AOIIs and The Junior League

[Taualumna]

I'm a new member in the Junior League and several women in my new member year are AOII alumnae (mostly from UWO (University of Western Ontario)). I know that Shala, the past Toronto Area Alumnae Panhellenic pres is an AOII. Could that be the reason? I also know that Mary Harriman, the woman who started Junior League went to Barnard (where AOII was started). Does anyone know if she herself was an AOII?


Taualumna, an AGD

[breathesgelatin]

My guess is if that women in your Junior League know officers who are members of their sorority alum group, perhaps that might give them a connection/interest in Junior League.

[kdonline]

Sorority connections are definitely a great way to get into the Junior League. My sister & I joined the League through a Kappa Delta sister....who eventually became president.

In fact, the Junior League is probably one of the reasons why our local alumnae association never took off - we all became very involved in the League's activities...

[Canadian AOII]

maybe i'm on the outside of this but what's the junior league? i've never heard of it?! ps: i'm currenty an aoii active at UWO!

[aopirose]

It is a women’s service organization.

From the international web site, www.ajli.org, …
“Women building better communities. That's the Junior League.
In 294 communities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Great Britain, the Junior League has been the driving force behind the kinds of initiatives and institutions that make communities healthier, more vital places to live: childhood immunization, family literacy, women’s shelters, children’s museums, historic preservation, leadership development, and more.

More than 190,000 Junior League members – reflecting a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and professional pursuits – work together to identify unmet needs, forge effective coalitions, and work for change. Time and time again, the Junior League is among the first organizations to step up to the plate and tackle a community’s biggest challenges.”


To find a chapter near you, click here www.ajli.org/league_directory/public_select.php.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by Canadian AOII
maybe i'm on the outside of this but what's the junior league? i've never heard of it?! . . .

There are about 294 local (or regional) Junior Leagues in the USA, Canada, Britain and Mexico. The League is an educational and charitable organization of women that emphasizes promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the leadership and activities of trained volunteers.

The web site for the international organization is

http://www.ajli.org/home.html

Just FYI, in the past, membership in the Junior League was often -- rightly or wrongly -- associated with "social prominence," but the capital-S "Society" slant is no longer a major thrust of the League. Having said that, League members are expected to devote a lot of time and energy to volunteer activities, so the availability of time is a factor.

[MSKKG]

Originally posted by Taualumna
I also know that Mary Harriman, the woman who started Junior League went to Barnard (where AOII was started). Does anyone know if she herself was an AOII?


Taualumna, an AGD

Mary Harriman Rumsey was a Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was 19 years old when she started the Junior League.

[imsohappythatiama]

MSKKG, I did NOT know that!

I just transferred to the Nashville League from the Boston League...I'll have to tell all of my new League Buddies about Kappa's connection with the League!

Thanks for sharing...

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by MSKKG
Mary Harriman Rumsey was a Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was 19 years old when she started the Junior League.

Cool! A girl in my high school grad class is a Kappa from McGill University in Montreal.

[aopirose]

Originally posted by exlurker
members are selected (a woman cannot simply sign up and join).

I'd say that this depends greatly on where you live. At my husband's fraternity convention, I was seated next to another wife at tea and we began talking about our interests. She was from Minnesota and very involved in her JL chapter. She told us that part of their membership drive, mid-90's, involved having a table at the local mall where women could sign up and join. The women still needed sponsors but she said they had a sponsor pool for just that purpose. Many of us stared at her in amazement because we had never heard of such a thing.

Recently, a friend moved here from Little Rock who had been in JL there. (We don't have JL in my town. We have Junior Auxiliary. www.najanet.org) She said that her chapter was similarly open but they didn't do tables at the mall.

If it works for them then more power to them. Many hands make light work and many more reap the benefits.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by aopirose
I'd say that this depends greatly on where you live. At my husband's fraternity convention, I was seated next to another wife at tea and we began talking about our interests. She was from Minnesota and very involved in her JL chapter. She told us that part of their membership drive, mid-90's, involved having a table at the local mall where women could sign up and join. The women still needed sponsors but she said they had a sponsor pool for just that purpose. Many of us stared at her in amazement because we had never heard of such a thing.

Recently, a friend moved here from Little Rock who had been in JL there. (We don't have JL in my town. We have Junior Auxiliary. www.najanet.org) She said that her chapter was similarly open but they didn't do tables at the mall.

If it works for them then more power to them. Many hands make light work and many more reap the benefits.

Thank you for clarifying that! I browsed around some of the Leagues' web sites and found several that had "join us" links that welcomed anyone interested. As you say, it may well depend on where someone lives. I'm going to edit my first post to drop what I originally said. Thanks again!

[AGDee]

And here, when I read another post referring to the "League", I assumed it was The League of Women's Voters! That's the org that my family was involved in (from my great grandmother to my mother.. I haven't gotten involved yet).

Dee

[aopinthesky]

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>>>Originally posted by exlurker
members are selected (a woman cannot simply sign up and join). <<<

Part of the mission statement of the Association of Junior Leagues International says

"The Junior Leagues reach out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism."

No Junior League is allowed to have a "deliberative process" for procurring members. That is, they do not vote women in or out of membership. Some leagues require sponsors so it is easier to become a member if you know someone who is a member, but most of the leagues who do require sponsors will find one for anyone who is interested in joining.

[Taualumna]

I think it all depends on how many people in your area are interested in joining. Junior League isn't as big in Canada as it is in parts of the US (particularily the south) so it's a bit easier in terms of sponsorship and the like. There used to be a Junior League in Vancouver too, but they closed down due to low membership.

[FSUZeta]

i have very fond memories of my time in jr. league and would encourage any women who think that might like to join to pursue it. lisa