








Dear JLO Friends,
What a difference a year makes!
During the 2021-2022 year, The Junior League of Omaha navigated the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to keep our volunteers safe while creatively resuming community service and training efforts designed to yield maximum impact. Our 650+ strong members continued the organization’s 103 year legacy of service, leadership development and empowering women. JLO members showed time and time again their commitment to supporting each other during unique and challenging times.
Of the many accomplishments and milestones we celebrated this year, one of the most significant was the 25th birthday celebration of our beloved Junior League of Omaha Foundation. We are one of only 16 worldwide Junior Leagues with a dedicated foundation, and we are incredibly grateful for JLOF’s ongoing support. Thank you to Foundation President Jacque Christianson, the entire JLOF board, and all our generous donors for making the yearlong birthday celebration a huge success!
From hosting our new JLO Classic golf-themed fundraiser to kicking off our new Kitchen Connections initiative, the ‘21-‘22 League year also included plenty of fresh and exciting opportunities. Our Diversity & Inclusion and Training teams coordinated plenty of thought-provoking and skill-refining programs. Members contributed 10,190+ volunteer hours and raised more then $123,400 to support our community and training initiatives.
While the past few years have been difficult, I know they have also made us stronger. As I transition to Sustainer status, I am proud to say our membership is as capable, intelligent, and energized as ever. JLO members have always been a force for positive change and I know we will continue to be for many years to come!
Thank you for your support of our organization and for empowering our members.
In gratitude,
Executive Vice President - Alysia Radicia
Executive Vice President-Elect - Jillian Humphries
Finance Manager - Ashley Stevens
Recording Secretary - Molly Junge
Communications Council Director - Elizabeth Draney
Communications Council Asst. Director - Allison Stebbins
Community Impact Council Director - Emily Barr
Community Impact Council Asst. Director - Shannon Lang
Fundraising Council Director - Catherine Bogacz
Fundraising Council Asst. Director - Molly Nelsen
Membership Council Director - Morgan Boler
Membership Council Asst. Director - Anne Bowen
Bylaws Manager - Alicia McCormick
Diversity & Inclusion Chair - Catie Baker
Sustainer Engagement Chair - Kiley Freeman
Sustain Advisors - Leslie Mayo & Lexie Frahm
President - Katie Triplett
President-Elect - Lisa Buckentine
Financial Vice President - Lauren Hellman
Recording Secretary - Molly Junge
Corresponding Secretary - Mary Trecek
Executive Vice President - Alysia Radicia
Nominating Chair - Stevie Gerken
Bylaws Chair - Alison Burcham
Member-at-Large - Katy Spratte Joyce
Member-at-Large - Maggie McGlade Palmer
Diversity & Inclusion Vice President Sarah Hanify Sustainer Advisors - Wanda Gottschalk & Megan Riebe Reay
The Management team diligently worked this year to accomplish many of the goals outlined in the Annual Plan, which supports our Strategic Plan. Notable highlights include:
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Utilized post-event community impact shift surveys to analyze shift effectiveness and membership satisfaction.
⚫ Increased opportunities for interaction across membership types.
⚫ Worked towards creating an inclusive environment through integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into organizational operations and culture.
Throughout the year, the Management Team gauged, analyzed, and identified potential future opportunities to increase membership satisfaction. There continues to be opportunity for the League to grow and impact all who interact with the League, members and community included.
Coming out of the pandemic the Junior League of Omaha is still working on growing our newest fundraisers to help support our League operations, training initiatives and new program, Kitchen Connections. Our Fundraising Council worked hard to host the first year of JLO Classic and put on a successful Bargain Bash in March! In addition, they laid the groundwork for our Savor the Night event which will be debuting in April 2023! The main source of income continues to be our JLO members and Sustainers. Whether buying tickets for a fundraising event, volunteering your time, or donating items to the league; any support you make will correlate to the financial success of the Junior League of Omaha.
We continue to be ever grateful for the Junior League of Omaha Foundation who provided a generous $14,000 to the League! In totaal The League finished with a revenue of $123,400.
Continuing into the 2022-2023 League year are 28 amazing leaders who will make a positive impact in the League for years to come based on their energy and willingness to socialize, serve, and assist in all ways with JLO. Our New Members experienced a “non-traditional” year in stride and were up for any task including a Minute-to-Win-It Summer Social, Fall Ollie the Trolley History Tour, Spring Brunch + Bargain Bash, and Graduation Bunco Bon Voyage, to name a few!
The League strives to meet our New Members wherever they are and empower them to make the connection of garnered intensity and volunteerism. We want the New Member Training Year to be one that connects New Members to their JLO journey. We can’t wait to see what these incredible women do for our League and the Omaha community.
The New Member Year was so fun and comfortable. Seriously, such a great environment for the girls.
Erin Fairchild, 2021-2022 Core Group Leader
The Membership Council, along with the New Member Committee, welcomed the 103rd class of Junior League members this year.
⚫ Our Social & Hospitality Committee helped bring back in-person and hybrid meetings and socials while still keeping them fun and engaging.
⚫ Our Training Committee adapted to host in-person and virtual training sessions for our members.
⚫ Along with AJLI, our Placement Committee launched the Placement Matching Tool to improve the placement process and make it more user-friendly for members.
⚫ Our Mentorship Committee worked diligently this last year to prepare for a Summer 2022 launch of a Mentorship/Sustainer pilot program.
The Training Committee provided trainings for members on a wide variety of topics including:
⚫ Caring for YOU to Avoid Burnout - Virtual training given by mental health professional Monica Lewis
⚫ LinkedIn Training - Virtual training given by Angie Shukert, Senior Marketing Manager at LinkedIn
⚫ Gender Equity Training - Virtual training given by Lisa Schulze, Education and Training Director of the Women’s Fund of Omaha
⚫ Great Plains Black History Museum TourIn-person tour
⚫ Enhancing your Eco-efforts - Virtual training given by Hillside Solutions
We also partnered with other League committees on training to expand reach and develop cross-committee collaboration. In conjunction with the Social & Hospitality committee, we helped offer four different training sessions for members during the November General Membership Meeting (GMM) in place of a more traditional GMM. (The theme was Holistic Holidays.)
The evening kicked off with a keynote training from Mary Clare Sweet of Lotus House of Yoga where present members learned breathing and yoga techniques to reduce stress and improve mindfulness that can be done while seated.
After the keynote, members chose one of three breakout training activities: Mindfulness (hosted by Mary Clare Sweet), Holiday Wine Pairings (hosted by Field Club featuring wines from women-owned and/or minority-owned vineyards), or Holiday Tablescapes on a Budget (hosted by Everbloom Floral and Gift, a local women-owned business). These offerings proved very popular and we plan to collaborate with Social & Hospitality again.
Thank you to our external community partners and internal JLO partners for donating their time and expertise to help us put on so many wonderful training events!
Our Training Committee was small but mighty, and we were able to execute a wide variety of training subjects.
Leslie Noty, 2021-2022 Training Committee Chair
This year, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee hosted various trainings to help members continue their education in diversity, equity and inclusion. We kicked off the year with a training hosted by Inclusive Communities, which helped members understand unconscious bias and the cycle of socialization. We co-hosted with the Training Committee a successful training at the Great Plains Black History Museum where we learned about both local and national Black History, including a great Women’s HERStory exhibit highlighting women leaders from Omaha. Finally, our last training of the year was on Tokenism, looking at how people are tokenized and how we can be better allies. Beyond the many great trainings led by outside trainers our committee also led monthly Book and Movie Club discussions. In 2022 the committee looks forward to hosting our second “Midwest Diversity and Inclusion Summit” for the first time in person. The summit invites members of our League, as well as members from leagues across the Midwest, to come together and discuss issues of diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. The theme for the summit is, Women with IDEAs: Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity in Action, and will focus on providing actionable ways that we can create welcoming and inclusive environments for everyone.
2021-2022
“I enjoyed spending time with the New Member Recruitment Committee this year and the discussions about how we can recruit new members in a new way, to meet them where they are.”
Michelle Nelsen,
Diversity & Inclusion Vice Chair
One focus of the Community Impact Council this year was to train the general membership using our second edition of the Volunteer Guide. The committee partnered with the Training Committee to rollout multiple informational sessions. The Volunteer Guide has information that League members can use to develop their skills as a volunteer within the Junior League of Omaha, as well as additional information on our community partners and programming.
“CRaD was in a building and planning phase this year as we determined data needs, selected software, and organized steps for the upcoming year.”
Claire Du Laney, 2021-2022 CRaD Vice Chair
Done-in-a-Day
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Completion of the zip code mapping project, which supports our focus area of access to healthy foods. The project creates a visual of Omaha, color-coding locations where the League currently serves, as well as maps out opportunities for future programming.
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Launch of our Kitchen Connections program, which is established programming to significantly impact hunger and access to healthy foods in the Omaha metro through educational and mentorship experiences with opportunity youth.
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Continued to offer one-off volunteer opportunities via our Done-in-a-Day Committee
This League year, the Done-in-a-Day (DIAD) Committee continued to provide volunteers opportunities that helped foster and strengthen our community partnerships. One standout volunteering event was with Lifehouse, which has now been re-branded the Nebraska Diaper Bank.
In addition to partnering with other agencies, the committee continued to offer more flexible, virtual options through League Letters which provided an opportunity for members to meet socially on Zoom and write thank you’s and notes of support to those in need of a little lift in the community.
Behind the scenes, The DIAD Committee worked with the Communications Council to revamp the longstanding committee program branding. With over 100 years of experience volunteering in the community, the League felt it was time to give this committee some new life. We hope you enjoy our new look as much as we do!
“It was great to be exposed this year to many of the ways that JLO offers trained volunteers in the community. I look forward to continuing those relationships next year and engaging with community partners and members to see how we can best serve the community and the members of the league with volunteer opportunities.”
Lindsey Kock, 2021-2022 DIAD Vice Char
gets a brand new look!
You are 19 years old. One a scale of one-to-ten, how would you rate your knowledge on nutrition, meal planning and prepping, and effective grocery shopping.
If your nutrition knowledge wasn’t exactly science-based, and your meal planning and prep were often handled by another (or non-existent), you’re not alone. Navigating a kitchen, preparing healthy foods and maximizing your food budget are all critical skills that can be learned, and that’s exactly what Kitchen Connections is all about
If you’re anything like us, your idea of nutrition back then wasn’t exactly science-based. And as for grocery shopping and meal prep? Your guardian or college dorm likely handled most of that for you. But what if you’re just coming out of the foster care system. You’re being expected to be a fully responsible adult for the first time ever, and you don’t have the support network of a family to show you the ropes. How do you learn to navigate a kitchen, prepare healthy foods, and maximize your monthly food budget?
That’s what Kitchen Connections is all about.
Our new signature program, Kitchen Connections, pairs a JLO mentor with a mentee who’s recently aged out of the foster care system. Together, each pair will create healthy cuisine, community, and a love of home cooking.
Each quarter, JLO mentors pair up with young adults through Project Everlast and each month, the teams meet to: At the end of each quarter,
During the 2021-2022 League year, Kitchen Connections mentors set up more than 50 young adults with the equipment, skills, and confidence they need to prepare healthy meals for themselves and their families.
JLO volunteers also provided childcare during the sessions for those young adults who have children, removing a critical barrier to participation.
This program is the first of its kind for the League…and one of the first of its kind anywhere!
Community Impact Council and the League as a whole is thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with young community members in such a fun, casual way. Cooking and eating together is one of the most powerful community building tools we have to offer!
We are so proud to have kicked off this incredible new program with the help of our partner, Project Everlast, who has been empowering young adults aging out of the foster system for more than 15 years. By teaching valuable life skills, financial literacy, and providing access to direct services and support, Project Everlast is the Omaha community’s gold standard for how to engage young people in the process to make sure the services provided really meet the need and empower better living.
We’re honored to have such a committed, collaborative partner and look forward to adding more partners in the future. We are grateful for the constant support of membership, donors and community that allows us to go out into our community to volunteer and provide this crucial programming to Omaha.
In November and February, JLO continued our partnership with Kendra Scott. Through these two Kendra Gives Back parties at the Village Pointe location, members and friends of the League gave back 20% of their sales to our organization and we raised over $650 for the League’s training and community programs.
Throughout the year, individual members and friends of the League donated over $150 through TAGG via their purchases to local small businesses throughout the Omaha Metro.
On Giving Tuesday, through our partnership with SHARE Omaha, we raised over $60 and were a $1000 Giving Tuesday Cash Prize Pool Winner.
Thank you to SHARE Omaha, Cox Communications Inc, Kiewit Corporation, PayPal and Physicians Mutual for making this donation possible.
We’ve raised over $360 over the course of the year when purchasers used our code!
Through our inaugural fundraiser with Sherwood Forest Farms, we raised over $750 and sold some wonderful holiday decor.
No ifs, ands, or “putts”, the JLO Classic was a success!
Our inaugural JLO Classic was held on September 26, 2021. While the event celebrated many wins during its debut, the imagination and research of the 20202021 Fund Development Committee set the stage for planning and execution, helping save time in the decision-making processes along the way.
Furthermore, our partnership with TopGolf was a hit. Although TopGolf is new to the Omaha area, it is not new to fundraising events and the partnership with them was an absolute “par-tee!”
Attendees sold out 23 bays, and the silent auction sold all 30 baskets which raised $2,940 for League training and programs. The committee is thankful for the support of its League members, Omaha sponsors and look forward to the continued support in the future.
In its fourth year, Bargain Bash was eager to plant its roots and found a wonderful partner in The Hope Center!
The Hope Center is a well known community space in Omaha with lots of foot traffic. This partnership is something both the Hope Center and the League want to cultivate to better serve the community and make Bargain Bash a community staple event.
And a permanent home was not the only new addition to the committee’s list of accomplishments. UHaul pickups were implemented to help secure larger donations from both Active and Sustainers from the League. The committee walked away with two UHaul trucks full of donations. They look forward to offering this again next year!
Bargain Bash was featured on KETV and the segment that aired attracted many shoppers including that of a family that suffered a devastating fire that was able to pick up much needed items at low cost to replace lost possessions. The League hopes to continue to provide a an event that is accessible to the community while raises funds to support our training and League programs that go back into our underserved communities. Overall, the sale raised $8,825. Remaining items were donated to the Salvation Army of Omaha, the Women’s Center for Advancement and the NorthStar Foundation.
None of this would be possible without the generous donation of storage from Mike Morris and Brenda Christensen of ThermoKing Christensen. The League also partnered with local company Firefighters on the Move who helped unload the trailer in record time. We are so grateful for their continued support of our mission.
When it comes to leaving their footprint in the League, the Communications Council has footprints throughout all committees and events. In fact, the last year alone, the Communications Council volunteered 850 hours.
The Communications Council, led by Chair Elizabeth Draney and Vice Chair Allison Stebbins, is composed of two committees: Marketing, led by Stephanie Poots; and Project Management, led by Katie Cunningham.
Notable highlights from this last year include:
Introduction of Member Spotlights
New logo for the Done-in-a-Day Committee
50+ graphic designs and 70+ social media posts
Both committees work hand-in-hand to ensure the League’s mission and offerings are promoted throughout our community, with our partners, and with our current members and future prospects - and that’s completed through various channels. From our online social media presence through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, through mailers, newsletters, fundraiser communications, and our blog (check out JLO Connections!), to our apparel and swag offerings, the Communications Council is involved every step of the way.
For example, this last year the committees successfully collaborated and worked in sync to ensure the first annual was thoroughly advertised and all promotional items created in time before the big day. The day was a big success and the committees have already started planning for next year.
The Communication Council is a partner for all committees and our goal is to continue educating and involving all committees to ensure promotion of our League. One focus area for the next League year is to review our social media presence and work toward a consistent appeal and regular messaging. We encourage all League members, past, present, and any prospective, to connect and engage with us.
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter: @jlomaha
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jlomaha/ Blog: https://jloconnections.com
Mary Lynn Reiser began her professional career teaching high school art in Lincoln, but she says she owes her second career directly to her experiences in the Junior League. Following her term as JLO President in 1986, a friend contacted her about a position at UNO developing a teacher training program. With that phone call, Mary Lynn began an almost 30-year career at UNO’s Center for Economic Education, helping teachers learn to integrate economics and personal finance into their teaching. She has published numerous research articles and wrote a national curriculum for grades 3-5 integrating economics and math into the classroom. Mary Lynn also started a program establishing in-school bank branches, which has now expanded to 26 schools across the state of Nebraska.
Mary Lynn served as President of the National Association of Economic Educators and was on the Board of the Council for Economic Education in New York. The Council represents the 250 Centers for Economic Education across the country. Mary Lynn received the John Schramm Leadership award in 2004 recognizing her contributions in developing a training program for new Center Directors.
Outside of work, Mary Lynn’s passion for volunteerism showed in many different ways, including serving as President of the Heartland Family Service Board. Through her tenure there, she started a Friends Guild and served as the Guild’s first President. Her League service included acting as President of the JLO Foundation Board and serving as Advisor to JLO President Katie Triplett. Mary Lynn currently serves on the Omaha Town Hall Board of Directors.
Initiated in 2004, the Woman to Watch award recognizes an active member’s support and dedication to the mission of the Junior League of Omaha: promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community. Given to a maximum of three members in the honor of the three founding members of the Junior League of Omaha, this award celebrates the spirit of volunteerism and aims to recognize individuals who have integrated their JLO training both in the community and within the League.
Photos by Roger Humphries PhotographyThe Junior League of Omaha Foundation was established in 1996 to provide a permanent source of income for the Junior League of Omaha. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible and are invested to provide long-term capital appreciation and income. Each year, a portion of the net investment is given to the League to support the mission, projects and other League business.
Highlights from this Year 2021-2022
The JLO Foundation Executive Committee was delighted to attend JLO’s first meeting. They presented President, Katie Triplett, with a check for $14,000 from donations collected last year, during Anne Lieben’s year as the 2020-2021 Foundation President. After two years of Covid lockdowns, everyone was grateful to be out celebrating.
The Annual Sustainer and Past Presidents’ Luncheon was held at Happy Hollow Club in October. The Foundation celebrated its “25th Birthday” with cupcakes and candles and everyone sang “Happy Birthday”. Past Presidents Kathy Martin, Sally Bisson-Best, Phyllis Choat, and Anne Lieben shared the highlights from their year as president. Laughs and applause ensued!
The JLO Foundation Annual meeting was held in May at which they celebrated departing board members Mary Dobleman, Kate Grabill, Judy Haecker and Christine Nikunenwho retire after 6 years of service. We thank them for their leadership. To say they will be missed is an understatement.
“The Foundation received generous donations from 180 donors for their annual appeal. Thanks to donors who raised $33,029! We really do appreciate what you did to make this a banner year. Bravo!!!”
Jaque ChristiansonTO OUR ANNUAL
Emily Barr
Jen Bartelt
Bleach Brain Clothing
Catherine Bogacz
Deanna Bosselman
Ashley Brabec
Dawn Buchanan
Lisa Buckentine
Bonnie Burke
Jill Bydalek Matt Carney
Chaley Chandler
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Linda Chloupek
Churchill’s Cigar Bar
Jessica Covi
Jessica Craft
Amanda Cramer
Maureen Crouchley
Dairy Products, Inc.
Everbloom Floral and Gift
Kimberly Falk
Family First Chiropractic
Field Club
Firefighers on the Move
Krystal Fox
Kiley Freeman
Garment District Omaha
Kathy Gerber
Brady Gibson
Lauren Gilmore
Ashley Gloystein
Dawn Gonzales
Lisa Gravelle
Great Plains Black History Museum
Mary Kate Gulick
Debbie Hart Heirloom
Justin Herron Hillside Solutions
Ann Hodgson
Sara Huse Iss Inc.
Mary Johnson
Kimberly Johnson Johanna Jones
Anna Jordan
Heidi Kalafut Beth Kalal
Sally Kalal
Joseph Kalal
Kendra Scott LLC
Ashton Klimes
Lake Ridge Golf Course
Amanda LaPuzza
Emily Lauritzen
Legacy Pilates, Yoga & More
Katherine Lessman
Kerri Lewis Trisha Lewis
Monica Lewis Trisha Liakos
Amanda Loomis
Lotus House of Yoga Jodie Mackintosh
Amanda Marshall
Megan McFarlin Maggie McGlade Palmer Sarah McGowan
Anne Medlock
Michele Merrill Maria Minderman
Macey Morgan Erin Murnan
Elizabeth Murphy Morgan Nebbia Christine Nikunen
Omaha School of Music and Dance Outback Steakhouse
Pennelope Parker
Patriot Homebrew Supply Jennifer Patten-Benson
Patricia Peterson
Kate Pitschka
Stephanie Poots
Quantum Workplace Alysia Radicia
RDG Planning & Design Fernanda Reutzel
Roger Humphries
Photography
Lisa Russell Nola Schettler
Deb Schmadeke
Allison Schorr Zach Lisa Schulze
Kayla Shafer Share Omaha Angie Shukert
Lynette Singer Brenda Smith
South Pacific Storage
The Puppy Plate
ThermoKing Christensen Lindsey Tonniges
Topgolf Lori Tupper
Vanilla Suede Designs
Heather Vanourney
Blake Wagner
Barbara “Babs” Weinberg
WestEnd Cocktails and Appetizers
Maureen Whalen
Becki Wiechman
Christina Wojcik Jennifer Zatechka Heike Zumdohme
Dear JLO Friends,
Since its inception, the Junior League of Omaha has prepared women to lead. As a supporter of the Junior League, you know that leaders from our organization have been instrumental in creating and building many of the programs in our metropolitan area. Over the years these programs have focused on childhood welfare and education, promotion of the arts and support resources for parents. The Junior League of Omaha is committed to developing the potential of women to become civic leaders and valued community volunteers. We provide training in leadership, community needs assessment, parliamentary procedure, project development and implementation, strategic planning, communications advocacy and fundraising. Equipped with this hands-on training, Junior League of Omaha members make an impact in the Omaha community!
The Junior League of Omaha has a 104-year history of meeting Omaha’s needs with an enthusiastic, well-trained volunteer force. Now, we’re turning that power to address one of Omaha’s most critical and unmet needs – hunger and access to healthy food. How does the League help? Through JLO Kitchen Connections, a program created, financially supported, and run by members of the Junior League of Omaha is an innovative, community-building way to teach home cooking to young adults aging out of the foster care system. League mentors pair up with young adults with the help of our partners Project Everlast, Child Saving Institute and Completely Kids where they learn healthy new recipes and nutrition basics, cook together in a safe, fun and friendly environment, share meals and create community. At the end of each quarter, young adults receive a complete kitchen kit including pots, pans, dishes, utensils, food storage and some small appliances so they can continue with their new cooking skills.
Despite the challenges of the last few years stemming from the pandemic the League will continue to strive towards our mission of training female leaders in our community. We are asking for your financial support for the 2022-2023 annual appeal as it is through support from our sustaining members and donors like you that the Junior League of Omaha’s tradition of a strong membership, impactful community involvement and relevant training will continue. Please know that every donation to the annual fund makes a difference, regardless of the amount.
Donations may be made online at jlomaha.org or can be mailed to the Junior League of Omaha at 12135 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Thank you for your continued support.
Gratefully,
Lisa
Junior League of Omaha
12135 Pacific Street Omaha, NE 68154
Junior League of Omaha is a 501(c)(3) non-porfit organization. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission, except by other Junior League of Omaha publications, is prohibited.
The Junior League of Omaha office is located at 12135 Pacific Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 61854. 402.493.8818. The Annual Report is a community publication of the Junior League of Omaha.