1933 - The Service League's first project was the organization, with the help of other community leaders, of the Shreveport Family Welfare Association which later formed the nucleus of the Community Chest, now called the United Way. It was this constructive action which brought about the acceptance of our Junior Service League, on its first application, into membership in the Association of Junior Leagues of America in February, 1933.
1936 - CHILDREN'S SERVICE BUREAU - The Junior League of Shreveport, Inc. undertook its first major project - the establishment of the Children's Service Bureau, now called the Family and Children's Service Bureau, to provide case work and social work to needy children and their families. League sponsorship was terminated in 1942 when the community assumed responsibility for this service. ($15,084)
1944 - COUNCIL OF SOCIAL AGENCIES - The Junior League organized a Council of Social Agencies with the cooperation of the Community Fund Board. The League financed the Council for three years. It became the Community Council of Caddo and Bossier Parishes in 1952. ($13,375)
1945 - LIBRARY WORK - The League processed, catalogued and did other work in the city's only circulating library. South Highland's school took over this service in 1953.
1947 - CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER - The Caddo Parish Mental Hygiene Society and the League cooperated in 1946 on a survey to evaluate the community's health needs. The following year, the Junior League agreed to sponsor, for a one year demonstration period, a child guidance center with a part time staff. A year later, the center opened with a psychiatrist spending one day a week there and a full time case worker. The Community Chest accepted the Guidance Center in 1952. ($28,885)
1951 - DEAF-ORAL PROJECT - With the discovery of a paucity of training for children deaf or hard of hearing, the Junior League established a Deaf-Oral Clinic at the Line Avenue School and West Shreveport Elementary. League members worked with the children in the clinic, assisting them with class activities and basic lip reading. In 1955, this was turned over to the Caddo Parish School Board, although League members still served as volunteers, assisting the trained therapists with the children. ($65,088)
1956 - CADDO-BOSSIER ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN - The C-BARC occupation center was adopted as a Junior League project in 1956 to provide evaluation of training facilities and services for subjects capable of eventually being placed in the community as self-supporting citizens. Training was provided for people between the ages of 16 and 36 as a result of matching federal funds. For those subjects able to work in a normal environment, training is provided along with job placement and social contact. This project was assumed in 1960 by others in the community. C-BARC is now a United Way Agency. ($34,687)
1961 -ALEXANDER SPEECH CENTER - In 1961 the Junior League established the Speech Correction Center, now the Alexander Speech Center, for children with aphasia. It was operated in cooperation with the local school system, and in 1968 the Caddo Parish School Board assumed complete responsibility for its operation. ($57,151)
1966 - COUNCIL FOR THE AGING - The problems of the aging were becoming apparent in Shreveport in 1960, and the League joined the Community Council of Caddo and Bossier Parishes in an extensive survey of resources available to the Aged. As a result of these findings, the Council for the Aging was established in 1966.
1967 - VOLUNTEER SERVICES BUREAU/VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER- The VSB was established after a joint study by the Community Council and the Junior League; this study determined the need for a clearing house for volunteers. In December 1971, the VSB became a Voluntary Action Center, joining a national network of independent local centers dedicated to the promotion of voluntary action to meet urgent local needs. The Bureau recruits volunteers and refers them for placement; it seeks to find and help organize new opportunities for volunteers to serve, and it assists agencies or groups in setting up new programs using volunteers. The VSB/VAC is funded by the Junior League and United Way. ($56,300)
1967 - MOTOR-LANGUAGE PERCEPTION - Summer Clinics were held in 1967, 1968 and 1969 for children with mild learning disabilities. A speech pathologist, occupational therapists, and special education teachers were employed to work with the 35 children attending the six week programs.
1968 - LEARNING DISABILITIES - In the spring of 1968 the Caddo Parish School Board approved the recommendation of the Junior League and the Council of Jewish Women to initiate two programs for children with learning disabilities. The first, designed to help children already in our schools experiencing difficulty, was begun in the fall of 1969 at South Highlands school. Volunteers, under professional supervision and using the materials and procedures of Dr. Charles L. Shedd, worked with students on a one-to-one basis three days a week. The second program, called the Developmental First Grade, began in two schools in the fall of 1970 and was designed to screen-out, through testing of kindergarten children, those who could be expected to experience academic difficulties in their school years ahead. The School Board assumed the responsibility of administering this program in 1972. ($5,000)
1968 - PARENTS' LEAGUE - Founded in 1968 primarily to combat the "too much, too soon" pattern which has developed with regard to our children, a by-product of our affluent society. The Parents' League promotes the idea that the primary responsibility for children's behavior begins and remains in the home, that parents have a 2nd responsibility to see that there is a wholesome community for their children, and further, that youngsters' social activities should be appropriate for their age, and that families taking the same stand can work together for a better community. ($6,274)
1969 - SUITCASE MUSEUM - Beginning in 1969, well trained Docents for the Suitcase Museum presented to the 6th grade students in the Caddo Parish Schools an art appreciation study which covered the Egyptian period through the Renaissance. Each volunteer introduced a suitcase containing an assortment of paintings, prints and artifacts. Mie Delgado Museum in New Orleans provided original pieces. Authentic reproductions were used to complete the suitcase. In 1972 the Art Guild agreed to co-fund this program. It was changed to the Art in Education program in which approximately 2,000 fifth year students from Caddo Parish schools and seven private schools viewed a traveling exhibit, - "Americans: Individuals at Work" and toured the Barnwell Center. ($3,100)
1973 - MOLLIE E. WEBB SPEECH AND HEARING CENTER- This center grew out of Junior League studies that established the need for a comprehensive facility for treatment and diagnostic services for children and adults with speech or hearing impairments and other communicative disorders. ($78,000)
1974 - RUTHERFORD HOUSE - The Junior League committed $24,000 to start Rutherford House, a residential treatment center for eight to ten girls, between the ages of 12 and 17, who have come to the attention of the Juvenile Courts in this area for indulging in behavior detrimental to their well-being and mental growth. In August 1975, Rutherford House, Inc. expanded to include a home for boys called Olive Branch. It houses ten boys. In spring 1976, Rutherford House II opened for girls. This center has residency facilities for 12 girls. The average term of residence for boys and girls is four months. Follow-up help is provided for an indefinite period. ($34,000)
1976 - RED RIVER REVEL - This "Celebration of the Arts" was a week long multi-arts festival for the Ark-La-Tex area, held October 3-9, on the river front co-sponsored with the Shreveport Regional Bicentennial Commission. This was the Junior League's bicentennial gift to the community. ($15,000) This project was selected to be in the Mayor's Handbook: Lasting Reminders which was developed from a national survey of outstanding Bicentennial programs.
1977 - Approximately 250,000 attended the 1977 REVEL, October 2-8, which was co-sponsored by Louisiana Bank and Trust Company.
1977 -YOUTH ADVOCATES - This project is an outgrowth of a 1976 Youth Services fact-finding committee appointed by Mayors Allen and Cathey to study the needs of area youth through a survey of local agencies serving youths. It is a community-based, independent nonprofit organization which provides immediate and referral services for troubled youths. ($5,000) Terminated December, 1979.
1977 - CASPIANA HOUSE - Research into the time and life in Northwest Louisiana between 1850 and 1900 was begun this year. This research will provide the foundation for the establishment of the Pioneer Heritage Center at LSUS in the fall of 1978. ($7,500).
1978 - Approximately 300,000 attended the REVEL, September 24-30, which was co-sponsored by Louisiana Bank and Trust Company and SPAR. 1979 - The new Revel Cookbook was introduced at the March 1st Patron Party; The thirteenth Rummage Sale broke all records by netting $56,495.20. Approximately 300,000 attended REVEL.
1980 - Co-sponsors for the fifth REVEL with the Junior League were Aetna Life and Casualty Foundation, Inc., the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Division of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, along with Louisiana Bank and Trust and the City of Shreveport.
1980 - PIONEER HERITAGE CENTER - A joint project of the Junior League and LSUS, the center depicts pioneer life in northwest Louisiana from 1830-1860. The center includes Caspiana House, the plantation house; a kitchen; funding for a log dog-trot house and a doctor's house and plans for a commissary, a blacksmith and woodworking shop and a cane mill. A hands-on teaching facility, the center uses Junior League and community volunteers to teach hundreds of Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto and Natchitoches Parish students how early settlers lived.
1980 - CLUE - A directory of community services for children and families was researched, and printed through funding from the Junior League, Gannett Foundation and the Children's Council of Northwest Louisiana. Seventy-thousand copies were distributed to public and private schools in Caddo and Bossier Parishes as well as to interested agencies.
1980 - MULTI-FAITH RETIREMENT CENTER - $5,000 to furnish a volunteer services office at the center. 1980-CONTAC - The academic Internship Program (CONTAC) funded by a grant from Aetna Insurance Company has provided on-the-job experiences for high school students in such diverse fields as law, banking, computer science, physical medicine and journalism. The program was offered to approximately 70 students at Captain Shreve and Booker T. Washington High Schools. ($10,000 Aetna grant)
1981 - PIONEER HERITAGE CENTER - Caspiana House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December. Two structures were added to the Center: the Thrasher home (log dog-trot) and the doctor's house (a project of the Shreveport Medical Auxiliary). Members voted to commemorate our fiftieth anniversary by donating $25,000 toward the restoration of the Webb Commissary. To date, the Junior League has contributed over $87,000 to the Center.
1981 - The sixth Red River Revel was held October 4-10. Because of rain, attendance was down. Approximately 140,000 area citizens enjoyed ethnic foods, music, folk arts and a "holography exhibit". A new director, Paul Frank, III, was hired in May to administer the Revel. Begun four years ago, the SANTA CLARA SCREENING was used in Caddo Parish in 21 schools in 1979, 14 in 1980, and 5 in 1981. In 1982, plans are to administer screening to 4 schools in Bossier Parish. The screening both diagnoses skills levels and provides remedial instruction for those in need. ($2,400).
1981 - PARENTING CONFERENCE - held March 5-6 at LSUS featuring nationally known speakers. It was co-sponsored by the Junior League, the Caddo Chapter of the American Red Cross, Caddo District PTA, Centenary College, Children's Council of Northwest Louisiana, LSU Cooperative Extension Service, LSU-Shreveport and the Mental Health Association. ($3,600).
1981-82 - COALITION FOR PARENT EDUCATION - expanded from the "Clues for Parenting" seminar to a sixteen member planning board of community representatives. The purpose of the Coalition is to encourage positive parenting in our community and provide support for families. Since its inception, the Coalition has reached over 3,000 people through the following activities: community speaker presentations, 15 member speaker's bureau, parenting courses and workshops, publication of a Resource Guide for families, and a newsletter. The Junior League has provided volunteers in administrative positions and financial support. ($800)
1981 - Volunteers developed a slide presentation designed to promote the Multi-Faith Retirement Center.
1981 - CONTAC - was expanded to Caddo Magnet and Southwood High School where approximately 100 students participated. Plans for 1982 include introducing the project to students at Northwood and Byrd High Schools. ($10,000 Aetna grant)
1982 - The year of our 50th Anniversary! It was a year full of celebrations. We started our celebration off with a gift of $20,000 to Pioneer Heritage Center which was used for a new building, the Webb Commissary. The 7th Red River Revel was an eight day event, October 3-10, and featured another gift of the League to the community. A $1,000 gift was used to underwrite children's art activities. The rain came this year but did not seem to affect attendance. The second Parenting Conference was held, again with great success. We saw the reformation of the League Larks who entertained at the Sustainer Luncheon. It was a wonderful 50th year.
1983 - The Fabulous 15th Rummage Sale, netting $70,222.46 in September for our League Community Projects, got our League year off to a fantastic start as well as the OSA Questionnaire administered at the September meeting. We celebrated the 8th Red River Revel in October. Four issues of our new magazine, Kids are the Key, were published and distributed. Eightyfour thousand copies of Clue II were published with a Frost Foundation Grant and distributed to social service agencies, schools, and churches throughout Shreveport and Bossier. Two new fund-raisers were adopted, a 1985 Golf Exhibition and 1986 Follies. The League purchased an IBM PC Computer and new telephone system. We also added two new position statements: Voluntarism and Cultural Enrichment. Our League logo was changed, a new brochure printed and a film about our League produced. 1983 League projects were: Coalition for Parent Education, Pioneer Heritage Center, Red River Revel, Substance Abuse 5-Day Program, and Kids are the Key.
1984 - A year of many "firsts"! A pictorial catalogue was published of the history and culture of one of Shreveport's oldest areas Ledbetter Heights. The League formed a coalition with the Shreveport City Council and $15,000 of League funds was pooled with City monies to finance a developmental study of the Cross Bayou area. CPR classes were offered throughout the community. A year of continuing successes, too! The 9th Red River Revel was attended by an estimated 300,000 people during its eight-day run. Kids are the Key again brought attention to children's issues through four quality editions. Pioneer Heritage Center doubled its attendance figures from the previous year. The Coalition of Parent Education expanded its program and fund raising efforts with the addition of an Executive Director. "Children are Champions" (the third biannual Parenting Conference) has a broad base of sponsoring groups, and enjoyed great success. The Substance Abuse Awareness Project continued to establish its strength with the Caddo Parish School System. The Zoo Task Force, in addition to establishing the ground work for a possible Zoo for Shreveport-Bossier, added a Zoo Position Statement and Enabling Statement to the League's Public Affairs activities. The year ended gloriously with two major happenings: 1) the League's new public relations brochure won first place in the AJLI Public Relations contest; 2) the first Rose Classic (golf exhibition) netted a record-breaking $132,000!
1985 -This year was highlighted by several internal improvements as well as new and continuing projects. An in-depth study was conducted regarding our Board structure with emphasis placed on streamlining, efficiency, and increasing leadership opportunities at more levels. The recommended Board restructure was adopted by the membership. In conjunction with the Board restructure, a Marketing Component was incorporated with several standing committees now operating under this cluster area. A complete revision of the bylaws and standing rules was accomplished which will now make them a very workable resource. Continuing projects comprised the Coalition for Parent Education (including Kids are the Key), Substance Abuse and Pioneer Heritage. A Zoo Task Force was formed and $29,000 of League funds joined $25,000 from the City to finance a feasibility study for a possible zoo in the Shreveport area. New projects included McDade House, Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, and our largest coalition effort ever, the LightHouse. The year climaxed with a follies production in commemoration of Shreveport's Sesquicentennial, "Carrin' On".
1986 - By opening the lines of communication and keeping "in touch" with our League and our community, visions were turned into realities in 1986. "It's Your Turn to Talk Forums" were held for Actives, Provisionals and Sustainers as an opportunity for members to express their opinions on all areas of League involvement. A most successful Rummage Sale, "Bargain Haul," was held at Expo Hall for the first time. The $85,000 profit realized from the sale funded three new projects for 1987-88 - Shriner's Hospital PAL's program, Juvenile Justice, and Substance Abuse - MAD. Continuing League projects for 1986-87 were the Coalition for Parent Education, The LightHouse, Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, McDade House, Pioneer Heritage, Substance Abuse, and Woman-to-Woman Seminar. The Zoo and Gardens Master Plan was completed. The Revel Cookbook Ad Hoc Committee recommended the phase out of the cookbook. After many years of service to our members, the League Nursery was closed due to declining attendance. A President's Advisory Council was formed to enhance communication between the actives and sustainers, and to advise the President on current AJL and League issues. The year was highlighted by the selection of the LightHouse for program presentation at Annual Conference in Nashville. The Junior League of Shreveport also won honorable mention in the photo contest at Conference.
1987 - Teamwork was the catchword for the year as members collaborated to spread the training and expertise of League volunteers through the community. New areas of involvement included P.A.L.S. (Play and Learn at Shriner's) and Friend-to-Friend Pet Therapy. Also, Musical Outreach added a classical component to their program. The Coalition for Parent Education formalized its association with Family Counseling and Children's Services and Pioneer Heritage Center completed its transition to community based administration. The Red River Revel prospered during a full week of sunshine, and capped its year being named recipient of the President's Volunteer Action Award. The second Rose Classic Golf Exhibition enjoyed glorious weather and record crowds, netting $70,000 for League community programming. Training blossomed as Education Trainers staged Leadership Training at three high schools, a Communications Workshop for the YWCA Celebration of Women Week, and Facilitation Training for volunteers at the Children First Forum. And finally, Shreveport delegates to Annual Conference provided leadership on a national level to arrive at compromise positions on critical Association issues.
1989 - "Expand The Horizon" was the theme for the 1989-90 League year. The League expanded its community programming by adding two new projects -Volunteers of America, Pregnancy Service Center and Call 3. The PAL program added a new summer branch - PAL at LSU-Medical Center. Once again the Red River Revel Arts Festival was a tremendous success. Southern Living sent photographers to the Revel site to take pictures. The League was recognized by the Louisiana Preservation Alliance for its contribution in preserving Caspiana House and the Pioneer Heritage Center. Public Affairs heightened our members' awareness on the issue of heavy rock music. A lecture was given by Dr. Paul King on the influence of heavy rock music on our children. We co-sponsored this lecture with Charter Forest Hospital. During the spring of 1990, the Public Affairs Committee printed an educational brochure on this issue and these brochures will be distributed to the community. The League's Educational Trainers continued to work with other community groups. Once again our organization was a patron for the YWCA's Celebration of Women Week. Our Education Trainers presented a workshop concerning how to use volunteer skills to obtain a paying job. As our horizons expanded, so did our computer needs. A second computer was purchased so that the Finance Committee and the Computer Committee would each have their own computer. Placement interviews had a new format and moved to the end of March. The new time and format worked well. Rose Classic III was this year's fund-raiser. For the first time the League presented a Pro-Am Golf Tournament. We brought in nine top-ranked professional golfers and nine celebrities to play with 72 amateur golfers. Southern Trace was the location for Rose Classic III. Finally, at the 1990 Annual Conference, the Shreveport League was asked to participate in a program session concerning grants.
1990 - Three new projects were launched during this fiscal year: Schumpert Adult Day Health Center, Literature to Life, and the Mendez Program of Substance Abuse Awareness. It was decided that 1990-91 be a moratorium year for the development of new projects, in order that we concentrate or "focus" on efforts on a specific area in the future. In February the membership selected Children/Youth our focus area for new community projects for the next three to five years. In September the Junior League of Shreveport co-sponsored, along with KTBS, The Women's Commission, and LSUS, a Mayoral Forum which was coordinated by the Public Affairs Committee. This year the Provisional class completed two community projects as an integral part of their training. One group trouped to local schools with a puppet show educating students of the problems encountered by children with cancer, and another group helped secure volunteers to work with Sci-Port's Dinosaurs Alive exhibit. After exhaustive research, the Ways and Means Committee proposed that the Junior League of Shreveport stage two fund-raisers for fiscal year 1991-92. A "Kitchen Kaper" casserole sale will take place in November, and the Rose Classic Hole-In-One contest will once again be a part of the spring time League calendar. The Education Committee conducted a High School Leadership Academy in the fall and a workshop during the YWCA's Celebration of Women Week. The League was presented the "Best Friends" Award by the Friends of the Louisiana State Museum Shreveport in a special presentation in December. A spectacular Bargain Haul netted over $90,000 for future projects in the midst of a record-setting flood. A new Auction Party held the night before the sale was great fun and an unqualified success. A new highlight to the May Annual meeting was the selection by the Placement Committee of nine Volunteers of the Year, who each epitomize the commitment to voluntarism that we so often speak of. The Ad Hoc Headquarters Relocation Committee recommended that the Junior League of Shreveport remain at Madison Park Business Center and the Board of Directors authorize the President to enter into a three-year lease with substantial renovation.
1991-92 - During our transition to the focus area concept, no new projects were implemented during 1991-92. For 1992-93 PR&D proposed two new areas of involvement which were approved - a Teen Health Fair, and participation in the School Away From School program for pregnant teens. During the development phase PR&D determined that Children & Youth was too broad for effective focusing and the recommendation was made that a further narrowing of the focus area be made by next year's PR&D committee. The Board also discussed the integration of resources within a focus area and worked on the development of a five year plan for the League. Our provisionals worked on "mini placements" within the League rather than a separate provisional project. A Provisional Course Ad Hoc committee developed a skeleton course outline to be used by future Provisional Chairmen. Due to logistical problems the planned fall fund-raiser, a "Kitchen Kaper" casserole sale, could not proceed as planned. The Million Dollar Hole-In-One Contest was a success and proved to be a popular fund-raiser for all involved. We also had the opportunity to be the recipient of two grand opening benefits by stores in Mall St. Vincent-Talbot's and Ann Taylor's. The Ways and Means Committee recommended, and the membership approved, that a onetime reprint of A Cook's Tour of Shreveport be done in conjunction with our upcoming 60th Anniversary, and that we again hold a Bargain Haul and Auction Party in the Spring of 1993. The membership also approved the recommendation to man the coke booths at the Red River Revel in exchange for a percentage of the gross. A multi-faced Public Relations campaign was executed by the Marketing Committee, for which they received a local Addy Award and awards at Annual Conference (a first place award for Radio PSA's and an Honorable Mention for Annual Reports). We selected 5 Volunteers of the Year from the nominations submitted by the membership. The Education and Training committees split into separate areas this year with the Education Committee taking on some new internal functions. They organized the library, prepared "welcome" packets for new transfers, and worked at helping us to get to know each other better.
1992-93 - "Celebrating 60 Years Of Success" was our anniversary excitement this year. We honored the community with a gift of $60,000 directed toward the Sci-Port Discovery Center Children's Exhibit. We officially entered into association with this project for Shreveport hoping to see it grow and expand. The Bargain Haul 93 was a tremendous success providing our community $72,634 to be used through League operations. The League also began this year to sell cokes at the Red River Revel for a percentage of the profit, a fun way to help fund our projects with little effort. We made $17,223 and hope to continue this effort for many years. A Cook's Tour of Shreveport was reprinted. The super cookbook received a facelift and we expect it to truly sell. Our many community projects included: Friend-to-Friend, Shreveport Juvenile Justice Program, Kids on the Block, Literature to Life, McDade House, Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, Mendez "Too Good For Drugs", Play and Learn, Red River Revel, School Away From School, Teen Health Fair, the LightHouse, and VOA Pregnancy Services Center. Our anniversary celebration was a commitment to the community honoring the many League members who began this organization. We hope to see the Junior League of Shreveport continue to make a difference well into the future.
1993-94 - The Junior League of Shreveport enjoyed 1993-1994 with a variety of projects. Our 60th Anniversary gift, Kidspace, was a part of the exhibits when Sci-Port opened its doors. An unexpected attendance greeted the staff and has continued with each new traveling exhibit. Our Red River Revel, a celebration of the arts & music was dampened with rain but certainly not in spirit. We made over $10,000 selling cokes this year. Our community projects have been very successful and each will continue this next year. Our membership has expressed an interest in working with the Gang problem in Shreveport. This carefully planned project will be a part of the Shreveport Juvenile Justice Program. The Junior League of Shreveport was the proud recipient of the VOA Humanitarian Award because of its support both monetarily as well as in excellent volunteers. A Cook's Tour of Shreveport will continue its sales and will be a part of the "cookbook swap" with Leagues within the Association. We honored 5 members as Volunteers of the Year: Carla Barnes, Molly Harper, Debbie Noone, Stacey Hand and Pam Brown. Our Sustainer of the Year was Mrs. Helen Woods! A wonderful transition training in the Spring of 1994 with Kay Johnson of Johnson West and Associates gave the Joint Executive Committee and Boards of this year and next an opportunity to share and dream. A great beginning to a very busy year.
1994-95 - This year continued to be a year of service to our community. Our many projects were successful, and Project, Research, and Development recommended that it was now time to turn two of these projects over to the community: PAL (Play and Learn at LSU Medical Center) and McDade House. Our fund-raising efforts were successful with Bargain Haul netting approximately $65,000 and sales of A Cook's Tour of Shreveport bringing in approximately $16,000. The Revel was once again dampened with rain, however, we were able to earn almost $6,000 selling cokes. The membership voted to man the coke booths at the Revel next year as a 20th anniversary gift to the Revel without receiving a percentage of the profits. The Junior League proudly received the Philanthropic Organization of the Year award from the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives. We also successfully hosted the State Public Affairs Committee conventions and our Public Affairs Committee did an outstanding job. The membership also voted to bring back "The Follies" as a fund-raiser in the spring of 1996.
1995-96 - Our community projects continued to be a vital part of the community. Our gang awareness video was completed and received a Gold Addy Award locally and one of three Honorable Mention Awards at the AJLI Annual Conference where it was presented as a special project. Our Mendez program was expanded to "train trainers" so that even more students could benefit. Our new projects at Providence House were very well received - residents looked forward to "their league meetings". We continued work with Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, Shreveport Juvenile Justice, Volunteers of America, Musical Outreach, School Away from School, Sci-Port, Caddo Public Education Foundation, and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Red River Revel. Our provisional class was a sponsor of the Susan G. Komen: Race for the Cure. Fundraising was most successful with "Stars Over Shreveport: S.O.S. Follies" netting over $100,00.00 and giving all involved a wonderful experience. This committee also produced a public relations packet second to none. Our cookbook committee continued its marketing efforts and also manned a booth at "Boutique de Noel" which proved profitable.
Our In-League committees worked hard to revise bylaws, publish two excellent SPAC newsletters and provide enjoyable workshops. We honored seven members as outstanding volunteers this year: Pam Johnston, Tari Bradford, Patrice Hutchinson, Debra Blum, Meg Coleman, Vickie Meadows, and Sherry Aiello. Our Sustainer of the Year was Katherine Cheesman. Tookie Barr was also recognized for her continued service to our Musical Outreach project. Special thanks was given to Rob fundraisers, a partnership with Goodwill and the successful Spring Trends and Garden Traditions. Our existing fundraisers, Red River Revel, Bricks (296 bricks were laid at the Festival Site), and the Revel Cookbook were successful with plans to increase revenue for next year.
Leadership and training were emphasized as the Education Committee planned and provided educational/leadership offerings for our members. The Junior League of Shreveport Bossier was host to SPAC this year. In addition to working on the fundraisers, members volunteered in the community in ten existing projects. Two additional projects, Habitat for Humanity and Prejudice Awareness Summitt are planned for next year. The May Dinner Meeting held at Shreveport Country Club was the culmination of a successful year. Lona Lockard, received the President's Award, Leigh Lewis (community) and Lee Harrison (in-league) received the Volunteer of the Year Awards and Susan Hardtner was named Sustainer of the Year.
2002-2003 - This year proved to be an exciting and rewarding experience for Junior League members. With the realization that our member's needs were diverse, opportunities to attend day or night Board and General Membership Meetings were offered along with an array of Education Meetings and Social Workshops. These options were embraced by the members and proved successful.
Opportunities to "just get together" were diverse as well. In the fall Past Presidents were honored with a tea at Kim FitzGerald's home. Our members were also able to enjoy an evening of good food and fun with our fall social, a Mexican fiesta at the Marcotte home. In December a lovely Christmas party was held in the home of Jeff and Kelly Turner for sustainers, actives and provisionals. In April we were all able to hunt eggs and feast on delectable cookies and cakes at the home of Bobby and Maura Pugh. To the members who graciously volunteered the use of their homes and our Arrangements Committee made all of these events possible - We thank you!
Our projects began right off the bat with St. Catherine's Summer Camp. In the fall Red River Revel, LitSTart, J. B. Harville/Oak Terrace Alternative School, Food Shuttle, and Providence House all became active. Our "Prejudice Awareness Summit" became "The River Cities Youth Summit," and the yearlong process of planning this event began. Along with those projects, the League began the planning phase of building a home with Habitat for Humanity. The actual building phase of the project began after the New Year and was completed in record time with each member working a 4-hour shift in addition to her placement.
Due to our successful fundraising from the prior year, Community Assistance Grants totaling $15,000 and Community Fund Grants totaling $30,000 were awarded throughout the Shreveport-Bossier Area to non-profit agencies.
Fundraising on took a successful new direction with Fund Development spearheaded by Kim FitzGerald. Our Revel Pepsi Sales were over $11,000 and cookbooks continued to be sold through local merchants and our website. Our spring Trends and garden Traditions Marketplace netted over $100,000 this year which will enable the League to fund projects for 2003-2004.
Lastly, in May the Annual Dinner Meeting was held at East Ridge Country Club. Frances Smitherman was named Sustainer of the Year and our Volunteers of the Year were Sydney Breaud and Michelle Wiener.
2003-2004 - After a few quiet summer months, the Junior League packed all three of their new projects into the month of October! Red River Revel Artist for a Day, Make a Difference Day and River Cities Youth Summit all took place within a few short weeks of each other. Each project was a success in its own rite, and along with the other community projects of the League, we had another year of serving families and children in our own community.
General Meetings provided forums to have speakers educate the membership in regards to some of the populations served by our projects. Ollie Tyler, Caddo Parish Superintendent of Schools, spoke to the membership about her plans to improve the educational opportunities for children in Caddo parish, and also to thank our members for their contributions to public education in Caddo parish. Ellen Brown spoke to the membership on "Living in Poverty in Louisiana" and gave the membership an interesting perspective on the day to day lives of our citizens in those circumstances. As well, she dispelled myths and misconceptions about the poor.
From an In-League perspective, two important committees were formed and met to produce new plans for our League. The Sustainer of the Year committee met to establish guidelines for selection for this honor, and to determine the best way to present the award. Definite guidelines for the selection of the recipient were established, as well as a permanent committee to make the selection. The committee is composed of the Sustainer Advisor, President, President-Elect, Public Relations Chairman, Public Relations Assistant Chairman and two at-large Sustaining members. The committee determined that the sustainer should be made aware that she was receiving the honor, so that family would be able to travel to the presentation. It was also decided that the award should be presented at the Sustainer Luncheon in February, and the focus of the May dinner meeting returned to the new actives and incoming Board of Directors. This system met with great success and Knox McGuffin Goodman was selected by the committee as this year's recipient. Mrs. Goodman was most surprised as she was given flowers by members of the committee while working in her shop! She was most gracious and grateful, and all three of her daughters were able to attend the luncheon.
An ad hoc committee was also formed to create a three-year strategic plan for our League. A standard practice in business, long-range planning helps an organization set goals beyond the end of the fiscal year and also gives them a "yardstick" by which to measure their progress and growth. A long-range plan has been composed and adopted with specific goals and guidelines for each standing committee.
And finally, from a social perspective, we also had a great year! Our traditional Fall Party at Maureen and Keith Gamble's home was followed by the Christmas party in the home of Simeon and Holly Wall. The traditional Easter Egg Hunt was held at Bobby and Maura Pugh's home and the year ended with the May Dinner Meeting at East Ridge Country Club. Stacey McCarty and Michelle Osborne were selected as In-League Volunteers of the Year, and Sarah Kirkpatrick was honored with Community Volunteer of the Year.
2005-2006 - Our 73rd year started much the same as any other year. We looked forward to the new opportunities we would have for making a difference in our community and the lives of our members. However, the affects of Mother Nature and visionary leadership guided us to make changes that define flexibility, meeting emerging needs and developing the potential of women.
This was the first year for our new project, GREAT, which stands for Greenwood Equine Assisted Therapy. It is run by the ARC, and association for developmentally disabled citizens, at the Lickskillet Ranch in Greenwood. Children ages 5 to 12 participate in a variety of activities from horseback riding to building birdhouses. Not all children who attend the camp have developmental disabilities. This provides a unique environment for all children to learn and play. In the two-week placement, Junior League volunteers facilitated the arts and crafts portion of each day.
At the end of August we hosted the Second Annual AJLI Regional Leadership Training. A lovely reception was held at the home of League President, Kay deBerardinis, on the Friday night before the training began. On Saturday, the training sessions were held at the Petroleum Club and League members from Arlington, Longview, Tyler, Lufkin, Monroe and Shreveport-Bossier attended.
Bargain Haul was scheduled to be held in November 2005. All of this changed when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. League members went to work immediately within our community to help at emergency shelters and to donate time as well as items to help comfort the dislocated families. Members staffed the Relief Relay Center at the former South Park Mall and also helped at the Humane Society. The Strategic Planning Committee made grants to many organizations that had special needs due to the increase in services provided for hurricane relief, these included the Samaritan Counseling Center, Providence House, LSU Health Sciences Center Social Services Department, Rutherford House, and the YWCA.
In addition to our new project at GREAT, the league continued to work with our other community projects. Paired Reading kicked off its second year at Atkins Elementary. Our other community projects were Dress for Success, Dress for Success Professional Women's Group, Providence House, Red River Revel, Red River Revel Artist for a Day Tent, and River Cities Youth Summit.
For the first time in many years the Provisional Class developed and implemented its own community project called Heart Gallery. This project utilized the talents of local professional photographer and Provisional class member Kristin Mosura. Kristin photographed children who were eligible for adoption. These beautiful photos were placed in each child's portfolio and were shown to prospective adoptive parents. The Louisiana Boardwalk donated a space to highlight our involvement with the Heart Gallery project.
The Strategic Planning Committee voted to donate $10,000 to the brand-new Sutton Children's Hospital. This money was used to create a Junior League endowment fund for the much-needed hospital. Other funds were given to the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, LA State Museum, the Pool of Siloam, Gingerbread House, Robinson Film Center, Girls Scouts, The Gilbert & Sullivan Society and Community Support Programs.
Throughout the year the Board worked tirelessly to change our organizational structure to the Council System. President Kay deBerardinis and President-elect Ginger Lukacs spearheaded this effort and guided the Board along the way as the By-Laws were revised and the new form of League governance was implemented. We created four Councils: Community, Membership, Communications and Ways & Means. Placements and therefore members are divided among the four councils based on placement objectives. The Vice Presidents of the League serve as Council Directors. Council Directors serve as liaisons to the Board so the number of positions on the Board of Directors was lowered to twelve. With the Councils now handling management of the Leagues many activities, the Board of Directors would strictly govern and the Executive Committee would only meet as needed on urgent matters in absence of the Board and for confidential membership issues.
This was the first year for our Car Raffle fundraiser. More than 4200 tickets were sold by members and at various locations around town. The grand prize was a 2006 white BMW 325i. Hal Sutton drew the winning ticket on the last day of Trends & Traditions and the winner was Brooke Ainsworth. Trends and Traditions celebrated its 5th year very successfully, surpassing their goal of 100 patrons and adding several new events including, a Jazz Brunch with guest speaker and daily High Tea. Our fundraising efforts; working in the Pepsi booths at the Revel, selling The Revel, and soliciting corporate and individual donations through Fund Development, were also profitable.
The Cookbook Committee had an especially busy year as they sold more cookbooks than they had in several years and spent countless hours producing a new cookbook from the JLSB, titled, Mardi Gras to Mistletoe. From collecting, testing and reviewing hundreds of recipes, to organizing and collecting table decorations and place settings for the one-of-a-kind "tablescape" photographs, the women on the Cookbook Committee gave much for our future financial success.
Another change affecting our fundraising work was the implementation of a "Shift System" for meeting Ways & Means obligations. This system allows members the flexibility to choose when and where they will work the required number of shifts for that year. They choose the time and place from a list of shifts available for each fundraising event.
Special thanks this year to Melissa Cook and Kay deBerardinis for allowing us to use their homes for our Christmas Party and Easter Egg Hunt. The format for the Christmas party changed this year from its traditional Sunday afternoon party for League members and their children to a members-only opportunity to visit and catch up with each other before the busy holiday season.
Awards given this year included, Sustainer of the Year presented to Imogene Murphy at the Sustainer of the Year luncheon in February at Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club. Also Volunteers of the Year presented to Caroline Fischer, Dress for Success Assistant Head Volunteer and Michelle Everson, Car Raffle Ticket seller at the May Dinner meeting at the University Club. Three members were also nominated to attend ODI in Houston, Julie Colvin, Shannan Hicks and Michelle Osborn.
In the second year of utilizing the Community Advisor Board, four new members, Karen Barnes, Paula Hickman, David Matlock and July Williams joined the four existing members, Tom Harrison, Charles Paine, Margaret Shehee, and Ollie Tyler.
AJLI created a project for all Leagues to participate in called "Kids in the Kitchen". This educational event for children focused on healthy eating tips and the importance of exercise. The event was held in April at the Christus Schumpert Wellness Center in Bossier City.
2005-2006 JLSB History -Our 73rd year started much the same as any other year. We looked forward to the new opportunities we would have for making a difference in our community and the lives of our members. However, the affects of Mother Nature and visionary leadership guided us to make changes that define flexibility, meeting emerging needs and developing the potential of women.
This was the first year for our new project, GREAT, which stands for Greenwood Equine Assisted Therapy. It is run by the ARC, an association for developmentally disabled citizens, at the Lickskillet Ranch in Greenwood. Children ages 5 to 12 participate in a variety of activities from horseback riding to building birdhouses. Not all children who attend the camp have developmental disabilities. This provides a unique environment for all children to learn and play. In the two-week placement, Junior League volunteers facilitated the arts and crafts portion of each day.
At the end of August we hosted the Second Annual AJLI Regional Leadership Training. A lovely reception was held at the home of League President, Kay deBerardinis, on the Friday night before the training began. On Saturday, the training sessions were held at the Petroleum Club, and League members from Arlington, Longview, Tyler, Lufkin, Monroe and Shreveport-Bossier attended.
Bargain Haul was scheduled to be held in November 2005. All of this changed when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. League members went to work immediately within our community to help at emergency shelters and to donate time as well as items to help comfort the dislocated families. Members staffed the Relief Relay Center at the former South Park Mall and also helped at the Humane Society. The Strategic Planning Committee made grants to many organizations that had special needs due to the increase in services provided for hurricane relief. These included the Samaritan Counseling Center, Providence House, LSU Health Sciences Center Social Services Department, Rutherford House, and the YWCA.
In addition to our new project at GREAT, the League continued to work with our other community projects. Paired Reading kicked off its second year at Atkins Elementary. Our other community projects were Dress for Success, Dress for Success Professional Women's Group, Providence House, Red River Revel, Red River Revel Artist for a Day Tent, and River Cities Youth Summit.
For the first time in many years the Provisional Class developed and implemented its own community project called Heart Gallery. This project utilized the talents of local professional photographer and Provisional class member Kristin Mosura. Kristin photographed children who were eligible for adoption. These beautiful photos were placed in each child's portfolio and were shown to prospective adoptive parents. The Louisiana Boardwalk donated a space to highlight our involvement with the Heart Gallery project.
AJLI created a project for all Leagues to participate in called "Kids in the Kitchen." This educational event for children focused on healthy eating tips and the importance of exercise. The event was held in April at the Christus Schumpert Wellness Center in Bossier City.
The Strategic Planning Committee voted to donate $10,000 to the brand-new Sutton Children's Hospital. This money was used to create a Junior League endowment fund for the much-needed hospital. Other funds were given to the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, LA State Museum, the Pool of Siloam, Gingerbread House, Robinson Film Center, Girl Scouts, The Gilbert & Sullivan Society and Community Support Programs.
Throughout the year the Board worked tirelessly to change our organizational structure to the Council System. President Kay deBerardinis and President-elect Ginger Lukacs spearheaded this effort and guided the Board along the way as the By-Laws were revised and the new form of League governance was implemented. We created four Councils: Community, Membership, Communications, and Ways & Means. Placements and therefore members are divided among the four councils based on placement objectives. The Vice Presidents of the League serve as Council Directors. Council Directors serve as liaisons to the Board, so the number of positions on the Board of Directors was lowered to twelve. With the Councils now handling management of the League's many activities, the Board of Directors would strictly govern, and the Executive Committee would only meet as needed on urgent matters in absence of the Board and for confidential membership issues.
This was the first year for our Car Raffle fundraiser. More than 4,200 tickets were sold by members and at various locations around town. The grand prize was a 2006 white BMW 325i. Hal Sutton drew the winning ticket on the last day of Trends & Traditions, and the winner was Brooke Ainsworth. Trends and Traditions celebrated its 5th year very successfully, surpassing its goal of 100 patrons and adding several new events including a Jazz Brunch with guest speaker and daily High Tea. Our fundraising efforts, working in the Pepsi booths at the Revel, selling The Revel, and soliciting corporate and individual donations through Fund Development were also profitable.
The Cookbook Committee had an especially busy year as they sold more cookbooks than they had in several years and spent countless hours producing a new cookbook from the JLSB, titled, Mardi Gras to Mistletoe. From collecting, testing, and reviewing hundreds of recipes to organizing and collecting table decorations and place settings for the one-of-a-kind "tablescape" photographs, the women on the Cookbook Committee gave much for our future financial success.
Another change affecting our fundraising work was the implementation of a "Shift System" for meeting Ways & Means obligations. This system allows members the flexibility to choose when and where they will work the required number of shifts for that year. They choose the time and place from a list of shifts available for each fundraising event.
Special thanks this year to Melissa Cook and Kay deBerardinis for allowing us to use their homes for our Christmas Party and Easter Egg Hunt. The format for the Christmas party changed this year from its traditional Sunday afternoon party for League members and their children to a members-only opportunity to visit and catch up with each other before the busy holiday season.
Awards given this year included Sustainer of the Year presented to Imogene Murphy at the Sustainer of the Year luncheon in February at Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club. Also Volunteers of the Year presented to Caroline Fischer, Dress for Success Assistant Head Volunteer and Michelle Everson, Car Raffle Ticket seller at the May Dinner meeting at the University Club. Also, the three members nominated to attend ODI in Houston were Julie Colvin, Shannan Hicks, and Michelle Osborn.
In the second year of utilizing the Community Advisor Board, four new members, Karen Barnes, Paula Hickman, David Matlock, and July Williams joined the four existing members, Tom Harrison, Charles Paine, Margaret Shehee, and Ollie Tyler.
The 2006-07 League Year has been a year of change and continued progression. The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier joined the 220 Leagues whose structural organization exists as a Council System. Every member, based on their placement, reports to one of four councils: Membership, Communications, Community, and Ways & Means. The Vice Presidents of the League serve as Council Directors and, along with Council Leaders (committee/project heads), manage the day-to-day activities of their Council ensuring the facilitation of committee work plans, training programs, and proper communication.
This organizational structure shifts the management responsibility from the Board of Directors to the Councils, and allows the Board to concentrate on governance. This structure gave forty Council Leaders exposure to the operations of the League as well as experience in management, providing valuable leadership development. Members' feedback in regard to the Council System has been overwhelmingly positive with specific acknowledgement of improved communication, and a sense of "connection" with members overall.
As we adjusted through a year of transition, we also concentrated efforts laying the groundwork for our upcoming 75th Anniversary. The 75th Project Committee, made up of seven past presidents, researched local projects for consideration as JLSB's 75th Anniversary Project and $75,000 Anniversary Gift recipient. Chairman Betty Henderson led the committee in its thorough process. For several months, the committee narrowed down anniversary project candidates to eight which specifically fit the 75th Anniversary project criteria. After detailed presentations from those eight organizations, the committee selected the Robinson Film Center and Sheriff's Safetytown as the two finalists. At the February General Meeting, both organizations presented their proposed partnership with the League including specific volunteer placements and planned use of JLSB's $75,000 gift. The active membership voted Sheriff's Safetytown as the 75th Anniversary recipient with plans to build the Junior League Pavilion at the facility, and for League volunteers to coordinate Saturday Safety Clinics open to the public.
As women's roles have changed in the past 75 years, so have the needs of our membership. Women find it even harder to balance commitments in their lives. Our Executive Committee placed special emphasis on "Taking CARE of Members" by formalizing the League's plan to support members in their efforts to meet membership requirements. In the Taking CARE of Members Policy, the Executive Committee outlined plans to: C-Communicate Expectations, A-Advise through personal contact, R-Report fulfilled requirements throughout the year, and E-Evaluate circumstances of struggling members. With this attentiveness to our members, the League expresses its appreciation of our valuable volunteers and acknowledges their individual needs, ultimately maintaining members' lifelong membership.
Offering value to membership, a large part of the mission of the Junior League is to contribute to the development of its members. Throughout the year, JLSB offered training opportunities specifically designed to prepare us as leaders within the League and beyond. Almost 50 JLSB members attended AJLI Regional Leadership Training here in Shreveport-Bossier along with another 40 visiting League members from Lufkin, Tyler, Lafayette, North Harris & South Montgomery Counties, Greater Covington and Monroe. Council Leaders attended SMART Planning to create committee work plans for the year. Other notable leadership training provided to League members were: AJLI Organizational Development Institute, AJLI Fall Leadership, AJLI Networking-Governance, AJLI Annual Conference, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Leadership Shreveport, FRP's Cookbook University, and JLSB Educational Workshops offered throughout the month of January.
To further our development and exposure, an ongoing focus of JLSB continues to be the search for more permanent headquarters. Our current leased office space in the Highland Center has served our organization well for the past seven years. However, consecutive Boards have actively searched for new office space hoping to move to a more visible, easily accessible location which would offer a meeting/training room in addition to our current square footage. After years of attention to this topic, the League's goal continues to be to purchase our own property and invest in our longevity within the community.
Improving communities is probably what we are best known for locally with twelve community projects, and for that we are definitely proud. As you know, there are many elements of our unique organization. Following are reports from the Vice Presidents on the accomplishments of each Council for the 2006-07 fiscal year. These accomplishments demonstrate the incredible dedication of our members to achieve the three distinct parts of our mission. The Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier is an organization which brings hundreds of women together for one cause. This year, we made concentrated efforts to constantly remind ourselves of this by reading the mission prior to meetings, displaying our internal "PDI" logo, and consciously connecting our individual work to our mission of Promoting volunteerism, Developing the potential of women, and Improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
