Have you found yourself asking the questions, “In joining Junior League, how am I changing the community?  How am I learning about leadership and developing my own potential and that of the women around me?”  It can often be hard to see the greater effects JLEC has without taking a deeper look. 

Without a lot of outward attention to the achievements of League, the positive changes in the community may be hard to see on the surface.  In going to a League event or dining at a restaurant benefiting JLEC for the evening, it may seem that we are more about having fun than helping the community.  While we do have fun, fun is not all JLEC is about.

As you know, we provide filled backpacks to children in need each school year.  We supply kids with dental sealants and dental care who would not otherwise receive this.   We have given several cash donations to other organizations that identify and fulfill many other basic needs.  We plan, provide, cook and serve meals at the Community Table.  In the name of JLEC, we volunteer hours throughout the community.  We do serve critical needs in our community. 

As a member of Junior League of Eau Claire you are a part of this giving back.  Your time is service.  Every hour you spend in the name of JLEC (attending GMMs, volunteering and supporting events) is an hour of service for our community.  Time spent at a GMM is time spent learning about other needs the Eau Claire area possesses, some being filled and some needing a bit more help.  Occasionally, our meetings are held at a place of business and not a charity.  This is a chance to be empowered in our own journey down the path of leadership by learning one person’s success story!

Volunteering an hour behalf of League is an hour of service for our community.   Walking a child down the hall of their school on a dental sealant day puts a friendly caring face with that child.   It makes a difference to that little girl or boy.  It makes a difference to the dental professionals giving of themselves to see a team is involved.  Giving time stuffing backpacks makes the distribution day so much easier.  Spending three hours volunteering at ECRAC brings down the cost of our office rental.  While our dues support our administrative costs, when you give those ECRAC hours, our administrative costs go down.

Attending or supporting JLEC events is also so important.  They are fun too!  The larger events bring attention to our mission and the needs we serve in the community.   Our fundraisers are what provide the large dollar amounts that enable us to start programs like community table, backpacks, and most recently Kids in the Kitchen.  Fundraisers are necessary to enable us to go beyond what our membership dues do not cover financially.    

With out money, we do not have a mission.  Supporting JLEC with your dues, attendance and donations of time and/or money is what makes us work.  While it may be a new concept to some to “pay to volunteer”, those membership dues are used wisely. 

Administrative costs are inevitable, however we keep them at a minimum.    Costs not associated with our events and our giving include our phone at the office, the JLEC website and fees associated with the newsletter to name a few.  We also are members of the Association of Junior Leagues International. 

We do have to pay per member to maintain this invaluable connection.  AJLI provides a network to help us grow as a League and individually.   As a chair for JLEC events I personally have reached out during the planning process to other Leagues for advice and recourses.  Ideas for events and projects have come from our association with AJLI.  Kids in the Kitchen is an AJLI sanctioned event.   They are a great resource to us in planning this event as it is a project implemented by Leagues across the nation.

Our community, like all communities, is unique.  While we can great ideas from AJLI to make a positive difference in Eau Claire, we still know our town best.  If you still feel there is something more that you want to do for your community through League - ask yourself, “What idea do I want League to get behind?”  To both the new and the longer members, speak up at a GMM with a need you think may have potential for JLEC to serve.  Identifying community needs and how to fulfill them is a true sign of leadership, be it budding or blossoming. 

Realizing one’s own personal growth in leadership can be a difficult thing.  Seeing attributes grow in those women around us takes a true commitment also. The planning and teamwork that are required in making our events a success unify the committees, build our friendships and strengthen our bonds.   For the friendships I have made, and am continuing to make, in my 2 ½ years in League, I am truly grateful.   On each level of membership I look forward to continue to strengthen and come together as one League and keep our true goals in focus.  Service.  Potential.  Community.

Junior Leauge of Eau Claire Mission Statement:
The Junior League of Eau Claire is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.