Ode to ODI

By Lisa Malloy

Sorry, you won't find any lyrical rhyming here...maybe I should have consulted Ashley Roussel, who I am personally recommending as League Chanteuse for 2011-2012...but hopefully you'll find a little kernel of leadership inspiration you can use somewhere in your life. If not, I'll settle for a chuckle. Hey, give me a break, I needed a title!

If you want to learn how to sell cookbooks, talk to the ladies from Texas. I never will be able to resist a homemade peanut butter cup! Speaking of target marketing, communicating to all "generations" of the League from veterans to boomers to Gen X'ers and Gen Y'ers isn't one size fits all. If we want sustainer participation, the blog or facebook probably won't get them in the door. An evite works for me, while my nieces prefer facebook "events" and my mom is still a Hallmark-junkie! Communication = sent + received + understood.

Want your kids to impress Grandma or that cute fireman at the annual pancake breakfast? A little trick to help kids learn which glass is theirs at a formal table: Hold both hands in front of you, palms facing each other. Using the tips of your thumb and forefinger, make circles on each hand. The remaining three fingers in each hand point upwards. Your left hand will form a "b" and your right hand will form a "d". Bread plate (b) is on the left, and drink (d) is on the right. (Now, about that soup, I don't think you can blame me for "going left" when it was served AFTER the main course...)

Recruiting isn't about the mission statement, it's about the impact you can make on potential members. Rather than memorizing the mission & vision and reciting them verbatim, put your own spin on it! JLPA-MP - a group of fabulous women learning together and making a difference in the community. Your passion will come through. Diversity isn't just about the numbers, it's about inclusion. It doesn't matter if we can check off all the "boxes", if everyone doesn't feel part of the League. I bet you're wondering where should we hold the next meeting?

Yes, you can wear a white sweater (or cowboy boots or peep-toe shoes or - insert favorite fashion item here - ) in October in Houston.

We've all probably seen the commercial about hiding the veggies in the Spaghettios and my mother-in-law "hides" the spinach in the meatloaf...how about hiding the training in the meeting? Did you know that Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and runs to October 15? You do now!! September 15 is significant as the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.

Knowledge only helps the organization if it is passed down...it's not too early to start thinking about your leadership transitions. Fill up those Committee forums, Council Assistants! Be sure to use your "big girl voice" to suggest improvements, too.

Paper airplanes aren't just for kids. Next time you see me, ask me about it! First, I'll thank you for reading this far in my blog post and then I'll tell you the story. Great for all the event planners among us.

Oh, and Dad can handle a 10 month old for 72 hours while you have a little "me" time...ok, there was that peach-rice-pudding for dinner incident. No harm, no foul!

Thanks for the opportunity to represent the League at ODI!

ODI: Organizational Development Institutes are a series of trainings sponsored by the AJLI (Association of Junior Leagues International). For more information, visit the AJLI website at www.ajli.org . To access the member area, retrieve your AJLI number from your profile in our Member Directory.

Spotlight on Community Projects: First Teachers

Edited by Summer Brill

First Teachers is a project of the Bring Me a BookTM Foundation, which was founded in 1997 by Judy Koch. The organization envisions a read-aloud culture where all families place a high priority on literacy and are actively involved in their children's education. League members on the First Teachers committee, together with the Bring me a Book Foundation, will host 20 training sessions in the community this year.

Only 50% of children in low income areas are read aloud to on a daily basis, compared to 70% of higher income children. With study after study linking brain development and literacy skills later in life to this activity in young children, the importance of reading aloud is even greater today than ever.

On August 28th, the First Teachers committee spent the day at Bring Me A Book learning how to teach parents the importance of reading aloud, how to setup a regular reading routine, how to overcome obstacles to sticking with the routine and, most importantly, how to make the activity more interesting for the children (AKA, keep their attention). The vision of the training sessions the committee will be facilitating are to empower parents and caregivers to be their child’s “First Teacher”.

Stay tuned for the fall issue of the Piper (mailed November 1st) for a suggested reading list. For more information on the Bring me a Book Foundation, including Reading Aloud Tips, visit http://www.bringmeabook.org/programs/first-teachers.html.

Spotlight on Community Projects: Done in a Year Shelter Network

Edited by Summer Brill

The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Inc. (JLPA•MP) will be partnering with the Shelter Network of San Mateo County to fulfill its "Done in a Year" Project. The mission of the Shelter Network is to provide housing and support services that create opportunities for homeless families and individuals to re-establish self-sufficiency and to return to permanent homes of their own. The JLPA•MP Project Committee will sponsor Lifeskills workshops throughout the year at the Shelter Network's Menlo Park and San Mateo emergency shelters. These workshops will assist homeless clients in the shelters to gain employment, if jobless, and/or help them to find a new or better-paying job if they are in transitional housing.

Working with Shelter Network staff, League volunteers will deliver life skills workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions to Shelter Network clients at the Haven House in Menlo Park and First Step for Families in San Mateo.
Carla Cravalho and Amy Hamilton are the Co-Chairs for the Done in a Year Shelter Network community project this year. They are planning workshops on the following topics: Interviewing Skills, Financial Management, How to Keep a Job and Time Management.

The next Shelter Network workshop is September 22nd, check back for an update on their wonderful workshops!

My New Red Shoes Gives Children New Hope

By Mandy Conner

The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula (JLPA•MP) kicked off the 2010-2011 League year with its first Done in a Day (DIAD) offering and proudly partnered with My New Red Shoes for their Pack for Pride Event on July 18 at the Nvidia warehouse. Volunteers packed nearly 3,000 gift bags filled with new shoes, school supplies, gift cards and personalized notes for underprivileged children.

Megan Olesek shared the following comment about her family’s experience volunteering with the My New Red Shoes Done in a Day project:

“It was such a great opportunity to educate my son about those less fortunate. Even though he attended a birthday party later in the day, when my husband asked at the end of the day ‘what did you do today?’ the only thing he talked about was giving new shoes to kids who didn't have them. It definitely made a big impression!”

The bags created at this Done in a Day event will be delivered to children at Bay Area homeless shelters. This event was a great opportunity for League members to include their families and to provide resources to children in need.

Amy Truel led the team of volunteers, including Michelle Altick, Kate Bowerman, Ella Duncanson, Noelle Gonsalves, Jackie Lyandres, Megan Olesek, Joy Peacock, Lisa Tayeri and Mia Wyant. Many thanks to all for their hard work!

Edited version, read the full article in the next Piper magazine November 2010.

Meet our Provisional Committee Co-Chairs: Jovita Honor and Carrie Peacock

By Michelle Hostrup and Summer Brill
(Pictured: Jovita Honor)

Jovita Honor and Carrie Peacock are the fearless Co-Chairs of this year’s Provisional committee. You can meet them at the Gatehouse at one of our open houses August 7th and 25th. Here’s a brief introduction to them below. Have a great year ladies!

Register to attend an open house online at: http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=event&eventid=1776.

To read more about joining The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, check out our website: http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=join5.

Jovita Honor
Why did you join the League and how long have you been an Active?
I joined the league to get involved in the community in a way that worked with my busy schedule and to meet other women. I've been an active member since 2004.

What is your fondest memory from your time in the League?
Attending the Starting Line Breakfast where the JLPAMP was recognized for starting a shelter for homeless youth over two decades prior. I was not involved at all with this project but I felt very proud to be part of a group that would create a solution to a problem they noticed at the time and that now was a big part of the community services.

What most surprised you once you joined the League?
I'm surprised by the diversity of experience among the women in this league. From medical to law to technical, etc.

What are you looking forward to this league year?
I'm looking forward to working with our committee (Provisional committee) in creating a welcoming and energizing atmosphere for our Provisional’s.

What is your favorite vacation destination?
Right now I'm fascinated with Italy having visited for the first time last year and going again this fall.

What keeps you busy when you're not doing Junior League related activities?
Building and managing my Wealth Advisory business keeps me very busy. This year I'm also a volunteer on another non-profit fundraiser that has been a wonderful experience because I'm working with other friends I've met at the Jr. League as well as sustainers I had not had the pleasure of meeting before.

What is your favorite movie of all time?
A Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart.

Carrie Peacock
Why did you join the League and how long have you been an active?
I was new to the area and wanted to make friends and learn about the community. 3 years active.

What is your fondest memory from your time in the League?
In my previous league in Texas, we did a prom dress project and supplied prom dresses to less fortunate high school girls. Seeing the girls get so excited about finding the perfect dress was very heartwarming.

What most surprised you once you joined the League?
I was surprised by how many opportunities there were for me to get involved. I was also very impressed with the structure of the organization.

What are you looking forward to this league year?
Welcoming all the new provisional’s into Junior League!

What is your favorite vacation destination?
Grand Cayman

What keeps you busy when you're not doing Junior League related activities?
Spending time with my husband and 4 year old daughter.

What is your favorite movie of all time?
Seeing that I've only been exposed to kids movies in 4 years, I would say Mary Poppins.