Women as Community and Civic Leaders

In its "Roadmap for the Future" Strategic Plan, The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) is emphasizing the important role Junior Leagues play in developing women as community and civic leaders.  We strive to develop our members to be women who will create meaningful and sustainable community impact and create a Junior League that has a prominent place in the leadership of our communities.

To emphasize this focus we are using "Women as Community and Civic Leaders" as the theme for most of our 2011 - 2012 General Meetings, and we intend to have current and former Junior League of Calgary members who are leaders at both the local, provincial and national level be our guest speakers at these exciting meetings!  As well as the Active Members who will be in attendance, all Sustaining Members are encouraged to join us at these inspiring GMs as well!

Along with this, the Canadian Federation of Junior Leagues (CFJL) is instituting an annual Joan Crocker Community and Civic Leadership Award to be presented at the spring celebration/awards dinners held annually in each of the five Canadian Leagues.  The award will be given to an Active Member who, in addition to her Junior League placement and activities, also demonstrates exemplary volunteer service within the community at large. Joan Crocker, who passed away in December 2010, was the former National Director of the CFJL, a Past President of the JL of Toronto and an inspiring community leader at both the local and national level.  

So here we go into another exciting JLC year!  Welcome Back!

Membership Team Hosts Recruitment Cupcake Social

Carla Gustafson (L) and Cyndi Cox

On the gorgeous summer evening of Tuesday, August 16, JLC Active members and women interested in the League gathered at the home of Brenda Christensen to enjoy a “Cupcake Social.”  In the lovely setting overlooking Lake Bonavista, fifteen prospective members mingled with thirteen Active members, who eagerly shared with them information about the JLC and their own League experiences. 

(L to R) Lynne Christensen, Melissa MacRae and Stacy Myers

Cyndi Cox, Recruitment Chair, had a busy summer meeting with so many women!  The result of her work was a large turnout to the Social and a full Fall Provisional Class!  Thank you to Cyndi as well as to all of our Actives and Sustainers who recommended the League to their friends, family and associates.   Our next Provisional Class begins in January, so keep spreading the word!

Alice Gardner-Boreta (L) sharing the JLC story with prospective members

 (L to R) Rebecca McConathy, Tammy Nazari and Nikki Stephenson

Special thanks go to Brenda Christensen, Erin Donnelly and Cyndi Cox for the delicious refreshments and lovely décor.  Much thanks also to Bliss Bakery (in Chinook Mall), which generously donated big, beautiful and yummy cupcakes to our event!

 Lynne Christensen

Highbanks Society Holds Open House to Celebrate Renovation of Their Facility

L to R): Fran Genereux, Highbanks volunteer, Alice Gardner-Boreta 

and Marilou Mitchell at Highbanks Society Open House

To celebrate the completion of renovations to their facility, the Highbanks Society held an Open House and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on June 23.  JLC President Alice Gardner-Boreta and Community Co-VP Marilou Mitchell were honoured to be among the invited guests.

The Highbanks Bowview Apartment Addition and Renovation provides an additional 1600 sq. ft. of facility space to the existing 5023 sq. ft. building, and includes:

l one additional self-contained unit for a young mom and child;

l the renovation of existing 1-bedroom units (2) to add an additional bedroom to each;

Marilou with certificate of thanks from

Highbanks Society for the JLC’s donation 

of a refrigerator and kitchen equipment

l a remodelled kitchen, to which the JLC has proudly donated a new refrigerator and a variety of kitchen equipment;

l  the addition of a roof-top garden for resident recreation;

l  provision of private office space for case management; 

l  increased programming ‘community’ space;

l  increased building security through reconstruction of central entrances; and

l increased resident storage.

As you know, the JLC is delivering our Moms U Matter (MUM) program to the residents of Highbanks Society, which is an organization that provides individual family unit accommodation and integrates support services for parenting youth and their children.  They promote education and self-development while fostering peer support and a sense of community.  Highbanks now has eight units with subsidized rent.  Residents may stay for up to two years while they complete their high school or post-secondary program and create a career path.

 Marilou Mitchell

Bette Mitchell, President of Highbanks Board of Directors (L) and Cecilia de la Rocha, Executive Director 

of Highbanks Society, hold the ends of the ribbon for the ribbon-cutting ceremony