Sp ing Flower - Junior League of San Jose

VOLUME 13 / ISSUE 3 / SPRING 2008
P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E J U N I O R L E A G U E O F S A N J O S E
December
Done-In-A-Day Events
meetings
General Meeting
By Julie Paulsen, Done-In-A-Day Co-Chair
Wednesday
March 5, 2008
The miracle of Christmas was seen once again
this year as the members
of the Junior League of
San Jose made a connection and showed an outpouring of caring and
sharing. Members and
their friends and family
wn and
partnered with the Family
Robin Bates, Kathryn Bro
” for gifts
Kathryn’s daughter “shopping
Giving Tree and Salvation
e
Tre
ing
at the Family Giv
Army to fulfill the holiday
wishes of children and families who would otherwise
go without gifts. As in years past, we had an abundance of volunteers provide sorting, wrapping
and shopping of gifts and food for those that are
less fortunate.
General Meeting &
Placement Faire
April 2, 2008
General Meeting &
Trunk Show
May 7, 2008
Annual Meeting
June 4, 2008
all at Villa Ragusa
6:00 p.m. Social
7:00 p.m. Meeting
year-round. A
wish card is
printed for each
child and over
900 Bay Area
companies and
schools participate in the program by displaying
Andrea Stelzer, Mon
ica Yoder, Kate
Cresall and Kristina
the
wish cards,
Kolstad wrapping
presents at the Fami
often
on trees, in
ly Giving Tree
their lobbies and
other publie areas.
Members processed children’s gifts in a
100,000 square foot warehouse — it
was amazing to see the sheer volume of
toys that were being distributed to
needy children. Tagged gifts were
sorted into labeled and numbered
rows. Members “shopped” for missing
gifts from a central store. After an area
Located on the second floor
Parking is plentiful and free!
The Family Giving Tree is a California-based
nonprofit whose Holiday Program works with
more than 250 Bay Area social service agencies.
These agencies supply Family Giving Tree with
the names and wishes of the children they serve
Spring showers…
Bring Me a Book Project
Surpasses Goals!
JLSJ & the Wonder Cabinet
Connection
By Twyla Hughes, Bring Me A Book Co-Chair
By Fletcher Lynch and Aparna Shute, Wonder Cabinet Outreach Co-Chairs
35 South Second Street - Campbell
Spring F lowers!
upc o m i n g
events
Volunteer Recognition
Luncheon
Santa Clara Marriott
Friday
April 25, 2008
11:00 a.m. Luncheon
Sustainer
Spring Dinner
La Rinconada
Tuesday
May 20, 2008
Diane Lindecker, Laura Lindecker,
Breanna Haut and Malea Mordaunt wrapping presents at the Family Giving Tree
The Bring Me a Book
(BMAB) Committee is making a major impact on the
community this year. The
purpose of the committee is to
conduct First Teachers
Trainings JLSJ has a contract
with the Bring Me a Book
Foundation to conduct seventeen First Teachers Trainings in 2007-08. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the committee members, this goal has
already been met! But the Bring Me a Book Committee is not
stopping yet. Additional Trainings have been scheduled in
2008, including two large Trainings that are each expected to
attract fifty families. This will substantially surpass the League’s
goal of reaching 225 families in the community.
This past fall, BMAB committee members hustled to complete the tightly scheduled Training sessions. They often had
multiple Trainings in a week, and on one day in November,
there were three Trainings going on at different locations!
Committee members teamed up to prepare their First Teachers
Training presentations. Then they headed out to low-income
preschools and Child Development Centers throughout Silicon
Valley, where the parents and caregivers of the children have
been invited to attend a First Teachers Training.
First Teachers Trainings begin with BMAB committee members reading a book to the children, which is not only fun but
demonstrates effective read-aloud techniques to their parents.
Then they work with the parents, presenting research statistics
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Christine Waldick demonstrating a kaleidoscope found in
the Wonder Quilt to a child at the Three Kings Festival
The Wonder Cabinet, a
dedicated space on the second
floor of the Children’s
Discovery Museum (CDM),
offers children age four and
younger along with their families and caregivers a place
where they can go to explore, learn, observe, and let their
imaginations run wild. Within the walls of the Wonder
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
table of
contents
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C A N C E R AWA R E N E S S . .................. 3
d
O D I .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
d
FA S H I O N S H O W 2 0 0 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
$163 due May 1
d
S T R AT E G I C P L A N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 - 7
Sustainers
d
S U S TA I N E R S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 - 9
d
D U E S N E W S .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0
d
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. .............. 12
Dues Reminder
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Actives/Provisionals
$98 due April 1
See page 10 for more information.
the flair |
SPRING 2008
1
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Michael Lynch, 18 months, isn’t aware that his
explorations at the ball and funnel exhibit are actually
exposing him to the basic Laws of physics and gravity
A Day in the Life of a JLSJ Signature Project Volunteer
A young visitor to the Wonder Cabinet enters through
the large, polished wood and glass doors and gasps with
excitement as if to say, ‘This is a place that’s just for me!’
‘Welcome to the Wonder Cabinet,’ says a kind woman
wearing a red apron and a friendly smile; she is a JLSJ
volunteer.
The girl eagerly approaches the ball well just steps
ahead and stoops to grasp a blue ball between her tiny
fingers. ‘Whoa!’ she exclaims as she releases the ball into
the well, watching it intently as it turns around and
around, down and down before it finally disappears
through a tiny hole. Perplexed and intrigued, her eyebrows arch with a sense of wonder and curiosity. ‘Would
you like to try again?’ asks the woman in the red apron.
Seconds later the child stoops, grasps another ball and
experiences the wonder once more.
Meanwhile, a fellow Junior League volunteer sits
among a group of little ones in the art loft. As the children
sweep wet paintbrushes of many and varied water colors
across a large piece of wood, the woman asks how and
why painting on wood is different than painting on paper
or the very popular paint wall. The responses emerging
from the young minds at work are as many and varied as
the colors across the board.
Nearby, the children belly-up to the sand table where
they set the gears of science in motion. The use of real-life
measuring instruments such as scales, spatulas and flasks
encourage the young ones to ask questions and explore endless possibilities. As the children work together filling, pouring, scooping, dumping, and weighing, the woman in the
red apron strolls by ringing a bell. ‘Story Time,’ she calls.
‘Please come join us in the Forest for Kamishibai.’
The children head into the Forest and nestle together on
the carpet, careful not to get their feet wet in the imaginary
ribbon river. Though full of anticipation, they quiet down
to listen as the lady with the red apron and friendly smile
slowly and dramatically opens the doors of the authentic
Japanese story-telling cabinet; ‘Welcome to Kamishibai,’
she exclaims.
Just around the corner, in its own private and quiet
cocoon, sits the infant crawl space. Peering through the
window we see a Junior League volunteer tucked away in an
alcove under the bridge. There she rests quietly, enjoying
the warm sunlight streaming through the glass, accompanied by a little one who is comforted by the companionship
of a friendly and caring adult. Perched beside our Junior
League volunteer is a six-month-old baby girl who has
recently learned to crawl, but has paused by the secondstory window to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the world. An
airplane flies overhead and the baby extends her hand in a
failed attempt to pluck it from the sky. Still, her journey
continues as she then notices the sharp contrast of her
hand’s shadow on the floor beside her. The attentive lady in
the red apron points to the dark image on the floor, ‘That’s
a shadow,’ she says. ‘You made that!’
In a moment the volunteer looks up and asks the mother
who has been sitting quietly in the rocking chair, enjoying
her daughter’s pure sense of wonder, if she visits the
the flair |
SPRING 2008
Museum often. ‘This is our first time,’ she replies. ‘We
heard about this place when we played with the Wonder
Quilt at a FIRST 5 program last week. They were nice
enough to give my family free admission passes to the
Museum, and so here we are.’
The Wonder Cabinet Outreach Program
Reaching the underserved families of our community
is a key goal for the WC Outreach Committee. To this
end, last year’s Outreach Committee developed the
Wonder Quilt for the purpose of being able to take the
museum out into the community. This year, with
Wonder Quilt in hand, the Outreach Committee has
been facilitating activities at events like Cupertino’s
Chinese Moon Festival and Guadalupe River Park’s
Pumpkins in the Park and, most recently, at CDM’s
Three Kings Festival. To more specifically reach out to
the underserved, the committee has worked with the
Museum to enhance community partnerships with organizations that already serve families most in need — such
as FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, where we now take the
Wonder Quilt into their Family Resource Centers.
Diane Nozik and Tina Royce engage children at FIRST 5’s
Franklin Resource Center by singing “Ten Little Fingers”
Loaded with visually engaging and tactile images, the
Wonder Quilt functions as a tool that invites children to
physically explore this traveling exhibit. The interactive
elements incorporated into the quilt encourage children to
follow their natural curiosities and make discoveries on
their own. Sewn alphabets, thematic concepts, textured
images and natural artifacts ensure infinite pathways for
learning, allowing each child’s personal experiences and
interests to determine the direction of that learning.
Trained Outreach Facilitators are close at hand to support
each child’s individual learning experience.
Mass Outreach
While everyone who attended the Three Kings Festival
was aware of the Museum and where it was located, many
were interested in our beautiful Wonder Quilt. Children
explored its hidden wonders, dipping their fingers into
pockets to find intriguing artifacts designed to delight the
senses. Kaleidoscopes, maracas, fossilized paw prints, and
scent bottles were among the items fished out from the
Quilt’s pockets. You can only begin to imagine the conversations that we engaged in with these children, using these
items as stepping off points and letting their curiosities and
imaginations pave the way.
Five-year-old Nicolai, accompanied by his Dad and two
younger siblings, was excited to tap on the sewn letters,
typing out all the words he knew how to spell. The conversation broached the topic of dinosaurs and Nicolai examined the quilt’s scene and explained that there were no
dinosaurs there. Perhaps they were there long ago and their
bones were deep under the ground, he decided. ‘Have you
ever seen a dinosaur bone?’ I asked. ‘No,’ he answered.
(or the story of a Breast Cancer Survivor)
By Diana Gilbert, Placement Chair
Visiting a FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Family
Resource Center typically involves two Wonder Cabinet
Outreach members, a Museum staff member, and an
AmeriCorps worker (who also helps translate for us). For
one hour, families are engaged in creative play and singing
with the Wonder Quilt and other hands-on activities. At
the close of the program, families are encouraged to visit
the museum and are given free passes. Family Resource
Centers help aide families with children prenatal through
age 5 by providing computers, a lending library to borrow
books and toys, educational videos, ESL classes and workshops, and scheduled activities.
To date JLSJ has served almost 50 families and given out
over 100 free passes to the museum!
How You Can Help
Members of the Wonder Cabinet Committee make an
impact on the families we encounter both in the Museum
and out in the community. We continuously strive to
increase the community’s awareness about the wonderful
world within the walls of the Wonder Cabinet. Our impact
is limited, however, by our ability to staff our various programs. The Facilitation Committee staffs the Wonder
Cabinet twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays from
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteers may help by ‘shadowing’ a committee member during these hours. The Outreach
Committee is scheduled to do only three more FIRST 5
events, but the Museum values the program so much that
they will facilitate an event every month on their own.
With your help JLSJ could support the Museum at more
outreach events. Supporting an event takes only 1-1/2
hours between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Events are
scheduled for March, April, and May.
Our ability to commit to these events and effectively
staff them directly relates to the amount of people we are
able to engage, educate and encourage to visit this special
place for children. The Wonder Cabinet Committee
needs your volunteer support now and in the future. You
can help by contacting the co-chairs and signing up to
volunteer at the Wonder Cabinet, a FIRST 5 event or a
festival. Please also consider selecting the Wonder Cabinet
for your League placement next year. With you, we can
make an even GREATER impact! d
For more information or volunteer opportunities, please
contact Facilitation Co-Chairs Donna Butcher or
Kristine Jakovcevic or Outreach Co-Chairs Aparna
Shute or Fletcher Lynch. Thank you.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County: www.first5kids.org
The Children’s Discovery Museum: www.cdm.org
Diana Gilbert
“You have breast cancer.”
What can I say about those words that rocked my world
early last year? I guess the most obvious is that they were
shocking to hear. Who ever expects to hear those words
about ourselves? The interesting thing I learned after this
is that 1 in 8 women who live to 80 will in fact hear those
words. Why me? A wise friend of mine once said, “someone
is going to get it, so why not me?” This perspective really
helped me throughout the last year. I didn’t waste energy
feeling sorry for myself. I attacked the problem by asking,
“What can I do?” instead of “Why me?”
How did I find it? I went in for my annual examination, and my nurse practitioner felt the lump. Of course
when she pointed it out to me, I could detect it easily
myself. I have to admit, I’ve never been good at doing
monthly breast self-exams. What I learned is that the
technique is not what is important. What is important is
simply knowing your body and noticing when it changes.
Fortunately, I was somewhat compulsive about going in
for annual exams. I had my first mammogram at 37 as a
baseline and went in promptly each year at 40, 41, and
42. So when we found the lump, we had recent information to compare to, which was helpful to the doctors in
diagnosing me. I have since spoken with a number of
women who never felt the lump because it wasn’t at the
surface like mine was. The important thing is that you
take advantage of what is available to you and get
screened. Mammograms are fairly effective at identifying
dense tissue (benign and malignant growths), and a prior
screening to see what has changed is helpful. My cancer
was fairly aggressive and went from nothing to a 2 cm
something, in just one year.
I now consider myself a mini-expert. Those of you
who know me well, know that I am data driven and need
to do the research to wrap myself around a situation and
come up with an action plan. So as soon as I was diag-
Bring Me a Book Project Surpasses Goals!
“Being part of this committee has made me feel like I
have made an impact on the lives of countless children and
on our community. I am so thankful to have the opportunity
to share my passion for reading with others,” said committee member Breanna Haut.
The First Teachers Training curriculum has two
goals. First, to help parents and caregivers (a child’s
First Teachers) understand why reading aloud to their
children is so important— it leads to increased vocabulary and success in school. Second, to help parents
overcome barriers to reading aloud and plan a daily
read-aloud routine that will work for their family.
a drag, but the side effects were managed by the doctors. I
ate just fine, went for walks every day, and just tried not
to overdo things. I was definitely tired, but it was manageable. Oh yeah…my hair fell out too. But I found all these
really cute scarves and hats that I wore for a while. And
guess what, as soon as chemo was over, the hair started to
grow back. It’s pretty sassy now, if I do say so myself. Short
is chic! Radiation was even easier than chemo. I got a
pretty serious sunburn that I managed with lotions, and I
was a little tired. Interestingly, I was more tired after
radiation than before. But that too is finally going away.
Almost one year later, I feel like myself again. I will be on
hormone suppressing treatment for five years, but beyond
that, I consider the cancer to be behind me. Yippee!!!
I had many friends and associates comment to me during this about how they were inspired by my strength.
While I appreciate that, I think that we women are strong
by nature. Faced with the same circumstances, I am confident that you would each rise to the occasion. What is
important throughout is to make you the priority. For me,
that meant focusing on what I needed to do to beat the
cancer, including reducing stress in my life, eating better,
and getting exercise. But it also meant keeping myself
sane, so I kept working (part-time), I kept volunteering
(Board President for Grail Family Service, JLSJ Placement
Chair & Board member), and I made time for family and
friends. The incredible support that was offered by all of
my family and friends made a huge difference to me during this time, whether I took them up on their offers of
help or not. What mattered was that they were there. So,
I say “thank you” to Mom, Dad, Deb, Michele, Theresa,
Annette, Leslie, Tracy, Jamie, Aunt Dottie, Uncle John,
Martha, Dorothy, Wendy, Kim, Suzy, Cindy, Leah, Maria,
and countless others who sent cards, notes, emails, and
called. I hope that if someone you care for is touched by
this disease, you will reach out to offer your support too.
What can you do for yourself to help prevent breast
cancer? They say that we are all born with abnormal cells.
Our immune system works to kill these off. If we compromise our immune system, then we compromise our body’s
ability to kill off the cancer. Anything we do to keep our
immune system strong will help to prevent cancer from
developing. Live a healthy life—not too much stress, low fat
diet, eat your fruits and veggies, and get plenty of exercise.
What can you do to help yourself survive breast cancer?
Catch it early, pay attention to your body and its changes,
and go in for mammograms on a regular basis. Then, follow the treatment course that the doctors believe are best
for your circumstance. Not much more to it than that.
And remember; don’t assume it will be someone else who
is diagnosed. That was what I thought, until they said
those words, “You have breast cancer.” d
December Done-In-A-Day Events
FROM PAGE 1
FROM PAGE 1
and read-aloud strategies in a
fun, straightforward way. At
the end of the Training, each
family is given a free book.
The enthusiasm of the parents and the excitement as
the kids receive their books is the trainer’s reward.
nosed, I got a copy of Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book— a
must read for anyone interested in knowing more about
breast health (whether you’re facing a diagnosis directly or
not). I also picked up about 12 other books on treatments,
diet, exercise, etc... That’s just my nature. Here are a few
things that I learned that I think are important to share.
Eighty percent of women who find a lump or have
something unusual on a mammogram do not have a
malignant growth. Most lumps are fibrous tissue — just a
lumpy part of the fatty tissue in our breast. So don’t freak
out just because you feel something or they want to keep
an eye on your lumpy breasts. Most of the time, you are
just fine. But, do treat it seriously and have a professional
check it out. Most breast cancers develop in the ducts
(ductal carcinoma in situ — DCIS). Invasive DCIS is just
a scary word that means the cancer has moved out of the
ducts. Mine was “invasive,” but still early stage — Stage 1.
Each woman’s cancer is unique and may respond to
different treatments. Some cancers’ growth is stimulated
by hormones, so can be effectively treated with a hormone
suppressing therapy. Some cancers’ respond to herceptin
(a different therapy). Because of the prevalence of breast
disease, they’ve gotten really good at treating it. Ninety
percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Stage 1
will be cured. That is a huge success factor. So if you pay
attention, get screened, and detect it early, you have every
reason to be confident you will be cured of breast cancer.
The decision on surgical treatments is a very personal
one. I was fortunate to be a good candidate for a
lumpectomy (which automatically means you will also
undergo radiation treatment). That was right for me. I
have spoken to other women, who were far happier to
have a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Whether
it’s you or someone close to you who faces this difficult
decision, I hope you will understand and respect that the
best approach is get as much information as you can,
then listen to your gut and do what is right for you. At
least for me, this was the most emotional part of the
decision making.
Chemotherapies vary widely and are much dependent
on the size of the tumor, whether or not the cancer has
spread to lymph nodes, and the aggressiveness of the
tumor. (Mine was highly aggressive.) It can also vary based
on your age. My doctors wanted me to undergo chemo,
because I am “so young.” At 42, I have a good 40-50 years
left for a cancer to recur. So chemo improves my odds that
this won’t happen. If I were 20 or 30 years older, I might
not have benefited as much from chemo.
So what was it like? Not too bad, really. The breast
cancer itself didn’t make me feel sick. I felt a lump.
Nothing else. Surgery hurt. No kidding, huh? But I recovered quickly with the help of physical therapy. Chemo was
| 3
‘Well, why don’t you take a look around the Wonder
Cabinet and see what you can find,’ I suggested. ‘I’m too
old,’ he explained, unaware that older children are certainly
welcome if they are accompanied by age-appropriate siblings. Soon thereafter, Nicolai’s dad, Nicolai, and his two
younger siblings were excited to visit the Wonder Cabinet,
which they would not have done otherwise.
Cabinet, a FIRST 5 Early Learning
Laboratory, a child’s curiosity
becomes his compass as he eagerly
explores the mysteries tucked
within the many exhibits planned
throughout the space. The Junior
League of San Jose is proud to say that it was a visionary
partner at the inception of this space’s planning phases, and
who now commits 3-4 volunteers and over 6 hours weekly
inside the Wonder Cabinet to support and facilitate the
educational programs that occur there daily. In addition to
these on-site volunteer opportunities, JLSJ members further support the Wonder Cabinet through the Outreach
program, which seeks to increase visitation to the Museum
using a traveling exhibit called the Wonder Quilt.
Wonder Cabinet Facilitation Co-Chair Donna Butcher
engages families with children of all ages as she prepares
for the Kamishibai story-telling time
2
My Crazy Year
FROM PAGE 1
SPRING 2008
SPRING 2008
JLSJ & the Wonder Cabinet Connection
“I have really enjoyed the opportunity to
engage parents and educate them about the
importance of reading aloud to their children. As
a kindergarten teacher, I see first-hand, every day
the impact of parents reading to their kids. It’s
been great for me to get out in our community
and support local parents, and help them set up
their children for success in school,” said committee member Malea Mordaunt.
The First Teachers Training program is a great
way to impact families in our community, but
leading the Trainings has also made a real impact
on members of the BMAB Committee, like
Ashley Vinson. “Participating in the First Teachers
Program was an incredibly rewarding experience,
especially interacting with and helping parents
that are genuinely committed to ensuring that
their children are ready to read and learn to the
best of their abilities,” she said. That’s what the
Junior League of San Jose is all about — helping
women to make an impact on our community. d
the flair |
SPRING 2008
had been checked for
completeness, the
gifts were then wrapped. This was sometimes a challenge…
imagine trying to
wrap a skateboard
without having the
luxury of putting it
in a box first!
of the first
Gathering for a team photo at the end
Shop
Joy
Toy
y
Arm
ation
Salv
the
shift at
The Salvation Army
collects million of dollars in donations each year which provides Christmas dinners,
clothing, and toys for families in need. This event is another
League favorite as it is in a very intimate but organized
setting where members assist parents with toy selection
for their child(ren). Not only do members receive smiles
and thank you’s, but there are those hugs that take your
breath away.
Thank you to all of the members plus their friends
and families that volunteered. The Done-In-A-Day
Committee could not have done it without you! d
Twyla Hughes and
her son restock and
organize gifts at the
Salvation Army
Anne Naragon, Jessica Blu
nt, Tracy Nees, Stacy
Rosendin and Kristie Weyhe
enjoy a break while
working hard at the Salvat
ion Army
3
to Attend & Support VRL
A Year in the Making: Fashion Show 2008: In Vogue
By Monique Migdol, Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Co-Chair
By Ann-Marie Meacham, Shauna Garzee and Tiffani Hirahara-Marino, Fashion Show Co-Chairs
The Top Ten Reasons
the Provisional Holiday Party held in conjunction with the
Fashion Show Launch Party at Vardy’s.
Starting last fall, the Provisionals enthusiastically arrived
at gatherings with energy and excitement attending such
functions as “How to Survive A General Meeting,” their first
General Meeting and a tour of JLSJ Projects — InnVision’s
Georgia Travis Center and Children’s Discovery Museum.
The 2007-08 Provisionals have also shown patience
with the process. Since Recruiting went into October,
new members were always joining and being absorbed
into their class. Provisionals were finally divided into
Mentor Groups at the Mid-October Provisional Retreat
— which is where things really kicked into high gear! The
Provisionals learned about JLSJ, AJLI, chatted, ate, heard
about Fashion Show, Fundraising, Projects, chatted, heard
guest speakers, forgot names and still kept chatting —
oops, I mean “Making the Connection” and this continued
until noon the next day. All of this learning and fun took
place at the Toll House in Los Gatos.
After the Provisionals’ heads stopped spinning, they
geared up with no problem and prepared for their first
Provisional Project — Sunday Friend’s Halloween Event at
the end of October. The Provisional Class collected over 150
Halloween costumes, assembled over 400 Halloween Potions,
decorated posters, brought food and worked the event. Days
following the event Sunday Friends was still buzzing about
the Provisionals of the Junior League of San Jose.
For November and December, the focus was on trainings
and, of course, more “connecting” within each Mentor Group
through group socials and for the whole Provisional Class at
2007-08 Provisionals work their magic at the Sunday
Friends Halloween Event: (l-r) Tasha McDonald,
Asami Salsbery, Christine Fitzpatrick, Ha Thai,
Kellie Kemp, Jennifer Gima, and Myrna Robles
So, if you see some women you don’t know smiling
and having a good time, odds are they’re Provisionals.
Please introduce yourself to one of our amazing
Provisionals and “Make the Connection.” ■
The Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Committee
1. We have over 135 nominees who are Making an Impact in our community!
2. Celebrities Lisa Kim of NBC11 will be the emcee!
3. As a hostess, you will enjoy Making the Connection with amazing people from other organizations!
4. You will learn more about other non-profits at
our brand new Agency Faire!
5. Our Crystal Bowl Award Winners are always
inspirational!
6. Hmm, chicken or vegetarian? The food is great!
7. It’s a bargain at only $30 a ticket, thanks to
JLSJ sponsorship and generous support from
the community!
8. Complimentary parking will be available.
9. It’s always fun to attend a luncheon…and a
great excuse for a new spring dress!
10. We need another fun event since Fashion Show will have been over for two months! ■
Shoe Sale!
By Marcia Riedel, Endowment Fund Advisory Board Marketing Director
Hmmm…now that I have your attention…
We need you to help us fill our shoes.
Our March to a Million Campaign’s goal is to raise
$100,000 with $100% participation from all Actives
and Sustainers in the 2007-08 year. To date, we have
raised $25,978 and our current Endowment Fund balance is at $779,138.
We are giving you a blank check: please take a
moment and fill in the amount you wish to donate. No
amount is too small, or, for that matter, too large.
The Endowment Fund helps us plan for tomorrow
and strengthen the long term financial stability of our
League. Your tax deductible contribution will continue
to financially strengthen the League, which will, in
turn, ensure continuous assistance with the growing
needs of our community.
By Mari Ellen Reynolds, Membership VP
Q: How did you feel about the opportunity to go
to ODI?
Suzanne — The opportunity to attend ODI was invaluable! I learned so much in such a short time. It was almost
exhausting.
Mari Ellen — It was a pretty intense few days. I felt so
lucky to be selected. I have wanted to go for years, but it
never came together for me.
Robyn — It was great to see what delegates before us had
brought back and all the changes they made as a result.
Emily — How amazing to see all the Junior Leagues! I
really got to know other women in the Junior League and
to learn about the Junior League through their eyes.
Q: This year ODI trained through tracks focused
on community programs, fundraising and membership. Share something you learned.
Robyn — It is important for us to remain focused on the
League’s mission and how the work we do through our
projects is based on the mission. We are not defined by our
projects, but by what they accomplish. We need to celebrate our successes!
Suzanne — Fundraising is a means to an end, not vice
versa. All areas, including fund development, need to work
4
the flair |
SPRING 2008
(l-r) Mari Ellen Reynolds, Suzanne Little, Robyn
Klitgaard, Emily Bradford, and Marsha Locicero
together to create an impact in our community. I appreciate
all of our sponsors who help us fulfill our mission and
remain a strong community organization.
Marsha — Helping members and potential members
understand what JLSJ can achieve in the community and
their role and rewards as a member are critical. Committed
members who are passionate about our mission will build a
better community.
Mari Ellen — JLSJ is very advanced in so much of its work
with the community and its members. But there are always
new ideas and opportunities to better serve both groups.
Q: What do you feel is the most important thing
you learned?
Emily — After ODI, I see myself as part of the larger community in Silicon Valley because of the work that we do
through the Junior League. It has expanded my vision to see
our impact. As someone who has only recently moved here,
JLSJ is a great way to connect. We need to tie the mission
to each of the various aspects of the League’s work— pro-
Of course, it wasn’t all hard work. As Co-Chairs, we had
the honor and privilege of not only working closely with over
50 amazing women on the Fashion Show Steering Committee,
but also developing sponsor relationships, mingling with
guests at the first-ever Launch Party, and selecting the scrumptious food for the Luncheon and Gala Dinner. Did I mention
that Tiffany and Co. loaned the Co-Chairs, our President,
and the stunning models jewels to wear on the runway?
Our Sustaining Advisors helped us
celebrate and honor our generous supporters at a cocktail reception this past
October, hosted at the beautiful home
of Margaret and Kapil Nanda. The
agenda for the evening included an
Dianne van Voorhis and informative presentation by our
Margaret Nanda at the
Wonder Cabinet Overall Chair,
Sponsor Reception
Heather DeMarinis, who also showcased the beautiful ‘Wonder Quilt’
plus Brian Neel, Director of
Tiffany & Co., eloquently
spoke about the Junior League’s
long-standing relationship
with Tiffany & Co. — dating
back almost 100 years with the
New York League.
The fun continued with a
festive Launch Party in
December. The event was graciously hosted by Vardy’s
Jewelers in Cupertino, a longterm League supporter, and
Tahitian pearl necklace which
Dinner. Guests at the party enjoyed
delectable treats donated by The Party
Helpers, wine donated by Andy Smith
of The Wine Group, and fabulous door
prizes. Michelle Gaspar was the lucky
winner of two Gala Dinner tickets and
Venita Atwal took home the big prize:
a $500 gift certificate to Vardy’s!
Shauna Garzee, Ann-Marie Meacham,
Dawn Bussey, Jill Sandal and Tiffani
Hirahara-Marino with Director of
Catering George Patten and Sous Chef
Miguel Garcia at the Fairmont.
Fanya Hull and
Christine Waldick
A true highlight of the
year, was selecting the
gourmet fare for the luncheon and dinner. Our
taste buds were tantalized
as we sampled several
courses to determine just
what would strike the right
balance of cutting edge
cuisine and artful presentation. We hope everyone
enjoyed the food as much
as we did!
What an amazing
experience we have had
on the road to In Vogue.
It is important to
remember that the path to
the
Fa s h i o n
Fashion Show Co-Chairs AnnShow was
about the Marie Meacham, Shauna Garzee,
and Tiffani Hirahara-Marino
j o u r n e y,
not just the
destination. We learned more about ourselves
and each other, our commitment to serving
the community, and the importance of relationships. At the end of this whirlwind, when
it was all said it done, the crowning achieveGroup photo at the Sponsor Reception
ment wasn’t the event itself. It is the hundreds
of children we impact with the revenue we
donor of the luminescent
derive from this very special event…a year in the making. ■
was raffled off at the Gala
With your help, we can, make it happen! ■
JLSJ’s Red Couch Review: 2007 Organizational Development Institute
Every year the Junior League of San Jose selects a few delegates through a nominating process to attend the Association
of Junior Leagues International’s Organizational Development
Institute (ODI). This year’s conference was held in Anaheim
from November 9-11, 2007 and attended by the following
delegates: Robyn Klitgaard, Emily Bradford, Marsha Locicero,
Suzanne Little and Mari Ellen Reynolds. The ladies sat down to
reflect on the experience and share lessons learned at ODI.
A thousand decisions and details went into the development of the event that welcomed over 1300 guests, showcased 78 beautiful models wearing the latest spring fashions
and raised necessary funds to continue the important work
the League does in the community: preparing children to
enter elementary school ready to learn and thrive.
moting voluntarism, developing women’s potential and
improving our community through trained volunteers is
essential to all that we do.
Marsha — ODI is about change— personal and organizational. I respect so many of the amazing members in our
League and it’s a thrill to work with them. I enjoy that when
you work with women in JLSJ, you are working with
women who are accomplished in many fields. I’ve learned
so much from them and their success.
Suzanne — Learning what the League’s mission means is
essential for all members. The mission statement creates
the foundation for everything.
Robyn — Our mission is a journey not a statement.
Being a part of Junior League makes you a part of changing the world.
Emily — We impact the now, but also the future. Our
current work with children and their caregivers is impacting the class of 2019.
Q What advice would you give to other League
members?
Emily & Robyn—Submit! ODI was a fantastic experience.
Marsha — I wish more women knew about the opportunity.
Mari Ellen — Submit! I loved laughing with my new ODI
friends. Not only did we learn a great deal to share with our
League and to help benefit our community, but I also made
some new friends that I’ll cherish for years. Plus, you never
know when you’ll meet a tall dark stranger on a plane… ■
Editor’s Note: The League wishes Mari Ellen and her fiancé
Joost, whom she met on the plane to ODI, Best Wishes as they
take their vows on April 11th.
thank you!
It’s hard to believe the 2007-08 Junior League of San Jose
Provisional Class began their Provisional Training in August,
as this outgoing and motivated group of 46 members have
naturally stepped into volunteering and getting to know
JLSJ. This Provisional class has already displayed a matchless
dedication, close friendships and willingness to jump in.
What a year it has been! Planning began oh so early for
Fashion Show 2008. The three of us were off and running
after the announcement of our selection at the January
General Meeting.
Media Sponsors
San Jose Magazine
NBC 11
KBAY/KEZR
Show Producer
Red Communications & Events
thank you!
| 5
Provisional-to-be Stacy Colman, Provisionals Jennifer Field,
Lauren Troy and Asami Salsbery with Membership Co-Chair
Katherine Kinney-Oswald at the Fashion Show Launch Party
In 2008, the 2007-08 Provisional Class will continue
to impress with two more Provisional Projects (January
with DIAD and Spring-TBD), helping out with and at
the Fashion Show and asking great questions at ongoing
trainings and meetings. Already, some of them have captured a few corporate sponsorships for Fashion Show.
And, these great ladies have also been a major player in
getting advertisers for Fashion Show.
SPRING 2008
By Mitzi Golden and Katherine Kinney-Oswald, Membership Co-Chairs
SPRING 2008
| 4
Making The Connection with the 2007-08 Provisional Class
We would like to thank
our gracious Sponsors
for their generous support:
Platinum
Farrington Historical Foundation
Jerry Glembocki & Juliette Davis
Lancôme|The Boutique in Valley Fair Mall
Gold
Ernst & Young
Fertility Physicians of Northern California
Good Samaritan Hospital
Margaret and Kapil Nanda
PRx Inc.
Santana Row
Vardy’s Jewelers
Washington Mutual Home Loans
Silver
Accountemps
Blu Cocoon Med Spa
Burke Williams Spa
Carol Burnett, Alain Pinel Realtors
Shauna & Bob Garzee
Heritage Bank of Commerce
JLSJ Board of Directors
JLSJ Fashion Show Co-Chairs: Ann-Marie Meacham,
Shauna Garzee and Tiffani Hirahara-Marino
Katherine Kinney-Oswald, Allstate Insurance
KPMG LLP
Lance Lew, NBC11
Pahl & McCay
Russell-Warner Inc.
Bronze
Stephanie Bielanski-Fehr
Bill and Dawn Bussey
Couture by Azadeh
Steve and Lola Cox
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Galasso
Graebel Company, Inc.
Hitachi Data Systems
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
The Party Helpers
Mari Ellen Reynolds
Linda and Peter Schmidt
Signature Images by Lori Rose
Technology Credit Union
Alex J. Teodoro, LPL Financial Services
Wells Fargo Foundation
Retail Partners
Couture by Azadeh
Atelier, an Aveda Salon|Spa|Studio
Anne Fontaine
Brooks Brothers
Cache
Cole Haan
Eli Thomas
Macy’s
MaxMara
Tiffany & Co.
League Office Remodel Complete!
MEMBERS’ DESK AREA
By Cheryl Caligaris, Office Remodel Chair and Kids In The Kitchen Chair
OFFICE AREA
Before
After
PRINTER AREA
Before
After
After months of planning, bidding, and construction, we are pleased to announce that
the office remodel is complete! With the help of the Farrington Historical Foundation,
we have successfully turned the Junior League of San Jose office into a high tech functional work space for both the office manager and our members.
We expect to come in at approximately $30,000.00 under the approved budget! Our
vendors have really worked hard to keep costs down, as well as give exceptional service.
Please stop in and check it out! ■
the flair |
Before
SPRING 2008
After
5
| 6
SPRING 2008
SPRING 2008
Spotlight on the Strategic Plan
By Becky Manchester-Aidlberg, Strategic Planning Chair
|
Part Three: Community Impact
Photo courtesy of Hospice of the Valley
2005-08 JLSJ Strategic Plan Objectives
1. To create an environment devoted to enhancing the experience of volunteering.
2. To maintain, improve, and continuously adopt best practices that support a training
program that leads to "lifetime" membership and community leadership.
3. To increase visibility and enhance branding for the Junior League of San Jose in our
community and beyond.
4. To forecast and raise enough annual revenue to fund our commitments.
5. To accomplish transformational impact in our community through execution of thoughtfully
developed projects and programs that support our Mission and Community Program.
6. To foster enduring, supportive relationships and partnership networks in our community and beyond.
In part three of our four part series on the Strategic Plan, we investigate the League’s effectiveness in
the area of community impact. The current wording of our community impact strategic objective
presses us to make “transformational impact” in the community. In the summer of 2007, as the Board
and League leaders created their annual plans for the 2007-08, the word “transformational” loomed
large. Could we achieve transformation in one year? Is transformation even a realistic goal?
To “transform” strictly defined is: to change something in
form, appearance, nature, or character. We often talk about
tossing a stone in a pond and creating a ripple effect, but making transformational impact would be like tossing a stone in
the water and changing the entire landscape of the pond.
It was a true community effort. Some of the project’s
original team members included Roy Strassburger, pastor
at Saint Andrews Church in Saratoga, the late Helen
Hansen of Catholic Social Services, Molly Ording, Grace
Parker and the late Dr. Robert Reid.
Lofty ambition
Enter the Junior League of San Jose
In this League year, as our Community Program
Committee is researching the possibilities for our next
signature project, we find ourselves being introspective
about the quality, nature and scope of the work our League
does in the community: What most engages our members?
What does Junior League have to give that’s unique to us?
How can we best effect change? How much/or little
should we aim to accomplish?
Over thirty years ago, League members were asking
those same questions and their answer came in the form of
a serendipitous project named “Project Journey.” This is the
story of how one League project helped to create transformational impact in our community, changing the way we
live and die in the Valley.
Living With Dying
Before the 1970s, Bay Area cancer patients facing a terminal diagnosis had few choices. Physicians were in control
of where and how a patient faced his or her final days.
Patients almost always awaited death in a hospital bed, away
from the familiar faces and surroundings of home.
Jennie Magid experienced this first hand. She lost both
of her parents to cancer. Then, in April of 1975, she stood
by her physician husband as he was diagnosed with lung
cancer, endured multiple surgeries and finally, passed away
from the disease. George Joseph Magid, MD, left behind
Jennie and their three children. It was a traumatic time for
the family; intensified by the fact that none of the family
got to say “good bye” on that final morning of his life.
“There was a ‘life raft of people’ sustaining me, but I saw
families around me who didn’t have this same support,”
remembers Jennie. “The loss of my husband was devastating, but I didn’t want to become bitter. I knew this was a
new chapter of my life and that I had to put my efforts into
something positive.”
That “something positive” became known in its infancy
as “Project Journey” and consisted of a group of Jennie’s
friends and neighbors who knew that there was a better way
to help the living with dying, and the dying with living.
They dreamed of a high quality, interdisciplinary team
approach to palliative end-of-life care, including medical,
social, psychological, spiritual, volunteer, and grief support
for dying patients and their loved ones.
6
the flair |
SPRING 2008
Junior Leaguer Gay Crawford was diagnosed with breast
cancer in 1974, when she was barely thirty years old and
the mother of two toddlers. Compelled to help other
women facing the same diagnosis, Gay joined the American
Cancer Society’s “Reach to Recovery” effort to extend comfort, information and resources to women, in their homes,
who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She devoted
significant volunteer hours acting as the nurse liaison,
training volunteers and getting patient referrals from 14
different hospitals.
Jennie heard about Gay’s work with the American
Cancer Society and approached Gay about the idea of
joining the movement to start a “Hospice” here in Santa
Clara County. “Then, hospice was just a concept,”
remembers Gay. “People didn’t even know the meaning of
the word or confused it with ‘hostel’.” There were only
two hospices in the country at that time, one in Connecticut
and one in Marin. “I could not have been more excited
about the idea. I had already seen several people I counseled lose their battle to breast cancer. Their deaths were
sad and lonely, often in a hospital. I too thought there had
to be a better way.”
Both Gay and Jennie knew that the Junior League of
San Jose was the right partner for Project Journey. “I knew
that Junior Leaguers were top-notch,” recalls Jennie. “They
were organizers and a force in the community.” Perhaps
the League could provide an organizational structure to
this movement; seed the project with some start-up funds,
and help with fundraising and public relations, thought
Gay and Jennie.
But would the League membership be as convinced?
And could the hospice movement change the way people
approached the process of dying? There were many
obstacles ahead.
Making the Case
Some of the League’s most impactful projects have
encountered stumbling blocks on the road to acceptance.
Hospice was one.
Suzanne Christensen was a first year Active and a member of the League’s Public Affairs committee at the time.
“Death was a scary subject with no happy endings,” says
Suzanne. It was too heavy a subject, thought some.
In the summer of 2007, Hospice founders Gay Crawford
and Jennie Magid present an engraved stone for Hospice of
the Valley’s Founder’s Garden.
Members wouldn’t want to volunteer, thought others. And
in terms of community impact, if we couldn’t reverse the
death sentence, then what impact were we really making
in our community? The Project Journey team with Gay
Crawford at the helm would have to convince League
members that they could help families through the process
of the death of a loved one and that this assistance would
benefit the overall quality of life in the community.
Writing a Junior League project proposal was an arduous task in those days. Gay, the project sponsor, rewrote
the proposal four times (this in the days of no cut and
paste capability!) She had to get approval from four different committees before bringing it to the membership.
Every committee had a different idea about how the project should look. Then, she made three different presentations at General Meetings to build awareness about the
hospice movement. Public Affairs committee member,
Suzanne Christensen, wrote a position paper researching
the history of the hospice movement. Many other Junior
Leaguers helped advocate on behalf of the project along
the way, including past JLSJ President, Ann Danner.
In the end, the year-long educational campaign compelled the membership to vote “aye.” Not only did the
membership agree to provide Project Journey with an
$18,000 two-year start-up grant, but 22 Junior Leaguers
signed up to volunteer for the project—12 more than the
required 10 for passage.
Paradigm Shift
We take as a given the end-of-life options we have today,
but remember, when the League became involved with
Project Journey (now known as Hospice of the Valley) in
the late 70s, the hospice concept was controversial.
Was it providing the best medical treatment to allow
someone to die at home? Furthermore, the term “pain
management,” simply didn’t exist in those days. “Some
people were likening palliative care to euthanasia,” remembers Suzanne.
By 1980, now project chair, Gay Crawford was overseeing a team of 31 League volunteers. Besides offering
financial assistance, office support, and patient care volunteers, Junior Leaguers were determined to help raise
community awareness about the hospice concept and
about Hospice of the Valley. The League sponsored public
education forums, organized a speaker’s bureau, and put
out four Hospice of the Valley newsletters a year. Over
time, hospice became more widely understood and
accepted, thanks in part to the Junior League of San Jose’s
public relations efforts.
a constant is that Hospice of the Valley provides equitable access to care for all patients and families —
regardless of their financial ability.
Hospice & the Valley
have come a long way.
Thank You
Gay and Jennie!
JLSJ continues to support Hospice of the Valley and
has donated nearly $37,000 since their initial grant in
1980. Also, Junior Leaguers continue to hear about
Hospice of the Valley through the League and get
involved. Molly Rhine heard about Hospice of the
Valley at a General Meeting and is now a Hospice of
the Valley Volunteer Ambassador promoting the organization’s mission to affirm dignity, hope, and comfort
for those facing a life-limiting illness by providing
compassionate palliative, hospice, and grief care to the
community. In the past year, seven JLSJ volunteers
provided their services at the organization’s annual
Western Gala fundraiser.
What’s Next
What made the League a successful partner in the
Hospice of the Valley project was that there was a wellresearched community need, a passion for the service
we were providing, and meaningful ways for Junior
Leaguers to be involved with the project. There was
the room and the will to make an impact.
As we look toward the future
of Junior League, and wonder
how we might be of service to
the children of our Valley through
a signature project, let’s dream
big. The history of our League
holds many examples of how our
passion, ideas, dollars and volunteer power have created a “transformational impact” in the community. Transformation isn’t
easy, but we can do it. ■
7
Finance Vice President’s Report
Junior League of San Jose
Cash & Investments
December 31, 2007
Cash Accounts
Cash/Money Accounts
Short-term Investments
119,898.
56,380
807,623
Total General Fund
$983,901.
Cash/Money Accounts
Mutual Funds
Short-term Investments
Long-term Investments
3,906
564,897.
74,835.
135,501.
Total Endowment Fund
$779,139.
Total Cash & Investments
$1,763,040.
Finance Vice President’s Report
2007-08
Junior League of San Jose
Profit & Loss vs. Budget
as of December 31, 2007
Total Revenue/
Sources of Funds
Actual
Budget
Remaining
232,381.
359,095.
(126,714)
Board Expenditures
42,158. Membership Council
12,654.
Community Projects Council 20,638.
Community Outreach Council 20,223. Communications Council
15,562.
Finance & Development Council 1,354.
Operating Expenses
43,604.
2007 Office Remodel & 43,810.
Copier Purchase
65,631.
32,056.
71,920.
78,705.
25,138.
5,070.
152,315.
80,000.
23,473.
19,402
51,282.
58,482
9,576
3,716.
108,711.
36,190.
Total Expenses/
Uses of Funds
200,003.
510,835.
310,832.
32,378
(151,740)
184,118.
Revenue in Excess of (Deficit Over) Expenses
(son) William Charles Bach ‘Charlie’
Born September 23, 2007
5 lbs, 11 oz and 19.5 inches long
with extremely long eyelashes!
Congratulations to proud parents Bill & Lisa Bach
(son) Alex Morton
Born October 26, 2007, at 2:36 p.m.
8.8 lbs. and 20 inches
Congratulations to happy parents Claudia & Dave Morton
and sister Danielle (2)
(daughter) Keira Kathleen Chauvin
Born November 2, 2007, at 3:18 pm
6 lbs, 5 oz and 20.5 inches
Congratulations to proud parents Mark & Amy Chauvin
(son) Nicholas Alexander Sifferman
Born on November 6, 2007, at noon
7 lbs, 10 oz and 20 inches long
Congratulations to happy parents
Steve & Leslie Sifferman,
brother Gregory (5) and sister Stephanie (3)
For more information about the
process of selecting JLSJ’s next
signature project, please contact
Community Program Chair
Dorcas Kelley.
For more information about the
creation of the 2008-2011
Strategic Plan, contact Strategic
Planning Chair Becky
Manchester-Aidlberg.
For more information about
Hospice of the Valley, visit
www.hospicevalley.org
(son) Asher Remington Kemp
Born November 13, 2007
8 lbs, 2 oz and 20 inches long
Congratulations to proud parents Kellie & Alson Kemp
In those first few years, Hospice of the Valley served
about five patients a month, with a modest budget, staff
of three and about 20 JLSJ volunteers, under the
umbrella of Catholic Social Services. Today, under the
leadership of CEO Sally Adelus, Hospice of the Valley is
renowned as a leading provider and educator of end-oflife care and grief care and is the first community-based
not-for-profit hospice serving Santa Clara County.
Hospice of the Valley has an operating budget of $8.2
million dollars, 97 employees and 120 volunteers, is
housed in a stand-alone office building and has provided
compassionate end-of-life care and grief support to over
25,000 people since 1979. One thing that has remained
(daughter) Madison Kaila Bayuga
Born October 29, 2007
Congratulations to happy parents
Melinda Waller & Donovan Bayuga
who welcomed her into their family on February 1st!
the flair |
SPRING 2008
7
NEWS FROM OUR SUS TAINERS
Wonderful Time of the Year!
By Molly Fezell, Sustaining Advisor to the Board
By Robin Pendergraft and Kristie Driscoll, Sustainer Holiday Party Co-Chairs
The 2007 Sustainer Holiday Party this year was held at
active member Juliette Davis and Jerry Glembocki’s home
in Los Gatos. Their home was the perfect setting for a
beautiful evening to celebrate the season and Mother
Nature shined on our event so all could enjoy the incredible view of San Jose. Juliette and Jerry generously donated
a specialty drink of the evening that guests were greeted
with on arrival. The West Valley College Choir
sang Christmas carols as guests meandered
through their lovely home, beautifully decorated
to ring in the holidays.
Oaxacan Foods catered the event for 130
Sustaining and Active Gold members. There
were sumptuous appetizers made to order hot
off the comal — from empanadas and quesadillas to memelas, all filled with fresh ingredients
and homemade sauces. Following was dinner
consisting of grilled salmon with a wonderful
Moroccan glaze, roasted lamb lollipops, roasted
cauliflower with capers and a sweet
Spanish red chili, as well as
grilled chicken with peanut
sauce and fresh salad. Guests
after dinner either found
themselves sipping endless
champagne or made their way
to the wine filled cellar tasting
some of Jerry’s fine red wine and
enjoying Joseph Schmidt chocolate truffles.
5
2
3
1
4
7
Before the evening came to a
close, Santa Claus made a special
visit and took all the “wish lists” of the hopeful ladies.
Michelle Martin and Out of the Envelope in Los Gatos
helped “get the party started” with Michelle’s generous
donation of the beautiful invitations to the party.
6
It was a wonderful evening and so appreciated by all. d
8
9
Shari Mullen is our former JLSJ Office Manager
and was made an honorary sustaining member
in 2007. Shari jumped
right in to her role as a
Sustainer and is advising
both the Bring Me A Book committee
and our Member-At-Large. Shari is Past
President of the Environmental Volunteers
Board and continues to serve as their
Board Secretary.
Annie Cavallero went
sustaining, re-activated
and went sustaining
again in 2000! Back in
the day, there was no
Platinum
Sustainer
membership option for
sustainers. Today, Platinum Sustainers
are allowed to serve on or chair active
committees without having to fulfill the
other requirements of active membership. When the League was looking for
someone to chair the Nominating
Committee, Annie was approached as a
Sustainer and chose to re-activate in
order to take on the job. Annie went on
to serve as Admin VP and in other leadership roles before she finally sustained
again in 2000. Annie currently serves on
the Pat Gustke Award Committee.
Joanne Johnson Felt
10
11
12
14
13
15
17
16
is a Past President who
went sustaining in
2004. Joanne currently
serves on the Pat Gustke
and Sustainer Spring
Dinner committees and
is Member-At-Large on the AJLI Board
of Directors. Joanne is a Board member
of RAFT, and sits on the Association of
Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Board
serving as the Government Relations
Advocacy Chair — way to put your
League SPAC experience to good use!
Joanne was first exposed to AFP while
attending their monthly meetings as a
representative of JLSJ. This exposure to
the world of fundraising opened a new
door for Joanne and resulted in a career
change for her from teaching to professional fundraising!
| 9
Martha Lazarakis was a
new sustainer in 2007
and is currently sustaining advisor for the
Volunteer Recognition
Luncheon. Martha is
putting
her
Past
President skills to use as Vice Chair of the
Notre Dame High School Board and
Business Chair for the 2008 Bellarmine
Fashion Show. Martha also tutors once a
week at Willow Glen High School.
SPRING 2008
SPRING 2008
| 8
It’s the Most
Carol Mascali is another busy
Past President. Carol serves as
sustaining advisor to the Fund
Development committee. Carol
resides in Danville and is very
active in her children’s school,
Golden View Elementary. Carol
serves as President of the School Site Council,
President of the School Education Fund,
Co-Chair of the School Auction, sits on the
Executive Board of the San Ramon Valley
Council of PTAs and is a Girl Scout Leader.
Carol and her two girls also volunteer once a
month with InnVision, serving food to the
homeless. Carol’s love for voluntarism was
quickly instilled in her 2nd and 5th grade
daughters. They founded their own charity in
2007 called Packs with Love. Carol helps coordinate her daughters’ philanthropic activities. In
their first year they provided 240 donated backpacks and school supplies to homeless children
attending school in the Richmond School
District. Way to pass it on Carol! Carol thanks
God for her JLSJ experience in every volunteer
job she takes on. Carol states “my JLSJ training
has lowered my learning curve.”
Karen McCay has been sus-
taining for three years. She is
sustaining advisor to the
Project Review Board. Karen
is the President Elect for
Housing Industry Foundation,
an organization dedicated to
preventing homelessness. Karen also serves on
the Board of Directors of the San Jose Chamber
of Commerce and teaches Sunday school at
Queen of Apostles Church.
Mary Danna - sometimes it is
difficult to remember that this
Past President is actually a
Sustainer! Mary has been
involved with the League in
multiple ways each year.
Currently Mary serves as the
sustaining advisor to the Membership
Committee and was recently announced as our
Sustainer Co-Chair for the new Trivia Challenge
Committee! Mary serves on the Golf Fundraiser
Committee for JW House, as Alumni Advisor
to the Bellarmine Fashion Show Committee,
and serves on the Alumni Mothers Extended
Network (AMEN) Board at Bellarmine High
School.
Cindy Bullock went sustaining in 2004. Cindy is the chair
of the Pat Gustke Award
Committee for JLSJ and the
immediate Past President of
the Schallenberger HomeSchool Association.
1) House hosts Juliette Davis and Jerry Glembocki
2) West Valley College Choir singing Christmas carols
3) Sustainer Holiday Party Co-Chairs Robin Pendergraft and Kristie Driscoll with Santa Claus
4) Barbara Bocks, Leslie Sachs, Marilyn Reid, Jan Hoover and Jocelyn Penner
5) Kathy Carlquist, Gayle Leondardelli, Robin Pendergraft, Machell Clark and Pam Killion
6) Denise Lukas, Cheri LeRoy, President Dawn Bussey and Kristina Kolstad
7) Dianne Van Voorhis, Mary Jane Reiter, Kristi Hernandez and Marion Lyon
8) Monica Yoder, Jennifer Krach and Marcia Riedel
9) Carolyn McCoid and Betty Kirtland
10) Katy McCollum, Marcia Riedel, Cindy Bullock, Tricia Niederauer, Carolyn McCoid,
Heidi Rehbock and Betty Kirtland with Santa Claus
11) Mary Kay Marvin and Joanne Rodgers
Sustainer
Spring Dinner
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
La Rinconada Country Club
Come Celebrate the
2008 Pat Gustke
Award Winner
12) Lani Frisch, Marion Lyon and Carolyn Lettween
and Participate in the first ever
13) Jamie Gold, Taryn Sanford and Marcie Soderquist
Sustainer
Trivia Challenge Game!
14) Mary Jane Reiter, President-Elect Lisa Hague, Heidi Rehbock and Leslie Perez
15) Sustaining Advisors to the Board Vicki Mason, Kathryn Sager and Molly Fezell
16) Bartenders Jim Kenny, John Cupples, David Hague and Jerry Glembocki
17) Claudia Bowen-Campbell, Donna Beaupre, Julie Robson and Liz Crites
8
E
SAV
E
DAT
THE
the flair |
SPRING 2008
Be on the look-out for an invitation
arriving in your mailbox in April.
Thank you to BEA Systems, Inc!
Sustainers
Sustainers, we invite you to share
your news with the membership to
be published in future issues of
The Flair. Let us know what you are
up to, share a fond memory of the
League and/or how your League
experiences have helped you in your
professional and volunteer work.
Please send an email to Molly Fezell
at [email protected]. We
look forward to hearing from you.
On November 8, 2007, BEA Systems, with the
leadership help of Sustainer Vicki Mason, held an
employee Bowl-A-Thon to benefit JLSJ!
Over 70 employees participated in this competitive and fun event, which also included a raffle with
great prizes.
Thank you to Vicki for working with BEA to
bring together this creative mini-fundraiser and to
your Sustainer volunteer assistants: Louise Pahl,
Molly Fezell and Tina Pidwell.
BEA donated $5,000 to JLSJ’s Endowment Fund
in appreciation of Vicki’s event management and leadership skills — plus we raised
another $360 in raffle sales! Congratulations Vicki! d
If you and your company would be interested
in a similar mini-fundraiser for JLSJ, please contact Jill Sandal.
the flair |
SPRING 2008
For All of Your Real Estate Needs,
Contact Lorraine and Suzanne!
Contact Lorraine & Suzanne for a free market analysis.
Let us assist you in obtaining top dollar for your home
or assist you in finding the perfect new home.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Suzanne Boeggeman, J.D.
Lorraine Boeggeman
Realtor, Coldwell Banker
Mobile: 408-234-3600
[email protected]
www.camoves.com/suzanne.boeggeman
JLSJ Active Member since 2000
International President’s Premier
Ranked in Top 1% Nationwide
Ranked Top 5% Coldwell Banker NorCal
Mobile: (408) 499-3700
[email protected]
Lorraine and Suzanne rank in the Top 3%
of the #1 producing Coldwell Banker office in Northern California,
comprised of approximately 190+ agents. 9
Dear Ms. MRA,
Looking out for you,
Ms. MRA
Other League requirements are:
Dear Ms. MRA,
How does the P lacement process work? What
can I expect at the April General Meeting and
P lacement Faire?
Regards,
Eager for Next Year
The Placement process starts with you downloading
the new Self-Submission Form from our website,
more than 2, Silver status can miss 3) and
Committee Meetings (only miss 2);
b) 3 hours of Community Support;
c) attendance at Trainings (1 training 1 new
active training for Actives of 3 years or less,
1 training for Actives 4+ and Silver); and
d) a minimum of 2 Placement Interviews
(members in the League 3 years or less,
must be in person with MRA).
If you still need Community Support hours, please
sign up for an upcoming event with Wonder Cabinet
Outreach (Aparna Shute and Fletcher Lynch), DIAD
(Angie Paulson and Julie Paulsen), or sign-up to
shadow Wonder Cabinet Facilitation (Donna Butcher
and Kristine Jakovcevic).
If you still need to attend a Training, sign up for
either the After the League training on April 17th or
the first annual All League Overnight Retreat on May
16th and 17th.
For positions selected by the incoming Executive
Committee, email the completed Form B (and C) to
Nominating Chair Anne Naragon. The incoming
Executive Committee will call you after Slating Day,
March 15th, to let you know if you have been selected.
Then come to the Placement Faire at the April
Dear Eager,
a) attendance at General Meetings (don’t miss
Note that the deadline for competency based Board and
Special Positions has already passed.
Make your top 5 selections, ranking your choices
across all forms. Be sure to fill out the Skills Assessment
to help the selection teams to evaluate your skills,
competencies and experiences.
Dear Concerned Dottie,
You have brought up such a great question and your
timing could not be more perfect because there’s an
important requirement that has just passed. Your Fashion
Show requirements should already be met. If you aren’t
sure of your status, contact the Fashion Show personnel
team — Tracy Donati or Robyn Klitgaard for Actives or
Christine Stephens for Provisionals.
Committee & Individual Contributor Positions
Fundraiser & VRL Steering Committee Positions
| 11
If you find yourself concerned that you haven’t or
won’t be able to meet one of the requirements, contact me and let’s chat about it. I can advise and assist
you to ensure that you are in good standing by the
end of the League year.
Time sure does fly…the League year is half over!
What requirements am I supposed to be meeting
currently in the League so that I don’t find
myself out of compliance at the end of the year?
Introducing:
April 25, 2008 — Form C (Selected by the
Placement Committee)
Also, don’t forget to pay your dues by May 1st.
www.jlsj.org, in the Nominating Forum. Whether
you are interested in a position slated by the
Nominating Committee, the 2008-09 Executive
Committee or by the Placement Committee, you will
use the same form. Look at the job descriptions (also
available on the website) to understand the responsibilities and time commitment for the positions that
you are interested in. You can get further information
about placement opportunities by contacting the
current chairs, committee members or position holders. Also, make sure you schedule your Spring
Placement Interview before the submission deadline of the position(s) you are interested in.
Make a note of the upcoming submission deadlines:
March 10, 2008 — Form B (Slated by the
incoming Executive Committee)
Chair & Other Special Positions
General Meeting. If you were selected as a new committee chair, this will be your opportunity to interest
and educate members in your committee. For all
members, the Placement Faire is a great opportunity
to meet committee chairs, socialize with other members and gather information about placement opportunities for next year.
Placement will do everything possible to assign members to their committee of first choice; however, this
may not always be possible. If not, Placement looks at
your interests, skills and the needs of the League to
place you in a committee or position.
Submissions on Form C only may be submitted directly
to Placement Chair Diana Gilbert. You may update your
application prior to any deadline. Positions filled by
Placement will be posted on the website and announced
through the Flair Online or an e-blast in late May.
Can’t Wait to Chat with You,
Ms. MRA
…women building better communities
JLSJ Dues News
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Sally Junior Leaguer: “I recall back in January we voted and passed a Motion about our
Dues, but I don’t remember all of the particulars…So I have a few questions:”
Q: So when are the JLSJ Sustainers, Actives and Provisionals paying their dues again?
A: Sustainer dues are now due April 1st and Active/Provisional dues are due
by May 1st.
Q: When will I receive a dues invoice in the mail?
A: The Sustainers will receive their dues invoice no later than March 1st. And the
Active/Provisionals will receive their dues invoice no later than April 1st.
Q: Why would you change the date that has been the same for
almost forever?
A: Since dues are not due to AJLI until September, collecting them so early isn’t
necessary.
Q: Why different due dates?
A: Staggering the due dates for the Sustainers and the Actives/Provisionals
makes it easier for the Finance VP to track as everyone isn’t paying at once.
Q: Why collect the Active/Provisional Dues so late?
A: Currently, members who do not pay their dues are resigned from the League
and may choose not to complete their League year. By moving the due date later,
these members may complete their placement and be present to work the fundraiser.
Q: What if I have decided to join the illustrious group of
Sustainers — what do I do?
A: Actives must notify the Membership VP in writing by March 1st.
Q: As an Active that is going Sustaining, when do I pay my dues?
A: As a current Active, your dues would be due May 1st. The dues invoice will
have both Active and Sustainer dues amounts listed. Just check the Sustainer box
and pay the appropriate amount by May 1st.
In Summary
Sustainer Invoices will be mailed by March 1st and are due by April 1st
Active/Provisional Invoices will be mailed by April 1st and are due by May 1st
All members may pay their dues online any time after March 1st. d
If you have any other questions about your dues, please contact Finance VP Shelly
Demko. She will be happy to answer your questions.
the flair |
SPRING 2008
Especially For
Junior Leaguers:
By Shelly Demko, Finance Vice President
mission statement
The Junior League of San Jose is an organization of women
committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving
the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
community program
The Junior League of San Jose works to help young children
enter elementary school ready to learn and thrive.
publications team
office staff
Office Manager: Terri Fill
Editor & Publisher: Lindy Fung
Managing Editor: Ingrid Dick
Copy Editors: Robin Bates, Moe Walsh
Art Director: Pauline Phung
Pre-Press & Printing: Patson’s Press
membership count
Actives 207
Provisionals 45
Sustainers 510
2007-08 Board of Directors
President: Dawn Bussey
President-Elect, Vice President of Future Planning: Lisa Hague
Administrative VP & Secretary: Wendy Anthony
Communications VP: Lindy Fung
Community VP-Outreach: Laurel Krein
Community VP-Projects: Stacy Galasso
Development VP: Jill Sandal
Finance VP: Shelly Demko
Membership VP: Mari Ellen Reynolds
Member-At-Large: Jayne Capelin
Parliamentarian: Denise Florio
Placement Chair: Diana Gilbert
Senior SPAC Delegate: Melinda Waller
Strategic Planning Chair: Becky Manchester Aidlberg
Sustaining Advisors: Molly Fezell, Vicki Mason, Kathryn Sager
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| 10
By Angela Agah, Cristina Robles, and Sherial Starr
Sincerely,
Concerned Dottie
10
SPRING 2008
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Tuesday, March 25th • 6:30pm
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Office Hours
Monday & Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
The Kirk-Farrington Housee1615 Dry Creek RoadeSan Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 264-3058eFax: (408) 264-9019
Email: [email protected]: www.jlsj.org
the flair |
SPRING 2008
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The Kirk-Farrington Housee1615 Dry Creek RoadeSan Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 264-3058eFax: (408) 264-9019
Email: [email protected] eWebsite: www.jlsj.org
community
impact
… women building better
| JLSJ’s Signature Project, the Wonder Cabinet,
has reached out to almost 50 families and handed out over
100 free passes to the Children’s Discovery Museum! |
communities
SAVE THE DATE!!!
DONALD J PLINER STORE
at Santana Row
| JLSJ’s Bring Me A Book Project has held over 17 trainings
Photo: Signature Images by Lori Rose
at low-income pre-schools and Child Development Centers
throughout Santa Clara County! |
By Dawn Bussey, President
OW! We did it! We produced another outstanding Junior League of San Jose Fashion Show
Fundraiser! After 18 months of preparations, In Vogue
was certainly “the place to be” on February 29th! I had
a blast…I hope you did too. And I hope you were able
to “Make the Connection” with someone fabulous at
the event. Thank you to each and every League member, your families, friends and all of our dedicated
sponsors and partners in the community. We could
not have produced such an incredibly successful fundraiser without everyone’s involvement.
each face and deal with issues in our personal lives
(and we all have them), we still find time to be
there for one another, take care of each other, volunteer alongside each other, and sometimes simply
cry with each other. But we also help each other get
up and get on with living. I thank you, my friends,
for helping me get back up this year. And for helping me realize that although my dad is only here in
spirit, he is still very proud of me and the volunteer
work I do with the Junior League of San Jose.
In this issue of The Flair we focus on our community impact — I feel great warmth in reading
about our effective hands-on efforts which are
enabled by the funds we raise through events such
as In Vogue and the fiery passion and commitment
by League volunteers. I also find this issue’s featured
stories from Diana Gilbert and Becky ManchesterAidlberg poignant in my personal life, as I recently
lost my dad to esophageal cancer.
The outpouring of support from League members has been extraordinary as I go through this
grieving process. And it is through this experience
that I have come to realize the depth of our members’ compassion for others…not only in the community, but right here within the League too. As we
the flair |
SPRING 2008
Spring Trend Seminar & Breakfast
with Donald J Pliner in person!
10% of all sales will benefit JLSJ
President’s Message
W
12
Thursday, March 27th
10:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Dawn’s dad, Dee Fuller, holding his granddaughter
Annabelle Dee Bussey moments after her birth in 2003
As we wind down the 2007-08 League year and
make our commitments for next year, I hope that
you take time to reflect upon why you choose to be
a member of the Junior League. Perhaps it is the
leadership skills you are developing, the strategic
thinking you are challenged with, the hands-on community impact opportunities you participate in, or
the personal connections with smart women that you
develop. Whatever makes you a proud member, I
hope you will share your personal story with others.
We are a membership organization.
The majority of our members come from
referrals from current members.
I ask that you not only think about why you are
here and why you stay, but how you can convey that
to others. And then do it. Tell your friends. Tell your
work associates. Tell them not only about the
hands-on community impact we make, but what the
League will offer to them personally. In order for us
to continue doing what we do and develop more
women leaders in our community, we must be willing to share and invite other women to be part of our
organization. And it can start with you bringing a
friend to the April Placement Faire.
I look forward to seeing you (and your friend)
there!