Thursday, April 18, 2013

A Provisional's Experience

Submitted by Elisabeth Bischofberger, Provisional Member


Since moving to Columbia after college, I knew that I wanted to be associated with an organization of women who performed meaningful activities together to give back to our community. It took a few years, but I finally joined the Junior League of Columbia. My provisional year has been a great experience on several levels -- meeting new women with diverse careers and life aspirations, learning about the organization as a whole and bonding as a provisional group.

What I like most about Junior League is that there is such a diverse group of women. Anyone who says "all Junior Leaguers are a like" could not be more wrong -- except that they all want to make a difference in our community. Why that attracted me as a provisional was because I liked knowing that I could make friends in my provisional group who were not just in the corporate world. That would be so boring! I could learn from new mothers, gain perspective from newly married women and talk about the business side of nonprofits with women who chose that type of career path. The perspective provided by these women different from me is very interesting and gives me a new way of thinking about how we will work together for one common goal. I really enjoyed working community and fundraising shifts where we got the opportunity to do a task with women we had never met before, all with the bigger picture in mind to raise money or provide services to our partners in the community.

I love a well-run meeting. I define "well run" as a) organized; b) timely (less than an hour); and c) interesting and insightful. The general membership meetings were great as a provisional because I learned more about different committees and what responsibilities they served in the League. Not only did I learn more about our internal structure of the JLC, but also how much our work impacts those we give money and services to in the Columbia area. Hearing from Sherry and her guide dog, Roberta, at a General Membership Meeting made me want to serve on the committee that grants the money to give to different organizations. How heartfelt!

Most importantly, you can't retain members if there is no "stickiness" that holds them together. I was fortunate enough to meet a handful of women in my provisional class and become much closer friends with them over the course of our year together. Whether it is working JLC shifts, exercising or even attending community benefits together, it's great to have new friends who share similar passions. Several of us are looking forward to making decisions on our placements for years to come. One year down, many more ahead!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Experience Tractor Town at Touch A Truck This Saturday


Submitted by Connelly-Anne Ragley, Active Member

With Junior League of Columbia’s Touch A Truck event right around the corner, the committee is excited to announce a special partnership with Lexington County Farm-City to bring a whole new world of agricultural machinery to Touch A Truck attendees. With the event being held at the State Farmers Market in West Columbia, this seemed like a natural arrangement to present farm equipment to Midlands’ families.

 This year’s event will feature a special display of agricultural and farm equipment presented by Lexington County Farm-City dubbed “Tractor Town” to showcase antique tractors, haulers, cotton pickers and other state-of-the-art agricultural machinery used to harvest crops and materials in the Midlands in the production and distribution of food, feed, fiber and fuel. This year, we’re also pleased to welcome back the South Carolina Farm Bureau Ag Simulator that will give kids the experience of harvesting crops.

Lexington County Farm-City was organized in 1995 with the mission to increase awareness of how farm and city people depend on each other for growing, processing and distributing food, fiber, fuel and a growing list of other products. Some of their past programs have included: Farm-City Week kick-off banquets, annual Job Exchange for a day between a farmer and non-farmer, Farm-City Showcase, Youth Leadership Lexington Tour, FFA Annual Appreciation Night and Scholarships for FFA students in each of the high schools in Lexington County with FFA programs.

The Junior League of Columbia and Lexington County Farm-City hope to see you at the State Farmers Market this Saturday to experience Tractor Town and Touch A Truck! Tickets are $6 each with children under 2 free with each paying adult or a family 4-pack of tickets for $20. Tickets are available at the door! For more information, please visit the Junior League of Columbia's website.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Local Crime Fighters on Display on April 13, 2013

Submitted by Connelly-Anne Ragley, Active Member

Touch A Truck, the newest Junior League of Columbia fundraiser and family event, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013. We're headed back to the State Farmers Market in West Columbia and look forward to transforming the market into a world of big rigs and heavy machinery for young and old alike to see up close! After a successful event in 2012, the Touch A Truck committee is 'cranked up' and ready to bring even more exciting exhibits to the event.


The 4th annual Touch A Truck event will feature all things that go! Kids have the opportunity to explore big vehicles like emergency vehicles, tractors and agricultural equipment, cement trucks, bulldozers and antique military vehicles.

This year, we are pleased to feature some of the men and women who build, protect and serve the Midlands. From the SC Forestry Commission, Lexington County Fire and EMS and Lexington County Sheriff's Office to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Richland County Sheriff's Office, there will be no shortage of cool crime fighting vehicles on display this year. Touch A Truck is also excited to have a KidPrint station on hand at the event for a chance to have a child's fingerprint made in case of emergency. As always, we appreciate the service and sacrifice of these law enforcement, fire and rescue squads and all the individuals who help keep our communities and neighborhoods safe!

This community event also features family-friendly entertainment, public safety information and healthy eating activities from JLC's Kids in the Kitchen. This year, we will also have "Tractor Town," a section of the event dedicated to the agriculture industry, sponsored by Lexington County Farm City. Mascots, face painting and other amusements round out the fun.

Come join us on April 13th! Get your tickets here!

Saturday, April 13, 2013
10 am to 2 pm
New State Farmers Market
3438 Charleston Highway
West Columbia, South Carolina

Admission: $6 per person (Children under 2 free with a paying adult) or a family 4-pack of tickets for $20