New Member Meeting at Las Tapas in Old Town

Please join The Junior Friends of the Campagna Center for a happy hour and/or dinner at one of the HOTTEST restaurants in Old Town - www.lastapas.us on Thursday, October 1 at 6:00 p.m.

We will meet at 6:00 p.m. for drinks. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a FLAMENCO show and we will stay for a tapas dinner. This will also be a new member session and new member chair Brandi Graham Pensoneau will be on hand to answer questions about membership in Junior Friends. Please feel free to bring prospective members.

When you respond to the Evite be sure to let us know if you will be joining us for dinner. Hope you can make it!

Las Tapas
710 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Thursday, October 1, 6:00 p.m.
Questions? Call Allison Priebe Brooks at (703) 329-6768

General Membership meeting minutes

Please take a few minutes to read the minutes from last week's general membership meeting.

Junior Friends
General Membership Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2009

Adrienne Fox Luscombe, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:42 p.m.

Adrienne Fox Luscombe opened the meeting by going over the agenda and introducing the new Board. She directed attention to the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend (SCWW) discount form for Junior Friends only.

Brandi Graham Pensoneau, New Member Chair, asked the new members to stand. A New Member Makeup orientation will be held October 1^st at Las Tapas in Old Town.

Anna Kucera, SCWW Co-Chair, shared that the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend will take place during only two days, Friday, December 4^th and Saturday, December 5^th, with the majority of the events taking place at the Masonic Temple. She urged people to buy Children’s Tea tickets early because it sells out quickly. Nicole and Anna noted that the Marketplace will only take place on Friday, December 4^th from 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and will continue again during the Taste of Scotland that evening. Anna shared that we already have five homes secured for the Home Tours.

Holly Lupu, Day of Duty, discussed Day of Duty responsibilities. If any member knows they will be out of town for the event, please e-mail her to sign up for opportunities held before the weekend.

Kristen Gullot, Event Donations Co-Chair, discussed the Shop Campagna Kids Card and the ten-day discounts and monthly “Sip and Saves” that are benefits of the card. The cards are now $25.00 and fully benefit TCC. New discount dates are being added. There will be four events in 2010. The next “Sip and Saves” will be Monday, October 22nd from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Monday’s Child (Old Town) and November 18^th at Kiskadee (Del Ray). You will receive 20% off your entire purchase. There is more information on the stores and where to buy the discount card at shopcampganakidscard.blogspot.com.

Adrienne shared social information for Allison Brooks, Social Chair.

October 1^st – New Member make-up Happy Hour at Las Tapas. All are welcome.

October 25^th – Burke Lake Park

November – TBD

December 20^th – Holiday Brunch at Belle Haven Country Club

Emily Passmore, Programs Chair, thanked everyone who donated books and requested volunteers to read at the Alexandria Department of Health to children waiting for their appointments on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. -2:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Emily discussed the Mentoring Program, which is a great new opportunity to support Latino girls in Math, Science and Technology. The girls are excited and many will be first generation college attendees. Junior Friends volunteers are needed for the program. Book donations are still needed, especially board books for infants and toddlers.

Rebecca Chatterjee, Newsletter/Blog, discussed the new blog, juniorfriendsoftcc.blogspot.com. She requested the membership take a look and provide her with any suggestions. The blog will provide updates on events, meetings, social events and personal announcements. Focus will shift to place all information on the blog. Please visit and sign-up to subscribe so you can see updates as they are made.

Anne-Ashley Crocker, Toast to Fashion (TTF) Co-Chair, shared that the event will take place on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Belle Haven Country Club. More information will follow.

Anne Marie Chotvacs, Chair Ex-Officio, is looking for new leaders and is very impressed with the membership and Board this year.

Adrienne picked the raffle winners – new member, Jennifer Butler, and member, Meghan Metzbower. She reminded everyone to sign up for a committee prior to leaving.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Help us Make Junior Friends Even Stronger!

Know of a friend who would make a great Junior Friend?

Remind her NOW about the upcoming happy hour on October 1 at La Tasca (time TBA)! It isn't too late to recruit a friend, neighbor or relative and encourage them to share their time with others. Junior Friends is a great way to meet new people, network and help our local community all at the same time!

Send any new member suggestions to New Members Chair Brandi Pensoneau at bgraham@nrahq.org

Best Wishes to Many Junior Friends!

Sending out congratulations and best wishes to several Junior Friends this week!

Jessica Bean Richardson and husband, John, welcomed a baby girl into the world on September 14 - Lillian and mommy are both doing great! Big sister Sophie is excited her little sister is finally here.

Amanda Parks-Bianco departs Alexandria and Junior Friends as she leaves for Oxford, England. We wish her the best of luck and thank her for all her service to The Campagna Center and The Junior Friends.

Cherilyn McCall welcomed a new little boy a few weeks ago. Connor James McCall was born August 18. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 4oz and is 19 inches long. Congrats to the McCall Family!

Courtney Haller Schlieter and husband, Kurt, welcomed Eloise Pearl Schlieter on Monday, July 20. She weighed in at a healthy 9lbs, 5oz and 21 1/2 inches long. She joins big sister, Audrey.

Mai Trihn Joubert and husband, Jacobus, is celebrating with her family the arrival of her second daughter, Estelle Aldyth. She was born July 6, weighing 8 lbs, 11 oz and 20 inches long. Estelle was born at Alexandria Hospital. Big sister Anais is excited for a new friend for life.

Congrats to all the milestones in your lives! If you have news to share, please speak up!

Reach Out and Read Program Needs Volunteers!

The Reach Out and Read program is looking for volunteers to read to children in the waiting room of the Well Child Clinic at the Alexandria Department Of Health (located at 4480 King Street).

Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Well Child Clinic provides routine preventive health services for children birth to the age of five. This is a weekly commitment. However, we can coordinate to best fit a volunteer's busy schedule.

If you would like more information or would like to volunteer, please send your contact information to Emily.Passmore@gmail.com.

General Membership Meeting Tuesday, September 15

Thank you to everyone who attended tonight's new member and general membership meetings! A summary of tonight's discussions will be available soon.

If you aren't a "follower" of this blog, please be sure to sign up now.

Don't forget - the next social event will be Oct. 1 - a happy hour and new member makeup meeting at La Tasca in Old Town on King Street.