Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving:
The love of family, the warmth of good friends and the joy of celebration... For these we give thanks. ~ Anonymous
 

As we enter into November and prepare ourselves for the upcoming holiday of Thanksgiving, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the many things that we have to be thankful for: Welcoming new members, promoting voluntarism within the community, building a playground and learning about and supporting community partners in need. There are so many things that fill my heart with pride, but the most significant thing is knowing that we did it together.
 
Our Fourth Annual Playground build was attended by over twenty-five members working side by side, struggling with directions, laughing and celebrating with our new community partner, Long Island Early Head Start, when completed. All shared the feeling of accomplishment and thankfulness when we saw the pure joy of the children as they stepped onto their new playground for the first time. Knowing that we were able to made a difference for these children is an extraordinary feeling and one that is so special as we prepare to give thanks for all that we have.
 
Together we helped empower the youth of our community through the Littlest Volunteer Grant opportunity that accompanied this new Done In a Day program. More than one hundred and twenty-five entries were received and they were heartfelt, powerful, and well thought out as they highlighted a desire by the children to help others and make a difference in their communities. Our organization served as a catalyst for change by encouraging others to make an impact that will benefit others in a way that we may never see, but will feel as our legacy lives on through the work of these children.
 
There is so much to be grateful for this year, but I am truly appreciative for being surrounded by the extraordinary women of our League whose lives touch me more than they'll ever know. As a League, we are not just an "organization of women", but instead a family who supports, loves and empowers each other through our association, and for that I am ever thankful!
 
Onward & Upward!
Georgia

The Power of Association

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." ~ Henry Ford

   

The collective power of association and connection within our League is something that was unequivocally tangible this past month beginning at our first GMM, which saw more than 20 Provisionals, 30 Members and our guest speaker Vicki Clark come together and discus the benefits of membership and how we can live out our mission through our projects and programs. The reflections were electric and were then shared with children and their parents in Manhasset and Port Jefferson at our 'Littlest Volunteer' programs and the grant opportunity that highlighted the importance and ability of giving back and doing something no matter how big or small one may be! The children's grant was then also extended to those who could not attend the two events and was opened up to the Long Island community via school districts, libraries, and local media. It has been amazing to see the entries come in and the thoughtfulness that the children have been putting into their entries and it demonstrates that it takes but a single idea and program to be shared for a collective and positive change to occur within our communities that brings us together.

This collaborative spirit continues this month as we prepare to host Sustainable Long Island at our October GMM so that we can further our knowledge of Environmental Health. We then are happy to be offering all our members the ability further their knowledge of this issue with a Done In a Day that will be done in conjunction with Sustainable Long Island as we assist them in their Farmer's Market, the only one on Long Island that accepts WIC checks and provides fresh food in New Cassel, where, according to census data, 16.5 percent of residents do not have access to cars, which means they often rely on convenience stores for groceries or public transportation to get to supermarkets as there are no supermarkets locally. The ability to access fresh and healthy food is something that each of us may take for granted, and we hope that this volunteer opportunity will serve as a meaningful and positive way to make an impact on our community as well as serve as an opportunity to learn about the diverse communities that we serve.  

Finally we are thrilled to be able to be working with Long Island Head Start to provide them with a greatly needed playground for their Early Head Start program at the end of the month. Working together to provide these youngsters a safe place to play, grow and develop is something that is vital to them and allows each of our members to further their skills as we build the playground as well as work with the children and families through projects that day. It also serves as an opportunity for our members to discover something that they are really good at or potentially develop a new skill! As one of our signature programs, we look to further our mission through the effective action of our volunteers especially when it makes it possible to assist children in need here on Long Island.  

On a final note, when it comes to volunteering, passion and positivity are the only requirements and I look forward to seeing each of you at one of the many opportunities that our committees have but together for you. Remember that volunteering connects you to others and is an important, life-altering commitment for not just yourself but the individuals and communities that you are helping.

Onward & Upward!

Georgia

Live Your Legacy

“Start your day with hope but end it with accomplishment.” – Anonymous

I strongly believe that each person matters and that there is “difference making power” associated with our existence. Each of us possesses accountability: the power to make change that is not only personal, but the ability to make it purposeful, and to create a positive impact on others and the commitment and preparation towards the pursuit of excellence.

This leads me to introduce you all to my theme for this year… “Live Your Legacy”. Living your legacy is a process that helps us connect to our past by honoring those who came before us, living with intention in the present, and freeing our talents so we can realize our potential.

Many people think in terms of how the world impacts them, however living your legacy is more about thinking how you impact the world. Most of us intend to live at our highest and best, to contribute much to the world, and to live authentically, but sometimes life gets in our way. Each of us is presented with choices every day whether we are aware of them or not.  Fortunately, we have the power to make a difference and it is critical and of particular importance that we each exercise our share of that power, follow one’s dreams and create a legacy that others will want to emulate. The decision is ours, however it is important to remember that a choice takes but a moment to make, but its impact lasts forever.

Legacy builders don’t just dream, ponder, plan or wish… they show up and follow through with character and integrity. Their organization and prioritization is done on behalf of themselves, the cause and institution they believe in and is critical to legacy building. I challenge each of you not to just leave a legacy but to live your legacy. As a Junior Leaguer, our mission is and will always be to provide the education, training and inspiration necessary to empower you and others to live a better life. So I ask that each of us organize and prioritize our time, talent and resources to further the mission that binds each of us together and makes us stronger as both individuals and as an organization.

I am so honored to be this year’s President and hope that each of you will feel free to reach out to me and let me know how I and the League can help you build, live and leave and legacy that we all can be proud of!

Onward & Upward!

Georgia

Coming Together For A Common Good

Last night the JLLI hosted it’s first Meet & Greet of the year and it was a spectacular evening. The women who attended were greeted and welcomed with such grace and excitement as our members got to speak with them and share a little bit about what brought them to the League. It was such a testament of how powerful the League is in bringing together women from all walks and stages of life for a common purpose and good.

Each person comes to the League for a different reason, whether it is to meet new people, learn new skills, or to be a part of improving the community. No matter what the reason, it is such a joy to see how each person who has joined the League comes together as we work toward a common goal and yet grow as individuals stretching our abilities in a safe environment that allows us to become stronger women who are empowered and inspired to do more for the community.

Personally, I have gained so much from my time in the League and I hope that this coming year I can ensure that each and every one of the members of the League are able to grow even further as I work with the Board and Committee Chairs to organize this year's events and projects.  If last night is any indication of how our year will be, then I could not be any more excited or proud and hope that if you were not able to join us last night, that you will consider attending our next one in August!

Celebrating the Past and Looking Forward to the Future

This past Thursday, the Junior League of Long Island hosted its June Dinner at the Whales Tales in Northport, where we were able to celebrate the past year's successes and introduce the upcoming year's leadership. The successes were many including some of my personal favorites such as hosting two Kids in the Kitchen events, that help children see the importance and fun in eating right and exercising to improve their health and well-being; hosting two First Step events where almost forty women from various women's support service organizations were welcomed to our shop and received lunch, training and clothing to help them get a head start on returning to the workplace; and finally we had the pleasure of building three separate Compute the Future sites, where we were able to provide brand-new computer centers for a local non-profit that helps teen moms get back on their feet by offering them a place to live and support with their newborns as they gain the skills needed to be able to be able to secure employment and become established within the community.

As our new year begins, it is exciting to look ahead with the new Board of Directors and plan exciting programs, projects and trainings that will benefit not just our Long Island community but all of our members as well. The League prides itself on our members, as they are some of the most incredible women whom have seen a need and have stepped up with such passion and dedication while working full-time, having families and holding volunteer positions in other organizations. Nevertheless they always find the time to devote to supporting the mission of the Junior League of Long Island by developing, organizing and participating in projects geared toward benefiting the health and well-being of Long Island’s women and children.

I could not be more honored to begin this year long journey with our League as the President of the Junior League of Long Island, and look forward to celebrating our 50^th Anniversary with The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. which includes a membership of over 155,000 women in 292 Leagues in four countries who make a difference in their communities every day through their volunteer efforts. We are living the legacy of our founding mothers who began our League in 1951 and joined the Association in 1962 and we are humbled to be able to continue their philanthropic and educational initiatives for the community and continue to grow and develop the potential of women through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Onward & Upward!

Georgia Gier

President, Junior League of Long Island