Giving - Junior League of Minneapolis

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membership pages Retaining passionate, trained volunteers is a necessity for any nonprofit organization and the JLM is no different. As the community and League evolve, so too do the needs of its members. Understanding this, the JLM has created many training and enrichment programs over the years, and worked hard to develop projects and services that motivate members and serve the community. Recognizing the changing landscape of membership, a Membership Retention Ad Hoc Committee was called to address the reasons a member of the JLM might choose to leave the organization and what we could do to enable her to stay. Maximizing the Membership Experience “There will always be reasons out of our reach—job relocation, a change in family situation—that cause a member to leave the JLM,” said Meleah Follen, Membership Retention Ad Hoc Committee Co-Chair. “What’s more important is that we’re listening to the members that want to stay involved in the League and figuring out how we can make the JLM a rewarding experience for them.” Several key recommendations came from the ad hoc, which ended in 2009-10, including creating a value proposition about League membership (see below), adding additional Written By Laura Ginsburg and Alex Koeppler Placement Advisors to give more one-on-one attention and the creation of a Membership Experience Committee. “I am so excited to be a part of the Membership Experience Committee in its first year!” said Anna Lee Wahls, committee Chair. “There was so much great energy coming out of the ad hoc committee around enhancing the experience for all of our members wherever they are in their League careers.” The Membership Experience Committee is off to a big start in the 2011-12 League year. So far, the committee has created “Did You Know?” blurbs in the League Link to help members learn tidbits about the League and its history, started looking at past membership survey data to get a holistic view of what members’ feedback has been over the past few years and scoped Affinity Groups which aim to uncover new ways to help members connect beyond neighborhoods and membership year. “There was so much great energy that came out of the Retention Ad Hoc Committee around enhancing the experience for all of our members wherever they are in their League careers. Our enthusiastic committee members are committed to keeping this momentum going!” THE VALUE PROPOSITION OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF MINNEAPOLIS Although it’s off and running, suggestions and comments are welcome. “The only way to know if we’re successful is to hear from members that we’re helping improve their League experience,” said Anna Lee. The committee can be reached at membershipexperience@jlminneapolis.org. The value of membership in the Junior League of Minneapolis (JLM) is its legacy of service and its network of involved women. The League provides a supportive environment for women to become trained volunteers and leaders by offering multiple opportunities for service and development. The collective action of the JLM creates programs that have lasting impact in the Minneapolis community. Members agree that the hallmark of JLM involvement is lifelong friendships and extensive reach through community leadership. Help the Article Reprinted with Permission from The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. Thanks to the passage of nearly five decades and society’s ever-evolving outlook on diversity and race relations, The Junior League portrayed in the motion picture The Help (based on Kathryn Stockett’s novel by the same name) seems a distant memory to the organization we know today. More than 50 years later, like the communities it serves, The Junior League and its individual Leagues have made significant and substantial changes on many fronts that collectively offer up a stark contrast to the organization depicted in the film. That said, it’s unacceptable to think that we can’t do better as The Junior League, as a nation and as a world when it comes to addressing these critical issues. It’s worth noting that the Mississippi League used in the plot of the movie and the book is fictionalized. However, we also realize that societal norms on diversity and race relations have changed tremendously, and for the better, since the early 1960s. While each of our 292 Leagues is an independent, 501(c)3 group (or its equivalent in Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom), they share with us a commitment to diversity, community service and the highest standards of voluntarism. The Junior League, one of the oldest, largest and most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world, has matured and evolved since it was founded by social activism pioneer Mary Harriman in 1901. Our mandate, however, remains unwavering: to develop exceptionally qualified civic leaders who can identify a community’s most urgent and pressing needs and address them with meaningful and relevant programs and initiatives that not only improve lives, but also change the way people think. This type of work has won us dedicated community partners and loyal supporters for more than 110 years. As it did in 1901 and in the 1960s, The Junior League continues to inspire countless women to reach within themselves to find their inner leaders by offering unparalleled opportunities in civic leadership training that equips them to go out into the world and apply their skills for the betterment of society. True to their legacy, today’s League members are at the forefront of tackling society’s thorniest issues—addressing and acting as advocates on an array of critical issues, including among others: human trafficking, foster care, juvenile justice, teen self-esteem, cybercrimes, literacy and the environment—for the purpose of enhancing the social, cultural and political fabric of our civil society. membership pages As a result of this work, The Junior League—and the more than 155,000 women in 292 chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico who comprise its ranks—have amassed an archive of irrefutable results and an indisputable reputation as thoughtful and influential change agents for the public good. They have been instrumental in building into our daily lives many of the privileges we now take for granted - like free school lunches, literacy programs, children’s theaters and museums and accesible clean water - and have shifted societal issues such as domestic violence and alcohol abuse to the forefront. JLM screening of The Help at the Edina Landmark Theater 8 Junior League of Minneapolis GIVE 9
Membership pages community pages Have you been to a Leadership & Lattes event in the past year and thought it was fabulous? The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. thought so and awarded a $10,000 grant to the Junior League of Minneapolis to help take this already successful program to new heights. Leadership & Lattes began in 2009 by providing training opportunities on subjects that matter to JLM members in a small-group setting. And yes, java enthusiasts, caffeine is encouraged. This year, participation is limited to 30 members per session to maintain an intimate atmosphere, but there’s no limit to the number of sessions a member can attend. Free training on subjects applicable and of interest to Junior League of Minneapolis members is just another benefit of membership in the organization. The first big training of fall 2011, Leaving a Lasting Impression, focused on how to put your proverbial best foot forward during a first meeting or when sponsoring an event—whether in a personal or professional setting. The new year will usher in the return of the ever-popular Brave New Workshop training (exclusively for New Members JLM Training Opportunities are Really Good and Getting Better Written By Erienne Andvik this year), a session on Being Financially Fabulous and a session on how to maximize your personal potential and become the best possible version of yourself. The Training, Leadership and Development Committee (TLD) plans the Leadership & Lattes calendar with a variety of topics to appeal to all JLM members and they are always looking for inspiration from you. Submit your ideas or comments to training@jlminneapolis.org for consideration. In addition to L&L programming, the TLD Committee is launching an exciting new pilot program in January of 2012 called Get on Board, an extensive training program that will prepare select members to be effective members of a nonprofit board of directors. The goal of the program are to develop leaders who not only lead, but also understand the value of being an effective team member. The program was originally started in New Orleans, and the JLM began working on its curriculum this past summer. Get on Board is another example of the JLM’s dedication to investing in its members, which ultimately helps the JLM further its core goal of impacting the greater Twin Cities community. When was the last time you were able to positively impact 275 people? Can’t think of anything? Junior League members ensure 275 Minneapolis children don’t go hungry over the weekend while school is in session. Every week, JLM members fill backpacks with two breakfasts, two lunchs, three dinners and three snacks, enough food to feed the student and often much of his or her family. The success is tangible—since Backpack Buddies began, reading comprehension scores among participants have steadily improved. “Our leadership team and entire committee were ecstatic to see these results. Being able to measure and quantify our success will enable us to grow this program,” said Backpack Buddies Chair Sarah Jackson. Participation is growing; this year, third graders have been added to first and second graders as participants in the program. “The Backpack Buddies program got off to an early start this year. Parents’ Night was held before the beginning of school, so we started enrolling children in August, which enabled us to start packing and delivering Backpack Buddies Program Thriving and Growing Written By Erienne Andvik Since Backpack Buddies began, reading comprehension scores among participants have steadily improved. backpacks the first week in September,” Sarah said. Parents’ Night was a success, and with the addition of translators to help break down communication barriers, many students were enrolled in the program before the first bell rang, allowing more children to start the year on a positive note. To kick off fall 2011, Backpack Buddies is expanding its partnership with Ameriprise, whose employees are taking an active interest in the project. This is the first year Ameriprise employees will staff backpack-stuffing shifts—nine to be exact—which equates to 270 community service hours dedicated to our program from an outside organization. Discussions with the school’s principal and volunteer coordinator uncovered an opportunity to shift the focus of Backpack Buddies’ largescale event efforts to winter break instead of Thanksgiving. There may also be opportunities to participate in monthly family nights. It’s clear the program is successful, and they relish the prospect of positively impacting more children. Speakers at a Leaadership & Lattes training. League and community members at a recent Backpack Buddies packing shift. 10 Junior League of Minneapolis GIVE 11
Page 1 and 2: Fall 2011 • Vol. 2, No.1 410 Oak
Page 3 and 4: meet the Board Vision Letter from t
Page 5: membership pages Behind the Curtain
Page 9 and 10: community pages Advocacy Committee:
Page 11 and 12: fundraising Pages There’s Somethi
Page 13 and 14: Big Leaguers information availlable
Page 15 and 16: Member scene quotable moments LUXUR

Giving - Junior League of Minneapolis

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