spring 2014 league lines
DESCRIPTION
The official publication of the Junior League of Huntington, W.Va.TRANSCRIPT
Spring 2014 L e a g u e L i n e s
The Junior League of Huntington
2
Executive Board President Katina Haught
President-Elect Summer Haynes
Community Vice President Sarah Walling
Corresponding Secretary Leslie Culp
Recording Secretary Ashley Corder
Treasurer Jessica Copeland
Treasurer Elect Kate Farrell
Committee Chairs Arrangements…………………...Jamie Webster
Character Breakfast..…….….....…Darci Barger
…………………………………..…Cheryl Sullivan
Community Center…………….……Leslie Culp
Done in a Day...………………Sarah Dougherty
Education………...………………..Kristi Henson
Kids in the Kitchen………..……....Katie Fowler
…………………..………………Courtney McNeel
League Lines……………………...Anna Lafferre
Membership…………………........Anna Lafferre
……………………………………….Sarah Walling
Nominating/Placement……......Jamie Webster
Nominating/Placement Elect.Rebecca Hansen
Public Relations…………………...Erica Deligne
Rummage Sale……………..…Provisional Class
Touch a Truck…………….….Melissa Dawson
…………………………………..…..Amanda Kent
Ways & Means………………….…...Maria Aiello
JL of Huntington Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m.
617 9th Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
304.523.4165
www.facebook.com/JLofHuntington
@JLofHuntington
Junior League Mission The Association of Junior Leagues
International, Inc. is an organization of
women committed to promoting
volunteerism, developing the potential
of women and improving communities
through the effective action and
leadership of trained volunteers.
Its purpose is exclusively
education and charitable.
League Lines League Lines staff welcomes any
contributions from the members of
Junior League Huntington. Please
contact Editor-in-Chief Anna Lafferre
3
From the President ·
Wow! What a great year to be a Junior League of Huntington member! I knew it would be a great year, but never could I have imagined how great. I have learned so much over the past seven years as a League member, and just as I think I have maximized that learning potential I am pleasantly surprised with a new member who comes along and challenges my knowledge or a new event that we take on and I further develop and grow. I know I am never alone in this wonderful organization of women and have never felt so inspired to be a better League member for my community and the organization. With that being said I would like to recap some of our year: We started in the summer as a board taking on the tedious and sometimes mundane tasks of reviewing our policies and procedures, bylaws and standing rules to assure our Redbook was current with our practices as a League. We were able to update these items and as a League you supported the necessary changes. The board was also responsible for the three year strategic plan update and our annual plan and felt our priority was our members, community and financial status. In September, KITK participated in the annual PATH fit fest and provided snacks and water to the children who participated in the fun run. Also, our first Touch a Truck event was held at Harris Riverfront Park. The TAT event was a huge success and we were able to bring in a $6,500.00 profit for the JLH. In October, our fall provisional class, with the leadership of the Membership chairs, redeveloped the front entrance and flower beds at the Community Center. Everyone was able to come together, organize and execute the project, and the results were amazing. In November, we were approached by the Huntington Area Food Bank (now the Facing Hunger Food Bank) to take on the task of a soup drive for the month of January. I am honored to report that we were able to collect 25,000+ cans of soup throughout the month as well as develop lasting community collaborations during that project. Most every League member was able to give in some way to that project, and it was a wonderful bonding and
learning experience. We continued in February/March with a KITK event "Fit February" and our 9th annual Character Breakfast where, even after a slow start during a horrible, snowy winter we were able to bring a $6,500.00 profit to the League. March also saw us at the Hova Hall Underwood Children's Home to visit. This is a new monthly event, and we are looking forward to strengthening our relationships in this environment. In April, the spring provisionals lead our “Whale of a Sale” that made profits that will be used to fund our KITK initiative next year. We officially welcomed a class of 10 new members at the conclusion of this project in April. We have, to date, given 400+ hours this year to various community organizations through community outreach with 161.5 hours coming from the soup drive. That is, by far, the most hours I have seen as a JLH member and the year is not over. Impressive! As you can see we have been very busy women! I would like to close by saying again how honored I am to have been your president over the last year. I know nothing that has been accomplished was done alone or even with a couple of members; it was a group effort. I am always proud of this organization and what we accomplish, but I have been exceptionally proud of the things we have done for our community and League during my presidency. I would like to encourage everyone to continue to serve Huntington and the organization as much as they can, and together I know we can continue to do great things!
Katina Haught President
@JLofHuntington
Our Year in Review
4
Looking Back ·
A national Junior League initiative, Kids in the Kitchen promotes child health and wellness by
empowering children and youth to make healthy lifestyle choices, therefore preventing obesity and its
associated health risks. Our 2014 Kids in the Kitchen program brought the following five exciting
fitness events to children in the Tri-State area. Through KITK, the Junior League of Huntington is
showing kids (and their parents) that exercise can be fun for the whole family!
Fit Fest
Junior League members participated in Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Fit Fest at Ritter Park on Sunday,
September 8. Over 100 children participated in
the 25- or 50-yard dashes or the half-mile or
mile runs. We were there to cheer on the kids as
they competed, and we passed out water and
fruit as participants crossed the finish line. We
also set up an informational table where kids
and their families could pick up information
about the League and the Kids in the Kitchen
program, healthy recipes, and ideas for outdoor
games and fitness activities.
Touch-a-Truck
Kids in the Kitchen participated in the League’s
Touch-a-Truck event on September 28. We set
up an information booth to promote a healthier
and active lifestyle for our community. League
members greeted event attendees, discussed
our efforts to fight childhood obesity, and
provided flyers and other resources to help
families live, eat, and play healthy.
Healthy Trick or Treat
Kids in the Kitchen teamed up with the Huntington City Mission to host a Healthy Trick or Treat. The
League handed out treat bags full of healthy snacks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, face wash, and
candy. We also gave the kids flashlights to scare away Halloween ghosts and other things that go
“bump” in the night! With the League’s support, we shared our vision of a healthy lifestyle with the
families staying at the City Mission and provided essential toiletries and treats to more than 30
children.
We also donated pumpkins and craft supplies to the Ronald McDonald House to be used for Halloween-
themed family crafts and provided activities and fruit to Pea Ridge United Methodist Preschool for
healthy Halloween snacks.
Kids in the Kitchen
5
· Looking Back
Martha Elementary Fit February
The 4th grade class at Martha Elementary participated
in a “Fit February 30-Day Health Challenge” in honor
of healthy heart month. At the February 4th kick-off
event, we taught students about healthy eating and
portion control and showed them some fun activities
they can do at home.
Students tracked their activities and meals throughout
the month in journals, which were signed by parents
to ensure the whole family’s participation. Their
teacher, Mrs. Morton, led an exercise each day to get
students moving and elevate their heart rates. The 25
students in Mrs. Morton’s class each went home with
an informational packet, a jump rope, and a set of
measuring cups.
We hosted a Wrap-Up Party on March 5 to review the
results and celebrate the month-long health challenge.
The results indicated that nearly every student
participated in the challenge, and most were able to
get their whole family involved! Batman from Heroes
4 Higher started the party with a “What Up Warm Up”
and Dr. Gunnlaugsson, a cardiologist with Hauntington
Internal Medicine Group, presented a heart
demonstration and a “U R What You Eat” program. We
ended the party with a healthy snack of fruit and
yogurt parfaits.
Kenova Elementary Event
KITK held its final event of the year at Kenova
Elementary, April 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There were
around 45 kids there ages Pre-K to 5th Grade. We split
our time between a cooking a health recipe (chicken
tacos) and fun physical activities to get the kids up
and moving while also being educational Our focus
was on summer healthy habits. Parents were invited to
attend, and we also asked each child and parent to
commit to focus on healthy eating, potion control and
doing at least 15 minutes of movement every day as a
family. Every child was sent home with a “Go, Slow and
Whoa” eating guide, measuring cups, jump ropes,
bubbles, glow sticks and balls to help them see being
active can be fun!
Welcome
New Members!
The Junior League of
Huntington
welcomed 10 new
members from the
spring class: Lauren
McAlister, Lauren
Hutchins McCartney,
Elizabeth Duncan,
Anna Price, Morgan
Hess, Hillary Smith,
Carly Hackman,
Cara Cheung, Ashley
Hymel and
Jennifer Lynch.
Between the Fall
2013 and Spring
2014 new member
classes, the Junior
League of
Huntington
welcomed 24 new
members this year!
6
Looking Back ·
The Junior League of Huntington
organized a Soup Drive to benefit the
Huntington Area Foodbank this past January.
January is National Soup Month, and soup is
the second most requested item from the
foodbank. All the soup collected was
distributed by the foodbank to local agencies
that feed more than 113,000 hungry neighbors
in our region.
The event kicked off with Heroes 4
Higher at the Barboursville Walmart the first
Saturday of the month. Junior League
volunteers handed out flyers and suckers to
Walmart shoppers. Everyone had the
opportunity to meet Batman and his crew and
“Be a Souper Hero and donate soup!”
Throughout the month, donations were
collected at the South Point, Huntingon and
Barboursville Walmarts and the Barboursville,
Huntington and Ceredo FoodFairs. Junior League
volunteers and the Huntington Prep basketball
team were at local area grocery stores to
promote the drive and collect donations.
Children got involved at Martha
Elementary, Pea Ridge United Methodist
Preschool, Fifth Avenue Baptist Preschool,
Southside Elementary and St. Joe Elementary
where they dressed up as their favorite super
hero and collected cans for the hungry.
Employees at local business like H&R
Block, Jenkins Fenstermaker, Alcon, United Bank,
Huddleston Bolen, Playmates Childcare Centers,
Ramsey Insurance Ageny, Huntington Museum
of Art, Serendipity Cupcakes, St. Mary’s Hospital,
Bulldog Creative Services, Cabell County
Courthouse, HIT Center and Cabell County
Library also generously collected donations.
A fundraiser was held at the Bob Evans in
Kinetic Park in Huntington where a percentage of
their sales was donated to the Soup Drive when
diners presented a flyer at checkout. The
Foodbank is able to provide eight meals for
every dollar donated so every dollar goes a long
way towards feeding the hungry.
The Junior League manned a booth at the
Huntington Invitational where the Soup Drive
was promoted and cans were collected.
Huntington Prep also collected cans of soup
during their basketball games.
Our Facebook page, “Be a Huntington
SOUP-er Hero” received nearly 500 likes, and
public service announcements went out on the
radio.
At the beginning of the month our goal
was 10,000 cans of soup. Every single Junior
League member supported this initiative.
Members donated over 160 hours to the project.
And, each seemingly small contribution of
passing along the word by discussing it in the
community or “liking” and sharing the Facebook
page collectively resulted in a tremendous
impact. When all was said and done, the
Foodbank received over 25,000 cans of soup
thanks to your generous donations and support.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK
YOU ALL! And thank you for allowing me to be
part of this rewarding experience and incredible
organization.
Jessica Copeland
7
· League News and Events
Who needs Extreme Makeover when you have
the Junior League of Huntington? The Junior
League Community Center has had some recent
updates, which include two new fire
extinguishers, all new wall outlets in the board
room and the unclogging of the rear parking lot
drain. Please remember the low rental rate for
Junior League members at $17.50 per hour for
the auditorium and $10 per hour for the board
room for any spring or summertime events!
Leslie Culp, Becky Francke and Heather McKernan
Community Center Co-Chairs
The Annual Dinner will be Monday, May 12th at La
Famiglia (1327 6th Avenue, Huntington). This event is
open to all active members, active gold members
and sustainers. We will be having some light
appetizers, salad, lasagna and cannoli for
dessert. The price is $26 per person, including
tip. Water and tea will also be included with your
meal. La Famiglia sells a variety of beer and wine
that will be available for purchase. Please RSVP to
Jamie at [email protected] or 304-638-
2774 no later than Monday, May 5th. Jamie has
reserved food for 20 to 25 people, so if you do not
RSVP, there may not be enough food. Just a
reminder, if you RSVP you will be required to pay for your meal even if you are unable to
attend. Payment can be made in advance or at the event. Cash, check or credit/debit cards
are accepted. (An additional 50 cent charge will be applied for the use of credit/debit
cards.) We look forward to seeing you there!
Annual Dinner
Community Center
8
September october
November February
March April
Darci Barger Cheryl Sullivan Carly Hackman
Heather McKernan Tricia Weir Ashley Corder
Leslie Culp Melissa Dawson Amanda Kent
Hall of Fame 2013-2014 Members of the Month