Celebrating Recruitment Events

This summer, the Membership Development Committee coordinated several wonderful recruitment events at the Clearwater Main Library, Jimmy's Fish House, and home of JLCD members. Thank you Kelly Borota, Diane Gobo, Jenna Franklin and Sarah Miller for opening your homes to members and prospective members.

Members and prospectives enjoyed fellowship, wonderful food and information about membership. The Membership Development Committee provided detailed information through a slide show. Thank you to everyone for making these wonderful events.

These events give us the opportunity to mingle over the summer, and share the value of being a member of the Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin

First Social at Red Bamboo Medi Spa was Awesome!

The Red Bamboo Medi Spa on McMullen Booth at the Northwood Plaza sponsored our first social on June 25, 2009. Over 50 members enjoyed complimentary appetizers, beverages, a tour and a complimentary gift bag with over $250 of gift certificates including a massage and facial.

A Huge Thanks to Red Bamboo Medi Spa for sponsoring this event!

First Information Session - a wonderful event

Our first information session at the Clearwater Main Library for prospective members was wonderful. The event was well advertised...annoucements were seen in the Clearwater Beacon and heard on local radio stations. Five prospectives attended to learn about JLCD and the new provisional course.

There are other recruitment events that are scheduled for this summer. Please RSVP to let us know you are coming!

It's time to RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS!!!

The Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin is only successful because of our members. OK, this may seem obvious, but it does take a village to fulfill our mission.

This year, please save the dates for these important recuitment events. The membership development committee also requests that you RSVP, either on-line or to jlclwdun@aol.com.

The recruitment events are:

Information Sessions

June 16—Clearwater Main Library, 6pm
July 29 –Happy Hour at Jimmy's Fish House

Salad Suppers
August 4—Belleair at the home of Kelly Borota at 6:30pm
August 6—Dunedin at the home of Jenna Franklin at 6:30pm
August 11—Oldsmar at the home of Sarah Miller at 6:30pm
August 18 –Palm Harbor at the home of Diane Gobo at 6:30pm

Palm Harbor couple renovate RCS Grace House kids' room in Clearwater

From the St Pete Times, May 14, 2009

Note: Diane Gobo is a current member and former President

Marc and Terry Banning of Palm Harbor have learned a lot in three years of volunteering at RCS Grace House, but this might be the biggest lesson: Much more can be done if you ask others to work with you. "We believe that if you show someone how to help others, they will," Marc Banning said Wednesday.

He was speaking at the dedication of a newly renovated children's activity and donation room at RCS Grace House in Clearwater. Grace House, part of the nonprofit Religious Community Services, has 13 apartments at 1552 S Myrtle Ave. for families with children who would otherwise be homeless.

"We appreciate everybody," said Terry Banning. "It was just so overwhelming — complete strangers offering to help us." The Bannings and the help they recruited donated materials and labor and worked for eight weeks to renovate the run-down building. It got a new air conditioner, new windows, plumbing fixtures, shelves, cabinets, flooring, light fixtures, fans, paint, murals and butterfly plants. Just about everything is new except the small chairs, refinished with multi-colored paint and painted butterflies.

The Gillian's Rainbow Room & Butterfly Garden is dedicated to a bright, vivacious and engaging little girl, Gillian Gobo, who lived across the street from the Bannings. She died in her sleep of unknown causes in February 2008 when she was nearly 2 years old. She had a slight fever that afternoon, but no other symptoms.

"We knew we wanted to do something special for the family," said Terry Banning. "We were very close to the family and very close to Gillian." The Bannings own a lumberyard, Banning Lumber and Millwork in Largo, and they started volunteering at RCS Grace House three years ago. They adopted one of the apartments there for homeless families and they encouraged their employees to volunteer. The Bannings and their employees provide maintenance, cleanup and more for one of the three-bedroom, 1 1/2 bath apartments.

When Gillian died, the Bannings looked for a new project that they could accomplish in the young girl's name. Marc Banning noticed that the Junior League had donated the children's activity/multi-purpose room years ago. It was unorganized and had grown dilapidated.
Diane Gobo, Gillian's mother and a nurse anesthetist, is a past Junior League president, so Marc thought updating and renovating the room for children would be the perfect project for remembering Gillian.

Her father is Dr. Dean Gobo, a neurosurgeon with Morton Plant Mease. The Gobos have two older daughters, Emily, 10, and Victoria, 9. "Our family feels so honored to have this place in honor of Gillian," Diane Gobo said Wednesday. "We cannot thank Terry and Marc enough."
"Hopefully, this will raise awareness of RCS," said Dean Gobo. "This room is about renewal and rebirth."

Gillian loved the outdoors, the moon, stars, plants and flowers.
If Gillian could have been there Wednesday, she no doubt would have loved the butterfly garden and its new inhabitants. Butterflies in paper packets were distributed throughout the large crowd, many of whom contributed to the project. "How can they breathe?" asked Emily Gobo.
When the packets were opened, Victoria's butterfly landed on her paper packaging and stayed with her. Finally, she put it in a box. Diane Gobo said her daughter will release it at home, in the front yard near the wisteria tree they planted in Gillian's memory.

Theresa Blackwell can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4170

Tampa Bay Magazine

In their May/June 2009 issue, Tampa BayMagazine named Art Harvest as the best art festival in their Best of the Bay issue. This is quite an honor, and one, I believe (as I am sure you all will agree) is well deserved.

Thank you to all that volunteer to ensure Art Harvest's success!

Salon Day for Foster Children

“Savvy Salon” DIAD a Huge Success!!- by Nola Johnson

The stylists at “Savvy Salon” in Clearwater were our gracious hosts on Sunday, May 3rd from 12-6 p.m. for FREE haircuts and styles for children in foster care in Pinellas & Pasco counties. Salon owner, Maryann Hauser, and nine stylists were on hand for a six-hour “hair marathon” as they cut and styled hair for 64 foster children aged 3 to 21!

“We wanted to give back to the community and thought this would be a great way to do it. We are thankful for the opportunity to do something that the children need but can’t always afford, in a fun environment”, said Maryann. One group from a local foster home brought in handmade cards of thanks for the stylists, with words of appreciation like “Thank you for doing my family’s hair. I appreciate what you are doing. It was nice of you to do that for us”. It was a very heartwarming experience to see the “before and afters” and the smiles on the faces of the children when they saw themselves with their new hairstyles. They each walked a little taller on their way out!

JLCD ladies were on hand to provide hairstyle advice, drinks, snacks, sweep floors and assist the stylists by washing guests’ hair! Thank you to members Jenna Franklin, Julie Halladay, Molly Barber, Kelley Miller, Colleen Flynn and Nola Johnson for being there to help put a smile on these sweet faces, and to the ladies and gentlemen of “Savvy Salon” for providing a wonderful service to these children and for becoming a community partner to the Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin.

It was a GREAT day and we could not have made it happen without you!

Art Harvest receives a prestigious AJLI Award!!

The Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin received Honorable Mention for The Association of Junior Leagues International’s prestigious “JL” Award for Fund Development at the organization’s 87th Annual Conference in Atlanta last week.

This is a very important award and we received $1,000 for our efforts. On hand to receive the award were Meg Lokey and Kandy Forenza. AJLI Present Debbie Robinson presented the award along our incoming Community Vice-President, Kathy Rabon! Thank you to Sharon Gilberg for drafting this award winning application.

First Teen Foster Summit

Today, I had the pleasure of participating in JLCD's first annual Teen Foster Summit at St. Pete College. About 80 foster teens joined us today to envision how they want their lives to be. Internationally known speaker Ian Hill began the day. Ian provided tools for the foster kids to help them succeed in life. It's not where you sleep that make you who you are. After Ian, the children enjoyed a "What to Wear and What not to Wear" fashion show. Jill Holcombe, Meg Lokey, Michael Lokey and Joanna Rosse provided the "What not to Wear" versions while Laura Redmond, Kelly Borota, Gail Christensen provided the "What to Wear" Molly Lucas and Erin Ester emceed and provided the tips. I learned that undergarments showing is never a good thing!

After pizza lunch, the kids went on to the afternoon sessions including communication skill building, checkbook balancing, and how to formulate an education plan. It was exciting to hear their individual dreams!!!

Thanks to the force of JLCD volunteers for hosting a memorable event!

Can I solicit funds for another non-profit organization?

As President, I am often asked by our members if it is OK to solicit donations or distribute marketing materials at JLCD events or use our mailing list for other fundraisers of another organization. The answer is NO.

Simply put, members of JLCD are supposed to be committed to JLCD's mission at JLCD events. Because JLCD members are outstanding members of our community, can you imagine what a flurry it would be if everyone brought solicitations for their non-JLCD causes?

AJLI and JLCD is an educational and charitable organization, not a networking organization. The educational component of our mission is the key to our organization of women. AJLI argued this point years ago, to successfully maintain an all women’s organization. The Junior League’s purpose is not to promote the business interests of members including other non-profit organizations.

If you ever have a question about if something is appropriate, please ask.

Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin Hosts 2nd Annual Foster Summit

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of facilitating a foster summit with foster stakeholders in Pinellas and Pasco counties. After our strategic plan last year, we decided to focus our efforts on foster families. Last year, we held the first foster summit to help us select our projects, and we have already implemented many of their suggestions.

This year, we had more attendance, and asked the same questions: What can the JLCD do to help in the short-term and the long-term? After we took notes (Thank you AMY), we then asked the participants to place a dot on their favorites---it's really voting by DOT-MOCRACY.

We received wonderful feedback from the stakeholder, and they would even like the summit to be more often than once a year!

Anyways, I couldn't have thought of any other place I would have rather been. It was a joy to see the impact we have already made on these organizations. We really fill a service they each need.

Thank you to all that helped make this happen--Nola Johnson, Debbie Smith, Terri Kontodiakos, Sharon Gilberg and Amy Connors.

Fostering Hope Special Event

I thought you all may be interested---


Support Fostering Hope Florida!

Looking for a great way to get together with friends and have fun while helping foster children?
Why not come to Vintage Vanities and Retro Rags?The Vintage Fashion Show with a Burlesque Twist!!

Monday, February 2, Doors Open at 6:30pm - Curtain at 7:30pm

Where? The Show Palace, 16128 US Hwy 19 N., Hudson, FL 34667

Take a musical journey through the clothing styles of yesterday. A talented and attractive cast of dancers and actors bring to life fashions seen in classic movies, television and old photos.Your evening includes kick lines, comedy, history with a wink and the exclusive Human Disco Ball!
Vintage clothes available for sale before and after the show.

Cash Bar – 50/50 drawings

Benefiting Organizations Fostering Hope Florida and Pasco County Foster-Adoptive Association
Tickets are $15 per person. For more info, call Angela Hoerner at (727) 687-0639 or Gloria West Lawson at (727) 688-5328 or visit http://www.fosteringhopeflorida.com/.

You'll have a surprisingly good time - it is well worth the money. Besides, it goes to a great cause!! Join us, won't you?

Happy Holidays!!

Holidays are a time to celebrate, and members of JLCD certainly enjoyed our share of parties. This year's General Membership Holiday Party, coordinated by the Arrangements Committee, was held at Jimmy's Fish House on Clearwater Beach. Members enjoyed fabulous treats--I particularly liked the coconut shrimp-- and reveled in our warm weather. There were also many other JLCD related parties held by individual committees, sustainers and provisionals. It was a great time to relax with our friends!

Guardian ad Litem

For the January general meeting, Guardian At Litem will be joining us to educate us about this very important program. For information prior to the meeting, please visit their website, http://www.guardianadlitem.org/.

I also thought I would post this editorial from today's St. Petersburg Times.

Kids in foster care needn't fly solo Nov. 23
Guardian ad litem is lifeline for child

A recent story stated that children are appointed a guardian ad litem "to represent the child's 'best interest' when it comes to where they will live." Guardians ad litem do make those types of recommendations, but it is important to recognize that they do so much more. I am a pro bono attorney, who, like a number of others, volunteers through the 6th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program. I have been involved with the program for the past eight years. I cannot say enough about the difference it makes in the lives of our children.

Three years ago, our local GAL Program established a Transitioning Youth Project, where lay and attorney volunteers were recruited and trained to work with youth 13 to 18 who faced aging out of foster care. We completed the GAL Program's "Fostering Independence" training. I am now a trained guardian ad litem attorney, and along with other volunteers and staff, advocate for the best interests and legal rights of these teens in foster care.

In this time of state budget deficits, the importance of the Guardian ad Litem Program cannot be understated. If anyone is interested in joining us to volunteer to help these teenagers, please call (727) 464-6528 or visit www.guardianadlitem6.org to learn more about the program and the role you can play in making a difference in these children's lives.

John E. Tuthill, St. Petersburg

Foster Angels

For the past 4 years, the members of JLCD have generously provided holiday gifts to foster children. This year we still have 30 Foster Angel wish lists and we really need your help. Please email Abby Favali at abbyfavali@hotmail.com or Joanna Rosse at jojo7uf@gmail.com and we will email you a list.

We understand that this is much easier to get the kids off the website and we are still working on it. You can also call Abby at 727-365-4337.

If you know someone who can't take a wish list, but still wants to help, we can also take financial contributions to use toward the missing gifts.

2009 WEDU Be More Awards

Every year, WEDU gives awards to community organizations.

This year, there are a number of organizations, including the The Progress Energy Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco and the Junior League of St. Petersburg, that recently submitted applications. In addition, there is a "Peoples choice" award, driven by votes from the general public. This prestigious award exhibits the connection and relationship the organzation has with the community and the people it serves. It also will honor the organization that most exemplifies the spirit of the community. The recipient of this award will receive a grant and a lot of related publicity and recognition.

The WEDU "People's Choice Poll" will be open for voting from November 19th through December 19th.

http://www.wedu.org/bemore/POLL.htm.

First JLCD Conference

For our November meeting, the Education and Training Committee (Marcy Hawk, Beth Moser
and Nicole Sofarelli) coordinated our first ever conference at the Grand Hotel in Clearwater. JLCD members enjoyed a social hour followed by experienced professionals that shared their knowledge the following break-out sessions:

1. $how me the money!

2. Extra, Extra Read All About it!

3. Building Blocks of Event Planning

I know I sure learned a lot, and depending on the feedback we receive from the surveys, another conference may be on the horizon in the Spring!

Thanks again to the Education and Training Committee!

Another successful Art Harvest

The 45th Annual Art Harvest took place this past weekend in Highlander Park, Dunedin. The week began with a Patron Party, held at the home of City of Dunedin Commissioner Deborah Kynes. On Thursday and Friday, many league members and friends spent their days and nights setting up for the big event. On Thursday evening, past Art Harvest Chairs congregated at the Park for a photo at the Pavilion (which could be the cover for the next SeaOats).

Preparations were still being made when I arrived at the Park on Saturday morning. Around 10am, customers started arriving at the Park. JLCD members withstood the rain on Saturday afternoon as the event came to a close.

Thanks to all who helped! It was a tremendous success!

Why did you join JLCD?? by Karen Gaumer

I think most of us can say we joined to do something with our time that would be a valuable way to give back to others. We do this because we are the kind of women that admire family, community and the joy of giving.

So, I thought I’d share my perspective on the recent concerns for the big fund raiser we will be working on come the next several months, Moonlight in Monte Carlo. Given we are in the structural building phase of this project, we are seeing the outline before us and often times this part of the process is the least glamorous part to say the very least. What we will see going on right now, primarily is the hardest part…asking for money, asking for things like sponsorship and donations. For most of us this is the most difficult part of being a part of a charity, asking for money from others and given the state of our economy it’s even harder. What is sometimes hard to connect with is that all charities are in the very same boat we are. We are all faced with the challenge of asking folks for their buy in, whether it’s donation, participation or just verbal advertising. What we need to keep in mind is that there are folks that WANT to give and sometimes don’t know how, who, or when to give. Just because you and I don’t have an abundance to give we give our time and that’s on par just as valuable as a monetary donation. How this thought process ties in to the Moonlight event is that, well, this is not a low budget event and we need to treat it like the Oscars or the Grammys. We need to focus on those that do have the money to give and it very well may be folks outside our normal circle of friends and family, I know it might be for me but my goal will be many things. I will aim to find out who has the money to give, tactfully, then ask them if they’d like to have fun giving to charity, getting all glamorous, get their pictures taken, eat amazing food, play on the craps table, spend the evening dancing all the while they are giving to their community. Now doesn’t that sound better than just writing a check? How about asking someone to buy a ticket to give as a Christmas gift, send a friend or two to a glamorous night out and maybe volunteer to watch the kids and it goes to charity…..Think of all the grandparents that would do something like that for their grown children that need a night out. And it’s not ordinary night out……it’s a night in Monte Carlo.

I know most of us are tight for money, there’s no getting around that, I know… believe me I do but some of the greatest events had to start somewhere. Imagine we’ve gone to the greatest efforts and blown the attendance away with what we accomplish, we will not only cut in half the work for the next one, because folks, if this knocks off the socks of the movers and shakers, then we can count of the next party being half the work and much more money. I think if you inquired about the humble beginnings of Art Harvest you’ll find, the first year, we made something like $16k. No doubt they put a lot of work into it, possibly more than we do now (maybe/maybe not – we work pretty hard on this event every year) but it has grown into an animal all its own and raises $80k now. Now, our economy will not always be in the state it’s in now so even though it’s hard to see the future it’s not as hard to set the ground work for great things to come. It takes a little faith, support and hell of a lot of hard work and some of that hard work involves asking for the hardest thing out there……someone else’s money. Keep in mind enthusiasm, teamwork, excitement and good ole’ hands out sidewalk peddling are all free. But, girls, it starts with you. I ask you to become the foundation for the ground swell of enthusiasm and excitement this event needs.

What I do know is that we don’t want to loose any member of this league for financial reasons, we’re all in similar situations so get creative, find a way, be the volunteer you really want to be and find a way to get what we need and that’s money. Let’s face it folks, the goal is to give money back to the community and we have to make money to give money. I’ll finish by telling you a true story and then ask you to try it….I went to a seminar many years ago and the speaker starts by saying to the attendees…..Take you left arm, lift it straight up in the air, bend it down, reach over your head and touch your ear……the entire group methodically all take these steps and looks to this speaker to see if they’d done it correctly…this speaker says to the attendees…..”Just look what you can get people to do if you just ask…….

So, ladies, just ask……

Art Harvest Patron Party

The Art Harvest Patron Party was held last night at the home of Deborah Kynes (who I heard is running for Mayor of Dunedin in the March election). Over 50 patrons attended, and enjoyed delectables from Island Way Grill (thank you Frank Chivas) and wine from Zen Zen Wines (thank you Michael Seltzer). It was a wonderful event and a JLCD tradition, and a great way to have show support and have some fun before Art Harvest.

Thinking of Art Harvest, we still have shifts available, and it's less than a week away.

Thank you to all the Art Harvest Patrons for your support.