LeagueLines Fall 2017

FALL 2017 ISSUE

LEAGUELINES THE NEWSLETTER OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF AUSTIN

NEWSLetter Contents PRESIDENT’S LETTER

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SUSTAINING PRESIDENT’S LETTER

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HURRICANE HARVEY RELEIF EFFORTS

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WHY WOMEN JOIN THE LEAGUE

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PROVISIONAL & TRANSFER WELCOME

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JUST SAY YES! “Connecting Through Small Group Meetings & Events”

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TECH CORNER “Video - the New-ish Frontier”

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COATS FOR KIDS

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COMMUNITY PLACEMENT The Austin Humane Society

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JLA NEW ROLES Communications Council Spotlight

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SUSTAINER SPOTLIGHT: Toya Circia Bell

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WHAT’S YOUR STORY? New Messaging

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HOW FIT CHANGED MY LIFE: Rebecca Grady

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COMMUNITY IMPACT CENTER

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HOW THE LEAGUE PRODUCES LEADERS: Courtney Dickey

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JLA MEMBER UPDATES

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ACA HIGHLIGHTS

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JLA SOCIAL MEDIA CORNER

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NOMINATE A JLA WONDER WOMAN

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

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OUR DYNAMIC LEAGUE:

2017 MEMBERSHIP The Junior League of Austin is a dynamic group of women making an impact in our community through volunteerism and leadership development. We are pleased to announce that with more than 2,600 members, we are one of the largest and fastest growing Junior Leagues. Our members are actively involved in community partnerships, signature programs and leadership development. Each and every one of our members should feel great pride in all we are doing to build a better Austin.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to LeagueLines!

Welcome to the Fall edition of LeagueLines for the 20172018 year! LeagueLines is The Junior League of Austin’s (JLA) internal publication highlighting our community partnerships, signature programs and all of our amazing volunteers. This year the LeagueLines Committee is dedicated to telling your stories to showcase firsthand how we’re creating a healthier, more vibrant and prosperous Austin. We want to highlight how all of you are making a positive impact in the community and how The Junior League of Austin has improved your life and influenced change in the development of your leadership skills.

I’m particularly proud of the LeagueLines Committee this year and our development in just a few short months. Like many of you in your current placements, we come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are almost all new to the design and publication world. With limited resources alongside great training and teamwork, we’ve been able to produce our first issue highlighting key stories such as our Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and digging into why women join the JLA. We’re also excited to bring you firsthand stories from our members that discuss leadership and the life changing impact the League has brought upon them.

Any and all feedback on our publication is welcome. Would you prefer to see more pictures or more member features? Did you love a particular story or have something you’d like to learn about the League?

Do you want us to tell your story? We would love to hear how we can improve for the next publication and keep the content relevant for you. Please send your ideas and thoughts to leaguelines@jlaustin.org.

Happy Reading!

Lauren Cronin 2017-2018 LeagueLines Editor

2017-2018 LEAGUELINES COMMITTEE LeagueLines Editor Lauren Cronin

Art, Design and Layout Editor Nicole Emrich

Copy Editor Christie Finnigan

Photography Editor/Photographer Isis Valencia

Art, Design & Layout Assistants Sydney Hayslett Julie Humble Julie Winn Neff Keith Elizabeth Statler Megan Arnold

Literary Assignments Editor Erika Lueker-Tarango

Sustaining Advisor Beth Allen (Kirkgard)

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Writers Kiley Batjer Amber Myers Sarah Paolozza Jenzy Wunder Lindsey Wiese

LETTER FROM THE

PRESIDENT It’s hard to believe we are already almost half of the way through the 2017 – 2018 year, and what a six months it has been. In addition to our normal September madness, our membership rallied together to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Our response, both immediate and overwhelming, proved what a group of women can accomplish together.

As many of you know this year’s theme is “Bigger Than Us,” and I see our members exemplify this every day. The Junior League of Austin’s members practice servant leadership and selflessly volunteer to improve many facets of our Austin community. Thank you for continuing our strong legacy of 84 years.

It was great to see so many of you at the September and November General Meetings, and I look forward to seeing all of our Sustainers at A Christmas Affair. In the meantime, my door is always open.

Julie Hall 2017-2018 JLA President

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LETTER FROM THE

SUSTAINING

PRESIDENT

As we begin a new school and League year, it’s important to remember that we are each a piece of the puzzle that makes up The Junior League of Austin. That’s why this year’s President, Julie Hall, chose the theme “Bigger than Us!” as a way to remind our members of the collective effect of our individual contributions. Without the help and support of Sustainers, the League would not be able to continue its immense impact on the Austin area.

If you are interested in plugging into the League, the Sustainer Engagement Committee is an Active committee that exists to help engage League Sustainers.

The committee works to provide opportunities for Sustainers who want to serve the community in some way, either at Coats for Kids, FIT - Food in Tummies, or fill-in shifts for Done-in-a Day projects. They also help organize social gatherings focused on specific interests such as cooking, gardening, or investing.

Thank you for your membership and helping to “sustain” the League and its programs. I am honored to be a part of this amazing organization and continue to be in awe of the impact The Junior League of Austin is making in our community.

Morgen Hardin

2017-2018 JLA Sustaining President

2017-2018 JLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bylaws/Parliamentarian Ashley Hight

President Julie Hall

Administrative VP Elizabeth Andrews

President - Elect Amy Hurt

Communications VP Laura Lee Daigle

Assistant to President Jennifer O’Connor

Fund Development VP Shannon Creekmur

Treasurer/Finance Ann Townsend

Membership Development VP Carrie Semple

Strategic Planning Chair Leslie Moore

Recording Secretary Lauren Price

Member-at-Large Tania Leskovar-Owens

Sustaining President Morgen Hardin

Community VP Amanda Eldridge

Member-at-Large Minty Sellers

Technology Chair Michelle Lupto

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Treasurer-Elect Genny Hill Nominating Chair Nicole Elliott

HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF EFFORTS By: JENZY WUNDER Dumping over 27 trillion gallons of rain in just six days, Hurricane Harvey was the strongest storm to make landfall in the United States since Charley in 2004. This unprecedented storm left much of the Texas coast destroyed or severely damaged, leaving too many of our friends, family and fellow Texans in need.

The outpouring of help can be seen and felt across the country through organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and AmeriCares. Help can also be seen and quantified within The Junior League of Austin (JLA). In partnership with KW Cares, donations from the JLA filled a 17-foot U-Haul which was delivered to the Austin Disaster Relief Network; a smaller truck was provided to a small community in South Texas and most recently donations were delivered to a neighborhood in need in West Houston.

Holly Priestner, a JLA member and a Vice President at Keller Williams, was pivotal in helping the League mobilize our donations in association with KW Cares. However, she takes little credit. Instead, she highlights the great work of Jamille Ruebsahm, JLA member and former Development Director of the Salvation Army as well as our members and their willingness to help. Priestner specifically recognizes the work of Julie Hall and the JLA Board. “I believe that Julie

Hall and the Board of Directors are the true heroes with this story. Fall is an incredibly busy time for JLA. Many people were just starting their placements and A Christmas Affair and Coats for Kids are on the home stretch and stretched very thin in September. Julie and the leadership team identified a way for JLA to support Harvey survivors while allowing JLA to focus on the work we have committed to our community. I am in awe of their ability to make this possible!”

Holly Priestner also reminds us that the JLA is not just a charitable organization, but a training one as well. “Don’t underestimate the power of your JLA training and network!

Your volunteer experiences can enhance your professional opportunities. My JLA training helped me better serve Keller Williams when playing a role in Mega Relief.”

In the JLA September General Meeting, we were reminded the relief effort is a marathon and not a sprint; our donations and time will be needed for years to come. The League will continue to provide updates on what donations are needed and how you can help – whether through the League directly or through organizations such The Salvation Army or local groups like the Second Baptist Church in Houston.

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WHY WOMEN JOIN THE LEAGUE By: SARAH PAOLOZZA Everyone has a reason for joining the League. Mine was twofold — I wanted to volunteer my time but didn’t know how to best go about doing that with all the options available, and I wanted to expand my network in Austin.

Recently, I set out to find if other members joined for similar reasons, and also to talk to longtime members to see what makes them stay in the League.

Most of the members I spoke to shared similar motivations for joining JLA: To be of service to their community by using their spare time to do something productive and charitable, and to expand their social and professional network.

Why choose the League specifically to do volunteer work? The common answer to this question is that there was a desire to offer time, but most didn’t know where or how, and they turned to the League to help them figure that out. Others were already actively involved in volunteer work and were prompted to join the League by friends, the opportunity to do more, or to have a greater impact.

The Junior League of Austin’s 2016 Community Vice President, Jenn Galbraith, explained that she joined because she had a limited amount of free time to offer, and she jumped at the chance to join an organization that would allow her to volunteer that time in a way that would amplify her impact on the community.

Others I spoke to began their membership with a goal to make friends and to expand their personal and professional networks. These reasons often are what keep members in the League, too. They meet and form close relationships with other members, and they see firsthand the impact that the work they do with the League has

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on the community. This drives them to stay, even as their personal and professional lives become so busy that any reasonable person might argue they can’t possibly have time for it!

Many members credit their work with the League for helping them get better jobs, make close friends, and obtain leadership positions with other non-profits. When I talked to longtime members of the League, I realized that they were willing to take on more and more through the years because the League has helped them learn they can handle it, and that they are more fulfilled by doing so.

Sarah Valenzuela, last year’s JLA President, pointed out that often other members of the League see things in you that you may not have seen in yourself, and that pushes you to take on roles that you might not have ever expected or sought. It’s this opportunity to constantly learn new things about yourself, to step out of your comfort zone and work in different capacities that drives members to recommit to the League year after year.

And for most that I spoke to, they also stay for the same reason they initially joined: To give back, to have a positive impact on the community, to always be gracious, and to never take their own good fortune for granted.

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THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF AUSTIN WELCOMES

PROVISIONALS AND TRANSFERS By: SARAH PAOLOZZA

Temperatures are out of the hundreds and pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu at Starbucks; that can only mean one thing -- it’s fall! While it may not be jacket weather just yet, another year has kicked off here at The Junior League of Austin (JLA). As the first issue of LeagueLines for the new year, we’d like to take a moment to welcome our new Provisionals and Transfers!

This issue of LeagueLines is jam packed with useful information for new JLA members. We’ve put a special focus on highlighting how The Junior League of Austin produces leaders, why women chose to join the League, and what you can do to make the most of out of your League membership. We also highlight existing and new community placement opportunities, upcoming League events, and inspirational stories that will hopefully reaffirm your decision to be a part of the League.

Each year JLA membership grows by hundreds of women, and along with it, the breadth of charitable and educational benefits this membership provides. We’re so excited to meet you and welcome you into this incredible network of Austin women. We hope your first year with JLA is exciting, rewarding and fun. We look forward to the unique impact that each one of you will have on our organization and our community.

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CONNECTING THROUGH SMALL GROUP MEETINGS AND EVENTS

JUST SAY YES!

by: AMBER MYERS It’s no secret that many of us joined The Junior League of Austin (JLA) to make friends and meet new people in the Austin area.

However, most members would also argue that it can be quite intimidating to walk into a room with several hundred women and introduce yourself to a stranger. The solution seems to be meeting people in your placement or Provisional Small Groups, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.

After talking to quite a few members, it became clear that most made quality friendships participating in JLA activities outside of just the general requirements. “I forced my Provisional Group to come to a happy hour at my house,” exclaimed Active Member Lacey Pumphrey. She was half-joking and promises that no one was actually forced to do anything, but it did take some persuasion to get everyone to show up to the same event. However, once the group got together in a more low-key environment, they were able to have substantial conversations and find common hobbies and interests. Two years later, they still have a group that consistently gets together.

Rekha Akella suggested going to the small group general meetings to meet other members who live in your area of town.

After a recent move from Georgetown to South Austin, Rekha commented, “I can’t wait to meet everyone who lives in my new neighborhood because it would be so nice to have a friend within walking distance.”

While it is difficult to get back into your car after work or a long day chasing your kids around, say yes the next time you are invited to happy hour, book club, or dinner. You never know, you might meet a new best friend.

If you are excited to meet new people but don’t know where to start, check out the list of upcoming events at the end of the LeagueLines publication to mark your calendar.

TECH CORNER:

VIDEO, THE NEW-ISH FRONTIER by: AMBER MYERS Video isn’t exactly a new medium, but there are several reasons why it is now a hot topic among The Junior League of Austin’s members. A few years ago, recording quality video required bulky equipment and photography expertise, but that is no longer the case. Today we all have first-rate cameras on our cell phones, and who leaves home without her cell phone? Why is video so much better than other mediums?

Risé Candelaria, Public Relations/Marketing Chair, noted that, “While a picture will always be worth a thousand words, we learned at a recent Communications Council retreat that video has some scientific advantages over other mediums.”

For example, viewers tend to remember 95% of a message when a video is utilized with the message, compared to only 10% when relying on a read message alone (insivia). Some articles even claim that in recent years, the human attention span has been shrinking.

The Communications Council is hard at work creating short videos to introduce the JLA to our community. You can expect

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to see videos on all JLA social media outlets as well as the website. These videos will be a resource for members to share as they are encouraging family and friends to support JLA projects and events by volunteering, attending, or giving.

Lia Truitt, A Christmas Affair Public Relations Liaison and Account Supervisor with Elizabeth Christian PR, recommends the following tips when deciding whether or not to record a video on your own:

• If you are using your smartphone, be sure your phone is turned horizontally.

• Keep your videos short, sweet, and to the point.

• Be sure you capture the purpose of the video well; this makes it visually strong!

• Enhance or add premium audio. Truitt says, “people will

watch a video with bad video quality, but they won’t watch one with bad audio.”

• If good audio is hard to capture, use captions and text if you are using your video for social media.

• Don’t forget to share your videos with socialmedia@jlaustin.org!

TECH CORNER: DID YOU KNOW? by: AMBER MYERS There’s Something for Everyone As we kick off the new League year, one thing that is sure to change is the way we can access information about The Junior League of Austin. Below, check out some new ways to take advantage of our latest advancements in technology.

Provisionals Did you know that Digital Cheetah has a mobile app, Seeing Spot, which you can download? Go to your Apple or Android store and search for Seeing Spot. The app is free and gives you lots of resources at your fingertips, such as meeting check-ins, membership directory, and access to upcoming events. If you don’t have it, make sure to download today!

All Members Did you know that you can sign up for nightly updates for your placement? This is a great way to stay up-to-date with activity in your group and upcoming meetings or events. On your personal Member dashboard, look toward the bottom right and click on your Committee under My Groups. The Member Actions box in the upper right box gives the option to Click Here to Subscribe to Nightly Updates.

JLA Headquarters? We have two laptops available for checkout for League business for up to three days at a time. The Library computer has Microsoft Office and the Publications Room computer has Office and Creative Cloud. Find the checkout forms from the Member Homepage under Resources>Member Resources>Technology.

Group Leaders Did you know that if you run a group or committee, you have access to previous years’ files and information? Go to your group or committee page to find information that can be passed along from year to year, such as documents and photos.

Did you know that we have computers you can check out from

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2017 Distribution Day: Saturday, December 9

COATS FOR KIDS By: RISE CANDELARIA When asked why she joined The Junior League of Austin, Rachel Zander can’t help but enthusiastically exclaim, “For Coats for Kids (CFK), of course!” As the 2017-18 CFK Chair of this event, now celebrating its 31st year, she is excited about the plans in place for this year’s coat drive and an opportunity to expand the drive to a new area in Austin.

While most of us as League members have a good idea about how Coats for Kids began and how valuable one of our signature projects is to the city of Austin, Rachel wants her committee and community volunteers to understand how valuable and impactful their work truly is. This work starts by developing a strong rapport and commitment from her committee members. This year, she implemented a retreat for out-going and in-coming Coats for Kids Committee members where everyone had a chance to become energized about their specific tasks and how they contribute to the success of the project as a whole. While many of us know that hard work and commitment are key for implementation and managing logistics, Rachel believes that as a committee leader, she should also ensure that her committee is having a rich and fun experience!

“This [committee] can be the best and most rewarding experience. My goals for the CFK committee women are that they leave this volunteer experience with a love for Coats for Kids, pride in the tremendous impact they have made in the Austin community, and a connection to each other that will endure long after their placement has ended. I think we achieve that through our committee work and through developing relationships by creating fun memories together.”

To ensure a little bit of fun along with the work, Rachel planned several social outings with other JLA committees to spread the word about Coats for Kids and to allow committee members to engage as ambassadors of CFK. As JLA members,

we understand how vital we are to the success of our own project through wordof-mouth efforts with family, friends, coworkers, and other community members we encounter on a daily basis. Having an opportunity to practice these discussions with fellow members and networking for fun helps the CFK committee to fully engage in their goals for this year.

One of the goals that the committee is excited to carry out this year is the addition of a “CFK Mobile Site” which will be implemented on Thursday, December 7 for families in the Rundberg area. Coats for Kids, through a partnership with AISD, has chosen the Guerrero-Thompson Elementary School to host a site where students can come and choose their coats in advance of the actual event on Saturday, December 9. The reason this particular area was chosen for a mobile site was because of the need and difficulties residents face trying to reach the Palmer Events Center on Distribution Day. While manpower and logistics are often a challenge implementing an event of this size, families-in-need may experience similar challenges trying to access resources to help their children stay warm each winter. Rachel noted that, “[t]here were 31 days where Austin had belowfreezing temperatures during this past winter. On those days, families without access to warm clothing and coats for their children chose to keep them home from school instead of sending them out in the cold with no coat.” As valuable as attendance is to the success of our students, one day missed from school is one too many.

So, how can we as JLA members help?

How can we increase the impact this project has in the Austin and Central Texas community? The Coats for Kids Committee encourages and welcomes volunteers of all ages to be a part of their efforts throughout the entire week, and especially on Distribution Day. Rachel also encouraged our members to be creative

with efforts to contribute, and noted that a “personal coat drive” can easily be hosted out of your own home!

“Last year, I found a large box and wrapped it in Christmas paper with a Coats for Kids sign, that I conveniently downloaded from the JLA website, on the box. Then, I posted on my neighborhood’s social media page that I was more than happy to take gently used or new coats on behalf of The Junior League of Austin and CFK. I had a pretty large pile to donate by the time I was done collecting!”

She goes on to add that as members, we need to be sure to request coats that are suitable for conditions where frost is on the ground to ensure they are warm enough for chilly weather.

And, don’t forget that donations are also appreciated to help reach the committee’s goal of 35,000 coats for this year! The success of the Coats for Kids project is noteworthy in the Austin community due to the large number of families served each year. Just $15 helps to provide warm winter coats for children in need, so consider this option when deciding how to contribute to Coats for Kids this year.

“We know there are children in need of warm coats and access to various services throughout the Austin area that are served by our Distribution Day each year.

Removing whatever barriers exist to keep children from missing out from these basic needs is what is most important to me this year, “ said Rachel.

Given the amazing power and enthusiasm of this committee and its community volunteers, the impact they make will shatter whatever socioeconomic barriers may exist.

Thanks again to all of the Coats for Kids Committee members, community volunteers, and partners who help to make this event amazing and impactful every year.

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A LONG-TIME COMMUNITY PARTNER

AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY

By: SARAH PAOLOZZA

The Austin Humane Society (AHS) is located in north central Austin (183/Lamar) and has been in operation since 1952. According to their website, they are the longest standing no-kill shelter in the city. The Austin Humane Society has been a long time Community Partner with The Junior League of Austin (JLA) and this year there are 15 JLA volunteers placed there. One of those volunteers is Katy Stuhr, who shared with me a little bit about her experience so far at AHS. Katy has been in the League since 2008 and prior to this year, she had only ever done in-League placements. She loves animals and believes in adopting, not shopping, so AHS was a natural placement choice for her. She said that volunteering at AHS has warmed her heart and let her truly feel the impact she’s having on the community she lives in by “getting her hands dirty”. And she means that quite literally, since, after the influx of pets that came in after Hurricane Harvey, she was tasked with bathing some of the rescued pups!

A typical shift for Katy involves helping out in the adoption lobby and talking to people who come in looking for a dog or cat. She has also helped at adoption events that AHS holds within the community. Shifts are typically staffed by up to two JLA members, so in addition to working with another League member, she also gets to interact with other Humane Society staff members and volunteers.

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Katy says that the staff at AHS are incredibly kind and grateful to their volunteers. After Harvey, AHS staff worked around the clock to take in lost pets and animals from impacted shelters by helping feed, clean, vaccinate and provideother forms of necessary medical attention.

They have a medical team that does all of this on-site, and it was inspiring to Katy to see their amazing response to that natural disaster.

Aside from being able to play with all the loving dogs (she’s allergic to cats, otherwise she’d love to play with them too), Katy loves that there is a lot of flexibility in the shift work there, including plenty of evening and weekend hours. In fact, she’s enjoying it so much that she thinks she may want to try to do it again next year! If you love animals and are seeking a placement that you can easily fit into a busy schedule, Austin Humane Society would be an excellent option for a community placement.

NEW ROLES:

SPOTLIGHT ON THE COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL “That’s one of the great things about the League, it’s always changing and evolving,” - Laura Lee Daigle, Communications Vice President

By: AMBER MYERS Every year, The Junior League of Austin leadership re-evaluates the changing needs and expectations of its membership and programs. Almost every year, this results in new in-League placement positions for Active Members. This year, the Communications Council added two new positions: Communications Graphic Designer and Communications Review Coordinator.

“That’s one of the great things about the League, it’s always changing and evolving,” commented Laura Lee Daigle, Communications Vice President.

Communications Graphic Designer A decade ago, social media didn’t exist, and there was no need for a dedicated graphic designer for the League.

Over the last few years, members noticed that we needed someone to turn to for a quick graphic for an e-blast, social media post, or the website. Most importantly, these graphics needed a professional eye to make them just right.

The new Communications Graphic Designer was the answer to all of these needs. Faustine Curry is the current Communications Graphic Designer, and with access to Indesign, PowerPoint and Canva, she can help with all small JLA graphic projects. Contact her at communicationsgraphics@jlaustin.org for help.

Communications Review Coordinator All official League communications should go through the Communications Approval Process. This includes anything external/outward facing, anything internal that will be printed or distributed, and JLA website updates.

While all members can agree that this process is important to keep the JLA message clear, in the past it has been a sore spot for members waiting for communications to be approved. This year we have streamlined the process to make reviews quicker and easier!

Once your materials have been approved by your council Vice President, send them to Sarah Stotts at communicationsreview@jlaustin.org, and the Communications Review Coordinator will guide them through the review process. This includes checking for grammar/JLA Style Guide compliance and approvals from Public Relations, Communications, and the JLA President. We ask for one-two weeks lead time, but we will do our best to accommodate rushes when a deadline is clearly given.

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SUSTAINER SPOTLIGHT

Toya Cirica Bell By: JENZY WUNDER 1) Can you describe your volunteer experience in the League?

I am a Sustaining Member of The Junior League of Austin and have served as a Sustaining Advisor to the Sustainer Engagement Committee, the Communications Council and the Public Relations Committee. Prior to becoming a Sustainer, I served on the JLA Board as the Parliamentarian. I served in in-League placements as Grants Chair, ACA Media Co-Chair, a Project Chair, and in community placements with Done-in-a-Day and Austin Smiles.

2) When did you join the League?

I became a member of the Junior League of San Antonio in the early nineties before transferring to JLA in 1995.

As Provisionals, five friends and I were the first African American women to become members of the San Antonio League. It was a wonderful and welcoming experience.

My provisional placement was Done-in-a-Day, which I loved because it gave me an opportunity to volunteer with so many different organizations while meeting other provisionals from throughout the community. We usually planned an informal social activity after each placement, so we could spend more time getting to know each other.

3) Can you share your education and/or occupation?

I graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in English before attending the College of William & Mary where I received my JD. I am a practicing attorney and serve as the Deputy Chief Ethics Officer for one of the largest state agencies in the country, the Texas Health and Human Services system.

“It is always important to remember that a key aspect of volunteerism is to help others...”

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4) What is your favorite placement to date?

Serving as a JLA Medical Mission Volunteer for Austin Smiles. I accompanied Austin Smiles on a medical mission to El Salvador in 1997. I recall being with the physicians as they identified children for surgery in the early morning hours and seeing entire families with very young children in need of medical treatment. Before each procedure, we would meet their parents and carry the children into the operating room. After the procedure, we carried them in our arms back to their parents who were anxiously awaiting. The glances that were exchanged in those moments, the happiness and joy that we were able to bring to each family and the joy felt in being able to be a part of such a life-changing gift is something I will never forget… it is something I will always cherish and appreciate about my League experience.

“...those moments, the happiness and joy that we were able to bring to each family and the joy felt in being able to be a part of such a lifechanging gift is something I will never forget...”

5) Any family members to highlight?

My husband, Stephen Bell. We still celebrate our wedding anniversary of May 25, by making the 25th of each month a special day. We make a great team and love spending time together. For the past few years, we’ve been beekeepers. We enjoy sharing the honey we harvest with friends and family.

Stephen has always been so supportive of my engagement in the community and often joins in on events and activities when he is not working on an IT project.

6) What is something you have learned during your placements?

A few things. First, as Nancy Prideaux shared when she appointed me as Grants Chair, being a member of the League is a training experience and opportunity. I’ve learned how to do so many things — skills that have served me well in professional and community leadership roles. I look forward to continuing to rely on these skills in my new role as Chair of the Leadership Austin Board of Directors.

Second, having and being a role model and mentor are important to your continuous growth and development.

Libby Malone served as the Sustaining Advisor to the JLA Board during my term as Parliamentarian. I learned so much from her interactions with us and continued to learn from her in other roles in the community. Since that time, I’ve truly enjoyed serving as a Sustaining Advisor and look forward to the next great thing that JLA and the women who are a part of our organization will accomplish.

Finally, it is always important to remember that a key aspect of volunteerism is to help others — for me, that means hands-on direct volunteer service in addition to volunteer leadership.

I did this by rotating in-League and community placements throughout my years as an Active and by volunteering in the community in other ways; this practice is still important to me today.

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WHAT’S YOUR STORY? Our New Junior League of Austin Messaging Have you ever been asked, “What does The Junior League of Austin do, exactly?”

Storytelling

Our new messaging revolves around storytelling. It’s important to remember that with each communication there is an Audience, a Message and the Messenger. Jenifer likens this to a three-legged stool – you need all three legs to work.

Have you found yourself struggling to encompass all of the It’s important to put the Audience’s needs first – be sure you different facets of the JLA into one quick answer? With more are speaking to their needs, hopes, desires and concerns. The than 2,500 members, we have a lot of great stories to tell, message itself is all about knowing what exactly you want but we sometimes struggle to organize all of those impactful your audience to remember. If that isn’t clear, your audience stories and experiences into a consistent message. We will never engage and remember what you want them to. To needed a new way to add a little structure and polish to how tell a great story, try to turn the rational into the emotional, we talk about the League in our day-to-day lives. and focus on the heart, not the mind. Lastly, remember that the messenger is key to conveying the story. Gestures, stance This fall we have rolled out new messaging and training to and facial expressions are all relevant to how receptive the address this very issue. Several months ago President Julie audience will be.

Hall, President-Elect Amy Hurt, and Communications VP Laura Lee Daigle started working with Jenifer Sarver of Sarver The Messaging Communications. Jenifer focuses on messaging for advocacy Because our story is so multi-faceted and complex, the groups professionally, and is based right here in Austin. It “Message House” is a simple, visual way to remember the was important to have the messaging developed from the messaging. outside in, and Jenifer was a great fit for the project.

The “Roof” or who we are and what we do, is our overarching message, and something everyone in the League Behind the scenes should know and be able to share consistently.

The message development process started with a comprehensive review of existing JLA materials. Jenifer went The “Pillars” or supporting messages, explain how through our style guide, past issues of Capitalines magazine, we do what we do, dividing it up into three sections: community partnerships, signature programs and leadership press releases, one pagers and fact sheets, as well as our development. The pillars provide the bulk of the content most recent member Organization Self Assessment survey. of our story. We can fit everything we do into one of these From these hundreds of pages of documents Jenifer pulled out key words and phrases and boiled it down to a first draft three pillars, and each of us should be able to articulate the three pillars of community partnership, signature programs of the new messaging. JLA leadership reviewed the draft and leadership development. Where we get to connect with and literally every word was examined and analyzed. The final version was approved by the President and was shared people is by sharing personal examples of those three pillars. with membership at the September General Meeting. Jenifer Listening first to them, to find out what they know or are curious to learn more about, and then connect with them then held two “Train the Trainer” workshops – one with the based on their interest.

JLA Board of Directors and one with the Communications Council. These leaders then served as the facilitators at the October Small Group meetings, rolling out the new messaging to all JLA members.

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The message house also includes specific proof points for all members to have on-hand. These data points provide context to our story and help show the impact we have in our community.

Email communicationsvp@jlaustin.org with stories on how it has worked for you!

The “Foundation” of the message house is the visionary message. At the end of the day, this is perhaps the most important part of our message. Why do we do what we do? To make an impact. And here’s our vision for what that impact will look like.

The messaging is built to answer: Who are we and what do we do?

How do we do it?

Why do we do it?

Anytime we use this messaging it’s important to start with the end in mind – with your takeaway. Connect with your audience first. Give them the data points and then don’t forget to actually make your ask.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the trainings and the new messaging.

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HOW FIT CHANGED MY LIFE:

REBECCA GRADY SHARES HOW FIT - FOOD IN TUMMIES INSPIRED HER CAREER CHANGE By: SARAH PAOLOZZA Recently, LeagueLines put out a call to members for stories about how a placement at The Junior League of Austin (JLA) has had a profound and personal impact in their lives. Our hope was to receive some great anecdotes that might serve to inspire and motivate our members. We received so many wonderful responses that we plan to feature some of these stories in the next few issues of LeagueLines.

Our first story in this new feature series comes from Becky Grady. She’s a 4th grade teacher at Baty Elementary, one of the two schools that JLA’s FIT program serves in Austin. Becky was a Provisional in the League in 2011 and she did many of her FIT shifts at Baty Elementary. That experience inspired her not only to get back into teaching, but to apply for a position at Baty!

I interviewed Becky recently to talk about how her Provisional year experience at Baty shaped her professional career, and what she’d like others in the League to know about Baty and the FIT program.

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What was it that you most enjoyed about doing these shifts at Baty in your Provisional year? What was it about the school that stuck with you?

I really loved going into the school and seeing all the students getting ready for their day. Everyone at the school was so polite and friendly. Baty has a very welcoming feeling when you walk in the door.

Were you a teacher when you began as a provisional?

When I started as a provisional I was working for an educational software company as a trainer. I had not taught in several years. I can remember thinking during my first FIT shift at Baty that I really missed working in schools and with kids. It was my provisional year, volunteering at Baty, that made me want to get back into teaching and that is why I applied and, thankfully, got the job! This is my third year teaching 4th grade Language Arts at Baty.

Do you have any stories about the kids and the FIT program that you’d like to share?

The kids at Baty call us the “FIT ladies”. They can’t quite get over that I am a “FIT lady” and that I used to deliver the bags to the school. Of course, every single student claims to have seen me delivering them (most of them weren’t in school yet)!

What kind of impact have you directly seen FIT have on your school?

I think there is a sense of relief that the staff at Baty feels, knowing that all of our kiddos are provided with food for the weekend. It is clear that this program is beneficial to our students.

What is something you’d like other League members or incoming Transfers/Provisionals to know about the FIT program and/or Baty Elementary?

I think it is important for people to know how much the League does for Baty, including the students and parents. The League hosts cooking classes for parents and we are at every event that Baty offers parents. The community really relies on and appreciates the League.

We know that so many kids at Baty need and love the FIT program. Are there any other services or programs in place at Baty other than FIT to help with similar needs?

We offer breakfast every morning for every student.

Students who stay after school for LEAD (our after school program) get a full meal before the programs start. We have a wonderful community liaison who is amazing at making sure our families are not in need and every staff member at Baty is here to help the students and community in any way that we can.

As a Provisional, I also did many FIT shifts at Baty Elementary, delivering bags of food to classrooms. Hearing Becky Grady’s take on how FIT impacts her school was an inspirational follow-up to that work I did with FIT two years ago. While you may not be able to change your career based on a placement experience with the JLA, I do hope that reading Becky’s story will inspire you to think of ways to take your placement to the next level this year!

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COMMUNITY IMPACT CENTER

by: LINDSEY WIESE We are one step closer to a true groundbreaking at The Junior League of Austin’s Community Impact Center! Our Capital Campaign is more than 70% funded, and important permits have been granted by the City of Austin.

Members at September’s general meeting received an up-to-date presentation from STG Design that showcased modifications to the building’s original design. These design features were inspired by themes like Texas Hill Country, philanthropy, sophistication, community, warm hospitality, and nature. Exterior renderings feature a contemporary modern look with large windows and a balanced blend of wood and metal. Thank you to all League members who have contributed to our Capital Campaign, we would not be able to build our Community Impact Center without the support of our amazing volunteers!

Did you know that it makes a significant impact when JLA applies for grants when we can claim that a high percentage of our members have given to our Capital Campaign? Our goal is 100% participation!

Make your donation -- of any size -at www/jlaustin.org/capital-campaign.

If you have any questions, contact campaigncoordinator@jlaustin.org

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HOW THE LEAGUE PRODUCES LEADERS JLA members are taking what they’ve learned from league experience and applying their skills to other community projects

COURTNEY DICKEY

General Counsel, Opcity, Inc. and Community Fair Lead, Coats for Kids Committee by: SARAH PAOLOZZA Courtney currently serves as Coats for Kids Community Fair Lead, and recently held positions as the Provisional Chair, Assistant to the A Christmas Affair Chair and Administrative Council Vice President, among many other roles over her eight years with the League. In her professional life, she is General Counsel at Opcity, Inc., a real estate tech startup here in Austin. She also serves the community as Komen Austin Board President, and Collegiate Membership Director for Kappa Delta.

Courtney is proof that the more you give the more you receive.

Her JLA membership has not only benefited her non-profit work in the community; she also directly credits the network she developed at JLA with helping her obtain her current position at Opcity.

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Opcity, Inc. was founded in Austin in 2016 with a mission to connect the right home buyer with the right agent in real time to ultimately lead to a home purchase. Courtney is on an executive team, comprised of herself and five men.

“It’s thrilling to have a seat at the table, but I should not be alone,” Courtney said.

“It’s thrilling to have a seat at the table, but I should not be alone.”

Her experience in the League has shown her firsthand what powerful and effective leaders women can be. The leadership roles she held helped her find her voice and enabled her to use it effectively to promote diversity in the workplace — especially in the C-Suite. Not to mention, with JLA board and council meetings under her belt, Courtney was able to approach her first executive meetings with confidence.

Outside of her professional career, Courtney also believes the board members of the Austin affiliate of Susan G. Komen suggested she run for president because they knew she was a JLA member and felt she could accomplish anything. Her extensive League experience with community partners helped her in this role as well, because she’s able to quickly identify groups from which the the organization can learn.

Courtney is passionate about the network she’s developed with her commitment to the League, and it’s no wonder — she’s credited fellow League members for helping her get her dream job, for co-developing ideas and providing resources for projects she’s working on, and even for talking her through the difficulty of being up for five to eight hours a night with a screaming newborn.

“It’s the women that I’ve met and the connections that I’ve made that continue to impact my life both professionally and personally.”

These network benefits are what drive most women to join the League in the first place, and Courtney’s story shows that JLA lives up to its promise. But there’s something important to note in her story: Courtney took action to make the League work for her, as well. She made calls to her network when she was applying for her dream job. She took varied placements both within the League and out in the community to build up her breadth of experience. She reached out to JLA members who could help her with specific projects at work. And she was the one who reached out to that friend and fellow member who said she could call any time, just to talk, when she was an exhausted new mom.

The Junior League of Austin can open so many doors, provided that each member takes the initiative to identify the doors they want opened, and make an effort to reach out, to make connections, and to foster relationships. It can be as much or as little as you want it to be, and it’s all about what you make it.

Courtney’s impressive resume shows that she’s worked hard to take advantage of every opportunity the League has to offer, and in turn, she’s been rewarded. It’s her hope that those reading this will be inspired to make the most of their membership as well.

How the League Produces Leaders is a regular feature in LeagueLines, highlighting members who have taken what they’ve learned in their service with the League and have applied it in the community and in their careers. If you would like nominate a League member for this featuere, or share your story, please email leaguelines@jlaustin.org.

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Congratulations!

MARRIAGE Anna Geismar-Bowan & Ben Hallmark April 1, 2017 Austin, Texas

JLA UPDATES

PARENTS:

Nicole & Rob Emrich BABY NAME:

Alessandra Grace Emrich BORN: July 24, 2017

CONGRATULATIONS Vanessa Fuentes JLA Member Vanessa Fuentes was among notable young professionals selected to participate in a competitive year-long academy focused on building a pipeline of policy-makers and thought-leads for the Latino community as part of the Latino Center for Leadership Development (LCLD).

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PARENTS:

Amy & Thad Labbe BABY NAME:

Benjamin Raetzsch Labbe BORN: January 18, 2017

Babies!

Welcome to the JLA Family!

PARENTS:

PARENTS:

Christine & Thomas Allen

Courtney & James Ainsworth

BABY NAME:

BABY NAME:

Thomas Chapman Allen

Ford Evan Ainsworth

BORN: August 28, 2017

BORN: May 15, 2017

PARENTS:

Sara & Don Hogan BABY NAME:

Elizabeth Bryant Hogan BORN: September 10, 2017

PARENTS:

PARENTS:

Elise & Ross Richardson

Tania & Matt Owens

BABY NAME:

BABY NAME:

Harper Grace Richardson

Santiago Ivan Owens

BORN: June 13, 2017

BORN: September 2, 2017

Would you like to see your announcement in the next issue of LEAGUELINES Email Your Info and a photo to: leaguelines@jlaustin.org

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A Christmas Affair: Haute Holiday a fabulous success!

Spirits were high and the aisles were bustling throughout last week’s 2017 A Christmas Affair! Festivities ranged from the glamorous preview party and auction to kids surrounded by bubbles and dancing to the music of Staci Gray.

There was something for everyone!

A huge thank you to ACA Chair Stacy Reed and her tireless committee, who dedicated months and months to making the event spectacular. And thank you to every single volunteer. Smiling faces and helpful attitudes greeted every guest from the minute they arrived. It truly is a League-wide event and a testament to what this amazing group of women can accomplish in the name of serving the Austin community.

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JLA

Social Media Corner The Junior League of Austin needs your help by way of using our hashtags on your Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter account to advocate activity in the community! Successful non-profit marketing strategies aim for the majority of social media content deriving from individuals like you. Help the League by remembering to post your activity while attending an October Small Group Meeting, Done-in-a-Day, FIT-Food In Tummies, preparing for A Christmas Affair, or volunteering with our partner non-profits. Here are our most commonly used hashtags; please also include broader hashtags like #volunteer and #causes to highlight your good work.

The Junior League of Austin (JLA) #JLAustin A Christmas Affair (ACA) #AChristmasAffair Coats for Kids (CFK) #CoatsForKids Food in Tummies (FIT) #FoodInTummies Austin Entertains #AustinEntertains Bunny Brunch #JLABunnyBrunch League Year Theme - Bigger Than Us #BiggerThanUs Community Impact #JLAImpact Using these hashtags will make it easier for our Social Marketing Committee to crowdsource images, highlight individual members and raise awareness around our causes. In the end, your hashtag participation in promoting the League will help boost awareness and inevitably donations and engagement.

Here are some recent popular posts from JLA members like you!

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BE A SUPER HERO: NOMINATE A WONDER WOMAN A Junior League of Austin Wonder Woman is an Active or Provisional member who exhibits excellence inside the League and/or externally in our community. She is a model of our mission in promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and/or improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Who do you know that needs to be named a JLA Wonder Woman? We want to encourage each other, and we want to hear from you. It’s easy to nominate a fellow League member to receive this special recognition. Visit your Member home page or click here to submit the information.

The first JLA Wonder Women selected for this year were recognized at the November general meeting. Nominations are due by February 15, and then again on April 15.

Continuing nominations throughout the League year allows for shining stars to be recognized from committee work, community or in-League placements, Done-in-a-Day, A Christmas Affair (ACA), Coats for Kids (CFK), Food In Tummies (FIT), and JLA Spring Events. Look for an article about our first JLA Wonder Women in the next issue of LeageLines.

Please email your JLA Board Members-at-Large, Tania Leskovar-Owens or Araminta "Minty" Sellers with any questions.

Thank you helping us celebrate our JLA Wonder Women!

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Mark Your Calendar November 23 - 25

Office Closed for Thanksgiving

November 29

Board Meeting at 7:00 pm

December 2 - 4

ACA Decorations Resale in the JLA Auditorium

December 9

Coats For Kids Distribution Day at Palmer Events Center

December 23 - January 2

The Junior League of Austin Office Closed for Christmas and New Year’s Day

January 18

Community Impact Center Ground Breaking

February 22

Austin Entertains at Fair Market