Summer 2006

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Issue Highlights

• JLM Annual Award Winners 2005-2006
• In Style, Another Success!
• Kids in the Kitchen
• Save the Dates
• Tributes
• 2005-06 President’s Message: How do you measure a year?
• 2006-07 President’s Message: A message to our new actives
• KMM Award Recipient
• The Junior League of Miami honor: Women Who Make A Difference
• Junior League of Miami Community Partners 2005-2006
• Tour of Duty
• Community Projects & Grants 2006-07
• Annual Meeting
• Policy Update
• Provisional Year in Review
• Sustainer News
• Spring SPAC Conference in Tallahassee
• President’s Volunteer Service Award Winners
• 2005-2006 SuperLeaguers
• 2005-2006 Leadership Awards
• Lauren Harrison Genovese, 2006-07 President Elect
• Win a Shopping Card!

JLM Annual Award Winners, 2005-2006

At the 2005-2006 JLM Annual Meeting, the annual awards were given to these outstanding volunteers:

Provisionals of The Year
Anne Marie Muller and Veronica Ramirez have exhibited all of the qualities that make a volunteer in the Junior League of Miami an award winner. They were nominated by their mentor and mentioned by several Actives and Board members alike who were touched by the time and generosity they have devoted to our League.

Their chosen group project was to plan and execute a “Gloves are Off” project for all of the Provisionals. Even without the support of a complete mentor group, to say the least…they put on a flawless event at Kristi House. The project included landscaping, spring cleaning and the painting of a mural in the girl’s bathroom. They both went the extra mile to make things special. They secured donations of plants, gardening supplies, paint, food and countless other items that were required for the event to be completed successfully. One quote heard on the day of the event by a Provisional participating as a “Gloves are Off” volunteer was, “This was planned by only two people?”
Additionally, they received help from the community to aide an internal book drive, asked for monetary donations from their company, and Veronica even had her son help with physical labor at all of the events. Aside from their general requirements, collectively these women gathered 10 extra meeting and project credits.

Sustainer of The Year
As a Past President of the Junior League of Miami, Mary Young has done it all…big, small and everything in-between. This year Mary has been the Sustaining Advisor to the Board of Directors and has brought a sense of history to discussions and offered ideas on how to move forward.
Mary attended the Board retreat and not only led a “fireside chat” which showed the board how we are all inter-linked to one another, but she bought cozy blankets and pillows for everyone to really get into the spirit of the moment.

Sharing her knowledge, she was the keynote speaker at leadership training this year where she presented a history lesson to new leaders. This of course took time, thought and dedication. She went through our old photo albums and extracted what she thought would be interesting and helpful to our new leaders.

In August she was the keynote speaker at Super Saturday where she, in typical Mary Young style, made the new members laugh and cry at the same time. She has a certain way of conveying important information while making you realize your time is being so well spent here with the Junior League of Miami.

Mary has done so many other things large and small to help make this year so special for so many. All of this has been done while being an Executive for IBM and President of the YWCA for the second year in a row.

Volunteer of The Year
Serving as the VP of Communications, Valerie Harvey devotes her time to the Junior League of Miami every single, solitary day.

Everyone is in agreement that Valerie’s work goes beyond a traditional placement. In addition to her placement, Valerie has also been instrumental in conceiving and developing our new online membership directory that allows all 1,000 members access to the directory from any web browser anywhere. She spearheaded the redesign and reorganization of our website with a sharp new look and easy navigation. She has streamlined how we communicate and has given all our materials a professional, compelling look.

Valerie does so much more than put information into an email or flyer format…she thinks ahead and recommends what she believes would be helpful to our membership and her input has made our communication to our members very effective.

With a lean budget, Valerie has successfully completed the goals of her council and has enjoyed mentoring to those on her council.

While the League year was drawing to a close for most of our members over the last month, Valerie was gearing up for the Annual Meeting “Year in Review” presentation. She thoughtfully assessed all aspects of the video production to ensure that it was done professionally and cost effectively… which basically means Valerie did it all, yet again.

The Rebecca Herndon Bush Award for Community Service
Jennifer Stearns Buttrick is an attorney who practices law part-time at Stearns Weaver Miller. When Jennifer is not driving carpool, working or taking her children to various activities, she is volunteering her time and effort to making our community a better place for those who are less fortunate, particularly children. She believes in a “one-on-one” approach to volunteering, meaning if everyone made an effort to make a difference in the life of one person who is less fortunate, the world would be a much better place.

This year Jennifer served as co-chair of Miami: Who Makes a Magic City. She dedicated countless hours of her time to make this event a tremendous success. Jennifer and her co-chair Katie Lane-Arriola went above and beyond the call of duty and raised $31,000 in additional underwriting. The event was fun and financially successful and raised about $70,000 for the League’s community projects and grants…and doubled the budgeted profit.

In addition to her event, Jennifer supported the Golf Tournament and the WWMD Luncheon. Additionally for the past two years she has collected money from friends and co-workers to purchase Target gifts cards for the children and families served by the League’s community projects. This year, right after Magic City, she collected money to buy thirty-two $25 gifts cards, which were given to the Community Council to distribute at the holidays.

Only Jennifer knows how many projects outside the League she has been part of, here are a few: The Key Biscayne Holiday Relief Fund is a project Jennifer began when the Key Biscayne Chief of Police informed her that 150 children in Overtown were not going to be receiving any gifts at the holidays. In just three days, with guidance from Karen Fryd, Jennifer collected over $2,000 from Key Biscayners to purchase holiday gifts for 150 children. This is now an annual toy drive.

Jennifer is also a volunteer for Lawyers for Children America where she represents children in foster care who are often neglected in our legal system. She is active in The Gordon Schools at Beth David where her son attends, has been a board member of City Theatre for 10 years, a Casa Valentina Visionary and a Voting Rights Attorney protecting everyone’s right to vote. She provides pro bono services and advocates for individuals providing life-changing assistance to families with special needs.

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In Style, Another Success!

The Junior League of Miami was honored to be the benefit charity for a second year for In Style Magazine’s Inside InStyle event held at the Eden Roc Resort on May 6th and 7th. Over 1,600 guests attended the event which raised $24,000. Attendees experienced the best of In Style as they enjoyed beauty treatments, interactive style demonstrations, food tastings, shopping, fashion shows, free giveaways and more. Thank you to all of the volunteers and supporters who helped make this a fabulous and successful event!

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Kids in the Kitchen

By Melissa Schumacher

On Saturday, April 29, 2006, the Junior League of Miami joined more than 225 Junior Leagues across four countries to participate in an education initiative on childhood obesity and nutrition entitled Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen. With the goal to raise awareness and attempt to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues, the League-wide program educated children and families about childhood obesity and nutrition, culminating in Junior League Volunteer Day, taking place during Volunteer Week, April 23-29, 2006.

“The Junior League of Miami’s Kids in the Kitchen encompassed all that is right and good for a Saturday afternoon with family and friends,” Andria Hanley, President of the Junior League of Miami, said. “We had fun and educational activities for the children and their parents and even our own League members left with a better sense of how to feed their families healthy food.”

On Junior League Volunteer Day in April, the Junior League of Miami members engaged children and their families at Inn Transition South (ITS) with activities designed to promote healthy eating choices and presented a healthy food festival with a Miami-Latin twist featuring an interactive cooking demonstration by our own Celebrity Chef Carmen, nutritional education and a fitness component. “Chef Carmen engaged every child by allowing them time on stage with her as she prepared a variety of healthy treats. As children grow up eating healthy, they will pass that on to the next generation which will lead to healthier and longer lives” said Hanley.

Among the many aspects of this grassroots campaign, the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), the umbrella organization of the Junior Leagues, has launched a virtual recipe collection featuring kid-friendly, nutritious recipes that are grouped into five categories: breakfast, lunchbox, dinner, snacks, and party treats. The virtual recipe collection is accessible at http://kidsinthekitchen.ajli.org.

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Tributes

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2005-06 President’s Message
How do you measure a year?

(Excerpt from Annual Meeting Speech)

By Andria Hanley

I have recently been listening to the song from the Broadway play Rent that asks that question. While we have measured this year in volunteer hours, money raised and the like, I find it important to measure it in other ways. The song asks if you measure it in daylight, sunsets, in midnights and cups of coffee, and finally says you measure a year in love. Working with the kids in our projects, giving grant money to groups such as Sister Yamile’s summer camp, training our members and learning by doing, all can be measured in love.

I guess I measure it by Giving and Leading, and ultimately Growing. We have succeeded at these as well. My Mom taught me it is better to give than to receive. I think all of our Moms did. And the League taught me that when you lead you give even more. My parting words are words of encouragement, asking that you not only give but lead. I learned this year that when you give and lead you also grow.

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2006-07 President’s Message
A message to our new actives

(and a reminder to all of us):

By Susan Lerner

As most of you know or will learn, our League requires that you serve eight years as an active member before you may go sustaining. Why such a long commitment? I am not exactly sure, but I can definitely tell you that our members who stay with us for eight years, and we hope that you all do, remain loyal sustainers for life. Let’s take a moment to think about what may happen during the next 8 years of your lives apart from the League:

Will you get a new job? Will you get a promotion or many promotions? Will you begin a new career? Will you get married? Will you start a family? For those of you who have already started, will you have another child or two or three? Will you start new friendships? End old friendships? Will you get divorced? Will you move away from Miami only to move back? My guess is that each of you will experience many of these things.

Now, let’s take a moment to think about what may happen during the next 8 years of your lives in the League: Will you mentor a woman driven from her home by an abusive husband? Will you motivate a child to strive for a better life? Will you award scholarships to young women graduating high school? Will you decide to go outside your comfort zone and work on or even chair a fundraiser or community project?

Will you complain about the League but then improve it? Will you want to resign before the end of 8 years? Will your leaders and friends work hard to keep you here? Will you stay?

I wish that you do stay with us for the next 8 years and beyond and that during that time you continue to train yourself and other members to become effective volunteers. You bring fresh new ideas to the League, you take on leadership roles, you recruit hundreds of diverse members, and you create and nurture community projects. I wish that in the years that you are busy with work or family that you remain committed by choosing a placement that fits your time constraints.

I wish that if you become discontent with something about the League that you advocate for change and that our leaders listen. I wish that fellow League members are there for you during the inevitable difficult times in your personal life.

I wish that you sustain the League with your own passion and loyalty so that our daughters, granddaughters and all women in our community may have the opportunity to join our ranks well into the next 80 years and beyond. More immediate though, is my wish that your next year is a fulfilling one. I pledge that our committee chairs, the Board and I will do all that we can to ensure that it is.

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KMM Award Recipient
Junior League of Miami celebrates Community Service and Scholarship
The Kathryn Menke Miller Community Service Award and Scholarship Recipient

By Denie Freyer

Junior League of Miami hosted the Kathryn Menke Miller Community Service Award and Scholarship Reception on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at the Country Club of Coral Gables. This distinguished award is granted in memory of one of the Junior League members, Kathryn Menke Miller, who was the epitome of a hardworking, caring and loving volunteer.

The reception served as the platform to present the scholarship to one deserving honoree and allowed League members to recognize the 25 senior high school girls who have demonstrated exceptional service to their community, both in and outside of school, while excelling in their academics. The Junior League of Miami was proud to present The Kathryn Menke Miller Service Award and Scholarship to Vanessa Fernandez from Miami Coral Park Senior High School. A very appreciative Vanessa thanked the Junior League of Miami by saying “Now I can go to the school I want to go to. Now I can study what I want.”

“The JLM Community Service Award Committee is honored to take part in the selection of the 2005-06 honorees and scholarship recipient as well as to continue to support community service involvement in our community,” said Jessica Ann Bennett-Porto, JLM Community Service Award Committee Chair. “We hope these young ladies will look forward to becoming League volunteers in the future.”

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The Junior League of Miami honor
Women Who Make A Difference

By Melissa Schumacher

The Junior League of Miami celebrated Women Who Make a Difference in high style at THE COLLECTION in Coral Gables on Sunday, March 5, 2006.  THE COLLECTION served as an excellent location and its staff added to the brilliance of the afternoon.  This highly acclaimed event honored Melanie Emmons Damian; Virginia Emmons; Nancy T. Hector; Christina McKinnon, Esq.; and Ellen Shishko.  In addition to saluting the honorees, guests enjoyed a champagne brunch, fashion show by Lilly Pulitzer, a silent auction, and raffle.

“The main goal was to honor women who made significant contributions to our well-being here in South Florida and to have some income for future projects.  It looks like the League accomplished this goal,” said Junior League Sustainer, Jeannett Slesnick. “It takes so much effort to put together an affair like this.  Everything was very well done.  All in all, the WWMD (Women Who Make a Difference) brunch was fantastic!!”

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Tour of Duty

By Albert Hanley, III

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 30 months since Andria was asked to serve as JLM President. The night of the call we were at dinner together at Caffe Abbracci. She answered the phone, put her hand to her mouth, and listened for a few minutes before she said, “I’d be honored”.

A huge smile came over her face as she looked at me and told me what she had just agreed to. There have been many milestones in our life together and this night certainly ranked among them. I was very proud that an organization of over 1000 women would select her to lead it.

At the time I didn’t fully understand what the next 2 1/2 years would be like. However, I started to get an idea after the 20th woman I met looked at me with a pitying ‘you poor fool, get out while you still can’ look.

As Andria’s year draws to a close I think about the many important things that the JLM has accomplished and continues to accomplish. Equally I think about her many wonderful friends and colleagues who always manage to look at me with a pained, yet sympathetic smile and ask “and how is it going for you Al?”

Believe it or not, it was very enjoyable for me. Watching Andria through these past 30 months has showed me a side of her that I had only had a few opportunities to glimpse. I have been able to see her as a leader, a mentor, an organizer, and a friend. Seeing her in her professional life has, more than anything else, been the ‘untold reward’ for me.

In this vein, I’d like to leave some tips that should be passed on to future “JLM widowers” (pay attention Josh) to make their experience more enjoyable:

• Go to every party! Go early and go often. The food is usually excellent, the bar is usually free and chances are you have already bought 20 tickets without knowing about it.
• Don’t answer the phone at home, it’s never for you. Most especially do not answer the phone on those afternoons when you’ve played hooky from the office – the caller may think you’re a bum, when you’re actually a connoisseur of “Gilligan’s lost episodes”.
• Try not to get choked up when every woman you meet tells you how great your wife is.
• When you hear people say “if women ran the democracies there would be no wars” – Don’t believe it (you guys are tough)!
• Its only a few nights a month, and weekends, and weekdays . . .
• Meet the other guys – they know what you’re going through.
• Avoid drinking red wine when wearing a dinner jacket.

The JLM has a fantastic mission and is one of those groups that actually make a difference in people’s lives. Its tax deductible too!

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Community Projects & Grants 2006-07

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

• Alonzo Mourning Charities (Honey Shine)- Our League volunteers coordinate and implement a daylong career and education workshop with speakers and information booths for at-risk girls.
  Big Brothers Big Sisters (Project REACH) Our League volunteers organize recreational and educational outings for approximately 100 youngsters who are waiting for matches with Big Brother and Big Sister mentors.
• CHARLEE (Creative Expressions)- Our League volunteers provide positive role model behavior and plan and assist in the instruction of art therapy projects at the Gladstone Center for Girls, enabling the girls in foster care to express their feelings and gain self esteem.
• CHARLEE (Mentoring Moms)- Our League volunteers become one-on-one mentors with pregnant teens in a group home, teaching them parenting skills, nurturing and care of oneself, and independent living skills.
• Children’s Bereavement Center- Our League volunteers, after receiving specialized training, co-facilitate peer support groups for children and families who have suffered the death of a parent, sibling, or other significant loved one.
• Children’s Psychiatric Center (All-Aboard Even Start Family Literacy)- At Riverside Elementary, just north of downtown Miami, our League volunteers assist in the coordination and facilitation of family literacy nights, provide dinner, conduct storytelling and thematic activities that encourage children and caregivers to practice both verbal skills and print literacy. We also distribute related books and materials.
• Done In A Day- This committee responds to planned and impromptu requests from the community for trained volunteers to assist in community events within the League's focus areas. League members participate in hands-on projects throughout Miami-Dade County such as the Race for the Cure and the Heart Fair.
• Inn Transition North- The League's flagship project for the past 16 years has provided housing and resources to women and children who are victims of domestic violence as part of a public-private partnership with Miami-Dade County. Our League volunteers mentor a family and participate in regular outings with the families in residence.
• Inn Transition South- The Junior League of Miami assisted Greater Miami Neighborhoods in building a 56-unit complex in South Date to address the needs of victims of domestic violence and homelessness. ITS provides transitional housing for families and works to empower mothers to build strong families and harvest new opportunities. League members plan monthly life skills/parenting events for the women and organize activities for the children.
• Kathryn Menke Miller Community Service Awards- The Junior League of Miami awards college scholarships to high school senior girls for outstanding academic performance and community service.

COMMUNITY GRANTS

• Miami Children’s Hospital- Car Seats for Kids for victims of domestic violence families, including Inn Transition facilities.
• Continental Societies- Familial and educational programs at Little River Elementary School and COPE Center North for teen parents.
• Pearls, Pumps, and Portfolios- Client Employee Development training for victims of domestic violence.
• Suited For Success- START Now job training work experience for CHARLEE foster care girls.
• Notre Dame d’Haiti- Summer camp for children in Little Haiti.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami- Computers for after-school program at Northwest unit.
• Humane Society of Greater Miami- Education program through pet therapy for at-risk youth in transitional housing and shelters.
• Educate Tomorrow- Meals and supplies for foster care children in the College Tour program.
• PACE Center for Girls- Spirited Girls program for at-risk girls.

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Annual Meeting

By Valerie Harvey

The atmosphere was electric at the General Membership Meeting at Fairchild Tropical Gardens on May 16th as another great Junior League year was wrapped up. The crowd cheered on as Annual Awards were announced and this year’s accomplishments were reviewed in a video presentation. The night ended with the gavel coming down, signaling the end of a successful 2005-06 year of leadership by Andria Hanley, and the start of another undoubtedly fun and productive year, under the leadership of Susan Lerner.

We thank Paper Boutique for their generous donation of Annual Meeting Invitations.

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Policy Update

By Lynn Sands, Journal Staff

What’s New in JLM: Policy Changes for 2005-2006
Policy changes do not have to be approved by the membership, as they are matters that are voted on by the Board. However, all members should be informed of them, as they could directly affect membership. While the board minutes are available online if anyone is interested in the details, here is a brief synopsis of the approved policy changes for the upcoming year.

Kathryn Menke Miller (KMM) Award: This year, the deadlines, process and terminology have been changed. Each public high school in Miami Dade County is asked to select one female who best exemplifies a commitment to the community as a nominee for the Community Service award by March 1. Each nominee is eligible to apply for the scholarship, and will be invited to a reception during the April General Membership meeting, during which time all nominees will be honored and the KMM scholarship winner(s) will be announced.

Volunteer Requirements: Under “Placement Committee - General Policies” section (e) has been modified to reflect that a $75 penalty shall be assessed at the close of each Junior League year prior to May 20th to each member who fails to fulfill her requirement of either purchasing a ticket to a JLM fundraiser or working a community or fundraiser shift.

Managerial Calendar Requirement for all Chairs: This passed at the board meeting, but the final language has not been selected. All committee chairs, please be aware of and look for this change that requires that a Managerial Calendar be created for each committee and passed on to the incoming chair every year with updates.

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Provisional Year in Review

By Heather Shueppert

It was not so long ago that we welcomed the Provisionals to Super Saturday on September 10, 2005. Now, we are very proud to announce the graduation of 55 amazing women as the newest Actives of the Junior League of Miami. The Provisional Commencement took place on April 18 at the Miami City Club, which was the perfect setting to celebrate their achievements and share stories from the past year. We were honored to have Claudia Kitchens, past President and Executive Director of the Women’s Fund as our keynote speaker – definitely inspiring! Overlooking the beautiful Bay and skyline of Miami, each woman received a rose and gift bag as our special thanks for all that they have done. Their accomplishments in the past year have been vast, giving over 2, 310 hours of volunteer time to the local community. Their projects this past year included an outstanding festival of fun at Inn Transition South, a building of a library, landscaping and painting of a mural at Inn Transition North, the Spring Cleaning and painting of picnic tables at Hurwit Crisis Nursery, the landscaping and painting at Kristi House, the fun outing with the kids through Big Brothers Big Sisters, a Valentine’s Day party and poetry contest at PACE, arts and crafts with the kids from Gladstone and an informative and life-saving CPR event at CHARLEE. Aside from fulfilling their requirements, I am sure you saw many of their smiling faces at meetings and socials eager to meet other members in the League. Each and every one of our newest Actives went above and beyond the League’s expectations and truly made a difference. We are also happy to announce that many of these women will be taking leadership roles next year. If you are still looking for some outstanding members for your committee, definitely call upon them – that is, if someone else hasn’t snatched them up first! Congratulations again to this fantastic group of women. We look forward to watching you grow in the League and become the future leaders of this community.

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Sustainer News

By Allison Freeland

Thank you to everyone who attended the Spring Sustainer Cocktail party. It was a beautiful evening, and we are very appreciative to Lindy and Dean Colson for opening their home to the event. Thank you also to Sara Sharpe Catering for providing us with such a wonderful buffet.

As the JLM year draws to a close, we would like to thank everyone on the Sustainer committee for their help in planning the events this year. From start to finish and from hurricane to hurricane (and the disarray after), we had a great year. In particular we would like to thank Maggie Blake, Lindy Colson, Anna Ehlert, Severy Gautier, Priscilla Greenfield, Theo Long, Karen McCammon, Susan McGrath, Ellen Oppenheimer, Galia Pennekamp, Leslie Rivera, Sandra Steenrod, Sarah Woods and Mary Young for their leadership, ideas and commitment to the JLM Sustainers.

Thank you also to Andria Hanley (Pre-sident), Susan Lerner (President-Elect), and the JLM Board of Directors for their ongoing enthusiasm and leadership. It has been wonderful working with all of you.

We welcome Sally Doerner (sallyro1@aol.com), incoming Sustainer Chair, and Caroline Blake (mcblake@hotmail.com), incoming Sustainer Liaison, and wish them well as they start off the 2006-2007 JLM Sustainer year this September. If you are interested in participating in Sustainer events next year, please contact them. They are hoping to recruit more members to the Sustainer committee and would love your input.

2005-06 Active and Provisional Year In Review
7731 volunteer hours worked 2298 children served 140 events $249,870

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Spring SPAC Conference in Tallahassee
Features Miami’s Own Speaker-Designate Representative Marco Rubio

By Kimberley Thompson

Florida’s legislative session officially opened March 7, 2006. For the Junior League’s 24 statewide Public Affairs Committees (PACs), it marked the culmination of a year long advocacy effort focused on foster care/aging out, human trafficking, the prevention of childhood obesity and getting funding reinstated for Guardian Ad Litem. Therefore, it was no surprise that when the 40-plus SPAC delegates, officers, and other honorary guests gathered for Junior League’s Spring SPAC Conference in Tallahassee, the room at the Governors Club was buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement.

During the two-day conference April 5-6, attendees heard from distinguished guest speakers such as Representative Randy Johnson from Orange County, Representative Adam Hasner from Broward and Palm Beach Counties and Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings (the first woman to hold the office as well as Florida’s first, and only, two-term State Senate President). SPAC Delegates had the rare opportunity to get some one-on-one time with Miami’s own Speaker-designate, Representative Marco Rubio who detailed his “100 Innovative Ideas” (please see www.100ideas.org) platform and how Leaguers could utilize this initiative. SPAC hosted a legislative reception with special guests including noted children’s advocate Jack Levine, education lobbyist Doug Martin and renowned human rights professor, Dr. Terry Coonan. More than 16 Florida legislators attended the reception and break-out sessions over the two day conference.

Dr. Coonan urged a fervent “call to action” in the fight against human trafficking. Human trafficking significantly impacts South Florida and its devastating effects touch many of our JLM community projects including Inn Transition North and South (domestic violence), Kristi House (sexual assault), Children’s Bereave-ment Center, and Mentoring Moms. It seems inconceivable that in this day and age—and especially here in South Florida—people are being bought, sold and traded for servitude or for sex. Sadly, the staggering truth is that, every year, an estimated 700,000 to 4 million people—most of them women, and an alarming number of them children—fall victim to human trafficking forcing them into a tragic life filled with threats and physical abuse to prevent them from escaping.

The last day of conference focused on appointment of officers and voting. Incoming SPAC officers for FY2006-07. Carol Bryant (a former JLM member who recently transferred to Tallahassee) was named Legislative Analyst and a new position called “Sustaining Advisor” was created and will be filled by JLM Sustainer Vicki Lopez-Lukis.

The upcoming year and next legislative session offer a tremendous opportunity for JLM and its members. The South Florida legislative delegation is probably the strongest it has been in more than 12 years. Your voice can truly make a difference. JLM members have the ability to both educate and motivate our legislators regarding vital issues for our children. Florida’s current legislative session addressed many important decisions affecting both programs and adequate funding for women, children and families. Key issues such as student safety/ violence prevention (SB 1384/ HB 0087), education funding and class size (ASB 1148/ HB 0447), stronger laws against sexual offenders (SB 0508/ HB 0339 and SB 0640/ HB 0763), adequate funding for KidCare (SB0972/ HB 0241), prevention of childhood obesity (SB 1324/ HB 7203), as well as various bills addressing juvenile justice.

If you would like to check on the status of any of these bills, you can go to www.flsenate.gov or www.myfloridahouse.gov. And if you have any questions about JLM’s role in the State Public Affairs Committee or how to get involved during the coming year, please contact Kimberley Thompson at kimberdt@hotmail.com or directly at (305) 495-2512.

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President’s Volunteer Service Award Winners

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2005-2006 SuperLeaguers

Summer 2005: Betsy Harper and Jennifer Quezada
September 2005: Liza Winklejohn
October 2005: Jamie Adams
November 2005: Caroline Blake
December 2005: Cristina Lunsford
January 2006: Kim Sarkisian, Provisional
February 2006: Ashley Adorno and Sharla Wilson
March 2006: Jennifer Wilson

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2005-2006 Leadership Awards

Summer 2005: Valerie Harvey
September 2005: Bonita Whytehead
October 2005: Lorrie Martin
November 2005: Katie Lane Arriola and Jennifer Buttrick
December 2005: Allison Freeland
January 2006: Candace Vassillion
February 2006: Betty Lopez Castro and Christina Urena
March 2006: Jessica Bennett-Porto

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Lauren Harrison Genovese, 2006-07 President Elect
Interviewed by Susan Lerner

Where were you born and raised? I was born in Houston, Texas, just after my parents returned to the States after living in Venezuela for 14 years, where my three older siblings were born. I was raisedon a working farm and cattle ranch in south/central Texas.

What were your favorite things to do as a child? Riding my Shetland pony, Sam, bareback and barefoot. Also reading Nancy Drew mysteries and writing fiction.

Where did you attend college and what did you study? I completed my BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University in three years with honors. I plotted out my curriculum upon graduation from high school, informed my Mother that I would be able to finish early, and when she scoffed, internalized my goal! After working for a couple of years, I attended The University of Texas at Austin, for my MBA, Finance.

Tell us about your career. I worked for 21 years as a financial and accounting consultant for several firms including Price Waterhouse and Arthur Andersen. My projects involved providing advice to companies in financial distress (sometimes in bankruptcy, sometimes not) or to their creditors. I also performed fraud investigations and provided testimony as an expert. The most rewarding part of my work was to help companies avert the need to file bankruptcy, or to successfully reorganize. I also loved developing and mentoring younger professionals. The most difficult part of the work was advising clients to reduce their work force by as much as 50%, and working with executives at one of the worst times of their lives. I worked long hours and traveled significantly.

Tell us about your family life and your hobbies. My husband John and I have been married for 11 years. John is an attorney specializing in bankruptcy and litigation and has his own firm. After three and one-half years of hard work with fertility specialists, I finally became pregnant with our beautiful twins Stefan and Alessandra, who are now 18 months old. John and I love to travel although we travel a bit less these days, and we enjoy movies and film festivals. I also enjoy pilates and reading history and historically based fiction.

What have been the most challenging parts of your life to date and how have you dealt with them? My father died unexpectedly when I was nine, and my mother died when I was 36 after a lengthy illness. I think that at times like these we have no choice but to reach deep within ourselves to find a source of strength. From life experience and my mother’s example, I learned the importance of self-reliance at an early age.

What inspired you to join the League and then to commit yourself as a leader? I joined the League for two reasons: I wanted to learn more about the various charitable organizations in our community, and I wanted to expand my social network beyond my professional acquaintances. Time is a very precious commodity to me; I would only choose to become involved in an organization that I am willing to be involved in a meaningful way. I believe in mutually beneficial and rewarding relationships.

Tell us your path to President Elect of the League. I have co-chaired and chaired the Women Who Make a Difference Luncheon, and have served on the Board the past three years as Treasurer, VP Finance, and most recently, VP Development.

What is your vision and wish list for our members during their League experience? My wish for each and every one of our members is for them to emerge as Sustainers with enhanced relationships and skills that they will bring to bear in a meaningful way in a community charity of their choice. I want our members to learn how to become better citizens of the future.

What do you think the League will look like when it turns 100 in 2026? The only thing certain is that change is inevitable. The League must remain flexible, guided by our smart, caring and competent members to remain viable and relevant in the future.

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Win a Shopping Card!
The shopping card is nameless. Help us give this fundraiser an identity. E-mail your submissions to: kllykendrick@adelphia.net. Please write “JLM shopping card contest” in the subject header. The winner will receive a complimentary shopping card entitling cardholder to 20% off at participating stores.

Where Do You Shop?
We want to get those stores where you really shop signed on to the shopping card fundraiser. Please e-mail the names of stores to kllykendrick@adelphia.net . Also, if you know any retailers and would be willing to assist in introducing the Junior League please let us know.

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