WE ARE THE
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ST. PETERSBURG MISSION The Junior League of St. Petersburg is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY We believe that creating and sustaining a diverse Membership is critical to our Mission. We are committed to centering equity, inclusion, and belonging in our individual, organizational, and community relationships.
IMPACT Our community impact area is School Success in Children & Youth, with a focus on literacy, health, and nutrition. We impact these areas through community projects, financial support, and hundreds of volunteer hours.
HEADQUARTERS 500 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, Suite 300, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 895-5018 | hq@jlstpete.org
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IN THIS ISSUE
SUMMER & FALL 2023 4
League Leadership
6
President’s Perspective
8
Report from the EVP
10
President-Elect’s Update
11
AJLI Conference Recap
12
Community Advisory Council
14
Care Fair Recap
18
Kids Create & Kids in the Kitchen
19
Literacy Committee
20
Enabling Grant Fund
22
SPAC Summer Conference
24
Find The Good Day Recap
28
Fund Development
30
Our Provisional Class
32
Membership Updates
34
PRIDE in St. Pete
36
Sustainer Fun
37
Endowment Fund
39
Nominating Updates
40
Member Celebrations
42
In Memoriam
43
Thank You Sponsors
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 2023-2024
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Lesa Shouse | President Sarah Morrow | President-Elect Kelsey Nolan | Executive Vice President Nikki Brame | Treasurer Cassie Hice | Recording Secretary Aja Vaughn | Community Advisory Director Latrena Gamble-Harrell | DEIB Director Marie Hartney | Nominating Director Katie Mosbach | Sustainer Director Lane Feaster | At Large Director Kathleen McCarthy | At Large Director Gauri Sunkersett | At Large Director
Kelsey Nolan | Executive Vice President Alysse Griffin | Executive Vice President-Elect Laurel Marois | Corresponding Secretary Brit Johnson | Communications Vice President Sarah Murphy | Community Vice President Emily St. Clair | Development Vice President Emily Knighton | Finance Vice President Christine Gould | Membership Vice President Natasha Williams | Nominating Vice President
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OFFICE STAFF Jacqueline Eden | Office Manager
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP 2023-2024
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
MEMBERSHIP
CARE FAIR Maria Nedvidek | Chair Nicole Rankin | Chair Carley Parkison | Chair-Elect
EVENTS Kelsey Krebs | Chair Suzan Lambillote | Chair Virginia Parish | Chair-Elect Michelle Scott | Chair-Elect
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Alison Hearne | Chair
COMMUNITY OUTREACH Chelsea Pereira | Chair Natalie Toellner | Chair Kelsey Yates | Chair-Elect KIDS CREATE! Emily Strider | Chair Monika Baldwin | Chair-Elect KIDS IN THE KITCHEN Mary DeVore | Chair Jennifer Baylor | Chair-Elect Megan Tiralosi | Chair-Elect LITERACY Whitney Carey | Chair Danielle Sanchez | Chair Emily Segui | Chair-Elect PUBLIC AFFAIRS Emily Lehman | Chair Veronica Hickey | Chair-Elect
FUND DEVELOPMENT Heather Barrow | Chair-Elect
COMMUNICATIONS MERCHANDISE Alex Mabery | Chair Sara Powell | Chair-Elect PUBLICATIONS Maria Sweezy | Chair Aixa Julias | Chair-Elect SOCIAL MEDIA Jackie Taylor | Chair Jaclyn Humble | Chair-Elect WEBSITE Laura Crowdis | Chair Yarissa Matos-Soto | Chair-Elect
MEMBER DEVELOPMENT Jaimie Kane | Chair Sarah Ellison | Chair-Elect Rachael Kiefer | Chair-Elect PROGRAMMING Colleen McIntosh | Chair Arielle Toker | Chair-Elect PROVISIONAL DEVELOPMENT Taylor Cox | Chair Jennice Walter | Chair Jennifer Ferguson | Chair-Elect Brianna Ray | Chair-Elect
FINANCE DELEGATES Melissa Anderson | Development Candis Edwards | Community Alex Landry | Membership
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THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Halfway through the League year is a great juncture of our journey for reflection, celebration, and reinvigoration as we continue to make a difference in our beloved community. What a whirlwind my time as President has been so far! It’s been exciting, challenging, stressful, and fun all wrapped up together. It’s truly an honor to serve in this role and learn so much about the League, our members, and our community. The past six months have been filled with remarkable achievements, and it's with great pride that we review our progress so far and look ahead with renewed motivation. Community Impact: Our commitment to community service has shone brightly. Our 27th Annual Back-to-School Care Fair was a huge success. In the wake of Hurricane Idalia, we came together to help our members and community in a variety of ways. Through various projects and initiatives, the League has touched the lives of countless individuals in St. Petersburg. Member Engagement: The enthusiasm and dedication of our members has been truly inspiring. We have welcomed a fantastic class of Provisional Members. August Clusters were so well planned by Programming—providing members with a variety of activities to connect with one another. Brunch and Book Clubs continue to meet monthly to create connections and build relationships between our members. Financial Stability: We have a fully vested endowment fund that will begin paying us dividends! Our fundraising efforts have kicked off with the first annual Find The Good Day, enabling us to further our mission while celebrating our community. The generosity of our donors, sponsors, and members has allowed us to expand our reach and serve the community in more meaningful ways. I look forward to seeing what the winter and spring hold for our fundraising efforts.
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As we look to the future, let’s think about these key motivators: Community-Centered Focus: Let's continue to identify our community’s needs and respond with innovative solutions, ensuring a lasting impact on the the children of St. Petersburg. Empowerment: Let’s harness the talents and perspectives of our League members to empower one another and reach new heights in our service projects and personal growth. Collaboration: We achieve our greatest successes when we work together! Let's foster a culture of collaboration and open communication within our League, enhancing our ability to effect positive change. We are all volunteers giving our time, so patience and positivity is so important.
Pictured: Dr. Nichelle Threadgill of Evara Health, Allison Godlove of Tampa Bay‘s Morning Blend, and Lesa Shouse
Resilience: Challenges may arise, but we are a resilient and adaptable organization. Let's face adversity with determination, knowing that together, we can overcome any obstacle in our path. We leverage the difficulty in our adversity, finding hope in all things, and continuing to “do the good”. Celebrate Progress: Always take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments—both big and small. Recognize the positive impact that we've had on our community and the personal growth of our members along the way.
Pictured: Candy Scherer and Lesa Shouse at the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer 5K
We have exciting plans on the horizon. Let's seize them with the same passion and commitment that has defined the Junior League of St. Petersburg for almost 93 years! Together, we can continue to be change-makers and support the children and families in St. Petersburg. Thank you for your dedication to our mission. The hard work, generosity, and spirit of each and every member are the driving forces behind our success. With love and gratitude,
Lesa J. Shouse President, 2023-2024
Pictured: Lesa Shouse and her daughter, Elizabeth, at JLSP‘s Find The Good Day Event
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REPORT FROM THE
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT We’re halfway through the League year, and we have so much to be proud of! I’d like to share some things that are important to know, our accomplishments so far, upcoming goals, and how you can learn more or get involved in the next six months! What the Executive Vice President (EVP) does: A question that I often receive is, "You're the EVP? That's great! When will you become President?" The answer is: I don't. The EVP is a member of the Board of Directors (BOD) and Executive Team (President, President-Elect, EVP, and EVP-Elect) and oversees the Management Team, our fabulous office manager, and the day-to-day operations of the League. My number one priority is supporting the leaders of our Management Team as they work to accomplish all of our goals created for the year. Annual Plan: Created by the Management Team and approved by the BOD, this plan is focused on driving the League toward completing goals set forth in our 3-Year Strategic Plan. This year, we worked with AJLI to develop our Annual Plan and create a Scope of Work. A snapshot of our progress is included to the right and shared at each General Membership Meeting. Investing in Committee Leadership: Throughout my own experience as a League member, I've consistently heard that our Committee Leadership members need more support and training to feel successful and confident in their roles. Therefore, a big priority this year has been investing into the women who are leading the work that we do—our Chairs and Chair-Elects. We’ve built in training designed for Committee Leaders, like our transition day that we hosted in May to kick off the League year. In October, we hosted our first annual Mid-Year Committee Leadership Dinner to check in, identify opportunities, and CELEBRATE all that we've accomplished already. Thank you, Committee Leaders, for all that you do!
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HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR
WHAT WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
UPCOMING
We have created new communication procedures that allow us to be more strategic with additional considerations for DEIB and member audiences. We established GMM programming with new, thoughtful training—like Women & Finances, Trauma Informed Service, and Women Leaders of the Community. We hosted our 27th Annual Care Fair, preparing 1,200+ children for school and strengthening community support and partnerships that enable us to execute this program each year. We executed the 1st Find The Good Day, including a social media crowdfunding campaign and in-person fundraiser and community celebration. We secured external support to help our Events Committee execute Spring Gala.
The Community Council will conduct informational interviews with current community partners to assess needs, challenges, and successes. They’re also reducing outreach to new partners in order to strengthen those we have now. The Finance Council will provide two training sessions this year to educate members on our financial portfolio. The Development Council will sunset low-performing fundraisers—like select givebacks and Brews for Backpacks. They will strengthen programs that do perform well—like Ghost Tours, Annual Giving, Fall Event, and an Annual Gala. The Management Team will work to measure an engagement baseline for our Sustaining members.
We continue to build and strengthen our community partnerships, and we plan to
We plan to recruit 40+ women for next year’s Provisional Class. New member applications will open in January!
measure and report the impact of these relationships at the end of the year.
Our goal is to increase placed members for the 2024-2025 League Year by 5%.
When I think of our organization, I'm inspired. We’re a group of passionate women that spend our free time learning about others, volunteering, growing, and giving to the community around us. I feel fortunate to experience this passion each day and witness the good that we are part of in St. Pete. Thank you for this opportunity and for all you do for the League and world around you! Kelsey Nolan Executive Vice President, 2023-2024
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AN UPDATE FROM THE
PRESIDENT-ELECT The 2023-2024 League year is in full swing, and I am thrilled to be serving on the Board of Directors again and fulfilling the role of President-Elect. As I reflect on my experience in the League, I am so grateful for the training opportunities the League has provided me and for the women who have supported me along the way. I could not be more proud to serve in the Junior League of St. Petersburg, and I’m looking forward to what the next year and a half will bring. In addition to serving on the Board, my role as President-Elect also includes leading the Governing Documents Ad Hoc Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing the League’s governing documents, including the bylaws and policies for our organization. The committee reviews requests for changes to the documents and then presents those changes to the Board of Directors. An example of a recent request is a motion to amend Sustainer dues, which would allow the League to provide additional mailed communications to our Sustaining Members. All members, including Sustainers, will have an opportunity to vote on this motion by the end of the year. The committee recently held its first meeting, and additional meetings will be scheduled as needed. Actives, Sustainers, and Provisionals are all welcome to attend the meetings. Requests for changes or additions to our governing documents can be submitted via email to presidentelect@jlstpete.org. Yours in Service, Sarah Morrow President-Elect, 2023-2024
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REVVING UP FOR SUCCESS AT
ANNUAL CONFERENCE BY ALYSSE GRIFFIN & SARAH MORROW In May, the Executive Team started their engines as our President and EVP, Lesa Shouse and Kelsey Nolan, and President-Elect and EVP-Elect, Sarah Morrow and Alysse Griffin, attended AJLI’s 101st Annual Conference held in Indianapolis. The theme was Leading the Way to Change— with checkered flags in honor of the Indianapolis 500 race. The team attended sessions and workshops on member development, Sustainer engagement, conflict resolution, leadership development, DEIB initiatives, and more. These trainings also offered us opportunities for reflection and discussion on how to implement our learnings back home. We met AJLI’s new CEO, Melanie Schild, who held an important session about securing our future as an Association and shared some exciting updates from AJLI’s Board of Directors and Governance Committee. A motion was passed to add a Diversity Value Standard, below, to the AJLI Diversity Values Statement: We believe that creating and sustaining a diverse Membership is critical to our Mission. Living the value of diversity means we are committed to centering equity, inclusion, and belonging in our individual, organizational, and community relationships.
AJLI also introduced League Success Managers. These dedicated managers will serve as liaisons, ambassadors, and educators between AJLI and individual Leagues. Overall, the conference was an amazing experience for our leaders to shift into high gear at the start of the League year!
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COMMUNITY
COLLABORATING FOR IMPACT WITH OUR
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL BY AJA VAUGHN I’m thrilled to be serving as Community Advisory Council (CAC) Director this year! The CAC offers strategic guidance to JLSP’s Board of Directors (BOD). The council consists of key community leaders representing various sectors in our city, including nonprofit executives, business leaders, community advocates, City Council members, higher education & public school professionals, public relations experts, and more. The Community Advisory Council has a multifaceted purpose. Its members play a vital role in assessing the effectiveness of the League’s current programs and initiatives, while serving as a sounding board for community opinion. The CAC is tasked with providing expert advice and guiding strategic decision making for our BOD. During the 2023-2024 League year, the CAC will convene on a quarterly basis at the Great Explorations Children's Museum. The museum recently revamped their boardroom and has graciously offered their space for our meetings. At our first meeting, we solicited the CAC’s input regarding the community’s perception of the Junior League of St. Petersburg. Most of our upcoming meetings will be dedicated to gathering feedback and insights, which will contribute to the development of our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. The Council has already played a pivotal role in offering valuable perspectives!
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OFFICIAL PURPOSES OF THE COUNCIL: Communicate our Mission, projects and programs to the local community as an ambassador of the League Evaluate effectiveness of the League’s current programs and projects Serve as a sounding board regarding community opinion and help to provide expertise to the League with specific problems or concerns Strengthen the League’s public relations and image within the community Help to develop a network of potential contributors of expertise within service, funding, and membership recruitment Engage and communicate any feedback in response to proposed topics Participate in the League’s community events and fundraisers, as able Provide strategic feedback to assist the League in planning for the future
Thank You, CAC! GINA DRISCOLL City Council Member District 6
SARA MOLLO Public Defender 6th Judicial Circuit
COREY GIVENS JR. Community Activist & Job Corps
JIM MYERS Crown Automotive Group President & COO
MAJOR SHANNON HALSTEAD St. Petersburg Police Dept Crimes Against Persons
MICHAEL PETAGNA Amuni Financial Inc. President & CEO
CHRISTIAN HARRIS 3 Daughters Brewing General Manager
KELLY ROY Juvenile Welfare Board Community Engagement Advocate
JASON JENSEN Chamber of Commerce, President & WJ Architects, Owner
NANCY WESTPHAL Business Owner & Philanthropist
CAPRICE EDMOND Pinellas County School Board & Community Activist
LAURA ZUPPO USF Regional Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Success
MEGAN MICHALSKI Zinober Diana & Monteverde, Partner & JLSP Past President, 2020-2021
AJA VAUGHN JLSP Community Advisory Council Director
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CARE FAIR
THE HEART OF CARE FAIR BY NICOLE RANKIN This year, the 27th Annual Back-to-School Care Fair reached new heights of success and touched the lives of more children than ever before. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our gracious sponsors, generous donors, and dedicated volunteers who made it all possible. Our Care Fair could never be complete without backpacks! This year, 1,300 backpacks, brimming with essential school supplies and water bottles, were distributed in the Linda Berset Family Backpack Room. Additionally, children had the joy of selecting their very own special stuffed animal, courtesy of the Tampa Rough Riders Volunteer Cavalry. It brought us immense delight to send these young learners back to school exceptionally well-prepared, complete with a few delightful surprises, and the children's beaming smiles were the best reward for all those who attended! In addition to backpacks, 150+ school physicals and dental exams were provided free-of-charge. 14 | Fall 2023
As always, the real party was happening outside at our Street Fair! DJ Nick Potts and the Police Athletic League Drumline kept guests entertained, moving, and grooving. The St. Petersburg Fire and Police Departments distributed honorary badges and let kids explore a real-life firetruck. Students could also receive a complimentary haircut from Central Station Barbershop—a true 'head' start on the year! Maritime & Defense Technology Hub and Great Explorations provided fun activities. Kona Ice and Kids in the Kitchen offered yummy snacks to keep guests fueled and hydrated. Johns Hopkins All Children's Safe Kids fitted kids with free bike helmets and discussed proper car seat installation with parents. Over at Kids Create, kids could craft personalized keychains to adorn their new backpacks. Girls on the Run, St. Pete Run Fest, and Fit4AllKids rounded out the Street Fair with an emphasis on healthy, active living.
LINDA BERSET FAMILY
THE FLYNN LAW FIRM TRISTEN SUSSMAN NOTHING BUNDT CAKES
JLSP WAS15 | jlstpete.org HERE
CARE FAIR
Inside, our Agency Fair was a bustling activity hub! We invited new partners, like CASA, and welcomed back many of our established partners (marked with an asterisk on the right-hand page). This diverse group created a well-rounded and informative Agency Fair! Whether you participated by contributing financially, donating school supplies, or volunteering your time, we hope that Care Fair left a meaningful impact on your heart. Over 1,200 children are positively impacted by this annual event, and we take immense pride in the League’s ongoing efforts to improve it year after year. The Care Fair committee is overwhelmed with pride for the dedication and service demonstrated by League members and our community partners at this year’s event. Your contributions are integral to the success of Care Fair, and we couldn’t do it without each and every one of you!
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Central Station Barbershop
Fit4AllKids
Champions for Children*
Tampa Rough Riders
Great Explorations
Suncoast Safe Kids
The Kind Mouse*
Literacy Council of St. Pete*
Juvenile Welfare Board*
St. Pete Run Fest
Boys & Girls Clubs Suncoast*
HIPPY Pinellas*
CareerSource Pinellas*
Pace Center for Girls
CASA Pinellas*
St. Pete Young Professionals
DJ Nick Potts
Thaise Educational & Exposure Tours*
League of Women Voters*
Your Kid’s Urgent Care*
Girls on the Run Tampa Bay
Vein Institute of Pinellas*
Bay Area Legal Services*
Maritime & Defense Tech. Hub
Faith Community Nursing*
Ultimate Medical Academy*
Family Enrichment Services*
St. Petersburg College*
Early Learning Coalition*
NSU Medical School
Children’s Home Society of Florida
Operation PAR*
Children’s Orthopaedic & Scoliosis Surgery Assoc. LLP
St. Petersburg Police and Fire Departments
JLSP WAS17 | jlstpete.org HERE
COMMUNITY
KIDS CREATE! BY EMILY STRIDER We kicked off the year at Care Fair where kids could make keychains to adorn their new backpacks. Some made keychains with their names, while others loved choosing their favorite animals from our bead selection. Volunteers were impressed with the thoughtful nature of those we interacted with; some kids asked to make a keychain for a sibling that couldn’t be there or for a parent as a gift. We were happy to oblige and encourage such caring actions! At Find The Good Day, we offered supplies for kids to make their own bubble wands. Seeing the kids running around blowing bubbles was a joy for all who attended! As the holiday season approaches, we are looking forward to participating in Snowfest on Saturday, December 2!
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN BY MARY DEVORE We continue to supply snack packs to the Boys & Girls Club through our monthly volunteer shifts. Since May, we’ve already packed and provided over 1,600 snacks! We try to incorporate fun themes and include a seasonal activity in collaboration with Kids Create. In October, the packs were spooky themed and included a Halloween coloring sheet. At Care Fair, kids could pack their own snacks with an emphasis on food groups and understanding the nutrition in the snacks they packed. For example, the kids were offered fruit, protein, and grain along with a copy of the food pyramid to take home. Everyone had a great time and learned a little bit about healthy eating. At the end of the event, we donated our surplus food to the food pantry onsite at Evara Health. 18 | Fall 2023
COMMUNITY
LITERACY BY WHITNEY CAREY The Literacy Committee had an amazing start to the League year at Care Fair, where we distributed nearly 800 culturally relevant books to school aged children! In August, Natasha Williams and Gabbie Bouyea dropped off a donation of 100 books to Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary School, which were graciously received. In the wake of Hurricane Idalia, at a relief event in the Shore Acres neighborhood, Jaclyn Humble and Carley Parkison gave out nearly 50 books to children impacted. We’re looking forward to many more book giveaways in the coming months! To share ideas on events that we can be involved in, please email literacy@jlstpete.org.
WHAT ARE THE KIDS READING?! CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR BOOKS THIS YEAR!
I Survived
Pete the Cat
Junie B. Jones
Black Lagoon
Book Series
Book Series
Book Series
Adventures Series
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COMMUNITY
JLSP ENABLING GRANT FUND 2023-2024 RECIPIENTS
BARBERSHOP BOOK CLUB The Barbershop Book Club is transforming barbershops across Pinellas County into vibrant reading hubs. Their mission is to create a space where children can come together and read to their barber while getting a haircut, get a free culturally relevant book that will cultivate a love for reading and help build home libraries. This grant was used to purchase books for their barbershop to support their effort of distributing 100 books each month.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast mission is to provide high quality, out-of-school time. Club experiences are proven to ensure young people are on track to graduate with a plan for their future, demonstrate good character, and live a healthy lifestyle. This grant supported their Healthy Habits Program, providing ten sessions of Zumba, Taekwondo, and Hip Hop fitness classes to youth at their Royal Theater Club in South St. Petersburg!
CASA PINELLAS Since 1977, Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) Pinellas has provided safety and sanctuary to survivors of domestic violence and their children. This grant helped CASA provide educational resources to the children staying at their emergency shelter, specifically funding a subscription to ABC Mouse—a digital education program for children aged 2-8 that features hundreds of fun and interactive games, each designed to teach a specific educational concept.
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COMMUNITY
SCAN OR CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT ENABLING GRANTS
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN Friends of the Children Tampa Bay serves youth facing multiple systemic obstacles by pairing them with a salaried, professional mentor for 12+ years, without exceptions. This program helps youth cultivate the skills and resilience needed to break generational cycles of poverty and trauma, building a strong foundation for them to pursue their dreams. This grant was used to provide supplies for their Field Day event ahead of the Fall school year.
GIRLS ON THE RUN Girls on the Run Tampa Bay’s mission is to inspire girls in grades 3-8 to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Since 2008, they have served 8,700+ girls across the Greater Tampa Bay community. This grant was used to support the registration program fee for approximately ten disadvantaged girls to participate at low-income, Title 1 schools within southern Pinellas County.
RYAN NECE FOUNDATION Ryan Nece Foundation creates opportunities for teens to embrace the Power of Giving through volunteerism and inspirational leadership programs. In 2018, The Power of ThanksGiving Celebrations expanded into Pinellas County to celebrate the holiday with members of the community who need to know they’re not forgotten. This grant will help provide food and resources to ~1,500+ individuals in our community through the Power of ThanksGiving program.
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COMMUNITY
JLSP ATTENDS SPAC SUMMER CONFERENCE BY EMILY LEHMAN On behalf of the Junior League of St. Petersburg, State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) member, Shannon Love, attended the Junior Leagues of Florida SPAC Summer Conference, hosted by the Junior League of Lakeland in July. Attendees participated in a training program on public service, feeding the hungry, and efforts to support human trafficking survivors. Several esteemed guest speakers presented during the conference, including the Florida Legislature, Central Florida Health Care, Children’s Home Society of Florida, kidsPACK, Moffitt Cancer Center, and One More Child. The conference concluded with a Legislative Reception. In January, the Junior Leagues of Florida SPAC will reconvene in Tallahassee to advocate for important legislation related to children's health and nutrition and human trafficking.
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WHAT IS SPAC? WHAT DO THEY DO? The Junior Leagues of Florida SPAC is a non-political coalition of Leagues formed to educate and take action on public policy relevant to our Mission. For over 40 years, they’ve advocated to improve the lives of Florida women, children, and families. Florida Leagues that participate in the advocacy process will send delegates to meetings throughout the year to research and debate issues, and then: Advocate for specific legislation at the state & national levels that is relevant to our key issue areas Educate the Florida member Leagues about advocacy and public policy Exchange info about community-based League projects to policymakers
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SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
CELEBRATING THE GOOD IN ST. PETE BY EMILY ST. CLAIR Now more than ever, the world needs greater optimism, positivity, and resilience. Optimism has been proven to positively impact our health, motivation, outcomes, and performance. There is a certain bravery that comes with a positive outlook; it’s much easier to have a negative attitude and give up. But what if we shifted our focus away from only looking at the problems to focusing on the good? Would we accelerate impact? In our communities? In ourselves? These ideas are what led the Junior League to create International Find The Good Day (FTGD): a day dedicated to finding the good in ourselves, our community, and the world around us. It’s a day to embrace kindness, positivity, and the power of community. It's a day when we come together as change-makers, united in our mission and making a positive impact in the lives of those around us.
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On September 14, Junior Leagues across the Association hosted different events and served their community to build awareness and support for all that the Junior League does. The JLSP Events Committee brought FTGD to life with a week-long fundraising campaign and inaugural community event at the Shuffleboard Club. The family-friendly event included a shuffleboard tournament, lawn games, face painting, shopping with Kendra Scott, crafts & activities provided by Kids Create and Kids in the Kitchen Committees, food & drinks, and most of all – a whole lot of fun! Congratulations to our tournament winners! 1st Place: Liz Calver & Philip Parsons 2nd Place: Nicole Rankin & Kelsey Yates 3rd Place: Arielle & Trevor Toker
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BY THE NUMBERS
$7.1K
120 +
AMOUNT RAISED FROM FUNDRAISING & EVENT
ATTENDEES AT THE SHUFFLEBOARD EVENT
40 +
133+
VOLUNTEERS & FUNDRAISERS
VOLUNTEER HOURS CLOCKED DAY-OF
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HELPED PLAN A SUCCESSFUL EVENT! VIRGINIA PARISH KELSEY KREBS ERICA BUTTS CAITLYN CERNY ALEX DAVIS RUTA MORGENTHAU LAUREN RUBENSTEIN
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MICHELLE SCOTT SUZAN LAMBILLOTTE ELIZABETH SHUMAN TRISTEN SUSSMAN SAMANTHA WAPNER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MANAGEMENT TEAM
THANK YOU! TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS
MONICA RATTEE
IN THE PARK
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DEVELOPMENT
FUND DEVELOPMENT BY EMILY ST. CLAIR
To begin the League year on a positive note, the Junior League of St. Petersburg secured over $2,500 in funding for our Kids in the Kitchen program through the Publix Charities Community Giving initiative. This program supports organizations dedicated to youth, education, hunger reduction, and homelessness relief. For future grants and funding, the committee aims to continue partnerships with the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and Wawa. In total, we will be seeking funding in excess of $10,000. The City of St Petersburg's MBSK Youth Development Grant supports nonprofits that have specific projects or programs aimed at preparing children for school, ensuring they read at grade level by third grade, and offering enrichment that addresses children’s health and well-being. This grant enabled JLSP to procure more backpacks, supplies, and snacks for this year’s Care Fair attendees compared to previous years. The Wawa Foundation funds nonprofit programs that champion life-saving research and care for people in need and lead hunger-relief effort. In 2022, this grant helped provide over 1,000 snack packs to children at the Boys & Girls Club through Kids in the Kitchen. The St. Petersburg Police Forfeiture Grant is dedicated to providing support to neighborhood agencies and organizations engaged in projects that improve safety and promote crime prevention. In 2022, this grant helped provide over 80 bike helmets and 2,500 school supplies at JLSP’s Back-to-School Care Fair.
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The Fund Development Committee strives to establish creative giveback opportunities and partnerships. In October, we held the third annual Haunted Walking Tours with St. Peter’s Ghosts—offering a fun and interactive tour of St. Pete with a 15% giveback. Our ongoing partnership with Kendra Scott Jewelry offers in-person and virtual shopping opportunities with a 20% giveback. Lastly, our annual program with Minted provides a 20% discount on greeting cards, stationary, home decor, gifts and more items with a 15% giveback.
ANNUAL GIVING You can help us continue to create lasting community impact through our Annual Giving Campaign. Your donations directly support the Junior League’s Mission and vision by funding our community projects and volunteer training.
With your donation, we become stronger.
To donate, scan QR code or visit ItsGiving2023.givesmart.com
$30 distributes 30 books $50 fills 80 snack packs $100 provides a warm meal $200 funds the Kids Create tent $500 provides 2 backpacks
filled with school supplies to children in St. Pete
with 4-5 healthy snacks
at Ronald McDonald House at Mainsail Art Festival
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MEMBERSHIP
FUN FACTS ABOUT OUR NEW MEMBERS
3 OUT OF 5 ARE FLORIDA NATIVES
38 NEW JLSP MEMBERS JOIN PROVISIONAL CLASS BY JENNICE WALTER The Junior League of St. Petersburg has wholeheartedly welcomed this year’s Provisional Class with open arms! This dynamic group of women are eager to make positive change and are united by their shared passion for community engagement and personal growth. The involvement and dedication exhibited by our newest members have exceeded the expectations of the Provisional Development team. On top of League meetings, they have actively participated in a range of activities, including the Community Bus Tour, Care Fair, Find The Good Day event, the class project, and the third annual Provisional Retreat—which was a great success and proved to be a day full of empowerment and camaraderie. Our newest members embody the Junior League’s objective of promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities. With this dedicated group at the forefront, the future of our League and the community we serve shines brighter than ever. As these women continue to develop their skills, the Junior League is poised to enter a new era of positive change and community transformation. The Provisional Class is a beacon of dedication, potential, and commitment to building a better future!
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PROVISIONAL PETS 15 DOGS - 8 CATS 3 CHICKENS
OVER 40% ENJOY TRAVELING
100% JOINED TO GIVEBACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
MEET THE PROVISIONALS SCAN OR CLICK TO GET TO KNOW OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!
ALISON
SAMANTHA
GABRIELLE
JULIA
ELLEN
KELLY
COURI
DE NAPOLI
DONALDSON
EDEL
FULLER
GUARNER
LINDSAY
CAROLYN
LAURA
RHIANNON
CHLOE
JULIA
HELENBROOK
HOKE
HUECKEL
JACOBSON
KAMPS
KAPUSTA
KIERSTEN
MOLLY
MINNIE
KATHLEEN
KATHLEEN
JAIMIE
KEELY
KELLER
LESTER-WILLIAMS
LOGAN WILSON
LOONEY
MCCLAIN
MORGAN
SUSAN
MIMI
JULI
MALLORY
CAROLINE
MCQUEEN
MERTZ
MILLIGAN
MORGAN
POSEY
QUINCY
ARIELLE
MELISSA
LAUREN
AMY
JULIA
AMANDA
REMBERT
SHAFER
STOLTZ
THOMAS
WESTERDALE
WHITSON
NOT PICTURED: BROOKE BENNINGHOFF, ALEXIS CAMPISI, ASHLEY CURTIS, ERIN GROTH, REMI SALTER, ALANNA SCOTT, SARAH SHERINSKY, LISANDRA SOTO AND KAITLYN YACOUB
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MEMBERSHIP
ENHANCING MEMBER CONNECTIONS WITH PROGRAMMING BY COLLEEN MCINTOSH This year, a goal of the Programming Committee is to create more social opportunities for members to connect and build relationships, in addition to seasonal Clusters. In June, we kicked off with our first Happy Hour Social at The Wine House in Gulfport. In July and October, we held socials at Bacchus Wine Bistro in downtown St. Pete. In August, the much-anticipated and loved Fall Clusters returned! Members participated in different activities like Yoga in the Park with master instructor Katie Menning, Wine Tasting at the new Lolita’s Wine Market location, and a Glass Blowing Class at the Morean Arts Center. The committee is looking forward to seeing each of our members at one of our socials or Clusters this year!
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MEMBERSHIP
A VIBRANT START WITH MEMBER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE BY JAIMIE KANE JLSP kicked off the year with a series of exciting events, fostering member connections and community impact. We began with a thriving "Welcome Back" General Membership Meeting (GMM) on July 18th with nearly 100 members in attendance. In preparation for Care Fair, Evara Health presented on the history of the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center, and members participated in a supply drive and an engaging Care Fair trivia game with special prizes. On August 8th, JLSP hosted a successful Transfer Social, bringing new members from different membership levels together for a delightful evening of friendship and wine. September brought an informative GMM with engaging presentations from the Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee and League of Women Voters. The ever-popular zip code house parties were brought back for October’s GMM, characterized by enthusiastic member participation and unique craft, snack, and drink ideas from dedicated hostesses. We look forward to more exciting events and impactful member trainings for the remainder of the year!
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING
SPREADING PRIDE & POSITIVITY IN ST. PETE BY ALISON HEARNE On June 10, the Junior League of St. Petersburg proudly celebrated PRIDE during the St. Pete Pride LGBTQ+ Youth Pride and Family Day. An enthusiastic team of volunteers joined forces to distribute a variety of fun PRIDE items, including temporary tattoos, bubble wands, flags, and more. The joy and positivity we shared with hundreds of children created an uplifting experience for everyone in attendance. We also had the pleasure of engaging with several individuals who expressed interest in learning more about becoming a member of the League. The Junior League of St. Petersburg is proud to be an ally in the community, and we are committed to promoting our mission of inclusivity through action. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our members who contributed to the success of this event for the second year in a row! What’s next? Be on the lookout for more information about JLSP’s participation at the city’s MLK Jr. Family Fun Day at Tropicana Field on January 15 , 2024!
DID YOU KNOW? St. Petersburg consistently ranks among the top cities for LGBTQ+ people to live and visit! Since 2014, St. Pete has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, which examines the laws, policies, and services of municipalities and rates them on their inclusivity of LGBTQ+ people who live and work here. Learn more about the city’s initiatives in support and celebration of the LGBTQ+ Community at www.stpete.org.
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FIND THE GOOD DAY
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OCTOBER HOUSE PARTY
FINANCE
JLSP ENDOWMENT FUND ACHIEVES MATURITY WITH A $25,000 MATCH BY LESA SHOUSE
During 2022-2023, the Board of Directors looked closely at the accounts of the Junior League of St. Petersburg, and in particular, the endowment fund with Community Foundation of Tampa Bay (CFTB). In June 2022, Denyve Boyle of CFTB presented to the Board of Directors regarding the details of our endowment fund. She later shared the opportunity of an annual matching program. Beginning July 1, 2023, CFTB would have funding to match ten endowment contributions of $100,000+ with a $25,000 match. The Board of Directors began looking at this as an opportunity to fully fund the endowment with our own reserves*. This match would be a 25% return on our investment, which is far greater than what we were receiving in our CDs or Money Market accounts (all at or below 2%). Along with Board discussion, the Community Advisory Council was consulted about the opportunity and shared their support. On April 25, 2023, the Board of Directors approved the deposit of $100,000 into our endowment fund from our Hancock Money Market ($85,608.02) and LMCU Checking ($14,391.98) to take advantage of CFTB’s $25,000 matching program on July 1, 2023. Nikki Brame, JLSP Treasurer, completed the process by physically delivering a $100,000 check to the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay on June 30 to ensure we were in the first ten agencies to receive the match. Now that the endowment has reached maturity at $250,000, it will produce $10,000 or more of annual unrestricted income. The Board of Directors will determine whether to take the draw or reinvest the monies back into the endowment fund. *Per the League policies (Section XIV. Finance, D. Financial Operations, 4. Reserve Fund, a.) “The League shall maintain an operating reserve of a minimum of three (3) months of expenses to assure sufficient funds in the case of unforeseen events. These expenses are defined as all administrative expenses, plus the following operating expenses: audit, accounting, legal, and bank charges.” Our annual administrative expenses typically range from $50,000 to $60,000, of which, 3 months reserve would be $13,550 to $15,000. With reducing our LMCU checking account by $14,391.98 to fund this, we would still have $46,613, far above the required reserves. In addition, as noted before, the First Internet Bank funds can be accessed at any time, so would really give the League $146,430 in operating funds.
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C
NOMINATING
NOMINATING UPDATES BY MARIE HARTNEY
STAR AMONG STARS AWARDS Star Among Stars are given to a League member who has gone above and beyond expectations for JLSP. Nominated by fellow members, Stars are recognized during our General Membership Meetings. Thank you to our recent Stars! Kelley Simpson - Egg-a-House (photo A) Colleen McIntosh - Egg-a-House (photo B) Jackie Taylor - Social Media (photo C) Maria Nedvidek & Nicole Rankin - Care Fair (photo D) Virginia Parish - Find The Good Day (photo E)
D
ODI IS BACK! In November, Natasha Williams and Brianna Ray will be representing the Junior League of St. Petersburg at AJLI’s Organizational Development Institute, an enriching three-day training held in Washington, DC. This event gathers hundreds of emerging League leaders from across the country. The topics presented include marketing, recruitment, advocacy, member engagement, crucial conversations, public speaking, DEIB, and more. We look forward to hearing about the wealth of new insights they will bring back to our League!
A
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B
E
ATTN: FUTURE LEADERS! LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024-2025 LEAGUE YEAR WILL OPEN SOON — HOW WILL YOU MAKE YOUR IMPACT ON THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ST. PETERSBURG NEXT YEAR?
NOMINATING TIMELINE
NOV 14
DEC 5
DEC 12 & JAN 6
JAN 6
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
APPLICATION DEADLINE
APPLICANT MEET & GREETS 6:00PM-9:00PM
SLATING DAY! 9:30AM-12:30PM
POSITIONS TO BE SLATED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MANAGEMENT TEAM
President-Elect Recording Secretary Community Advisory Director DEIB Director Strategic Fund Director Sustainer Director At Large Director(s)
Executive Vice President-Elect Corresponding Secretary Communications Vice President Community Vice President Development Vice President Finance Vice President Membership Vice President Nominating Vice President
ALREADY SLATED President | Sarah Morrow Executive Vice President | Alysse Griffin Nominating Director | Natasha Williams Treasurer | Emily Knighton
CHAIR, CHAIR-ELECT & COMMITTEE PLACEMENTS Chair and committee placements will occur in mid-Spring 2024!
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CELEBRATING MEMBER MILESTONES
A
B
C
D
LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE & FAMILY Nikki & Adam Brame married February 18 in Pinellas Park (photo A). Sarah Murphy & Michael Kulik got engaged on August 26 in St. Petersburg (photo B). Aixa Julias & Amer Gafurovic got engaged on August 27 in Mykonos, Greece (photo C). Chrissy Mamone welcomed a new baby girl, Avery, on September 6 (photo E). Jennifer Ferguson & Timothy Ridgley married October 21 in St. Petersburg. Jacqueline & Henry Cotman celebrated 50 years of marriage and received a special congratulations from President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden (photo D). Jaimie & Bob Kane celebrated 7 years of marriage on October 8. Jacqueline & Walter Eden celebrated 9 years of marriage on October 11.
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E
F
& OTHER NEW BEGINNINGS Whitney Carey started in Human Resources at Citi, supporting operations and technology. Keri Fabiano is starting a new adventure and moving to Georgia after ten amazing years in St. Pete! She’ll continue to support JLSP from afar and plans to transfer to the Atlanta League. Keri shared, “Thank you to everyone who made a positive impact during my time at JLSP.” Marie Hartney retired from the classroom after 20 years and started in Business Development and Marketing for Bessolo Design Group. Amanda Hurm started as the new Director of Development at the Parc Center for Disabilities and is proud to provide opportunities to those with developmental disabilities to exercise their independence and experience life to the fullest.
Cassie Hice started a new job as Director of Client Services at HMP Global. Nicole Rankin started as Senior Associate at Holland & Knight LLP, focusing her practice on complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution in state and federal court. Brianna Ray started a new job as Community Collaborations Coordinator at Juvenile Welfare Board, serving as the lead for the Pinellas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Kristen Lefkimiotis started her MSN program in Leadership and Administration at Capella University. She was also recently promoted to Nurse Manager for the Intensive Care and Hemodialysis units at St. Anthony’s Hospital.
& EVEN MORE REASONS TO CELEBRATE Heather Perkins, as part of the Yeti Mafia BBQ Team, won 3rd Place for three meats and 4th overall out of ten Backyard Teams at a Florida BBQ Association (FBA) sanctioned competition. Heather shared, ”Our Team has worked very hard over the past three years to earn this win. We have now been invited to cook and compete in the Pro Division in the Winter of 2024, and we are so excited for our future as a Team.”
Jacqueline Cotman was featured in the book, In My Own Words: The Oral History Project, as told by the alumni of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (photo F).
Scan or click to have your milestones celebrated in the next CauseWay issue!
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IN MEMORIAM
MARY WYATT ALLEN 1933 - 2023 We honor the life and legacy of Mary Wyatt Allen, who passed on May 19, 2023. Mary Wyatt served as President of the Junior League of St. Petersburg from 1969-1970. She was a remarkable community leader who dedicated time and expertise to various organizations and boards in St. Petersburg. Her accomplishments as a volunteer, board member, fundraiser, and event coordinator were extensive. For over 70 years, she was an instrumental force in shaping our community's future. “She just had a love for the city and always had a desire to volunteer and better things,” said her son, Chris Allen. His brother, Niel Allen, concurred, “She was very much a product of, and a champion for, the city of St. Petersburg, having been born and raised here. And always promoted the city and its growth. And its services to children, especially.” We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
IN REMEMBRANCE We remember the Junior League of St. Petersburg members that we have lost this year: Betsy Fleming Karen Saltz Jane Weems Mary Wyatt Allen
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WHO SUPPORT US THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE YEAR!
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Junior League of St. Petersburg 500 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St N. #300 St. Petersburg, FL 33705
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 616 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF
ST. PETERSBURG MARCH 16, 2024
ANNUAL GALA THE JAMES MUSEUM
SCAN OR CLICK FOR UPDATES ON TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS
LEARN MORE ABOUT JLSP: WWW.JLSTPETE.ORG @JUNIORLEAGUEOFSTPETERSBURG
