Outgoing President’s Message

Dear JLS Members,

It has been an honor and a privilege to spend the last three years in service to you as EVP and now concluding my time as President.

I joined the League in 2014 - a year after becoming a mom in a city I was new to. I wanted to make friends outside of my husband and his circle but I also wanted to be in service to the community with like-minded people. I found you.

These last 10 years in the League have been a microcosm of the change that JLS has seen over its first century. Our member numbers have fluctuated and our focus areas have changed but what has remained consistent is our deep commitment to each other and to the needs of the city of Seattle.

Like all organizations around the world, the pandemic took a lot of the wind from our sails. My goal this year for our Centennial was to provide the experiences and opportunities for you all to remember how great JLS is when we work together for a common goal, and to challenge you with charting our course for the next century.

We saw Sustainers - many of whom have not been Active in years - come together to mentor Actives and Provisionals and put on the biggest celebration in JLS' 100 years! We saw DIAD and Northwest Art experiment with new community programs. We saw Training work with other Leagues to provide trainings from across the country. We saw our fundraising teams try out different events to help keep the League sustainable for years to come. And finally we saw our work celebrated in two of the city's most respected museums - MOHAI and Cascadia.

I'm sending this note to you a few days early because I am riding off into the Parisian sunset thanks to the business opportunity of a lifetime, but my heart is full as I pass the baton to my friend, Avery Berschauer.

Avery and I joined the League the same year but somehow never worked together until we were on Management Council in 2021. She loves the League and is passionate about making it a more inclusive place for all members. You are in outstanding, capable hands.

The League has been a source of support and friendship for me these last 10 years. From the new mom years to navigating a cancer diagnosis (once again I am reminding you to schedule your mammograms, or ultrasounds if you are under 40 and feel something weird), you all have been there for me and I will continue to be there for you. Special shout outs: MC 21-22 and BOD 23-24, of which the venn diagram is a circle! To the Exec teams from 2021-2024 on which I learned literally everything and drew so much support! And of course to the Past EVPs and Past Presidents!

I'm headed to Nominating next year and would love to speak with anyone who is curious about leadership or what JLS has to offer. Keep in touch!

As the OGs may remember, I like to end my Very Long Emails™ with a quote from a 90s heartthrob. As I did with one of my first VLEs™ in 2021, here is Heath Ledger letting you know how I feel about you.

Love you all!

MOHAI Exhibition Recap

Our centennial year afforded us the unique opportunity to work with the Museum of History and Industry to create an exhibition celebrating the work of the Junior League of Seattle’s last century. Opening night for the MOHAI exhibition, an estimated 350 attended to unveil the exhibit celebrating the 100 years of JLS at MOHAI, a curated exhibit showcasing not only the long history and impact of JLS but also a sample of pieces from the NW Art Collection. This exhibition was a unique opportunity for members of our organization to experience the Northwest Art Collection, which is not often available to the public due to its primary function as a traveling art museum for students in King County. Our members thoroughly enjoyed this exhibition, and we are grateful for another chance to connect with our community and share our impact.

Two of our sustaining members were at the museum for a very sweet moment. Two children recognized the art from when it had traveled to their school and were so excited that they began giving a tour to their caregivers and talking about the art. There were many experiences like this throughout the exhibition, but this example highlights the impact of JLS arts education on King County students. The art will be traveling again for the 2024-25 school year and still has some available sessions for registration that are available here. Look for Northwest Art to pop up in public again at the Seattle Art Fair from July 25th to the 28th. You can get your tickets here for another chance to view our collection!

2023-24 Member Awards

We are proud to celebrate and recognize the following members of the Junior League of Seattle for their work, which goes above and beyond to support our organization and aid our community.

Sustainer of the Year

Lorri Ayers

Active of the Year

Alex Gibson

Transfer of the Year

Constance Nelson

Provisionals of the Year

Katie Powell Rachid

Tujuana Simon

Spirit of Service Award

Leah Pezzetti

Transformational Leader Award

Ngoc Do

President’s Award

Lauren Exnicios

Sarah Hadley

Maria Cook

Candice Caldwell

Martha Abatecola

Rebecca Dolan

Centennial Members of the Year

Anisa Ishida

Rebecca Wilson

May 2024 Recap

The last month of the 2023-24 Junior League Year has been one to remember. As we wrap up our 100th year as a nonprofit organization in Seattle and head into the next century, we are proud to recall all the hard work our members contributed to the community. From the Touch-A-Truck Fundraiser to the Annual Conference, May Celebration, and Past Presidents Luncheon, we had many opportunities to connect and interact with our community, our own League members, and Leagues across the United States.

Touch-A-Truck was an absolute hit this year, with over 23 business vendors participating to create a community-wide event that provides the unique opportunity for children to explore vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, and delivery – all in one place! Over 2,500 people experienced this event, bringing over $15,000 to aid our organization's mission to advance women's Leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. We are proud of the work of our Fundraising wing and committee, who worked tirelessly to put on this event. 

Outside of Seattle, leaders of our organization traveled to New Orleans for the Annual Conference for Junior Leagues. They welcomed a new year of Presidents and represented our League's perspective and needs. AJLI, our parent organization, announced a significant partnership with the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation at this event. This partnership aims to increase the visibility and representation of women in public art and monuments across the country, a cause to which we are deeply committed. We are proud to continue to advocate for women's representation and support commemorating women's history. We are also pleased to announce that one of our Past President, Rebecca Wilson, was awarded the AJLI EduQuest Scholarship to aid in her continuing education. We can think of no one more deserving of this scholarship in response to her phenomenal work in her community.

Following the Annual Conference, our members gathered for the May Celebration and General Membership Meeting at the Seattle Tennis Club. Our Membership Meetings are a chance to thank our members and Leadership for their efforts while updating those in attendance on fundraising efforts, financial reports, and member recognition. This event also offered the opportunity to acknowledge Korynne Wright, this year's winner of the Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Community Service Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in community service. Alongside our various member awards that night, we were excited to welcome Avery Berschauer as our incoming President for the 2024-25 League Year. We are confident she will usher us into the next century of Junior League service and make her mark on our community.

Lastly, we finished our year with the annual Past Presidents Luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club. This delightful event gathers all of our organization's Presidents together to stay up-to-date on the organization's goings-on while also offering support to our incoming President as they hand the literal gavel and authority to the next President. Over 25 of our previous leaders, who served from 1968 to 2023, helped initiate the 2024-25 League Year and welcome our next President to her position.

March 2024 Recap

March has been a great month with our members busy making a difference in our community and building connections. This month was full of enlightening, fun, and informative neighborhood meetings, where our members had the opportunity to voice their input and opinions on the Junior League of Seattle's activities. Topics from these meetings include an overview of member points requirements, JLS Headquarters Task Force updates, available leadership positions, and upcoming League events.

Thanks to our Community Wing, we had over 20 service shifts available this month. Our members have had the chance to engage with our community partners, Mary's Place, YouthCare, Seattle Children's Hospital, MOHAI, NW Harvest SODO Community Market, Bloodworks Northwest, Ronald McDonald House, and Kidvantage. We are deeply grateful for the work being done in our community! 

From trivia downtown to multiple museum tours, we have loved seeing our members gather face-to-face and reconnect! This month kicked off our Spring Walk Series, where JLS members enjoyed the spring blooms and the iconic Seattle cherry blossoms. As an organization of over 1,200 members, we are committed to creating inclusive environments for diverse individuals, organizations, and communities to interact. We love providing opportunities for engagement on a more significant, city-wide level and personal scale. 

Looking forward to upcoming JLS events, we have the long-standing favorite Women with Impact on Thursday, April 25, the ever-exciting Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, May 11, our annual May Celebration on Tuesday, May 21, and the always popular Sustainer Cocktail party on Wednesday, July 17. We can't wait to see everyone at these special events.

February 2024 Recap

It's been an amazing February for the Junior League of Seattle. We started the month with a celebration of our Centennial exhibition at the Museum of History and Industry, which was a huge success! It was a fantastic evening, exceeding our expectations and reminding our members of the historical impact not always seen but often felt in a community due to the work of any Junior League. We got to learn more about our league's history and showcase our unique arts education program, the Northwest Art Project.

As our official training month, our Training Team has scheduled and coordinated over ten training sessions this month. It's been a great opportunity for our members to develop their skills and connect with each other. Our Done in a Day team has also been hard at work, serving our community through various community service shifts. We're proud of the dedication and hard work our members contribute to serving the local Seattle area.

As we look forward to March, which is our Northwest Art Impact Month, we're excited to begin our season of new member recruitment, neighborhood meetings, and the ever-popular Women at the Capitol Day. Spring and the Junior League of Seattle have sprung into action! We can't wait to hit the ground running and continue making a difference in our community.

December 2023 Recap

Wow, what a month it has been for the Junior League of Seattle! December was jam-packed with thrilling events and activities that kept everyone on their toes.

First, the Northwest Art Committee hosted its annual holiday party at the Woodside Braseth Gallery, and it was an absolute blast. The artworks on view were stunning (all pieces by artists in the Northwest Art Collection!), and the company was delightful. It was a perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

But the excitement didn't stop there. The Junior League of Seattle also celebrated its Centennial December General Membership Meeting at Nordstrom, where they made some big announcements about the upcoming EVPE & PEN for the 2024-2025 League year. Everyone was buzzing with anticipation and excitement about what was to come with new leadership. This occasion was also made all the more special with the opportunity to have our photo taken by Clay Eals, which will be featured in his Now & Then column for the Seattle Times.

And let's not forget about the successful fundraising efforts this month. The League raised funds through Minted, Double Good Popcorn, and Alpine Farm Wreaths. This shows just how passionate and dedicated the members are about their cause.

Last but not least, the Junior League of Seattle's commitment to community service was evident in the seven community service shifts that our members participated in. It's truly inspiring to see how much our members care about making a positive impact on our community.

Overall, it's safe to say that December was a month to remember for the Junior League of Seattle, and we can't wait to see what we have in store for us in the future.

Done in a Day Spotlight

During this season of service, our Done in a Day committee (DIAD) has been hard at work coordinating, planning, and managing diverse community service projects and activities. We are very proud of our members' work thus far this month with our community partners— Food Lifeline, LifeLong, and Mary’s Place. After the holiday, Done in a Day has scheduled service opportunities for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, managing craft tables, and for the Forgotten Children’s Fund wrapping gifts. We are so proud of the important service that our members and our community partners are doing for the Seattle area.

“From our first meeting, it was clear our Done in a Day committee would do amazing work this year. We have a team of incredible women who are excited about volunteerism. We’ve been working hard to set up diverse shifts for JLS, and we’re on a roll! Our goal is to encourage members to do more than the minimum requirement and keep coming back for more volunteer shifts. Join us!

”

— Done in a Day Chair, Leah Pezzeti

We are so proud of the role the Done in a Day committee plays in our League. DIAD is a great place to get to know many different community partners and projects. By empowering our members to get involved with group service opportunities, our members grow the confidence to go out and continue their volunteer journey by serving on boards and even starting their own nonprofits. DIAD is truly the heart of the League!

Centennial Gala Recap

The Seattle Classic Centennial Gala was a smashing success! Thanks to the generous support of our members, family, friends, donors, and sponsors, we were able to raise $263,000 and counting!

The funds raised this year will help us to fulfill our mission of training the next generation of women civic leaders in the Seattle community as well as our Northwest Art Project, called “the best art education program in our region,” by the Museum of History and Industry.

With sincerest gratitude,

Anisa Ishida and Rebecca Wilson, Centennial Gala Co-Chairs

Jennifer Siems, 2023-2024 President

2023-2024 Junior League of Seattle Board of Directors

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Diamond: Immortal Perfumes

Gold: Key to the World Travel, Koh Gen Do, Two Mountain Winery, AE Events & Design, Amy & Andrew Farrier, Dogtopia Bellevue, Fortuity Cellars

Bronze: Andrea Mann of Windermere Real Estate, Armoire, Ashley Baerwaldt of RBC Wealth Management

In Kind: Best Day Brewing, Doctor Rogers, Fonte Coffee Roaster, Kendra Scott, Nordstrom, Skin Spirit, J. Rankin Jewelers, Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Thank you for celebrating with us! View our photobooth gallery here. The 360 videos are also available.

November 2023 Recap

Sustainer Night at Seattle Rep for Little Women

November started off with a blast as hundreds of Junior League of Seattle members celebrated a century of serving our community with our Seattle Classic gala at the Fairmont Hotel. Our first formal affair since before the pandemic raised an incredible $263,000 to fund our next one hundred years of volunteerism. Guests dined, danced and even played the night away, and what a time was had by all. Special thanks to our Gala co-chairs Anisa Ishida and Rebecca Wilson and their committee for an unforgettable evening. What a perfect way to kick off our second century and debut our Northwest Art emphasis. 

But November wasn’t all fun and games! Members rolled up their sleeves and had a number of productive Done-In-A-Day shifts judging at the DECA Fall Leadership Conference, sorting and packing nutritious food with Food Lifeline, preparing medically tailored meals and groceries for LifeLong, and making Thanksgiving turkeys with Mary’s Place for a fun arts and crafts project. 

Our collaborative Trainings this month spanned a fireside chat about inclusion with Gia Parr and Leslie Fisher; Strategic Planning with a DEIB Lens with Shalini Suryanarayana; and Seasonal Shifts and Self-Care with Recipes for Holiday Happiness, led by Dr. Danielle Maack. 

Our Community Partners Training was a follow-up from this year's Skills Month, where our Community Wing Manager, Kristen Leenerman, walked us through our Community Partners and how we can work together this League year.

We had so much fun at our Member Connections event cheering on the Seahawks at the Queen Anne Beerhall, and practiced our French pronunciation over brunch at Le Coin in Fremont.

League members again turned their eyes toward our future at this month’s Unit Meetings, where we had discussions about potential changes to our org chart and determining how our members want to impact the community. 

This year has more fun in store with our first in-person General Meeting at the downtown Nordstrom since 2019, plus a trip to see the beautiful holiday lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden and a service shirt gift-wrapping for the Forgotten Children’s Fund. 

However you’re spending these last few weeks of the year, we wish you happiness and health. We are so grateful to everyone for their hard work and enthusiasm. Happy Thanksgiving!