President's Message

Greetings from the Junior League of Eau Claire! On behalf of our organization, I welcome you to our website. For over 78 years we’ve been busy making impactful changes in our community. Originally created as the Eau Claire Service League in 1930, we joined the Association of Junior Leagues International in 1991 and officially adopted the name, Junior League of Eau Claire.

At the heart of our mission is the desire to develop the potential of women and improve the community around us, through the effective leadership development and training of passionate and committed volunteers. 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.

It has been said, “When the Junior League gets behind something, communities change.” That’s exactly what happens in Eau Claire! For over 12 years we’ve been committed to leading the charge on the “Back to School Backpack Campaign”. Since it’s inception over 13,000 backpacks – complete with all necessary school supplies – have been provided to local school age children. The work with school age kids has continued through our efforts with the “Dental Sealant Program”. In partnership with Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, Seal a Smile Initiative, the City-County Health Department and the Eau Claire Region Dental Hygienists’ Association over 700 children are evaluated for proper teeth and gum health annually. Qualifying second graders in Eau Claire County also receive dental sealants, which is a critical component to future tooth health. Junior League members volunteer to help work with students during the Dental Health screenings in schools across our community. The Junior League of Eau Claire has also been instrumental in organizing other community impact projects such at the Community Table and most recently Kids in the Kitchen – an event dedicated to helping fight the chronic problem of obesity in children. In addition to the hours dedicated to creating and running various charitable events, the Junior League of Eau Claire is also proud to financially support dozens of different community impact projects.

Along with participation in volunteer activities, we also hold monthly meetings that focus on general League operating issues, specific leadership development training, examination of critical issues facing women today and participation in fun activities like yoga and relaxation classes! As a member of the Junior League of Eau Claire the possibilities to develop as a leader abound. With service positions on our Board of Directors and on various program development committees the opportunities to stretch and develop your talents in new ways are endless! Every year all members are encouraged to find a new way to strengthen their talents while positively contributing to the community.

As the President of the League for 2009-2010 I want to extend our deepest appreciation for taking the time to visit our website. Whether you are a current member, interested in becoming a member or visiting our site to learn more about our efforts as a community impact group, we hope you find the following pages useful and informative! I encourage you to travel around the site and explore all the Junior League of Eau Claire has to offer.

Thank you for your time and interest!

Peace, health and harmony,

Kate Gillett
President 2009-2010