Shop for a Cause - Junior League of Evansville

Highlights of this Issue: 

Junior League of Evansville Volume 22, Issue 3 Dec., 2006/Jan., 2007 

Meet the E-Team, 

Dr. Michelle Kerr-Heuck . . . . . . . . . 3 

Holiday Mart Sponsors 

and Vendors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Susie Nicholson, Sustainer . . . . . . . . 6 

Festival of Trees 

Written by Dr. Lea Ann Davenport 

Shop for a Cause 

Written by Melissa Wagner 

I shop ’cause I love it! I am always on a mission for the perfect pair of jeans. What if I could shop for a cause and further the mission to better 

the lives of women and children in the Tri-State area Guess what! I CAN, at the 3rd annual Holiday Mart at the Centre on Friday through 

Sunday, December 8 th to 10 th . 

The Home for the Holidays Brunch kicks off the Mart. I can't wait for Doug Patberg of the Olde Salt Box to illustrate how to turn the ordinary 

into the fabulous for our holiday decorating. Of course, after seeing the Ethan Allen furnishings on stage, I will want to order a new couch. 

But first, I'll do my volunteer shift and sneak a peek at all the great booths and items available. Once my shift is complete, then my shopping 

mission will begin. 

With personalized gifts for my daughter, jewelry for mom and even golf stuff for my husband, the Holiday Mart offers a little something for 

everyone this year. My arms will be overflowing with shopping bags! I'm pretty sure I won't go home with the perfect pair of jeans, but 

honestly do they even exist 

So join me at the Home for the Holidays Brunch on Friday, December 8 th from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Limited tickets are available at the door. 

The cost is $35. Then shop till you drop, but remember it's for a cause to further the mission of JLE. 

This year’s Festival of Trees is a must see! In the spirit of the holiday season, area businesses 

and friends of JLE graciously donated their time and energy toward the sponsorship of 20 

individually decorated Christmas trees. The stunning trees are scheduled to be unveiled 

during the Home for the Holidays Brunch, Friday, December 8 th . The trees will be 

individually sold at an auction that will undoubtedly be a memorable and exciting focal 

point of the Holiday Mart. Proceeds from the auction of the trees will benefit a number of 

charitable organizations supported by the Junior League of Evansville. 

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to purchase a one-of-a-kind tree to showcase in 

your own home that will long be remembered as your treasured keepsake from the 2006 

Holiday Mart. 

This year’s Festival of Trees was made possible through the support of: 

• Davenport, Brummer, & Travis – Pediatric Dental Specialists 

• Deaconess Hospital 

• Just Faux It 

• Kenny Kent Automotive Group 

• KnitWitts Yarn Shoppe/ Penpals Stationery Shoppe 

• Limelight Events 

• ProRehab, PC 

• R C Cola 

• Rose Marie’s 

• St. Mary’s Medical Center 

• Secret Garden 

• Shoe Carnival 

• Starbucks North 

• Traditions Home Accents 

• Welborn Clinic 

Friday, December 8 th 

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Saturday, December 9 th 

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Sunday, December 10 th 

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

The Centre, 

Exhibition Hall 

$5.00 donations 

accepted at the door

2 December 2006/January 2007 

The Junior League of Evansville, Inc. 

The Junior League of Evansville is an organization of 

women committed to promoting volunteerism and 

developing the potential of woman and improving 

communities through the effective action and leadership 

of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively 

educational and charitable. 

I. The Junior League of Evansville shall identify and 

strive to meet the needs of diverse membership. 

II. The Junior League of Evansville shall educate and 

train members to be effective and committed community 

volunteers. 

III. The Junior League of Evansville shall identify and 

strive to address the changing needs and issues of the 

community. 

JLE Board of Directors 

Executive Members 

Jamie Wicks 

President 

Crunchy Wells 

President-Elect 

Michelle Kerr-Heuck 

VP Administration 

Erika Taylor 

VP Membership 

Patricia Weinzapfel 

VP Community 

Elizabeth Barnes 

Treasurer 

Board Members 

Amy Kolleck 

Strategic Planning 

Ruthie Shekell 

Fund Implementation 

Jinni Nall 

Marketing 

Melissa Wagner 

Publications 

Cheryl Voight 

Corresponding Secretary 

Shannon Vincek 

Technology 

Amy Clements 

Historian 

Michele Brookman/Tricia Schitter Membership 

Development 

Heather Kent 

Membership Recruitment 

Dana Lewis 

Membership Arrangements 

Andi Miller 

Nominating/Placement 

Sarah Herdes 

Just for Fun 

Robin Evernham 

Membership Training 

Mary Beth Ozete 

Community Proposals 

Shauntrece Deters 

Playville, J.L.E. 

Valerie Brill 

Public Affairs/SPAC 

Kelly Fries 

Project Implementation 

Stephanie Morris 

Scholarship 

Shelly Kleiman 

Done-in-a-Day 

Ellen Spence 

Project Development 

Candice Moore 

Assistant Treasurer 

Betsy Hopkins 

Sustaining Advisor 

No article in the LeagueLine may be reprinted in whole 

or in part, except by another Junior League publication, 

without written consent from the editor. The editorial 

staff reserves the right to edit material for publications 

and to determine inclusion based upon content and 

available space. 

Melissa Wagner 

Marti Collins 

Michelle Walker 

Janet Keller 

MAR-KEL Quick Print 

LeagueLine 

Editor 

Committee Member 

Committee Member 

Feature Writer 

Printer 

In Her Own Words... Jamie Wicks 

President 

Photo courtesy of 

Gray Photography 

Tis the season to… shop at the Holiday Mart. Our third annual Holiday Mart will take place 

December 8 th through 10 th at the Centre. The Holiday Mart is one of our two primary 

fundraisers for the year. Along with the Rummage Sale, the Holiday Mart funds what we do. 

Our success with our fundraisers provides for success in our community. Our fundraisers are 

not only about how much we raise but what we can do in our community; training and having 

fun. 

TURNING SHOPPING INTO GIVING 

By shopping at the Holiday Mart or Rummage Sale, you help us raise funds to give back to 

the community. Your purchases benefit you and the community. Those who purchased a 

Snuggle bag last year are helping provide mammograms to women, giving a disabled child a 

chance to be just another kid at the children’s museum, diapers for a family who needs help in 

Warrick County, a safe place to play for a homeless child age 0-5 or activities for the children 

at Hillcrest Washington Youth Home. These and our other projects happen because people 

attend and purchase at our fundraisers. 

ON THE JOB TRAINING 

A fundraiser does not just happen. It takes a dedicated group of people working together to 

make it happen. Our Holiday Mart Committee has been busy planning, contacting 

underwriters, attracting vendors and putting those last minute touches on the Holiday Mart. 

Members have been challenged with asking for sponsorships, organizing a brunch, 

understanding contracts and marketing the event. You learn from what works and what does 

not work. The skills learned are taken to other organizations and fundraisers throughout our 

community. 

FUNdraisers 

A fundraiser should be fun. The Holiday Mart will have Santa, activities for the kids young 

and young at heart, great gifts and the opportunity to get to know someone new while you are 

working your shift together. Those attending find fun items to give as gifts, and those working 

find fun in helping them. 

Our fundraisers are vital to our organization and to our community. I hope to see you at the 

Holiday Mart and wish you many opportunities at the Holiday Mart. 

May you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. 

Jamie Wicks 

President

December 2006/January 2007 3 

Meet the E-Team: Dr. Michelle Kerr-Heuck 

She’s Got Your Back! 


"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the 

human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." 

Even though those words were written over a century ago by Thomas 

Edison, Dr. Michelle Kerr-Heuck believes they are as true today as 

they were in the 1800s. Michelle is a chiropractor and partner in 

Westside Chiropractic on Franklin Street. Michelle takes an alternative 

approach to her family’s health, and they do not take medicine orally 

or take immunizations. Michelle states, “I believe that there is a reason 

that alternative medicine is becoming mainstream. We no longer 

accept the fact that you can just treat the symptom and not take care 

of the cause. We want to prevent disease and have now become a more 

health-conscience society.” 

Michelle describes chiropractic by saying that you have 24 vertebrae 

(bones) that protect very delicate nerves. These nerves are either 

directly or indirectly in charge of every function in the human body. 

When these bones rotate out of alignment (stress, work habits, car 

accidents, even the birth process itself), they can irritate the 

corresponding nerve roots. Once this occurs, a symptom or 

dysfunction will occur along the nerve route causing pain or disease. 

When the misalignments are adjusted, the normal nerve function is 

restored, allowing the body to function at a higher level. Why does 

Tiger Woods get adjusted Because he knows that if his spine is aligned, 

he will hit the ball further and with more accuracy. 

“Do chiropractors treat disease The answer is NO! We adjust the 

spine, remove the nerve disturbance, and allow the body to do what it 

was meant to do,” Michelle stated. Even though she takes an 

alternative approach to her health, she respects the medical profession 

and works in conjunction with her patients’ primary care physician. 

She believes that the best care for the patient results when everyone 

works together to provide a better quality of life for that individual. 

When Michelle gets a headache, she doesn’t run to the medicine 

cabinet for a Tylenol, she has her husband, who is her partner at 

Westside Chiropractic, adjust her. And when she went into labor with 

her two children, Dave and a midwife were by her side in the bedroom 

of her home. 

Michelle began her college years studying to become a chemical 

engineer. At a career fair, she took a competency test, and it noted her 

strengths lie in either midwifery or chiropractic. She opted for the 

chiropractor title even though it is a very male dominated profession 

with approximately 70 percent of chiropractors being men. 

After studying biology at the University of Toledo, she moved from her 

native Toledo, Ohio to St. Louis. In St. Louis, she attended Logan 

College of Chiropractic and received her doctorate with a certification 

in pediatrics. It was here that she found an open seat next to her future 

husband, Dave Heuck. Michelle truly believes that it was fate that 

caused her to pick that particular chair. They soon became friends, but 

it was a life altering tragedy in the early morning hours of July 21, 1994 

that caused Michelle to realize that her feelings were much deeper than 

just friendship. Dave’s sister, Natalie Fulkerson, and her husband, 

Tony, were killed as they were trying to protect Tony’s sister from a 

horrible divorce. As Dave left for the funeral, Michelle realized that 

Dave was more than a study partner. He was the man with whom she 

wanted to spend the rest of her life. They were married on November 

16, 1996. 

Dave’s mother took in the 

two children, Kim and 

Matthew, who were then 9 

and 3 years old at the time 

to raise. Michelle and Dave 

initially set up practices in 

Toledo, Ohio, but realized 

that they were needed in 

Evansville to help with the 

care of their niece and 

nephew. Michelle is still very close to her mother, father and two sisters 

in Ohio, and she makes a point to see them at least every other month. 

Now parents of two children of their own, Brandon, 9, and Josh, 7, 

Dave and Michelle have worked out an arrangement where Dave takes 

the morning shift at the office, and Michelle takes the afternoon. Their 

day overlaps so it allows time each of them time with the kids. Dave 

coaches their baseball and basketball teams; takes them to karate; and 

has “guy time”. 

When asked why she wanted to become a JLE Executive Board 

member, Michelle stated, “I wanted a more intimate look as to how 

things run within the League.” Michelle has held several board 

positions within the administration cluster, so it was a natural 

leadership role for her. 

Michelle’s children attend St. Phillips Catholic School and a gifted 

program at Mars Elementary School. Michelle enjoys taking on 

functions at the school such as the Grandparent’s Day reception. She 

also chaired the food committee for the WNIN Auction and helped 

with the MDA telethon. She is a member of the International 

Chiropractic Association of Indiana. 

Michelle is a regular on the Channel 14 Midday with Mike program 

as an “Ask the Expert”. Michelle enjoys giving out advice for a subject 

she is very passionate about. One time Mike Blake said, "We have 

Porky from Owensboro on the line.” The caller announced his name 

was Corky. Everyone was laughing, but Michelle kept her composure, 

even under the glaring lights of the television studio on live TV. 

When she gets a free weekend, Michelle and her family enjoy their 

condo on Lake Barkley. They own a boat and love to be on the lake. 

Michelle grew up next to Lake Erie and was always on the water. “The 

lake gives me a little piece of home,” she stated. 

As Vice-President of Administration, her responsibilities include the 

cluster that contains Marketing, Historian, Corresponding Secretary, 

Technology, Publications and Office Manager. I currently hold two of 

those positions within the League. In my volunteer role in the League, 

I am Publications Chair, and in my paid position as Office Manager, I 

report to Michelle. I have a great boss! She has proven herself time and 

time again as she rolls up her sleeves and jumps in to do whatever it 

takes to get the job done. Whether it is updating the JLE web site, 

modeling JLE logowear at meetings, soliciting Holiday Mart sponsors, 

or putting together packets for the meetings when I am in a bind at the 

office, I can always count on Michelle. If you have the opportunity to 

volunteer with Michelle, you will feel as I do - “She’s got your back!”

4 December 2006/January 2007

December 2006/January 2007 

5


Volunteer Spark Lights up the Town 


“Mirror, mirror on the wall; I’ve become my mother after all”. 

Some daughters cringe at the thought of 

following in their mother’s footsteps; 

however, Suzanne A. Nicholson, 

Sustainer, is definitely a woman who 

embraced the concept. In 1941-42, 

Susie’s mother, Peg Atkinson, became the 

11 th president of the Junior Service 

League (now the Junior League of 

Evansville). Susie was just five at the time, 

and her sister was two. As she was 

growing up, dinner conversations at the 

Atkinson home revolved around 

volunteerism. Her mother’s passions were 

JLE and the Evansville Philharmonic 

Orchestra. Her father worked tirelessly 

for the Community Chest, now known as the United Way. Susie was 

like a sponge, absorbing the community spirit of these dinnertime 

chats and associating with League functions at an early age. She 

eventually became a Cigarette Girl (aka Charity Belle) in her teen years. 

By the time she graduated from college, her volunteer spark was lit, and 

she was ready to jump in and volunteer with the Junior League of 

Evansville. In 1974-75 Susie served as the league’s president, creating 

JLE’s only mother-daughter president duo. 

Susie holds many other distinctions within our League. She was the 

first office manager which was a volunteer position at the time. While 

serving as office manager, she set up the League office from scratch. 

This allowed the League to be more organized and to have a central 

location for information. Susie also holds the record for most active 

years in the League. She was an active for 20 years, serving as president 

during her 17 th League year! She joined as a provisional in 1958 and 

became a sustainer in 1978. When asked about her long active career, 

she stated, “I thrived on the League. Opportunities were enormous 

then for stay-at-home moms. We became professional volunteers.” As 

you can imagine, she held many positions within the League during 

her long service. One of her committees was By-Laws, and the mission 

of the League for the year during which she served was to do a total 

revamp of the By-Laws. Her other committee placements included 

Admissions, Study and Development, Charity Ball, Ice Skating Rink 

Liaison, Public Relations, Provisional Chair, to Treasurer to name a 

few. 

It was at an Association of Junior League regional conference during 

Susie’s vice-presidency in 1974 in Columbus, Ohio that sparked an 

idea. She attended a session presented by the Executive Director of 

Leadership Atlanta. They had recently lost a number of civic leaders in 

an airplane crash and needed to develop new leadership. She learned 

how participants were taught community needs and given the 

opportunity to meet Atlanta’s current leaders. After her JLE presidency, 

Susie organized and chaired a committee to start Leadership Evansville. 

The first Leadership Evansville class began in 1976, and LE is currently 

celebrating its 30 th anniversary. Leadership Evansville was only the third 

organization in the nation of its kind. The Leadership Evansville 

organizing committee included the mayor, superintendent of schools, 

heads of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Teamsters Union, 

and presidents of USI and UE. Susie went on to serve as Leadership 

Evansville’s first president. Each year, JLE sends our current President 

to the Leadership Evansville class. To think, an idea from a JLE 

member being trained in leadership comes full circle as the 

organization she helped establish leads our current leadership along 

with hundreds of others in corporate and volunteer arenas in the city. 

“The League laid the groundwork and training for every position both 

volunteer and professional that I have had,” Susie stated. Remember 

the committee she chaired to establish Leadership Evansville David 

Rice, past president of USI, was a member of that committee. Susie’s 

talents and skills were apparent, and he recruited her to the position of 

USI’s Director of University Development and President of USI 

Foundation. Her fundraising talents learned through the League were 

put to use as she grew the USI Foundation assets from $600,000 to 

$60 million during her 20 years. She recently retired and was honored 

as USI Foundation President Emerita. 

Since her active years in the League, she has turned her volunteer 

efforts to several organizations. She feels very strongly about the 

Philharmonic, as her mother once did, and is helping revitalize its 

development efforts. She also sits as president over her aunt’s 

foundation, the Martha and Merritt deJong Foundation. The 

Foundation is a charitable trust which has underwritten the 

Philharmonic’s opening classics concert and the Museum’s artist-inresidence 

program for the past 13 years. 

Politics also is in her blood. She was on the City Council for 10 years 

beginning during Mayor Russ Lloyd Sr.’s term. At that time she was 

one of only nine women on city councils in the State of Indiana. 

During Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr.’s term, she was appointed to the Water 

and Sewer Utility Board, serving as its first woman president. She 

currently chairs the Burdette Park Advisory Board, an appointment by 

the Vanderburgh County Commissioners. 

Since retiring from USI in August, Susie is settling into her new 

lifestyle. She recently vacationed in Greece and Italy for three weeks to 

help ease the transition. She was named one of 10 Athena Award 

finalists. She is a member of the Downtown Evansville Rotary Club 

and a member and trustee at First Presbyterian Church. 

Susie is a native of Evansville and a graduate of Bosse High School. She 

received a B.A. in Economics from Smith College in Northampton, 

Massachusetts. She married Horace Nicholson Jr. in 1959. Nick passed 

away in 2004, three weeks after she lost her sister, Peggy. Nick and 

Susie had two children. Her son, Eric, is currently relocating to 

Nashville, Tennessee from Ohio in his new position with Faultless 

Caster. Her son, Chris, is a cardiologist in Richmond, Virginia. She 

enjoys her five granddaughters. 

“It has been thrilling to watch the JLE evolve over the years since I 

went sustainer, continuing its efforts to spearhead solutions to 

community needs,” Susie stated. As I reflect on Susie’s 

accomplishments, I continue to be amazed at the many areas of our 

city that our sustainers have touched. What would our city be like 

without our many members When the current actives in the League 

look back 30 years from now, what will be said about the changes we 

have made through JLE Susie has certainly set the bar very high for all 

of us!


7 

“JLE Is So Excited!” 

2007 Idea Home 

Written by Michelle Walker 

At the September 27, 2006 Idea Home groundbreaking ceremony, 

JLE President-Elect Crunchy Wells thanked Tucker Publishing 

Group on behalf of JLE for being selected as host of the 2007 

Evansville Living Idea Home. “JLE is so excited!” Crunchy 

emphasized in her speech at the groundbreaking ceremony. JLE was 

once again chosen as the charitable organization to host tours of the 

third Idea Home. Crunchy later stated, “We are excited to be able 

to provide wonderful volunteers for the event and to reap the 

benefits for our projects.” 

The majority of the proceeds from Idea Home ticket sales will 

benefit Ark Crisis Prevention Nursery (now known as Ark Crisis 

Child Care Center), an organization founded by JLE in 1981. Ark 

serves as an emergency daycare for parents needing a safe place to 

take their children when they are unavailable to stay with them. 

Crunchy also mentioned that the remaining proceeds from the 

event will help supplement JLE’s current small projects. Crunchy 

added, “This is very exciting, the prospect of giving these wonderful 

organizations a bit more in the 2007-2008 League Year.” 

The Idea Home, located in Cambridge Village Community, just 

north of Evansville, is being constructed by Steve Smith and Steve 

Briscoe of Smith & Briscoe. Smith & Briscoe will use their 

combined homemaking experience of more than 35 years to build a 

4,500 square foot European county manor. The home will showcase 

the latest trends in architecture, furnishings, appliances and interior 

design. 

The ideas are flowing early as plans have begun for the 2007 Idea Home. Representatives 

from JLE, which will again be part of this exciting project, gathered recently at the 

groundbreaking ceremony. Pictured left to right: Gretchen Muchnick, Idea Home Chair, 

Erika Taylor, Crunchy Wells, Kim Haywood-Pfender, Melissa Wagner and Patricia 

Weinzapfel. 

Evansville Living magazine will progressively capture the home as it 

is constructed. A special Idea Home magazine included in the 

September/October 2007 issue will serve as the culmination of the 

project. 

Tours of the Idea Home will begin Labor Day weekend and will run 

through September 15, 2007. The cost to tour the home will be $10 

for one tour and $20 for unlimited tours. In addition to tours, there 

will be many other thrilling events surrounding the opening of the 

home. Crunchy stated, “There will be a Cambridge based golf 

scramble, a garden gala party and wonderful meals available at 

Cambridge Country Club. Please mark your calendars!” 

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The following individuals were recognized at the October General 

Membership Meetings. 

The Junior League once again sold cookbooks and provided goodies 

made from recipes in our cookbook at the Evansville Philharmonic 

Gala. These women baked from the goodness of their heart as this was 

not a Done in a Day. Those recognized for baking goodies were: Ann 

Arosteguy, Michele Brookman, Linda Carlton, Robin Evernham, 

Rachael Farmer, Tami Freson, Kelly Fries, Lori Goris, Gina 

Hermann, Jody Honnigford, Patty Jenkins, Shelly Kleiman, 

Shannon Marshall, Jinni Calabrese Nall, Jamie Neel, Tricia 

Schitter, Carmen Schwartz, Kristi Scott, Ellen Spence, Heather 

Todd, Cheryl Voight, Kirsten Wagmeister, Carrie Webb-McCune, 

Jaime Weiss, Jamie Wicks and Andrea Wittmer. 

Kim Haywood-Pfender co-chaired, along with Erika Taylor, the 

Ark Crisis Child Care Center "Keep the Ark Afloat" annual dinner 

and auction. This event raised over $28,000 for the Ark. 

Members participating in the YMCA Half Marathon were: Ann 

Arosteguy, Elizabeth Barnes, Brenda Beck, Shannon Marshall, 

Andi Miller and Michelle Walker. 

The Holiday Mart committee has a new addition. Stephanie Morris 

volunteered to do a second placement in order to lend her time and 

talents to Holiday Mart. Stephanie already serves as Chair of the 

Scholarship Committee. 

When AJLI put out the word to all the Junior Leagues about the 

National Kids in the Kitchen Campaign, President Jamie Wicks put 

out a call for help. An ad hoc committee was formed to develop ideas 

Applause, Applause… 

Compiled by Erika Taylor, VP, Membership 

for implementing the Kids in the 

Kitchen principles locally. Tomelle 

Tornatta responded to the call and has agreed to 

chair this effort. Elizabeth Warren and Kristy 

Scott have also agreed to serve on this committee. 

The Just for Fun Committee was recognized for kicking the 

year off right with the September Soireé. These members include: 

Sarah Herdes, Chair, Amy Bouchie, Heather Estes, Heather Kent, 

Sonya Kincaid, Lisa Schaefer, Jennifer Slade and December 

Warren. 

Jenni Juhl and Ellen Spence from the Playville Committee 

coordinated Playville training at the October Provisional meeting. 

The liaison for October’s Project of the Month, AURORA (formerly 

ECHO) is Jill Smith. 

The Marketing Committee has done a great job of selecting new 

logo wear items as well as assisting other committees like Holiday 

Mart in marketing for events. These committee members are: Jinni 

Calabrese Nall, Chair, Kitty Briscoe, Erica Deters, Jennifer 

Gilbert, Ellada Hadjisavva and Aly Schroeder. 

The Cookbook Committee began their work over the summer when 

they sold books at recruitment parties. They continue to work on 

getting our book out locally and through national book exchanges 

with other leagues. This committee is chaired by Jody Honnigford. 

Members include Rachel Farmer, Kelly Johnson, Heather Todd, 

Carmen Schwartz, Cheryl Voight, Carrie Webb-McCune, and 

Andrea Wittmer. 

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9 

JLE Jewel of the Month 

Jinni Calabrese-Nall 

Written by Michelle Walker 

“The member of the month for 

October would certainly fall in 

the category of making things 

happen,” stated JLE President 

Jamie Wicks at the October 

membership meeting. Jinni 

Calabrese-Nall, Marketing 

Chair, has dazzled the League 

with her time and talent in 

many ways. Jinni designed our brilliant Holiday Mart logo, and 

did so under a very tight deadline. With exceptional clarity and 

extreme efficiency, Jinni produced more than 1200 flyers 

advertising Holiday Mart to the attendees of Today’s Woman 

Conference. Jinni also contributed her talents to the LeagueLine, 

making it more user friendly on our website. 

Jinni’s professional life is as amazing as her service to the League. 

With a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing and a Master’s 

in Business Administration (MBA), Jinni serves as Director of 

Communications for Fifth Third Bank’s Private Specialty Group. 

In addition to her full time position at Fifth Third, Jinni has 

created her own business, Ideation. Jinni describes Ideation as a 

custom social and corporate design studio. At Ideation, Jinni puts 

her design talents to use by custom designing social 

correspondence for weddings, special events and holidays. She also 

creatively handles business correspondence needs such as 

consumer branding, marketing and communications. 

Jinni’s passion for her design studio consumes much of her free 

time. When asked about her hobbies, Jinni stated, “In my free-free 

time, I focus on my secondary passion which is working out. Ok, 

that’s a lie. It’s really shopping! I do have a gym membership 

though and try to get there as often as possible.” (Perhaps Jinni 

gets her enthusiasm for working out from her father who was a 

professional wrestler for WCW!) This JLE gem also mentioned 

that she enjoys spending time with her husband, Tom, and two 

cats, Sydney and Emma. 

Our October jewel is definitely a “go getter”, taking all tasks ahead 

of her to new levels. On behalf of the League, Jamie Wicks stated, 

“Thank you for all you do, Jinni, our October member of the 

month.” 

September Soireé Proves 

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!” 

Written by Marti Collins 

On Friday, September 29 th , those of us who were fortunate enough 

to attend the September Soireé were treated to a fabulous evening of 

merrymaking at the Oak Meadow Country Club orchestrated by 

the Just for Fun Committee. Upon arriving, my husband and I were 

greeted by a couple of the fun-delegates, Sarah Herdes and Heather 

Kent. As the night went on, it became clear that these two gals were 

definitely assigned to the right committee! 

After exchanging pleasantries, we were escorted to the Pasta Bar 

where we soon discovered that even the menu plan was fun! The 

pasta bar was manned by two chefs who whipped up customordered 

dishes consisting of various delicious pastas with exotic 

toppings and cheeses. Rounding out the wonderful meal were fine 

wines and festive cocktails. 

Of course, there was also fantastic music with a D.J. and dancing. 

It didn’t take long for dance fever to sweep through the crowd with 

the first victims to succumb being Erika Taylor, Ruthie Shekell, 

Sarah Herdes, Heather Kent and Janet Keller, to name a few. The 

Cha Cha Slide and Electric Slide really heated up the floor! 

Thank you Just for Fun Committee Chair, Sarah Herdes, and 

committee members, Amy Bouchie, Heather Estes, Heather 

Kent, Sonya Kincaid, Lisa Schaefer, Jennifer Slade and 

December Warren. We had a great time and appreciate your hard 

work in planning this enjoyable evening. Obviously, you “girls just 

wanna have fun” and know how to throw a great party! 

League members enjoy dancing the night away. Members include left to right: Stephanie 

Morris, Erika Taylor, Stacy Boyer and Heather Kent. 

Miles Optometric 

“Committed to Excellence in Eye Care” 

Dr. John D. Miles 

Dr. Kristy S. Porter 

Optometrists 

954 Kenmore Drive Telephone 

Evansville, IN 47714 (812) 476-2000


Disco, Happy Days and a Decade of Dy-no-mite 

Signature Projects 


“Stayin’ Alive, Stayin’ Alive, ah, ha, ha, ha, Stayin’ Alive” Saturday 

Night Fever and disco reigned supreme, even though I preferred the 

Eagles and Elton John. Since I turned 5 years old in 1970, I have 

vivid recollections of this era. How many times did I put a rubber 

band around my bell bottom pants to keep them from getting stuck 

in my bike chain My mood ring was always blue. I thought my 

Dorothy Hamill wedge hairstyle would take forever to grow out into 

my Farrah Fawcett feathered hairstyle. I remember history being 

made as the Vietnam War ended and President Richard Nixon 

resigned over the Watergate scandal. Drug abuse was a hot topic, 

and JLE looked to solve the issues of their generation. Those 

bellbottomed League girls shifted their volunteer energy and funds 

into environmental, recreational and historical arenas. 

The Charity Ball and the Rummage Sale continued as fundraisers. 

Did you realize that the Rummage Sale was the largest fundraiser 

and more than doubled the Charity Ball funding in the ‘70s 

On September 2, 1970, the JLE office suffered a fire in their newly 

created office. Many items and paperwork were lost in the fire in the 

Lancaster Building located on South Green River Road. Upon the 

completion of the Wesselman Park Nature Center, the JLE office 

was able to take residence there. 

The working girls of JLE were beginning to feel like the step sisters 

of the League, with most members still not holding jobs outside the 

home. The Professionals Committee began an all out force to make 

the working members aware of what was happening within the 

League. They held Monday evening meetings before the daytime 

Tuesday general membership meeting. They had nine teachers, two 

secretaries, two nurses, one social worker, one decorator and one 

service representative in their midst. 

The end of the ‘60s brought the Stockwell Woods survey funded by 

JLE which proved that the Evansville community had a deep desire 

to protect the natural land of this area for future generations . JLE 

then began their work 

on the Wesselman 

Park Nature Center. 

They poured $30,000 into the building and funded an additional 

$7,500 for interior furnishings. The Nature Center opened in April, 

1972. 

JLE began to focus on historical arenas in the city of Evansville as 

well. They first demonstrated interest and concern for the Old 

Courthouse by decorating a Christmas tree in the rotunda and 

holding a candle lighting service. They then were led to begin an 

inventory of significant historic buildings in Evansville, along with 

publishing a book on this subject. The Reitz Home Preservation 

Society was established to maintain the Reitz Home as a museum. 

This same committee continued to be busy by creating 

Kaleidoscope, an art experience for kids at the Evansville Museum. 

It was a 10 day do-it-yourself art show and creative workshop with 

lots of hands on art for the children. 

During 1976, a Recreation Interest Group of the Junior League 

studied several needs in the city of Evansville. Two very positive 

things came out of this Community Awareness Committee. First 

and foremost, recreation facilities for the youth of Evansville were 

targeted, and as a part of the League’s 50th Anniversary project, the 

League challenged the city with a grant of $18,000 to build an ice 

skating facility. This challenge culminated in the original Swonder 

Ice Arena facility. The second positive item was that the committee 

met with the city administration to make positive steps towards the 

merger of the parks and recreation departments. 

What would Evansville be like without the Junior League of 

Evansville It is hard to quantify the changed lives of women and 

children. But if you take a drive down Boeke Avenue, you quickly 

realize that the landscape of the city of Evansville would be quite 

different without JLE. Would Wesselman Nature Center be a row of 

1970s era housing or an outdated shopping center Would Swonder 

Ice Rink exist And as you drive to the downtown area, would the 

Reitz Home be in ruins These treasures might exist without JLE, 

but I would venture to guess that they would be quite different. 

With the funds, volunteers AND leadership training from JLE, it is 

easy to look at the city of Evansville and see just what an impact we 

have made! 

Dr. David M. Heuck 

Dr. Michelle L. Kerr 

“Start getting well today” 

2222 W. Franklin St. 

Evansville, IN 47712 

(812) 425-5686 

Fax: (812) 422-0429 

Congratulations! 

Congratulations to Stephanie Boyer, Active, on her marriage to Bryan Wilson on 

Saturday, September 30th at Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Evansville. 

Congratulations to Sally Becker, Sustainer, newly elected to the Evansville- 

Vanderburgh School Corporation school board.


11 

JLE active member Michelle Walker and her children, 

Layla, 9 months, Brett, 11 years old and Mason, 3 years 

old, enjoy an exhibit at cMoe's JLE Day on September 21. 

It’s a hit! 

Children’s museum opens to rave reviews 

Written by Janet Keller 

Five-year-old Alaina 

Clements wasn’t even 

in the door yet when 

she began snapping 

pictures of her 

adventure at the Koch 

Family Children’s 

Museum of Evansville 

(cMoe). 

“When we were 

pulling into the 

parking space, she was 

so excited. She popped 

out of her seat belt 

immediately and 

couldn’t wait to get inside . . . that is, until she saw Millie the 

dinosaur outside the building. She HAD to stop, ask me for the 

camera, and take a picture of her,” said mom Amy Clements. Amy, 

a JLE active member, and Alaina were taking part in JLE Day at 

cMoe, an opportunity for Junior League members and their families 

to get a sneak peek at the museum prior to its public opening. JLE 

Day was held on September 21. 

This former JLE Signature Project was a hot spot for Leaguers that day, 

with active and sustaining members serving as both visitors and hosts. 

Greeting guests at the door were December Warren and Amy 

Kolleck, both JLE members who’ve played committed roles in 

transforming the former Hands On Discovery museum to 

Evansville’s newest city landmark. 

Positive comments could be heard at every turn by the many League 

attendees, both big and small. JLE active member Michelle Walker, 

busy mother of five children, noted that there seemed to be 

something for everyone at cMoe. “We were absolutely amazed by 

the museum,” she said. “Each exhibit did a great job of appealing to 

the interests of each of my children, even with an 11 year age span.” 

The Walker children were unanimous in their choice of favorite 

exhibit: the Live Big section, which explains parts of the human 

body and how they work. For Alaina Clements, the face-painting 

station stole the show. In fact, she insisted on wearing her make-up 

to a restaurant later that evening. When a waitress commented on 

her artistic look, Alaina replied, “Thanks, I did it myself.” 

For the individuals who worked to bring Hands On Discovery and 

cMoe to life, this simple statement is what they’ve worked toward 

since the museum’s original conception in 1990. Our JLE hats are 

off to the tireless volunteers, many of whom are current or former 

League members, who enabled this budding flower to bloom 

beautifully. We’re proud of the wonderful legacy you’ve left to our 

area’s children. And to think it all started … with JLE! 

In Sympathy 

Sympathy is extended to Christy Elmendorf, Provisional, in the death of her husband, Jerrod 

Elmendorf on November 4, 2006. Christy’s 3 year old son, Alex, also survives Jerrod along 

with Jerrod’s sister, Stefanie Wolf, Provisional. 

Condolences are extended to Diane Schroeder, Sustainer, in the death of her father. Donald 

Alva Marion passed away on November 7, 2006. 

Junior League Members, 

I want to thank everyone that offered their support to our family during 

this very difficult time. Whether you came to the funeral home, donated 

to my nephew's education fund or prayed for Christy, Alex and our whole 

family, we deeply appreciate it. We are blessed to be surrounded by so many 

loving and caring friends. 

Christy and I are new to the League this year, and we are just amazed by the support 

that everyone has shown. What an organization! Thank you so much for allowing us 

to be part of this unbelievable group of women! 

We have always been a strong family, and we will get through this, however, please continue 

to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stefanie (Elmendorf) Wolf


The Junior League of Evansville 

Melissa Wagner, Office Manager 

123 N.W. Fourth Street, Suite 422 

Evansville, Indiana 47708-1713/Telephone & FAX (812) 423-9127 

jleoffice@courtbuilding.com 

www.juniorleagueofevansville.org 

Fall, Winter & Spring Hours 

Sept. 1 - May 31 

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday -Thursday 

Summer Hours 

June 1-Aug. 31 

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday & Wednesday 

Done in a Day Hours 

Compiled by Shelly Kleiman 

Little Sisters of the Poor: 15 hours 

YMCA Half Marathon: 18 hours 

Reitz Home: 27 hours 

Hillcrest: 6 hours 

cMoe Grand Opening Tours: 61 hours 

Including all previously reported hours, 208 hours have been given back to the 

community by our members through Done in a Day projects 

during this League year. 

Little Leaguers 

Congratulations to Otha and Elizabeth Warren, Active, on the 

birth of their son, Otha "Henry" Warren. Henry was born on 

July 20, 2006 at 11:56 a.m. He was 7 lbs. and 19 1 ⁄2 inches long. 

Meredith Grace Feagley was born on September 6, 2006 at 12:30 

p.m. She weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz. and was 18 inches long at birth. 

Proud parents are Nicholas and Mary Feagley, Active. 

Mark and Kelly Johnson, Active, welcomed Keagan Augustus 

Johnson on October 11, 2006 at 11:26 a.m. Keagan weighed 8 

lbs., 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. Proud brothers are Nathan, 

age 4, and Ian, age 2. 

P.J. and Tricia Schitter, Active, announce the birth of their 

daughter, Maria Elizabeth Schitter. Maria was born on October 

24, 2006 at 4:51 pm. She was 7 lbs., 8 oz. and 20 inches long. 

Cameron and Olivia welcomed her home. 

Scott and Robin Evernham, Active, welcomed Mora Evlynn 

Evernham on October 20, 2006 at 1:35 a.m. Mora weighed in at 

8 lbs., 3 oz. and was 20 inches long. 

NON PROFIT 

ORGANIZATION 

US POSTAGE 

PAID 

Permit Number 1252 

Evansville, IN 

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF 

EVANSVILLE 

Women building better communities 

123 N.W. Fourth Street, Suite 422, Evansville, Indiana 47708-1713

Shop for a Cause - Junior League of Evansville

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