Members strive to improve the quality of life in their community.

Members strive to improve the quality of life in their community.
BY MARGARET NERY
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
Aware of the crying need for volunteers to assist with beautification projects and community service programs, Diane Borovitcky plunged wholeheartedly into the work by joining the Austintown Junior Women's League, which is composed of other civic-minded women.
Five years ago Borovitcky became a member of the league, a networking organization that is designed to form lasting friendships and provide opportunities for personal growth and enrichment through leadership training and development.
Upon discovering she was a certified public accountant, the club decided to take advantage of her expertise, and "almost automatically" she became the treasurer.
Although she was always a little hesitant about standing up and speaking in public, she says she has learned to deal with that problem and is now serving her second term as president.
"I was always something of a loner who spent a lot of time reading. Since joining the club I have learned to be more organized and to come out of my shell," she said. In return for her efforts, she adds, "I feel I have grown personally through association with so many wonderfully dedicated women."
Members welcome
Austintown Junior Women's League was organized in 1994 to offer its members opportunities for community service, personal enrichment and friendship.
It is governed by the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Northeast District, Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs.
"We are really flexible and try to make it easy to belong," she says. "We try to accommodate meetings and projects to work schedules, and don't expect members to attend every meeting or participate in every project."
While the club focuses on a number of continuing service projects, Borovitcky finds she gets the most satisfaction from the little things the league does that seem to mean so much to others. Among those are such projects as sending valentines to servicemen through Friends of the Troops and the Absolutely Incredible Kids letter campaign. "The letters members write are sent to youngsters who need encouragement to be the best they can be." she says.
While she admits that she doesn't have the time to do all she would like to, Borovitcky says, "Since being in the club I have learned that the word 'procrastination' should not even be in my vocabulary."
Challenged by the membership chairwoman, Kathy Carroll, to "Come as you are and help," the women are presently absorbed in such projects as creating no-sew blankets for the Beatitude House and in creating recycled-can May Day baskets to be filled with flowers for elderly women.
Thrilled with the response she has received, Carroll says, "The women have been wonderfully cooperative. They go out of their way to spread a little happiness and make the community a wonderful place."
Although she has been a member for only four years and as a Realtor has many other interests, Carroll says, "This is my baby." Proudly she speaks of work the group has done with the library and its literacy program, and of its efforts to improve and beautify the community.
In addition, she finds club membership has been personally satisfying. "It has given me the opportunity to develop lasting friendships with other civic-minded women and to learn more about the history and growth of our community."
Jenny Ditzler, one of the founders of the league, radiates enthusiasm as she speaks of the organization.
"The league started when 12 civic-minded women gathered at my home one evening, and using the Boardman-Poland Junior Women's League as an example, drew up a constitution," she says.
"I couldn't be more happy than I am about the way things have progressed," she says. "We do more than I ever imagined."
She would like to see more women involved but is pleased with the small but steady core group of friends who work so well together with a common goal of improving their community.
All in a day's work
Since its inception the league has worked diligently on Earth Day and park programs such as caring for the Samantha Pancoe Memorial Gardens. It has assisted the Austintown Historical Society with its preservation work and its annual tea and craft show. It has also been involved in the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, participated in a community-wide Bike Safety Day and helps sponsor a Veteran's Day art contest.
The league is involved in a yearlong service project designed to benefit the Beatitude House. In conjunction with the project, members continually collect and donate personal care and nonperishable items to be used at the transition house. Its international affairs projects are a World Food Day collection and a cultural cookbook.
Each year the league presents a $1,000 renewable and a $500 one-time scholarship awards to Austintown Fitch High School students.
Although there is considerable diversity in ages, interests and experience, the women are dedicated to the improvement of their community and the betterment of the lives of children and adults alike through volunteer work.
Borovitcky sums up the values and aims of the club when she says, "In the process of improving the lives and surroundings of others, we have been personally enriched and have become wonderful friends."
nery@vindy.com
XTo recommend your club for a feature, send a brief statement about the club and the name and telephone number of a group representative to: The Vindicator, Attn.: Barb Shaffer, Society Editor, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown, Ohio 44501.