President
Beth Montague
President Elect
Julie Warman
Recording Secretary
Leslie Vanderbilt
Communications Vice President
Terri Hilmey Financial Vice PresidentAngela Hall Community Vice President
Liza Keenan
Membership Vice President
Lisa McNutt
Sustainer Vice President
Colleen Seminara Sustainer Vice President Sandra Keller
Strategic Plan Chair
RuthAnn Foley
Parliamentarian
Lisa Mrkall
Perspectus Editor
Melissa Rebl Rodemeyer
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The Junior League of Buffalo, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
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 Dear Members,I hope everyone had a restful and safe summer. We have much to accomplish this year, and my summer, and that of many fellow members, has been spent making plans and working toward our goals. First off, September's General Meeting is a voting meeting. As we sunset our cookbook, so too do we sunset the requirement that our members purchase two cookbooks. We need to vote as a membership to affirm this. Also in September, we will vote on a new fundraiser to fill the revenue gap left by cookbook. Many Junior Leagues have t-shirts members wear when working in their communities. When League members are wearing their shirts, they are promoting their Leagues, inspiring camaraderie, and often making a little profit to sustain their organization, as well. We propose that each Active Member buy a JLB t-shirt every year. Each year the design will be slightly different, and we will offer two styles to our members (a traditional, boxy fit, and a modern, more sculpted fit). While ordering the shirts would be mandatory, wearing them will not be. Of course, when appropriate, I encourage members to wear their shirts while impacting our community as a group. Financially, purchasing a shirt will be a smaller commitment than the purchase of Great Lake Effects. The shirts will be $25 or $30, depending on the style, with League making a profit of $15 per shirt. Keep in mind this is also a wonderful, fun, way to market our organization, as well as to fundraise. Wearing our shirts as we volunteer in the community will surely move us ever forward in accomplishing a vital part of our mission-promoting voluntarism.Also new o n the fundraising front, the Judith Ripka Company, in a program initiated by her sons to honor their mother's charitable works, has generously donated a gorgeous ring to the JLB, which we will be raffling off this fall. It is a statement piece worth $700 and will be on display at the September General Meeting. To keep things exciting, only 100 tickets at $50 each will be sold between October 1st and November 30th. We will draw for the ring at the Holiday Party in December (winner need not be present). Even if you don't buy a ticket yourself, please help us promote this to your friends and families-tickets are available at headquarters. We expect tickets to sell out, so please buy them quickly! There will be no membership vote regarding this fundraiser, as member participation is not required.We also will have a new project to vote on this year--a new way we can work together to positively impact the lives of families in our community. Kate Mori is filling the Project Development Chair position again this year, and she and her team have spent countless hours talking to members about what our focus area should be. I applaud them all for their hard work and dedication to developing this project. It's not easy work, looking forward, but they've certainly done their due diligence with our members, as well as with community leaders, to ascertain where we will devote our volunteer hours in the future. As you look around at the September General Meeting, you will see plenty of new faces! We had an extraordinarily large incoming group of new members--welcome! Please reach out (new and "old" members) and get to know one another. We are a training organization, which means it's okay to ask for help if your placement gets difficult. It also means that this is a place where future community leaders are nurtured--ask questions, learn lots, and support each other this year as we welcome our new members. Show House 2011 is well underway! Astrid Willis and her team have been meeting over the summer, and we will bring any announcement on house selection to you as soon as we can. I can tell you that all houses looked at to date have been in the City of Buffalo, and much thoughtful deliberation has gone into this selection. So I will see most of you at the September general meeting. I plan on keeping the meeting to less than two hours so that we can go out afterward and enjoy each others company. This month we will meet at Coles immediately following the meeting. I'd love to see Sustainers at the meeting and at Coles, as well!Best,Beth A. Montague |
Our first general meeting to kick off the 2010 - 2011 League year will be held at Elmwood Franklin School on Tuesday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at this voting meeting!
Elmwood Franklin School
104 New Amsterdam Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14216
There is a parking lot available with on street parking on New Amsterdam for any overflow.
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Please join us for a social gathering at Coles immediately following the meeting!
Coles Restaurant  |
Coles Restaurant
1104 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
Click here to see a map and directions to Coles.
Click the photo to learn more about Coles!
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We belong to League because of our passion for women's leadership development and for volunteering in our community. Have you ever thought about serving AJLI and sharing that passion with other Junior League members from around the world? AJLI has several leadership positions open. Click here for more information. The deadline is September 7, 2010.
NEW MEMBERS AND PROVISIONALS! Click here to download an introductory packet from AJLI about life in League.
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25 potential members
listen about League  | Looking for a Few Good Women!
The 2010 - 2011 JLB Provisional Class informational gatherings are underway. Twenty-five interested women joined the Provisional Team at Sole in Williamsville on August 31 to hear about League life. The last informational gathering is Thursday, September 9, from 7 - 9 p.m. at Nancy Leed's home. Jennifer Berryman, Maureen Hanagan, and Beth Montague  | While we have a terrific list developing of potential new members whom we will be reaching out to within the next few weeks, we encourage our membership to pass along names of ladies who might be a good fit for JLB. If anyone has a fabulous mom, sister, aunt, niece, girlfriend, co-worker, neighbor, etc. that is hardworking, loves to roll up her sleeves and get the job done, and is interested in making a difference in our community, please pass along all of her contact information to either Sarah Snyder or Maureen Hanagan. Again, there is one Informational Gathering remaining. We really want to engage our class this year and make it an informative and fun time for all--fee free to share your suggestions! |
Annual Sustainer Picnic
by Janice Worobec
Once again the Sustainer Annual Picnic was loads of fun! On Wednesday,
Bonnie Clesse, Rosemary Zobel, Mary Jo Hunt, and Beth Montague, JLB President
 | August 4 in the Saturn Club Courtyard, about sixty Sustainers enjoyed a South of the Border buffet coupled with a beautiful Buffalo summer evening. It was an evening of laughter, enthusiasm, and camaraderie. Event co-chairs were Barbara Bielecki, Wendy Sanders, and Janice Worobec. League sincerely thanks those Sustainers who were Patrons for the evening. Each made a contribution to the Junior League of Buffalo's 1919 Fund.
To view six more fantastic photos from this event click here. Enter the username jlbuffalo@yahoo.com and the password 'volunteer'. Prints are also available for purchase.
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| Do it in a Day Activities - "DIIAD" |
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JLB's Do It In A Day (DIIAD) Committee invites Junior League of Buffalo members to participate in the following service projects. Please contact Becky Gandour at beckyheider@gmail.com or 901-1022 if you are interested or have questions about either of these opportunities.
National Buffalo Wingfest - Volunteer to Help Meals on Wheels
When: Sunday, September 5th. One volunteer needed from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and four volunteers needed from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Coca Cola Field
Volunteers will be working in pairs selling food tickets. A portion of the event proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels for WNY.
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"Pick Up Buffalo": The Pearl Street Corridor Renewal Project - During July through October on the third Saturday, a group of volunteers will maintain and care for the Erie Hills Pocket Parks in Downtown Buffalo. Click here for more details. |
Junior League in The News |
Mary Collins Profiled by The Buffalo News
Mary Collins, JLB Sustainer |
Submitted by Terri Hilmey
Junior League of Buffalo's own Sustainer, Mary Collins, wife of Erie County Chief Executive Chris Collins, was recently profiled in the Sunday Buffalo News: "After three years on the public stage...Mary Collins is now stepping into a spotlight all her own."
Click here to read the article. |
Carla Emerling showing her raffle tickets |
The Junior League of Buffalo Supports Gerard Placeby Kari AndersonOn June 18, 2010 the Junior League supported Gerard Place's third annual Celebration of Hope at Shea's Performing Arts Center. For the past 10 years, Gerard Place has offered transitional housing and job skill training to single parent families and has been partnering with Junior League since becoming the beneficiary of the 2007 Show House.
Susan Phister, Gerard Place resident, opened the evening with
Amy Braczynski poses with artwork | a message of hope, sharing how she has rebuilt her life with her children, recounting the skill building opportunities afforded residents, and acknowledging the second chance she has been given. During the art auction, our Junior League volunteers greeted patrons, collected bids, and served refreshments. Kathy Hens-Zuppa, Gerard Place's office manager, stated that they had twice as many patrons come through as in the previous year and that they were very pleased with the results of the auction. They ask that you please remember them when you are redecorating, as they are always seeking household donations. |
The Junior League of Buffalo is currently seeking assistance from the community in its search for the 16th Decorators' Show House. Since 1981 the JLB, in conjunction with The Buffalo News, has raised over $3,233,000 to benefit the Western New York community through revenue generated by its Show House.
The 2011 Show House will take place this spring. The Junior League is accepting referrals of homes with historical and architectural value located in the City of Buffalo. Area decorators and craftsmen will then return the selected home to a contemporary state of elegance. Once complete, the public is invited to tour the newly restored residence from April 30 through May 22, 2011.
To be considered, a residence must meet the following criteria:
* At least 7,000 square feet.
* Two staircases.
* Minimum of two to three car garage.
* Suitable yard space.
* Off-street parking.
* Vacant from January 1st to June 1st.
If you know of a residence that should be considered for the next Decorators' Show House, please call the Junior League Headquarters at 716.884.8865 or send an email to jlb@jlbuffalo.org.
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Becky Gandour (A '09) and hubby are proud, first-time parents of Benjamin,
born Tuesday, July 13. Benjamin arrived weighing 9 lbs, 12 oz and was
21.5 inches long! Benjamin Gandour  | When Jill called Becky to inquire how she was feeling and to suggest a DIIAD project, Becky, as bubbly as ever,
reported that she had Benjamin a mere 48 hours earlier and was feeling
great! She then asked for details on the DIIAD project and said she'd
"get on it." Whew! That's really JLB spirit!
Genevieve Driscoll  |
Gillian Driscoll had a baby girl on Tuesday, July 27. Genevieve
Catherine weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz and measured 22 inches. Her big brother Brian
loves his new baby sister and all are doing well.
Wendy & Braden Adams  |
Wendy and Jim Adams are new parents! Braden James Adams was born on June 22 at 5:41pm at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. He was 8 lbs, 2 oz and 20.5 inches long. Everyone is doing great!
Charlotte Wehr  |
Alex Wehr and family welcomed Charlotte Alexandra on June 2. She weighed 7 lbs, 2 oz. She has spent the summer at the
beach joined by her three siblings, Maxwell, Mercedes, and Nicholas.
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Katherine Hepburn | Did you know KATHARINE HEPBURN (1907-2003), famous American actress, was a member of the Junior League of Hartford, CT? |
Heartfelt condolences are being sent to JLB member Bethany Rubin on the loss of her mother.
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Mary Louise Stanley, Nancy Berger, Francesca Maines, and Julie Snyder at Sustainer Picnic '10  | If you'd like to see some of our photo albums on Kodak Gallery, click on the link below and sort through the various events dating back to 2005! If you find a pic of yourself or of a friend that you particularly like, you may order it there on-line, too. Password: volunteer |
Please feel free to contact us to find out more about the Junior League, about donating, or perhaps about becoming a member. We'd love to hear from you!
Junior League of Buffalo
45 Elmwood Avenue  Buffalo, New York 14201 (716) 884-8865 (M-Th 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
www.jlbuffalo.org
Click on the Junior League Logo to donate to our 1919 Fund!
Please join the Junior League of Buffalo group on Facebook by clicking on the Facebook logo! |
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