JUly 2022 || Volume 4, issue 10 |
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Farewell Letter from 2021-2022 President, Kelly Blanchard |
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Dear Members, Partners, and Communities, One thing I have learned from my tenure with the Junior Women's League of Smithfield (JWL) Board of Directors is how relationships flex and change as people grow and take on new challenges. I write this letter as I end my role as President of the League and move on to my next big challenge! I hope this letter may serve as an expression of gratitude, an affirmation of my commitment and lasting support, as well as naming opportunities for JWL to continue to grow. I wish to express my resounding appreciation to the members I have been able to work with. Their dedication to honesty, self-reflection, and commitment to excellence drives the integrity and authentic community building that makes our organization unique. JWL members have inspired, mentored, and uplifted me. They remain the primary reason why I know JWL will continue to fulfill its mission with determination and confidence. As a Board Member and President, I have taken immense pleasure in contributing to an environment that celebrates women working together to take on the issues in our communities and create tight, long-lasting bonds between people. Communities like ours are best served through shared accountability. Here is my pledge for the future to carry on our mission and support our collectiveness: I will continue relationships with partners, members, and community leaders I have connected with. I will show up and I will listen. I will guide new leadership on the JWL Board of Directors in ways that are appropriate and helpful. I will always be a resource for institutional knowledge and critical feedback. |
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I will yield to the new class of JWL leaders and will suspend judgment as JWL innovates in unexpected ways in the future. I will hold the organization accountable to the highest standard as demanded and outlined by JWL bylaws and will never put my voice above that of the communities we serve. In return, I expect this organization to continue to grow and surprise me. I look forward to watching the JWL Board continue to support emerging leaders (women new to the non-profit world, women of all economic classes, women of all races, women without degrees, women with degrees in completely unrelated fields, women of all sexual orientations, women of all faiths and women of all ages). After 4 years, the JWL Board of Directors is in a unique place to take a look at how we interact with issues in our communities. Let’s be clear about who we serve and why! How would this affect our relationships with our donors? How we can work on strengthening our donor relationships so they feel informed, are deeply connected to our initiatives, and feel accountable to our mission. I look forward to supporting our emerging leaders and community as we continue to wrestle with these important questions. It has been my honor to serve this membership and community. I cannot wait to witness the future of our organization! With affection, Kelly Blanchard |
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JWL Awarded "Nonprofit of the Year" |
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(First Row) Dawn Willcox, Kelly Blanchard, Julie Ashby, Heather Bryant (Second Row) Dawn Phipps, Lindsay Wilson, Sharon Turner, Kendra Hancock, Lisa Bland (Third Row) Amanda Johnson, Beverly Herring, Stephanie Norris, Sandi Gregory, Sarah Edwards |
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On Thursday, July 14, the Junior Women's League of Smithfield attended Johnston Now Magazine's JNOW Honors celebration held at The Farm at 95. Past President, Kelly Blanchard, accepted the award for “Nonprofit of the Year” on behalf of the league. Standing behind her in unified support were the JWL members in attendance. In Kelly’s acceptance speech, she discussed how JWL successfully meets our county’s needs with many focused projects throughout the year. She touched on several initiatives highlighted in the JNOW article, such as our Blessing Boxes, Peanut Butter Buddies Program, and the Diaper Closet. Kelly also stated that because of fundraisers like Touch-A-Truck and Big Night Out, JWL has "awarded more than $139,000 to county non-profits and student scholarships". This success is not ours alone. Our organization’s outreach and accomplishments are only made possible because of the unwavering support from both our community and membership. JWL is proud of the work we do in our local area and it was an incredible honor to have been recognized for our service to the citizens of Johnston County. We are excited to continue our service as we enter our 8th league year and invite you to learn more about our award-winning organization. Visit us at jwlsmithfield.com or stay in the know with all JWL happenings by following us on Facebook. |
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JWL is accepting applications from prospective new members until July 31 2022. Interested women ages 22 and older who would like to make a difference in Johnston County are encouraged to apply. For more information about the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield and its initiatives, please visit www.jwlsmithfield.com or email JWLSmithfield@gmail.com. |
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JWL in Action: 2021-2022 Year in Review |
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Member SpotlightJune 2022Each month, we recognize members who embody our mission and go above and beyond in their service as a part of the Junior Women's League of Smithfield and extend our appreciation to them. Thank you to these amazing women! |
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Introducing JWL's 2022-2023 Board of Directors |
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First Row President, Kendra Hancock
President-Elect, Lisa Bland VP of Membership, Kristen Brown Second Row VP of Public Relations, Lindsay Wilson
VP of Community Outreach & Engagement, Sharon Turner
VP of Fund Development, Amanda Johnson Third Row Treasurer, Dawn Phipps Recording Secretary, Kim Hayes-Johnson Past President, Kelly Blanchard |
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