Photo credit: The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI)

Professional Development for Women: Junior League of Annapolis Members attend the AJLI Organizational Development Training in Norfolk, VA

One of the greatest perks of being a member of the Junior League of Annapolis is the professional development for women and the opportunities that come with it. The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) hosted its first annual Organizational Development Training (ODT) workshop in Norfolk, VA. Three of our Junior League of Annapolis Membership Council members joined members from 98 leagues across the country.

What is ODT?

ODT’s are AJLI leadership development workshops that provide Junior League members with mission-based training in key areas critical to the functioning of the League, and the knowledge can also be applied to each member’s prospective careers outside of the League. JLA Membership Director Marnie Miller, Member Experience Chair Stacie Spragins and Training Manager Nina Arend attended valuable workshops held by Junior League leaders with diverse backgrounds. AJLI President Alice Glenn and AJLI CEO Melanie Schild spoke about future Junior League initiatives and engaged with attending members in a meaningful way.

The three-day ODT workshop included some of the following topics:

• Membership Growth (Recruitment): Several training sessions addressed ways to recruit for your League. Successful membership growth involves a blend of mission-driven recruitment, strategic planning, effective marketing, and well-organized content strategies. By focusing on these areas, each League can attract and retain members who are aligned with their mission and committed to making a difference. These strategies can also be applied to recruitment for any non-profit or workplace recruiting capacity.
• Membership Engagement (Retention): This workshop discussed strategies for keeping members engaged in the Junior League. Effective member engagement is about understanding and addressing the diverse needs of League members, creating intentional and consistent engagement opportunities, and fostering a strong sense of belonging amongst new members, active members, and sustainers.

• Developing Leadership Trainers: Developing leadership trainers within the Junior League is essential for sustaining and enhancing the League’s impact. By focusing on mission-driven training, effective planning and the synergy between training and nominating, you can foster a strong leadership pipeline. Additionally, building confidence in trainers and public speakers will further strengthen the effectiveness of your programs.

• DEIB: This workshop focused on creating an environment of belonging within the diverse membership of your League and having a basic understanding of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
• Personal Development: Several workshops addressed how to successfully resolve conflicts, how to build interpersonal communication skills, how developing a growth mindset can lead to overcoming the fear of failure, and meaningful ways to build your professional identity that can be applied inside and outside of the Junior League.

Professional Development Opportunities in Annapolis

Not only do JLA members have yearly training opportunities through AJLI ODT workshops, but they also have several professional development opportunities in Annapolis throughout the year. All these training and networking opportunities are included in the yearly JLA membership.

Interested in learning more about the Junior League of Annapolis? Click here: https://www.jlannapolis.org/about/join/

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About the Junior League of Annapolis: 

The Junior League of Annapolis, Inc. JLA is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. It reaches out to all women of any race, religion, or national origin who demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to voluntarism. https://www.jlannapolis.org