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Women’s volunteer group seeking new members

By Clare Jensen

Tacoma Weekly
cjensen@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: August 14, 2008

The Junior League has spent the last 86 years moving and shaking to improve the Tacoma community through their philanthropic endeavors.

The Tacoma chapter, which is one of nearly 300 chapters worldwide, is seeking new members to join the effort to make Tacoma a better, healthier place.

The long history of the League attests to its solid foundation, and while the needs within a community change, the original goals of the very first League in New York in 1901 New York have not.

“Our mission and what we do has always been the same ­– we’re really focused on training women to be leaders and volunteers,” said member Daneel Smith, who co-chairs the new member committee for Tacoma.

The specific League activities, events and chapter platform however, do change from time to time.

The Tacoma chapter has spent the last four years focusing mainly on increasing literacy in the community.

Now, the League has updated its platform through a vote by the membership.

Health and wellness is the new platform for the upcoming two-year session – just the right time for new members to dive into the volunteer scene.

A new-member open house will be held Aug. 18 in downtown Tacoma for interested women over 21 to get a better idea of whether or not they may want to join the League.

Smith joined two years ago at the suggestion of her mother’s friend, who was a junior leaguer back in the day.

She said she appreciates the fulfilling aspects the League has to offer – both through direct volunteering and her own personal education.

“The training really teaches you how to be an effective volunteer,” she said.

“You learn everything from how to call someone and ask for a donation, how to do a press release…how to put on an event…things you wouldn’t necessarily know how to do. It’s important to make us better volunteers.”

In addition to the new member training, the League is increasing continual training for all members, to keep them as savvy as possible in the volunteering and fundraising worlds.

The Junior League raises funds through member donations, their Pacific Avenue thrift store Second Closet, and two big, social fundraising events annually.

They volunteer their time for a variety of projects and events, and other organizations often seek League members for help in their own community-building activities.

“It is a great feeling to be able to know that you are an integral part of improving your community,” Smith said.

For more information about Junior League, or becoming a member, check out www.jltacoma.org or call the main office at (253) 383-1030.

The new membership orientation open house for fall will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Junior League office in downtown Tacoma at 1003 Pacific Avenue. The next new member orientation session will be in January 2009.

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