - Bring a Friend Night! 6:30PM • Meeting begins 8th 9:00AM - 1:00PM Diaper Packing 11th 12:00pm Past Presidents’ Luncheon 6:00PM Book Club 18th 6:30PM New Member Meeting – Year-End Celebration 6:00PM Diaper Packing 25th 6:00PM Board Meeting MAY 2nd May Dinner 6:00PM • Cocktail Hour
6:30PM • Meetig begins 6th 8:00AM - 12:00PM Transition Meetings 29th The Times Advertisement Design Due: JL Info Session (President)
Visit us online at gainesvillehalljuniorleague.org/ events or scan the QR code below for additions including Diaper Drives, Done in a Days, Member Trainings, Other Volunteer Opportunities (i.e., Feeding our Future), Member Socials, and Quarterly Sustainer Events!
P.O. Box 1472
Gainesville, GA 30503 770-535-1951 | gainesvillehalljuniorleague.org
