Volume 88, Issue 9

May 2014 Volume 88, Issue 9

May Dinner Meeting The Junior League of Erie cordially invites all current

Active & Sustaining Members to our May GMM Dinner

Meeting to be held, Thursday, May 29, 2014 at The

Watson-Curtze Mansion, 356 West 6th Street Erie, PA 16507.

Appetizers & Social begin at 5:30pm with dinner

at 6:00 pm. Buffet menu will consist of roasted

chicken, broiled fish, salad, potato, green beans,

dessert, coffee, tea, pop, beer and wine.

Active Members (as of 9/2013) $18 person

Sustaining Members (as of 9/2013) Complimentary

(We are honoring our Sustainers this evening.)

RSVP by 5/24 by contacting Catherine Fox at

450-6593 via text/call or by e-mail at izafox@msn.com

Actives: Please send your payment by 5/24 to

Catherine Fox

1790 Apple Drive

Erie, PA 16415

Thursday, May 29th

Time: 5:30 pm Cocktails

6:00 pm Dinner

The mansion, built in 1891,

was the residence of the

Watson and Curtze families

before it became a museum

in 1941.

Volume 88, Issue 9

The Junior League

of Erie, Inc.

2013-2014

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Maureen Schraven

President-Elect

Catherine Fox

Recording Secretary

Joanne Bello

Treasurer

Kathryn Proper

VP of Fund Development

Jen Bach

VP of Membership

Aileen Baxter

VP of Communications

Amanda Sissem

VP of Community Impact

Nicole Buzzard

Sustainer Representative

Liz Sharp

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Nominating/Placement

Cindy Christiansen

Membership Development

Amanda Lasky

Admissions / Provisional

Christy Carrucci

Public Relations

Emily Wachter

Social

Tracy Roth

Training

Sarah Povondra

Newsletter

Patty Graziano

Technology

Andrea Snedden

President’s Message

Maureen A Schraven

President, 2013-2014

This month has been a busy month for much of the JLE. Our

CIC committee had lots of opportunities for members to vol-

unteer at the Success by 6 Learning Expo and the TREC

Reading event. Our efforts are helping to improve the liter-

acy of the children of the Erie community and we all should be proud.

This month also marked the 3rd Annual R.A.V.E. Awards. What an exciting and happy

evening it was! Our RAVE team of Kathryn Proper, Meredith Estrich, and Jenn Bach put to-

gether a wonderful evening of awarding the many nominated volunteers in our community. While

attending the event, I was amazed at how many approached me to thank the JLE for such a

wonderful event. I feel very proud to be a part of this organization, knowing that this event

means so much to the Erie community. It is so important to let volunteers know that their efforts

don’t go unrecognized. Thank you to all the members that contributed to the RAVE event.

This month also marks the move of the JLE Headquarters to the Watson-Curtze Man-sion. If you have extra time during the next couple weeks, please contact me at president@juniorleagueoferie.com to help with the “boxing-up” of our office. This will take a group effort and a lot of work, but it is an exciting change for the JLE. I can’t wait! May also marks the last GMM of the fiscal year , and the “dinner meeting” for the end of

the year on May 29th. I hope to see all of you (including our Sustainers) for this fun evening to

thank our outgoing Board and welcome our incoming Board. I will also give many of you an op-

portunity to see our new headquarters at the Mansion!

Sincerely,

Maureen

Volume 88, Issue 9

COMMUNITY IMPACT COUNCIL NEWS

Families Prepare Students for School

at the Early Learning Expo

On Saturday, April 26th Junior League volunteers par-

ticipated in the 8th Annual Success By 6 Early Learn-

ing Expo. Leaguers joined early education centers and

nonprofits to provide families with early learning activi-

ties that will help spark excitement about learning for

both children and parents. Volunteers manned booths

representing United Way's Imagination Library, Erie

Together's Kindergarten Readiness Checklist, and

The Junior League of Erie. They also assisted with

the overall event by providing volunteers for the bounce

house and relief for other vendors.

A huge "Thank You" to Catherine Fox, Joanne Bello,

Emily Wachter, Rachel Wilkerson, Erin Eighmy,

Nicole Wethli, Kathryn Proper, Jen Bach, and Dan-

ielle Almendinger for assisting with the day's event.

In addition to getting a number of children registered for the Imagination Library, volunteers did a coloring activity with

the children attending the expo. These ladies were terrific ambassadors for the league and all the work that we do

within the community.

JLE and ExpERIEnce Children's Museum Frog Makeover

In June, Junior League volunteers will be working with ExpERIEnce Children's Museum to revitalize the giant frog

statue that was once a photo hotspot. As many of you know, the children's museum is a past project of the Junior

League of Erie and Sustainer Kelly Hetz currently sits on the board as the JLE representative. As with many of the

other statues in the area, the Erie winters have destroyed a beautiful design. In an effort to rejuvenate the museum

and its standing in the community, Executive Director Ainslie Brosig and her staff have been, and will continue to

make changes both inside and outside of the museum. The "Frog Makeover" is just one of those projects.

The makeover will include a paint-by-number design to allow children visiting the museum to participate in the make-

over project and paint the actual frog. Junior League volunteers will be responsible for greeting visitors and explaining

the project, as well as, distributing supplies and assisting the young 'artists'. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June

7th and stay tuned for more information regarding this project.

Volunteering Vixens: Color Run Volunteers Color Run is coming to Erie on Saturday, August 9th! Volunteers needed for various registration, color zone and finish festival positions. Go to www.getconnected.org and search under volunteer opportunities. Click on “respond to need” to be added to their list of interested volunteers to be contacted when sign ups go live! Shelter Supplies Needed Erie United Methodist Alliance needs paper towels, large trash bags, cleaning supplies, twin sheet sets, new pillows and items to be sold at their thrift store. Donations can be dropped off directly at two of their shelters at any time: The Refuge at 1027 East 26th Street, and Liberty House at 550

W 7th Street.

June

Aug

Oct

Dec

Feb

April

020

4060

80100

CIC Hours Through April 22, 2014

Volume 88, Issue 9

April was National Volunteer Month and JLE hosted in partnership with Get Connected Erie, it’s 3rd annual RAVE dinner banquet held Tuesday, April 29th at the Bayfront Convention Center.

Cocktail reception was at 5:30pm and the program started at 6:30 pm. Our nominees and their stories were featured on Get Con-nected Erie’s Facebook page throughout the month of April. 20 adult and 4 student volunteers were recognized, along with JLE

announcing our Active of the year. Shari and Beeber of Happi 92.7 emceed the event. This year’s nominees participated in a PSA

promoting volunteerism which will air on JET-TV and online.

JLE would like to thank our partner, Get Connected Erie, emcees from Happi97 Shari and Beeber and our sponsors which included:

Highmark, United Way, ERIEBANK, Burton Funeral Home, McCormick Structural Systems, Erie Community Foundation,

Lake Erie Biofuels/Hero BX and Foht Investments.

Congratulations to our RAVE winners (pictured to the left with JLE President, Maureen Schraven):

Adult: Tom Schlaudecker, Student: Hayden Elliott and Junior Winner, Mary Ella Eger. Also, Congratulations to

Meredith Estrich, JLE’s Active of The Year (pictured below with JLE President, Maureen Schraven).

JLE President Maureen Schraven with

JLE President-Elect Catherine Fox

JLE Active Rachel Wilkerson with

JLE Recording Secretary Joanne Bello

RAVE Nominee

Gary McEnery

Gold Active

Members

Kristi Ferguson

and

Patty Graziano

Volume 88, Issue 9

JLE MEMBERS: Back: Jennifer Laskowski, Jennifer Bach, Kathryn

Proper, Sarah Godwin, Kristi Ferguson, Erin, Eighmy, and Lorraine

Zacherl. Front: Rachel Wilkerson, Joanne Bello, Meredith Estrich,

President Maureen Schraven, Becky Moore, Patty Graziano,

Emily Wachter, and Aileen Baxter.

Back: JLE Active Megan Howard and her guest,

Laura Prebula Front: JLE New Members Becky

Moore & Jennifer Laskowski with JLE Active

Erin Eighmy & her guest , Mary Flowers

Neil Parham

Senior Community

Affairs Specialist at

Erie’s Highmark

BC/BS office.

Highmark was a

Platinum Sponsor for

the RAVE Event

Dr. Troy & Lorraine Zacherl (JLE Active) ( back right) with

Junior RAVE winner Mary Ella Eger and her family

President-Elect

Catherine Fox with

RAVE Nominee

Jim Martin

JLE Treasurer

Kathryn Proper

with RAVE

Nominee

Janet Bergkessel

Future

JLE

girl

Stella

Fox

JLE Active Amanda Lasky

& guest JLE Treasurer Kathryn Proper

RAVE Nominee

Joy Knapp

Volume 88, Issue 9

Time to Recruit As we gear up for spring, we look at the League and wonder how it can blossom and grow?

Answer: new recruits! It is always a good time to let someone know about the fantastic opportunities the league offers! (SOURCE: AJLI.org, media tools)

TOP 10 RECRUITMENT TIPS

1. It’s all in the pitch! No matter how many times you tell people why you value your membership in the Junior League, it is impor-tant to remember that each audience is different. Before making your membership pitch, ask yourself the fol-lowing questions: What do I want to communicate to this prospect? What is she interested in? What’s the best way to convince her to consider membership? Do I need to do research to find this out?

2. Never take off your recruitment hat, regardless of how many other hats you wear. You are likely to encounter someone who is not a member everyday and just about everywhere. Consider each encounter a membership opportunity, and make a connection.

3. Everyone should take part! Every member of the League is a part of the recruitment process. No member should feel that she cannot ar-ticulate the League’s Mission and her reasons for joining.

4. Reach out to women who will expand the League’s diversity. When you look at the women who are part of the League’s membership, think about the groups or communi-ties that are not represented on the roster.

5. What’s in it for me? Make sure that you can articulate the League’s benefits in a tangible way. Prospective members will want to understand what they will gain if they decide to join. If your answer is, “A fantastic network of women,” make sure to support that declaration with concrete examples of how the women in the League actually work to-gether to improve the community.

6. Anyone can provide a good referral. Never underestimate the power of the League’s extended network of contacts – your Community Advisory Board, vendors, staff and, of course, the members themselves – can provide you with the names of prospects. Remember that referrals often account for the largest percentage of a League’s new members.

7. Remember your marketing savvy. Do you have a website? Do you have promotional materials? People tend to look for as much information as possible when being asked to buy into an idea or product. Think outside of the box when you strategize about how best to reach prospects and the various methods you use to publicize the League in your community. 8. Do not be deterred by a first refusal, but do not become a broken record. It is not always the right time in someone’s life to join the League, but that does not mean that they will not be open to the opportunity in the future. Keep a reserve of recruitment prospects that you can revisit to gauge their interest in the future.

9. Become the League’s biggest cheerleader. You know that your League’s Mission is paramount and that its member benefits are immeasurable. Show your enthusiasm! It will be contagious, and people will wonder why they did not join sooner.

10. Seal it with a KISS (i.e., Keep It Simple, Sweetie!). Don’t over-think or overstate your case. Prospects will re-spond to a clear and concise argument for joining the League. Remember that recruitment is getting the individ-ual in the door. Once they’re in, don’t forget that you then need to convince them to live in the house!

Sincerely,

Catherine Fox

President-Elect

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ERIE, INC. AUGUST 2013 MEMBERSHIP LIST

TOTAL ACTIVES 27

ACTIVES ON LEAVE 1

TOTAL SUSTAINERS 112

TOTAL MEMBERSHIP 140

Volume 88, Issue 9

Volume 88, Issue 9

Congratulations to Active Member Nicole Buzzard and her husband on the birth of a darling baby boy! Baby James Ivan was born on March 30 at 9:57pm weighing in at 8lbs 5oz. In addition, Nicole just received her CPA license. Kudos!

The Nominating Committee would like to congratulate the following members in their placement on

The 2014-2015 JLE Board of Directors:

Catherine Fox, President Aileen Baxter, President-Elect & Co-VP Membership

Sheryl Decker, Treasurer Erin Eighmy, Recording Secretary Angie Persico, Co-VP Membership

Emily Wachter, VP Communications Lorraine Zacherl, VP CIC

Jen Bach, Co-VP Fund Development Joanne Bello, Co-VP Fund Development

Volume 88, Issue 9

Volume 88, Issue 9

The Junior League of Erie newsletter is compiled 10

times a year. Paper newsletters will be printed and

mailed four times a year, and digital versions will be

posted to the website and circulated via email Sep-

tember – June, with a circulation of 200. Advertising

is available through the Junior League of Erie news-

letter.

The Junior League of Erie, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, de-

veloping the potential of women and improving the

community through effective action and leadership

of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively edu-

cational and charitable.

VISION

The Junior League of Erie Inc. strives

to create positive change and improvement within

our community.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINES *Always the Wednesday after the GMM*

*Deadlines remain firm for electronic issues*

September – 8/21/13 (P) February – 1/22/14 (E)

October – 9/25/13 (E) March – 2/26/14 (P)

November – 10/23/13 (E) April – 3/26/14 (E)

December – 11/27/13 (P) May – 4/23/14 (E)

January – 12/25/13 (E) June – 5/21/14 (P)

(P) = Paper (E) = Electronic

All correspondence regarding the newsletter, arti-

cles and/or advertisement interest can be sent to

newsletter@juniorleagueoferie.com

127 W. 6th Street

Erie, PA 16501

Phone: 814-636-3460

E-mail:

president@juniorleagueoferie.com

Junior League of Erie

Women Building Better Communities

W E ’RE ON THE W EB !

W WW . JUN IORLEA GUEOFER IE .COM

Please submit any changes to your contact

information as soon as possible to:

Junior League of Erie, Inc.

Joanne Bello, Recording Secretary

127 W. Sixth St., Erie, PA 16501

secretary@ juniorleagueoferie.com

TOTAL ACTIVES 27

ACTIVES ON LEAVE 1

TOTAL SUSTAINERS 112

TOTAL MEMBERSHIP 140

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ERIE, INC. AUGUST 2013 MEMBERSHIP LIST