Growth Groups are back!

If you’re curious to what I’m talking about, let me explain. Growth Groups are a way to meet league members outside of your placement. There are four fun options that you can choose from depending on your interest: Book Club, Happy Hour, Lunch Bunch and Day Tripper. Each group is limited to 15 people and will be on a first come, first serve basis. Sign-ups will begin after the first General Meeting, September 15th and will close on October 1st.

Dates have been preset but can be changed once the group meets. These dates are to help members plan ahead so they can make all three groups. There will be one member in charge of meeting reminders and updates. 

Want to know more about each group? 

Book Club: Three novels will be covered over the year. The group will meet on 10/15, 1/24 and 4/10. The group can have themed snacks or dinners to coincide with their book. The group will decide on meeting location. Books will need to be purchased or rented by members. The first book is Sparkly Green Earrings: Catching the Light at Every Turn by Melanie Shankle. 

Happy Hour: Have you ever wondered who has the best salsa and margaritas in Midland, or most unique drink menu? This group will try a few of Midland’s hot spots out to sample drinks and appetizers. This group will meet on 10/26, 1/28 and 4/14. 

Lunch Bunch: Is your only free time at lunch? Are you looking to have some fun conversation over your hour break? This group is for you. This group will meet at local establishments around town and catch-up. The group will meet on 10/27, 1/26 and 4/5. 

Day Tripper: Midland is surrounded by many fun destinations. This group will travel outside Midland to explore these fun places and will return the same day. Trips could consist of a trip to a vineyard around Lubbock, shopping day in Alpine, lunch at the Gage Hotel in Marathon and then tour Marfa, a day in Big Spring with dinner at Hotel Settles and the list could go on. Trips would be on 10/24, 1/23 and 4/9. 

How do you sign-up? After our General Meeting on 9/15, you email growthgroupsjlm@gmail.com and note which group you would like to attend. You will receive an email notifying you of the details of the group. 

If you have further questions you can call (432.853.3445) or email (lucy.lennox34@gmail.com) Lucy Lennox.

- Lucy Lennox,

Board Member at Large,

The Junior League of Midland, Inc.

Volunteers in Midland: A-Z

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”    - Helen Keller

We at The Junior League of Midland, Inc. believe in this whole-heartedly. Our members continually request more opportunities to volunteer within the community. Likewise, because of our experience and training, we receive numerous calls every month from nonprofit organizations asking for our help. Our placement, Volunteers in Midland, was created to bridge the gap between these two needs.

And fall is the perfect time for members to sign up to participate in Volunteers in Midland. Our Active members complete a four hour shift each League year. Members can get their year off to a great start and complete their shift early.

Now, to our members – and everyone else out there –here is everything you need to know about Volunteers in Midland – from A-Z!

A – All in this together! Every Active member of The Junior League of Midland, Inc. participates in the Volunteers in Midland program. It’s our way of connecting to the Midland community.

B – Back-to-School is here. As the summer ends, our schedules all seem to be a little more routine. That makes fall a great time for members to go ahead and complete a Volunteer in Midland shift! Why not sign up today?

C – Carefully curated member volunteer opportunities. Through this clearinghouse, members find a wide variety of opportunities, where they will serve and make a meaningful impact in our community. You can be sure your few hours will make a big difference.

D and E – Day and Evening…and even weekends. With the extensive choices for volunteer service, there are volunteer shifts that fit the diverse schedules of our membership.

F – F is for “fall.” We all know that spring gets busy. Busy, busy, busy. Why not get ahead? Members can go ahead and sign up now for their Volunteers in Midland shift and check it off their list!

G  - Great friends make everything more fun. Grab a girlfriend and serve together!

H – Hours. As in 816. 816 Hours! As every active member service a minimum of 4 hours, that’s how many hours our Volunteer in Midland program will give back to the Midland Community this year. Wow!

I – I is for “images.” When members are out there serving, we love to see the pictures they take. Send them to our PR team or use the hashtag #JLMServes and we will share your shots with the world!

J – The Jubilee Center! Volunteers are signing up throughout the fall to serve at this great nonprofit. Stock shelves, set up, and/or assist in food distribution. Along the way, learn how the Jubilee Center has led the way in bringing the innovative “client choice model” of food distribution to West Texas.

K – Kids in foster care really benefitted from the recent service of our Volunteers in Midland. To help a foster family move into their new home, several League members spent a Sunday afternoon shopping, moving, and organizing. We were so proud to serve this family through High Sky Children’s Ranch.

L – Lots of fun. These one-day volunteer opportunities are simple and require no advance work. Members just come, serve, and have a good time.

M – Make it work for your schedule. Some volunteers choose to do one 4-hour shift, while others do a combination of hours to equal 4. Check out the options and figure out what’s best for you!

N – Nonprofit organizations should complete the application available on our website, for each particular program in need of additional volunteers or assistance from our members. We are thrilled to partner with so many nonprofit organizations.

O – O is for “online.” Members can check their emails or visit the member homepage for information about each volunteer shift and a link to sign up for the shift of their choice.

P – Teacher’s Pet is back! This popular project allows a variety of times and dates. You can sign up now to serve teachers at the new Fasken Elementary School set up their classrooms. It’s a fun, rewarding project!

Q – Questions?  If you have questions on your Volunteer in Midland hours, please contact the committee.

R – R is for “reviewed.” A Junior League of Midland committee will review these

activity applications to ensure each project meets the League’s specifications, as well as promotes the League’s community objectives.

S – Summer Science Class at the Petroleum Museum kicked off our year of volunteering. We are so thankful for the many, many members who went above and beyond to serve and lead kids all summer long.

T – Teen Court volunteer opportunities are available throughout the fall. The Junior League of Midland, Inc. was instrumental in establishing Midland Teen Court. Today, volunteer shifts ask members to serve as jury monitors, granting students a "hands on" educational opportunity that allows both offenders and teen volunteers to experience, thus better understand, our system of justice. For our members who are attorneys, additional opportunities to serve as Teen Court “judges” are also available.

U – Updated often! Throughout the year, additional opportunities for Volunteers in Midland will be presented. So, keep your eyes on your email for new sign ups.

V – V is for vision. This placement embodies our vision statement: “Hand in Hand we build a Better Midland.”

W – We love our Volunteers in Midland Committee! These ladies are busy at work curating, arranging, promoting, and managing lots of projects. We are so thankful for their leadership – which impacts every Active member and so, so many nonprofit organizations! Thank you!

X – X is for “Exponential.” As in exponential growth. Last year, during the inaugural year of Volunteers in Midland, our members served 57% more hours than the previous year. Our members are doing more and more!

Y – Y is for “You.” The Junior League of Midland, Inc. brings “You” together – our community and our members.

Z – Z is for “Zealous Energy.” That’s what our members have! And we are so thankful!

Here’s to a great year – as we serve together to impact our community, through Volunteers in Midland program, all our other placements, and each and every member!

Our History

The Junior League of Midland, Inc. began as the Midland Service League in 1949, with charter memberships of 29 women. The Junior League of Midland, Inc. has continued its legacy of service to the community through a wide variety of community projects.

Some of the first projects developed by the Midland Service League include: Story Telling at the Library, the Mobile Magazine Cart at Western Clinic Hospital and assisting the Children’s Theatre. Each member was required to provide at least 80 hours of volunteer service each year. The first year Charter members worked 1370 hours.

During the 1950s, the Children’s Dental Clinic and Family Counseling Service were established, and the League had a representative on the Citizen’s Traffic Safety Commission and other community boards. The Children’s Isolation Ward at Midland Memorial Hospital was created, and the Directory of Community Services was compiled and distributed. Children’s concerts were presented in cooperation with the Midland Symphony League.

In addition to volunteer hours, the League also provided financial support to its projects and gifts to community. The first gift was an incubator for Midland Memorial Hospital. Fundraising projects consisted of candy and calendar sales the first year. The League’s first fundraising event, Charity Ball, was established in 1951. In addition to Charity Ball, the Midland Service League operated a Clothing Mart. Clothes were submitted by members of the League. The Clothing Mart was the forerunner of the Next-to-New Shop, which was built in 1957.

In April 1954, the name of the Midland Service League was changed to the Junior Welfare League. In April 1957, the Junior Welfare League applied to the Admissions Committee of the Association of Junior Leagues. Their denial, due to the small size of the city population, was received in June.

In the 1960s, placement opportunities were offered at the Cerebral Palsy Center, the Opportunity Center, the Our-Patient Department of Midland Memorial Hospital, the Children's Diagnostic Clinic and the Red Cross. Child protective films were offered by the League in schools. League members served on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the Southwest when it officially opened and as chairman for the Objectives for Midland Program. The members’ service to the Midland Community Theatre earned the League the annual Ham Hocks’ Award for outstanding contribution to the Community Theatre. Then in February 1964, the Junior Welfare League was elected to membership in The Association of Junior Leagues, Inc. and was the 195th Junior League in the United States.

The 1970s brought the issue of drugs to the community’s attention. The Junior League of Midland purchased anti-drug film spots for television. The League participated in “Christmas in October,” a Community Self-Help Project for lower income homes and initiated the Telephone Reassurance Program Volunteers in Midland. Placement opportunities in the 1970s included the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Audiometric Screening, CPR training and the Prenatal Clinic. The Junior League of Midland, Inc. provided the History of Midland Exhibit at the Museum of the Southwest and initiated and financed Partners in Reading Program with the Midland Independent School District.

The 1980s saw the continuation of many projects (such as the Museum of the Southwest, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Audiometric Screening, CPR training and the Children’s Dental Clinic), and involvement in new service projects (Adult Basic Education, Hospice and the Emergency Shelter Boards). The Junior League of Midland, Inc. also financed and developed Tumbleweed Playground, a park for children of the community. Position statements were adopted on the issues of child welfare, substance abuse and the elderly. From these issues, several important projects were developed, including: Stand Tall, Teen Court, Kids on the Block, Council Against Substance Abuse, Junior League Singers and Hearthstone. Hearthstone, an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children, was deeded to the Texas Baptist Children’s Home from the League and the First Baptist Church of Midland. The League was also able to erect a permanent headquarters facility. The Charity Ball and the Next-to-New Shop continued to be successful fund raising projects and several generous grants were sought and received from local foundations. In 1988-89, the League celebrated its 40^th birthday as a Service League and its 25th birthday as a member of the The Association of Junior Leagues, Inc. These birthdays were honored by holding a placement showcase at Midland Park Mall, the making of a video documenting the first 15 years of the Midland Service League and most significantly by giving a total of $100,000 to 13 different community organizations.

In anticipation of a fifth decade of service to Midland, the Junior League participated in Objective 2000, the city's program to establish goals and objectives for the 1990s and approved a $10,000 contribution for this program to Forward Midland. Perhaps the most conspicuous activity of 1989-90 was that of the capital campaign for Headquarters expansion. Entitled “Building for a Better Midland”, the campaign began following several years of projecting and then planning for the increasing needs of the Junior League for additional office, meeting, work and other support space. The expanded headquarters was officially opened in May of 1992, and the new space is shared with other non-profit organizations, neighbors and friends of the community.

The 1990s began with the celebration of the Charity Ball’s 40th birthday in 1991. A new fundraiser, called the Festival of Trees, was added in 1992. It was eventually dropped in 1997. By 1993, all General Meetings were held in Mabee Hall of the new Headquarters, while the League continued to strive to maximize usage of the building among itself, as well as with other non-profit organizations. Internal streamlining of placements in conjunction with AJLI trends took several years to accomplish in the mid- 90’s. A $30,000 donation was made for Blitz Build ‘97, a project of Habitat for Humanity in 1997. In 1999, the League culminated its fifth decade of service in Midland with a year long 50th birthday celebration of the Midland Junior League and an $125,000 gift to four community agencies: $60,000 to the Fredda Turner Durham Children’s Museum for the Cityscape construction, $20,000 to Midland Memorial Foundation for a Nuclear Medicine Gamma Probe, $20,000 to the Midland Fire Department for the Argus Thermal Imaging Camera and $25,000 the Young Life for their Activity Building. 

Although the League remained committed to promoting voluntarism through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers, the new millennium brought about change. After fifty-three years, Charity Ball was no longer a lucrative fundraiser and members were forced to look at new ways to raise funds to support their community projects. In 2001, Clay Shoot was established and Spring Fling followed in 2004. Due to these efforts, the League added a number of community projects to their list including: Bynum School, Scholarship Clearinghouse and Suits with Skills. In 2003, the Association of Junior Leagues International launched several programs, one of which featured universal brand identity. By 2004, more than 80% of Leagues had adopted the "Women Building Better Communities" tagline. AJLI also created its first ever project, Kids in the Kitchen. Gaining international attention, the Midland Provisionals added Kids n the Kitchen to their curriculum in 2006. With the success of our fundraiser lay Shoot, in 2006 we began the tradition of Buckshot Bash, a dance and dinner to celebrate the shoot. 2008 saw two new Community projects added to serve our growing membership: Face the Race and Family First. In 2009, the League celebrated its 60th year of community services and gifted Vision 2020, a strategic plan for Midland's future, to the community.

At the end of 2009 a new Endowment Committee was formed to help fully fund our Endowment. The goal is $1,000,000.00 by 2015. With a fully funded Endowment more funding can be placed in our community projects. In 2010, the League set out combining the two fundraisers - Spring Fling and Clayshoot into one fundraising event and the name Shotguns & Stilettos was created.

In 2012, the Project Research and Development Committee created three new projects that would begin in August 2013. The League has re-partnered with Rays of Hope and Centers for Children and Families to support family education in the community.

We Want You…to write for this Blog

Would you like to contribute to The Junior League of Midland, Inc. Blog?

Well, we would love to have you. Provisional, Active, and Sustaining members are all encouraged to submit their ideas for upcoming blog posts.

We are interested in the following contributions:

• Posts about what your Placement did within the community
• An article about your In-League Placement
• Articles recognizing someone that helped make great strides in the community
• Photographs from a recent League event
• A post about how your League experience has equipped you for leadership and/or service in our community or your workplace
• Other news worthy posts – share your ideas!

We would love to share your news. Please submit your idea or content by emailing us at jlmidlandblog@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name and contact information.

Please note: The content of this site is the responsibility of The Junior League of Midland, Inc.