Capitalines - Spring 2023

CAPITALINES

CELEBRATING THE ONE MILLIONTH COAT, PHILANTHROPITCH, MEMBER UNIQUENESS, AND MORE

MILESTONES & MEMORIES

BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY IMPACT

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OUR EDITOR

The only thing certain in life is that change is a constant. What we choose to do with those changes is what makes all the difference. Through something as simple as welcoming a new member, speaking words of encouragement to others, being conscientious and intentional, less quick to judge, or thinking outside the box—there’s much positive impact that can be made. Simple, kind, and mindful leadership that provides appreciative, respectful, and equal treatment to all is key. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness. After all, we all leave this world the same in the end. However, often, if we are lucky, our impact can still be felt subtly for years to come.

Practicing kindness within the Austin community is something The Junior League of Austin (JLA) members excel in through our signature community programs. Whether that’s providing a helping hand to a child needing shoes through Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) or a backpack of food for the weekend through Food In Tummies (FIT), the impact is felt among individuals, particularly children, and personally, I’m very proud to have had a small part in the work we do for those who don’t necessarily yet have a voice of their own.

As we end the 2022–2023 Junior League of Austin year, there’s much to be celebrated. In this issue of Capitalines we highlight some of this year’s accomplishments and milestones, including the millionth coat giveaway through Coats for Kids and JLA’s first-ever participation in Philanthropitch. We also look at the joy in hobbies from a personal, individualized level in Stephanie Potter’s article on “Breaking the Mold: Members with Unusual Hobbies.”

As my time in JLA also closes, and I move on to another city, it’s been a pleasure to serve as Editor of Capitalines, and I look forward to seeing the impact JLA makes in the years to come.

Warm wishes,

Britni Rachal Capitalines 2022–2023 Editor

A SINCERE THANK YOU TO OUR 2022–2023 CAPITALINES COMMITTEE!

EDITOR-ELECT JENN WILSON DESIGN DIRECTOR MEGAN NYITRAY

DESIGN ASSISTANT LEAH GRAMMA DESIGN ASSISTANT LINDSEY MCCASLAND AD SALES DIRECTOR GIGI GOODALL WRITER STEPHANIE POTTER

Welcome to the spring issue of Capitalines!

Spring signifies renewal, new beginnings, and transformation. For The Junior League of Austin, it's time to reflect on the work we've accomplished this League year, finish the work remaining, and prepare to start new placements in a few months.

Spring is also a time for planting. An unknown author said, “All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.” The women of JLA plant seeds for Austin’s tomorrow through our mission of improving the community, developing the potential of women, and promoting voluntarism. In 2022, I became the first Black president in the League's 89-year history. By breaking down barriers, we continue to plant seeds for future leaders. Leaders from all walks of life bring their unique sparkle to this organization, and JLA is richer for this diversity, because together we shine brighter.

As I reflect on this year, I am so proud of how we’ve shined as a League. Here are some of our highlights:

• Raised nearly $1.7 million at A Christmas Affair 2022 Night of the Nutcracker. Proceeds from ACA support our mission, signature programs, and community partners.

• Distributed 32,128 coats during the Coats for Kids coat drive. We also handed out the 1 millionth coat in our League’s history!

• Participated in the fall Habitat for Humanity Build for Unity with the Beta Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

• Won $34,500 for Kids In Cool Shoes at Philanthropitch. We also received matching donations for a total of $79,500 in one night! This funding allows us to expand our reach to more schools, getting more shoes on little feet.

• Returned to full in-person Food In Tummies operations and pep rallies. We continue to provide nearly 1,000 backpacks of weekend nourishment each week to Baty and Hillcrest elementary schools.

• Celebrated female chefs and entrepreneurs in the culinary industry at Austin Entertains 2023.

• Created seven new community sponsorship opportunities through the Community Sponsorship Fund.

• Helped more than 48 nonprofits raise more than $2 million for their organizations while using our Community Impact Center (CIC) as an event space.

• Had our first full year operating and working in the CIC without the interruptions of Covid. The flexibility, adaptability, and hard work of our members are unparalleled.

• Launched four JLA Gathering Groups, creating member connections through shared interests.

• Relaunched member recognition awards aptly named the Diamond Awards, awarded to members who shine bright and demonstrate excellence in the League and community.

Thank you to our members, advisors, donors, and community partners who cheered us on this year. It’s because of your support that we’re able to continue to create a lasting, meaningful impact through our signature programs and community partnerships.

2022-23 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

I would have never guessed my leadership path and journey at my Provisional orientation at our former location on Parkcrest Drive. It has been a gift and privilege to serve as the 2022–2023 President of The Junior League of Austin.

As we look forward to our 90-year celebration, I am excited for the future leaders of JLA to plant seeds for our organization and community under Haley Gardiner’s leadership in 2023–2024.

Thanks for the adventure!

Shannon Creekmur 2022–2023,President

SHANNON CREEKMUR, PRESIDENT

HALEY GARDINER, PRESIDENT-ELECT

TIFFANY CROSS, ADMINISTRATIVE VP

STEPHANIE MCARTHUR, COMMUNICATIONS VP

RACHEL PRY, COMMUNITY VP

ELIZABETH ANDREWS, FIELD DEVELOPMENT VP

SARAH GUITIERREZ, MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT VP

LINA PALOMARES, RECORDING SECRETARY

ANDREA PRATT, TREASURER

AMANDA LOPEZ, BYLAWS/PARLIAMENTARIAN

JOLIE CYPERT, NOMINATING CHAIR

STEPHANIE BAZAN, STRATEGIC PLANNING CHAIR

SARAH VALENZUELA, SUSTAINING PRESIDENT

AMY MILLER, TECHNOLOGY CHAIR

RAMI LEGHA, TREASURER-ELECT

LYNDSAY KERR, MEMBER-AT-LARGE

RACHEL PLYMIRE, MEMBER-AT-LARGE

ASHLEY BIAS, ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT

HONORING OUR PAST PRESIDENTS: A LEGACY SINCE 1934

Gladys Greenlee Bowman+

Ruth McCelvey Bremond+

Mamie Ray Earnest+

Julian Devereux Weeks+

Margaret Ann Caldwell Scarbrough+

Ina Williams Walker+

Hilda Rudd McElhenney+

Frances Coopwood Morgan+

Mary Tucker Muse+

Julia Matthews Perry Robinson+

Virginia Nalle Page+

Elizabeth Schneider Rogers+

Mary Helen George Ammann+

L. Ellen Steck Ross Carter+

Eleanor Niggli Tyler+

Frankie Gist Peterson+

Eleanor Stayton Gammon+

Mary Ireland Graves Dougherty+

Mary Lee Wilson Crusemann+

Hallie Groos Slaughter+ *

Elora Watt Smith+

Sue Kone Drake+

Beverly Nash Bell+*

Mary Lucile Wicker O’Brien+

Elinor Willis Pittman+

Marjorie Dodge Granger+

Irene Hopkins Harwood+

Alice Kleberg Reynolds Meyer+

Nancy Price Bowman+

Barbara Louise Davis Neff+

Eugenia Betts Miller

Shelby Reed Hearon+

Diane Hierholzer Finch Grant*

Marian Marley McCrummen*

Alison Gray Kimberlin*

Josephine Klotz Roche

Josephine Drake McRee+

Barbara Leonard Smith*

Margaret Craig Cowden

Susan Dean Stayton*

Susan Page Driver

Carolyn Kellam Curtis

Marilla Black King

Nancy Chapman Collins

Ann Johnston Dolce

Clare Ritchie Hudspeth

Regan Kimberlin Gammon

Mary Gideon Herman*

Elizabeth Snyder Malone

Pamela Pitzer Willeford

Cynthia Hendrick Kozmetsky

Christina Kazen Attal

Judith Allen Shelton

Elizabeth Walters Atherton^

Melissa Owens Jackson

Paula Thompson Herd

Kristen Jones Holland

Cookie Gregory Ruiz

Hallie Powell Cardwell

Emily Heebner Baker

Nancy Cummins Prideaux

Nancy Schoenvogek Edsel

MariBen Ramsey*^

Jean Granger Galley

Amy Johnson Dunham

Suzy Balagia

Diane Catalani Falkenberg

Laura Wolf

Beth Nance Smith

KaLyn Laney

Melissa Greenwood Morrow

Kathi Livingston Haralson

Sandy Seguara Alcaca

Morgen Cesarano Hardin

Cathy Knapp McHorse

Kelly Breeden

Gregory Noack

Casie Kaluza Wenmohs

Sarah Moore Valenzuela

Julie Hall

Amy Hurt

Carrie Semple

Lyndsey Crawford

Tania Leskovar-Owens

* Denotes additional regional-level service

^ Denotes service on the AJLI Board of Directors + Deceased

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PRESIDENT-ELECT

As we embark on the 90th anniversary celebration of The Junior League of Austin, I am looking forward to sharing this exciting journey with you. In the past 4 years, our League has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and I am confident that we will continue to adapt and grow in the coming years.

The sparkle this year is due to Shannon and our other wonderful leadership chairs, as well as our hard-working members, and I am looking forward to building upon those efforts in the future. We owe them a lot of gratitude for having guided our organization through such a successful year.

I believe that there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Austin, Texas, has changed and grown in enormous ways over the past 90 years. Throughout the years, The League has been able to find innovative ways to support our city and the everchanging needs of our membership. We are looking forward to celebrating our 90th year in Austin while strengthening the League, celebrating our membership, and expanding our footprint in the city. We are proud to have been a part of Austin's history, and we are excited about what the future holds.

Throughout the last year, we have worked hard to focus on the unique qualities of our members and to support the Austin community in so many ways. Our League's strength is demonstrated through the amazing work we do through our Signature fundraisers, programs, and work in the community that represents the heart of our League.

• A Christmas Affair 2022 Night of the Nutcracker and Austin Entertains brought in significant financial support for our mission and programs.

• We successfully hosted external events within the Community Impact Center Committee that raised more than $300,000 for the League to support the work we do throughout the community.

• As a result of Food In Tummies' efforts, we distributed more than 1,000 food bags to Baty and Hillcrest elementary schools each week.

• Through our participation in Philanthropitch, Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) raised over $79,500 that allowed us to distribute more than 3,500 pairs of shoes to Title I schools throughout Central Texas.

• We provided grant funding and volunteer hours to over 30 community partners.

• We distributed our millionth coat in the history of the Coats for Kids program

In the coming year, we will focus on how we can broaden our reach and make sure that all women can find a place in The Junior League of Austin. As part of this process, we will incorporate the new mission statement that was adopted by all Junior Leagues in 2021: The Junior League of Austin is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

The ability to understand the mission of our League is essential to creating a sustainable League that will continue to support Austin for at least 90 more years to come. In order to make sure that the Central Texas community understands how we contribute to and improve our community, we will work hard to make sure this mission statement and our work are well known throughout the community. Thanks to each of you for being such an integral part of the League, and I look forward to a year filled with countless opportunities and accomplishments.

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose

Haley Gardiner President-Elect, 2022–2023

Proceeds Raised

$122,000+

Proceeds from the event benefit JLA’s signature programs including Food In Tummies (FIT), which combats food insecurity in the Austin area by distributing backpacks of food to elementary-aged children in Del Valle ISD.

CELEBRATING AUSTIN ENTERTAINS

SUPPORTING CULINARY EXCELLENCE

The Junior League of Austin (JLA) hosted Austin Entertains (AE) on Thursday, March 7 at the Community Impact Center (CIC). Thank you to the 36 AE committee members who dedicated hours of time to this project, which brings local female chefs together to show off their skills and compete in various categories, while patrons sample food and The Junior League of Austin raises funds for our signature programs.

BRINGING WARMTH TO CHILDREN

DECADES OF COMMITMENT WITH AN IMPACT

In its 36th year, Coats for Kids (CFK) hit a new milestone by issuing its millionth coat. The recipient, an elementary school student named Jade, says she loved her coat, especially because of the purple color and fur hood. In addition to the millionth coat, committee members sought feedback from children this year via a classroom worksheet.

“Multiple children said the coats made them feel ‘loved’ and ‘important.’ A coat is a necessity for children everywhere, but hearing what it means to them made our mission that much more meaningful,” said Kate Rhodes, 2022–2023 committee chair.

This year’s coat drive also achieved a new record in the total number of coats given away, with around 35,000 articles of clothing distributed.

NONPROFITS TAKE CENTER STAGE

JLA SHINES AS A PHILANTHROPITCH FINALIST

It’s not every day a representative from The Junior League of Austin (JLA) takes the stage at Austin City Limits Live to compete among other nonprofits and raise funds for Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS). But President-Elect Haley Gardiner did just that when JLA became a finalist in Austin’s 10th annual Philanthropitch.

“It was an incredible experience to participate in Philanthropitch,” says Gardiner. “When the process began, I was a bit uncertain about what to expect; however, the Philanthropitch staff made sure that each finalist felt comfortable with his or her pitch. Coaches assisted us in drafting our pitch as well as preparing our financial model.”

The Junior League of Austin was honored to win support with a $34,500 check the night of the competition on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

“It was an amazing experience. It was reassuring to be surrounded by JLA members that night and to hear their cheers of support,” says Gardiner. “I was grateful to have my pitch behind me and could relax after it was over.

During the award ceremony, I was genuinely excited for each finalist who represented an organization doing inspiring work in our community.”

Aside from raising funds for KICS, Philanthropitch allowed JLA to share The Junior League of Austin’s mission with a wider audience.

Philanthropitch is currently available in four cities: Austin; Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; and San Antonio. The organization is a pioneering education program that uses a fast-pitch competition to help promote innovation at nonpsrofits.

Sponsored By: Stephanie Bazan

VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE

BY JOLIE CYPERT

It is my pleasure to recognize this year’s Volunteer Extraordinaire, Jene’ Bearse.

The Volunteer Extraordinaire Award is presented to a Sustaining member who, during her years as both an Active and Sustaining member of JLA, has made significant contributions to the greater Austin community through her philanthropic work and servant leadership. Since 1985, this award has been presented to extraordinary women that leverage the training provided by the League into continued community service beyond their active years.

Bearse is a longtime member of The Junior League of Austin (JLA). She's served on the Board of Directors as Fund Development Vice President, Marketing VP, Treasurer, and Member at Large, among other leadership roles that helped fundraise for the League’s current home, the Community Impact Center (CIC). Seeing her League resume, it’s no surprise that Bearse would take that experience and training and share it with the Austin community.

Most recently, Bearse served as President of the Women’s Symphony League of Austin during 2020–2021. The Symphony League is the single largest funder of the Austin Symphony Orchestra (ASO), and during the COVID-19 pandemic, ASO was in a dire situation where the organization still had to pay for performer salaries and for venues that they could not use due to closures. Under Bearse's leadership, WSL was able to create new ways for membership to be meaningful and meet its commitment to ASO. She facilitated “Symphony Sips"–small gatherings at members’ homes that were outdoors and distanced.

“This allowed members to feel connected to the organization and to remain engaged,” says Carrie Semple, fellow WSL member and former JLA President.

Additionally, Bearse and her WSL team pivoted and instead of hosting WSL’s famed Jewel Ball, the organization executed a virtual Yule Ball to raise the essential funds for ASO.

Because of her creativity, leadership, and willingness to forge ahead, WSL leaders attribute Bearse's efforts directly to the organization’s ability to retain nearly every member during the pandemic.

Bearse has served on the Board of Directors of the ASO, and was a member of the Royal Thespian Society at McCallum High School, which is a parent support group for the Fine Arts Academy. During her time with the Society, she was able to transition the program’s Excel file that held all its finances to a cloudbased system, and helped the organization renew its 501(c)(3) status, which the Society had lost.

Girl Scouts of America named Bearse Leader of the Year for the Girl Scouts Bluebonnet Circle Service Unit in 2013. She served as a troop leader for 8 years and a Silver Star Advisor for the Girl Scouts.

Bearse has served on several school PTAs in support of her children’s schools.

This JLA Sustainer does it all while being a single mom, a beloved friend, and a special role model for those around her. Bearse serves without the need for recognition. In my opinion, this is what makes this award extra special for her.

As this year's Nominating Chair, I can say we are honored to recognize these members and their commitment to bettering the lives of others. Submissions are reviewed by the Nominating Committee and the winner is announced at the May General Meeting.

O N L I N E T H E R A P Y

K a t h r y n B o n g i o v a n n i , L C S W

T h e r a p i s t & O w n e r

T h e r a p y i s a b o u t c o n n e c t i o n

I w i l l d e f i n i t e l y d r o p t h e F - b o m b a n d I w a n t y o u t o b e y o u r a u t h e n t i c s e l f i n t h e r o o m , t o o

T h e r e i s n o ' w r o n g ' c l i e n t

C O N T A C T M E :

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h e l l o @ h e l i x t h e r a p y a n d w e l l n e s s c o m

F e e l s l i k e g o i n g i n c i r c l e s b u t y o u ' r e c l i m b i n g a m o u n t a i n G r o w t h i s a h e l i x

MEMBERS WITH UNUSUAL HOBBIES BREAKING THE MOLD

BY STEPHANIE POTTER

In a culture that tends to reward professional ambition, and within a group that recognizes exceptional voluntarism, we don’t always find the time to learn about each other’s pastimes. But there have always been dynamic JLA members who carve out precious free time to hone unique skills just for fun. Below we feature a few talented JLA members and their hobbies.

NAME: DOISE MIERS

JLA STATUS: SUSTAINER

HOBBY: TRAIL ULTRA MARATHONS

About the hobby and her experience: Doise had always been a road runner. She started trail running at a friend’s suggestion about 20 years ago and quickly became hooked on this growing sport. Doise ran her first 50K trail race in her late 20s and has since completed two 100K races. She most enjoys 50-mile races—a distance that can be completed in one day but still feels like an accomplishment. She’s run races in Texas, Wisconsin, California, and Arizona, including running the two biggest canyons in North America (the Grand Canyon and Palo Duro Canyon).

What she loves about it: She loves time alone in nature and watching the green spaces around Austin and the Texas Hill country change daily during the year. She also enjoys the supportive trail running community—at races, the fastest runners often stick around for hours to cheer even the slowest runners across the finish line.

Biggest challenge: Finding the time to train, especially after having a child—there isn’t any way to carry or push a baby offroad.

Biggest accomplishment: Being able to mentor other people and helping them accomplish distances they didn’t think they could do. Doise is very involved in a nonprofit called Band of Runners (bandofrunners.org) that hosts trail running camps for veterans and Gold Star families. She’s also made trail running a family affair. Her husband has started trail running, and her 5-year-old son has completed a one-mile kids’ run. She loves setting an example of healthy exercise, enjoying nature, and accomplishing challenging goals.

Future goal: Run 500K worth of races at her favorite venue in Bandera.

Something that might surprise people: Plenty of people trail run their whole lives, and some athletes turn to trail running when their knees cannot tolerate road running. Doise has a friend in his late 70s who recently ran his 1000th race.

NAME: BETHANY WEIGL

JLA STATUS: SUSTAINER

HOBBY: IRON WORKING

About the hobby and her experience: The Weigl family has been iron working since the mid-1800s in Bavaria. When some emigrated here during World War I, Bethany’s great-grandfather started the Iron Shop in downtown Austin. She grew up watching her father and grandfather work iron and knew their skills were rare in the Americas and useful to work in Old Austin. She didn’t want her dad’s knowledge to pass with him if he had no one to whom to hand it down, so Bethany started to pick it up about 15 years ago. She learned to weld in night classes at Austin Community College, and once she had some basic skills, she was able to build things with her father. She has had several other renowned local mentors, such as Louis Herrera, who worked on the Zilker gates. She also had the opportunity to study with the late Frank Turley. What she loves about it: Designing and building furniture are her favorite projects.

Biggest challenge: Every project! Bethany is a perfectionist, so she’s perpetually critical of her own work. Biggest accomplishment: Finishing a tree project for ACA when she was Decorations Co-Chair—and 8 1/2 months pregnant. (See photos!)

Future goal: Making prototypes and having staff to build them. Until then, simply continued improvement. Like any art, there are no shortcuts to iron working; skills are developed through practice and repetition.

Something that might surprise people: Iron working isn’t really a man’s game. When women went to work welding during World War II, they tended to be very good at it – it’s precise work with a very malleable medium, so fine motor skills matter far more than brute strength. Bethany’s professional field (commercial architecture) is male-dominated, and

by comparison, she’s noticed there are many successful female iron workers and the men tend to respect and admire the women who share their passion.

NAME: SARAH MATZ

JLA STATUS: ACTIVE

HOBBY: SHOWING MINIATURE DONKEYS

About the hobby and her experience: Sarah grew up loving horses, although her family didn’t have any. She competed on the equestrian team at West Texas A&M University. She then took a 10-year hiatus as a young professional in the D.C. area but got a horse shortly after moving back to Texas. Currently, she has two full-sized horses. Sarah’s experience with mini donkeys began through a former horse trainer who had a few of the little “long ears.” Sarah stepped in to show her trainer’s mini donkeys when the handler fell ill at the last minute, and she loved it. When the trainer moved and sold her animals, Sarah bought her jack (a breeding male donkey) named Little Graceland Heartbreak Hotel, or HB. HB is now a john (a gelded male). Sarah also bought one of HB’s babies, a jenny (a female donkey) named Miss Kitty. Sarah now has a third mini donkey, a john named Dirty Harry, which she hopes her 18-month-old son will show when he’s older. HB and Miss Kitty are spotted asses. Yes, really.

What she loves about it: Some equestrian sports are very competitive, but people who show donkeys are necessarily supportive and understanding. You have to have a sense of humor to show donkeys, which are little equines with big personalities. They may not choose to perform well at shows, no matter their experience or preparation.

Biggest challenge: Sarah embraces the hard parts of showing opinionated animals, hoping that she will model for her son that anxiety and disappointment can be great learning opportunities. The hardest part about the hobby for her is finding the time to show her donkeys and ride her horses while raising a child, working, and volunteering with JLA.

Biggest accomplishment: Miss Kitty recently won Grand Champion at the Fort Worth Stock Show.

Future goal: Sarah and Miss Kitty are invited to compete at a national show in Shawnee, Okla., this summer.

Something that might surprise people: At no more than 36-inches tall, mini donkeys are too small to ride, but they can “drive” or pull carts. Also, kids can start showing mini donkeys as young as 3-years-old, and there is a lot of scholarship money in showing.

NAME: STEPHANIE POTTER

JLA STATUS: ACTIVE

HOBBY: FOX HUNTING

About the hobby and her experience: Like Sarah, Stephanie grew up loving horses in a non-horsey family. She competed in various types of show jumping disciplines from elementary school into college, then took a break after law school. After a marriage and two children, sporadic lessons turned into leasing a horse, which turned into purchasing an off-track Thoroughbred (or “OTTB”) called Kevin. Five years after getting Kevin, Stephanie now also has a second OTTB called Clover, a pony for her daughter, and she shares a Chincoteague pony with a cousin. The cousin introduced Stephanie to fox hunting a few years ago. Clover was recently acquired as a resale project for her calm demeanor in the hopes that she’ll take to hunting.

What she loves about it: Stephanie loves every minute spent at the barn and riding in any discipline, as well as the instant camaraderie among horse people — there are quite a few in JLA. Fox hunting is particularly fun among other horse disciplines because every hunt is unique. The pace and length of any hunt are dependent on wild animals and scent conditions. When the hounds find a trail, galloping through the countryside after them is incomparable.

Biggest challenge: Time and distance. There are three recognized fox hunts in Texas: one that’s about 2 hours east of Austin and two that are 3–4 hours north of Austin. Hunts are typically on Saturday mornings. It is not easy to work a full week, get all the gear clean and in the trailer on a Friday night, and load a horse or two at zerodark-thirty on cold winter Saturday mornings.

Biggest accomplishment: Literally just showing up. Every time Stephanie gets herself, her daughter, and their horses to a hunt close to on time and reasonably well turned out, she feels like she’s won a medal.

Future goal: Competing with Clover in the field hunters division at the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover, a horse show for recently retired racehorses each year in Kentucky.

Something that might surprise people: No foxes are actually hunted! “Fox hunting” is a misnomer in Texas; “coyote chasing” would be more accurate. The sport started hundreds of years ago in Britain, which had a fox problem. In Texas, coyotes and other factors keep the fox population under control, so we “hunt” the coyotes instead. But riders carry flasks, not guns; there isn’t any shooting involved. And since foxhounds aren’t physical or mental matches for coyotes, the goal is just to chase. Otherwise, it’s a very traditional sport, with nearly every aspect of the attire, tack, and practices dating back to an age-old practical purpose.

A LEGACY OF SPARKLE & SHINE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED ERA

BY STEPHANIE POTTER

Shannon Creekmur is the third President of The Junior League of Austin (JLA) to lead our organization through uncharted territory. In 2020–2021, a presidency that was probably expected to be all about the Community Impact Center (CIC), ended up being all about COVID. Then, in 2021–2022, we tried to define best practices in a world still in flux. This year, Creekmur had the enormous task of trying to return JLA to normalcy.

The challenge, of course, is that there is no normal. One might have thought that organizations could reinstall their old programs once the peak of the pandemic passed. But as with any reboot, reinstalling

She’s been just the person to blaze this trail. If you drew a Venn diagram with a circle of highly effective people on one side and a circle of people with sunny personalities on the other side, you may not find a lot of overlap. But Creekmur’s name would be smack-dab in the middle.

This duality makes her a great leader for this challenging time. Creekmur’s selected theme for the year, “believe in your sparkle and shine,” is downright celebratory and just the right tone to get most members excited about getting back in their JLA groove, while showing potential members how much fun our organization can be. Creekmur has been willing to discuss and tackle complex problems, make changes to meet the membership where they are, and be open to input on how the League can better accommodate existing members and attract new members. She’s not too proud to lean on the advice of past presidents as well as her peers at other large Leagues, and she describes their willingness to share their experiences and support her as one of the best surprises of being president.

is not a seamless process. As a League, our organization isn’t what it was before COVID. Physically, our address has changed, of course. We are in our first complete year of events at the CIC, without any recurring closures or cancelations. This brings logistical challenges as we grow into our multipurpose building. But it’s more than our building: we have changed. Post-COVID, people are generally more protective of their free time and attention. JLA leadership has observed that members are now more decisive about when, where, and how they can give their time. This is not a bad thing–everyone needs balance–but it means JLA leadership has to ensure that JLA programming is constantly adapting to the needs of the changed membership. Creekmur is hyper-aware of these issues, and as a result, she’s been a president on a mission, determined to strengthen our membership and attract more women to the League.

As JLA’s first Black president, Creekmur knows her race means a lot in terms of making more people feel represented at the highest level of the League. She doesn’t want to be the only Black president, she wants other women of color and “firsts” to also feel empowered to take on the role of president. It’s been vitally important to her to model to other working women that they could be JLA president. Our next president, Haley Gardiner, also has a full-time career, and she has children. Creekmur hopes they are modeling that women can have active careers, busy families, and still be outstanding JLA members and volunteers.

Overall, for this year, Creekmur simply hopes we look back and think this “was a good year.” It certainly has been, and perhaps each of us has been inspired this past year to believe in our own sparkle a little bit more than before.

REFLECTING ON AUSTIN'S PAST AND PRESENT

PERSPECTIVES FROM THE JUNIOR LEAGUE

BY JENN WILSON

I grew up in Austin and remember a time when the tallest buildings were on Cesar Chavez, and the Broken Spoke was out in the sticks. Old Austin was a small, tight-knit community centered around The University of Texas at Austin and state government. However, Austin has grown exponentially since then, becoming a major tech hub and destination for young professionals and entrepreneurs. The city's skyline has been transformed by the addition of high-rise buildings and luxury condos, and the downtown area has seen a proliferation of trendy bars, restaurants, and shops.

The Junior League of Austin (JLA) has also reflected this growth, moving headquarters and expanding its programs, including signature initiatives like FIT (Food In Tummies) and KICS (Kids In Cool Shoes). The League has become one of the five largest in the United States, and our members have witnessed how Austin and The Junior League have changed over time.

“The biggest change I have noticed at The Junior League is that when I started, we were at the old headquarters, and I could never park for the General Meeting,” says McCasland. “I think building the new headquarters has been a huge beneit in keeping up with changes of Austin."

Sunny Nelson, a member of the Fund Development Committee, transferred from the San Francisco League in 2021. Although she grew up near Canyon Lake in Central Texas, Austin was always the big city she would visit to shop at Costco. After leaving Central Texas to pursue a career in tech, Sunny returned during the pandemic and loves all the outdoor activities you can do in Austin while still being close to downtown. She brought with her the perspectives of the San Francisco Junior League. "I am very impressed by the professionalism and organization of The Junior League of Austin,” says Nelson.

The growth and development of new Austin have brought both benefits and challenges, including rising housing costs, traffic congestion, and gentrification of some areas. While some mourn the loss of the city's bohemian past, others embrace the opportunities and excitement that come with growth and change.

Lindsey McCasland, an Active member on the Capitalines committee and a native Austinite, recalls a time when the city was smaller and going out meant running into someone you knew. New Austin has expanded so much that, according to McCasland, you do not have to live downtown to feel like you're in Austin. McCasland joined JLA to meet other amazing women, volunteer, and network.

Austin's dynamism has shaped the city's vibes, both old and new, but the League as well. JLA has grown along with the city, serving a larger area with more programs, members, and duties. The League has navigated these dynamic changes while remaining committed to its mission of community service, empowering women, and volunteerism. As we progress further, members are excited to see what new opportunities there will be in the future and how the League will adapt to the continued changes of Austin.

Lindsey McCasland and her family enjoy all that Austin has to offer.

Sunny Nelson volunteers with friends at Coats for Kids.

PROJECTS

Austin Creative Reuse

Austin Humane Society

Austin Zoo

Ballet Austin

BookSpring

Carrying Hope

Center for Child Protection

Dress for Success Austin

Generation SERVE

Girls Empowerment Network

Hand to Hold

Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin

Partnerships for Children

Pop-Up Birthday

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas

Settlement Home for Children

Sustainable Food Center

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Imparied

The Thinkery (Austin Children's Museum)

Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center

Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

Women's Storybook Project of Texas

ZACH Theatre

Coats for Kids — Our partnership with KVUE, iHeartRadio, and Jack Brown Cleaners helps to keep up to 30,000 Central Texas children warm each year.

Done-in-a-Day — A series of volunteer projects with dozens of partnering organizations allows our members to help out in 4-hour shifts during important events at other non-profits.

Food In Tummies (FIT) — Through our annual Provisional member class project, our teams work together to pack and distribute backpacks of food for children in Del Valle Independent School District to take home each weekend.

Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) — A pair of new shoes improves school attendance by 44%. With help of corporate sponsorships, our volunteers organize and distribute thousands of shoes to Central Texas students.

Spanish Immersion (¡Si!) — The Junior League of Austin offers Spanish classes, with members using the skills they learn to complete 3 community service projects to apply new language skills.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORS

BRAD ROBB — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CARL C. ANDERSON SR, AND MARIE JO ANDERSON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY — CEO, LEADERSHIP AUSTIN

EDNA RAMON BUTTS - DIRECTOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND POLICY OVERSIGHT, AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

NANCY AND NYLE MAXWELL — FOUNDERS OF NYLE MAXWELL FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS

PAM BENSON-OWENS — PRESIDENT/CHIEF PERCOLATING OFFICER, SQUARE SIX/EDGE OF YOUR SEAT CONSULTING, INC.

AUDREY SELDEN, J.D. — PRINCIPAL, SELDEN CONSULTING

“Treat Yourself, Beautiful” is a core principal at REFINE Aesthetics we value science-based technology combined with artistry and a little Austin flare to make you feel refined and refreshed

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF AUSTIN