296 members as of May 2001 (130 Actives, 166 Sustainers)

To recognize the 20th anniversary of the Junior League of Annapolis (JLA) and the 100th anniversary of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), the theme for the year was “Celebrating our Past  . . . Creating our Future”.  This gave the League an opportunity to look back on all the association and our local league has achieved over the years and more importantly, to look toward the future with hope as we work toward being the leader in making our community a place where all children can reach their full potential.

The one thing that makes this year different from any other is the identification of our Signature Project.  This has been a work in process for the last five years and it is finally a reality thanks to the tremendous efforts of the Community Outreach and Project Research Committee (COPR).  Work on the development of our Teen Parenting Program continues with the help of our partner, the Anne Arundel Medical Center.

In addition to the identification and development of our Teen Parenting Program, every committee of the Junior League of Annapolis worked hard to positively impact the lives of children in our community.  This year we continued work on updating and rewriting the strategic plan.

Community Outreach

• Reach Out and Read (ROAR) promoted the importance of literacy by reading to more than 500 children and giving away 1500 children’s books. We also increased our library to continue the giving into future years.
• Kids on the Block impacted over 2000 elementary school aged children by giving 7 performances this year. In addition to the schools, the committee performed at Carousel and other community programs.  They taught children about learning disabilities, divorce, bike safety, and cerebral palsy.
• The Book Bag Committee collaborated with local businesses to fill and distribute over 750 book bags to needy children in five different schools. The efforts of this group really helped these children get off to a good start this school year.
• Public Policy took center stage as the committee helped us understand the importance of advocacy and how to make our voices heard.  We got excited during a tour of the legislative building and enjoyed meeting our legislators during a most successful JLM night at which time we supported five different bills relating to family issues and children.
• The Community Outreach and Project Research had one of its busiest years ever. The committee planned a party for the children at the Allen apartments during Halloween and was responsible for researching and developing our newest and most significant project to date:  “TEAM,” Teen Empowerment and Mentoring Program.
• Community Assistance Donations totaling $3000 were given to the YWCA’s Homework Helper’s Club,the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s “Adopt a Musician” program, and the OHLA’s “A Peacock in the Land of Penguins”
• The Teen Resource Guide was distributed to area schools when requested. The search for funding continued so another edition can be printed for mass distribution next year.
• The provisional class provided supplies and requested items to Lighthouse Shelter and Arden House for their class project.
• The Excellence in Voluntarism Award was presented to Linda Nape of the Girl Scouts and a $500 donation in her honor was given to the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.
• A $2000 scholarship was presented to Lara Falk from Annapolis High School through the Scholarships for Scholars program.
• Children’s clothing, toys, and equipment as well as other household items were made available to the public at unbeatable prices during the 21st annual Carousel.
• Researched, developed, and put together the premier issue of Tidings, the JLA magazine, to be published in June. The magazine will serve to better connect us with the community, our members, and other organizations.

Membership Recruitment, Retention, and Development

Members were an integral part of the decision making process regarding the signature project.  No less than three meetings were devoted to this issue and informational articles appeared each month in The Log.

• The Education and Training Committee provided the initial orientation for the incoming committee chairs and assisted with training the new provisional class.
• Twenty-eight new members were trained and welcomed into membership this year.
• The Multicultural Development Committee continued to foster an environment of inclusivity. They joined forces with the Education and Training Committee to bring Ruth Terrell from AJLI to help us explore this issue further.  Training was provided to the Provisionals, Board, and Chairs.
• Two open houses were held to let others know about the good work the League does.
• Greeters welcomed members at each GMM.
• Social opportunities were offered to the membership including a family picnic, Mah Johngg night, a formal winter event, holiday cookie exchange, wine tasting, Italian night preview party for Carousel, and others. The Provisionals, Sustainers, and Transfers also held gatherings “just for fun.”
• Interested members and league leaders attended Organizational Development Institute (ODIs), the AJLI Fall and Annual Conference, the Mid-Atlantic Conference, and other educational programs of interest.

Financial Strength

• An investment committee (as a second placement) was established to continue evaluating our investments and to make reports and recommendations to the Board.
• Star Chefs was held for the 3rd year in collaboration with the March of Dimes. They raised over $34,000 to be split with the March of Dimes and received a $10,000 corporate donation for the League.
• The 21st annual Carousel was held in early April at the County Fairgrounds. The committee earned just under $10,000 to help with all our projects. Due to the resources required to hold this event, discussions on its future continued.  An ad-hoc committee with wide spread representation was established to make recommendations and establish goals to give us something of substance on which to base a decision on the events future.  The event will be held in 2002 and recommendations will come forward during the 2001-2002 League year.
• Of Tide and Thyme raised approximately $63,000 of its $63,500 goal. Excess revenues over expenses were approximately $30,000. This year we sold more than 5,800 books with 41,800 sold to-date since its first printing in 1995.  The committee was reorganized to operate more like the business it is.  This new structure worked well and will serve the League well as the success of this fundraiser continues.
• Expenditures over and above budgeted totals were not allowed this year. If additional expenditures were needed, budget items were adjusted to accommodate requests.

Education and Training

• Provisional, Chair, and Board training manuals and Prospective member packets were revised and updated.
• The Provisional training program continued with sessions conducted on project development, fundraising and resource development, AJLI, Council System, multicultural development, and parliamentary procedures.
• The second annual University Day was conducted in February at the Ramada Inn in Annapolis. Ruth Terrell from AJLI opened the event with a working session and discussion on multicultural development.  Concurrent sessions were held with the topics of public speaking and self-defense being offered.
• In January, prior to our annual Junior Leagues of Maryland event, Lynne Hatch, a JLA sustainer, came to give us an insider’s view of the workings of the General Assembly. The public policy committee also organized a legislative tour that leads us through underground tunnels connecting the legislative buildings and allows a glimpse at nostalgic committee and hearing rooms.
• An historical perspective of our league was provided at the Holiday Luncheon in December with highlights of the last twenty years being presented by many of our past presidents.

Sent 13 emerging leaders to 5 different AJLI conferences throughout the country and advertised conferences in the newsletter to increase interest.