The Gift Is The Present #JLMonmouthCounty

The Gift is the Present
Or more precisely, the gift is being present.

I know it’s a cliché but one worth remembering at certain times. I’d say this is one of them. It would be easy to give in to the insanity of this time of year with all the field days and school concerts, and end of year celebrations. I could just put my head down and plow through to the end of June, never looking up from my logistics battle plan (translation: calendar). June is often when one experience ends and another experience begins. It’s the end of school for the year (another grade older!) or the beginning of a summer or new routine. For me there is an even bigger end and beginning than simply have three children who are one school year older and wiser. It’s bigger than the excitement of the countdown to summer and the beach and swim team (and ice pops and snack bar…). My year as President of the Junior League of Monmouth County is coming to an end. So I have my own countdown with many year-end and transition responsibilities and excitement. I have realized many things this year as president, not the least of which is the importance of being present at every opportunity as the most effective way to learn and grow from the experiences I am fortunate to have. If you’re not really in the present you miss the best part of taking risks, succeeding, failing, understanding, and connecting. And it is just as important to accept and enjoy the juice running down your leg from the orange slices the second graders are gobbling up at field day as it is to acknowledge and appreciate the small impact you can have on a girl’s life by taking the time to sit and work through a challenge or inspire a solution to a problem.

The Junior League has accomplished big things this past year as we fulfilled our mission to appreciate and honor women volunteers all over Monmouth County and began down the path of finding tangible ways to demonstrate to young girls that public service can empower their own path to leadership and positive choices with our GIRLS Summit. We worked with young girls to teach them the power of setting goals and accomplishing them through a strong sense of self, confidence and some running. We taught about nutritious choices to grade schooler. We gave thanks by cooking for hundreds. We convened experts on current issues in our community. We collected smoke detectors for the Red Cross, art supplies for Amanda’s Easel, and pajamas for children without with the Pajama Program. We encouraged 10 bright funny and committed women through their first year at JLMC. Those are some of the big moments and I am very proud to have the opportunity to be a part of them. As I continue through the gauntlet of June’s ends and beginnings I will remind myself that the most precious gift is being present.

Deborah Petrone

President 2014-2015

The Junior League of Monmouth County (JLMC) membership has a wide range of backgrounds, interests and professional pursuits. They all share an interest in and a commitment to voluntarism. Each member has her own personal story of how the JLMC has made a difference. The JLMC is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The JLMC focuses on facilitating the empowerment of girls to become confident women.