Can you tell me a little bit about the Junior League? We’re celebrating our 95th anniversary this year, and we have about 70 active volunteers and approximately 150 sustainers — members who have been in for seven years or longer. Our focus right now is youth empowerment, but we’re really all about promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and helping the people of our community.
Has youth empowerment always been the League’s focus? Our initiative has changed over the years, but we have always kept it centered around helping the youth in our community.
What has your experience as president been like? I like being in a leadership or mentorship role and inspiring other people. I also love learning, and part of working your way up is going to conferences. We’re a part of a much bigger organization – the Association of Junior Leagues International includes over 290 leagues – and they have conferences all over the country where you get to meet wonderful women from all over the world doing big, big things in their communities. That for me has been really inspiring. One of the things I think Berks County doesn’t realize is that, yes, our Junior League may seem kind of small, but when you look at what we’re a part of, it’s a much bigger organization making a huge difference.
What programs or events implemented in your year as president are you most proud of? We started a new program this year in partnership with the Olivet Boys & Girls Club called Service Saturdays. For 10 years we have done a Thanksgiving dinner with Olivet, and I had always felt there was something more we could do for them to make a bigger difference. They shared that they were having trouble engaging the girls that come to the club, so we developed this program to go in and do community service projects with them. We want to teach them that although they may have very little, they can still give back. This year we have planned four of them, and we’re hoping to continue them.
Outside of volunteering, do you have any free time? I have three kids, so they keep me busy! I love exercising, and I’m a passionate runner. And the older I get, the more I love to read, so I read a lot, and I’m part of a book club, as well as a TED Talk Club. Between the clubs and running, the three kids, the three dogs, and the husband that’s like having a fourth kid sometimes, it’s pretty busy! I also actually resigned from most of my other volunteer work this year so that I could focus on Junior League, but I do plan on getting back involved once I hand the gavel over in May.
