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JULY 2018 01
GREENLEAF
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF POUGHKEEPSIE
WOMEN BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES
IN THIS
ISSUE
OUR MISSION
Denim & Diamonds 2017
How the JLP Celebrated
the Holidays
19th at Night Gatherings Organization of women committed to
Our New Website promoting voluntarism, developing the
potential of women, and improving
Recap of Our Service
communities through the effective action
Events
and leadership of trained volunteers.
And So Much More!
We reach out to women of all races,
religions and national origins who
demonstrate an interest in and
commitment to voluntarism.
JULY 2018 02
President's
Starting the year off with an amazing
provisional class, who accomplished a
Message wonderful project for Grace Smith
House; to our Denim and Diamonds
Benefit Gala, to awarding our
By Linda Fakhoury, President
Community Grant, to our 5th Annual
Cinderella’s Closet, to our Inaugural
“Believe in your infinite potential.
Girls’ Empowerment Day; and ending
Your only limitations are those you set
with our long standing traditional
upon yourself.” “Instead of worrying
Mother’s Day Dinner! Just to name a
about what you cannot control, shift
few! Thank goodness for this wonderful
your energy to what you can create.”
Greenleaf E-Newsletter, which highlights
in detail everything that the League has
As the 2017-2018 JLP year comes to a
done and continues to do for the
close, I would like to take the time to
Community.
reflect on what we have accomplished as
a whole. Starting the year with our
With a strong and dedicated Board, we
motto, #bethechange, we all took
made changes to the by-laws, and made
initiatives to make changes within the
sure to address all issues head on,
League and within our Community.
continuously filling roles to be sure that
the JLP was reaching its full potential!
One of our biggest accomplishments was
revamping our website, allowing us to
Now, as we head into 2018-2019, we as a
better communicate and increase the
League are stronger. At the June Dinner,
visibility of the JLP! The new website has
we talked about the League moving
opened new opportunities for the
forward, and no matter what hurdles we
League, and with its new member portal,
faced, we would #alwaysfindaway.
will allow members to re-engage with the
League and stay up to date with all the
Thank you all for a wonderful memorable
happenings!
year! Thank you to our 2017-2018 Board
members and welcome to our 2018-2019
We also moved from doing the traditional
Board Members! Looking forward to
19th at noon, to doing 19th at night! This
continuing my Presidency for another
has allowed more socialization between
year, working with our fellow League
members after hours, and the ability to
members and the Community, to show
unwind and relax in a casual atmosphere
what the JLP can accomplish, and bring
with no time constraints.
us into our Centennial Celebrations!
Our long standing community initiatives
“Behind every successful women is a
continued making strides, and increasing
tribe of other successful women, who
the footprint of the League, while
have her back.”
pushing forward our mission!
JULY 2018 03
This signature event continued to build
Seventh Annual upon the success of prior years with
funds being raised to support the JLP's
Denim & Diamonds programs and mission. Over 120 guests
enjoyed live music and entertainment,
Gala and participated in our largest silent
auction to date with a wide selection of
By Alicia Favata, Denim & Diamonds prizes totaling over $14,000 in value.
Co-Chair Guests also enjoyed a dessert bar
donated by local bakeries including Cake
The Junior League of Poughkeepsie held Heights, Forget Me Not Cupcakes,
its Seventh Annual Denim & Diamonds Whipped Cupcakes, Cardoso Cookies,
Gala on Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Sugar Owl Desserts, Inc., O’Heavenly
Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel honoring Cake, and Hanan Fahkoury.
Women of the Year, Margaret Hirst
Nelson-LCSW-R, of Dutchess County Event Chairs, Erin Cafarelli and Alicia
Department of Behavioral and Favata, wish to again thank our league
Community Health and Marjorie Smith- members for their generous support of
Esq., former Special Victims Unit Bureau Denim & Diamonds and the JLP. If you
Chief of the Dutchess County District would like more information about
Attorney’s Office, as well as Organization Denim & Diamonds, and our Nominations
of the Year, Rocky Strong. Process, contact:
JLPDenimandDiamonds@gmail.com.
The Denim & Diamonds 2018 planning
committee hopes that you will join us on
Friday, November 2, 2018 for this
incredible annual event!
JULY 2018 04
It is as a result of Meghan’s experience
Operation Holiday with Mel, his dedication and compassion
Box for those facing hardships and
struggling with mental illness, that we
By Antoinette Jackson, Operation Holiday chose The Living Room as this year’s
recipient. Vernae Johnson who is the
Box Co-Chair
Program’s Manager has expressed her
gratitude to Junior League and Meghan
This year’s Operation Holiday Box
and Antoinette are also extremely
recipient was The Living Room at Mel’s
thankful to All League members, friends
Place, a shelter program operating under
and family who took the time to
Mental Health of Dutchess County. The
purchase and donate the items that
Living Room serves as a “Safe Haven” by
were requested.
providing hot meals, showers and
supportive assistance to persons who are
either homeless or at risk, or suffering
with mental health issues.
The program was founded by the late
Melvin Leon Garrett Sr. who hired Co-
chair, Meghan Lambert, as an intern at
the Living Room Program in the early
2000’s.
JULY 2018 05
Provisional Meet and Greet
Cocktail Party Committee
By Kim Hutsko; Membership Council Chair By Kim Hutsko; Membership Council Chair
The Provisional Cocktail Party was held This past year the Membership Council
this past year on Thursday, September Chairwoman, Kim Hutsko, formed a
14th at Shadows on the Hudson. There committee of active members who were
were a number of prospective provisional tasked to "meet and greet" with
members who attended in addition to potential transfer members from other
active members. A variety of delicious leagues as well as prospective
hors d'oeuvres were passed among the provisional members who inquire about
crowd while the ladies engaged in the League outside of the normal
conversation, mingled with one another recruitment period.
and got to learn more of what the Junior
League is about. It was an enjoyable The goal of this committee is to provide
evening had by all. an informal, casual and friendly space to
introduce potential members to all of the
League happenings. In the past, potential
provisional members/transfers have met
with Kim at locations such as Starbucks
and Panera Bread. Unfortunately, this
past year there has not been a need to
meet with potential provisional
members/transfers - but her committee
is always ready and excited to share all
of the great things the Junior League has
to offer.
JULY 2018 06
Annual Holiday
Party
By Carolyn Ryan and Margaret Hirst
Nelson; Sustainer Reps
The Holiday Party was a great success!
This year, we moved it to The Alumnae
House, which was a wonderful venue for
the event! The holiday cocktail party was
attended by provisionals, actives, and
sustainers, along with their significant
others, gathering to celebrate and
reconnect! We hope to keep this
momentum going, and continuing to have
our wonderful Sustainers attend!
2018 Irish Coffee
By Carolyn Ryan and Margaret Hirst
Nelson; Sustainer Reps
Sustainer reps Carolyn Ryan and
Margaret Hirst Nelson hosted a fun
Irish Coffee at the home of Susan Moore
on March 18th. It was fun to catch up
with old friends and to meet the active
and provisional members who attended.
We also heard about all the upcoming
events and programs of the JLP and what
is in store ahead! The Luncheon was
delicious and included Caroline
Blackburn leading everyone in singing
some Irish tunes to round out the
afternoon!
JULY 2018 07
Polar Plunge 2017 National
By Laila Fakhoury Night Out
By Danielle E. Strauch; President-Elect
Brrrrrr! Junior League Members, along
with their family and friends, came On August 1, 2017, the Junior League of
together as the JLP Team to help support Poughkeepsie participated in the
and raise money towards the Special National Night Out event hosted by the
Olympics! Some were brave enough to City of Poughkeepsie Police Athletic
jump in, while others were there as their League for the second year in a row!
cheerleaders (and towel holders!). This National Night Out is an annual
year was the 20th Anniversary of the community-building campaign promoting
Fishkill Polar Plunge, and the 8 members police-community partnerships and
of the JLP Team were able to double the neighborhood-camaraderie to make our
amount of money raised from last year neighborhoods safer; enhance the
raising over $3000 for the Special relationship between neighbors and law
Olympics of the Hudson Valley! enforcement; and build a true sense of
community. Junior League of
Poughkeepsie members promoted
literacy by handing out books donated by
friends and family to the community and
engaging with the public to let them
know what the League is all about! This
amazing event continues to bring the
community together and put smiles on
the kids' faces. We look forward to
participating in National Night Out this
upcoming August 2018!
JULY 2018 08
The event was a HUGE success! It was
5th Annual wonderful to see close to 50 young
Cinderella's Closet women look through racks and racks of
dresses to feel like Cinderella!
By Kim Helmeyer; Cinderella's Closet Cinderella’s Closet had an incredible
Co-Chair energy and was a great time for
everyone who attended and
The Junior League of Poughkeepsie held volunteered.
the 5th annual Cinderella’s Closet at the
Italian Center on Sunday, April 8, 2018. Thank you to the Cinderella's Closet
Committee and to all volunteers who
This year the League collected made this such a wonderful and
approximately 200 dresses in addition to successful event!
the large selection it already had. The
League provided more than 500 dresses
in various sizes for the local high school
students to choose from, as well as
jewelry and shoes. The young women
were also offered free hair and makeup
services which were donated by MaryKay
representatives and Mr. C Hair Salon.
JULY 2018 09
Make a Difference The New JLP
Day 2017 Website
By Danielle E. Strauch; President-Elect By Jacqueline Altwerger; Website
Coordinator
On October 28, 2017, Junior League of
Poughkeepsie members teamed up with The Junior League of Poughkeepsie
The Arc of Dutchess to assist in raking, launched its new website on November
weeding and planting bulbs to spruce up 30, 2017 which brought forth a new
design, new features, a blog, event
The Arc's therapy garden areas. The Arc
calendar, and a robust member portal.
is a nonprofit organization providing
support to children and adults with
Linda Fakhoury and Jacqueline
developmental disabilities and their
Altwerger worked with the
families and a past recipient of our
development team at AJLI to design a
Annual Organization of the Year
new, responsive site that would be a
Award. The Arc utilizes their garden
source of information for community,
areas for therapeutic purposes, including
as well serving as a library of all
but not limited to job exploration, League communication. Plus,
strength and balance exercises, stress jlpoughkeepsie.org now has a dynamic
reduction, and grief counseling. We were member portal where members can
proud to pair with the The Arc during locate other members, download past
National Make a Difference Day 2017! minutes, and stay up-to-date on league
happenings.
The site was built on the WordPress
platform so it will be easier to edit,
maintain, and grow. The member portal
is powered by digital cheetah,and
offers SSO (single sign on) to the
AJLI.org site.
JULY 2018 10
Donations were also made to replace
2017-2018 the toilet and sink in the bathroom
Provisional Class near the children’s room, and to
replace the floor in the bathroom. With
Project the fundraising money raised, they
were able to purchase a storage piece
for the bathroom, new chairs for the
By Jamie Cevetillo; Provisional Class Chair waiting area, and kinetic sand and new
white boards for the children’s area.
Our provisional class for this year
consisted of the following members: The response from workers in the
Caitlin Friel, Erika Kane, Mallory building was overwhelming - they were
Maggiacomo and Rianna Principe. There incredibly impressed with the work
were an additional four tentative done by the Provisionals and very
provisional members who helped to appreciative at the time spent
complete this project, but due to other completing this project. These rooms
family and life obligations could not will truly leave a lasting impact in this
continue. community. Many thanks and
congratulations to the provisional class
This year, the provisional class elected for such a dedicated and hardworking
on working with the local domestic job on the completion of this
violence shelter, Grace Smith House. absolutely wonderful
project!
They were in need of new bathroom
fixtures near the children’s room where
they run most of their groups as their
current bathroom was not in operation,
as well as needing new paint in the
The JLP Turns 100!
children’s room, and requesting to make
By Alicia Favata; Centennial Co-Chair
their main hallway entrance more
welcoming and refreshing. The goal for
The Junior League of Poughkeepsie is
the class was to create a friendly, warm
turning 100! We look forward to
and welcoming environment for when
celebrating this momentous occasion in
visitors and residents enter.
the Fall of 2019. Be on the lookout for
more details regarding our Centennial
The Provisionals were a grateful to have
Celebration!
the paint donated from Home Depot that
was needed for the hallway and
bathroom. The ladies also received
monetary donations from family and
friends, and held a bake sale at the Hand
and Stone Massage Spa in Wappinger
Falls, which was organized by provisional
class member, Rianna.JULY 2018 11
JULY 2018 12
Fundraising Community Grant
Committee By JIll Brodsky-Ibrahim, Grants Chair
By Jamie Cevetillo; Fundraising Chair This year we received three applications
for our Community Grant that were
The fundraising committee’s goal for the reviewed by our committee chair Jill
2018-2019 year will be to seek out grants Brodsky-Ibrahim along with committee
for The Junior League, as well as members Erin O’Dea, Diana Fakhoury,
initiating an annual campaign letter and Jamie Cevetillo, Sabrina Schutzsmith,
eventually an endowment fund dedicated Danielle Strauch, Sarah Ryan, and
to the Junior League of Poughkeepsie. We Meghan Lambert. This year’s recipient
look forward to continuing to have the was the Hudson Valley Region Special
support of our members and the Olympics. The funds will support their
community in order to help continue the Summer Games program held at West
league’s mission. Point in May. They plan to host 1,000
athletes to compete in a variety of
aquatic, track, field, and power lifting
AmazonSmile events.
By Jacqueline Altwerger ; Website
Coordinator
The Junior League of Poughkeepsie is
now registered under AmazonSmile, a
simple and automatic program where
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of
eligible purchases to the JLP!
Scan the code below with your mobile
device to add the Junior League of
Poughkeepsie to your AmazonSmile
account.JULY 2018 13
Super Saturday
We also had our Nominating/Placement
Chair, Christina Piracci, discuss the
organizational structure of our League;
By Amber Garcia; Training Coordinator she presented the League’s current
governance structure, current openings,
On Saturday, February 3, 2018 we kicked and words of encouragement for those
off our annual Super Saturday training seeking to pursue any leadership
day for our Junior League of opportunities. All in all, Super Saturday
Poughkeepsie members. The theme was a huge success and was the largest
centered on women empowerment and turnout to date! We look forward to
what better symbol than Rosie the continuing this long-standing tradition of
Riveter, whose iconic image signifies and helping our women grow and flourish as
embodies the empowering actions and individuals and part of larger teams.
attitudes of women past and present.
The members gathered at Marist College #BeTheChange
for a fun full-day of training, leadership, #JLPSuperSaturday2018
team building, and networking.
As part of the program, we invited two
incredible leaders in our community as
our keynote speakers, Dr. Lubna
Somjee, Clinical/Health Psychologist and
Executive Coach and Lara Litchfield-
Kimber, Executive Director of the Mid-
Hudson Children’s Museum. Dr. Somjees’
program focused on ways in which we
can navigate the challenges women face
in the workplace and the realities of the
‘glass’ ceiling. Mrs. Litchfield-Kimber
motivated our members to explore the
importance of being civic leaders and
followers. She spent time allowing us to
explore what roles we all can play to best
help our community flourish.JULY 2018 14
Girls'
The afternoon began with Lindsey Guile,
DCC Art Professor discussing body
Empowerment Day positivity and introducing the girls to
positive females to follow on social
media. The day concluded with a
By Jennifer Del Valle; Girls' Empowerment
relaxing session of yoga facilitated by Liz
Day Chair
Torres, owner of Yoga with Liz.
The inaugural Girls’ Empowerment Day
The new project was a success, and the
was held on May 5th at Dutchess
committee was honored to have been
Community College. Twenty five teenage
part of the laying the foundation of an
girls from the Hudson Valley attended
event that is sure to become a legacy
the day of workshops facilitated by
project!
inspiring and significant women in our
local community. The keynote speaker
was Courtney Albert, Founder and
President of Give Way to Freedom, an
organization that focuses on the care
and empowerment of survivors of human
trafficking and those vulnerable to it.
The four workshops throughout the day
focused on topics related to female
empowerment. The first workshop topic
was Assertive Communication, led by
Tina Ludwig, AVP of Insurance Services at
HVFCU and Christina Boryk, Executive
Director of Rebuidling Together Dutchess
County. Their interactive session allowed
the girls to realize their own
communication style and how to change
it. The next session was led by Megan
Bajana of the Grace Smith House. She
and a member of the youth board
discussed managing healthy
relationships and how to spot unhealthy
behaviors in relationships.JULY 2018 15
Ugly Sweater Party Diversity &
By Christina Piracci; Nominating Inclusion Statement
Placement Chair
By Linda Fakhoury, President
In keeping with the holiday spirit, the
Junior League of Poughkeepsie threw an AJLI is on an Association-wide journey to
Ugly Sweater Christmas Party to count all 291 Junior Leagues as
celebrate its 19th at Night in December. committed to Diversity and Inclusion
and continue building more vibrant,
The ladies, and Jaxson, each adorned in welcoming organizations.
their best worst holiday flair, dined
together at Blue Collar Brewery in the The Junior League of Poughkeepsie has
City of Poughkeepsie. The drinks were adopted the following Diversity and
delicious, the mood was festive, and even Inclusion Statement, and will build a task
Santa stopped by for a visit. At the end force to plan and drive diversity and
of the evening three deserving ladies, inclusion work within our League!
Diana Fakhoury, Jamie Cevetillo and
Danielle Strauch took home prizes for “The Junior League of Poughkeepsie
their creative holiday ensembles. welcomes all women who value our
Mission. We are committed to inclusive
environments of individuals, organizations
and communities.”
If you are interested in being a member
of this task force, please reach out to us
at jlpoughkeepsie@gmail.comJULY 2018 16
Message from the New JLP Gear
Sustainer Reps By Catherine Larkin; Secretary
By Carolyn Ryan and Margaret Hirst Junior League of Poughkeepsie apparel
Nelson; Sustainer Reps was available for purchase this year. The
shop was available online and offered
The Junior League of Poughkeepsie will polos, fleece jackets, and hats. This was
be 100 years young in 2019! Let’s all be beneficial to members as we are now
part of this momentous occasion. The able to identify as League members when
League needs help sorting through the volunteering in the community or at our
many pictures and archival documents to events.
create a pictorial of the many
contributions that our members have We hope to be able to offer more items
made in these 100 years. Carolyn and I soon. If you have any ideas of what
will be inviting you to share a glass of should be offered to the members please
wine and give some “oral history” of email us at jlpoughkeepsie@gmail.com.
these many documents! We look forward
to seeing everyone in the near future and
help bringing back our history in
preparation for the Centennial!
The League continues to be an active
force in our community and we continue
the tradition of hosting many of our
signature events, such as our Annual
Mother’s Day Dinner! The Junior League
of Poughkeepsie is always looking for
support from our Sustainers, and to have
our Sustainers join us and participate in
the many events and programs that the
JLP puts forth! If you have any ideas, or
would like to help in anyway, please be
sure to contact the League! We would
love to have more sustainers re-engaged!JULY 2018 17
As the guests basked in the glow of the
Mother's Day (faux) candlelight, JLP members served a
Dinner delectable dinner with fare from:
- Adam's Fairacre Farms
By Melissa Schiskie Hietanen; Mother's
- Amici's
Day Dinner Co-Chair
- Crew
- East Fishkill Provisions
On Friday, May 11, 2018, the Junior
- Milanese
League of Poughkeepsie hosted its - Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel
annual Mother's Day Dinner. This time- - Trattoria Locanda
honored tradition was held at the Christ
Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie. Somehow, the guests saved enough room
Members welcomed guests from Grace to savor desserts from Hannaford
Smith House, House of Hope, and The Supermarket and Tivoli Bread &
Children's Home and Family Services to Baking. Meanwhile, JLP members and
an evening intended to nourish the body volunteers from Spackenkill High
and spirit. Guests were treated to School's National Honor Society
massages (Hand & Stone Massage, provided childcare so that the mothers
Partners in Massage) and musical could relax and recharge upstairs while
entertainment (Berny Balbuena) before their children received dinner and
making their way into the dining room. diversion downstairs.
Inside the church hall, the tables were
Just before the evening ended, the guests
adorned with linens from Durants and
received gift bags to extend the
fresh flower decorations by Stop & Shop.
pampering beyond the night of the event.
Purple accents were again utilized in
The bag included beauty products from
acknowledgement that many of the
Cutters Edge as well as a homemade
invited guests had been personally
sugar scrub assembled with care by
impacted by domestic violence.
Mother's Day Dinner committee
members. Lastly, the guests received a
purple-beaded bracelet from Bravelets,
inscribed with a simple message,
encouraging the guests to continue to
"Be Brave".JULY 2018 18
2018 AJLI National The keynote speaker for Opening Session
was Aimée Mullins. Aimée Mullins revels
Conference in the exploration of what is possible—
both for herself and those whose lives
By Linda Fakhoury, President she touches. She is an actor, a story-
teller, a Renaissance woman and an
On April 18-21, 2018, President Linda inspirational icon for achieving the
Fakhoury and President-Elect Danielle IMPOSSIBLE. A double amputee, Aimee
Strauch traveled to Memphis, Tennessee didn’t allow her life to be defined by
to participate in the Junior League that. Aimee’s message of never giving up
Annual Conference. This year’s theme despite ones limitations rang amongst
for the conference was “Unstoppable”, everyone there.
the new Junior League PSA campaign
designed to build stronger overall Following the opening session, was the
awareness of today’s Junior League, Opening Reception, which was held at
energize membership and external the Presley Motors Automobile Museum,
constituents and provide consistency in surrounded by the amazing automobile
messaging and compelling visual content and motorcycle collection belonging to
showcasing the League—and its members Elvis Presley
—in a fresh, relevant, modern light.
Throughout the Conference, Linda and
Danielle participated in numerous
workshops on diversity and inclusion,
parliamentary procedure, networking,
grant-making, and dialogues with other
Leagues, able to be inspired and bring
back to the JLP ideas and initiatives for
the future and moving the League
forward!JULY 2018 19
2018 AJLI National Closing session Keynote speaker was
Muniba Mazari, National Ambassador
Conference Cont. for UN Women Pakistan. Due to a car
accident she was in at the age of 21, she
sustained injuries which placed her in a
Linda and Danielle witnessed three
wheelchair. Muniba’s speech reminded
motions presented at the conference:
us to have humility and vulnerability to
one motion made to change the mission
be receptive to other’s ideas, use our
statement of the JLP to make it more
curiosity to get where we want to go,
concise, one motion to change the name
never overlook the advantages of being
of the Junior League so that the word
different, and that empowering others
Junior is removed, and a final motion to
empowers ourselves. Through her work
open the Junior League to male
and life story, Muniba Mazari aspires to
members. Although all three motions
inspire those who lose hope. Her singular
were defeated, there was some amazing
message to the world is: “You are the
dialogue and discussion amongst all of
hero of your own life story… and
the Junior Leagues around the World,
heroes never give up!” In her powerful
empowering them and giving them a
and inspiring narrative, Muniba shares
voice!
how she found a new, reinvigorated
purpose out of tragic circumstances…as
an artist, motivational speaker and
activist.JULY 2018 20
The Year in PicturesJULY 2018 21
The Year in PicturesJULY 2018 22
In Memoriam
Ellen Mulvey
Cheri Gifford
The wold is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers.
Terri GuillmetsJULY 2018 23
2017-2018 Board of Directors
Linda Fakhoury Kim Hutsko
President Membership Council Chair
Danielle Strauch Christina Piracci
President Elect Nominating Placement Chair
Catherine Larkin Carolyn Ryan
Recording & Corresponding Secretary Sustainer Rep
Hope Jankunas Frederick Margaret Hirst Nelson
Treasurer Sustainer Rep
2017-2018 Committee Chairs
Jamie Cevetillo Antoinette Jackson and
Provisional Committee Chair Meghan Lambert
Operation Holiday Box Co-Chairs
Erin Cafarelli and Alicia Favata
Denim & Diamonds Gala Co-Chairs Alicia Favata and Caroline Blackburn
Centennial Chair and Vice Chair
Laila Fakhoury and Kim Helmeyer
Cinderella’s Closet Co-Chairs Jennifer DelValle
Girls Empowerment Day Chair
Melissa Schiskie Hietanen and
Meghan Lambert Catherine Larkin
Mother’s Day Dinner Co-Chairs Social Committee Chair
Sarah Husted Kim Hutsko
Communications Chair Meet and Greet Committee Chair
Jacqueline Altwerger Amber Garcia
Website Coordinator Training Coordinator
Jill Ibrahim
Grants ChairJUNE 2018 24
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