Luck of the JLC at the St. Patrick's Day Parade

Submitted by Provisionals Danielle Payne and Chamarlyn Fairley

Photos by Provisional Crystal Carcell

What do you get when you mix 40 enthusiastic Junior League women and a St. Patrick's Day Parade? A fun morning filled with a float, candy, flyers and advertisements for the newest fundraising project for the Junior League, Touch a Truck!

Junior League of Columbia celebrated everyone's favorite green holiday by participating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 16th. Active and provisional members of JLC walked in the parade for the second straight year to promote Touch A Truck. Provisionals, as one of their projects, decorated and coordinated the parade participation.

To our surprise, the large enthusiastic crowd started shouting "Touch A Truck" and "Junior League" as we walked by. The League members waved and had a great interaction with the crowd encouraging them to attend the event.

This fun event allowed JLC to team up with other groups in the community, including Family Connections, to support each group's cause and of course, St. Patrick's Day. Don't forget to purchase your tickets for Touch a Truck, which will be held on April 13, 2013 at the State Farmers Market in West Columbia. We hope to see you there!

Sustainers Enjoy an Afternoon Social at Still Hopes Garden Room

Contributed by Mary Frances Jowers, Sustainer Outreach Committee Chair

On a recent Sunday afternoon, Sustainers, Actives and Junior Volunteers enjoyed an Afternoon Social coordinated by three Junior League committees:  Education and Development, Sustainer Outreach and Junior Volunteers.    

The Sustainers enjoyed looking at photos from years past that were part of a flower/photo centerpiece, and the Actives enjoyed hearing wonderful stories of League experiences from the Sustainers.  Many of the Sustainers who attended have been League members for over 60 years.  League President Mary Kay Owens led a champagne toast to recognize these members for their service, and the three longest-serving members attending received special recognition. 

As part of the afternoon, Sustainers completed a survey with questions including what their favorite placement was, most unusual placement and greatest challenge of being in the League.  Some of the responses were similar to what they would be today, especially those related to the challenges of balancing home and family, work and JLC and other volunteer commitments.  On the other hand, some of the responses provided an invaluable insight into a previous generation of League members.  For example, some Sustainers mentioned that challenge of having only one car within the family and having to share the car with husbands and other family members.  Sustainers explained that the provisional course was a great experience, though there was an exam at the end some compared to a law school exam.

Sustainers described many wonderful placements including working with the Marionette Theatre, the Speech and Hearing Clinics, the USO, the Columbia Museum of Art and even writing articles about interesting South Carolinians for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation publication.  Sustainers described working at the State Hospital, the Planetarium and editing “The Compact” – the League newsletter in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

This event enriched all who attended by providing valuable insight into the Junior League of Columbia throughout the years.  As we look toward the 90th anniversary and the future of the League, we can build of the experiences of those who have been in the League for years.

Lunch With Leaders: Looking Back to Move Forward

On Monday, I had the privilege of attending the Junior League of Columbia's Lunch With Leaders event at the Palmetto Club.  Panelists included Charlotte Berry, Elizabeth Bradley, Nancy Dunbar, Georgia Hart, Katharine McNulty Hubbard, Lorri Shealy Unumb, and Sue Williams.  I cannot describe how exciting it was to see active members, sustainers, and provisionals taking time out of their busy schedules to bond.  The lack of  empty chairs was a true testament to the excitement surrounding this event.  

Charlotte Berry, Elizabeth Bradley, Nancy Dunbar and Gerogia Hart

 I knew two of the panelists, Charlotte Berry and Lorri Unumb. But after the engaging discussion, I felt like I had known each of the panelists for years.  Before the panel discussion began, sustainers were asked to share how many decades they had been members, (yes DECADES)!  To my dismay, two ladies at my table had been members for over 50 years.  Georgia Hart was one of the panelists who shared that privilege as well.  GiGi Dawson served as moderator, and kept each attendee hanging on her to every word.  The panelists reflected on various causes the League had supported over the years, and reminisced about the most successful and innovative fundraisers.

Gigi Dawnson, Ginny Hairston, Rebecca Timmons, Carla Moore and JLC President, Mary Kay Owen

During the Q&A session, I felt moved to thank each panelist for their genuine commitment to improve the city of Columbia.  Until that moment, I did not realize HOW POWERFUL our membership was!  It was so refreshing being in a room with like-minded women from diverse backgrounds.  As an education advocate who gave up her career to pursue her passion, I asked for their insight.  I wanted to know how the panelists were so successful at persuading members to become champions for their causes. 

Gigi Dawson, Kappy Hubbard, Lorri Unumb and Sue Williams

 Lorri Unumb shared her triumphs with Ryan's Law and The Autism Society.  Lorri informed our group that she was passionate about autism after her son was diagnosed with it, but never knew it would lead to new career opportunities.  Charlotte Berry shared that women in the league are very excited to support one another, and often looking for ways to step out of the box.  Charlotte was successful in initiating programs supporting senior citizens while President of the Asheville chapter.  Sue Williams was excited to share that we are one network, and we can make any changes we put our mind to.  When the session was over, I had a line of actives and sustainers offering their support.  This event was definitely encouraging, and I hope it becomes an annual event.

Post By: Allison Spry Waymyers, Provisional

The Cinderella Project Experience

Submitted by Active member Christie Causey

When you join the Junior League of Columbia, you do it for the purpose of wanting to serve your community, make new friends and be a part of something special. I have been a part of the Junior League for seven years - six active and one provisional. I have worked many shifts, but this shift wasn’t like any other I had ever worked…The Cinderella Project.

The Cinderella Project gives teens in the area a chance to shop for a free prom gown, accessories, shoes and more at no cost to them, and the only requirement, I believe, is a valid high school ID. People all over the area donate dresses to this project and I learned that the chairs of the event actually shop around consignment stores to find additional gowns and increase variety and size options for all the girls to view. They also sort through all dresses donated, weed out any that may not meet “prom criteria” and donate those to Goodwill! Wow! What a great thing!

I arrived in the law school parking lot at 7:45 am ready for my assignment. I was so excited! I met Dare, a member of the SC Bar Association who has been a part of this event for many years. She gave me the task of being with her in the re-racking dept.

This is how the Cinderella Project works: girls wait in line for the doors to open, storm in, view tons of beautiful gowns and select three at a time to try on. When they are finished trying on, they can proceed to the accessories area if they have found that “oh so perfect gown.” If they haven’t found it, they can return the three gowns to the fitting room attendant and return to the selection area.

In the re-racking area, the dressing room attendants return all unwanted gowns to us and we hang them, if needed, and then rack them according to size. The gowns are then taken back by to the selection area by the floor attendants. It was crazy!  We had to make sure that all the girls coming in and out of the dressing rooms knew they couldn’t view or select any of the gowns on the size rack until they were returned to the selection floor because it’s only fair that everyone get to see them in the same place. 

I worked hard for three hours and when replacement shift workers showed up, I found it hard to leave.  I watched a so many girls come through there carrying gowns out of the dressing rooms with huge smiles on their face! Dare told me that they have the teen girls from Epworth Children’s Home come in first to view the gowns. I was just so in awe of how wonderful this project is. It is a wonderful thing they are doing and I was very excited that JLC could be a part of this rewarding day!

Are You Ready to Rumble?

Touch A Truck, the newest Junior League of Columbia fundraiser and family event, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013. The New State Farmer's Market will be transformed into a world of big rigs and heavy machinery for young and old alike to see up close!

The 4th annual Touch A Truck event will feature all things that go! Kids have the opportunity to explore big vehicles like fire trucks, cement trucks, bulldozers and antique military vehicles as well as meet the men and women people who build, protect and serve the Midlands. This community event also features family-friendly entertainment, public safety information plus healthy eating activities from JLC's Kids in the Kitchen. Mascots, face painting, and other amusements round out the fun. Come join us!

Saturday, April 13, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
New State Farmer's Market
3483 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.

Tickets are available for purchase at the event.  For more information, please visit the Junior League of Columbia's website at www.jlcolumbia.org.