Provisional Advising according to Clay Eure

To help provide some insight into a rewarding and challenging JLC placement, Provisional Adviser Clay Eure answered some questions and illustrated why she chose this placement two years in a row.

 

 Why did you decide to become a Provisional Adviser?

I decided to become a Provisional Adviser, because I didn’t want to grow up…I wanted to stay a provisional forever! But seriously, I saw being an adviser as a great way to help ensure that the newest class of JLC members gets off to a great start. I like the idea of getting to help shape women’s first year with the league and making sure that they have a great experience!

 

 What skills and personality traits do you bring to this placement that help you to be successful?

I think one of the best skills I bring to this placement is my enthusiasm! I’m always excited for a Junior League activity, no matter what it is! I think its essential to be so enthusiastic in order to help get others excited about events too.

 

What advice do you give to your brand new Provisionals as they start becoming involved in the League?

I always tell my provisionals two things. 1. Get involved! Try stuff out, you never know what trainings or PIADs you’ll enjoy until you give them a try, plus they’re a great way to meet other members. 2. Don’t get overwhelmed. At the beginning of the year all the obligations can seem a little daunting, I just try to let them know that it is in fact doable and not to stress out too much. There’s a whole year to get it done after all!

 

Would you recommend this placement to others?

I would definitely recommend this placement to others! This is my second year being an adviser and I still absolutely love it. It’s definitely a little more time consuming than other placements, but getting to be a part of helping new members get to know the league and find their JLC path is totally worth it.

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JLC members- the placement process will take place in March, so be on the lookout for more information from your Active and Provisional Advisers and the Nominating and Placement Committee. Various committees will hold placement interest events over the coming months to help with the process.

Q&A with Learning Circles Member Hillary Sloane

The Boys and Girls Club of Charlottesville recently recognized the JLC as its 2015 Outstanding Partner in honor of multiple years of partnership through Learning Circles. Members placed in Learning Circles commit to one of the most involved placements in the League and volunteer regularly to provide mentorship and activities to young girls, helping them to develop life skills and self-esteem. Below, Hillary Sloane provides an inside look at her experience serving as a member of Learning Circles.

Sloane engages a group of Learning Circles girls in an activity. (Photo by Ashley Matthews)

Why did you decide to pursue a placement with Learning Circles?

For me, personal connection has always been an important part of community service, which is why I was excited to get involved with Learning Circles.  I love that Leaning Circles offers the opportunity to engage with young girls in the community and really get to know them – not just as a one-time volunteer project, but on a regular basis.

Beyond the aspect of personal connection, I decided to pursue a placement with Learning Circles because I am passionate about the mission of the program.  No matter what else these girls have going on in their lives, for at least one time a week, they get to eat a hot meal and do a fun activity, while engaging with some pretty great female mentors and role models.  That’s what Learning Circles provides, and to be a part of that seemed pretty dang rewarding (and it is).

 

What is involved with this placement?

From September to June, committee members participate at Learning Circles meetings (at the Boys and Girls Club) every other Monday evening from 6-8pm.  Each meeting involves dinner with the girls (8-12 years old) and some sort of fun activity (anything from team-building exercises to decorating gingerbread houses and beyond!).  Learning Circles committee members take turns providing dinner for the group and planning a session (of her choice).  It comes out to be about once a semester that each JLC member is required to provide a dinner and organize an activity.  With this placement, JLC members are excused from PIAD and training obligations.

 

What has been the most rewarding part of Learning Circles?

The most rewarding part of Learning Circles has definitely been building relationships with these girls.  Every week that I go, I get to know the girls a little better (and vice versa), and that makes the experience more fulfilling each time.  They warm my heart and always make me laugh (and sometimes I make them laugh, like when they try to teach me the “Whip/Nae Nae” dance…).

 

What skills has this placement helped you develop? 

With Learning Circles, I’ve practiced leadership skills through organizing and leading sessions for the group.  I’ve also learned what it takes to prepare, transport, and serve a meal for 20 hungry girls… that is definitely a skill!

JLC members sound off on favorite books

While the women of the JLC promote literacy in the Charlottesville community, they also enjoy reading in their spare time. The League often hosts book clubs for members to discuss their favorite reads. Here are some of the books we can’t put down right now…

“I’m reading The Leftovers.” – Elise Weber

“I just finished reading Career of Evil which is third in the Comoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith.” – Carla Hallman

“I’m reading Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. The last great book I read was The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs.” – Anna Millsaps

 “Currently reading At the Water’s Edge. Recently finished The Tsar of Love and Techno and Me Before You. My interests really vary!” – Beth McNew

“Currently, Marathoning for Mortals. Next, All the Light We Cannot See. My interests also vary greatly.” – Chan Moore

 “I just read The Girl on the Train” – Tess Ortega

“I just started Small Blessings by Martha Woodruff. I read Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid the other day and cried like a baby through the whole thing. I’m also in the middle of Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari.” – Wendy Sue Sewack

Provisional Cookie Exchange

Over the past few years, the Provisional Members and their advisers have gathered in December for a Holiday Cookie Exchange. This year’s event was held on December 10 at CitySpace before the December PMM and featured many delicious cookies and other treats.

In case you are looking for a new cookie recipe to try this holiday season, Provisional Chair Sarah Wyland shares her recipe for Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups.

Ingredients:

• 1 package Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons hot cocoa mix
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
• 12 mini pretzels
• 1 cup Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits
• *optional – granulated sugar

Directions 

1. Preheat oven according to directions on package.
2. Put 1 tablespoon of the sugar cookie dough into 24 greased mini muffin tins. Option to roll them in granulated sugar first to help prevent sticking.
3. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before gently removing them.
4. Make the chocolate ganache by bringing the whipping cream to a boil.
5. Stir in the hot cocoa mix.
6. Pour the hot cream over the semi-sweet chocolate chips and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, stir until the chocolate chips are melted and the ganache is smooth.
7. Break off the loops on some mini pretzels to use as handles.
8. Melt the white chocolate and use it to attach the pretzel handles to the cookie cups.
9. Spoon the chocolate ganache into the cookie cups and top with mini marshmallows.
10. For best results, store the hot chocolate cookie cups in the refrigerator.

Trained volunteers help inmates prepare for post-jail life in JLC partnership with Regional Jail

   The Service and Outreach Committee is excited to announce a new program we’re starting this winter with the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. League Members will be teaching a 10-week course for about a dozen women in the Jail’s Re-entry Program. (Inmates participate in Re-entry during their last few months of incarceration in order to help them prepare for post-jail life in Central Virginia). S&O has spent the fall planning the course, building interest in the program, and getting League Members trained to volunteer at the jail.

   We are very excited about the course plan and the fourteen JLC members who are now trained to volunteer. Sarah Carter from ReadyKids will be visiting the course to provide parenting tips and prepare the participants to reunite with their families, Piedmont Housing Alliance has provided resources for us to share about Fair Housing Law and locating affordable housing in our region, and the League’s own Clay Eure will be doing Behavioral Assessments with the women in the course to help them clarify their employment goals. Other topics we’ll cover include resume writing, interview skills, budgeting, public transit, basic home repair, nutrition, and healthcare. If you have questions about the program or want to learn how to get involved, contact Campbell (campbell.buie@gmail.com).

JLC Gets in the Holiday Spirit

Today is the day! The 12th annual Mistletoe Market is underway at the Boar’s Head until 4 pm today. Chair Tamsin Simon’s committee has been hard at work since the summer putting together this festive shopping event featuring exciting vendors from across the country. Even Santa Claus came to join in the fun at the Cookies with Santa event. Check back here later for more photos! Thanks to the Mistletoe Market Committee and all the volunteers today for helping to make the event a huge success.

 

In other holiday-themed news, The Junior League made their way down the downtown mall in a Christmas-tree themed golf cart in the Charlottesville Holiday Heritage parade on Saturday, November 21. Members handed out candy canes and coupons for discounted Mistletoe Market tickets to help

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the JLC…

Mistletoe Market is already upon us!

Fundraising shifts are already posted on the website and sign ups for members open this Thursday October 1.

See you at the Boar’s Head on November 22!

A new season for the JLC

The chill in the air signals more than the changing of seasons, it also means the JLC is already starting a new active year.  The Provisional Committee recently welcomed 48 new women and has already been working hard to get them familiarized with the JLC and socially integrated with their provisional groups, class, and the entire League. Yesterday the committee hosted a barbecue for the new members and advisers, replacing the traditional Provisional Toast with a more informal, socially engaging event.

The first GMM of the year is coming up on Thursday evening! Members are reminded to sign up ahead of time on the website or SeeingSpots to ensure they receive credit.  The Meetings and Events committee encourages you to arrive early for “Happy Half Hour” and to head over to Parallel 38 for a post-meeting social.

Be sure to take a look on the website at the numerous trainings and PIADs available.  These committees have been hard at work to provide members with a variety of opportunities to suit every interest and schedule.

‘New Roots’ helps families settle in Charlottesville

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the New Roots PIAD. I had no idea that a community garden could offer so much to families. The International Rescue Committee helps relocated refugee families get established in their new homes. One of its programs is creating New Roots gardens in cities nationwide. The gardens provide families with a plot to grow food for their family or to sell the extra at the New Roots Farm Stand. The IRC relies on volunteers and donations to support the garden. 

JLC members can volunteer at the New Roots Garden Tuesday’s from 5:30-6:30 pm next to Azalea Park. In just one hour, three League members were able to help the IRC workers spread mulch around a huge section of the garden to keep weeds out. At the end we got to tour the garden and see how extensive and well-established it has already become in a few short years. The PIAD ended up being a very fun and rewarding way to help out a very special organization. 

I encourage you to sign up for the PIAD- just remember closed-toed shoes, water, and some bug spray. If you can’t make the Tuesday time slot or manual labor isn’t your thing, check out the Farm Stand Saturday’s from 2-5 pm on Michie Drive. 

   
 Sassafras the IRC pup helps active member Liz Guyer shovel mulch for the New Roots community garden. 

JLC Service and Outreach opportunities continue in the summer months

Check out these exciting updates on JLC PIADs by Service and Outreach vice-Chair Michelle Doiron.

We are so excited that the 2015-2016 League year has started off with so much enthusiasm for PIADs! By mid-July we have already completed 212 PIAD hours! Amazing work, ladies! Our S&O goals for the League year are as follows:

– 45% of membership to exceed their PIAD obligation (2014-2015: 39% of membership met this target

– 20% of membership to exceed their PIAD obligation by 10 or more hours (2014-2015: 17% of membership met this target)

Looking to get your hands dirty at a great PIAD? Do you have a green thumb that you’ve been dying to use? Join the JLC in supporting the International Rescue Committee to support food insecure families here in Charlottesville! We will be assisting them by working at the New Roots Farm weeding, mulching, and planting cover crops EVERY Tuesday through September!

Can’t volunteer on weekdays? No problem! Consider joining us at the “Farm to Feed” PIAD on 8/16 to help keep PVCC’s community garden alive! All produce from this garden is donated to the Haven Homeless Shelter and the Emergency Food Bank.

Need a PIAD where you can bring your kids? Come down on 8/8 to the “No Garden, No Cry” PIAD to work in the Charlottesville City Schoolyard gardens! With students and teachers gone for the summer, JLC will be working to maintain the garden so it can continue to be an important part of the school’s curriculum once students return.

Get outside, volunteer, and make a difference in Charlottesville this summer!

Be on the lookout for other exciting upcoming PIADs! See you soon!

Siri Russell & Michelle Doiron, Service and Outreach Chair & Vice Chair