Parishscope Winter 2021

PARISHSCOPE A PUBLICATION OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, INC. | WINTER 2021

Volume 55, Issue 4

jlsb.org

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FROM THE EDITOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tara Jones

The League year is well underway, and I can’t believe I’m saying this—the holidays are around the corner! As you’ll be able to tell from this Winter issue, the JLSB already has several projects under its belt, thanks entirely to its members who have been out making their mark in the community. Thank you, volunteers!

We kicked off the fall season with Super Safety September and slinging some Pepsis at the Red River Revel.

And the Pumpkin Patch committee has done it again— they knocked it out of the park with another incredibly successful Pumpkin Patch at Provenance. And what better way to approach the season of giving than to feature the work of the Red Apron Pantry committee in this issue.

Due to the leadership and determination of some very ambitious Junior League members, this program has experienced an incredible evolution in just a few short years.

Putting this issue together has made me realize the projects and events organized by the League add so much to our community, and I am so thankful for all of the volunteers who make all of this possible. If I don’t see you before then, I hope you and your families enjoy this holiday season and have a healthy and happy new year!

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Letter from the President

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1933 Society

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Letter from the Secretary

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Designer Bag Bingo: Save the Date

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Letter from the Sustainer Advisor

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Sustainer of the Year Award Guidelines

10 Provisional Update 10 Important Dates for Provisionals 12 Business Spotlights 14 Red Apron Pantry 16 Spotlight on Communications Council 17 News from the Nominating Chair 18 Super Safety September 19 2020-2021 Annual Report 26 Pumpkin Patch 28 Red River Revel Update 29 King Cake Classic: Save the Date 30 Memorable Moments 32 A Bundle of Cookbooks for the Holidays 34 Celebrations & Members Transfers-In

JuniorLeagueSB @JuniorLeagueSB Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier facebook.com/JLSB.org youtube.com/user/JuniorLeagueSB 2021-2022

PARISHSCOPE Staff

Editor Tara Jones Assistant Editor Emily Hamann Business Manager Elizabeth Daeschner 2021-2022 Board of Directors President Sarah Giglio President Elect Margaret McDonald

Executive Vice President Michelle Wallace Secretary Kezia Pigford Treasurer Jennifer Pou Nominating Chairman Courtney McBee PR&D Chairman Carolyn Murphy Members at Large Chelsea Adcock Alex Person Sustainer at Large Melanie Peacock Sustainer Advisor Molly McInnis

Cover photography by Jennifer Bradford Photography

2021-2022 Management Team Executive Vice President Michelle Wallace Communications VP Kirsten Shrewsberry Community VP Stacey Melerine Fund Development VP Ali Smith Membership VP Jennifer Hart Assistant Treasurer Stephanie Foster

Designed by: grace! graphic design + marketing Printed by: Paragon Press, 901 Tatum St, Shreveport, LA 71107 The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc. 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. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

The Junior League welcomes all women who value our Mission.

We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations, and communities.

Parishscope Quarterly Magazine Volume 55, Issue 4 ©2021 Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without written permission by JLSB.

The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier 2601 Line Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104 Office 318.221.6144 Fax 318.221.4601 jlsb.org

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President

LETTER FROM THE

Dear League Members,

I cannot believe we are already nearing the end of 2021.

The past two years have been nothing short of chaotic and a little crazy, but hopefully we all see a sense of normalcy coming back—slowly but surely. When the pandemic started, I was worried about how the League would adjust.

I shouldn’t have been—our members continue to amaze not only me and our Board, but also the community at large by showing up, getting creative, and continuing to meet critical needs in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

As I write this, we are wrapping up October, which is notoriously the busiest month of the year for the League.

We have so many things going on in October each year, and every year our members show up and get the job done. So, what specifically have we done in October? Well, first of all, let’s recap with the Red River Revel. As many of you know, the Revel couldn’t happen last year because of COVID-19, but this year it came back. And while we don’t have final numbers in yet, I know that there were several days with extremely high attendance. The weather was perfect with the exception of about half of one day, and the music, food, and artist line-ups were top-notch.

We put on Artist for a Day (AFAD), where our AFAD committee taught kids at the Revel about art and helped them complete crafts. Thanks to this committee’s hard work, we reached hundreds of kids!. Thank you so much to that committee! Also at the Revel, dozens of you worked shifts at the Pepsi booths. This is so appreciated. For those who do not know, the League receives a percentage of Pepsi sales at the Revel, and the way that we earn this is by staffing the Pepsi booths. Every year I enjoy not only slinging Pepsis myself, but also seeing the connections made among League members who work shifts together. We don’t have the final numbers from Pepsi sales yet, but I think it will be one of our best years in recent history.

Finally, a huge part of October is the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance. I cannot say a big enough thank you to Maria Woodley and her Pumpkin Patch committee for the success of the patch this year. We have sold more pumpkins than ever before, which ultimately results in greater community impact. Thank you to everyone who has worked a shift, especially those pumpkin unloading and cleanup shifts—those are particularly physically taxing, and we appreciate all of your help. Also, thank you to the various community groups that came out to assist us, including, but not limited to local

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Sarah Giglio

high school key clubs and the LSUS basketball team.

We also had a successful month of September. Although we had hoped to bring back our full in-person Super Safety Saturday event, this area was experiencing a COVID-19 spike in August, and so based on the advice of several local medical professionals that we consulted with, we decided that it was just too soon to go back to a large in-person event (especially with a touch-a-truck element which seemed like a haven for germs). In August we shifted our focus to another virtual Super Safety September, and it was successful.

We provided informational videos to the public about health, safety, dental hygiene, and all other topics that they would have learned about at the in-person event. Thank you to our Super Safety Saturday committee for rolling with those COVID-19 punches and making the event a success even in a pandemic.

Another exciting thing that happened in October is the announcement of our fall slate. In case you missed the GMM, Ginny Lamb has been slated for President-ElectElect, and Alex Person has been slated for Executive Vice President Elect. I could not be more proud and excited to announce these women as our slate. They are not only amazing women, friends, wives, and mothers, but they have the leadership skills and love of the League to continue to take our organization far. Congratulations, Ginny and Alex!

Our December GMM will be our traditional holiday party, which Kendra Scott at the Shoppes at Bellemead has offered to host for us again. They are working on getting a discount that they can offer us, and we will have a couple of drawings as well. Additionally, the LOFT a few doors down will be offering a discount the night of our party for League members, so once you get some jewelry, go grab an outfit to match! We will have more details on the party coming soon, but please mark it on your calendars for December 14 at 6:00 p.m. and plan to attend. It’s a fun and easy way to get a meeting credit and do some shopping.

Thank you all for your dedication to our League and to the community at large. Thank you for answering when we ask you to pick up shifts, share our posts on social media, and attend meetings. Shreveport-Bossier wouldn’t be what it is without our League, and I am so grateful to be among such a strong group of women.

Sarah Giglio

2021-2022 President

Thank you to our 1933 donors!

LEAGUE LEADERS Peggy Murphy and Carolyn Murphy Thompson Nancy Cosse

Kim Foret Rosemary Pate Lafargue

Judy McColgan Lynn S. Roos Leslie Scott

LEAGUE ADVOCATES Chelsea Adcock Sarah Giglio Glass Services, LLC – Elizabeth Pippin

Betty Henderson Melinda A. Hernandez Melanie Peacock

Jodi Penn Rives Susan Shelby Jane Gulick Sugar

LEAGUE PARTNERS Katie Adger Dr. and Mrs. Michael Angelo Anti-Pest – Michele Horton Tookie Barr Pam Cowen Lee O’Brien Davis Helen E. Debeaux

Melissa Flores Sylvia K. Goodman Lisa Hargrove Audra Hicks Tara Jones Mary Jo Kayser Ginger Lukacs Lesa McDonald

Margaret McDonald Margaret Malone Angie Phares Tracy Prestwood Michele Q=Petersen Susan Roberts Jane Snyder

There is still time to support the JLSB through a donation to the 1933 Society at one of three levels.

Visit https://www.jlsb.org/support/1933-society/ to learn more and donate today! j l sb .o rg | W in te r 2 0 21 PAR IS H S COPE

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Secret ary

LETTER FROM THE

It feels as though it was only yesterday we kicked off our 2021-2022 League year and now Christmas is just around the corner! This year has gotten off to an exciting start.

It was a pleasure seeing so many new and familiar faces this summer and fall at our General Membership Meetings (GMMs). The return to in-person meetings has been a welcome change and is a great opportunity to reconnect with friends or to meet new members. As a reminder, all Active members are required to attend at least five GMMs between September and May. All Provisional members should attend at least five GMMs in addition to all Provisional meeting requirements, as well as one Board of Directors meeting. If you haven’t had an opportunity to attend one of our general meetings so far, do not worry. There are multiple meeting opportunities available throughout the rest of the year, including a double-credit meeting in the spring.

Our annual holiday party, which also counts as your December GMM credit, will be held at Kendra Scott located in the Shoppes at Bellemead in Shreveport. Please join us for some holiday shopping with your special discount from Kendra Scott. Also, feel free to enjoy refreshments from the neighboring restaurants or shop at other local retail stores in the center. Members of the League will also receive a 15% discount at LOFT. So you don’t want to miss this fun-filled event!

In January, we will host our Annual Advisor Interviews.

These one-on-one meetings also count as your January GMM credit. During these meetings, all members will sit down with their advisors to discuss growth opportunities and member satisfaction. The purpose of the interview is to answer any lingering questions and to assist members in

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mapping out future placements in order to meet their individual goals for their League careers.

Future meeting locations and times will be announced as soon as they are available. GMMs are always held on the second Tuesday of the month with March being the only double credit meeting, so plan accordingly to reach your minimum meeting credit commitment.

You can also monitor your meeting credits and other obligations on Digital Cheetah. Credits are entered as quickly and accurately as possible, but errors do occur. Please reach out if you feel your credits have been recorded incorrectly.

You’ll want to mark your calendars for our March GMM hosted by our community partner, CHRISTUS Health System. Also, our final meeting of the year will be our Year-End Celebration. This May dinner meeting is always a highlight of the year when we celebrate the impact of our community events, successful fundraisers, and spotlight members who have gone above and beyond in their service to the League.

Both our outgoing and incoming Board of Directors and Management Team will be recognized. We also recognize the accomplishments of two outstanding high school students. Each year two seniors—one from Bossier Parish and one from Caddo Parish—are presented with scholarships in honor of their dedication and service to their school and/or community-at-large.

Thank you for your commitment to the League and all you do to make the Shreveport-Bossier community a better place. I hope to see you all at an upcoming GMM!

Kezia Pigford

Save Date THE

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Kezia Pigford

2021-2022 Secretary

APRIL 21, 2022 AT THE HORSESHOE RIVERDOME

Sust ainer Advisor

LETTER FROM THE

You may be familiar with the Mr. Rogers quote, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” I think this sentiment is very true, and in my personal life I have adopted a “look for the League members” mantra. During my years as a Provisional and Active member of JLSB, I served with some amazing women. I have found that as a Sustainer, I keep crossing paths with League members who have a heart for serving this community.

It’s no coincidence that a majority of the PTA presidents and committee chairs I have encountered since my children started school have been women I already knew from JLSB. Look at the people on local non-profit boards of directors, heading up charity fundraisers, or planning community events, and you will find a League member. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I find myself on a committee with other JLSB members. I know that they have the training and dedication to make sure we accomplish whatever we set out to do—and they will likely pass on a very well-organized notebook to whomever has the job next! Whether at my church, my children’s schools, my neighborhood association, or in any other volunteer capacity, I always look for the Active and Sustaining members. They are the “helpers” who care about our community and continue to put their League experience

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Molly McInnis

to work to make Shreveport-Bossier a better place.

Speaking of women who care about our community and make it a better place, can you think of a Sustaining member of the League who you would like to nominate for the Sustainer of the Year award? I just looked at the list of former award recipients and am so fortunate to live next door to two former honorees and to work closely on a committee with another. “Look for the League members” because they are all around and are continuing to do great things in our community.

The deadline for Sustainer of the Year nominations is April 15, 2022. The Sustainer of the Year celebration will be with combined with the annual JLSB End-of-Year Celebration/May Dinner meeting. This gives both Sustainers and Actives a chance to mingle and get to know one another better. Make plans to attend this special celebration on May 10, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Sustainers are also invited to the annual JLSB Christmas Party on December 14. This year the party will be held at the Kendra Scott store in Shoppes at Bellemead.

Molly McInnis

Sustainer Advisor

Award Guidelines

SUSTAINER OF THE YEAR

Award History

More than 100 years ago, Mary Harriman,

founder of the Junior League Movement and

When making your nomination, please consider the following criteria:

Sponsor and Nominee must both be current Sustainers, in good standing, of the JLSB. Posthumous nominations will be accepted.

public service pioneer, recognized the need for a

Nominee demonstrates excellence in community service and volun-

new model of leadership—one that emphasized

teers without compensation.

collaboration over competition. Through her work in countless organizations and her numerous personal connections, Harriman transformed

Nominee encourages others to participate in community service activities.

the way women of her generation viewed their

Nominee works with and organizes groups to produce high-quality

obligation to society, and played a pivotal role

results in support of a common goal.

as a social connector bringing diverse groups and individuals together to form collaborative partnerships that have survived to this day.

Annually, the Junior League of Shreveport-

Bossier recognizes a woman of outstanding leadership who uses her talents and resources to further The Junior League mission and vision with the Sustainer of the Year Award. The recipient of the award has made a positive impact in the JLSB and our community, and her volunteer work continues in the tradition of Mary Harriman.

Nominee’s service may include, but is not limited to, the areas of arts and humanities, education, environment, healthcare, human services, public safety, or youth services. The service must not be work-related.

Members of the selection committee cannot be considered as nominees.

Application Questions Short Answers (300-word limit for each question) Describe: •T he most significant and lasting contributions she has

This woman should be a knowledgeable and

given to the League and to the community

responsible advocate, leader, and mentor who

•W hich community issues she has addressed

embraces Shreveport-Bossier and makes a

•H ow has she influenced others to be a force for change,

unique and significant difference as a leader.

The honoree provides a contemporary link to our founder’s sense of social responsibility, as well as her ability to encourage others to share their talents through effective volunteer service.

impact, or lead by example •H ow has she demonstrated herself to be a role model, mentor, catalyst, and risk-taker

Supporting Materials Attach: •A listing of the nominee’s significant awards, League placements, and volunteer, community, and civic activities (Example: C.V. or resume, if available. If needed, a template will be provided.)

•N o more than two (2) letters of recommendation.

Please note: Applications are currently open and will remain open until April 15, 2022. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications will not be retained for future consideration.

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Update

PROVISIONAL

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Our new Provisionals have jumped head first into a busy and fun start to the 2021-2022 League year. All of the Provisionals have been eager to learn more about the history and functions of the League while serving the community and meeting their obligations for the year. Many Provisionals have already met their fund development obligations by working their first ever Pepsi Revel shifts during the Red River Revel after its oneyear hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These shifts were a great way for our Provisionals to get to know other Active League members and connect with those in the Shreveport– Bossier area at one of the largest festivals in the city.

Provisionals were also able to experience working at the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance during the month of October to raise funds for some of our community projects such as the Red Apron Pantry and Safe Sitter.

At our first Provisional meeting in September, Provisionals were able to learn about our community projects with a word from Community VP Stacey Melerine and Artist for a Day Head Volunteer Courtney Ray. They also learned about two of our fund development projects from Revel Pepsi Chair Megan Strecker and Pumpkin Patch Chair Maria Woodley.

During this meeting, keeping with the theme “United through Service,” Provisionals were also given the opportunity to sign up to actively participate and observe some of our community placements including Red Apron Pantry, MAGIC: Mentoring Ambitious Girls to Inspire Change, and Artist for a Day. The Provisionals will use this experience to determine their placement for their first Active year in 2022-2023.

Import antDates

FOR PROVISIONALS

PROVISIONAL CHRISTMAS PARTY DECEMBER 11 INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS WITH ADVISORS JANUARY 18 –20 10

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Jessica Latin

At the October Meeting, we discussed developing the potential of each League member and Provisionals learned about the importance of member satisfaction and recruitment. JLSB Membership Assistant VP Catherine Guidry discussed the functions of the Membership Council. JLSB Nominating Chair Courtney McBee educated on the Nominating Committee and the process of slating qualified candidates for the Board of Directors and leadership positions to ensure the effective governance and management of the League.

Our November small group meeting allowed for a more intimate experience, giving the Provisionals a chance to hear about the experiences of JLSB Sustainer members. In this meeting, they learned about the JLSB Scholarship Program and Community Assistance Program Grant. Project Research and Development Chair Carolyn Murphy discussed the purpose of the PR&D Committee and how community projects are chosen by assessing the communities’ needs and helps to continue positively impacting the community for years to come.

We are looking forward to celebrating the holidays with each other and our loved ones. Our Provisional Team is working to make our meetings informative yet fun. We are also incorporating more small group social events and are encouraging ongoing communication between Provisional advisors and their groups to keep our Provisionals engaged throughout the entire year and in between meetings. Of course, we are also anticipating our upcoming Provisional Christmas party which will be held on December 11.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

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We provide safe, high-quality care for every step of your journey, with a dedicated nurse navigator to walk each step alongside you.

Let’s get started together with a health risk assessment that can be found by visiting CHRISTUShealth.org/BreastRisk, or schedule an appointment for your 3D mammogram today by calling 318.681.4100.

21-1445

Spotlight s

BUSINESS

KIRSTEN SHREWSBERRY, Active What has been the biggest risk you’ve taken?

Name of your business: Strawberry Designs

Do you have a business partner? If so, who?

Yes, my husband Garrett and I own and operate Strawberry Designs together.

What services does your business provide?

Strawberry Designs started as my husband’s woodworking hobby grew, and we started to get inquiries for purchasing some of the items he was making. Now, Strawberry Designs has expanded to include gift items like personalized cutting boards, custom furniture, and children’s wooden toys. In addition, my graphic designs for custom laser engravings have grown to contract graphic design work to include logos, stationary design, and more!

What type of customer are you trying to reach? Or who would be helped most by your business?

We reach a lot of families with young children and fellow entrepreneurs— especially realtors! Custom cutting boards are a wonderful closing gift, and our nursery door signs are a great way to welcome a new baby home. We’re also launching a line of baby’s first Christmas ornaments this winter, I’m really excited to see those on trees this year.

How did you decide to start this business?

We decided to start Strawberry Designs out of a desire to have a creative outlet together. From designing new products to selecting finishes, it’s been a great opportunity to work together and ultimately make things we found both useful and beautiful.

SAIGE SOLOMON, Sustainer Name of your business: Closets in Order

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The biggest risk would probably be investing in larger, more professional-grade equipment.

We had several options when considering new woodworking tools, but ultimately outfitting the woodshop for what we want to be able to do in the future even if it’s more than we do currently has been our biggest guiding principle.

Also, I think there’s always a risk with putting yourself out there as a small business owner.

It’s hard to be vulnerable and share something you work really hard on with your name on it, not someone else’s.

What has been the biggest win or payoff?

We started making pickler arches and ramps out of a desire to make something for our own toddler, but seeing videos and pictures of arches we made and sold years ago still being used daily really hits home. It’s nice to see people value the product we work so hard to design and create—not just for the “instagrammable moment,” but for years of use and love.

Any announcements or future plans?

With the holiday season coming up, we’ll be designing baby’s first Christmas ornaments.

Custom cutting boards, ring dishes, and nursery signs are a beautiful gift for the holidays, but being a small business, we can only take so many orders. I would really encourage people to reach out early to ensure your gift is ready before the holiday season.

Do you have a business partner? If so, who?

Yes, my business partner is Lauren Barré. She and her husband, Brad, are my husband and my best friends. It is so much fun working with her.

What services does your business provide?

Closets in Order provides custom storage solutions for your home and office. We design closets, pantries, home offices, entryways, garages, craft rooms, commercial offices, and so much more! We also offer professional organization services for both our custom spaces and existing client spaces.

What type of customer are you trying to reach? Or who would be helped most by your business?

We really feel anyone can benefit from our services. Custom closets and storage areas really increase the value of someone’s home. Additionally, organized spaces help calm the chaos, and we have seen it improve our clients’ daily lives immensely.

How did you decide to start this business?

I honestly love telling this story because it is incredible how this all fell into place. My mother actually started Closets in Order almost 20 years ago when I was in college. In late 2019/early 2020, she and my step-father decided to move from Shreveport to Fort Worth to start Inspired Closets DFW. At that time, our best friends the Barrés approached my mom about buying Closets in Order. In the summer of 2020, I made the decision to resign from my position at Centenary College that I had held for 13+ years, and shortly after that while we were on vacation with the Barrés (we vacation with them every year) they asked me if I would be interested in coming on board as a 50/50 owner of Closets in Order. It was a no-brainer! I felt like organization and closet design was in my blood.

What has been the biggest risk you’ve taken?

Probably the biggest risk was leaving the comfort zone of my job at Centenary to go out on a limb and own my own business.

What has been the biggest win or payoff?

I truly LOVE what I do! Seeing our clients so happy with their custom spaces that we have designed and installed brings me such joy.

Any announcements or future plans?

We have currently been going through a rebranding process, so be on the lookout for a new website and more!

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Pant ry

RED APRON

If you haven’t already heard, JLSB’s food pantry is the bee’s knees. From the feeding of our community to flexibility for volunteer hours, there is much to gain from the Red Apron Pantry for both our community and our League members. Beginning as a shadow during my Provisional year to now serving as the pantry’s head volunteer, I’ve seen much good come from this community outreach placement. I can’t wait to share how the Red Apron Pantry has evolved for our community and our members over the last four years.

When I first started with Red Apron Pantry, we partnered with We Grow Together in order to provide food for those in the Stoner Hill neighborhood. Since then, we have been able to move into our own space in Suite D of the League office. This move has allowed us to serve more families in our community by offering food to anyone who qualifies in Caddo Parish, expanding from the Stoner Hill neighborhood.

Moving into the League office has also provided us a place to store food month to month, which offers more and better food options for our clients.

Shortly after moving the pantry into the League office, then head volunteer, Stacey Melerine, was able to secure a donated freezer. As simple as this change may sound, the addition provided a huge benefit for our clients. Red Apron Pantry is now able to not only provide more and better food options, we also have the ability to provide even healthier options. We are now able to provide our clients with foods such as frozen chicken breasts, healthy freezer meals, dairy products, and fresh fruits.

Following our exciting freezer addition, we were hit with the global pandemic. During a time when the world was closed, our team forged ahead for our community. Quickthinking Kendra Joseph, last League year’s Red Apron Pantry head volunteer, made changes to food distribution to protect our volunteers and clients. The pantry moved from a self-serve model to an efficient drive thru. Not only were our clients able to still pick up healthy food options each month, many new clients were served from pantries that were unable to remain open during the harshest times of COVID-19.

I was fortunate to inherit the thriving food pantry and continue to nurture all of the great aspects that Stacey and Kendra created. Red Apron Pantry has even been able to offer more for our community than the regular monthly food

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Lindey Smith

distribution at the League office. Within days following Hurricane Ida, we had a team together to serve many families who had been displaced to our area. We are also setup to serve individual community members in the event of an emergency.

From a great but smaller mobile food pantry to the ability to serve a large number of clients in a moment’s notice, the Red Apron Pantry has evolved extensively over the last four League years. Not only is the pantry a great thing for our community, it is also a great place to serve as a League member and volunteer. There are a variety of rewarding volunteer opportunities that offer flexibility or consistency.

Volunteers are able to choose whether to be the face of the pantry by distributing monthly to our clients or work behind the scenes by packing boxes of food each month. There are options to work alone and at a volunteer’s convenience and availability, or create lasting relationships by serving alongside other pantry volunteers. Volunteers are even able to change their volunteer placement within the pantry each month to get a real feel of all that goes into maintaining a food pantry. With countless volunteer opportunities and great community outreach growth, the Red Apron Pantry is a great place to serve! I’m lucky to be part of its growth and evolution, and I invite you to volunteer for this placement and experience its greatness for yourself.

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Communications Council SPOTLIGHT ON

Greetings from the Communications Corner! When many members hear of the Communications Council, the first thought that probably comes to mind is: “What is that?” or “What do they do?” Well, allow me to shed some light on the subject. A placement within Communications is one which you may not have considered before, but I hope you’ll see is a placement no League member should do without.

What is the Communications Council?

As one of the four Councils of the Junior League, the Communications Council is tasked with getting the word out to the Shreveport-Bossier City community on what the League is up to, as well as reaching out to its members to keep them informed of upcoming meetings and events.

What does the Communications Council do?

The Communications Council is in charge of maintaining the JLSB website and was responsible for the recent update to our site. The update to the JLSB website has made the site not only more pleasing to the eye, but also much more user-friendly. Also, the Parishscope magazine that you’re reading right now is put together by the Parishscope committee, which is part of the Communications Council.

And do you remember that League Links email that reminds you the first of the month is here? That’s a product of the Communications Council too. The Parishscope and League Links are distributed to every Provisional, Active, and Sustaining member of the League.

With the explosion of social media in recent years, the work of the Communications Council has grown well beyond the website, Parishscope, and League Links. Social media has transformed the way businesses and organizations can directly reach the members of their surrounding communities. Many of us who have grown up with social media in our everyday lives have learned to use these platforms not just for personal use, but also to promote our businesses, sell products and services, and earn a living. If you are someone who enjoys creating social media content for the promotion of products and events, then the Communications Council is a great way to use your talents to serve the League and your community!

The JLSB puts many hours into some of its biggest projects—such as Super Safety September, MAGIC, the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance, and the Red Apron Pantry— which are strategically developed to enhance the lives of the members of our community. Without the Communications

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Tara Jones

Council providing press and marketing of these events, the League would have no ability to reach the members of our community who these projects are meant to serve. And with more members serving on the Communications Council and providing more outreach through media, these projects would grow even more.

For instance, the Fund Development Communications Coordinator and Communications Community Coordinator are two placements the League has created to provide marketing support to Communications projects and Fund Development events. By providing visibility to the community about what the League is doing under these two Councils, League members serving in these two placements provide a link between the committees which organize League projects and the surrounding community who these projects are meant to serve. The placements also allow Community and Fund Development chairs to focus on making their project the best it can be. You can read more about these placements on the JLSB website in the Placement Handbook, which can be found on the Resources tab.

What if I don’t have any experience in media and marketing? Could I still serve in a placement within the Communications Council?

Of course you can. As a general initiative, the JLSB encourages each member to take on placements where that member can gain experience and expand her horizons. Also, skills that you can learn by serving on the Communications Council are those that many employers in our community are looking for when trying to market products and services to potential consumers. As a marketing director for a local business, you may be asked to put together a press release for the release of a new product or to create social media content to promote an upcoming or live event. These are skills which you can develop when marketing the sale of JLSB cookbooks or promoting Designer Bag Bingo.

When I first joined the League as a Provisional, I was told by an Active member to try to serve in a placement under each of the four Councils. She said it would give me such a deeper appreciation of the League and how it serves not only the community, but also the members who belong to it.

I couldn’t agree more, and I would encourage each member to do the same. When March rolls around and you are thinking about which placement you’d like to explore next, consider a placement on the Communications Council. It will enhance your knowledge of the League—and it’s fun too!

Chair

NEWS FROM THE NOMINATING

Courtney McBee

The 2021-2022 Nominating Committee is proud to serve the JLSB members as advisors and to create the slate for the League’s future. At the beginning of the year, we needed to place the Communications Assistant Vice President, and Tara Jones agreed to serve in the position for this League year, and move into the Vice President role next year.

In September, we opened applications and nominations for Executive Vice President-Elect and President-ElectElect. After serious thought and consideration, we are pleased to announce the slate that will be voted upon at Small Group Meetings in November.

ALEX PERSON has agreed to serve as Executive Vice President-Elect for the 2021-2022 League year, and will serve as EVP for the 2022-2023 year.

Alex joined the League in 2012 due to her desire to help people and her love for volunteering. Her time has brought some of her greatest friendships and memories, especially the three years she spent on the Shopping for a Cause Market committee, her forever favorite placement. Alex claims, “those years were hard, but taught me a lot about myself, how to be a leader, and handle adversity when deciding to ‘sunset and celebrate’ the placement.” Alex has been married to John David Person for nine and a half years,

and is mother to Andrew, 5, and Anna Claire, 2, and dog, Bailey. Fun fact: John David was even awarded an honorary Leading Lady award by former President Melanie Peacock.

They love spending time relaxing at their home in Haughton, where Alex loves cheering her Razorbacks on Saturdays.

As EVP, Alex hopes to encourage members to step out of their comfort zones and instill in them that they are capable of doing great things, and being leaders. She also wants to grow fundraisers, identify community needs and possible projects, and get members engaged and more active in the JLSB.

GINNY LAMB will assume the role of President-Elect-Elect for the remainder of the 2021-2022 year. Ginny will become President-Elect in the 20222023 League year, and President during the 2023-2024 term. When Ginny joined the League, she was looking to serve the Shreveport community, and wanted to be a part of a well-run organization, after watching her mother, now a Sustainer, serve the JLSB. Most of her time has been with in-League placements—her favorite being Designer Bag Bingo. Ginny has seen first-hand the support that the League offers its members when her son was born five weeks early, and six days before DBB, when the Board, committee, and League friends stepped in to help make the fundraiser an incredible success. Ginny looks forward to serving the JLSB members within each placement to feel the same support that she did, and to truly see the important role that each placement has, and to help engage and build membership. Ginny lives in Shreveport, with her husband Rich; children, Virginia and Chip, as well as a baby girl on the way; and their fur babies, Archie and Teddy. j l sb .o rg | W in te r 2 0 21 PAR IS H S COPE

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September

SUPER SAFETY

Thank you for sharing in the success of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier’s 12th annual Super Safety Saturday event! Every September for the past 12 years, the Junior League has partnered with Sheriff’s Safety Town to provide a way for the community to come together to learn about various safety techniques. In previous years, we have had vendors from various businesses in town come out to teach children on different safety topics. Children would visit different stations at the event to learn about water safety, body safety, firearm safety, and more. We also provide a fun “touch-a-truck” section that allowed children to view different safety vehicles, heavy machinery, and even a helicopter up close and in a safe environment. However, this year our committee was again faced with safety challenges and ultimately came to the decision to host our 2nd annual virtual Super Safety September event. Instead of asking vendors

View more projects on our website & social media

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Sara Whetstone

to come to our in-person event on September 25, we asked local businesses to provide videos for the Junior League to post on our social media outlets throughout the entire month of September. Through this virtual event, we were able to safely reach thousands of families in the comfort of their homes. This also allowed us to expand our archive of safety information that can be viewed on our social media pages any time in the future. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to view these videos and even share them with your friends and family!

In addition to the content that was posted to social media, Sheriff’s Safety Town hosted their annual Car Seat Safety checks on National Car Seat Safety day, September 25. At this event, families were able to pull into Sheriff’s Safety Town and have certified car seat safety technicians inspect their car seats to make sure that the children in our community are buckled in correctly. We are always excited to see how many families come out to this event each year to make sure their little ones are safe in the car. If you have been unable to attend the Super Safety Saturday event in the past, we hope that you will add this event to your calendar and that we will be able to see you out at Safety Town soon!

A special thanks to everyone who provided content for this year’s event, helped gather videos from our committee partners, and shared our posts on social media. We also appreciate the help and support of Lt. Richard Corbett and the law enforcement partners, volunteers, and participants who took time out of their busy schedules to help continue to teach kids in our community about safety. To the event committee, your hard work did not go unnoticed and really helped make this event another success!

SUPER SAFETY SEPTEMBER

WHEN:

ANNUAL REPORT

2020-2021

2020-2021

Board of Direct ors

LEADERSHIP & MEMBERSHIP 2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Photo: see page 19 President President-Elect Executive Vice President Secretary Treasurer Nominating Chairman PR&D Chairman Active Member at Large Active Member at Large Sustainer at Large Sustainer Advisor

Saige Solomon Sarah Giglio Margaret McDonald Hannah Alexander Michelle Wallace Ginny Lamb Emily Oliver Kezia Pigford Maggie Pressly Kim Foret Tracy Prestwood

2020-2021 MANAGEMENT TEAM Photo: see below Executive Vice President Communications Vice President Community Vice President Membership Vice President Fund Development Vice President Assistant Treasurer

Margaret McDonald Jennifer Bradford Kelly Clayton Rebecca Radford Alex Person Jennifer Pou

2020-2021 COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

The JLSB seeks out members of the community to serve as advisors lending their expertise in a variety of areas to the League. The JLSB was fortunate to have the following distinguished community leaders serve on the 2020-2021 Community Advisory Board.

Laura Alderman, Executive Director, Step Forward Sonja Bailes, Public Relations Liaison, Bossier Parish School Board Renee Ellis, Community Engagement Specialist, Caddo Parish Public Schools Kristi Gustavson, Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation of North Louisiana

SERVICE AWARDS

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Martha Marak, Executive Director, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana Chuck Meehan, President and Chief Executive Office, Volunteers of America of North Louisiana Clay Walker, Director of Juvenile Services, Caddo Parish

Volunteer of the Year: Chelsea Adcock and Michelle Hansen President’s Awards: Alex Person and Michelle Wallace

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Brooke Fegley and Jessica West

Amy Heron, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, CHRISTUS Health System Foundation

COMMUNITY IMPACT HEALTH LITERACY INITIATIVE

In the summer of 2020, the Junior League again partnered with the Salvation Army’s Boys & Girls Club to bring this program to school-age children but had to present all sessions virtually due to pandemic precautions. Health Literacy Initiative promotes healthy lifestyle choices to the students, and members act as health educators teaching children about fitness, tobacco use prevention, animal safety, nutrition, stranger danger, fire prevention, table manners, good financial practices, and oral health. Volunteers also provided crafts and healthy, fun snacks that are related to the theme of each week and delivered them to the Boys & Girls Club prior to each virtual session.

SUPER SAFETY SATURDAY

In September of 2020, the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier in partnership with Sheriff’s Safety Town, pivoted to transform our 11th annual Super Safety Saturday event into a month-long Super Safety September online campaign that was kicked off by Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins on September 1. With limitations in place for large-scale, in-person events, our creative committee members came up with alternatives that kept both our volunteers and participants safe while also providing the public with resources traditionally shared in person on the day of the event. Car seat checks were still done by the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office on site at Sheriff’s Safety Town on Saturday, September 26. Guests were able to “see a truck” as they drove through and received a goody bag from one of our trained volunteers at the end. While we missed our usual 1,000+ in-person crowd, we were thrilled to be able to expand our reach to an even wider (virtual) audience and our volunteers built a framework for incorporating more online content for future Super Safety Saturday events.

RED RIVER REVEL “ARTIST FOR A DAY”

While Revel 45 was postponed to 2021, Junior League volunteers still worked to create interactive art kits that were handed out at Super Safety Saturday and distributed to area schools. Additionally, our “Artist for a Day” committee partnered with the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance for pumpkin painting and decorating for kids free of charge. After the success of this committee being able to share the arts outside of the usual Revel setting, our membership voted to remove “Red River Revel” from the title of this community project so that it can be expanded beyond the week of the Revel to provide STEAM projects to a broader local population. Our volunteers were back at the Revel and “Artist for a Day” tent in the children’s area this past October!

RED APRON PANTRY

A partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, our Red Apron Pantry is a food pantry continued to operate at JLSB Headquarters providing supplemental nutrition to households, enabling our League to continue the important work of combatting food insecurity in our community.

Our unique “client’s choice” model allows families to select available food items from our shelves, just like a traditional grocery store. Our dedicated volunteers worked hard to ensure that our Red Apron Pantry never missed a distribution date during the pandemic, the summer months, Hurricane Laura, and the winter snow and ice storms. Additionally, we received a generous donation of nearly $14,000 in April from Indigo Natural Resources to support our efforts in expanding refrigeration and food offerings for our client base.

SAFE SITTER

The Safe Sitter Program prepares teens, age 12-17, to be effectively trained babysitters. All too often, older children are left home to look after other children of all ages with little or no training to do so. Volunteers in this program teach the participants about the basics of child-care, first aid, Heimlich maneuver, general safety, and even how to start their own babysitting business. Due to COVID-19 precautions, we were only able to hold one Safe Sitter session last League year in April.

There were over a dozen participants for this paid session held at the JLSB Headquarters.

MAGIC

MAGIC: Mentoring Ambitious Girls to Inspire Change provides opportunities for our members to interact with girls in our community twice a month and educate them on a variety of topics including financial literacy, healthy relationships, nutrition, etiquette, and voluntarism. While all sessions this year were virtual in partnership with the Volunteers of America Teen Club, volunteers were still able to provide interactive programs to help the girls form lasting mentor relationships while learning valuable life lessons.

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FUND DEVELOPMENT 1933 SOCIETY

In our fifth year of raising money through our annual fund, the 1933 Society, we found these funds to be critical to our overall financial stability. Given the postponement of the Revel and the alterations that had to be made to many of our other fundraisers due to the pandemic, the support provided by members of the 1933 Society was crucial to our success. We were overwhelmed by the generous support of the over 50 individual donors that met and surpassed our fundraising goal this year.

Net Profit: $26,250

COOKBOOK SALES

Our longest running source of income comes from cookbook sales. We are pleased to offer three unique books, including the award-winning Mardi Gras to Mistletoe featuring 12 months of festivals, events, and more than 200 seasonal recipes. Revel, originally published in 1980 and then reissued in a 20th anniversary edition in 2000, has sold over 50,000 copies and includes party menus for each of the four seasons. Finally, A Cooks Tour, originally published in 1964, features dishes elegant enough for fine dinner parties and casual enough for picnics, and is truly a journey back into your grandmother’s kitchen.

Net Profit: $4,829

RED RIVER REVEL PEPSI SALES

The now world-famous Red River Revel Arts Festival was founded by the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc. and given to the City of Shreveport in 1976 as a bicentennial gift. The Revel is held annually in October on the Shreveport riverfront and attracts thousands of visitors to the area. Unfortunately, Revel 45 had to be postponed to 2021, so the Junior League was unable to participate in our annual Revel Pepsi sales fundraiser. Our volunteers looked forward to being back in the Pepsi booths in October.

Net Profit: $0

PUMPKIN PATCH AT PROVENANCE

This year we held our fourth annual Pumpkin Patch at Provenance. While many of the activities that make our Pumpkin Patch so fun (craft projects, movie nights, storytelling, hayrides, etc.) had to be cancelled due to either weather or out of an abundance of caution regarding the pandemic, we were still able to raise funds for the League through generous sponsorships and the sale of pumpkins and surpass our fundraising numbers from previous years. Overall, we sold nearly $33,000 in pumpkins!

Net Profit: $13,633

KING CAKE CLASSIC – 10K, 5K AND FUN RUN

The King Cake Classic has become the signature racing event of the Junior League. When it became clear to the KCC committee that the winter surge of COVID-19 may cause hesitation among runners, it was decided that our run would be moved to a virtual format instead of the usual in person event. In addition to this revised format, the virtual run wrapped up in the middle of one of the biggest winter storms the Shreveport-Bossier area has seen in decades. Still, our volunteers persisted and made the most out of the circumstances while still raising funds for the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier.

Net Profit: $3,516

DESIGNER BAG BINGO

Designer Bag Bingo also made the tough decision to move to an all-virtual platform and launched the JLSB “Bags, Bourbon and Bling” virtual raffle in March. This new socially-distanced event was held April 18–22 via virtual and social media platforms and featured three separate categories of raffle items. The first category, “Treat Yourself,” included items such as spa packages, handbags, facials, hair tools, jewelry, paintings submitted by local artists, etc. The second category­,“Bags and Bling” raffle, featured Gucci and Louis Vuitton handbags, exquisite Sid Potts jewelry, and two $1,500 shopping spree gift baskets from Clarkes Jewelers.

Finally, the third category was our Bourbon raffle, which featured a large variety of rare bourbons. This virtual raffle was a HUGE success, selling over $20,000 in raffle tickets.

Net Profit: $17,591

GIVE FOR GOOD DAY

The Junior League partnered with the Community Foundation and participated in Give for Good Day. The 24-hour online giving challenge raises unrestricted funds for nonprofits in our community. This day of giving celebrates local nonprofits and allows the community an opportunity to support these valuable programs and organizations. Part of the JLSB’s mission is to promote voluntarism and improve communities, and participating in Give for Good is one way we celebrated generosity and elevated the conversation about philanthropy in the Shreveport-Bossier community.

Net Profit: $1,926

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CORPORATE SPONSORS We are so grateful for our corporate, year-long sponsors that support our mission through monetary and in-kind donations. These sponsors include: The CHRISTUS Health System Foundation Clarkes Jewelers and Sid Potts Fine Jewelry

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANTS BASIC NECESSITIES The Board of Directors was delighted to present local non-profit organization Basic Necessities with a CAP Grant in May along with a donation of diapers that were given to the JLSB in 2020. Basic Necessities Board Member Dr. Jaime Cantrell was present for the presentation from President Saige Solomon, President-Elect Sarah Giglio, and EVP/PEE Margaret McDonald. The mission of Basic Necessities is to serve low-income clients in the ArkLaTex by providing specific non-food items including diapers, period products, and incontinence supplies. Funds from the CAP grant will be used to purchase these items which are in high demand.

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FINANCIAL REPORT FUND DEVELOPMENT

TREASURER’S REPORT

$4,829

ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $637,622.91 Accounts receivable $0 Inventory $55,334.62 Property and equipment $427,404.48 Long-term Investments $10,000

$26,250

$17,591

$3,516

$13,633

TOTAL ASSETS

$15,129

$1,130,362.01 $11,102

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Long-term debt Accounts payable and accrued expenses Deferred revenue

$0 $3,713.93 $41,987.00

TOTAL LIABILITIES

$45,700.93

$1,926

NET ASSETS

$1,084,661.08

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

$1,130,362.01

■ 1933 Society Sponsorship.................. $26,250 ■ Individual Donations........................... $15,129 ■ Give for Good Donations....................... $1,926 ■ Corporate Donations.......................... $11,102 ■ Red River Revel Pepsi Commission............$0 ■ Pumpkin Patch (net)........................... $13,633 ■ King Cake Classic (net)........................ $3,516 ■ Designer Bag Bingo (net)................... $17,591 ■ Cookbook Sales.................................... $4,829

CAP GRANTS The Junior League of Shreveport-­Bossier operates a Community Assistance Program (CAP) whose purpose is to provide monetary grants for short-­term critical needs of nonprofits in the Shreveport-­Bossier area.

2020-2021 CAP GRANT RECIPIENTS Basic Necessities

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

$2,000 $3,000 $498

$3,000

$660 $127 $156

$1,679

$306

$2,200

MEMBER TRAINING, EDUCATION, & ENGAGEMENT

$3,800 $1,200

$2,600

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■ AJLI Winter Conference......................... $3,800 ■ JLSB New Member Training.................. $2,600 ■ JLSB Member Training and Education... $1,200 ■ Sustainer Engagement........................... $2,200

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■ Community Assistance Grants.... $3,000 ■ Health Literacy Initiative............... $127 ■ MAGIC............................................ $306 (Mentoring Ambitious Girls to Inspire Change)

■ Red Apron Pantry....................... $1,679 ■ Red River Revel Arts Education...... $156 ■ Safe Sitter...................................... $660 ■ Super Safety Saturday.................. $498 ■ Scholarships.............................. $2,000

Thank You TO THOSE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE 1933 SOCIETY

LEAGUE PARTNERS ($250)

LEAGUE LEADERS ($1,000) Betsy V. Boze Broox Boze Nancy Cosse Kim Foret Judy McColgan Maggie McElroy Peggy Murphy & Carolyn Murphy Thompson Tracy Prestwood

Susan Adams

CORPORATE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

BAGS, BOURBON & BLING SPONSORS

Katie Adger

CHRISTUS Health System Shreveport-Bossier

Nancy Broyles

Clarkes Jewelers

Ben’s Body Basics

Susan Cox Helen E. DeBeaux

Indigo Natural Resources Sid Potts, Inc.

Melissa Flores

SUPER SAFETY SATURDAY SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Paula Frierson

Caddo Parish Commission

Michelle Everson

Sylvia K. Goodman Elba Hamilton

Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Sheriff’s Safety Town SPAR Summer Grove Baptist Church

Lynn S. Roos

Angie Hemken

Leslie Scott

Tara Jones

PUMPKIN PATCH SPONSORS

Saige Solomon

Tracy Jones

Coca-Cola

Mrs. Lacy Williams (Edie Broyles)

Hollisann Kent

Seth Winterer

Ginger Lukacs Peggy Lyons

LEAGUE ADVOCATES ($500) Katherine Baker Heather & Justin Courtney Lee O’Brien Davis Margaret Evans Sarah Giglio Betty Henderson Melinda A. Hernandez

Maggie Malone Lesa McDonald Margaret McDonald

Dillas Primo Quesadillas Gilmer & Giglio, LLC Home Federal Bank Provenance Realty Group Pure Barre

Allison Santos Art Black and White Nail Salon Bliss Wax Bar Brookshire’s Clarkes Jewelers Club Pilates Couture Hair Salon Cuban Liquor Dermatology and Skin Care Dillard’s Gautreau Gallery Favorite Sisters Boutique FIXX Med Spa Frank’s Pizza Napoletana Fresh Dental JAC Clothing Jane Allen Jewelry John Pickens Kendra Scott Louisiana Coin Exchange Lowder Art

Sid Potts, Inc.

Lululemon

Sugarwalk Popcorn

M Boutique Moore Active

Jodie McJunkins

KING CAKE CLASSIC SPONSORS

Vickie Meadows

A Kid’s Choice Educational Services Foundation

Pretenses Boutique

Patricia N. Miramon

Breathe Yoga Shreveport

Red Barn Cajun Crawfish

Clarkes Jewelers

Robyn Stewart

Sybil Patten Angie Phares Heather Price

Oasis Salon Pizza Rev

Jennifer Bradford Photography

Salon 101

jweinland Group Benefits

Sid Potts, Inc.

Lowder Banking Company

Social Butterfly

Liz Lafitte

lululemon

Twisted Root

Michele Q=Petersen

Pizza Rev

Vickie Meadows

Stacey Melerine

Kelly Kilpatrick Turner

Quality Shades & Shutters

Melanie Peacock

Marie Vanderlick

Jane Sugar

Erin Walker, DDS Family Dentistry

Red River Bank

GIVE FOR GOOD DONORS

Southern Roots Dentistry

Heather Myers

Torchy’s

Carolyn Murphy

MISSION: The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc. 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. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

VISION: The Junior League: Women Around the World as Catalysts for Lasting Community Change.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: The Junior League welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations, and communities.

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Provenance

PUMPKIN PATCH AT

Maria Woodley

How do you repair a broken Jack-O-Lantern? With a pumpkin patch!

Thank you to everyone who made the 2021 Junior League Pumpkin Patch a “smashing” success. This year we were able to “outgrow” 2020 in so many ways, and I am proud to have been part of this wonderful fundraiser!

This year’s patch was truly all about the ShreveportBossier community. With the help of the Centenary Women’s Gymnastics, BPCC SGA, and LSUS Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Soccer and Baseball, we had several fun activities for children on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month. Several members of the LSUS Men’s Basketball team helped us unload our initial batch of pumpkins, which added up to be about 3,000 pumpkins of all shapes and sizes! If you have a chance to catch any of these wonderful students at a game or other event, be sure to cheer extra loud as a thank you for all their wonderful assistance.

Artist for a Day had a wonderful program the last weekend of October. Kids of all ages had a fantastic time painting and decorating their pumpkins they hand picked from the r Leag nio u

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THANK YOU YOU THANK TO OUR SPONSORS!

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Great Pumpkin

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patch. It was so much fun to see members of Junior League show up to work at the patch and help kids with their pumpkins. There were plenty of “gourd-eous” pumpkins that left the patch with the proud budding artists.

Many thanks to the businesses whose contributions helped make this year’s pumpkin patch possible: Janet Meir Design, Dement Bros’ Boxing, Centenary College, The Coca Cola Company, Ferris Office Supply, CHRISTUS Health System, Hargrove Roofing, Sugarwalk Popcorn, Sid Potts Jewelry, Rhino Coffee, Wicker Construction, and Whitlock’s Plumbing. Provenance Neighborhood was gracious enough to allow use of the beautiful Windrush Park for our setup, which made for some amazing fall photos. El Cabo Verde and Frank’s Louisiana Kitchen hosted a profit share meal night; it was wonderful to see so many people turn out to eat some good food for a good cause.

The Pumpkin Patch committee and I would like to thank all of you for making this year “pumpkin” to talk about. Until next year, keep it “pumpkin spicy”!

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Jack-O-Lantern

In Kind

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RED RIVER REVEL

Update

This year was quite a special year for the Revel as it was the first year back since COVID-19 caused its closure in 2020. Excitement was high this year as patrons returned for all of their favorite activities, vendors, food, and live music.

Last year’s fall season just didn’t quite feel right without this local gem of a festival.

This week-long celebration of arts, music, and of course, food manages to draw in thousands of patrons to see, shop, and taste from many vendors from old and new. As many already know, the Revel serves as a consistent contributing factor to the League’s Fund Development. The funds raised also allow the League to support many of its other programs throughout the community. “The Revel is a great way to serve the League and the community of Shreveport/ Bossier. It’s an excellent opportunity to tell people about the JLSB, listen to great music, and indulge in tasty treats,” says Nominating Chairman, Courtney McBee.

The Revel is perhaps one of the most anticipated volunteer opportunities in the League. It gives members a chance to meet other members, immerse themselves in the local culture, and give back to the community all at once. “Selling Pepsis and seeing everyone together at Festival Plaza for the Red River Revel reminded me of my Provisional year and how welcoming the Actives were as I got to know not only the Junior League but Shreveport-Bossier. I’m so thankful for JLSB helping me feel at home here in Shreveport, and I was so glad to be surrounded by my fellow JLSB members and our SBC community!” says Communications Vice President, Kirsten Shrewsberry.

Alongside many new faces of local and distant vendors, the tried and true Junior League activities and booths stood strong as they returned better than ever!

Patrons quenched their thirst at one of the two staple

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Emily Hamann

Pepsi drink booths and were greeted by the smiling faces of Provisional and Active members alike. “I would say for the Pepsi booth, I enjoyed getting to spend time with other JLSB members at differing points in their membership. It really is great getting to know other professional women from so many different backgrounds. Also, the Pepsi booth was so much fun! Live music, funnel cakes, and good vibes! Is there a better way to spend an afternoon?” says Provisional Member Cassie Key.

The Pepsi booth is always a fun one, especially for Provisionals, as it allows volunteers a great view of the stage, the chance to meet many new people, and run into friends and family along the way!

In the Children’s area, families enjoyed a recently added fall-themed booth that you may recognize, the Junior League Pumpkin Patch. This mini patch only seemed natural given the popularity of the JLSB Pumpkin Patch at Provenance. So a huge thanks goes out to all of the volunteers who went out of their way to make sure that mini-patch stayed stocked!

As well as the Pumpkin Patch, Junior League members ran the ever-popular fan favorite, Artist for a Day booth. It was met yet again with resounding success! “I had the opportunity to work a shift at the Artist for a Day station. I loved this station so much! We got to work with children to create one of a kind masterpieces with pumpkin painting and door hangers. It was so rewarding watching the kids get excited over their creations. This is definitely an area that I would like to serve in again.” says Provisional Member, Tiffany Sandifer.

Since 1976, the Red River Revel, has served as the Bicentennial gift to the City of Shreveport. While this might be a well-known fact to our members, be sure to tell friends and family, as it is often a pleasant surprise!

KingCake Classic

Save Date

5K / 10K / FUN RUN

Get ready to run, walk, or even sleep in! It’s nearly time for the 6th Annual King Cake Classic 5K, 10K, Fun Run and Virtual Races! Save the date and mark your calendars for Saturday, February 26, 2022; the festivities begin at 7:45 a.m.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2022 event offerings will include an in-person race! The King Cake Classic committee is in partnership with Run Wild for race management; our new race host, Great Raft Brewing; and our very own Lowder Baking Company to create a race day experience you won’t forget. Rally your friends and family both near and far to help make this sixth annual event our biggest turn out yet.

A new host means a new course. Together, we’ll tackle the rolling hills of historic Highland—once if you’re lucky, twice if you’re really in it for the Mardi Gras spirit. If you’re joining us virtually, charter your own course from anywhere and be sure to submit your time on our official race sign page. All participants will start and finish from Great Raft Brewing—and be sure to come hungry! With a new food truck and locallyrenowned caterer, there will be more than enough to go around. But the best part, that slice of king cake compliments of Lowder Baking Company as post run fuel, live music to invite you across the finish line, and a photo booth to capture the fun. As always, costumes are not only welcome but celebrated!

Registration for all events will go live on Run.Sign.

Up.com (search “King Cake Classic”) mid-November.

Sign up early to secure yourself a shirt and the best rate.

Also, the King Cake Classic committee is on the hunt for sponsors of this fun-filled family event. If you or your business would like to sponsor the King Cake Classic, please contact me, Elizabeth Wendt, or anyone on the King Cake Classic committee.

And lastly, the King Cake Classic committee’s first priority is to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Should there be a change in COVID-19 protocol come February, we are ready and prepared to make adjustments to meet the latest guidelines.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Elizabeth Wendt

THE

FEB. 26, 2022 AT GREAT RAFT BREWERY

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Memorable Moment s

Pumpkin Patch at Provenance

Provisional Meeting 30

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Red Apron Pant ry

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A BUNDLE OF COOKBOOKS FOR THE

Holidays

Cookbooks have been out and about in October cooking up a “bundle” of new holiday memories. They could be found at the Pumpkin Patch at Provenance becoming part of special pumpkin and popcorn gift baskets. They were also spotted at Lowder Baking Company.

For fall and holiday gifts, you can snuggle Cookbook Bundles into gift baskets with warm bread and pastries from Lowder Baking Company using these pairing ideas below.

Sarah Lowder is a JLSB member, and we wish her the best with Lowder Baking Company and her new deli, Docs!

Fall and holiday gift giving Cookbook Bundles have been specially created and priced with one each of the A Cook’s Tour, Revel and Mardi Gras to Mistletoe. Gift baskets

full of Cookbook Bundles, Sarah’s goodies, and items from your favorite boutique or gift store would make a fabulous gift to family, friends, or clients.

Or just wrap the Cookbook Bundles with raffia or ribbon and decorate with a wooden spoon and a bow! Think of the good you can do and the fun you can have by making many of your fall and holiday gifts as Cookbooks Bundles along with an invitation to get together to cook with family and friends.

Together we CAN help our Junior League even more.

Let’s turn a few thousand cookbooks into several thousand dollars for our great family food projects like Red Apron Pantry or Health Literacy Institute!

FOR SOME GREAT RECIPES AND BREAD PAIRINGS, SARAH SUGGESTS:

BLACK EYED PEA DIP – PAIRED WITH CROSTINIS FROM LOWDER BAKING COMPANY Mardi Gras to Mistletoe, p. 18 ½ cup (1 stick) butter 1 roll garlic cheese, chopped 6 ounces Mexican Velveeta cheese, or 1 (6-ounce) roll garlic cheese spread 2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas with jalapeño chiles, drained ½ white onion or equivalent amount of green onions, chopped 4 garlic cloves

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Heat the butter, garlic cheese, and Velveeta cheese in a saucepan over low heat until blended, stirring frequently. Stir in the black-eyed peas, onion, and garlic. Process the black-eyed pea mixture in a blender until pureed.

Return the puree to the saucepan and cook over low heat just until heated through, stirring occasionally. Serve warm with crostinis. Serves 15 to 20.

ELECTRIC SKILLET STROGANOFF – PAIRED WITH JALAPEÑO CHEDDAR BREAD FROM LOWDER BAKING COMPANY Revel Cookbook, p. 131 2 lbs. sirloin cut in strips 4 tablespoons butter ½ cup tomato juice Dash of garlic salt or powder 1 8-ounce can mushrooms, stems and pieces 2 teaspoons of salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1 10 ¾-ounce can of cream of mushroom soup 1 8-ounce carton sour cream

Heat skillet to 400 degrees. Trim meat well and brown slightly in the butter, about 5-8 minutes. Add tomato juice and garlic. Cover (leave vent open) and when steaming, turn control to simmer (200 – 225 degrees), for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Stir mushrooms, seasonings, soup, and sour cream into meat mixture. Turn off.

Can be reheated with served. Serve over rice. Serves four to six.

BAKED ONION SOUP – PAIRED WITH FRENCH BREAD FROM LOWDER BAKING COMPANY A Cook’s Tour, p. 23 3 lbs. purple onions 6 beef bouillon cubes 1 loaf French Bread from Lowder Baking Company 10 cups water 2-3 tablespoons salt Parmesan cheese

Slice onions into rings and saute in butter for about 15 minutes until they soften. Melt bouillon cubes in one cup water and add to onion rings and 9 cups water. Slice bread and break into small pieces and submerge in water. Bring mixture to boil and cook over lowest possible flame for 5 or 6 hours. Can cook 9 or 10 hours and longer—cooking improves flavor. Toward end of cooking add salt. Ladle the thick soup into baking dishes. Sprinkle with thick layer of dry grated Parmesan cheese. Place under broiler until cheese melts and develops a cold crust. Serves six.

For more information on Cookbook Bundles, reach out to Cookbook Chair, Maggie Malone at 318-469-8476 or magstern@bellsouth.net.

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Celebrations

Congratulations to Parishscope Business Manager, Elizabeth Daeschner (Active), who became engaged to James Vislocky on September 10, 2021.

He took Elizabeth to her favorite restaurant in Houston for dinner and then to Discovery Green to watch the sunset. There, Elizabeth found where he had set up a pictures-of-us-and-rose-petal-display and got down on one knee! After many happy tears, he surprised her with an engagement party downtown with family and friends. They will be married October 8, 2022.

Transfers-In

& MEMBER Amanda Quelly Hometown: San Antonio, TX Transferring from: Junior League of Oklahoma City Hobbies: Traveling, running, college football

Margaret Sanders Hometown: Columbia, SC Transferring from: Durham, NC Hobbies and Interests: Reading and discussing medieval literature (nerd, I know), gardening, painting (I have an Etsy shop where I sell my work, Meg Sanders Art), chatting with friends over coffee, traveling, and binge-watching Lord of the Rings.

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Call us today for an appointment!

QUADRANGLE OFFICE CENTER

2001 East 70th St., Suite 313 Shreveport, LA 71105 34

318.797.4321

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Dr. Erin Walker is currently an Active member of the Junior League!

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