SPRING 2018 JUNIOR LEAGUE OF MONROE • WOMEN BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES 2017-2018 Spring Market Co-Chairs Title Sponsor Joyce Priest, Heather Guillot, Jennifer Donald and Hollyn Breen NEW LOOK - RESULTS DRIVEN - INDUSTRY CONNECTEDLorem ipsum - START HERE - GO ANYWHERE - WWW. LADELTA. EDU O UT W IT H TH E O L D I N W I T H T H ASSOCIATE DEGREES - CERTIFICATES - DIPLOMAS E B L U E WORKFORCE TRAINING - CUSTOMIZED TRAINING ADULT LEARNING LDCC IS AN open-admission, comprehensive community college, providing the citizens of northeast Louisi- ana with affordable and accessi- ble high quality educational programs, services, and modern workforce training. Supported by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, a dedicated faculty and staff fulfill this mission through their com- mitment to student achieve- ment, academic excellence, lifelong learning, and the use of current technology. OPPORTUNITY CHARLONS SPRING 2018 It’s that time again…Spring Market time! We are so lucky to have such a sustainable th Message from Message from the President ® fundraiser that has lasted twenty years. Yes, this is our 20 anniversary! Profits from Spring Market, along with our fund development efforts and two new fundraisers, provide the financial framework for our member training and community efforts. Our history and legacy, along with our strong financial base, give us the presence in the community to make a difference. We are continuing to research ways to partner with other area non-profits, businesses, and community leaders to provide valuable service through financial literacy, health education, and education and job training for our continued focus on “women and children at risk.” While we are focused on this research, we are continuing to make an impact in our community through current committees such as Tools and Literacy for children at Riser Elementary, Education Task Force with our teacher mini grants and ACT workshops, and our Community Outreach projects with Chennault Aviation Museum, the Monroe Symphony, Mercy Multiplied and the Cinderella Project. We have put a lot of focus this year on member development and the education and training portion of our mission as we work towards our reassessed community impact issue. As we start thinking about member recruitment, I can’t help but think now is a great time to join the Junior League. Women around the world are fired up and ready to see change. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, tells women not to expect a corner office if you sit on the sidelines. You must demand a seat at the table. Hollywood’s royalty have said “Time’s Up,” and started a campaign to end harassment, abuse, and assault in the workplace. Women are marching together for protection of our rights, safety, health, and our families. The women of the Junior League have been disrupting convention and righting the wrongs of society since its founding in 1901. We have fought for women’s right to vote, fought against domestic violence, brought attention to combat human trafficking, and emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion. My favorite psychologist, lecturer, and author, Dr. Amy Cuddy, stated, “Presence gives us the power to rise to these moments.” It is our job to empower women to take on the next big issue. What will that be? Join us and find out! Melissa Kiper President 2017-2018 3 CHARLONS SPRING 2018 about JLM OUR VISION Through the power of our association, Junior Leagues strengthen communities by embracing diverse perspectives, building partnerships, and inspiring solutions. OUR MISSION The Junior League of Monroe is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. OUR PURPOSE We reach out to women of all races, religions, and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to voluntarism. OUR HISTORY Since 1930, members of the Junior League of Monroe have devoted countless volunteer hours to meet the needs of the people JLM Board of Directors 2017-2018 and organizations of our community. Community leaders have always looked President . Melissa Kiper to the JLM for leadership in starting new President-Elect ..................................Cydni Hanks community programs. As a result, the JLM has often been the catalyst that turned an Communications Vice President ...................Meghan Sharp idea into a success that benefited many Community Vice President ...........................Kelli Cole in our area. Here are a few examples of programs that we have started in recent Financial Vice President .......................... Cherry Coon years: Court Appointed Special Advocates Assistant Financial Vice President .....................Allison Earl (CASA), Teen Screen, Shots for Tots, Teen Court, Operation Abstinence, and Membership Development Vice President ........Loretta Lemoine Project Child. Planning & Research Vice President .................Joann Powell Advisory Planning Chair .............................. JJ Wyatt partnering for a Nominating and Placement Chair ............Mary Francis Siggers better community Corresponding Secretary ....................... Kathryn Bagley Red Cross • Salvation Army • YWCA • YMCA • Fund Development Vice President ................Heather Guillot Camp Fire Girls • March of Dimes • Crippled Sustainer Advisor ................................Jenny Pankey Children’s Clinic • Masur Museum • Louisiana Training Institute • Open Door Home • Easter Seals • Med-Camps • Suzuki Forum • Ronald McDonald House • Go Care • United Way • Our House • Girl Scouts • Christian Community Ministries • New Horizon’s Boy Scout Camp • Association Prayer Tri-District Boys’ Club • Twin City Ballet • Strauss We pray that we will never be so blind Theatre • Monroe Symphony • Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum • Susan G. Komen that our small world is all we ever see. Foundation • Women’s Wellness Coalition • Or so supremely satisfied ® West Monroe Community Center • Monroe that what we are is all we ever hope to be. Housing Authority • Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana • City of Monroe Grant us the joy of filling someone’s need. THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF MONROE Beautification Board • Extra Mile • Friends of Make us gracious followers, 2811 Cameron Street • Monroe, LA 71201 ULM Library • Friends of Monroe Civic Center make gracious those who lead. Office 318-322-3236 (Terri Arthur) • Little Theatre’s Young Troupe • Louisiana Folk Fax 318-314-2024 Life Festival • Monroe Chamber of Commerce And more than all we pray, Office Hours: Mondays-Thursdays • 8:30 am–2:30 pm • Ouachita Valley Historic Preservation Society that through the years, we will remember • Partners in Education • West Monroe/West Website: www.juniorleaguemonroe.com Ouachita Chamber of Commerce • Habitat for there are always new frontiers. Email: [email protected] Humanity • The Center for Women & Children Amen. League Year: June 1, 2017- May 31, 2018 4 CHARLONS SPRING 2018 Spring is in the air, bees are buzzing, and flowers are awakening from their slumber. Junior League of Monroe members are in full swing with community projects and committee endeavors and are preparing for Spring Market, which is our largest and most effective fundraiser. In Charlons news, this has been Editor a wonderful year for April and I so far. We have succeeded in reducing the number of face to face hours with committee members to have a more efficient use of member’s time, while still receiving articles and photos by ® our deadline from the wonderful ladies of the Charlons Committee. We have Letter from Letter from been so proud and thankful for their efforts this year. As we are putting the finishing touches on the Spring Market issue, it is hard not to reflect on all the wonderful friendships we have made in the Junior League of Monroe. I look the forward to serving beside all of my Junior League sisters at Spring Market Charlons Committee and look forward to more meaningful times to come. Also, thank you to all committee members in the League that worked hard submitting articles and 2017-18 photos. Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the ladies of the Spring Jessica Louque, Co-Chair/Co-Editor Market Committee for all of your hard work and dedication. None of Junior April Dillingham, Co-Chair/Co-Editor, League of Monroe’s philanthropic efforts would be possible without the funds Business & Advertising Director generated by this fundraiser. Also, Charlons chairs instituted a new process Haley Pulliam, Assistant Chair using Google Drive where we collaborated with Spring Market on magazine Amanda Heikkila, Reporter submissions, and this increased efficiency. April and I hope you are looking Angie Nicholson, Reporter forward to reading this issue as much as we have enjoyed working on it! Cynthia Rodriguez, Reporter Kathryn LaBorde, Reporter Endowment Fund Board of Trustees 2017-2018 Advertise in Charlons Cherry Coon JLM Financial VP/ Support the League, grow your business, and be Endowment Chairman featured in Charlons with effective and affordable Allison Earl JLM Assist. Fin. VP/ advertising. Ex-Officio - Secretary Please address all advertising space and rate queries Melissa Kiper JLM President to the Charlons committee at: Cydni Hanks JLM President - Elect [email protected]. John Clausen Investment Banker/ Raymond James We would love to have your Junior League outing photos featured in our next Charlons magazine.