They are everywhere.
They are regular women who do not wait for a government program, crisis or news-breaking story to highlight issues in their communities. (And they are, statistics tell us, more often women than men.) They see a need, and they have the courage and conviction to act. Their hands-on experience gives them the credibility to increase awareness, guide decisions, and create impact.
I am one of those women. I believe deeply that it is my responsibility to help the community in which I live and to advance the common good. And I am not alone.
Some who share this commitment seek community in their neighborhood, some in their town, some in their country and some in the wider world. The commitment might derive from a different belief system than mine, but it is a shared conviction.
The “new” civic leaders come to their roles by different avenues. Mine happens to be The Junior League of Monmouth County, which has been a continual inspiration for me for 33 years. I’ve seen my League address such important problems as elder abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, AIDS, teen pregnancy, and illiteracy. Frequently, these were issues that were unmet or underserved in our community – lacking attention or resources.
Inspiration to aspire to civic leadership can come from many sources. Mine was a grammar school trip to a county nursing home to sing Christmas carols and visit with the patients. I realized that there were great needs in my community – that not only were there people suffering who had little means to care for themselves, but that I could do something to help them, if only for a day.
I spent most of my school years in all-women environments and knew the potential and power women have to make a difference. When I was in my mid-20’s, I joined The Junior League to set down roots in the community where we had bought a new home and were expecting our second child. My mother recommended I join this group of women to meet people and become involved in my community. Of course, my mother was right as I came to know women whom, to this day, I highly regard.
I did not realize it at that time, but, by joining The Junior League, I was beginning my journey as a civic leader. During my first two years with The League, I volunteered for a project in collaboration with the Monmouth County Park System where I participated in a Speakers Bureau focused on the preservation of open space. The County was renowned for its agricultural and horse farms which developers were beginning to swallow up. There was a movement to build public awareness about the negative impact of that development and The League’s efforts in helping the community eventually led to the establishment the Monmouth Conservation Foundation.
Another fulfilling project included my participation in The League’s work with Family & Children’s Service, which has been designated by the State of New Jersey as the agency to deal with elder abuse in Monmouth County. I was a friendly visitor to one of their clients every other week once her situation was stabilized. The most rewarding work I have done for my League has been as a member of New Jersey Junior Leagues State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC), which takes action on specific state and federal issues on behalf of the eight New Jersey Junior Leagues. We concentrate on issues primarily impacting women and girls such as domestic violence, childproof handguns, human trafficking, cord blood donations, an
d most recently, childhood obesity in conjunction with the AJLI program, Kids in The Kitchen.
Any woman who shares the mission for developing women’s potential for civic leadership can be part of The Junior League. All they need to do is visit The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc.’s (AJLI) website and identify The League closest to their location. Members focus on the issues that impact their communities so those will vary from League to League. They also have flexibility in how much time they can volunteer for projects. When I was a new member, my children were young and I devoted as much time as I could to The League’s projects that mattered the most. I also attended formal training sessions given by The League that help women develop the skills to create greater impact in their communities and inspire civic leadership. Eventually I accepted chair positions of committees and projects and served as President of The Junior League of Monmouth County in 1989.
When I was President of my League, I had the opportunity to meet and work with women from across our 293 Leagues in four countries which inspired me to continue that work by applying for volunteer positions within our international Association. After serving in several positions with AJLI, I applied for the position of AJLI President-Elect and was elected by the Leagues in the spring of 2009. I will succeed to President for 2010 – 2012 on June 1st of this year. I am truly excited about my new position, which is equivalent of being Chair of the Board, because in addition to promoting our mission among all The Leagues, I will continue my hands-on volunteer work. As part of a non-profit, I am not compensated monetarily as a member of the Board, but my compensation is the results that we achieve when helping our communities and the legions of women who make it happen.
I believe deeply in the mission to develop the potential of women to improve their communities. It is completely aligned with my personal values and beliefs. My membership has provided me the opportunity to live exactly what I believe, to grow and learn, and to make enduring friendships with a wide range of wonderful women who share the same commitment to bettering our communities. The Leagues have an outstanding history of addressing unmet needs in communities in four countries. We are also privileged to have renowned members as role models, including Eleanor Roosevelt; selected Women Airport Service Pilots (WASPs) who were recently recognized by the U.S. Congress; Sandra Day O’Connor; and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney.
My goal is to continue to lead the organization through this exciting period of change and renewal so that we can energize a new generation of women, like my daughter, in our efforts to improve communities.
Can an individual make a difference? Absolutely. But you will never know until you try. Welcome, civic leader!
Delly Beekman is the incoming president of The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. Founded in 1901 by New Yorker, Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, creating demonstrable community impact. Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) is comprised of more than 160,000 women in 293 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world. For more information please visit www.ajli.org.