Junior League New Member Year: What to Expect

Thinking about joining the Junior League of Omaha? 

It can be scary to try new things, we get it, and we’re here to help!

Here’s a rundown of what to expect when you join Junior League of Omaha:

First things first – Before you join:

  1. Get acquainted with the League: Current members meet with prospective members online and in person at various events to get to know each other. 
  2. Complete a Membership Application 
  3. Pay Dues: Membership Dues support the League’s overall programmatic, training and administrative needs, including our physical headquarters, event facility rentals and food and beverage at in-person meetings. 

Enrollment opens up for new members every year between late May – June. 

Membership is open to all women, at least 21 years old, who have an interest in voluntarism, a commitment to community service and an interest in developing her potential for voluntary community participation. The Junior League welcomes all women who value our mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities. 

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2021-2022 New Member Committee Members

New Member Requirements and Commitments

Your New Member year is typically a commitment of approximately 50-60 total hours between the months of August through May.  

It might sound like a lot, but it’s not!

 You will participate in monthly meetings for 1-2 hours that include:

  • Training Sessions on the Junior League of Omaha and its history in our community.
    • Did you know that members of the Junior League of Omaha began the Gift Shop at Children’s Hospital in 1948, which still operates today and serves as income to assist with many of the hospital’s programs and services?! Children’s Hospital is one of many local organizations impacted by the service and talents of our League. 
  • Social Time to Get Connected with Junior League of Omaha members – both new and active.

You will be assigned a cohort of new members who live in nearby geographic areas so that you can continue the conversation between new meetings. Each group is kept intentionally small with about 10 members, with an active member who mentors and helps guide the group in questions and activities. 

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2021-2022 New Member Music Bingo Night

New members also get to attend:

  • General Meetings with all other active members (held monthly, with members asked to attend 5 per year)
  • Fundraising activities and events, such as the JLO Classic at Top Golf and more
  • Community service shifts, experiencing the ability to immediately and directly make an impact on the community especially related to food access and hunger in Omaha.
    • New members always report they love the immediate impact they can make in just a few hours time, through shifts at area non-profits like Together, Inc., etc. 

Then what:

After completion of the new member year, you enter Active Member status. As an active member, you serve a placement on one of many committees. Each placement lasts one year (August-June).  After seven years as an active member, you can become a League Sustainer. 

You will learn all about what active service looks like as part of your new member year. 

New Member Q&A

Read what one new member, Jazmyn Brown, had to say about her experience: 

Jazymn recently completed her new member year and is currently in her first active year placement as Shift Coordinator for the Food Access Committee.  

Q: Why did you join JLO? 

A:  I joined to meet like-minded women, to network and to volunteer, helping the community I care about.

Q: How would you describe your new member year?

A: It was so much fun. I built friendships that will last years and learned a lot about the league.

Q: Did you find it easier or harder than you expected to fulfill the responsibilities of new members?

A: It was easier because I learned the expectations upfront. I was able to complete all my shifts by Fall simply because I signed up for any of them that I was interested in.

Q: What would you say to someone considering JLO?

A: It’ll be the best decision you’ll make. You’ll meet amazing women who want to make a difference in the community. What other organization can say that?

Learn more about joining:  Email Join@JLOmaha.org

Support the Junior League of Omaha Annual Fund.

Member Spotlight – Jessica Sock

This month we are getting to know Executive Vice President Jessica Sock.

Jessica is in her seventh Active Year in JLO and has held a variety of roles, including Community Impact Council Director, Done-in-a-Day Committee Chair and Board Member-at-Large. Her favorite role has been EVP as it allows her to connect with so many amazing members.

Jessica, her husband Don, and their five year-old Eliot enjoy camping, having fun outdoors and spending time with family.

Member Spotlight – Lauren Hellmen

This month, we are getting to know Financial Vice President Lauren Hellman. Lauren is in her sixth Active year in the Junior League of Omaha. Lauren is married and has a very sassy 2.5 year-old daughter, Lucy.

She loves being outside and active, including running and hiking on trails. She has had so many great League experiences, but planning the first-ever bRUNch 5K was one of her favorites. Her committee was amazing, and the experience made her want to continue being in the League year after year.

Member Spotlight – Alysia Radicia

Alysia is an Interior Designer at RDG Planning & Design. She’s been there since graduating and really enjoys it. Alysia said the firm treats everyone like family and is extremely supportive in helping individuals succeed and pursue their interests. Like being involved in the community!

Speaking of community involvement, Alysia stays busy! Having been born and raised in Omaha (technically Elkhorn), she has a deep passion for investing in the community and helping make it a better place for everyone. She currently serves as the President of the Friends of Nebraska Children, serves on the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Young Professional Council, sits on Opera Omaha’s Community Advisory Panel, volunteers for the American Heart and Stroke Association … ALL while being an active member of the Junior League.

Alysia considers herself a cat lady, but not a crazy cat lady. Gus is her main squeeze, and she’s constantly teetering on whether or not to adopt another passive aggressive cuddle bug. Check back in a few weeks.

She thoroughly enjoy party planning and dinner parties. Which is also why she enjoys working out. Life is all about balance.

This year she is taking some sort of creative class each month. She previously enrolled in pottery classes at the Union for Contemporary Art and cooking classes Metro Community College. Have any suggestions? Send them her way!

Town Hall Forums: Conversation & Collaboration

This fall Junior League of Omaha members had the exciting opportunity to participate in town hall forums that sought to both educate members on the new community impact focus areas and gather feedback regarding membership engagement. Approximately 130 Junior League of Omaha members attended, and almost 50 shared feedback through surveys!

The Community Research and Development Committee and President-Elect-Elect Katie Triplett, on behalf of the Membership Engagement Ad Hoc Committee, organized these meetings for Junior League of Omaha members as a way to engage in powerful conversations about League experiences and shared visions for the future. According to President-Elect-Elect Katie Triplett, “members really are excited about building a more diverse and inclusive League experience. JLO leadership is committed to participating in AJLI’s Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives, so we are excited our membership is already supportive of these efforts.”

In January, League members will be voting on one of three areas in which to focus future Junior League of Omaha programs: Disenfranchised Youth; Hunger and Access to Healthy Foods; or Abuse in Women and Children. Additionally, the Membership Engagement Ad Hoc Committee’s focus is to ensure that the Junior League of Omaha continues to attract and retain members by providing enriching opportunities. With such significant topics of interest, it was the perfect time to coordinate conversations and seek feedback from the many perspectives shared by the membership.

As a result of the conversations, questions, and suggestions garnered by the town hall forums, the Membership Engagement Ad Hoc Committee will present a report to the Board, which will feature current information on where the League stands, as well as recommendations from other Leagues and from AJLI. Specific ideas and concepts to bear in mind while planning for the 2019-2020 year will also be included.

The town hall forums have provided a wonderful way for League members to meet and engage with other League members in a smaller setting. President-Elect-Elect Katie Triplett stated, “I’m so appreciative so many of our members joined us for these forums and shared so candidly! In addition to receiving great details about how to make League membership even more amazing, we also had an opportunity to meet and visit with members we hadn’t met before. Members also shared with me how much they liked the forums – we are going to try to work these town hall forums into future years! We want to ensure the Junior League of Omaha stays transparent, relevant, and influential for years to come!”

Recruitment for next year’s New Member group begins in February. For more information about joining the Junior League of Omaha, visit https://www.jlomaha.org/join-us/.  

“JLO Class of the Century” Welcomes 86 New Members

The New Members kicked off their League year with their first meeting on Aug. 28 at Security National Bank, where the women got to know their core groups and learned about their upcoming year.

September’s New Member Meeting focused on Community Impact. The women enjoyed a football and fall theme with beer and pizza.

The Communications Council presented at the October New Member Meeting with a Halloween theme.

November activities included a social at the Makery and meeting at The Mattress Factory. New Members learned more about the 100th Year Anniversary Celebration and guest Marian Andersen shared her volunteerism background with the New Member Class.

Additionally so far this League year, New Members celebrated and acknowledged the significance of their membership class, complete with a hashtag they chose (#JLOClassOfTheCentury) and a special class logo.

New Member Committee Chair Megan Horn focused on creating a theme and tone of building League relationships and sharing the experiences and community impact opportunities available. The committee has revised the format of the meetings and focused more on providing experiences and helping build connections.

Recruitment for next year’s New Member group begins in February. For more information about joining the Junior League of Omaha, visit https://www.jlomaha.org/join-us/.

Connecting with …

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Congratulations to Mary Lynn as a 2015 Junior League of Omaha Sustainer Hall of Fame award winner.

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Tell us about your family?
Husband Dick, two grown children, Todd Reiser and Sally Christensen, 5 grandchildren, Tyler, Nate, Luke Christensen, Caroline and Courtney Reiser

Pets: mixed breed hound, Cisco

Hometown: Lincoln, NE

College: UNL and UNO

Sorority: Alpha Phi

Job/Business: Director, UNO Center for Economic Education

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
Serving as JLO President which led me in a entirely new career direction as an administrator at UNO.

Continue reading “Connecting with …”

Connecting with …

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Tell us about your family? Husband, Mike.

Pets: Sage, 6 year old English Setter

Hometown: Mapleton, Iowa

College: Undergrad: Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine: Iowa State University

Job/Business:  Associate veterinarian at: Animal Clinic of Council Bluffs and Glenwood Veterinary Clinic

What are your favorite restaurant(s) in Omaha? Twisted Fork, M’s Pub, Wheatfield’s

What other organizations are you affiliated with? Rotary Club in Council Bluffs  Continue reading “Connecting with …”

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Why did you join the Junior League? To become more active in the Omaha community and meet new people!

Tell us about your family?  I’m very close to my family! It would be weird if I didn’t talk to them every day. I have one older sister and a 12 year old nephew that I adore!

Pets: One cat named Lucy.

Hometown: Omaha

College: University of Nebraska @ Omaha

Job/Business: Operations Manager at ACCESSbank

What was your favorite placement and why? This is my first active year and I’ve loved my placement as the Distribution Coordinator for Project Hope Pack!  With this role I’ve been able to see the impact that providing backpacks has to the different agencies.  They are always so appreciative and thankful.

What is your favorite thing about living in Omaha?  There is always something fun to do!

What is your favorite song? I love anything by Eric Church.  I’ve lost track of how many of his concerts I’ve been to!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? Catch up on reading or watch Netflix.  

What is your favorite season and why? I love everything about fall: football, bonfires, pumpkin carving!

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? I’d love to take a month or two off work and just travel and see where I end up.  My list of places I want to visit is very long!

What is one of your favorite quotes? One person can make a difference and everyone should try—John F Kennedy

Connecting with Brooke

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Why did you join the Junior League? I joined the Junior League as a way to meet women throughout the community and as a way to give back to the community of Omaha. Junior League has really been a fantastic way for me to meet women and get involved with awesome events.

Tell us about your family? Husband-Travis, three children, Izabel (8), Nolan (6), Nash (5 months)

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Pets: Dog Boxer/ bulldog mix-Rocky

Hometown: Laurens, Iowa

College: Clarkson College

Job/Business: Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital

What was your favorite placement and why?

I love the American Girl Fashion Show. It is such an amazing fundraiser that has a lot of things going on-it gets young girls and their families to participate in a weekend event that is creating memories they will cherish forever. The event is big, with so many moving parts- it’s awesome to watch how it all comes together.

What is your favorite thing about living in Omaha?

I grew up in a very small farm town, so Omaha is a BIG, yet a small town to me. It has a variety of events to appeal to any personality. So, to me the diversity it has to offer, yet small town feel.

What is your favorite song?  Billy Joel-Uptown girl

What is your favorite season and why?
I like summer. We are a very active family so when the weather gets nice it’s great to be outdoors-working in the yard, hiking, bike rides-you name it!

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
Out of the spin cycle-by Jen Hatmaker. It was a gift from a good friend and is truly a reminder that as women our roles change on a dime so it’s good to know that there are ways to lighten our loads…

What is your favorite television show?  The Voice

What is one of your favorite quotes?

Read this the other day, pretty catchy “The purpose of life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely with a preserved body, but rather to slide in sideways, totally worn out shouting, ‘woohoo, what a ride!”  -unknown