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Letter from Junior League of Atlanta President Mary Mundy
September 8, 2005
Dear Fellow Jr. League of Atlanta Member,
Your Board met last night in an emergency session to determine a disaster relief plan for the JLA. In doing so, we hoped to achieve certain goals: to assist displaced women and children with whatever needs arise, to create something that all of our League members could participate in and to be able to present to the greater Atlanta community a tangible way in which we brought relief to many families. In the end, we wanted a coordinated effort to “improve the community [of displaced citizens] through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.”
Our disaster relief activities will take on many forms and address short-term and long-term issues. They take advantage of our current structure and support our existing community partners. Our efforts also reach out to our sister Leagues as they deal with their own community hardships. As such, we will do the items listed at the end of this message, but only with your help, above and beyond your current commitments to the JLA.
We are a mission-driven organization, and we will be true to our mission in this response. We can all be proud to be members of an entity that is dedicated to promoting voluntarism and improving our community day-in and day-out. I have certainly been proud to witness the many members who have expressed their overwhelming desire to do something in response to this crisis. I have also felt your frustration as so many of you wanted your organization to react.
You will note that voluntarism, not volunteerism is mentioned in our mission. Voluntarism is defined as a system based on voluntary participation. For me, the word “system” is key in this definition as it implies organization. That is why our response to this natural disaster will be organized and systematic. This is what sets the Junior Leagues apart from other volunteer organizations. It is why you, as a member, will be able to work through the League to make a difference in lives that were altered by Hurricane Katrina in the coming months when others have lost interest and moved on.
It is unfortunate and inevitable that the frenzy will die down. Crisis-management organizations, such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, are bracing for the days ahead when support slows to a trickle. The needs of those affected by this natural disaster are long term. It is our very philosophy which enables us to provide relief when others have moved on. We will also continue to provide funding and volunteers to our community partners who are likely to be adversely affected in the coming months.
Below is an outline of what we propose to do and how you can help. Though some of our community placements may shift their focus to address hurricane relief, all of our other efforts related to this disaster will be provided by our members in addition to your other membership responsibilities. Please take the time to go through the list to determine what you can to do to help and then contact the appropriate people or agencies. I know that we can count on our members to take this initiative. Your desire to help is quite remarkable and indicative of the strength of our membership. We need the participation of Sustainers, Actives and Provisionals. What we can accomplish together will truly make a difference.
With warm regards,
Mary H. Mundy
President, 2005-2006
What is our League going to do to make a difference?
- Identify and adopt a shelter or group of families to directly provide the care and assistance they need. The intention is to work with the existing shelter management to provide the support, volunteer time and goods necessary to get these families back on their feet as quickly as possible.
- Have monthly “drives” to collect items for our shelter, as needed, such as a toy drive for the holidays or a kitchen drive to stock their new homes.
- Host a blood drive later in the year according to a schedule that meets the needs of the American Red Cross.
- See what all of our existing community partners may need to respond to this crisis. Those needs will be posted on our website.
- Work with Nearly New to determine ways in which we can provide benefits to displaced persons.
- Donate at least $1500 to the Association of Junior Leagues International Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund from the Council and Advisory Planning discretionary budgets as a token of our support for our sister Leagues. The funding will be used to facilitate the efforts of Leagues who are on the front lines of disaster relief, such as those in Texas, as well as those suffering the greatest amount of devastation in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Serve in a resource and support capacity for displaced Jr. League members, their families and friends.
What can I do right now?
- Buy a Kroger, Publix, Walmart or Target giftcard or prepaid telephone card in any amount and deliver it to JLA headquarters or bring it with you to the General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, September 13. These cards will be given to Grady Health Services for Katrina patients and families who access Grady. To date, they have helped 45 families just through Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital, and they are seeing about 100 people per day.
- Donate money to whichever disaster relief organization you prefer. Information regarding the needs of our community partners for their disaster relief efforts will be posted on our website by this weekend.
- Donate blood . Types B and O are the most needed right now. The Red Cross is not equipped at this time to provide the manpower or supplies needed for additional blood drives, so they are asking everyone to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or you may use the link on our website to find out where to give.
- Check our website to find out where you can volunteer your time to help our community partners with their relief efforts. This information will be a work-in-progress and will be dependant upon our ability to secure information from these agencies. You may also contact Marlene Alexander, VP of Community Placements or Cara Fox, VP of Community Outreach, for more information. Their email addresses are marlene_alexander@comcast.net and foxcara@bellsouth.net, respectively.
- Hold onto your clothing , baby supplies and other donations until we see what our shelter needs. We have been told by the Red Cross and our other partners that they are unable to accept most in-kind items at this time due to manpower and storage restrictions. The Red Cross, in particular, can only accept bulk donations of consistent product. You are, of course, encouraged to give wherever you find a need. The needs are changing so quickly that an organized effort to collect in-kind items is not feasible at this time.
- Contact Erin Ouzts, Nominating Chair, if you want to work with the shelter or on one of the drives (eouzts@bellsouth.net).
- Contact Barbara Propst Muirhead, V.P. of Training, at Barbara.propst@suntrust.com if you would like to help meet the needs of displaced league members and their families who have come to Atlanta. We cannot be involved in any housing arrangements.
- Donate money to the JLA for a longer-term commitment to helping our community so that we can continue our support efforts day-in and day-out and provide a measured response in crisis situations.
- Utilize our website to inform us of needs of displaced League members, or your family or friends. Those needs will be posted in the members-only section of our website where appropriate, or someone will contact you.
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