It's not a rush thread, but I expect lots of enthusiasm. Real or fake.
 

I've been approaching March with as much dread as though it were a month full of Valentine's Days because every weekend is filled with a wedding on into the third week in April.
When I opened my mailbox tonight, I found what I expected was a wedding invitation and rolled my eyes only to open an invitation to the next new member's event for the Junior League of Murfreesboro!
I'm EXCITED. Yes, in all caps. That much excitement. And I'm just a bit (translated as a lot) nervous. I don't really know what to expect.
Time to help me pick out an outfit. Scour the shopping sites for something that will be spectacular. It's March 4th, so my dresses I've just bought (all pretty sun dresses I found on sale) won't work. I'm a big girl. Strapless won't work - I'd fall out. Help with shoes too.

I don't know much about Junior League, so I can't really help, but I just wanted to say good luck and congrats on your invite :)

What time is the event? Is there a dress code? March 4 is a Tuesday, so if this event is say, at 6 pm, it's possible that many of the ladies there would be in suits. But of course, this would depend on the women in the Murfeesboro league. Up here, many of the women work, so we're usually still in "officewear" when we go to our meetings.

most women were in office wear or pants and sweater or nice blouse. go professional over cocktail or evening wear. congratulations!!!

Congratulations!!! I'm really very excited for you. Junior League has been a wonderful experience for me and I hope you find it to be rewarding.

Ok, someone please explain to me what a junior league is? I hear about it at work all the time and have no clue what it is. Sounds like a networking org...?

Women's philanthropy organization. Their international website is: www.ajli.org

Junior League is more of an organization that promotes voluntarism than a networking organization. It was established in 1901 in New York by a young woman who saw her mother (and other women in her mother's generation) volunteering for things such as the Symphony League or the Hospital League. She wanted to establish a league for younger women...hence the Junior League.

I know we have one in my town but the website talks about being sponsored by a member, etc. so it seems almost as if you're chosen to join rather than merely signing up and showing up (kinda sounds like a GLO without the letters) hence why the OP is so excited...?

Mtsugurl, how exciting! The JL is a wonderful organization that does some amazing things for the community. It's an honor to be invited to join! I think the most important thing is to be relaxed and confident, no matter what you decide to wear. It's a lot like recruitment all over again. :)

Which is the reason for the nervousness. I loved recruitment, but oh goodness.
It's at 6:30. Tuesday is one of my "weekend" days, so I had forgotten that most normal people would still be in office attire. There's not a dress code specified on the invitation. I helped out with a project they did here at the child advocacy center a few years ago when I was still in school, and all I seem to remember is this one really, really tall blond woman with immaculate hair that was wearing a pink twin set and smiled a lot. One of my OPA sisters is the member who gave them my name, and I'm excited to reconnect with her as well since we haven't seen each other very much in quite a while.
SthrnZeta - I'm really excited for a couple of reasons. One is that it is such an honor to be invited, and the other is that since I'm starved for interaction with other women that I can volunteer with. I've continued to do volunteer work when I graduated, but the majority of my friends aren't interested, are too busy, etc.

Congratulations on your invitation to attend an event.....
Junior
League
of
Murfreesboro


(I wasn't sure of the colors, so I guessed):)

Just wanted to clarify for everyone - I've just been invited to an event, not yet invited to join.

If I'm invited to join, I promise to annoy you all with a post FULL of exclamation points.

:D <----real enthusiasm

Good luck - it's an honor just to be invited!

Good luck, MTSUGURL! I loved my time in the League, and am now proudly a sustaining member. People who are not Greek or League members roll their eyes when I say this, but I have met my dearest, truest friends in life through my participation in those two women's organizations. Being Greek, I'm sure you understand!

Leagues are different all over. Some you have to be recommended in triplicate and vetted for six months before they offer you "provisional" membership (like a pledgeship). Others are less selective. Either way, it's an honor to serve! I wish you all the best.

As for what to wear, I'd go with a smart pair of dressy pants, maybe a bit of a heel, and a sweater or blouse. Twin set? :) Or a cute skirt with boots. Something you'd wear to work in an office, but a step down from a suit. That way you'll be fine if the majority are there in suits straight from work, but you won't be dramatically overdressed if it's more casual.

Keep us posted!

Oh, congrats! I always thought it would be exciting to be a member of one of the more traditional or classic Leagues, which it sounds like this is. I have been in 3 Leagues due to moving several times, but I was a provisional in the South. So I would have to agree with what everyone else has said about clothing. Business/work clothes without being quite what you would wear for an interview. Classy, but not stuffy.

I have wonderful, wonderful memories from League, and was honored to be sent to ODI in Ft Lauderdale a couple of years ago. There is so much you can get out of this organization, it's well worth it to anyone reading and giving it a thought.

Best of luck MTSUGURL!!!!

best of luck MTSUGirl!

Congratulations!
Business casual should do nicely. No need to be so crazy about clothes...you're a big girl now!

Always a need to be crazy about clothes in my world. A trip to the mall is a reason for a new outfit in and of itself... How twisted is THAT logic.
Thanks, gals!

Congratulations!

I'm in my provisional year at the Junior League of Phoenix. They must run things a bit different here because they didn't send invites via the mail. I did though express an interest and was sent an evite to come to their first meeting.

A sister in the league actually told me, when I was thinking of moving to TX, that the JL's in TX actually are a bit "tougher" to get into and that someone usually has to recommend the PNM (for lack of a better term, but it is appropriate :D).

I've enjoyed my provisional experience so much!

When I joined JL, you had to have three sponsors and at least one of them had to be a sustainer (this was in Tuscaloosa). It was a bit nervewracking at first, but I have met many wonderful friends through volunteering with the league. Congrats on the invitation. Good luck! Let us know how everything goes!!!!

YAY!!! COngratulations:):D! Congrats....for real! LOL

Honestly, I have no idea how things work here as far as how many sponsors you have to have. I want to say that when I looked at the information buried on the website it said 1, but I could be wrong. I had expressed interest to one of my OPA sisters, who joined the JL here about 2 years ago. Then I got the invite. My mother, not having heard much of the JL before I said something about it asked me, "Are you going to work for the cookbook company?"
No, Mommy, I'm not... (And yes, I, a 30 year old woman, do call my mother Mommy.)

The advice you've been given here has been excellent and I know you will be fine.

Is your OPA sister allowed to attend with you? In our chapter, the person who has submitted your name is encouraged to attend with you. In my case I had to attend alone, but there were members at the door (I don't recall if they were actives or from the provisional class) waiting to take the potential new members (that is what we call them) into the meeting and sit with them. I still recall how that erased all of my nerves and made me feel so welcome. It was the beginning of a truly amazing experience with an awesome group of women!

Good luck tonight! We will be checking here to see how things go.

How did the meeting go?

I am curious!

Well, I didn't get to go. As I was in the middle of getting ready, my Dad called to tell me he was taking my mother to the hospital. She's fine now, but I spent the evening all prettied up in the ER at Baptist Hospital. :( My OPA sister ended up staying home with her new baby. I'm kinda bummed.

Oh, MTSUGURL I'm so sorry. I'm glad your mother is better, but you were so excited...I can understand why you're bummed.

Let the League know what happened if you haven't done that already. I'm sure they will be understanding. Given the circumstances you had no choice but to miss the meeting and go to the hospital with your mother. I doubt they would really want a member who made any other decision. They might even have another meeting for those who were unable to attend Tuesday. I don't believe our chapter offers a second opportunity to attend that first meeting, but I know they do for the next, long orientation for new members. As they say, sometimes "life gets in the way" and the League is very understanding as far as those things are concerned. The women who join Junior League are not just at home sitting around the house waiting for a League meeting. They lead very full and demanding lives. If Junior League isn't willing to accomodate people they will miss out on some of their best members!

Give them a call. I'm sure this won't lessen your chances of being invited to join. Your OPA sister just might be able to go with you next time!

That's how it is in the Dallas & Fort Worth JL's.

MTSU - I'm glad to hear your mom is better!

Will they (JL) be having any other events?

MTSU--first and foremost I am glad your mother is ok and I hope things are looking up for you.

I completely agree with Imcurious. The League tends to be very understanding of "life getting in the way." If you're still interested, I really encourage you to just get in contact with someone and let them know.

My best wishes are with you. Keep us posted on how things go!

MTSUGURL - condolences to your family.

otherwise, real enthuiasm over here on Junior League (those are the colors according to the site)

I did let my OPA sister know that I was still very interested, and she said that she is getting me a packet. We're getting together Saturday. Just wanted to give an update!