“A Toast to Tacky”

Miss Cayce’s Christmas Store, owned by sisters Becky McCraney and Kathy Harrison is the pride of Midland, Texas.  To celebrate the store’s 30^th anniversary this year, the sisters hosted an event called “A Toast to Tacky.” The event was inspired by artist Karen Didion’s latest creation, a porcelain Santa wearing a tacky Christmas sweater! Becky called me last spring to tell me about the event and asked if we would be willing to partner with them. She expressed their desire to do as much as they can to support the city they love and let me know they would be using the tacky Christmas sweater theme to inspire people to bring in a new sweater or coat to donate to our partners, Safe Place and Buckner Family Place. I wholeheartedly agreed to the partnership!

The event was held on November 8, 2014 and was tremendously successful! So many coats were donated that the sisters were unable to keep count. Active and Provisional Junior League of Midland members were given a missed meeting credit for attending the event. The event was well attended by our members and by the community at large. We’d like to thank Ms. McCraney and Ms. Harrison for their generosity and partnership! Thank you also to everyone who donated a coat. Many women and children will go through the holiday season this year warm in body and in heart.

Michelle Dinger

Junior League of Midland President, 2014-2015

President's Blog - “Keeping Kids in School-Every Age, Every Stage”

 

Last November our League voted on an Issue Based Community Impact Statement,

also know as IBCI. IBCI is a fancy way of saying “this is the issue we are focusing on

as a League.”  After an extensive amount of research into community needs, it was

found that keeping kids in school is a huge need in the City of Midland. Many people

hear the phrase “Keeping Kids in School” and think of merely addressing the

problem of the high-school student dropout rate. This couldn’t be further from the

truth. The campaign to keep kids in school starts before kids even begin school.

Research has shown that young children who are granted access to books and have

strong literacy skills are more likely to graduate. Research has also shown that the

self-esteem level a teenage girl has determines her likelihood of graduating. Girls

with higher levels of self-esteem are more likely to graduate than girls with low self-

esteem. It has also been shown that students who have access to scholarships,

grants, and training programs are more likely to continue their education after high

school by either going to a vocational school or college. Our IBCI “Keeping Kids in

School-Every Age, Every Stage” demonstrates the knowledge that we must begin the

campaign to keep kids in school when children are young and continue to educate in

different areas as they grow.

 

Within our issue  “Keeping Kids in School-Every Age, Every Stage” we will focus on

three different areas to encourage student success: literacy, college/career

preparedness and self-esteem. Every one of our community projects fits in one of

these areas. Reading Olympics addresses the issue of early childhood literacy.

Scholarship Clearinghouse fits under college/career preparedness. Kids First,

HopeWorks, Journey Summer Camp, Face the Race, Kids in the Kitchen and Suits

with Skills all fall under the area of self-esteem. You may be asking your self, “How

does Suits with Skills fall under the issue of self-esteem?” The answer is this:

empowering our Suits with Skills participants has a positive affect on their children.

If your parent is more stable in their surroundings and has higher self-esteem the

children reap the benefits. Our Volunteers in Midland project addresses all three

areas in different ways, depending upon the projects that are chosen. If you think

about it, these areas cross over one another. A child who attends Reading Olympics

and advances their literacy skills has a boost in self-esteem in the classroom. A

student who meets with a Scholarship Clearinghouse mentor to find the perfect

scholarship to apply for or learns how to apply for a grant also gets a boost of self-

esteem and feels empowered to continue their education. A Face the Race

participant whose self-esteem has been increased by attending the program also

gets the benefit of college/career preparedness when guest speakers come in and

talk to them about looking toward the future and educates them on the benefits of

 

Our issue is new to our League and to the community. One of our goals for this year

is to educate everyone about our issue. We truly do believe it is a campaign to keep

kids in school, and all campaigns need support!  We will use training sessions during

meetings and social media to accomplish our goal of educating our members and the

community about our issue. Please follow us on all of our social media platforms 

(Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, our blog and Pinterest). We will be posting articles,

blogs, and information that will give parents and community members the tools

needed to succeed in keeping our kids in school at every stage of development. Join

us as we endeavor to make Midland a place where every child has the ability to find

their spark and realize what they can achieve through education!

HopeWorks - Children's Grief Awareness Day

Children’s Grief Awareness Day (or Blue Day) is observed the third Thursday of November (which is also the Thursday before Thanksgiving) every year. This year it will be on November 20th. Children’s Grief Awareness Day is a day focused on recognizing and supporting the children all around us who have experienced the death of a loved one. This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one has in the life of a child.  It also provides the opportunity to make sure that these children receive the support they need and that they feel and see that hope and healing can be achieved.

“Before they graduate from high school, one child out of every 20 children will have a parent die—and that number doesn't include those who experience the death of a brother or sister, a close grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or friend.” (www.childrensgriefawarenessday.org) Bereaved children are often referred to as the "forgotten mourners.”

Children’s Grief Awareness allows us to acknowledge and advocate that ANY child that is old enough to love is old enough to mourn. We can all work together to be advocates and teach other adults how children are natural mourners, but that they still need the love and support of caring adults. This day allows us to highlight what some of the special needs of grieving children are and help others create and find places where children experiencing grief are safe to openly and authentically mourn. If children can mourn well and learn to cope with their loss, they’ll go on to live and love well.

There are a couple of ways you can get involved this Thursday and participate in this special day including wearing blue and letting others know what it represents. On Thursday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Rays of Hope will be hosting an art exhibit called “Grief through the Eyes of a Child.” I encourage you to attend the art exhibit and learn more about supporting children who have experienced loss and change. There will be food available if you go during your lunch hour, and I personally will be there all day. Be sure to come say hello!

It has been an honor to become a part of the Rays of Hope family. Myself and the fabulous HopeWorks Committee ask that you help us in spreading the word about National Blue Day!

Related links:

Bethany Campbell, a very special Rays of Hope participant and volunteer, shares her story. http://childrengrieve.org/grief-unexpected-journey

 http://childrengrieve.org/childrens-grief-awareness

 http://www.childrensgriefawarenessday.org/

Big Bird Explains death in children’s terms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxlj4Tk83xQ

A short video of hope for Children’s grief awareness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_jHcZsi02A

 

-Ellen Wheeler, Active

Face The Race - Race Day

On Saturday, November 15, 105 participants will complete the Face the Race ‘Fit & Fabulous 5K’ as a culmination to our ten week program.

When the participants arrive at the run, they will quickly get signed in and hurry off to the glitter station where they will cover themselves with glitter to match the “Fabulous” theme. Next, the girls will get to spend lots of time with their friends and family taking fun pictures in the photo booth. Before the run begins, the Face the Race participants will warm up with a little Zumba action led by Heather Parsons.

This year we had the incredible opportunity to welcome Alamo and San Jacinto junior highs to the Face the Race program. The staff at both schools were extremely accommodating and supportive. Adding these two schools to Face the Race, which already had a presence at Abell and Goddard junior highs, has allowed us to reach out to all 7^th and 8^th grade girls attending  MISD public schools.

This past summer, our 26 member Face the Race Committee worked diligently to plan this exciting year for our participants. A newly designed session timeline was created allowing for more time to mentor the participants. We also created a new training program that encouraged measureable and attainable running growth. Session topics included discussions on healthy eating, relationships, our bodies, etiquette, career options, personality differences, and bullying.             

One of the most exciting things about Face the Race is that every participant that completes the program receives a brand new pair of running shoes, socks, athletic shorts, a Face the Race t-shirt, and gloves. This year, thanks to generous donations from HEB, Patriot Resources, Delaware Basin Resources, Terry’s Kids Shoes, Charger Services, Catalyst Oilfield Services, and The United Way of Midland, we were also able to provide the girls with a spirit jersey, bag, and water bottle.

It is incredibly rewarding to watch our young participants complete this 5K at the end of the program. The growth they make is tremendous. They set goals and are able to accomplish them. Face the Race gives its participants a group to belong to, allows them to discover their potential, encourages a positive sense of empowerment and creates healthy habits that last a lifetime. We are so proud of the 105 participants and all of the hard work and dedication they have put into this program.

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Face the Race - Sessions

Junior high.  A place where everything is changing, everything can be awkward, and the issues are real.  Face the Race offers junior high girls in the Midland Independent School District a chance to be themselves through the support of community leaders and mentors.  The girls participate in ten after school sessions that are constructed around their interests, leading healthy lifestyles, and building self- confidence. Each after school session is comprised of an ice breaker, presentation, and training for the Face the Race 5K.

Face the Race Committee members carefully selected topics for sessions based on the current needs and curiosities of our participants.  We wanted to be able to impact and meet the needs of the girls through our topics and speakers.  Our participants have heard from various members from our community, some who generously spoke and presented to more than one campus.

Basin PBS attended a session and encouraged every girl to embrace their inner “girl power” and pursue their dreams through with the support of their new program, Girl Power PBS  Career day was also a highlighted Face the Race session. Career day presenters shared their personal journey through education that began in junior high.  They also enlightened the girls with descriptions and details about their unique careers.  Our presenters covered a wide range of jobs in the Permian Basin, such as petroleum engineers, attorneys, realtors, and local business owners.

Healthy lifestyles, relationships, and nutrition information were addressed during sessions that focused on making healthy choices.  The girls learned about the importance of nutrition and balancing exercise in their daily lives from a local fitness instructor, who is also a personal trainer.  Physician assistants educated the participants about their changing bodies through an age appropriate question and answer session. 

Perhaps the most anticipated sessions are the etiquette training and tutu crafting days.   The girls will practice creating a table setting and learn how to write a thank you letter during the etiquette session.  Tutus will be created during the last session so they can wear them on race day.  Gifts  from The Junior League of Midland, Inc. will be given to the girls who have completed eight out of ten sessions. 

It’s an incredible experience to watch the girls grow and bond throughout their journey with Face the Race.  Each week brings a new opportunity to laugh, learn, connect, and run with our junior high girls.  We hope to impact their lives as much as they have ours, and we can’t wait to see them cross the finish line on November 15!

 -Crystal Burchfield, Assistant Chair

Scholarship Clearinghouse

The Junior League of Midland, Inc.’s Scholarship Clearinghouse program is off to a great start this year!  Our team of seven mentors is busy meeting with high school seniors and walking them through the scholarship and financial aid application process. 

This process can be overwhelming for students as they try to sift through the thousands of scholarship applications available to them.  Our mentors sit down one-on-one with students  (and sometimes parents) to help them narrow their focus on scholarships that are the right fit for them, both at the local and national level.  We maintain a scholarship database, compiled and updated by committee members over the years, which students can browse through and find scholarships applicable to them.

Our mentors also discuss the financial aid process: how and when to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.  This application can be daunting for parents and students, especially first generation college students.  By explaining the process and the importance of this application, students are more likely to fill out the FAFSA and therefore, have a greater shot at obtaining federal financial aid such as grants and student loans. 

To sign students up for these informative sessions, our mentors attended Dawg Days at Midland High School and Rebel Muster at Lee High School in August.  We also attended the College Forum Night at Midland College earlier this month where we met students from all over the local area who are interested in going to college and of course, finding ways to pay for it. 

In addition to helping students find local and national scholarships, we also encourage them to fill out an application for JLM’s very own scholarship, which we award to deserving students in the spring.  

We are excited to help another generation of students in their pursuit of higher education.  It is very fulfilling to know that these students are gaining a greater chance at achieving their college goals by finding money to pay for college.  We certainly feel we are doing our part to keep kids in school at every age and every stage!  

-Megan Yancey, Active Member

 

Reading Olympics

It’s 4:50 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon.  I am headed south on Garfield en route to the Boys and Girls Club for our weekly Reading Olympics session and I’m excited.  Our book tonight, Book Fair Day, is one of my favorites and my daughter’s as well.       

As I get out of my car, I grab my Junior League bag and walk in looking closely at those kids being picked up.  I think to myself, “Are they one our Reading Olympics kiddos?” I spot one.  She is.  This little girl is begging her mother, “Please let me stay!  I really want to stay!”  Sadly, her mom tells her, “No.”  The little girl gets into the car in tears.   My emotions are mixed.  I wish the Mom had told her she could stay.  She would have loved Book Fair Day.   On the other hand, her sadness tells me that we are accomplishing our goals… creating a love for reading one book at a time, and a fun and caring environment for these kids.   

As I enter the building on week four, I feel at home.  The kids are moving around, as they normally do, and I am greeted by several Reading Olympics kids.  They give me hugs and ask, “Are we starting yet?”  I tell them, “Soon.”  “What’s the book tonight,” one asks.  I responded, “You’ve got to come and find out.”  After several hugs and hellos, I make it to our room.  Set-up has begun and before long we will welcome more than 30 kids into our Reading Olympics session.  Some will be repeat visitors, while others are newcomers as they have stood in the hallway watching and decided to join in the fun this week. 

We have welcomed kids, sung some songs, and heard our book of the evening read by our guest reader.  Now it’s time for “team time.”  My black team joins me in our normal spot on the floor.  We take attendance and begin our weekly ritual of journaling, discussing, creating, and sharing a snack.   The participants and I discuss how we find the perfect book to read.   After discussing several tips, I hand out some Scholastic Book Club flyers.  The excitement begins. “This looks like a good one,” exclaims Andrea.   I calm them down and tell them we are going to practice.  I want them to pick out five different books, using our tips, from the flyer.  The questions start coming at me faster than I can respond.  “Do you think I will like this one?”  “What about this one?”  “Mrs. Amber have you read this one?”  I feel a little like Dewey Booker from our story.  Slowly, but surely, my group circles the five choices of  books they think they will like.  One little girl at the end says, “I wish I could get these books.”

In just four short weeks, we have created an excitement about reading and books.  We are creating a love for reading, one book at a time.                 

-Amber Davidson, Active

President's Blog: Why We 'Due' What We Do

For the Junior League of Midland, September is the unofficial start of the League year. We transition into our new placements on June 1, but we don’t start having General Meetings until the third Tuesday in September. September also begins with a Ways and Means fee notice for all Active League members. This fee is due on October 1 of every year. For many years I wrote my $150 Ways and Means fee check automatically without a thought as to why I was paying the fee. I knew the fee was a requirement as an Active member but I never questioned why it was needed. As time went on, I took on leadership roles and I began to understand why this fee came about.

Many Leagues ask their members to sell things or buy things to contribute financially to their Leagues. Some Leagues require their members to buy cookbooks and sell them. Many of these members find themselves stuck with a closet full of cookbooks because everyone they know has already purchased one from them or another member.  Other Leagues require their members to buy tickets to their events and attend them. This was the case for the JLM for many years. Charity Ball was the primary fundraiser for our League for decades. Each member was required to purchase a ticket to the event and attend the fundraiser.  As time went on, being required to purchase a ticket to and attend the event became unpopular. The members of the League stressed that they would rather pay a simple fee than be required to sell things or purchase event tickets. The JLM instituted the Ways and Means fee as a reaction to this sentiment. The Ways and Means fee helps to defray all of the costs that the League incurs. Our fundraiser supports our community projects, but the League still has other expenses. We maintain our building, have an office manager that receives hourly wages, and we must purchase supplies to keep things running. The Ways and Means fee helps to make all of this happen. As a side note, the Ways and Means fee is not required of Provisional or Sustaining members. Provisional members instead pay a Provisional Course fee of $100. Sustainers are exempt.

Each member of the League (Provisionals, Actives, and Sustainers) is also required to pay Annual Dues, which must be received by April 1.  Dues for the JLM are $90 and are meant for the following League year, beginning on June 1. If dues are not paid by May 1, membership in the League will not be continued the following year.  $43 of the $90 fee goes to our parent organization,The Association of Junior Leagues International. The remainder of the dues goes into our general fund to support operating expenses.

Financial support of our members is critical to the Junior League of Midland. The purpose of this article is to let our members know exactly WHY they are asked to make financial contributions every year. A financial commitment of a combined $240 every year (for Active members) is a big pill to swallow, but it is definitely a commitment worth making. The JLM offers payment plans to our members who need that option. We also have a “Fairy Godmother Fund” that members can apply for if they need financial assistance. We truly appreciate our members and their contributions to our League, both financially and in their commitment serve the Midland community through League involvement.

 

-Michelle Dinger

President, 2014-2015

Growth Groups

We are excited to share with you something new in the League, Growth Groups!

How many of you have come to a General Meeting and scanned the room trying to find a familiar face among the crowd? If this is you, you are not alone. Actually, you are in the majority. The Junior League of Midland, much like our town, has seen significant growth over the last few years. We want the Junior League of Midland to always feel welcoming and continue to have that close-knit feel that it has had in the past, resulting in many lifelong friendships. How do we achieve this?

Through Growth Groups…

Growth Groups is an exciting new pilot program starting this fall.  It will consist of small social groups open to every Active member. Each small group will consist of Active members with varying years of service to our League. It is our hope that through these Growth Groups you will build strong friendships while learning more about our wonderful organization. Each group will meet a few times during the 2014-2015 League year. These meetings can be anything from going to lunch, dinner, happy hour, out for coffee, bunco, book club, or even sitting together at General Meetings.  Growth Groups are very casual and not meant to be a significant time commitment.

 

How do you sign up?

If you are interested in joining a Growth Group please email us at

growthgroupsjlm@gmail.com by October 17.
Please email promptly if you are interested, as this is a pilot program with limited space.

 

We are very excited about our “growth” and hope you will consider growing with us.

State of the League Address

This address was given by President Michelle Dinger at the September 16 General Meeting of the Junior League of Midland.

As you all know, every January the President of the United States gives a State of the Union Address to let everyone know where we stand as a nation and what the President’s plans are for the year.  I am in no way comparing myself to the leader of the free world, but I would like to give a quick “State of the League” address to begin our year together.  For those of you who were not able to attend the May meeting and have not read about our theme, I’d like to introduce it again.  Our theme for the year revolves around the idea of finding the potential that exists within all of us to do great things.  I have been fortunate enough to find many supporters throughout my time in our League who showed me that I possessed potential that I did not see in myself. They believed in me and helped me to see the spark that existed within me. This spark drives the passion that I have for service.  This year my goal is for every member to find their own spark and realize the potential that they have within themselves to do amazing things!  There are so many women within the League that are here to offer support and encouragement. As I gaze out into the crowd, I can think of dozens of ways the women I see have impacted me and made me want to strive to be the best version of myself everyday.  Your spark and potential is already living within you, and some of you put it out on full display for all of us to see everyday. If you are one of these people, I treasure that about you! If you aren’t quite convinced about your inner spark, all you need to do is open your heart and mind, and I promise that the women of this League will help to strengthen your spark and help you fully realize all that you can do.

For many of us, the League year began months ago. The 2014-2015 Board of Directors spent an evening in late April attending a Board Retreat. Laurie Johnson of the Non-Profit Management Center facilitated the retreat along with me. The Board learned how to responsibly run our organization so that we may lead to the very best of our ability.  The Board of Directors has already met three times to make several decisions that impact the League. We will continue to work together as a Board to ensure the future of our League. The Leadership Team (which consists of the Board and the Chairman of all committees) met for two nights in early June for a retreat. At the Leadership Retreat, all Chairmen were trained on how to lead their committees and about the “ins and outs” of the League. On the committee level, Laura Nodolf and her Public Relations Committee have been been working diligently all summer long to create a “Social Media” Campaign that will change the way we communicate among ourselves and with the general public. I could not be more excited or more encouraged by what they have accomplished in just a few short months. The brand new Volunteers in Midland Committee led by Jessica Louder has partnered with several other non profit organizations in town. Our partnership gives support to these non profits with Junior League volunteers to help their programs and events successful. Jessica Rule and the rest of our Tumbleweed staff mailed out the first issue of our publication with a new design artist and a new layout. Wasn’t it amazing? The Tumbleweed Committee will continue creating the magazine each month. This year will feature an extra issue in March and they will implement much needed technical and digital changes to the publication.

Ashley Lamb and her Rummage Sale Committee have been tagging, organizing, sorting, and labeling all summer long for our sale that will support the Endowment Fund Campaign. Our Provisional Training team led by Myranda Pachlhofer, has also been hard at work getting ready to start a brand new Provisional Course that will train our new members to conquer community needs. They began a few weeks ago and things are going great!  And finally, we have already completed one of our community projects for the year. Journey Summer Camp was held the week of July 28-August 1 at Rays of Hope Grief Centre and was tremendously successful. I was able to be a part of this experience and I’d like to say how proud I am of Chairman Angela Burton and each and every member of our League that made Journey Camp possible. The director of Rays of Hope shared with us that two years ago, before our partnership began, they served 12 children at Journey Camp. This year we served 35 kids. We tripled the amount of kids that are able to experience this camp that focuses on giving kids tools to cope with loss and change.

We have accomplished so much in three short months since our League year officially began in June, but we’ve only just begun to find our spark! This year we will gift the community with eight more community projects. Volunteers in Midland will continue to provide opportunities to serve throughout the year. Don’t forget that each Active member is required to volunteer four (4) hours of service through the Volunteers in Midland program. We will present two Suits with Skills programs, one in the fall at Safe Place led by Erin Armstrong and one in the spring led by Rebecca Patterson at Buckner Family Place.  We will also partner with Rays of Hope again to present two HopeWorks sessions. Ellen Wheeler has generously agreed to Chair both sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring. Face the Race will expand to all four Midland junior high schools this year. Marina Stanaland and Megan Newton have worked on the project all summer. I can’t wait to see the impact that this will have on the lives of 7^th and 8^th grade girls in our community. Jennifer Lopez’s Reading Olympics Committee began sessions at the Boys and Girls Club this month. They are focusing on fostering literacy and a love of reading. KidsFirst, Chaired by Diana Culp, partners with Centers for Children and Families and will begin facilitating visits between children and their non-custodial parents very soon. The Scholarship Clearinghouse Committee hit the ground running with a brand new Chairman, Megan Yancey, who took over in July. Scholarship Clearinghouse has big plans this year to impact more lives. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish!

Our In-League placements will also do great things this year. Paige Evans, Michelle Garcia and the rest of their committee will present our 4^th Annual Shotguns and Stilettos Fundraiser this year. The Spring Fling Market portion of S&S will move to the new facility at the Horseshoe Arena and provide vendors and shoppers with an excellent experience. Our Clayshoot and Bash will provide a fun and exciting way for our community to come out and support us, as well as allow us to generate the funds we need to “do what we do.” Monica Tucker will lead our Nominating Committee that will be separate from the Placement Committee for the first time in 13 years. They will be trailblazers and set the standard for electing our future leaders. Our Placement Committee, led by Ashley Boren, will look differently than it has in the past. Each advisor will take on more advisees and provide social experiences and support for our members. Natalie Cargile’s Project Research & Development Committee will evaluate our programs this year and make sure we are living up to our potential. Elizabeth Rainey and Anna Hawkins will write grants to generate funds and allow our programs to be successful. Charity Rohlfs will work to improve our building and make sure that we are presenting a quality facility that can be used not only by us but also the rest of the community.  Mary Baker will lead the Advisory Planning Committee to make positive changes to our League. Webmaster Kate Wolbert will continue to work with Digital Cheetah to improve our website. She will also offer trainings so that we all will learn to navigate our new system. And lastly, Caroline Spears and her Arrangements team will create spark-filled training experiences for us and ensure that our meeting time together is fun and beneficial.

Thank you all for giving your time and resources to this wonderful organization. Together we can put a spark in the city that we live in and love. I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you. I am looking forward to a wonderful League year!

President's Blog

Issue Based Community Impact

One of the pleasures of being a part of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is the ability to take advantage of their conferences.  They allow attending delegates to learn, grow, and bring back valuable knowledge to Midland. Every year, the President attends two conferences, the President-Elect three conferences, and the President-Elect-Elect two conferences. In addition, we send delegates to the Organizational Development Institute (ODI) series. ODI delegates are generally up-and-coming League leaders. They attend a certain track based on either their current or future position in the League. Delegates report  what they have learned and we do our best to implement AJLI’s recommendations.

 Almost a decade ago AJLI began recommending, through these conferences, that Leagues adopt an issue called a Focus Area around which to design the majority of their community projects.  The intent was that having a clear focus would enable Leagues to be more successful. Focus Areas allow Leagues to tell the community, members, and donors exactly what they are doing to make an impact. After a great deal of research by our PR&D committee, in 2006-2007 the focus area of “Family Education” was chosen. This was the area where it was determined that our community had the greatest needs. In 2007-2008 two new projects were created (Face the Race and Family First) using the Focus Area as a guide. These projects, as well as our other projects, were evaluated in 2011-2012. Family First was not renewed and ended in 2012.  Due to the loss of Family First and the substantial increase in our membership over the past few years, new projects were needed. Last year, the PR&D committee did an extensive amount of research concerning new projects. After contacting multiple agencies, they found a common theme in that most agencies were seriously lacking in volunteers. Due to this finding, last year we created a partnership with the Rays of Hope Grief Centre.  The Junior League of Midland, Inc. now runs a Journey Summer Camp session and a HopeWorks session. We also created a partnership with Centers for Children and Families to provide facilitators for their KidsFirst program.

Jessica Louder and April Marshall both attended the ODI conference in the spring of 2013. After attending a powerful session on the topic of Focus Areas, they stressed that we should take our Focus Area even further. Now called an Issue Based Community Impact (IBCI) statement, AJLI recommends that the focus of our League be even more detailed. “Family Education” was deemed too broad of a statement. AJLI has stressed that the more detailed the statement, the more likely a League is to be successful. With the knowledge that even more new projects were needed in the future, Jessica and April were asked to head up an Ad Hoc Committee to research community needs and create an IBCI statement. In the summer of 2013, these women invited past presidents, past PR&D Chairmen, the 2013-2014 PR&D Chairman, Rooney Mestas (who was able to supply previous research done over the past two years), several current Actives, Alison King from the United Way, and myself to participate in this Ad Hoc Committee. Over the course of the summer, it was found that education is still a huge need in the city of Midland. Within that area, Keeping Kids in School was the standout issue where committee members felt that our League could make the biggest impact. Our goal is not just to keep potential dropouts in school. Our wish is to keep every child in school, from the cradle to college. Our Active membership voted and chose the IBCI  “Keeping Kids in School-Every Age, Every Stage” as the statement under which we will operate. We will do this by focusing on three different areas: self-esteem, literacy, and college/career preparedness. We plan on having 70% of our community projects within our IBCI statement area. This leaves 30% available to tackle other community needs. I would like to thank Jessica and April for taking this Ad Hoc Committee on and for doing such a great job!

As I mentioned earlier, we went into this year knowing that we would need another new project or two to meet the demands of our growing membership. The PR&D committee was able to operate under very clear guidelines when forming these new projects. Face the Race will be expanded to all four junior high schools in Midland next year, focusing on self-esteem. The new Reading Olympics project will be a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club and will focus on literacy. Scholarship Clearinghouse will begin a partnership with Midland College’s See MC event and will focus on college and career preparedness. Our new Volunteers in Midland program will continue to address need that was discovered last year, the need for volunteer participation.

I attended a session at AJLI’s Winter Leadership Conference in January on transitioning to an IBCI framework. The number one thing that I took away from the session was the need to educate the membership, the community, and donors about our statement. One of my goals for the next year is for every member of our organization to be able to tell anyone exactly what it is that we do. We Keep Kids in School-Every Age, Every Stage.

Welcome to our Provisional Class!

The Provisional Training Team has been meeting this summer to plan the coming year. We are so excited to meet all of you and welcome you to our organization.  Your first year will probably be the busiest and most time consuming year of your League career. So with that in mind, here are a few tips to help you through your first year as a member of The Junior League of Midland, Inc.:

·         Ask lots of questions! If you don't understand something, that's OK! One of the main points of your first year is to learn about the League, what we do and how we help our community.

·         Introduce yourself, especially at General Meetings. Active members want to meet you! We are happy you have decided to be  part of our organization and would love to get to know you.

·         Don't be afraid to speak up. During our General Meetings we discuss  many issues. If you have a question or opinion then voice it! Provisionals are not able to vote, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't participate in the discussion. Everyone's opinion counts and deserves to be heard.

·         Communication is key!  Answer emails and return phone calls.  League members have very busy schedules, communication through email is very important. Please respond in a timely manner.

·         Be mindful of your absences. Provisionals are allowed two (2) Provisional Meeting absences and two (2) General Meeting absences. If you are concerned about this, contact me.

·          Be on time,  10 minutes after our meetings begin you will be counted absent.

·         It's OK if you make a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. I have no doubt I will make many this year. ;) Nobody is perfect and none of us expect you to be.

·         When in doubt, contact your Trainer. We are here to help you so don't be afraid to ask.  The Committee has over 15 years combined experience within our League; if we don't know the answer we will find someone who does!

I’m excited for a great year,

Myranda Pachlhofer

Provisional Training Chairman

Journey Camp

Many times in life we take journeys we are not expecting, one of the hardest of those is the journey of loss. Loss is even harder on the young. During the week of July 28-August 1, 2014, The Junior League of Midland, Inc. partnered with Rays of Hope to give 35 children an opportunity to travel around the world and work through grief with their peers.

This was one child’s journey:

“Day one, I ventured to Mt. Everest, Challenge Mountain, we did many activities including making snowflakes and a marshmallow challenge. There I was able to learn how to face challenges in my life and how to cope with them.

Day two, I ventured to Jamaica, Ocean of Emotion, we did many activities including coconut corner and
a message in a bottle. There I was able to learn how to express and work through different emotions.

Day three, I ventured to the Amazon, Jungle of Anger, we did many activities including volcano explosion and angry bowling. There I was able to learn how to work through anger and ways to express it.

Day four, I ventured to the Black Forest, Forest of Fears, we did many activities including zapping fear and stomping away fear. There I was able to learn that everyone has fears and how to cope with them.

Day five, I ventured to New York, City of Change, we did many activities including name that tune and navigating a maze of change. There I was able to discuss changes and how to work through them.”

One of the joys of a trip around the world is the experience of the art and music different cultures have to offer. This trip was no different; each day the children had the opportunity to take part in a different culture’s art and music. This also served as an outlet for feelings and a little fun. One of the most important things we hoped to get out of this partnership was impacting the lives of young children. What we didn’t count on was the impact the children had on us.

Face the Race 2014

Face the Race is one of the many community projects presented by The Junior League of Midland, Inc. It consists of 10 after school sessions and culminates in a 5K race. Face the Race began seven years ago at Goddard Junior High and has grown considerably since that time. In 2011, Abell Junior High became part of the Face the Race family, and this year, we are excited to announce that Alamo Junior High and San Jacinto Junior High will be the newest additions. For those keeping tally, Face the Race has now expanded to include all four Midland junior highs. This expansion has been aided by a grant from The United Way of Midland. Now every 7th and 8th grade girl attending public school in Midland has the opportunity to be a part of our amazing program.

This summer, our 27 member Face the Race Committee has been working diligently to plan an exciting new year for our participants. A newly designed session timeline will allow for more time to mentor the participants. We have created a new training program which will encourage measurable and attainable running growth. One new session will include mentors showing old pictures and relating memorable junior high moments from their past. Hopefully, this new session will allow mentors to be
more relatable and aid in developing a closer relationship with the participants. Other session topics include discussions on healthy eating, relationships, our bodies, etiquette, career options, personality differences, and bullying.

One of the many perks of Face the Race is that every participant that completes the program receives a
pair of running shoes, a race shirt, a pair of athletic shorts, and other essential running gear. In order to receive these items, a participant must attend at least 8 sessions.

It is incredibly rewarding to watch our young participants complete the 5K run at the end of the program. The growth each individual makes is tremendous. Face the Race gives its participants a group to belong to, allows them to discover their potential, encourages a positive sense of empowerment, and creates healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Mark your calendars for this year’s race, which will take place on November 15th at 9 a.m. at the
Scharbauer Sports Complex. Our race theme is “Fit & Fabulous 5K” where glitter, bold colors, animal
print, boas, and tutus are highly encouraged! Come out and support our participants!

Leadership Team Retreat

On June 3 and June 5, I had the privilege of presenting a Leadership Team Retreat. The JLM’s Leadership Team consists of the Board of Directors and the Chairmen of all standing committees. The first evening of the Leadership Team Retreat was held at JLM’s Headquarters and consisted of training our League leaders on how to run their committee meetings, make notebooks for each committee member, and effectively take minutes during each meeting. Every member of the Leadership Team signed a Code of Ethics form and had the opportunity to write down goals for themselves for the year.

The JLM operates under a Council System, which was also presented to the Leadership Team. Our councils are Finance, Community, Membership and Education. Learning about our Council System shows our leaders how to be involved in their council. This is important because this is the avenue where we develop our strategic plan for the year. We have a four-part strategic plan that is created by the Chairman of each council and its members. Each council discusses areas where members would like to see improvements in the League. Several strategies are formed using this information. Goals are listed as to how to implement the change desired. At the end of the League year, we will evaluate each strategic plan to see if the goals for the year were accomplished.

The second evening of the Leadership Retreat was held at Shared Spaces. Shared Spaces is a new building in town that houses several non-profits and has fabulous meeting spaces. The second evening focused on our new Social Media Campaign. SDB Creative Group presented a training session on how our League could make a greater impact by turning to social media to advertise for ourselves. Several Chairmen gave updates on what they hope to accomplish in the coming year and let everyone know event dates. Our Finance Vice President presented the budget. Each member was trained on how to read and understand the budget, as well as the best ways to utilize their funds.

I’d like to include a few of the goals listed by members of the Leadership Team:

HopeWorks Chairman, Ellen Wheeler:
I want to pass along my passion to my committee members. My goal is to continue my support of Rays of Hope after my placement is complete. I will remind each committee member of the impact they are making on the children in our program to better their lives.

Suits with Skills Buckner Family Place Chairman, Rebecca Patterson:
I will help women realize their potential to create a better life for themselves and for their families. I will inspire them to have confidence in themselves and realize that they are the masters of their own future.

Nominating Chairman, Monica Tucker:
My goal is to run an efficient, high-integrity, fair committee. I strive to be a leader: strong, positive, knowledgeable, and firm yet respectful and fair.I am so inspired by the drive and passion of the members of the Leadership Team.

I can’t wait to see what everyone will accomplish this year. I truly believe that all members of our League will “Find their Spark and Realize their Potential” when they have such amazing women leading the way!

-Michelle Dinger
President, 2014-2015

Don't forget to bring your fabulous wares to the League for the Rummage Sale!

 The Rummage Sale Committee will be accepting donations on the following dates: 

• Tuesday, July 22nd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, August 16th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, September 6th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 16th from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Rummage Sale Committee is respectfully requesting that members hold all large furniture donations until the week of the sale. They have so many wonderful donations and are running out of room. Please feel free to continue to bring your other items.

The Anatomy of a Snack

Whether it’s for you or your family, all snacks need the same basic components, or macronutrients – protein, carbohydrate, and fat. I like to call it the “PCF Balance”. Each macronutrient has a special purpose and should be included at every meal and snack.

Protein is needed in the body for growth, tissue maintenance and repair, and immunity. Protein is responsible for keeping your muscles, hair, collagen, and skin healthy. Protein foods are dairy, meat, and legumes. Great protein snack foods are cheese, eggs, yogurt, milk, cottage cheese, jerky, deli meat, beans, and soy.

Carbohydrates provide fuel for the body and brain. For immediate energy, sugar is your best bet because it is digested quickly. For longer lasting energy try complex carbohydrates like whole grains. Carbohydrate foods are fruits, vegetables, and grains. Great carbohydrate snack foods are fresh fruits like berries and apples, fresh vegetables like celery and cucumbers, and grains like bread and crackers.

Fat stores energy, keeps you feeling satisfied between meals, protects your organs, and allows your body to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are essential for the health of eyes, bones, immunity, skin, nails, and hair. Fat has had a bad reputation in the past, but it is essential for health. Don’t be afraid of it. It makes your body function better and food taste better. Win-win! Healthy fats include nuts and nut butters, salad dressings, and oils. Great snack foods in this category are peanut butter, ranch dressing, and avocado, just to name a few.

By making sure that each snack and meal for your family includes these components, you’re ensuring nutrition with balance and purpose.

Choose a protein + carbohydrate + fat for balanced snacks. Here are some examples to get you started:

string cheese + apple + peanut butter

yogurt + berries + almonds

deli turkey + baby carrots + ranch dressing

bean dip + tortilla chips + guacamole

hard-boiled egg + wheat bread + mayonnaise

frozen yogurt + strawberries + dark chocolate chips

milk + banana + nutella

whole milk (This nutritious food includes a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats – great for when you’re short on time!)

Don’t forget to include water! Water is needed for every process in your body, and it should be a part of each meal and snack.

Good nutrition is essential, but don’t let yourself get caught up in the hype. Super foods, fad diets, and trends aren’t always everything they’re cracked up to be. Follow basic nutrition guidelines, and you and your family are sure to stay on the right track. Remember, all food has a purpose, enjoy everything in moderation, and eat what you love!

Katy Taylor, MS, RDN, LD, JLM Active