Connecting with the Calgary Community and Beyond

Lynne Christensen, President

Supporting our effort to “connect for impact,” November’s General Meeting featured guest speaker Eva Friesen, CEO of The Calgary Foundation.  Members learned of the valuable role the foundation plays by connecting donors and community organizations.  At the January 21 General Meeting, Meaghan Bell, Interim Manager of Policy and Research with the Calgary Homeless Foundation will inform members of issues of homelessness and the foundation’s work, focusing in particular on the youth segment.

Beyond our Calgary community, JLC members have the advantage of being part of national and international organizations.  The Canadian Federation of Junior Leagues (CFJL) serves as the link among the five Canadian Junior Leagues.  To coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, the CFJL will issue a press release highlighting the Canadian Leagues’ contributions to women’s civic and community leadership.  Come to February’s General Meeting to be part of this buzz.

As members of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) we are connected to over 155,000 women all working toward the same mission.  At a Special Meeting of the Association later this month, League leaders will consider a proposed External Resolutions Process that would allow Junior Leagues to “act collectively” on public issues that enjoy deep and widespread support among Leagues.  If approved, an External Policy Resolution regarding childhood obesity will then be considered.

The AJLI Board of Directors believes that the Junior Leagues can serve as “catalysts for lasting community change” by addressing the prevention of childhood obesity with a collective voice. The intended outcome is that the AJLI advocates for programs and policies that increase knowledge and change behaviors to prevent childhood obesity and its associated health risks.  For additional information on the Special Meeting as well as research and background information on the issue of childhood obesity, go to the Governance Tab of the Member Area at www.ajli.org

JLC’s 9th Annual Teen Totes Project Reaches 400 Calgary-area Teens!

The Teen Tote project is aimed at providing gift totes to Calgary teens who have been traditionally underserved during the December holiday season.  The 2012 Fall Provisional Class solicited donations, purchased items, stuffed backpacks, and delivered 400 totes.

Contents of a Teen Tote

On November 26, 2012, the Fall Provisional Class put the final touches on their hard work with the Teen Totes Stuffing Impact Event.  Thanks to all the JLC members who volunteered their time to help at this event and for everyone who donated items for the totes!

This year the traditional totes progressed into 400 backpacks stuffed with personal hygiene items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, lip balm and hand cream.  Also included were certificates for eye exams, winter mittens, hats and scarves, socks, Hitmen tickets, playing cards, swim passes, notebooks, pens, gift cards, candy canes, gum, library cards, movie tickets, and Calgary transit passes.

The agencies receiving Teen Totes to distribute to their clients this year were: The Alex Youth Health Centre, Sunrise Community Link Resource Centre, North of McKnight Community Resource Centre, Inner City Community Resource Centre, North Central Community Resource Centre, Bowness Community Resource Centre, South West Community Resource Centre and Saint Jude's Health Management Institute.

Kate Hawksworth, Senior Youth Outreach Specialist with The Alex Youth Health Centre stated: “The Christmas party was a huge success.  We are so grateful for the backpacks, the youth loved them. The feedback we have gotten has all been extremely positive. Truthfully, I can’t think of a single thing to change. The kids were really excited, and I know that for many that will have been their only gift.  Thank you for making that possible.”