Junior League of Billings

Focus -The Junior League of Billings adpoted a focus area of poverty and homelessness. A narrow focus statement was established in the summer of 2015 reading : " We support low income children and families with a focus on increasing learning opportunities and the potential to thrive." Based on this focus statement, the Junior League presented a planning tool to the Community Council at the September GMM with three tiers to guide building a more robust community involvement program. This tool is attached to the Annual Report. Tiers 1 & 2 were addressed through monthly Impact Projects and the Pilot Laundry Project. This new strategic plan was developed in January by President Elect, Tonya Bush, and vetted by the Board of Directors. This plan will be utilized in 2016-17. For the current fiscal year, the local Community Council started Junior League with the new focus, Issue Based Community Impact- Poverty/ Homelessness. This focus was voted on by our General Membership in the Spring of 2015. With that new direction, our council started meeting in the summer months developing a list of local non- profits, agencies, city services, etc. to help fulfill our mission. Our council spoke with 15 local experts about our new focus and the needs required by that focus. Council members were charged with researching ideas presented by the experts and categorizing the needs into three categories- (1) needs that were adequately served in Billings, (2) needs that were being underserved in Billings, and (3) needs that were yet to be addressed. From those interviews, we determined there was a huge need for access to laundry. Most people living in poverty do not have laundry facilties in their home. Each load of laundry costs $3-4. For a family living in poverty, many choose between clean laundry, or paying a utility bill. In the fall of 2015, the Community Council created a Laundry Commitee (Jennifer Webber, Dana Paulson, and Darci Hertz) to start working on piloting a free laundry day. The Laundry Commitee had many meetings and researched other towns that have done this type of project. Before moving forward on the Laundry Pilot Program, the Commitee asked the general membership for their feedback on this type of project. The Committee received survey reponses from 16 members and it was clear they were on board with the laundry project. JLB was able to have three free laundry days at a laundromat on the south side - in March, April and May. The days were held at the end of each respective month, as that time is when people run short of money. The Laundry Days were fairly inexpensive - quarters were provided for the machines as well as light snacks for the patrons.Community Councils Impact Day Coordinators ( Michelle Breum and Dana Paulson) used our new focus area of Poverty and Homelessness to schedule Impact Days, monthly. The following are monthly ongoings:August - volunteered at the Head Start fundraiser - Rock to Raise, helping out at the bounce house and selling raffle tickets. September - Food Bank - Volunteers made hundreds of sandwiches and packed food boxes.October - Boo at the Zoo- handed out candy and information about JLB. Also, provided games for children.November - Montana Rescue Mission - JLB volunteers shopped for and cooked a spaghetti dinner for the Men's, Women's, and Family Shelter.December- Early Childhood Intervention- JLB volunteers helped them throw the biggest Christmas celebration- ever! They donated treats, veggies, and fruit. Volunteers also served food and worked craft tables with families. January - Night at the Museum, Wise Wonders, YMCA, Women's and Family Shelter - JLB sponsored admission, provided snacks, and volunteered at the exhibits. February - Food Bank - Packed food boxes.March - Ronald McDonald House- volunteers shopped, cooked and served families staying at the house. Additionally this was JLB first month providing laundry.April - Family services - JLB volunteers hung and organized clothing at the thrift store. Added- 2nd Laundry DayMay - Tumbleweed - Volunteers shopped, cooked, and assembled goodie bags for a Cinco de Mayo themed party for youth at Tumbleweed Center, Billings.Added - 3rd Laundry Day

Member engagement - A concentrated effort on improved professional training included (1) ongoing use of Strength Finders 2.0 with all new members, (2) a Poverty Simulation provided by United Way, (3) Birkman training by Donna Pavlish at the October GMM, and (4) two trainings facilitated by Elation, the first titled the Neuroscience of Leadership and second titled the Neuroscience of Change. An additional opportunity, a Webinar AJLI was scheduled, but postponed to a later date. This training might be revisted in the future to provide additional exposure to AJLI material. Additionally, 5 delegates were sent to AJLI conferences during the fiscal year which are as follows: Tonya Bush and Jennifer Webber to Winter Leadership in Austin TX, Jennifer Schroeder and Lauren Wright to Northwest Exchange in Boise ID, and Jennifer Webber to Annual Conference in Atlanta GA.