President
Susan Lerner's

E-Newsletter

December 12, 2006

Dear Members:

The shopping malls are a little less crowded this holiday season because so many of our members are volunteering in the community instead.  Please take a few minutes to read about all of these activities and let your friends and family know just what the league does.

This past Sunday, Leana Marks’ provisional group helped with the International Rescue Committee’s Christmas picnic for refugee children and Katrina evacuees at Hammocks Park in Pinecrest and on Saturday, nineteen provisionals and actives volunteered for the client holiday party at the Miami Light for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Little Havana.

DIAD chair Molly Osendorf did a great job organizing the Lighthouse opportunity and a big thank you to our volunteers Elvira Larrain, Gema Santos, Jessa Bouso, Ana del Cerro-Fals, Monisha DeQuadros, Morgan Hatfield, Emilie Goldman, Kristin Billingslea, Hadley Nichols, Amy Dawkins, Claudia Sanchez, Silvia Rich, Leanne Tellam, Lorrie Martin, Melissa Silva, Lucy Ulmer and Sharon Maurno.

If you weren’t at Hammocks Park or the Lighthouse this past weekend, you may have been at Inn Transition South for that project’s holiday party.  Committee member Mary Kadman’s boyfriend Bill donned the Santa suit for Kris Kringle’s guest appearance and the ITS children surprised our committee with a musical performance of their own.

Last week, our newest project, All Aboard EvenStart Family Literacy had its holiday party too.  The league served a buffet meal to 45 families and then joined the guests for dinner where they really connected.  Chair Jen Oslo explained, “When dinner was over, we broke the children up into three groups and read the "Gingerbread Baby" story to them - a true classic!! Great choice Helen! We then put the families to work on the fantastic craft that both Helen and Courtney brought - Christmas ornaments!  In the end we had gift time with the stuffed animals provided by the League and books collected with a lot of love and hard work from Jeannett Slesnick and her team.”

This coming Saturday, the ITN committee is taking the residents to see "Happy Feet."  Then, everyone will enjoy pizza and decorate ornaments as they await Santa’s arrival with gifts generously donated by the law firm of Stearns Weaver.  It is going to be a great afternoon too.

On December 2, nearly 150 provisionals, actives and sustainers enjoyed a beautiful evening at JLM’s party under a full moon, watching the Florida Gators win the SEC and propel themselves to the National Championship game.  Thank you to past president Debbie Korge and her husband Tom for opening their beautiful home and thank you to our membership/hospitality chair Melissa Lowry and her fantastic committee for pulling it all together.  Check out a few of the photos coming to the JLM Photo Gallery soon.

Finally, thank you for taking time out from your busy holiday schedule to catch up on JLM news. Remember to sign up for the January area meetings if you haven’t already.  And, sustainers see details below for the upcoming Miami River tour.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful holiday,

Events at a Glance

General Membership Area Meetings

Please mark your calendar for January 9 Area Meetings - the most fun GMM of the Year!! 200 Members have signed up to attend and it is not too late! Choose from one morning and eight evening meeting locations. Please email your Placement Advisor or Placement Chair Jana Hertz  to sign up.  Once you have signed up, you will soon receive confirmation of your meeting selection by the Placement Advisor who will be hosting your meeting. She will be contacting you with directions and to set up the potluck.

Save The Date: Member Picnic

11-2pm on Saturday, January 27, 2007.  Location and details TBD.

For upcoming events visit the JLM Web Calendar. If you have questions about your password for the Member Directory or the website, please contact Kara Skelley.

Junior League of Miami News

SPRING JOURNAL. If you would like to advertise in the Spring Journal, your ads are due by January 10th to either Lucy Ulmer OR Caroline Blake. Please contact us if you need any additional information.

MIAMI RIVER TRIP. Reminder to the sustainers...The MIAMI RIVER TRIP is being scheduled for January or February.  If you are interested in going on this tour or need any additional sustainer information, please contact Sally Dorner

Fund Development Ideas Needed. The Fund Development Committee needs your thoughts and suggestions for new fundraisers for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 League year.  Have you ever attended an event that you thought would be perfect for the League?  Or do you have an original idea for a fundraiser that has never been tried before in the community?  Please fill out the Fund Development application!! Fund Development applications can be downloaded by clicking here or found at the Junior League Headquarters. Applications must be submitted by January 16, 2007.  Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Candace Vassillion

You Deserve National Recognition

The Junior League of Miami is participating for a second year in the Volunteer Service Awards (VSA) program. The program allows League members who put in at least 100 hours of service on League projects each year, in a specified 12-month period, to receive national recognition for their efforts from President Bush and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. All you have to do is track your volunteer hours in an easy-to-use online service log. To enroll in the program, go to http://vsa.ajli.org, register and begin entering your volunteer service hours starting with April 1, 2006. A very detailed description of the program, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found by clicking on the "About the Awards" tab of this special website.  For all other questions about the program, contact Bonita Whytehead, JLM VSA program administrator

November 27, 2006

Dear Members:

I hope that you and your families enjoyed the Thanksgiving weekend.  It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of November.  And what a month it has been! Our 80th gala – Miami Magic was a huge success. (See photos.) Our November general membership meeting speakers, Abby Cynamon, Dr. Dorothy Fields and Arva Parks McCabe told their amazing stories and we saw past president Andria Hanley and junior leagues across the country deliver hope among the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the film “Rebuilding New Orleans.”

November has also been a busy month for our provisionals too. Mentor Leslie Cooper’s group (Lu Coxhead, Sarah Goldfarb, Colleen Kitchens, Krissy Gossman, Shelby Parasell Tsai, Michelle Austero, Shanna Nye, Samantha Murphy and Shakyra Adorno) cleaned, scrubbed, rearranged, painted, face-lifted  murals and donated books and clothes to the waiting room at the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center, transforming it into a warm place of refuge.  As they continued their serious work of attending to arriving patients, the medical staff took a few moments to thank Leslie’s Fantastic 10. Congratulations on a job well done, ladies!  (See photos.)

As we march into December and the hustle and bustle of the holidays, our members continue their spirit of volunteerism.  Nowhere is this more evident than by our community project holiday parties where our tremendously successful gift drive is icing on the cake for the hundreds of children we serve.  Thank you to our VP of Community Leanne Tellam for organizing the toy drive and wrapping party this year.

If that were not enough, our Done in a Day committee is recruiting 25 actives, sustainers and provisionals to volunteer for the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Client & Employee Celebration Party on Saturday December 9th from 2pm to 7 pm. Please see volunteer details below.  

One final note – Provisionals, actives and sustainers, please join us for our own holiday party at the home of past president Debbie Korge on Saturday evening December 2nd  beginning at 7:00 p.m.  

Wishing you a safe and peaceful holiday,

Regards,

Susan S. Lerner
President, Junior League of Miami, Inc.

Events at a Glance

Annual Holiday Party – December 2nd, 2006
Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 2nd, 2006., 7:00PM
At the home of Past President, Debbie Korge, 6121 Granada Blvd, Coral Gables, 33146

$35 a person or $70 per couple advance donation
RSVP by sending payment to: Junior League of Miami. Questions: 305-443-0160

Attendees will enjoy wonderful food by Sara Sharpe catering, a great bar and a video/photo montage of the last 80 years of the Jr. League of Miami and its commitment to Miami.
Festive Holiday Attire Please

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Client & Employee Celebration Party

Saturday, December 9, 2006
JLM shift is from 2pm – 7pm
601 SW 8th Avenue
Parking is available in the Lighthouse lot & surrounding side streets. This is a holiday themed party for Lighthouse staff and clients in celebration of their 75th anniversary.

The League will be helping with set up, break down, serving food and assisting clients. Black slacks & black top. Volunteers will be on their feet for the majority of the shift – wear comfy shoes!

JLM members who volunteer for this event will receive a meeting OR shift credit. Questions please contact Molly Osendorf, Done in a Day Chair

For Upcoming events visit the JLM Web Calendar

If you have questions about your password/website, please contact Kara Skelley.

Junior League of Miami News

HOLIDAY COLLECTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Fill your holiday spirit and your shift requirement at the same time!  Come to the ITS wrapping party tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Leanne Tellam's house and help us wrap containers of gifts and goodies for our 56 families!  Dress is casual and there's only room for 30 people, so reserve your space by emailing LTellam@bellsouth.net today.
 
And don't forget - new toys and items for the moms can still be dropped off at Headquarters for the families and kids we serve at INN Transition North, CHARLEE Mentoring Moms and the All Aboard Even Start Program.  Those committees will still be working on their holiday events through mid-December and welcome your donations! Contact Leanne Tellam with any questions. 

Nominate a Leader
Leadership Straw Ballots for 2007-08 are due by December 1st. Ballots are available online or contact Jennifer Green, Nominating Chair.

Recruiting and Retention Round Table Discussion
Please join us on November 29 at 9:30 am at JLM Headquarters for our Recruiting and Retention Round Table.  Actives, Provisionals and Sustainers are welcome to attend. The goal of this discussion is to make recommendations to the Board regarding the process by which we recruit and retain members.  The Recruiting and Retention Round Table will be spearheaded by Jennifer Buttrick and Sarita Courtney-Baigorri.  Anyone interested in joining this discussion, or anyone who has a suggestion, comment or question should contact Jennifer Buttrick and/or Sarita Courtney-Baigorri.  If you cannot attend on the 29th, we will be scheduling additional sessions in January. Contacts: Jennifer Buttrick, Sarita Courtney Baigorri

Fund Development Ideas Needed
The Fund Development Committee needs your thoughts and suggestions for new fundraisers for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 League year.  Have you ever attended an event that you thought would be perfect for the League?  Or do you have an original idea for a fundraiser that has never been tried before in the community?  Please fill out the Fund Development application!!

Fund Development applications can be found on the Junior League website or at the Junior League Headquarters. Applications must be submitted by January 16, 2007.  Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Candace Vassillion.

You Deserve National Recognition
The Junior League of Miami is participating for a second year in the Volunteer Service Awards (VSA) program. The program allows League members who put in at least 100 hours of service on League projects each year, in a specified 12-month period, to receive national recognition for their efforts from President Bush and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. All you have to do is track your volunteer hours in an easy-to-use online service log.

To enroll in the program, go to http://vsa.ajli.org, register and begin entering your volunteer service hours starting with April 1, 2006. A very detailed description of the program, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found by clicking on the "About the Awards" tab of this special website.  For all other questions about the program, contact Bonita Whytehead, JLM VSA program administrator at bonitawhytehead@hotmail.com.

Any other news? Let us know!

November 5, 2006

Lunching with the League in Downtown Miami Do you live, work or want to have lunch in downtown Miami?
Get to know other members who work in the downtown area for a fun, quick and convenient lunch! Tuesday, November 7, 12 noon-1:00 p.m.
Lunch will be catered and cost $10/person White & Case LLP, Wachovia Financial Center, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 4900, Miami, FL 33131 RSVP to Lauren Zuckerman <mailto:LZuckerman@ssd.com> Hope you can join us!

The Membership Outreach Committee invites you to an author event at Books and Books on Thursday, November 9th, 2006.
Social at 7 pm and event at 8 pm.
Invite your friends, relatives and colleagues to come learn about the opportunity to join our amazing organization.

RSVP preferred to Alison Simon, Membership Outreach Chair at membershipchair@jlmiami.org.

September 23, 2006

We are off to a great start!  170 members attended the September general membership meetings and we look forward to breaking 200 in October with our “Bring a Friend” outreach initiative.  Other exciting news to report – it’s official – we have 100 provisionals.  Super Saturday on September 16th was a huge success; thank you to provisional chair Dr. Christina Urena and her amazing mentors.  

Another September tradition, the past presidents’ reception, was also a success.  JLM past presidents spanning five decades attended and reminisced about their league years, from the historic events of the civil rights movement, Hurricane Andrew and 9/11 to league milestones of opening ITN and ITS, moving into our new Headquarters and the InStyle partnership.  We also honored sustainer Sondra Space, who has been our league’s recording secretary since 1978, the year that Mary Lynch was president.  As was evident by all of the tributes to her, Sondra is a dear friend to the 20 presidents she has worked with.

As we move into October, we all have many exciting events to look forward to.  So, please take time to scroll down to see for yourself.  And, be sure to mark your calendars.

Regards,