42 Whitman Road Worcester, MA 01609 Web: www.jlwma.org E-mail: volunteer@jlwma.org

April 2011

H O T L I N E

The Junior League of Worces ter

Food For Thought

1

President’s Message

2

Carol Scott Training

3

Girlfriends Luncheon / PFS / Scholarship

4

Nordstrom / Kentucky Derby Party

5

N&P / Sustainers / Stepping Out Photos

6

Background Investiga-tion vs. Background

Check

7

Our MissionOur MissionOur MissionOur Mission

The Junior League of Worcester is an organization

of women committed to promoting voluntarism,

developing the potential of women, and improving the

community through the effective action and leadership of trained

volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and

charitable

Our VisionOur VisionOur VisionOur Vision

The Junior League of Worcester will work, through

involvement in our community to improve and

enrich the lives of women and children.

INSIDE

Self-sufficiency Meets Food 4 Thought

It was just last April that the JLW membership voted to focus on the issue of self-sufficiency. Now, through the efforts of the Community Research team alongside the membership participating in several project development workshops held across mul-tiple general membership meetings, we have our signature project – Food 4 Thought (F4T)! Food 4 Thought is based on the Kids in the Kitchen model where the JLW offers a nutritional meal or snack and three different health-focused workshops to middle school girls. In the case of F4T, the health-focused workshops will be replaced with self-sufficiency focused workshops. Workshops can include body image/health, self-defense, etiquette, personal hygiene, study and social skills, public speaking, technology, social media, crisis management, etc. and will be taught by either JLW volunteers, outside instructors/trained profes-sionals and even other students. Our goal is to empower middle school age girls to develop their potential through life building skills and adult mentorship. Why Middle School? The ages between 10 and 14 are most commonly when students engage or disengage from school and learning. The National Middle School Associa-tion (NMSA) has associated this critical transition time with declining academic achievement, motivation, and self-perception. Whether students see themselves tak-ing challenging courses in high school and pursuing post-secondary learning and ca-reers, is directly influenced by their middle school classroom experiences. These chal-lenges are even more pronounced for female students and those students developing their racial and ethnic identities. We anticipate that the outcome of our work will be confident middle school girls with self-sufficiency skills that enable them to navigate from adolescence to adulthood with self-esteem and independence.

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

2 APRIL 2011

JLW LeadershipJLW LeadershipJLW LeadershipJLW Leadership 2010201020102010----2011201120112011

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Kate Halpin

Community VP Kerri Martinek

Secretary Maura Turner

Treasurer McHala Brophy

VP of Finance Luanne Remillard

BOARD OF MANAGERSBOARD OF MANAGERSBOARD OF MANAGERSBOARD OF MANAGERS

Fund Director Amy Tesoro

Communications Director

Amy Banek Nominating/Placement

Sara Kelleher Sears

Membership & Development Luanne Remillard

Christina Roberts Brenda Dubrey

Sustainer Representatives Lisa McDonough

Susan Melden Palatucci

COMMITTEE CHAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRS (NON(NON(NON(NON----VOTING) OPERATIONSVOTING) OPERATIONSVOTING) OPERATIONSVOTING) OPERATIONS

Hotline Brenda Dubrey

Website /Marketing Kerri Martinek

Future Planning Kate Halpin

Programs & Training Erica Voyiatzis

Director of Community Outreach Kim Schultz

House Committee

Janel Salada Public Relations Committee

Amy Banek

FUNDRAISERSFUNDRAISERSFUNDRAISERSFUNDRAISERS

Spring Fundraiser Shannon Pluta Maura Turner

Annual Fund Amy Daley

Grants Angela Bailey

PROJECTSPROJECTSPROJECTSPROJECTS

Coats for Kids Angela Bailey Kristi Hummel Cronin

Done In A Day Heather Ball Brenda Dubrey

Project Fresh Start Colleen Colby

Jennifer Graves

Scholarship Michele Cosper

Dear Members of the Junior League of Worcester, Thank you for your service to the League and your continued support. Whether you are a newer member, have come to Worcester as a transfer, or have been around to see the JLW through its many transitions, you bring value to this organization. In the more than 85 years of the JLW, our members have worked to improve the Worcester community. We have always worked as volunteers developing our own potential through training and leadership as well as working to develop the potential of girls and women in the community. While many of our Sustaining members can recall the end of a beloved project, most Active members had not experienced this until the most recent GMM in April 2011. It was difficult to say good-bye to Project Fresh Start and we thank all who have do-

nated items, shopped for Project Fresh Start, chaired or worked on the committee. However, with every ending comes an exciting new beginning and I am pleased to announce that after many thoughtful discussions the Junior League of Worcester has unanimously voted to kick off our new project: Food 4 Thought in the fall of 2011. We are looking forward to an exciting new road for the Junior League of Worcester as we focus on promoting self-sufficiency for middle school girls through adult mentorship and skill building workshops. Additionally, each year we work to develop our potential through formal as well as on the job training. At the April General Membership Meeting I asked our members to reflect on their on the job training for the past year and share what they learned. This year while on the job our members have learned how to run meetings, they became skilled in a variety of computer appli-cations, they acquired organizational and time management skills, they gained skills on how to effectively delegate responsibilities, they were educated about the Worcester community and its needs, learned about Robert’s Rules, how to write ballots, while the Fundraising Committee has benefited from on the job training from our two Sustainer Representatives. Finally, we offered a full-day training experience to the entire membership this past March and nearly half of the Active membership attended. This fund development training was led by Carol Scott, a seasoned trainer from AJLI, member of the Junior League of Pasadena, former AJLI Board member, frequent consultant and trainer to non-profit organizations in the areas of leadership, fundraising, management and governance. It was a great way to bring an ODI train-ing experience to our members. Because of Carol Scott’s unique qualifications we were also able to offer a 3-hour Board training. We have formally trained members at three different AJLI conferences this past year. We had two members representing the JLW at Fall Leadership in Portland, OR, two members at ODI in Texas, and two members at Winter Leadership in New Orleans. Training is what makes the JLW standout among volunteer organizations. Many Sustaining members of the League attribute a multitude of their skills to the Junior League of Worcester. How has the Junior League’s training both formal and on the job helped you? Please consider sharing your personal JLW story by writing a Hotline article, speaking at a General Member-ship Meeting or contact me kamhalpin.jlw@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events:

Kentucky Derby Party - Saturday, May 7, 2011 - Tatnuck Country Club, Worcester

Annual Dinner - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Mechanic’s Hall, Worcester

stART on the Street - Saturday, May 22, 2011 - North Main Street, Worcester

Meeting minutes can be found online at: www.jlwma.org/members

Please contact Kate Halpin for the secure password.

Kate Halpin, President

3

Junior League of Worcester Hotline

3 APRIL 2011

The Junior League of Worcester Continues to Set Itself Apart by Training Volunteers

Lisa Vickers

Since being introduced to the Junior League of Worcester, I imagine most of us have been asked on more than one oc-casion “so what’s different about the Junior League?”. Although there are many answers to that question, there is a single, fundamentally unique quality of our organization that sets us apart from other nonprofits. That quality is the Junior League’s focus on training women to become civic leaders in the community. True to that part of our mission, the Junior League of Worcester recently hosted a full day training opportunity open to the general membership that focused on Fund Development and its role in creating a stronger organization. The keynote speaker was Carol Scott, a noted trainer within AJLI who has been a part of the organization for many years and has vast experience not only in leading within AJLI, but also developing financially robust non-profit organi-

zations outside the Junior League.

Carol engaged attendees by encouraging them to think about fundraising in new ways. She invited members to em-brace the concept that fundraising is every member's responsibility and is a pivotal way in which we can continue to make a positive impact in the Worcester area. By reframing the role of fundraising, Carol led the members to focus on how building a stronger financial support will enable us to continue our mission to Promote Volunteerism, Develop the Potential of Women and Improve Communities. Ultimately, fundraising should not start from the need to raise money. Rather, it starts with strategic thinking and strategic planning about how to meet community needs and defining the

resources necessary to ensure that those needs are met.

Attendees were impressed with Carol’s direct and engaging style. Her personalized approach to training facilitated open and honest communication about what we do well and areas that may require more review and focus. She en-couraged the membership to think critically about capacity, member engagement and how activities promoted by the JLW should be in direct alignment with our signature cause of self -sufficiency. In essence, Carol’s training high-lighted how strategic planning and financial goal setting would allow the Junior League of Worcester to promote itself and its mission in the community. And that fundraising effectively and appropriately will allow us to deliver upon

those goals in a dramatic and meaningful way.

If you were unable to attend the Fund Development training session but would like to learn more about the topics cov-ered on March 19th, contact Kate Halpin for copies of the handouts.

Nearly half of our Active Members took part in the Fund

Development Training with Carol Scott. In this photo:

Amy Tesoro, Aimee Trinque, Kerri Martinek, Kate Hal-

pin, Janel Salada, Carol Scott, Christina Roberts, McHala

Brophy and Liz Young

Junior League of Worcester Hotline

APRIL 2011

4

Scholarship Michele Cosper chair

For over two decades, the JLW has awarded scholarships to Worcester-area high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding volunteerism in their community. The application was sent to over 40 Worcester-area high schools at the beginning of January, and the Junior League of Worcester received seventeen scholarship applications this year. The candidates represent private, parochial, and public schools throughout Worcester County. Up to two $1,500 scholarships will be given to the top candidates. The Scholarship Committee is made up of seven women, who are currently reviewing the applications. Winners will be notified the last week April and will be featured in a future edition of the Hotline. Thank you to all talented young women that applied this year!

JLW Board Honors Members This year, The Junior League of Worcester Board of Directors proudly honored all of the organization's members at the “Suzanne K Ford Girlfriend’s Luncheon.” This annual event was established for the women of Worcester County to honor their girl-friends, Past, Present or Future. As part of the event, the Board decorated a table in honor of its members, showcasing each of their names and the League's mission.

During the event, the Board stated that it was pleased to honor all of the fabulous women of The Junior League of Worcester who are committed to pro-moting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volun-teers. The event was also a wonderful opportunity to highlight the League and its mission in the com-munity. Pictured: Junior League Board Members and Volunteers who

attended the "Suzanne K Ford Girlfriend's Luncheon"; the

table that was decorated in honor of the JLW membership.

Project Fresh Start Jennifer Graves co-chair

Project Fresh Start, one of the Junior League’s projects, continues to see significant demand to help those in need of transitioning from shelters to permanent housing. During the months of February and March, 2011, Junior League of Worcester members shopped for, packed and delivered household items to help eight families get a “fresh start” as they moved out of the Friendly House of Worcester. These families represent a total of 25 people we were able to assist. This year (June, 2010 through present date), we have been able to help a total of one 102 individuals, representing 33 families. As Project Fresh Start winds down in its final year, we celebrate the fact that the JLW has helped 800 families in the Worcester area transition from shelters into their new homes!

5

Junior League of Worcester Hotline

5 APRIL 2011

Nordstrom Thank you to those of you who attended the Nordstrom Shopping event on Sunday, April 9, 2011.

• We had just over 50 members/provisionals/sustainers and friends come together.

• We learned about Spring Fashions and had the opportunity to shop their great selection of dresses, jewelry, shoes and hats!

• Our attendance and shopping at this event will help the JLW's grant proposal that will be submitted to Nord-strom in October 2011.

If you didn’t find your perfect hat yet, there will be Hat Making Party the weekend before the Derby Party on Satur-

day April 30th from 10-12p at the JLW House. Bring a hat and ribbon, flowers or other supplies you'd like to use to decorate your hat. HomeGoods at the Greendale Mall has a shipment of hats in stock ranging from $12-$30. Sharing is encouraged! Please bring extra supplies and glue guns. Look in Companio for more details and sign up to join us!

Kentucky Derby Party Volunteer Shifts

There are new shifts added to Companio to volunteer for the Kentucky Derby Party. Tickets The Derby Party is quickly approaching! Our goal is to sell 250 tickets.

• All tickets must be purchased in advance as we are not planning on selling them at the door. (b/c of our 250 capacity limit)

• If you are planning to attend and you haven’t pur-chased your ticket yet… please, log on to www.jlwma.org and purchase your ticket.

• You can also mail a check to the house attention McHala Brophy

• Friends and Family are welcome and feel free to share on your FaceBook account to help us reach our goal

Raffle Tickets Raffle Tickets for our HIS and HERS basket are also now available for pre-sale! A flyer will be emailed to the membership if you are interested to help sell tickets to friends and family! Our His and Hers raffle basket are both valued over $1,100!!! HERS Basket includes: a night at the Liberty Hotel, a Coach Bag & Bangle, a Vera Bradley Bag, (2) RT tickets on Direct Air, (2) Tickets to the Boston Ballet, (2) Tickets to Hanover Theatre, Pedicure and Massage Certificates. HIS Basket includes: (4) Tickets to the Red Sox, (2) RT tickets on Direct Air, (2) Tickets to Hanover Theatre, Hot Shave, Bourbon Basket and wine tasting for 20 people at KJ Barrons, F1 Racing Certificate. Tickets are $10/each or 6 for $50. You do not need to be present to win. Email Shannon for tickets or more informa-tion at shannon.pluta@yahoo.com or 508-353-5786.

APRIL 2011

Junior League of Worcester Hotline

6

Sustainer Update A message from the principal of Belmont Street School: Thank you to the sustainers of the Junior League of Worcester for your generous support of the Belmont Street School volunteer

initiative. The supplies you have donated will go a long way toward helping the students stay healthy and comfortable. For ex-

ample, the teachers are so pleased to have each child take a second to use hand sanitizer before going to lunch! It’s also wonder-

ful to see how a child reacts to having a new pencil with a fresh eraser or a new box of crayons.

Anyone wishing to learn more about this project or contribute in any way - a few hours a week can make a huge difference to the

lives of these students – can reach me at ycfili@aol.com or 508 795-7406. Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of the Bel-

mont Street School.

Yda Filiberti

Several JLW members marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade:

Janel Salada, Luanne Remillard, Patty Minton, Amy Banek,

Kathleen Lanava Kerri Martiek, Christina Robers, and Barbara

Guertin, Laura Brainard, Lyn Herbolsheimer and Lisa Vickers

JLW Stepping Out Nominating and Placement Sara Kelleher Sears

It is with great pleasure that the Nominating and Placement Committee present the 2011-2012 Board of Managers to the member-ship. The Executive Slate was officially ap-proved by the membership at the April General Membership Meeting on April 12. The League is thankful to the following women for believing and following the JLW Mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the poten-tial of women and improving the community through the leadership and effective action of

trained volunteers:

President Kate Halpin

President Elect McHala Brophy

Secretary Lisa Vickers Treasurer

Michele Cosper VP of Finance

Sara Kelleher Sears Community VP Christina Roberts

Nominating and Placement Chair Kerri Martinek

Fund Development Chair Luanne Remillard

Communications Director Amy Banek

Membership and Development Rachel Butterfield and Janel Salada

Sustainer Representatives Lisa McDonough and Susan Palatucci

Derby Fashion Show At Nordstrom

7

APRIL 2011 7

Junior League of Worcester Hotline

Background Investigation vs. Background Check Presented by Seeking Sitters

SeekingSitters is an on-demand babysitter referral service where we do all the work for the families and the profes-sional sitters. Families sign up online at SeekingSitters.com and they can submit a request for their specific need, one-time, part-time or full-time and a local owner immediately receives the request and starts working to match a Contract Professional Sitter that has been personally interviewed and thoroughly back-ground screened by a licensed private investigator. SeekingSitters performs a Background Investigation on every Contract Profes-sional Sitter that is referred to the members of the service. A Background Investi-gation is much more thorough and accurate than a Background Check. Read be-low to further understand these differences. What standards can you expect in a Background Check? Is this Background Check truly an investigation of a sub-ject’s personal history? You will be surprised to know some facts about this misunderstood service that has become essential in providing personal character profiling on today’s job applicants. When you hear that a company performs a Background Check on their personnel, you immediately feel safer and more at ease. But what you don’t know is that the information sold as a thorough Background Check can be grossly inadequate and inaccurate to the point of being outdated, missing or just plain wrong! We assume that all background screening is performed professional and thoroughly – NOT SO! Online information has helped investigators tremendously over the past 20 years. This readily available information is only the preface of a true professional ground investigation. The “hot off the press” data retrieval only scratches the surface of the individual’s lifelong behavior and does nothing to dig for the dirt! It is important for a consumer to understand that a company claiming to run a Background Check on someone could merely be retrieving online data and passing it on to you without further verification of the information. This is not a true Background Investigation! There have been cases of job applicants that have omitted criminal information on an application knowing that a stan-dard Background Check will not identify this information due to incorrect filings or name misspellings. In order to ensure that background information on a persona is accurate and up to date, a professional Background Investigator must not only search all sources of public records readily available, but also from the Investigator’s own personal re-search and contact with actual sources. Professional Background Investigators must know how to traverse through a maze of records nationally and worldwide, and know exactly who-what-where their sources are in order to get the desired information on a subject. What you can do to make sure you are getting the best background investigation is ask questions: How long have they been doing background screening? What specifically is their method of background investigation? Is a credit history analysis part of the investigation? Do their investigators have specific training in the areas of law or paralegal work, or are they trained research professionals? What credentials do the investigators hold? Are the investigators qualified to give personal character profile opinions? How often are the company’s information sources updated? After evaluating these questions, you can be assured that the investigator is gathering the most accurate and up to date information on your candidate.

Adrienne Kallweit is a licensed private investigator for over 10 years and the founder of SeekingSitters, a national

babysitting referral service that began in 2004. Stephanie Ackerman and Kim Schofield own the Boston Metrowest

SeekingSitters location. To find out more information visit www.seekingsitters.com

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WORCESTER

42 Whitman Road Worcester, MA 01609

Junior League of Worcester Hotline

Please Support our Sponsors

JLW

2010 - 2011

Sponsors