News from The Junior League of Buffalo

The JLB is strong in many areas, but one thing we're particularly good at is throwing a party. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming Show House events--Sneak Peek, Preview Party, and Garden Party. Countless hours go toward making things "just right," and surely a good time will be had by all. My thanks to all who make this entire project possible!

Did you know that our League is known internationally as "the League with all the active Sustainers"? Other Leagues are in awe of the commitment of our Sustaining Members, women who truly are the backbone of our organization. Nowhere is Sustainer participation more marked than at Show House, and this year is certainly no exception--thanks, ladies, we truly couldn't do it without you.

We have several voting meetings coming up, and I look forward to your participation in the dialogue regarding two-year board terms, the LifeCoach program still being tweaked by the Community Research and Development Committee, and the structure of our organization. Julie Warman and her Transition Team have really done phenomenal work in a short time, and Kate Mori and her committee have continued to trailblaze in finalizing our community work. I'm certain, going forward, that participation in the ALT program with AJLI and six sister leagues will benefit our governance/management structure.

See you at Sneak Peek!

Best,

Beth

General Meeting Info

The February General Meeting will be held at Hospice on February 15 at 6:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

Click image for more information.

Hospice
225 Como Park Blvd.
Cheektowaga, NY 14227

Click here to see a map

Please join us for a social gathering at Bar Louie (Galleria Mall) immediately following the meeting!

Bar Louie

Galleria Mall: Outside, across from The Melting Pot

Click here to see Galleria Mall directory

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

March 15 - Temple Beth Am on Sheridan Dr.

April 19 - Darwin Martin Greatbatch Pavilion
May 24 - Annual Dinner

Board Notes

The Board of Directors met Saturday, January 8, 2011 for a mid-year review.

The Board...

received mid-year updates from the Council Vice-Presidents and Sustainer Vice-Presidents, the Strategic Planning Chair, Parliamentarian, and Recording Secretary.

discussed the possibility of two-year board terms and potential changes and additions to the slate for the 2011-2012 League Year.

lowered the price of the Great Lake Effects cookbook to $5.00.

The Board received reports from...

1. Community Council - Community R&D is seeking partnership opportunities for sites and presenting agencies; DIIAD has two events coming up and has planned nine events to date; Community Assistance Grants is considering 48 applications and will bring the top seven applicants to the Board for approval in February; Roundtables is hoping to hold an event in February.

2. Communications Council - Mid-year issue of the Community Newsletter went out in December; the Show House web pages are working well and a Google document has been created to facilitate signing up for shifts; ads for The Bee and DesignNY are done.

3. Membership Council - The Nominating Committee chose four members to attend the upcoming ODI Conference in Tampa, FL.

4. Financial Council - Angela Hall provided an overview of the mid-year Profit & Loss Statement; the cookbook inventory is down to 2,000 books; fundraising ideas for off-Show House years are being considered and two ideas will be presented to The Board in March.

5. Strategic Planning Chair - Some committees still need to submit their plan; all plans should be submitted before the new league year starts.

6. President-Elect - Julie Warman provided reminders and meeting dates for the upcoming transition.

7. Sustainers - Sustainers are interested in a potential mentoring program.

The Board of Directors met Tuesday, February 1, 2011 for its regularly scheduled meeting.

The Board...

approved the recipients for Community Assistance Grants.

approved ten bylaw changes to the White Book for the 2011-2012 League year.

approved the changes to the 2011-2012 Straw Ballot.

The Board received reports from...

1. Communications Council - JLB has been approached to put together a coffee table-style book about Show House.

2. Community Council - Kate Mori provided detailed information on the Community R&D Committee's progress on the Impact Issue project; Roundtables has an event scheduled for February 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Hospice, and a second event is being planned for April.

3. Membership Council - JLB has been chosen to participate in the AJLI Action Learning Team program; the ALT team has been chosen; nominations are being accepted for the Susan Reid Greene Russell Award.

4. Financial Council - Tax returns have been filed; all checking and savings accounts are doing well, and expenses are down.

5. Sustainers - a group of Sustainers may be interested in coordinating a fundraising event in the off-Show House year.

6. President-Elect/Transition - The Transition Team submitted ten changes to the bylaws that include changing the length of Board terms, adding an Executive Vice-President position, defining the eligibility of members for various leadership positions, and updating job descriptions as needed.

General News and Information

AJLI Partners with Rent the Runway

Designer Fashion Delivered to Your Doorstep For a Fraction of the Price

What do you do when get the coveted invitation to the black-tie of the season but haven't got the time to lose the 20 pounds you need to fit into last year's "it" dress? And how do you handle your best friend from childhood, who, upon becoming engaged, morphs into Bridezilla and demands you purchase an outrageously priced taffeta-and-tulle monstrosity that looks more like a Lady Gaga cast-off?

Problem solved.

Beginning today, February 1, AJLI will be partnering with Rent the Runway, the premier online destination for special-occasion dress and accessory rentals.

Rent the Runway is extending a special 15 percent discount to AJLI members, and their friends and family, on the designs of a revolving roster of more than 120 top designers, 15,000 of the season's hottest dresses, and 4,000 accessories. All you have to do is enter this code--AJLI15OFF--during checkout and click "apply to order." Plus, 10 percent of each first-time purchase will go to AJLI.

So whether you're on the hunt for something to wear on your Valentine's Day date with the one who could be Mr. Right, an outfit for the Bar Mitzvah of your boss's son, or some options for your own trousseau, Rent the Runway's got a bountiful assortment of sartorial splendors fit for every occasion you can imagine.

Founded by Harvard MBAs Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, and launched in November of 2009, Rent the Runway is a members-only exclusive community that has already attracted more than 650,000 members.

So click here to join now and start shopping! And tell Bridezilla that buying a dress is so . . . well, yesterday!

Junior League of New Orleans'

Steel MagNOL(i)As featured in Connected

If you haven't already seen it, click below to read about the awe-inspiring civic leadership of the Steel MagNOL(i)As of The Junior League of New Orleans, a group of Sustainers who each in their own way has played a critical part in the recovery of the Big Easy five- and-a-half years after Katrina.

Click here to read the story

SOURCE: Connected, the newsletter of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

The Nominating Committee Needs You!

Submitted by Lisa McNutt

The JLB Nominating Committee needs your help! Please think about those current or past League members who exemplify the missions of both the Junior League of Buffalo and the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI). This is your opportunity to nominate them for the Susan Reid Greene Russell Award and to salute their commitment to League and to the communities in which we live. In order to present the award, it is required that nominations come from the membership. The nomination form, criteria, and directions are all present on the JLB website. The 23rd recipient of the Susan Reid Greene Russell Award will be recognized at the Annual Dinner on May 24, 2011. Additional information regarding the nomination criteria is available in the White Book. All nominations must be received by Friday, March 25, 2011. All requested information must be provided in order for the nominee to be considered. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa McNutt.

'Positions Wanted' Being Added to Weekly Email

The weekly email will now include announcements solely from members seeking positions. They will be at the end of the e-mail preceding the Charitable Organizations Announcements. Announcements should be submitted using 10 pt. Arial font and be in the following format: What (position), limited to six lines, and Name/Contact info for the League member seeking the position. Nothing extraneous will be included.

Junior League Scholarship Application Now Available

The Junior League Scholarship Application is now up on the web site. The application has also been distributed to area high school guidance counselors. We will be awarding two $1000 scholarships to graduating female high school seniors who are outstanding volunteers in the Western New York community. The scholarships are given to the post high school institution to assist the student in defraying expenses for tuition, books, fees, or housing. The scholarships are awarded based on a record of outstanding volunteer experience and academic endeavors. The committee will then select the two finalists and the awards will be presented at a GMM this spring.

Be a Part of National Women's History Month

National Women's History Month grew out of an effort to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women in American History. There will be a Women's History Month kick-off event held on March 3 at the Central Library in Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo. The event will go from 11 am to 4 pm and will feature guest speaker Molly Murphy McGregor, the National Women's Fund History Month Founder. Check out The National Women's History Month Project website. Help us celebrate Women's History month by attending!

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.

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.

Provisional News

Gerard Place Clothing Drive

The Provisional Class is very excited to be helping Gerard Place this year as one of its projects, and there are several ways the all members can help, as well:

We are asking all JLB members to look in their closets and bring any professional clothing that can be spared to the General Membership Meeting on February 15. We are providing Resume/Job interview workshops to the residents of Gerard Place in March. The clothes will be tremendously helpful. Also, Gerard Place is always in need of baby items (diapers, wipes, clothes, etc). Anyone who would like to donate baby items, please bring them to the February meeting as well. Thank you for your donations to such an outstanding Buffalo program!

Community Projects for March and April

Gerard Place - Taunya Abaya, Chair; Nancy Reimann, Project Adviser
Kids In the Kitchen Project - Katie McKenna, Chair; Amy Atkinson & Alisa LaPlante, Project Co-advisers
Priscilla Project - Julie Fanutti, Chair; Carrie Leed, Project Adviser

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

Do it in a Day Activities - "DIIAD"

FEBRUARY:

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Breath of Life Gala

Date: Saturday, February 12

Time: 4:30 p.m. volunteers to report
Location: Shea's Performing Arts Center (646 Main St.)

* Please enter at the Pearl Street entrance

Dinner will be available for volunteers at 4:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with check-in and silent auction, and with other various duties. Wear cocktail attire and comfortable shoes!

Trimania Benefiting Buffalo Art Studio Space

Date: Saturday, March 26

Time: 2 shifts from approximately 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Location: Tri-Main Center

2495 Main Street

Buffalo, New York 14214

League members would be assisting with the bars and other activities.

Please contact Becky Gandour, DIIAD Chair, if you would like to participate in any of the above activities, or if you have questions.

Show House 2011

Bessie's Cafe Will be Opened at Show House

Submitted by Louise Hochreiter

Bessie's Cafe will be opened at Show House next to Boutique and invites all members and friends to enjoy refreshments. Whether your shift is morning or afternoon, the cafe will be opened. Also, seating is available!

Hours: Mon - Fri, 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sat & Sun, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

The Menu

Soup Du Jour and Chili

Chicken Salad on a Croissant

Turkey with Fresh Strawberries on a Croissant

Ham & Swiss on Marble Rye

Pasta Salad

Turkey Pesto Wrap

Artichoke & Spinach Wrap

Chicken Caesar Wrap

Tarts, Cookies, Cake, Ice Cream, Gelato, and Chocolates

Hot and Cold Beverages

Reserve Your Spot for the Black Tie Gala

2011 Show House - Bayliss Oshei Residence

Bayliss-O'Shei House

The Junior League of Buffalo will be hosting its Black Tie Gala on Saturday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at The Bayliss-Oshei Residence located on 360 Depew Avenue in Buffalo. Please join us for this Casablanca-themed evening filled with dining, dancing, and cocktails. We are also pleased to announce that Magnolia Events has been selected to cater the evening, and Leon & The Forklifts will be providing the entertainment throughout the night! In order to reserve your spot for this unforgettable party, please contact Junior League Headquarters by calling 716-884-8865. "Here's lookin' at you, kid!"

From the Staffing Committee

Complete Your Staffing Forms: Show House staffing forms were distributed at the January general meeting and mailed to those who did not attend. Please complete your staffing form and return to Headquarters by March 1. You may also complete the form online by clicking here.

Please direct staffing questions to jlbshowhousestaffing@gmail.com

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.

Ticket Information

Start Selling! Show House tickets were distributed at the January general meeting. Tier 1, Tier 2, and Provisional members received a total of 20 tickets. Tier 3 and Sustainers received 10 tickets.

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. Contact Kitty Lysiak with questions at 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

Wallpaper Removal Day

As a new service for our decorators, we will be having a Wallpaper Removal Day at our Show House. Wallpaper Removal Day will be on Sunday, February 13th from noon until 4 p.m. You would need to provide womanpower to assist the decorators with removing wallpaper--years of wallpaper in some cases--from several rooms in the house. Please contact Roseanne Braxton by email or at 866-8938.

Important Show House Related Dates:

Wallpaper Removal Day - February 13
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 Committee

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 Great Lake Effects...

"In 1938, Adam Meldrum & Anderson (AM&A's) [department store] began over 50 years of underwriting the Junior League of Buffalo's newsletter."

Condolences

Heartfelt condolences are being sent to Past President Deborah Bucki (S '84), who lost her mother, Victoria Bruch, on Monday, January 10.

Click here to see the notice in The Buffalo News.

Heartfelt condolences are being sent to Betty Ott (SE '44), who lost her son, Randall MacKenzie Ott, on Thursday, January 13.

Click here to see the notice in The Buffalo News.

Heartfelt condolences are being sent to Barbara Leisner (S '90), who lost her mother, Florence Woycik, on Saturday, January 15.

Click here to see the notice in The Buffalo News.

JLB Mourns the Loss of a Bantu Youth

Submitted by Julie Warman

Salim Musa

Five years ago, the Junior League of Buffalo partnered with Literacy Volunteers to provide service to a group of young men from Somalia and East Africa. The Bantu Youth Council was then formed by Sherry Byrnes of Literacy Volunteers, Jennifer Berryman, and Julie Warman. A year later, Summer Flaherty, Brooke Smith, Mary Falzone, and Anna Fulfaro joined. We began our multicultural journey of learning, enrichment, and understanding. The young men that comprised the Bantu Youth Council were eager to make change, to learn, and to experience their new surroundings. We, the members of JLB, were also opened to learning about the culture and life in East Africa.

One of the students was Salim Musa, who had come to the United States seven years ago. He mastered the English language, was able to read and write, and was the first of the group to graduate from high school. He was accepted to Daeman College and wanted to become a social worker so that he could help those in his community, just as he was helped when he first arrived here.

Two years ago Salim was diagnosed with bone cancer. Throughout his last journey, we wanted to be there for him, providing transportation to medical visits and chemotherapy, speaking to his professors on his behalf, and trying to provide as much encouragement as possible. He didn't give up, and he continued his schooling despite his illness. Monday, January 17, he lost his battle, giving up his life as (in his own words) "a simple man who doesn't hide or cheat and who loves the people who loved to be his friend." We were his friends, and we are very grateful to have been given the gift of knowing him.

Marketplace - Place your ad here!

If you are interested in advertising in Perspectus, send a check for $25 to headquarters (with 'Perspectus Ad.' written in the memo), and a scanned image of your business card to jlperspectus@yahoo.com.

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

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