History

The Junior League of Anniston-Calhoun, Inc., began as The Anniston/Calhoun Junior Service League, formed in the summer of 1984 at a final meeting of its parent organization, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Guild. After the Festival moved to Montgomery in 1984, its Guild found a new purpose with the birth of the Service League.

Over the next seven years, members of the League served the Calhoun County community in the pursuit of that purpose, one that was entirely educational and charitable, designed to promote voluntarism and develop the potentia1of its members through training and experience.

The early years were given to establishing an organizational structure, developing membership, identifying community needs, and initiating the concept of raising funds to answer those needs. With time and training came heightened community awareness and increased knowledge of how to effect change, and League members began to develop and carry out varied and highly successful community service projects

With the groundwork laid and the enthusiasm high; recognition of the Service League as a viable entity for social change was strong. And in the 1989-90 year, the League began its metamorphosis into a Junior League when its members voted to pursue membership in the Association of Junior Leagues International.

The Service League, working closely with AJLI representatives, then underwent a rigorous two-year affiliation process in which major organizational change and definition of goals and responsibilities took place. Affiliation was complete in April, 1992, and the Service League became the Junior League of Anniston-Calhoun, Inc.

With a broader and more confident mission and vision, the Junior League, while continuing its traditional voluntarism to community agencies, approached larger and more ambitious fund-raisers, and through collaboration, initiated two major projects of its own in 1992-93.

The second year as a Junior League brought increased membership flexibility, enhancements to the League newsletter and a new and innovative fund-raising effort, the Ducky Derby. This effort proved very successful financially and served as well to bring increased public awareness of the League's mission. In 1994, the Anniston Museum of Natural History Nature Space Discovery Room moved toward completion and Habitat for Humanity of Calhoun County became a reality, with the first home, sponsored primarily by the League, being dedicated on August 11.

August of 1994 also marked the League's 10th anniversary as a service organization. Commemoration of this milestone saw the inception of a "Sustainer of the Year" award in 1995 to recognize members who had served over the years. The League began its second decade with the formation of the first Community Advisory Board, which was to play a viable role in a two-year process of goal-centered strategic planning.

In 1995-96, this process yielded a focus for the League: "Strong Children, Strong Communities," which allowed the League to concentrate its efforts to make a greater impact in the community. In May 1996, the League presented the first annual Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award. This award was designed to recognize a young woman of high school age in the community who had excelled in voluntarism, education and extracurricular activities.

The 1996-97 year kicked off with the adoption of Coosa Valley Youth Services in an effort to continue the focus of "Strong Children, Strong Communities." Coosa Valley projects included painting, tutoring, hosting events and parties, and doing administrative work. The League backed its tremendous volunteer support with financial assistance as a result of successful fund drives: Bargain Bazaar, Wakefield's Sale, and a Cookbook sale.

1987-1998 was a year to build and strengthen League members and League programs. H was the second year in the three-year commitment to Coosa Valley Youth Services. Sustainers assumed responsibility for hosting the monthly graduation exercises. Through its fund-raising success, the League was able to increase its financial support to Coosa Valley and Nature Space Discovery Room. The League also increased the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award to a $1,000.00 scholarship

1998-1999 was another year of building and strengthening League members and programs. Everyone participated in fund-raising and volunteering to support Coosa Valley Youth Services and Name Space Discovery Room. Once again, a deserving young lady was presented the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award.

1999-2000 brought some changes to the League: Different meeting times; the first annual “Kick Off” picnic; and a "Millennium Brunch" to honor Sustainers. The Southern Living Cooking School was brought to the area and allowed for financial contributions to Coosa Valley Youth Services and Habitat for Humanity. Plans were made to bring the Alabama Shakespeare Festival back to Anniston in October, 2000. Members volunteered at The Anniston Museum of Natural History, Coosa Valley Youth Services, Family Services Center, Red Cross and Center for Concern. Also, 2,000 diapers were contributed to Concern for Children's "Paper Pantry" as the "2000 in the year 2000" volunteer project suggested by AJLI. As in recent years, an outstanding high school senior was presented the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award.

In 2000-2001, the Strategic Planning Committee redefined the League's Vision Statement and developed a three-year plan to partner JLAC and Concern for Children. With Sustainer help, Shakespeare was brought back to Anniston with the play "Fair and Tender Ladies," along with Mystery Dinner Theatre, "Reacting Aunt Louise's Will." The success of the fund-raisers led to a vote to continue the dinner theatre play in the coming year. Money raised was contributed to Coosa Valley Youth Services, ARC of Calhoun County, East Central United Cerebral Palsy, Second Chance Women's Shelter, and the Christian Women's Center Shelter in Piedmont. Members also donated items to the Red Cross and assembled 150 disaster kits. The tradition of the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award for high school seniors was also continued.

2001-2002 began the League's three-year commitment to Concern for Children. Once again, the League presented Mystery Dinner Theatre, "The Mild, Mild West," which, along with cookbook sales netted profits that were donated to Concern for Children, Coosa Valley Youth Services, The Stand, and Church of Saint Michael's Community Services. Members also donated goods to Concern for Children's "Paper Pantry" and the Center for Concern. Bylaws changes were implemented for the 2002-2003 year. In addition to the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award, the League established a new scholarship starting in 2002-2003 to honor the memory of former League president Lisa Bobo.

In 2002-2003, the League continued its three-year commitment to Concern for Children, both in volunteer hours and financial support. Fundraisers included Pampered Chef/ Yankee Candle sales and Mystery Dinner Theatre, "Dorothy Dinsmore, Gossip Columnist." In addition to Concern for Children, proceeds were distributed to Coosa Valley Youth Services, Boys and Girls Clubs of Calhoun County, Preschool Friends, and CAST. Along with the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award, the first Lisa Bobo Scholarship provided scholarships to the YMCA summer camp.

In 2003-2004, the League continued the partnership with Coosa Valley Youth Services. Members also stuffed emergency care bags for the American Red Cross. Fund-raising was accomplished through the sale of Crabtree & Evelyn products and the Mystery Dinner Theatre production of "The Little Red Schoolhouse." Provisionals contributed through a project at Second Chance. A special committee was designated to work on the Strategic Plan. While the main points of the plan remained the same, the League decided to work toward a Community Arts Initiative, which would allow members to participate through fund-raising, gathering supplies and teaching arts classes to area school children. Along with financial support to Concern for Children, Coosa Valley Youth Services, Second Chance, and Chris & Steve's Happy Campers, the traditions of the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award and the Lisa Bobo Summer Camp Scholarship were continued.

During our 2004-2005 year, many goals were met and many ideas came to fruition. Our members participated in several done in a day projects including preparing emergency supplies for the Rape Crisis Center and filling Concern for Children's Paper Pantry. Our major project this year have been the Art with Artists program. Leadership and commitment from our members enabled us to fundraise for the program, as well as build an inventory of art supplies and develop a curriculum. Fundraisers included a new idea, the Winter Treasures market and an old favorite, mystery dinner theater. Our financial support for agencies throughout Calhoun County continued, as well as our scholarships. Our 20th Anniversary yearbook was unveiled at the May dinner, marking not only this year's success, but that of the league over many years.

The Junior League began the 2006-2007 year with a community workday at Golden Springs Elementary School. We landscaped the playground and buildings and painted fencing along the entrance. The fundraiser for the year was Mystery Dinner Theater and it was held at the Anniston Museum of Natural History. The evening was a success raising nearly $7000.00. Members supported done in a day projects collecting art supplies, medical supplies for mission trips, graduation ceremonies at Camp Lewis and stuffing the paper panty with baby items for Concern for Children in Anniston. Funds were dispersed to the United Way Imagination Library, Chris & Steve's Happy Campers, Coosa Valley Youth Services (Camp Lewis) and First United Methodist Church of Anniston.

The Junior League began the 2007-2008 year by voting on three projects: Art with Artists (kit based program), Kids in the Kitchen, and Coosa Valley Youth Services, to commit time to over the next three years. In October, we re-introduced our Fall Fundraiser Winter Treasures, raising over $20,000.00. Winter Treasures was the most successful JLAC fundraiser to date. The Junior League continued the monthly done in a day projects by helping several different organizations throughout the year. Mystery Dinner Theater raised over $7000.00 for the Spring Fundraiser. In May, the Junior League gave funds to Golden Springs Elementary School, Daybreak Crisis Center, Children's Services, Coosa Valley Youth Services, The United Way Imagination Library, the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award and the Lisa Bobo YMCA Scholarship.

During the 2008-2009 year, the league continued our projects with Coosa Valley Youth Services, Art with Artists and Kids in the Kitchen. In October, the fall fundraiser Winter Treasures was continued and raised for a second year over $22,000. Our spring fundraiser of Mystery Dinner Theater additionally raised over $5,000 to result in a total fundraising effort for the year of over $25,000. Fundraising allowed the league to offer more support than ever before resulting in funds distributed to B. Paris Women and Children’s Home, CAST, three (3) United Way Success by Six Born Learning Trails, Christmas Clearing House, the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award, and the Lisa Bobo YMCA Scholarship. Both the Nancy Julian Distinguished Young Woman Award and the Lisa Bobo YMCA Scholarship amounts were increased from the previously designated amounts of funding.

In 2009-2010, we continued our projects with Coosa Valley Youth Services, Art with Artists and Kids in the Kitchen. We did some changes to our fundraisers that included moving our fall fundraiser, Winter Treasures, to the spring and renaming it, Bunnies & Blossoms. We sold Cokes and/or Klassic Kandles for our new fall fundraiser. We raised close to $4,500 selling Cokes and Kassic Kandles and Bunnies & Blossoms brought in a little more than $23,000, sending us over $27,000 in total fundraising dollars for the year. Funds from the years fundraising efforts were distributed to The Anniston Museum of Natural History “Chocolate” Exhibit, Daybreak Crisis Center, the Nancy Julian Distinguised Young Woman Award and the Lisa Bobo YMCA Scholarship. We also gave money to start a new Junior League initiative that is called W.H.A.L.E. (We Have a Little Emergency) that was voted on and approved by the general membership this year. We are all very excited about this new endeavor and look forward to planning and watching it grow.

1