Reflecting on your journey across Junior Leagues, what unique perspectives or experiences have you gained from each community?

I was a provisional and spent a few years here in the Junior League of San Diego (JLSD), but for the last three years, I was a member of the Junior League of Orange County, CA (JLOCC). The two leagues and the two communities are so different, but in both, I’ve appreciated the opportunity to meet and interact with women that I wouldn’t meet in my daily life. I met one of my best friends organizing the JLOCC cookbook closet, but without The League we never would have crossed each other’s paths!

How has joining JLSD differed from your previous Junior League experiences, and what aspects have remained consistent?

JLOCC is what they call a SLIBI league (Small League Big Impact) so there are fewer members than in JLSD. I was the New Member Chair for two years, and I had to wear a lot of hats and juggle a lot of plates to ensure that the New Members felt welcomed and ready to be Actives! Having so many wonderful members here in JLSD and having them as resources is a blessing. It makes being a member or being in a leadership role feel more sustainable and balanced. On the other hand, I moved to Orange County for a new job, in the middle of a global pandemic, and didn’t know a soul. After a few months, I felt like I knew the name of every member of JLOCC, what city they lived in, and probably their pet’s names. It was intimate and that was also a blessing. Both have taught me so much about myself and what I am capable of. They have been a supportive place to “fail” and experiment with ideas.