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.”

Celebrating Babies and Their Parents with The Alex

On November 1, the JLC hosted The Alex Baby Shower. This Impact Event  was designed to give pregnant and parenting youth clients of The Alex Youth Health Centre an opportunity to celebrate the birth of their unborn babies, new babies and toddlers. Streamers and decorations transformed the basement of the Wild Rose United Church and the room was filled with laughter and focused on love for these precious children.

 The afternoon was fun-filled with songs and stories, and the crafty creation of memory books by the parents for their children. The toddlers in attendance had the opportunity to personalize a super hero-sized cape. 

A delicious, hot meal was served and the celebration wound up with baby shower cake and small gifts of books, activities and practical items personalized for the age of the babies and toddlers.  Of greatest importance was the gift of time, energy and dedication supplied by JLC members.

President's Message - Sustaining the JLC

Commemorated on November 15, National Philanthropy Day recognizes the great contributions of philanthropy to the enrichment of our world.  It is a time to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. 

By definition, JLC members are philanthropists giving generously of their time, talent and financial resources.  In addition, our members SUSTAIN the Junior League of Calgary through their exemplary work and leadership with other community organizations, by recommending membership in the JLC to talented women, and by remaining loyal members. Your continuing membership provides great strength and stability to our organization.

I’d like to offer my appreciation to all our sustaining members.  We value the contributions you’ve made to establish and sustain the legacy we continue to build upon and I invite you to maintain or re-establish a connection with the JLC in a manner of your choice.

 

IMPACT: Changes Lives and Changed Conditions

Vicki Clark leads a group exercise for members at
the October Annual General Meeting

Vicki Clark, our guest speaker at the October Annual General Meeting, began her presentation with a group exercise that challenged  members to describe the JLC without using internal acronyms or program names.   As the responses from each group were read aloud, it was immediately apparent that this is the way we should describe the JLC and our programs.  

Using the example of our next Impact Event of collecting feminine hygiene products for The Alex at the November GM, the JLC will be “supporting young at-risk women in Calgary by building their self-esteem, dignity and removing the trade-off of personal hygiene versus other essential needs.” 

By avoiding the use of internal language, Vicki coached the membership to effectively communicate the impact of the JLC within the Calgary community, by describing how we change lives and conditions for at-risk groups.  Vicki then introduced the membership to the four areas of issue-based community work;

Direct Service – hands-on programs

In-Direct Service – collections and donations

Capacity Building – resource and fund development

Advocacy – focus on all levels of the issue within the community

Vicki also addressed transition of Junior League community programs from building “branded programs” that are transitioned to community groups, to development of sustainable partnerships that address a specific issue in order to change lives and conditions within the community.  The focus now must not be on what JLC can do for our partners, but instead what we can do with partners. 

Early the following morning, Vicki facilitated a program development workshop attended by several Junior League of Calgary members. The group worked through AJLI’s Issue-Based Community Impact Model for program development to address the issue of at-risk youth in Calgary.

The outcome of the workshop was a framework to guide further development of a focus on three key areas that fall under the issue of at-risk youth in Calgary; effective parenting, development of life skills and nutritional health and wellness.

Jocelyn Egden

JLC Sustainer Awarded the Order of Canada

On June 29, 2012, JLC Sustainer Lois Mitchell was appointed to one of Canada’s highest civilian honours; the Order of Canada. Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.

One of 42 Members appointed, Lois’ citation reads:

Lois Mitchell, C.M.
Calgary, Alta. -  For her contributions as a business and community leader in Calgary and for her volunteerism in support of sports and the arts.

Later this fall, Lois will join other recipients at Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s residence in Ottawa, for the investiture ceremony. Our congratulations to Lois on this well-deserved honour.

Recruitment Hosts Cupcake Social

On Tuesday August 21, JLC Active members and women interested in joining the Junior League of Calgary gathered on a beautiful summer evening at Lynne Christensen’s home to enjoy the second annual Summer Cupcake Social.  It was a wonderful event and the turnout was fantastic.

Kate Hanna, Recruitment Chair, and the rest of the Recruitment Committee had a very busy summer meeting with prospective Provisional members.  The result of their hard work was an exceptional turnout to the social and within days, a full Fall Provisional Class of 12 members! 

Thank you to Kate, Cyndi Cox and Kathryn Berkson, as well as to all of our Actives and Sustainers who recommended the Junior League of Calgary to their friends, families and colleagues.  Another huge thank you to Erin Ferguson and Emily Wood who put together a fabulous display of red velvet and vanilla cupcakes, fruit kabobs and veggies – all in the JL colors of red and white!  Every woman left with a favour of cute and delectable cupcake-shaped cookies to boot.  Many thanks also to Lynne Christensen for opening up her lovely home to all of us. 

Our next Provisional Class begins in January, so keep spreading the word!