1979 - 1989

1979-1980

  • Our League celebrated its 45th Anniversary year.
  • The Finance Committee established the Junior League of Saginaw’s Tribute and Memorial Fund.
  • The League approved a request for volunteer involvement in the revitalization of the Temple Theatre.
  • A record breaking year for the Wise Penny provided $22,000.00 for the Community Trust Fund.
  • A Future Planning Committee, chaired by the Administrative Vice-President, was appointed by the President.
  • Art Goes to School volunteers took art appreciation to 1,700 area fourth graders.

1980-1981

  • The League adopted a Position Statement on Voluntarism.
  • The League approved a $10,000.00 grant for the Temple Project.
  • Aided by computer “Irving”, the Future Planning Committee drafted the League’s first formal Five Year Plan. The 30th Holiday Ball was held December 6 at the Civic Center. Provisionals organized the Christmas Toy Sale at the Wise Penny and entertained over 100 foster parents and children at a Cowboy Roundup dinner.
  • Garden Club VII was formed.
  • Wise Penny profits jumped 50%, contributing $33,000.00 to the Community Trust Fund.

1981-1982

  • The League approved the development of a Saginaw Community Foundation, with a grant of $50,000.00 as our 50th Anniversary Gift to the community in 1984.
  • The membership voted to present Showhouse II as a fundraiser in the spring of 1983.
  • The League adopted a Position Statement on Urban Revitalization. The Education Committee co-sponsored the Women’s Festival with Delta College, offering over 400 community women an exciting day-long training experience.
  • A Resolution saluting Hugo. E. Braun, Jr., for his 25 year of service as the JLS attorney was adopted.
  • In collaboration with the Voluntary Action Center and the Temple Theater placement group, the Public Relations Committee presented a Volunteer Appreciation Theatre Party In April, attended by 700 community volunteers from 41 organizations.
  • The Downtown Activities Group sponsored ‘Lunch with Santa’ for the city’s children and produced the successful rotating exhibit, ‘Saginaw Says Yes to Downtown’.
  • League volunteers continued to assist Hospice of Saginaw with patient care services and public relations.
  • A Task Force was appointed to conduct a feasibility study of the ‘Hospitality House’ concept for the Saginaw community.
  • With League underwriting of $1,500.00, a Grantsmanship Seminar was offered to League and community participants representing 9 organizations.
  • The Provisional Class presented a successful Toy Sale and Temple Theatre Foster Parent Event and researched the development of 8 League projects.
  • The admissions age was raised to 38.
  • The League approved grants for the following projects for 1982-83: Child Receiving Home, $2,000.00; Temple Theatre Arts Association, $8,500.00; Saginaw Art Museum, $2,500.00; Voluntary Action Center, $3,000.00; First Ward Community Center, $2,500.00; and Neighborhood Housing Services, $3,000.00.
  • The 31st Annual Holiday Ball was held at the Civic Center on December 4th.

1982-1983

  • The League presented Showhouse ’83 as a fundraiser from May 1 to May 21 in the Wiechmann-Doyle home in the Grove. A “99 cent a Peek” Party was held March 13 for a “before look” at Showhouse ’83. The Patrons Preview Party initiated the Showhouse on April 29.
  • The Gaining Awareness Through Education Placement finished the development of a Substance Abuse Prevention program for school children and parents.
  • The Hospitality House Task Force completed its feasibility study and appointed a 20-member community steering committee. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were completed for the Saginaw Community Foundation.
  • The League approved grants for the following projects for 1983-84:
  • Temple Theatre Children’s Series, $3,000.00
  • Voluntary Action Center, $3,000.00
  • Saginaw Valley Food Bank, $5,000.00
  • Saginaw Art Museum, $2,000.00
  • Pathways/Delta College, $700.00
  • Historical Museum, $3,000.00.
  • The Project Development Committee, Education/Training Committee, and Newssheet Committee were created, with full placement credit.
  • The League welcomed 47 new members of the Provisional class.
  • League Temple Theatre volunteers produced ‘Devil’s Night at the Temple’ and created a newspaper format newsletter, Marquee.

1983-1984

  • League volunteers helped organize a Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Saginaw Valley Food Bank.
  • The Hospital Hospitality House officially opened April 11, 1984, with much community support.
  • The main focus of League volunteers at Pathways, Delta College, was the development and implementation of a divorce seminar. The League presented its $50,000.00 50th Anniversary gift to the newly formed Saginaw Community Foundation at a reception held at the Saginaw County Historical Museum.
  • The League approved grants for the following projects for 1984-85: Saginaw Community Foundation, $3,500.00; Saginaw Art Museum, $1,500.00; Hospital Hospitality House, $10,000.00; G.A.T.E., $1,000.00; Temple Theatre Children’s Matinee Series, $1,500.00; Warm Line, $2,500.00.
  • The President attended a White House briefing in Washington, D.C.
  • The Board of Directors adopted resolutions recognizing the Voluntary Action Center and honoring its retired Executive Director and Junior League Sustaining member, Dorothy Rappa.
  • The League adopted a Position Statement on Children.
  • The Public Relations Committee organized and produced, with the aid of the Saginaw News, a newspaper supplement commemorating 50 years of League history and community service.
  • The Special Events Committee sponsored a memorable
  • 50th Anniversary membership Celebration which featured entertainment reminiscent of past Men’s Nights and follies.

1984-1985

  • The League adopted a Position Statement on Women.
  • The Michigan State Council of Junior Leagues State Joint Board Meeting was hosted by Saginaw on October 30, 1985.
  • The JLS sent 42 League volunteers and $20,000.00 into the community this year. The project areas ranged from Warmline, Temple Theatre Arts Association, G.A.T.E., Saginaw Community Foundation, and Saginaw Art Museum, projects of the League for many years.
  • The League granted $19,000.00 and volunteers to 9 community projects for 1985-86.
  • The first annual Gold Rose Award was presented to these outstanding Sustainers: Ruth Braun, Dorothy Rappa, and Romaine Spence.
  • The League adopted a new Three Year Plan of the Junior League of Saginaw 1985-86.
  • The League welcomed its largest Provisional class of 60 women. The League renovated JLS Headquarters.
  • Th JLS shared hostessing responsibilities with other Michigan Leagues for A.J.L. Annual Conference in Detroit.
  • The League co-sponsored the Saginaw Police Department Law Enforcement display at the Historical Society of Saginaw County.
  • The League acted as hostess and speakers for the Hospital Hospitality House annual conference.

1985-1986

  • “Invest in JLS” was a call to build and strengthen internally in diversity and skills.
  • New projects were Matrix: Midland and Alpha Theatre. Returning projects numbered seven. G.A.T.E. (Gaining Awareness Through Education) continued substance abuse training for presentations to children and adults.
  • Hospital Hospitality House strengthened its fundraising and interstate networking efforts.
  • The Saginaw Community Foundation committee produced a very successful two day marketing conference for non-profits.
  • The Saginaw Art Museum placement reaped major benefits in their focus areas of docenting and fundraising.
  • The Wise Penny contributed $26,000.00 to the Community Trust Fund.
  • The Annual “Toys & Trims” Sale brought in a record $1,683.00.
  • JLS celebrated the advent of Christmas by sponsoring the Freeland Marching Band and entering a float in the Annual Saginaw County Christmas Parade.
  • The League welcomed 42 new Actives and 36 new Provisionals.
  • The League approved grants totaling $18,786.00 to community projects along with 9 project placement areas for 1987-87.
  • Transfer of AMP Coordinator from Education/Training to Advisory/Future Planning.
  • Approval to combine the Administrative and Community Trust Funds beginning the 1986-87 fiscal year.
  • Approval to combine the Nominating and Placement committees beginning the 1986-87 year.
  • Approval to 1)sponsor an unlimited number of candidates, 2) one sponsor necessary rather than two, 3) a sponsor must be an Active or Sustainer of Junior League, 4) relationship of sponsor to candidate no longer a factor.
  • JLS approved $1,000.00 for ten public safety messages linked to present position statements and the projects to be aired in the fall of 1986 in co-sponsorship with the Saginaw Police Department.
  • Through Provisional efforts, the Japanese Tea House and Cultural Center was given additional community focus.
  • Public Relations continued co-sponsorship of the Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Temple Theatre.
  • Wise Penny “Puttin’ on the Ritz” party was televised by PM Magazine in October.
  • PRIDE, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Saginaw Bay Area, Hospital Hospitality House, and Greater Saginaw Amateur Hockey Association all received mini grants.

1986-1987

  • The theme of Focus Forward was chosen for our League work this year.
  • Community projects: Alpha Theatre, Hands-On Museum Interest Group, Hospital Hospitality House, Japanese Tea House, Matrix: Midland, READ, Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw Community Foundation, Temple Theatre.
  • Three new members elected to the Community Advisory Board were Dr. Betty Jones, Mr. David Weirman, and Ms. Kathy Bruehl.
  • An article about the Japanese Tea House appeared in the Area IV Central Exchange and the AJL national publication.
  • The Ways and Means Committee held a wrapping paper/trims sale, a cookbook and poetry book sale and a “Made with Love” silent auction to increase League revenues.
  • The membership approved a proposal to offer one community project for 1987-88 which will be a major fundraiser, the Festival of Trees, to be held in November, 1987.
  • The JLS sponsored the Freeland Band in the 1986 PRIDE Parade.
  • The 1931 JLS film documenting our activities was refurbished and placed on videotape for preservation of our history.
  • The Wise Penny held a Wares’N Such Sale in
  • November, the Toys and Trims Sale in December, a Furniture Sale in May and the first Provisional Class Challenge.
  • 27 new Actives completed a newly designed provisional course in January, 1987. 45 new Provisionals were proposed for membership.
  • Public Affairs developed Adolescent Pregnancy and Adult Literacy position statements. Public Relations continued co-sponsorship of the Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Temple Theatre in April.
  • The Hospital Hospitality House project was chosen as a model program and presented in Nashville, Tennessee at the Association of Junior Leagues Annual Conference in May, 1987.
  • The JLS approved grants totaling $12,000.00 for community organizations for the 1987-88 year. The Hands on Museum Interest Group was awarded task force status.

1987-1988

  • Theme: Challenges, Choices, Changes.
  • The first Festival of Trees fundraiser was held at the Saginaw Civic Center. This was the community project for the year. Over 7,000 people toured the displays and $40,000.00 profit was realized. A gala auction party opened the festival on November 4, and the event was open to the public on November5, 6, and 8.
  • The Hands On Museum Task Force began development
  • of a prototype, formation of an advisory committee and identification of potential funding sources.
  • 32 women completed a 4 month provisional training course and were welcomed into Active membership. An Admissions Guide was written, printed and distributed.
  • The recommendation of Advisory/Future Planning and Membership Diversification was accepted to create a Membership Development Committee with the 1989-90 slating process. Project Development coordinated two community forums addressing adolescent pregnancy prevention. Grants of $5,900.00 were approved for: The Saginaw Railway Museum, Kids On The Block ‘You Should Live So Long’ project, JLS Adolescent Pregnancy Media Campaign and Saginaw Community Foundation.
  • Public Relations co-sponsored Volunteer Appreciation Night at Arthur Hill High School.
  • Chris Goedert, Barbara Handly-Miller, Gerald Sieggreen, Vernon Stoner, and Wayne Vasher accepted three year terms on the Community Advisory Board.

1988-1989

  • Theme: Making a Difference.
  • Terry Pruitt and Curtis White accepted three year terms on the Community Advisory Board.
  • The second Festival of Trees was again successful. This project netted over $34,000.00 for the community and will again be held in 1989. The Wise Penny celebrated 50 years of continued operation. The Wise Penny proudly earned an additional $21,000.00 for our community projects.
  • Community projects: Kids on the Block, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Media Campaign. The Hands-on Museum Task will be going into schools with hands-on-science kits for third grade students.
  • The JLS sponsored a band in the PRIDE Parade. The Junior League welcomed 16 new women to active membership after their completion of an intense four month provisional training course.
  • The Finance committee developed guidelines for an Enabling Fund.
  • The Education Training Committee presented a women's issues seminar at Delta College.
  • Advisory Future Planning oversaw the institution of three by-law amendments dealing with reinstatement of members, slating an assistant Public Affairs Chairman and Membership requirement changes. The JLS approved grants and projects for 1989-90 totaling over $35,000.00.
  • The Membership Development Committee instituted a networking effort called "Women Volunteers in Exchange".
  • The Public Affairs Committee hosted the Spring SPAC Meeting at the Montague Inn.
  • The Public Relations Committee again worked in coalition with the Voluntary Action Center, United Wayand Mitten Bay Girl Scout Council to present the Volunteer Appreciation Night at Arthur Hill High School.