The JLC Goes to Washington

Submitted by Carla Moore, President of JLC

Last Wednesday, I had the enormous honor of representing the JLC on Capitol Hill for the Association of Junior League’s “Hill Day” in conjunction with its 2013 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Immediate Past President Mary Kay Owens and I left Columbia in the early hours of May 15 to travel to DC to call on members our Congressional Delegation. I am proud to say that the JLC was one of about 24 Leagues (there are 293 internationally) participating in this important event.

Mary Kay and I were fortunate to meet with a senior staff member in the office of Congressman James Clyburn when the Congressman was called home to SC for an emergency. The staff member said she had asked to take the meeting with us because she knew and respected the League. We did our best to recruit her for the Washington, DC League!

Next, we had an exceptional meeting with Congressman Joe Wilson. Congressman Wilson and his staff spent a great deal of time with Mary Kay and me talking about the impact of the JLC and how we might be a resource to his office. We were delighted to learn that Congressman Wilson’s mother was a past member of the JLC.

Our final appointment for the day was with Senator Tim Scott’s health care staff member. Ironically, her mother was a former member of the JLC. We had a great conversation about healthy children and opportunities for collaboration with the Senator’s office.

On Friday, along with President-Elect Ginny Hairston, we joined our friends with the JL of Greenville and Anderson for a brief meeting and photo with Senator Lindsey Graham. As you might imagine, the Senator had a lot going on so we felt very lucky to have a few moments of his time.

The collective voice of the Junior Leagues was definitely heard last week on Capitol Hill. I am so proud that Columbia took part.