Presidents Note

Dear Readers,

Your VOICE was heard! Last year we introduced the “Your Voice” initiative and the flow of information throughout the League was almost electric. This initiative dovetailed on the surveys that are always packed with intriguing and powerful information about things such as what League members want, like, or prefer to do with their very precious commodity, time.

At this point, you may be thinking that I have had so many different suggestions and wondering to which one am I referring? The General Membership Meeting or more commonly referred to as the GMM. This year we are going to open this up to the community and to our non-profit partners for training and education. Some of you may recall from the May dinner meeting comments that I am very passionate about the League’s purpose in the community. A method to enhance and expand the Junior League of Boca Raton’s impact and awareness is to leverage the GMM, and that is what we will be doing this year.

Let me explain in more detail so that each of you will not only place these dates immediately on your calendar BUT will also invite your friends, neighbors, colleagues and of course, other non-profit members and executives.

Mark your calendar for September 11th, followed by November 13th, and January 8th.. All of our meetings will be held at Boca West Country Club. Where? I live east of Federal and while I may have actually heard a few of you groan, rest assured – it is a dynamite and beautiful location with exceptional service. Cocktails start at 6 p.m. and a sharp start of 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for business, education, and training. I cannot wait for all of you to participate in the experience! I am so very thankful for their generous support of the Junior League of Boca Raton.

• September 11th – “Raising Funds to Power Leadership & Lasting Community Impact,” by Carol Scott

Carol, a consultant, is absolutely amazing! If the members of your board or organization are not fully engaged in the fundraising process throughout the community, this is a MUST SEE! Carol is a frequent consultant and trainer to nonprofit organizations in the areas of leadership, fundraising, management and governance. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Research Triangle in Chicago. Carol Scott is the past President/CEO of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate South Carolina where she was responsible for planning, designing, constructing and operating a new museum. She previously served nine years as Executive Director of Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, California where she played a significant role in shaping the museum’s growth to a new location.

• November 13th – “Effective Leadership for Community Impact,” by Vicki Clark

Vicki is so inspiring! You will have ACTION ITEMS to work on the very next day! Vicki has extensive experience working with nonprofit, private sector and governmental organizations. For nearly 30 years she has worked to help enhance the missions of local, national and international groups. She was on the steering committee for Colin Powell’s Presidents’ Summit for America’s Children and served as a member of the Leader to Leader (formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation) training team. Vicki is a principal with the Literacy Powerline Consortium and serves as a Senior Governance Consultant and she is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

• January 8th – “Protect & Empower Our Children,” by KidSafe Foundation

Sally Berenzweig, MEd, MA; Child Safety Expert, Mental Health Professional, Educator, Public Speaker, Author, Mom and Co-founder of KidSafe Foundation
Cherie Benjoseph, LCSW; Child Safety Expert, Mental Health Professional, Educator, Public Speaker, Author, Mom and Co-founder of KidSafe Foundation

• Plus, at each GMM, we will invite our non-profit partners to host a table during cocktails, gratis, to further educate our community and of course, join us for the trainings.
• In our next issue, I will highlight who we have coming to educate & inspire for March 12th, April 9th and May 14th!

October 18th is the Woman Volunteer of the Year, 25th Anniversary! Join us to Celebrate Volunteerism throughout our community! Boca Raton Resort & Club, 10:30 a.m. with an earlier start of 11:45 a.m.

Thank you all for participating in the Governance & Board retreat in June! We had an amazing turnout! I have received terrific feedback on our Birkman training as well as demands to host it again for those who could not make it – and some would like their whole family, especially husbands, to do it as well. Stay tuned!

This year I strive to expand the Junior League of Boca Raton’s impact and awareness and to ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE and INSPIRE our members and our partners in the community. I ask all of you for your support and guidance in order to achieve this goal.

Warmest Regards,

Jackie Reeves
President 2012-2013