A Letter from the President
LIFT UP THE LEAGUE
I am extremely honored to be this year's League President. Time has gone so fast and I can’t believe I’m here already. Lift Up the League is the theme I've chosen for us for our 2024-25 year together. I’m excited for this theme because we can apply it to every aspect of the League, whether we’re talking about how we work together, personal or professional development, or our community impact. So I’m going to break it down into 3 parts:
1. Lift Up Each Other,
2. Lift Up Our Passions, and
3. Lift Up Our Community Presence.
Lift Up Each Other
Taking it back to the start of my League journey in 2016, there was always someone cheerleading me on and supporting me to take on leadership roles. In addition, all of our members have embraced me with warmth and excitement. I am challenging our members to lift each other up all the time and to find people who give them courage. But I also challenge everyone to be a courage companion for others in the League.
Lifting up one another is an action. It is the mentorship we offer, the resources we share, and the encouragement we give, knowing that together, we are more powerful than we are alone. For in every woman's success, we all succeed. And in every woman's struggle, we all face a challenge to rally, to support, and to overcome together.
Lift Up Our Passions
As women, we can tend to put everyone else first and think of everyone else’s needs. We make excuses that we don’t have time or we’re too busy, not experienced enough. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is what our members as individuals want and what they are going to do with their time in the League.
That’s the cool part about the League. It gives us a huge opportunity to not only connect with a lot of other amazing women, but it gives us the opportunity to learn, and along the way, make change.
Everything we do in the League is training. This experience is such a unique one. There are other organizations that we can volunteer for. There are other organizations that give out money. There are other things we can choose to do. But when we choose Junior League, we are choosing to be a part of something greater.
Lift Up Our Community Presence
As we lift up our passions, we inevitably lift up our communities and the League’s presence in our communities. The work we do, the projects we undertake, and the initiatives we lead not only bring about positive change, but also elevate the stature of our League on a broader stage. We all go out into our jobs or volunteer opportunities or homes and talk to people. So we will talk about the League and be proud of what we’ve done, what we continue to do and what we do individually to contribute. Every interaction, every action leaves an impression whether we realize it or not. So we will tell the story of a League that cares, that dares to dream big, and that works together to turn those dreams into reality.
The beauty of lifting up is that it creates an upward spiral of positive energy and growth. I hope our theme can be a reminder that as we lift up ourselves and each other, as we lift up our passions, and as we lift up our communities, we set into motion a cycle of empowerment and improvement that knows no bounds.
I can feel the momentum in our League building. We have an exciting year ahead! Festival of Trees planning is already underway. Community impact is working on some exciting initiatives and partnerships with our new community impact focus area. We are working leaner and meaner, but sometimes that means we can get more stuff done. We’re all learning as we go together and becoming stronger leaders and women.
As we enter our 90th League year, we will reset the standard for our League, set the precedence for what we look like, how we operate and what we accomplish now and 10 years from now. We can do that by continuing to lift each other up, celebrating each success and supporting one another through every challenge; by lifting up our passions, pursuing them with dedication that will lead to meaningful change: and by lifting up our community presence, showcasing to the Region the incredible power of our League.
Thank you to all of our members for all that you do, for you who are, and for the incredible impact you continue to make.
Here’s to Lifting Up the League - higher, further, together. Thank you.
Yours in Service,