There’s so much to share! Ann made more earrings, but they haven’t been photographed yet so maybe on Friday you’ll see those. And my tracking info says I will have goodies on my front porch, but I won’t go home until late tonight. (Not, I’m not tellin’. You’ll just have to wait, just like me. Only with tomorrow being Thursday and all, you’ll have to wait even longer.)
My handmaidens...
Last night was such a lovely evening. It was the League‘s annual meeting, which ironically, ends the year. I always think of an annual meeting as the start of a new year, true here too, but it always feels more like an ending, because we take the summer off from regular membership meetings. Those of us on the Board still meet, but because of my “internal” placements (meaning I serve the League and my fellow members, not the community, but everyone needs support staff, right?), summers are often my committee’s busiest time.
For those of you keeping score at home, I am again Research & Development Chair. Today marks the beginning of my third year on that committee, and for all but a few months I have been in the chair position. R&D is tasked with growing our endowment, which is strangely near and dear to my heart, because it too is intended to provide operational support for the League. It’s called The Living Legacy, and THAT name just makes me giddy-happy, for reasons I can’t explain.
(logo property of the JLC)
For the previous two years, the bulk of the commitee’s focus was on the cookbook, which is no longer on the table as a fundraising option. (Heh. That’s for you, Alison!) We simply don’t have the resources, human and otherwise, at this time. However, in January, our Mistletoe Market shifted from under the fundraising umbrella to R&D’s, and I’m very nervous glad they found a chair excited to be indirectly (meaning the chair reports to me and I report to the Board) involved with another internal support effort. (Our signature fundraiser’s proceeds go in total to our communnity grants and projects fund, so at least for now, MM’s profits will slide back into the general fund. Do I really need to tell you that even our well-managed, adjusted to protect us from market fluctuations endowment income is suffering too?)
However, *MY* big push for the next 364 days or so is grants. Community grants are what the JLC gives, but being internally focused for the League, I’ll be pursuing grants and awards for which we might be eligible. I have done grant writing in the past, so I’m eager to sharpen my skills and share them with some other members while establishing a grant-seeking pattern for the future.
Since I never found a photo from the retirement dinner, I snapped a couple of shots of the dress. Sadly, a decent self-portrait was not to be had, and the Knight wasn’t home. Sissy offered to help, but that no-thumb thing is problematic. (And see the first photo in the post. Sissy was licking the dress, and Gretchen was trying to get me to throw the ball one more time…)
The out-going president always presents her board with a gift. Luckily, we get to keep this president for another term, as she actually stepped up in late summer last year when the president had to move. This year’s gift was the infamous The Devil in the Junior League, which I am going to read over the weekend! There are at least a couple of inside jokes behind that gift, so that’s one book that will live on my bookshelves and make me SNOL (snort out loud) for years and years to come.
The flowers were a sweet touch from our fabulous meetings and events co-chairs. Each Board member was told to take a centerpiece home, and I was lucky that the first gals at my table picked one with Gretchen-endorsed pink flowers! I thoroughly enjoyed the ladies I sat with, a few of whom I didn’t know before dinner.
This is long and belabored, but I do want to note that serving with the now former board of 2008-09 was truly my pleasure. I’ve never been in a room with such a collection of brains, poise, ethics, commitment, style, grace and class. I’m sure the incoming leadership team is just as dynamic and strong, and I look forward to getting to know the new faces, and especially to working with some of the savvy chicks I know.
Tomorrow, we’ll do dogs, and Friday, I’ll update you on the goodies that should arrive on my porch later today. Of course, we’ll also talk about those holiday weekend plans too!
She’s home. After crying through the thunder and rain around 4am, I went back to sleep, only to jump out of bed a couple of times for noises – we slept with the windows open, just in case – I awoke again at 9-something, let Sissy out, took care of a couple of things, and then checked the front door once more. Imagine my pure JOY when a white and brown wad ran across my feet before I could get the door open!
Chan Knits 