CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 45 P erhaps the most recognized and argu- ably the most respected volunteer and service group for women began in 1901 in New York, New York by Mary Har- riman Rumsey, daughter of railroad magnate, Edward H. Harriman. A predecessor of the Association of Junior Leagues In- ternational, Rumsey started the New York Junior League so that women in Gotham City's society would have an op- portunity to provide to those most in need. As word spread about Rumsey's enterprise, women in larger cities around the country started their own Leagues. Fiy-four years ago, three women by the names of Jane Williamson, Jan Stedman and Ellenor Barker came togeth- er to form what is now the Junior League of Fayetteville. "It was a Junior Service League to begin with. When we got together, we found a nucleus of girls we thought would be interested in working with us and most were local. When we first started, we would take anyone in who moved to town who was already a Junior League member and anyone who would come to town who was a Junior Service League member. When we started out, we met at the old Scottish Bank," explained Barker. During Carol Quigg's presidency in the League from 1978 to 1979, the Junior Service League finally became a member of the Association of Junior leagues International (AJLI). "at was a journey getting us inducted in. e Jun- ior League is the best vehicle I can think of to prepare you for leadership in any field for young women. It is a terrific training ground. Volunteerism is a huge part of it," explained Quigg. "I was very proud to belong to the Junior League be- cause of all the good it did. When we became a member of the AJLI, we linked into their progressive thinking, ideas and we could get information from them anytime we needed it." Today, JLF has 30 provisional members, 125 active mem- The Junior League of Fayetteville's time-honored service to Cumberland County rings true By MIrIaM Landru bers and 153 sustaining members. A provisional member is a new member to the League who spends around nine months learning the history and responsibilities of the or- ganization. "In 1980, during my provisional membership year, we met every Monday for two hours for nine months. It was a BIG commitment," recalled Winnie Grannis, a sus- taining member and former League president. Still a con- siderable and worthy commitment, the League recognizes that most young women work outside the home and some- times have other responsibilities. Now, provisional meet- ings are once a month and attendance to General Mem- bership Meetings (where provisional, active and sustaining members are side by side) is encouraged and mandatory. Provisional members of the Junior League are ready to serve the community. "Since I was young, my will to help others, especially those in my local community has served as a passion of mine. Being able to impact my community and those in need, serves as part of my moral compass. Junior League provides the opportunity to combine my passion for impacting change with those whose goals and objectives coordinate with those that I possess," stressed provisional member Jalisha Pone. Active members are well schooled in the rules and mission of the League, have com- pleted all mandatory requirements and can hold officer positions within the group. Sustaining members have 10 years of service or more to the League and hold advisory positions. e youngest one can join as a provisional is 21-years-old and Fayetteville's League has sustainers well into their eighties! When the League started in the early 1960s, it was a way for stay-at-home moms to get out into the community and do some great work, learn from each other and have some- what of a sisterhood. "Later, more women started having careers and still wanted to be connected to their commu- nity. e vast majority of League members internationally A league of their own FEaTurE

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