News from The Junior League of Buffalo

I hope you share with me a feeling of pride toward our organization and particularly in our members. For over 90 years the Junior League of Buffalo has been developing women as community leaders--the portion of our mission that sets us apart from other organizations.

In addition to our many internal leadership opportunities, our members have a history of successful leadership in our community. We've been elected to school boards, we are Executive Directors of non profits, we fill countless board seats, and run some of the most successful fundraising events in town. We are CFOs, MBAs, CPAs, attorneys, doctors, and teachers; and all of us are connected by our membership in the League, which affirms that we share the common goals of developing the potential of women, promoting volunteerism, and improving our community. Whatever we currently "do" outside League, our mission is the thread that links our network of over 400 women locally, and 155,000 women internationally.

There are many bright stars in our organization, and it almost seems unfair to single anyone out for recognition--we are a talented, hard working, group of ladies! I'm asking you to submit your, or fellow members', accomplishments to Perspectus on a monthly basis to help us all better see what the women in our League network have been busy doing. I'm delighted to offer up the first submissions: Congratulations to Mary Jo Hunt on her nomination to the position of Vice President of the AJLI Board of Directors! Also, all the best to Cathie Gura, who has been elected Dean of the Saturn Club of Buffalo--only the second woman to hold that position in the history of the club. Well done, ladies!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Party on December 21st!

Best,

Beth Montague

President, The Junior League of Buffalo

General Meeting Info

"Let the warmth of friendship take the chill from the air
and the spirit of the season make winter easier to bear."

Please join the Junior League of Buffalo for the
Members' Annual Holiday Party

Park Country Club
4949 Sheridan Drive
Williamsville, New York 14221

6:30 p.m. Cocktails (cash bar)
7:00 p.m. Dinner

$30 per person
$50 Patron

RSVP by December 16 to Headquarters at 884-8865

Checks, payable to JLB, must be received
at Junior League Headquarters to confirm reservation:

JLB Headquarters
45 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14201

Click here to see directions to Park Country Club.

* The holiday party is not only a wonderful time, but it also serves as the December General Meeting--your attendance is credited as such!

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The following is a list of general meetings for the remainder of the year:

January 18 - Tapestry High School on Great Arrow

February 15 - Hospice

March 15 - Temple Beth Am on Sheridan

April 19 - Darwin Martin Greatbatch Pavilion

Board Notes

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

The Board received Council reports from...

1. Membership - one resignation and one change of status; the Provisional Class has 58 members.

2. Financial - An overview was given of the completed audit report and the material highlighted in the management letter was discussed.

3. Community - Community R&D is working on details now that the new focus is chosen; Community Assistance Grants received 75 applications.

4. Communication - The Community Report will be sent to 400+ people and will provide highlights from September through December; the Show House pages are up and running and people can purchase gift tickets online through the Tickets Page.

General News and Information

JLB's Own Nominated to AJLI Board of Directors

Click photo to read Mary Jo's bio
Submitted by Beth Montague, President

Mary Jo Hunt has been nominated Vice President of the AJLI Board of Directors. She will join a proud history of Junior League of Buffalo Past Presidents, Nominating Committee members, and Board Members who have also served.

Upon ratification of the slate at AJLI's Annual Conference in April, Buffalo's Mary Jo Hunt will serve as Vice President from 2011-2014. AJLI has nearly 300 Leagues in four countries, with 155,000 members.

Congratulations, Mary Jo!

Click here to view a great document compiled by AJLI highlighting Junior League's history, accomplishments, famous members, and the reasons Junior League remains relevant and is crucial to many communities.

Great Lake Effects Still Available for Purchase!
Submitted by Joelle Rebl, Cookbook Chair

The inventory of Great Lake Effects numbers 2,250. Copies can be purchased through Jill at headquarters during regular business hours. Though purchase is no longer a membership requirement, it is still nice to keep the title in mind as a gift for someone special. Please also consider donating it to other organizations with which you might work outside of League.

The Cookbook Committee consists of Joelle Rebl (Chair), Barbara Bielecki (Sustainer Chair), and Carol Rebl. It is important to note that these ladies have been charged only with the sunsetting of the cookbook and not with the collection of money for the sale of the book. All monies either for new purchases or owed from previous purchases should be submitted to Jill at headquarters either by check through the mail, by dropping during regular business hours, or by leaving in one of two drop boxes--one located in the copy room or the other next to the front door on the porch.

The cookbook is no longer available for purchase at General Meetings, but for your convenience, Great Lake Effects, along with a collection of exchange titles, will be available at the holiday party.

Action Learning Team Seeks Members

Active and sustaining members are needed to fill positions on the JLB Action Learning Team. As discussed at the October General Meeting, the Junior League of Buffalo is interested in submitting an application to be a part of the Action Learning Team process through AJLI. SIx to eight members who are interested in holding the placement for up to 3 years are needed. Members will be a part of a team that explores issues related to Membership, Governance & Management, and/or Community Impact. The Action Learning Teams (ALT) will work to create change by helping to pilot models, sharing best practices, and working with other Junior Leagues to promote coalition building across AJLI. The application deadline has been extended to the first week in January. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lisa McNutt or Julie Warman.

Junior League of Buffalo Scholarships

The Junior League of Buffalo annually awards 2 scholarships of $1,000 each to graduating high school females who have outstanding records of volunteerism, and are well-rounded both personally and academically. Several JLB members, both active and sustaining, are needed to serve on the Scholarship Committee. The work involves revising the application and reviewing the applicants in search of finalists to be determined in the spring of 2011. We will hold approximately 4 meetings, December through March. Please contact Julie Warman at jsmcwarman@aol.com if you are interested in Serving on this committee.

Internal Communications - The White Book
Submitted by Terri Parsell Hilmey, Communications VP

We'd like to take an opportunity to remind everyone of the proper use of the information in the White Book. The contact information (phone, mailing address, or e-mail address) is to be used for Junior League purposes only: That means calling someone about a project you're working on together, or if you have a Junior League-related question. You may not use the address information in the White Book for commercial purposes, at all.

We understand that people become friends (and they should!), so if you do have a gathering where you're only inviting a few friends, or if you're addressing Christmas cards to close friends in League, feel free to use that information. However, if you're addressing commercial information to members in the White Book (a Tupperware party, a business solicitation, or something along those lines), especially to members you do not personally know, or to those you're not sure would welcome the information--then using it is absolutely prohibited. Basically, the rule is... if you're in doubt, don't send it out.

However, other Leaguers do want to know when somebody has a business, because they would rather buy from someone they know... Feel free to use a proper venue, like purchasing a $25 business card-sized ad in Perspectus!

Don't forget to purchase your Junior League of Buffalo tee shirt. The

Cut Tee, Back

shirt must be purchased during the 2010 - 2011 League year, but before 4/1/2011, when dues for the coming year are payable, and after which members delinquent in fulfilling requirements are contacted. Tee shirt sales will both augment the operating budget and increase marketing opportunities. Shirts can be ordered over the Internet at www.bluebisonsports.com.

Boxy Tee, Front

There are two styles available, a traditional "boxy" fit, and one with a more modern fit. Blue Bison, a local company, will have your shirt ready in approximately two weeks. You may pay a shipping charge and have the shirt delivered to your home, or you may stop by their Williamsville facility to pick up the shirt; additionally, if you have neither had your shirt delivered nor picked it up at the facility yourself, you may pick it up at the registration table at the general meeting, where it will be waiting for you.

CHANCES STILL AVAILABLE for the Judith Ripka ring -- valued at $750! -- donated by the Ripka Family Foundation. The ring has a sterling silver band with a large square, canary yellow crystal, with diamond accents at the corners. There are only 100 tickets available being sold for $50 each. One-hundred-percent of the proceeds will go to the JLB and be used to offset JLB operational expenses. Ticket(s) can be purchased at Headquarters or at the next General Meeting. If you would like to charge a ticket over the phone and have the ticket mailed to you, we would be happy to provide this service. You may also mail a check to Headquarters with "Ring Raffle" in the check memo, and we will in turn mail you a receipt. The drawing will be held during our Holiday Party in December and the winner need not be present.

Sustainer News

Sustainer Book Club Project

Submitted by Janice Worobec

Nancy, digging

Rosemary, Loretta,
and Nancy

Are you unsure what to do with overgrown plants or plants that just don't fit into your landscaping scheme any longer? Don't throw them away... Do what a few members of the Sustainer Book Club did: On a cold, blustery Friday morning in late October, they met to plant flowering bushes at a Habitat for Humanity home on Fox Street. The new build is scheduled for occupancy in late November. Gardeners were Loretta Fruth, Nancy Hart, and Rosemary Zobel. Come spring, the new homeowners will have the beginnings of a landscape that will enhance the beauty of their new home.

Provisional News

Community Projects for March and April

Gerard Place - Taunya Abaya, Chair
Kids In the Kitchen Project - Katie McKenna, Chair
Priscilla Project - Julie Fanutti, Chair

If you have not signed up for a project, please contact the project Chair or touch base with your Adviser.

Rescheduled Boot Camp:
For those members that were not able to attend our Boot Camp (a/k/a Buffalo Junior League 101) in October, and for our newer members, we will be holding another session in January--date and place TBD.

Do it in a Day Activities - "DIIAD"

DECEMBER:

Compeer for Kids Holiday Party
When: Saturday, December 11th
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Magruders, 4995 Broadway Depew, NY 14043

Compeer for Adults and Elders Holiday Party
When: Saturday, December 19th
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Magruders 4995 Broadway Depew, NY 14043

Compeer is an international, non-profit organization that helps adults and children overcome the devastating effects of mental illness, such as loneliness, isolation and low self-esteem--through the power of friendship. They are in need of volunteers to help with their holiday party.

FEBRUARY:

JLB's Sneak Peek Weekend
When:              Saturday February 5, 2011 and Sunday February 6, 2011
Time:                10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday
Location:          Decorator's Show House (360 Depew Ave.)

* 2 Shift Options - 10:00 am to 1:30 pm, or 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm

The Sneak Peek Committee would appreciate if all members would wear their JLB T-Shirt if they have purchased it by Sneak Peek. Additionally, we would appreciate it if all volunteers arrive 15 minutes prior to their shift.

Show House 2011

Ticket Information

2011 Show House - Bayliss Oshei Residence

Submitted by Jessica Schimert

Gift/Combo Tickets ($20) are available! These tickets will allow the purchaser into the Show House during Sneak Peek (February 5 or 6) and the decorated house - (April 30 - May 22). These make excellent Holiday Gifts for family members, teachers, associates, and friends. The cost is $20. The price is not printed on the ticket, so the recipient will not know what you paid for it.

Presale Tickets ($15) will be available in January. Kitty Lysiak will distribute the tickets to everyone at the General Meeting. Tier 1, Tier 2, and Provisional members will receive a total of 20 tickets. Tier 3 and Sustainers will receive 10 tickets.

The Gift/Combo Tickets DO COUNT towards your requirement. Please contact Kitty Lysiak with the number of gift/combo tickets you would like to purchase. She will make arrangements for you to obtain the tickets before the Holiday. They will also be sold at the holiday party.

Please pay for tickets with either a check or credit card and not cash. Checks should be made out to the Junior League of Buffalo. Kitty's contact information is klysiak@aol.com or 713-0030.

Ticket requirements for JLB members, as noted in the Bylaws:

Tier 1 (first 3 years of membership) - you are required to sell 10 tickets

Tier 2 (years 4, 5, and 6 of membership) - your are required to sell 10 tickets
Tier 3 (7+ years) - you are required to sell 5 tickets

Sustainer - 5 tickets if you want to vote on the Proceeds Recipient

Provisional - 10 tickets if you want to vote on the Proceeds Recipient

Important Show House Related Dates:

Measuring Day - December 15
Decorating Information Day - February 3
Neighborhood Party - February 3
Sneak Peek - February 5 and 6
Decorating Begins - March 1
Black Tie Gala - March 5
Garden Party - April 29

Show House will be opened to the public April 30 - May 22

Contact Information for Various Show House Committees:

- For decorating inquiries or leads: Rosanne Braxton, 866-8938
- For vendors to be considered for boutique jurying or to support the *Boutique Commitee: Colleen Seminara, 759-0980

- To support the *cafe: Louise Hochreiter, 834-8220
- To support the *Decorator Sales Committee: Elise Hake, 937-9611
- To volunteer to staff the house for Bidding Day, Measuring Day, or after January 1 when possession of the property is taken: Hadar Borden, 984-0250
- For advertising inquiries, or to support the Program Committee: Maria Coppola, 289-8149
- To support the Preview Parties Committee: Pam Chrzanowski, 867-2776
- To support the Landscaping Committee: Rosemary Zobel, 866-6673
- To contribute raffle items (large or small for the baskets), please contact Lisa Faturos, 861-5825
- To support the Tickets Committee: Kitty Lysiak, 713-0030
- To support the PR committee and/or to inquire about PR for your committee: Jessica Schimert, 913-7732

* To support the Boutique, Cafe, or Decorator Sales Committees, volunteers must be Active or Sustaining members. These areas require specific training in cash handling and inventory control.

A Junior League of Buffalo/Buffalo News Decorators' Show House Facebook Page has been created, and the committee would like the membership to join and invite friends. If anyone would like to see something posted to the site, please contact Hanna Nydahl.

Staffing Commitee

The Staffing Committee is looking for women's groups that might be interested in joining our core of community volunteers. Book clubs, church groups, and other groups are more than welcomed! Members may contact Hadar Borden with suggestions.

Did You Know?

From page 156 of Great Lake Effects, More Than Mom's Bread Pudding makes a great addition to any holiday table:

1 loaf of slightly dry French bread
1 C. of raisins
Rum or bourbon
4 C. of milk
1 C. of sugar
1/2 C. paged brown sugar
1 C. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 C. shredded coconut
3 tbsp. melted butter
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs, beaten
Rum Sauce (also found on pg. 156.)

Cube the bread into 6 to 8 cups. Dry at room temp. for a few days or in a slow oven for a short time. Plump the raisins in rum or bourbon if desired.

Combine the milk, sugar, brown sugar, raisins, nuts, coconut, butter, vanilla, and eggs in a bowl. Mix well. Add the bread cubes. Mix gently.

Let stand until the milk is absorbed. Add additional milk if needed for moist cubes. Pour into a buttered 9 x 12 baking dish.

Bake at 350˚ for 1 1/2 hours. Serve warm or cold with Rum Sauce. Makes 12 - 15 servings.

Condolences

Heartfelt condolences are being sent to Maura Cohen (S '80), who lost her mother-in-law, Freda Cohen, on November 21.

Click here to see the notice in The Buffalo News.

Junior League Photos

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.

User Name: jlbuffalo@yahoo.com

Password: volunteer

Click here to go to our JLB Photo Gallery

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!