League Lines -- September 2012

L e a g u e L i n e s 2012/2013 September 2012 Volume 3, Issue 1

The Junior League of Huntington

President’s Perspective

pg. 2

Inside this

issue:

World View

pg. 10

My Summer Vacation

pg. 6-7

2

Executive Board President Amy Browning

President-Elect Katina Haught

Community Vice President Rebecca Stanley

Corresponding Secretary Missy McComas

Recording Secretary Ashley Corder

Treasurer Summer Haynes

Treasurer Elect Jessica Copeland

Sustainer Representative

Committee Chairs Arrangements………………………..............Ashley Corder

……………………………………………….Natalie McCormick

Character Breakfast……………………………..Leslie Culp

Community Center……………………..Anna von Allmen

Cookbook…………………………………………..Maria Aiello

………………………………………………………..Ashley Kacey

Done in a Day ………………………………….Kristi Henson

Education……………………………………….Ginny Morgan

Kids in the Kitchen…………………………....Darci Barger

………………………………………………………Rachel Messer

League Lines…………………………………...Anna Lafferre

Membership……………………………….........Erica Deligne

…………………………………………………….Denise Landers

Mistletoe Market……………………………..Amy Prestera

……………………………………………..……….Allison Subacz

Nominating/Placement……………….....Jamie Webster

Public Relations………………………………Anna Lafferre

……………………………………………………Meagan Shelton

Ways & Means………………………………....Darah Snyder

………………………………………………………Sarah Walling

JL of Huntington Meetings are held on the second Monday of

the month at 6 p.m.

617 9th Avenue

Huntington, WV 25701

304.523.4165

www.facebook.com/juniorleagueofhuntington

@JLofHuntington

Junior League Mission The Association of Junior Leagues

International, Inc. is an organization of

women committed to promoting

volunteerism, developing the potential of

women and improving communities

through the effective action and leadership

of trained volunteers. Its purpose is

exclusively education and charitable.

League Lines League Lines staff welcomes any

contributions from the members of Junior

League Huntington. Please contact

Editor-in-Chief Anna Lafferre at

[email protected]. Submissions are

due by the second Friday of every month.

3

President’s Perspective

Some Sunday afternoon this summer I was mopping the floor

of the Junior League building and I couldn’t help but ask

myself, is this what you signed up for? I paused for a moment,

sighed to myself, said yes and went back to the mopping. It’s in

the fine print when we assume a leadership position – other

duties as assigned.

I have a hard time saying no when I can help in a situation and

I think we all have a responsibility to pitch in when needed.

Which is why, with Margaret’s retirement this year, we’ve had

to do some juggling to get things covered. It means everyone

has been asked to do more.

Her roles have been reallocated to the various VPs and

chairmen and we’ve hired Goodwill to supply a custodian. By

using them we are taking ourselves out of the employment

business, while still giving a job to someone who needs it. We’re looking at everything. How we

communicate, how we budget for a fundraiser, what kind of events we participate in and how the

community center can work for us and not the other way around. I recognize it involves a lot of change.

And along the way we may make a few mistakes. This organization was designed to help us grow as

leaders in our community. And I can’t think of a better way to spread our wings then by taking the time

to learn how to fly.

We need your help, in any way you can give it. In the coming months we will be doing some painting and

minor repairs to the community center building. We are gearing up for a new cookbook and we are

looking at making the Character Breakfast huge. What can you give….paint brushes, grant writing

advice, money, office supplies, or anything else you think could help make us better prepared to lead

our community. What hidden talents do you have that we may need?

I doubt my mopping skills were what the nominating committee found impressive, but they have

become considerably better in the past few months. What will you master this year? What will you

teach another? How will you grow? I was inspired by the enthusiasm at our recent Leadership Retreat

and know you will be too. We can accomplish great things when we work together. I can’t wait to see

what this year brings our way.

Other Duties as Assigned by Amy Browning

4

League News and Events Community Center

As everyone has heard, the Junior League Community Center manager of many years, sustainer Margaret Wilson, retired at the end of the last League year. The Community Center duties have been divided amongst various members of the League leadership. Please contact the following people:

- For issues involving money, please contact treasurer Summer Haynes.

- If you need an email forwarded to the membership, please email corresponding secretary Missy McComas. (Please note that if there is something in membership emails to which you’d like to respond, do not direct your response to Missy, but instead direct it to the person whose name is provided at the end.)

- If you have a rental question, please contact community center chair Anna von Allmen.

- For Redbook questions or updates, please contact president-elect Katina Haught or corresponding secretary Missy McComas.

- Our new custodian will be beginning work in September.

Stuff the Mailbox! One of our best members, and the former Editor of League Lines, Courtney Johnson moved away in early summer so that her husband could begin his medical residency. If you’d like to send her a card or letter to let her know how much she’s missed, her address is

Courtney Johnson

115 NW 34th Street

Gainesville, FL 32607

Simple Socials Last year’s Simple Socials were wonderful events, and the League will be continuing the socials this year. We will be doing things such as laser tag, bowling, roller skating and painting pottery, then continuing to a different bar each month.

New Member Social Know anyone interested in joining the Junior League? The fall new member social is September 7 at 7 p.m. at Tiffany Clark's house. Everyone is invited!

5

League News and Events

Council System

2012/2013

6

W h a t I d i d o n m y s u m m e r v a c a t i o n … .

Sarah Walling caught her first fish ever! A smallmouth bass in the New River.

JL members Rebecca

Stanley, Becca Hansen,

Missy McComas, Leslie

Culp, Maria Reynolds,

Dominique Elmore and

Jenna Cremeans (and JL

2031 new member Hannah

Hansen) at the Dress for

Success Luncheon.

Ashley Corder, Missy McComas, Amy Browning,

Erica Deligne and Denise Landers

volunteered at the Wine Festival.

7

W h a t I d i d o n m y s u m m e r v a c a t i o n … .

Anna Lafferre put 18 little kids on stage as bunnies and became the Director of Huntington Dance Theatre.

Kate Moriarty, Becca Hansen, Ashley Corder,

Summer Haynes and Missy McComas in Miami

celebrating Missy’s 30th birthday!

Miami Beach! San Diego! Hilton Head Island!

New Orleans! Whether for business or

pleasure, each of these cities represents the

places that Becca Hansen had the pleasure of

traveling to this summer!

8

Spotlight On…

Anna von Allmen

Community Center Chair Anna von

Allmen.

A little Q&A with JL’s Community Center Chair.

League Lines: Why did you choose your academic path?

Anna von Allmen: I have always enjoyed working with children and did multiple internships in elementary classrooms during middle and high school. While teaching third grade for 3 years, I had many gifted students in my inclusion classroom and wanted to learn how to better meet their needs in the classroom. I also coach a jump rope team that has given me experience teaching a wide age range of children.

LL: Other than JL, what other organizations are you involved with?

AvA: I am the president of MUSOM Plus Ones, which is an activity and support group for significant others of medical students at Marshall.

I coach a jump rope team at Geneva Kent Elementary, and we perform at various community events while promoting fitness for kids in a fun way.

LL: Where are you most fulfilled?

AvA: Wherever I am helping someone learn something new or reach a goal.

LL: What made you join JL?

AvA: I was invited to the simple socials by Becca. After meeting some of the members and learning more about what it means to be a Junior League member, I was excited to join.

LL: What is your favorite part of the League?

AvA: Making a positive impact on the community while spending time with new friends.

LL: Any hobbies (other than jump rope)?

AvA: I enjoy training for and running half marathons. I have done 4 so far, and I am planning to do the Marshall half marathon in November.

LL: As a West Virginia “transplant,” how do you like your life here?

AvA: I truly feel I was meant to move to West Virginia to meet some really great people! All of the organizations in which I have become involved have connected me with people who have made this adventure to West Virginia a positive experience!

Anna at-a-Glance Husband: Doug, third year medical student at Marshall.

Undergrad: Elon University, degree in Elementary Education and Spanish

Certification: Duke University, teaching gifted education in K-12

Employed: Gifted teacher at Enslow and Milton middles

Siblings: Older brother Erik, younger brother John and younger sister Liza

Early Years: Born in Westchester County, NY, moved to Chapel Hill, NC at age 10, considers Chapel Hill her hometown.

Pet: German Shepherd/Australian cattle dog mix, rescued at Christmas 3.5 years ago when he was 5 months old.

Who do you know that is a master

jump-roper? Who can single-

handily manage wild children and

not break a sweat? Who can

balance being a wife to a medical

student while working full time

and volunteering her free time to

her community? Not many people

have the pleasure to come across a

lady that meets all of these criteria.

Anna meets them all and then

some. Anna is the type of lady that

the more you get to know her, the

more you realize that you are the

one blessed to be considered her

friend. She is a loyal, fun, and

genuine gal that loves good

conversation and, more

importantly, good wine. Anna has

jumped in with both of her

Olympic winning feet to be an

active member of the Junior

League of Huntington, taking on

multiple tasks and managing key

positions within the league

without hesitation.

- Becca Hansen

9

Hall of Fame This section is intended to recognize outstanding accomplishments or exciting news of Junior League

members. If you have news to share about yourself or a fellow member, please email

League Lines Editor Anna Lafferre at [email protected].

Congratulations to Jessica Copeland, and her husband Jason,

who welcomed baby Everett Michael (Rhett) May 30, 2012.

Best of luck to Dominique Elmore as she begins her first year of

medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Yay for Jenna Cremeans, who opened her own law practice over the summer. Jenna, who is a writer

and author, also began a blog. You can find it at

www.lawyerihardlyknowher.blogspot.com

Congratulations to Allison Subacz who joined the firm of Jenkins

Fenstermaker as a new associate September 4.

10

World view This section is dedicated to learning about what other Leagues around the country and world are doing.

From alji.org and Fox 13 News Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake City’s Junior League hosted their 20th annual free health care clinic earlier

this week.

The clinic, organized by the Junior League, is staffed by University of Utah medical students who help

doctors, dentists and other health professionals see 3,000 patients over the course of two days.

“We have a full women’s services, children’s immunizations, diabetes and cholesterol screening, early

intervention for children, orthopedics; everything you can get at the doctor’s office you can get here,”

said Jennifer Clark, president of the Junior League of Salt Lake City.

The clinic offers free health care to any community members who need it, something general practition-

er Jared Theurer says is a population that is often overlooked.

“I think a lot of dentists like to go out of country and see the different aspects of dentistry and the jun-

gles and the underserved third world countries and that seems to have a lot of glamour, but sometimes

in our own backyard, we need to realize there is a population that needs to be served,” said Theurer.

Theurer says the clinic offers an opportunity for those who don’t know where to look or how to ask for

healthcare to get checked out.

“People just don’t know where to go,” he said. “For the most part, I think people are afraid to call a pri-

vate practice like mine and say, ‘Hey, I need some help,’ and I think if more people reached out, I think

they’d see that dentists are willing to donate their time and their efforts.”

Utah’s Dept. of Health says that last year, more than 20 percent of Utahns between the ages of 18 and 64

don’t have health insurance, and that number is rising. The percentage of Utahns without insurance has

doubled in the last 20 years.

First meeting information:

September 19th at the Woodlands, 10:00 a.m.,

"Vermicastings" by Scott Revely, the "Worm Man"

11

Jenna Told Ya Thoughts on life from JL Huntington’s funniest gal! Find her on Twitter at @Jenna_ToldYa

My Dearest PMS,

I think we can both agree that we have had our ups and downs. You have given me moments of extreme

joy, only to replace them unexpectedly with all-consuming

anger. I have been your emotional puppet for many years,

and asked for little in return.

But, PMS, when you provoked me into visibly weeping at a

stoplight to Vitamin C’s “Graduation Song,” you crossed the

line. You took away my dignity, and I can’t forgive you for

that. You filled me with so much emotion that I when I got

home I marched straight into the bedroom and pulled the

comforter over my head. When my husband asked me why,

I explained that I was removing myself from society for the

day.

“Why?” He asked. “Are you dangerous?”

I nodded.

“Even to me?”

“Especially to you,” I growled.

The only thing that made me feel better was eating a Jolly Pirate donut in the comfort of my bed. This is

what you’ve reduced me to, PMS: A snarling, sniffling, donut inhaling she-bear who can’t make it

through one nostalgic high school anthem without falling to pieces. I hope you are happy.

Oh, who am I kidding? I ate two donuts. That’s right! And I would eat a third if I could.

No Longer Yours Truly,

Jenna

12

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Huntington, WV

Permit No. 90

Return service requested

The Junior League of Huntington

617 9th Avenue

Huntington, WV 25701

September Birthdays Wish a fellow member a happy birthday!

Active Members

Maria Reynolds September 5

Tracy Komorowski September 16

Rebecca Hansen September 17

Amy Browning September 21

Jessica Copeland September 23

Sustainers

Kitt Muth September 5

Nancy Robertson September 7

Mary Lou Anton September 8

Gina Finley September 9

Jean Hamilton September 12

Susan Dillard September 13

Jenny Amsbary September 16

Caroline Groves September 17

Lee Ann Wallace September 17

Molly Robertson September 18

Clara Alice Wilson September 19

Linda Hood September 20

Joan Brisbon September 27