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