What about the Junior League of Washington

[Anonymous]

What?

[Anonymous]

I have been a member of this organization for 13 years, and I have found it to be an organization of wonderful women giving back to the community through literacy projects, supporting each other, and learning by doing.

I don't know who the other "people" are who commented below or even how active they have been in the Junior League of Washington, but this organization has contributed thousands of volunteer hours to the community and hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants and donations to local organizations.

After working with hundreds of members, I have never had anyone discriminate against me for disagreeing with them nor does the organization mismanage money. They have a very strong Board structure with professional women serving and scrutinizing how every dollar is spent for the good of the organization. The person below giving inaccurate financial information has probably never seen the budget, attended a Board meeting, or managed a Council or Committee within the Organization. Please feel free to do any of the above before posting inaccurate information for the public to read.

As for "padding your resume" with this organization, it is all what you put into it. The organization has hundreds of women working almost full-time on a volunteer basis to give back to the community. The organization is not made up of the "country club" set as also mentioned below. You need to put that stereotype away since it has been way overused. I'm guessing you are also not a member if you said that because I don't know anyone in a country club nor anyone who would be considered rich in our organization. Our members are working women, stay-at-home mothers, and volunteers. We are very active in DC, so feel free to look at our website at www.JLW.org.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't every member have to see the budget?

I quit the JLW because of its lack of transpacency and precisely because of the "very strong Board structure" that operates in a vaccum with no input from regular volunteers.

[Anonymous]

What is the inaccurate financial information?

pp 16:31. Seeing the word "people" placed in quotes demonstrates what someone else said. Junior League of
Washington discriminates against "people" who disagree with them. The defensiveness says it all.

[Anonymous]

What financial information is inaccurate? Doesn't this org show financial information to members or is it shown with
discrimination/discretion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the inaccurate financial information?

pp 16:31. Seeing the word "people" placed in quotes demonstrates what someone else said. Junior League of
Washington discriminates against "people" who disagree with them. The defensiveness says it all.

Not 16:31, but in fairness, I think people is in quotes because we are on line and it's all anonymous. If you look at the context, that's what it sounds like to me. I'm not a JLW member and don;t really care about them either way. I'm the poster who is fascinated at the ire against JL but the love of country clubs.

[Anonymous]

For those of you who are interested in volunteering. meeting other women (working and stay at home Moms) check out The Junior Friends of The Campagna Center in Alexandria. There are a large group of women who were, note I said WERE, members of the Junior League and left the League and for The Junior Friends and are much happier. The Campagna Center supports local programs in the City of Alexandria. The Junior Friends volunteer to organize and work at the three major fundraisers but you can also volunteer your time with the programs that The Center supports. The Junior Friends rules and regulations are not as stringent as the Junior League's and their annual dues are not as high as The Junior Leagues. And for those of you who are looking for cocktails too - the Junior Friends always have cocktails and appetizers at all meetings!

[Anonymous]

Great idea and this sounds good. But, do their general dues go to support members who have to have cocktail parties? Some people would rather send money to the community.

[Anonymous]

(9:15 PP here) - "legacy" of JL means that my mom was a member of the Junior League in Kansas City. She had hoped I'd enjoy doing what she did, but it didn't feel like the right group for me. (I also considered doing Cotillion like she did, but decided against it for similar reasons.) I've lived in DC for 20 years now and don't have too many complaints about the friendliness of the city. I think there are probably plenty of snotty people, but there are plenty who aren't, when you make an effort to find them. Maybe it helps that I went to school here, though - easier to make friends in college than afterward, perhaps.

[Anonymous]

I have found Washington to be a very nice city. I found the Junior League of Washington to be centered on older women and to be discriminatory. They don't like 'new' people or 'new' ideas.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PP, for the information on the Junior Friends of the Campagna Center.

I am put off by the undue influence of a cadre of older members who control the JLW. How many teas and luncheons can one attend as part of a volunteer organization? These types of social gatherings are outdated and are geared toward the very small number of members who don't work. As a working professional who is interested in volunteering, I realize that it is itme for me to make a change. Junior Friends, here I come.

[Anonymous]

Maybe that is what they mean by 'giving back'.

[Anonymous]

Wow, five pages on this. I've been to a bunch of events over the years. I would describe it as a little too southern for me. Lots of silly nicknames, and lots of thin, pretty women with very blonde hair.

I've always gotten the impression that it's more of a social thing than a true charity. - like many many other organizations and events in this town. Anyhow, lots of people love it, make lots of friends there, etc. - especially younger women. It's very popular in my neighborhood in NW DC.

They have a great Christmas sale every year. I buy tons of gifts there. That would be the highlight for me.

[Anonymous]

I think it is more of a social thing. Nothing noteworthy otherwise as far as I can tell.

[Anonymous]

I have been a member in JLW for 7 years now. I joined because I wanted to find a way to get involved in the community and meet other women. I
have found both in the JLW. What you may hear about other leagues, it is not the case here. They are very geared towards working women who want to
get involved in the community in different levels and different ways. You get out of it what you want. If you are looking to be very active, there are placements that have
you out every week, where others are once a month commitments. You have committee meetings, where you get to meet and spend time with the other women on your committee as well as plan out what you are doing for your committee. There are placements that work in community volunteer places as well as committees that organize the league activities and fundraisers that raises the money to give back to the community. They have a social committee that plans things from mom/child activities, athletics, happy hours, speakers, etc. Being a mom I dont have time to attend these extra things and I get all of my socialization from attending my committee meetings. If you are someone who wants a way to be able to try many different things in the DC community, it is a great way to get involved in my opinion and meet other women you might have otherwise not met.