President's Message

I am honored to be serving as the Junior League of Eau Claire’s President for 2011-12.  As President, I join a group of outstanding women who have served our community and led the Junior League of Eau Claire with pride and passion for over 80 years (beginning in 1930 as Eau Claire Service League, then in joining the Association of Junior Leagues International and adopting the name Junior League of Eau Claire in 1991).  As the ladies before me have (you’ll see their names listed on the right), I hope to lead our members well, inspiring them to be the best community contributors and leaders they can be.

In our mission, we state that the Junior League of Eau Claire (JLEC) is an organization that promotes voluntarism, develops the potential of women and improves the community around us, through the effective leadership and development of trained volunteers.  And that’s exactly what we do in League: 1) volunteer with the purpose of improving our community and 2) learn and grow together, as we become passionate and committed leaders.  The Junior League of Eau Claire remains true to the purpose of being exclusively educational and charitable as well as reaching out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to community voluntarism.

So, how do we improve our community? We have four areas of focus: volunteering, special projects, research and development, and monetary donations. 

1) Volunteering.  We participate in Done in a Day projects, where, as a group, we spend a few hours volunteering at local nonprofit agencies like The Community Table or Feed My People.  2) Special Projects.  We serve on committees and together work on some of our bigger projects, like Kids in the Kitchen (a program that teaches healthy eating to kids at the Boys & Girls Club and Celebration of Women (an annual event held to inspire and improve the lives of women).  3) Research & Development.  We put our minds together, conduct research, find a need in our community, and do what we can to meet that need.  That’s exactly how and why our newest project, The Diaper Bank, was created.  Our members learned that no federal or state social safety net programs (e.g. Food Stamps, WIC) currently includes diapers, and created The Diaper Bank to ensure that those families will receive diapers for their infant and toddler children.  4)Monetary Donations.  We support programs such as Dental Sealants which, in partnership with Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, visit public school children and provide oral health education, administer dental sealants and urgent care for untreated decay to all children who qualify for free and reduced lunch programs.

How do we train our leaders?  Each month, JLEC hosts a General Membership Meeting (GMM), where we discuss general operating issues, spend time discovering our skill sets, and participate in group discussions.  Our members are encouraged to serve in Placement positions, which could include serving on the planning committee for one of our special projects, grant writing, fundraising, or party planning. On top of the endless opportunities we offer in JLEC, the Association of Junior Leagues International invites all League members to attend their training and development seminars, held both online and during weekend retreats all over the country! 

I have been a member of the Junior League of Eau Claire for four years and, looking back now, am so proud of all that we have accomplished together (the above is just a small sampling!).  As I recently read on the Association of Junior Leagues International website, “Junior League has been on the forefront of issues that matter to society, tackling problems that other institutions found too difficult or controversial to touch and advocating for the care of those in need – and a better quality life for all.  Embedded in the great tradition of The Junior League…is the call to civic leadership and the empowerment of women who realize their potential as leaders through service to their communities.”  And that is exactly why I am a member of JLEC. 
Thanks for visiting!  I encourage you to learn more about the Junior League of Eau Claire through our web site, and to contact us for more information on how to become a member of this outstanding organization!

Sadie Gunderson
President, Junior League of Eau Claire