43
Junior Women’s League holds membership drive
Photo
Neughbors | Submitted.Guests line a table at the Boardman Poland Junior Women's League open house.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Guests sat at a table during the Boardman Poland Junior Women's League's open house.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman Poland Junior Women's League President Debbie Weaver speaks during the group's open house.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman Poland Junior Women's League first Vice-President and membership chairwoman Linda Fabian posed at the group's open house.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Guests and members of the Boardman Poland Junior Women's League are pictured at the group's open house.
By TIM CLEVELAND
With its membership being depleted due to various reasons, the Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League sought to get things moving in the other direction with an open house Valentine’s party on Feb. 10 at Glenellen Senior Living.
The event featured tea with refreshments, games and activities so members, both new and old, could get to know each other. In addition, 80 hand made valentines were passed out to Glenellen residents.
“Glenellen was gracious enough to give us a room at no charge,” membership chairperson Linda Fabian said. “Our club has been in existence for 35 years. In the beginning we had 80-100 members. Over the years we’ve had members retire, move and we’ve lost members because of life. We’re a volunteer organization. Nobody profits. Over the years, we’ve given $650,000 back to the community. We’ve helped children, the handicapped. We’re trying to rebuild our membership; we hope to add 10-12 new members to the 10 we have now. I’ve been in the club for 25 years, which is enough to head the membership class. We’re looking for enthusiastic members to join the club.”
The club hosts a party every year, with an emphasis this year on adding new members. Last year, they did a St. Patrick’s fundraiser for Fr. Tim, who runs Differencemakers, which ministers to the handicapped, builds handicapped ramps in people’s homes and helps cover medical costs. The event last year helped raise $3,800.
The Boardman Poland Junior Women’s League was founded in 1979 and was federated the following year.
The group is open to any woman age 18 and older. The group’s mission is to provide a creative outlet for women interested in providing community service in areas of arts, conservation, education, home life, international affairs and public affairs.
Some of the recent charitable events the league has offered are volunteering in the soup kitchen at St. John’s church in downtown Youngstown, where they passed out socks, gloves and scarfs; volunteering in the Poland food pantry once a month; collecting money for the March of Dimes fundraiser; collecting box tops for education for area schools; collecting eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club and giving baskets and raffle items to organizations that were having fundraisers.
Any area woman age 18 and older who is interested in joining or receiving more information on the league can contact membership chairperson Linda Fabian at 330-782-8208.