2001 – 2002

343 Members as of May 2002 (171 Actives, 172 Sustainers)

The theme for the Junior League of Annapolis, Inc. (JLA) this year was Join, Learn, Act – and plenty of opportunities were created or existed to do just that!

 

Highlights of the year included:

  1. Hiring a new office manager.
  2. Refurbishing the JLA office with new paint, furniture, carpet, bathroom floor, and cabinets installed to create a professional working and meeting environment.

 

Community Outreach

  • The Teen Empowerment and Mentoring Program (TEAM), JLA’s Signature project, completed its first year. The committee mentored over 30 teens that had chosen to keep their babies in all aspects of parenting and encouraged the teens to continue their education.
  • The Back to School Book Bag Program provided 922 bags with the necessary school supplies and T-shirts to Germantown Elementary, Freetown Elementary, Harman Elementary and Bates Middle School. Two weekend “Done in a Day” supply drives at Staples in Annapolis, Walmart in Glen Burnie, and Giant in Severna Park.
  • Community Assistance Donations totaled $2,600. $2000 was given to the All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis and $600 went to the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s “Adopt a Musician” program at Germantown Elementary.
  • Anne Arundel Crisis Center – The Provisional Class project provided over eighteen months of supplies including: gym suits, toiletries and teddy bears and redesigned the center’s brochure to assist victims of abuse.
  • The Excellence in Voluntarism Award was given to Mary Wolf, Founder and Director of the Clay Street Computer Learning Center, which serves some of the most disadvantaged children in Anne Arundel County. (The Award consists of $500 for the organization and a Revere Bowl to the individual.)
  • Arlington Echo Adventure Camp received two $150 donations (one in honor of the JLA 2001-2 Board of Directors, the other from the JLA membership) to send disadvantaged kids to camp.
  • The Teen Resource Guide received funding at the end of the fiscal year and will be updated, printed and published in 2002-3
  • The Reach Out and Read Program (ROAR) library was distributed to schools, churches, and community organizations throughout Anne Arundel County since JLA discontinued it as a project.
  • The Kids On the Block Program (KOB) was loaned to another women’s organization, the Assistance League of the Chesapeake for two years in order that puppet skits continue to be performed in the County.
  • The Carousel fundraiser, renamed “The Totally Terrific Tag Sale” (TTTS) provided an armory full of children’s clothing, toys, equipment and other household items to the community at unbeatable bargain prices.
  • The Prejudice Awareness Summit had JLA volunteers from the multicultural committee aid in the planning process and was provided with 100 T-shirts for student volunteers and facilitators.
  • JLA donated $500 and provided volunteers for “Kids n’ Kaboodle” a free fun fair for children at Weems-Whalen ballfields in Annapolis.
  • Partners in Care received most of the leftover children’s clothing from TTTS and almost 1000 T-shirts for their clean-up day program.
  • Two issues of JLA’s “Tidings” magazine were printed with a total of 3,000 issues distributed throughout the county.
  • JLA provided volunteers for the grand opening of the Anne Arundel Medical Center. The TEAM committee hosted a booth to inform the public about the project and JLA.
  • A Red Cross drive was held at the first GMM to support victims’ families from the September 11th terrorist attacks in NYC,  at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. JLA members were also encouraged to support the JL Fund in NYC which would also support all families affected.
  • Done in a Day Blood Drive conducted at AAMC in support of September 11th victims.
  • Annapolis-Eastport Tug o’ War in which a JLA team participated, provided funds to families affected by the September 11th attacks and $850 to JLA’s TEAM project.

 

Membership Recruitment, Retention and Development

  • 43 of 50 Provisionals became Active members of JLA.
  • Two open houses were held at the Bay Ridge Beach Club and the Paca House Garden to inform potential members about what the JLA does in the community.
  • Greeters welcomed members at each GMM
  • Interested members and leaders attended JL Organizational Development Institutes (ODI),AJLI’s annual conferences and other educational opportunities.
  • JLA put on University Day for the membership and other interested non-profits. Professional speakers were brought in: Jean Block from Albuquerque, NM, spoke about professional fundraising and Diane Van Zandt spoke about developing leaders. Over fifty attended the event.
  • Another professional speaker, Michael Hudson of Beacon Leadership Group in Delaware, spoke at the November GMM about Goal Setting strategies.
  • An article written by a Muslim-American reporter at the Washington Post about her fears about how her family would be treated by her Maryland community post-September 11th was read at the September 17th GMM to promote understanding of differences in our culture.
  • The multicultural committee provided a multicultural calendars and a book of facts about women at the March GMM to all members in attendance.

Social opportunities were offered to the membership: a wine tasting at the Paca house, two tailgate parties at Navy games, playgroups at quiet waters, Ladew garden tour, Radio City Tour, scrapbooking session, TTTS disco preview party, tug o’ war, and more.