Introducing our New Member Spotlight, Andrea Klockow

We're so happy to feature this outstanding New Member as part of our Member Spotlight Series! The New Member Spotlight is the second spotlight in our Member Spotlight Series. 

Andrea Klockow was nominated and selected as JLGNF's New Member Spotlight based on her volunteerism, enthusiasm and dedication to JLGNF and our Strong Girls, Bright Futures community impact focus. 

"Andrea is a shining star!  From the application process to today, she has put her whole heart into becoming a New Member!  She is very so thoughtful of others, engaged in the New Member program and is committed to the mission of our League!"  - Penny Sibley, 2015-2016 New Member Development Chair

About Andrea:

Current Placement:  JLU

Other volunteer organization involvement?  Memory Walk Committee Member for the Alzheimer's Association in Polk County, FL

Currently resides in?  Roswell, GA (moved from FL in May 2014)

JLGNF Member Since: September 2015

Current Profession:  Human Resources for FIS (Fidelity Information Services).  

Tell us about your family:  I am the only one in my family who was not born in Wisconsin, thus I have Packer and Badger football in my blood!  :)  My Mom and Dad live in the mountains of Blairsville where I love to spend time relaxing.  I have two daughters, well 4-legged daughters, who are basically my life!

Why did you join JLGNF?  I mainly wanted to get to know more people in my community as well as help out my local community.

What is your greatest life accomplishment (personally or professionally)?  I packed up everything I knew from Florida and moved to GA without looking back once!

What is your favorite activity or hobby?  Basically anything outdoors that involves being outside. I enjoy taking my dogs to the dog park, taking walks on the local trails, riding around in the warmer months with the top off of my jeep in the mountains. 

What about “Strong Girls, Bright Futures” resonates with you?  I was always the overweight kid that always got picked last when playing games in gym class.  I was always made fun of as a young girl so I know how hard it is for younger girls these days.  Even more so now than 20 years ago.  

What’s your favorite part of JLGNF?  Networking with like-minded women and meeting new friends

Tell us something unique about you:  I have a knack for renovating antique furniture.  I use power tools!  :)

Introducing our Active Member Spotlight, Rachael Gibbs!

We're so happy to kickoff our Member Spotlight Series! Throughout the 2015-2016 League year, we will profile specific Members who are kicking butt and taking names – those who exemplify the very best of the Junior League of Gwinnett & North Fulton Counties and our Strong Girls, Bright Futures community impact focus.  

Our first Spotlight features Active Member, Rachael Gibbs.

"I'm thrilled that Rachael is being recognized! She has brought so much to JLGNF with her dedication to serve, enthusiasm for our mission and positive attitude!" - Molly Stone, 2015-2016 V.P. of Finance

About Rachael:

Current League Placement: Casino Royale 

Past League Placements: High Heels & High Times

Other volunteer organization involvement? GASPCA 

Currently resides in: Dacula, GA 

JLGNF Member since: Fall 2014

Current profession: Preschool/Daycare Owner

Tell us about your family: I have a husband (Derreck), two daughters (Kristen & Madelyn), and two dogs (Charlie & Oliver) 

Why did you join JLGNF? To meet like-mind, strong women that I can work closely with to make a difference in our community

What is your greatest life accomplishment? My family 

What is your favorite activity or hobby? Vacationing with my kids 

What about our community focus “Strong Girls, Bright Futures” resonates with you? The more girls who realize at a young age that they are strong, smart, and awesome, the brighter their futures will be. I know that women (including myself) could have benefited from having more self esteem and more activities geared toward building a brighter future for girls when we were younger. 

What’s your favorite part of JLGNF? Bonding while we work and give back!

A Transfer's Experience

I left a magical place, Verona, NJ, nestled in Essex County, only 30 minutes from New York City. Verona was a place of happiness, safety and a beautiful county park. The teachers at school are all married to the local policemen. The elementary school consisted of only two classes per grade and no buses. I walked my kids to school and everyone showed proper thanks to our crossing guards at holidays and year-end. Magic, I tell you.

In Verona, I was an active member of the Junior League of Montclair Newark (JLMN). That League's mission was (and is still) Children at Risk. I joined JLMN because a number of my friends were already members. I also felt it was an organized and social way that I could give back because I have been blessed with three perfect, healthy children and there isn't much more to life than that.

In 2013, my family decided to seek employment in/around metro Atlanta. While I loved almost everything about Verona, the insane property costs, snowy weather (my nemesis), parking issues, and the fact that you can't do u turns in NJ got to me. While most folks relocating to a new area look at schools and real estate, I immediately checked out the local Junior Leagues.

My research led me to learn that the Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties would be the geographically logical League to join. I reached out via the proper channel. That led me to Renee Adams, my transfer chair. 

Not everyone will have Renee as a Transfer Chair. We realized we were both Keller Williams agents and our children attended the same preschool. Later we discovered we both gave a son the middle name of James, we are both December babies, and left-handed. Our friendship turned into magic.

But it didn't stop there. While not all JLGNF members and I lead parallel lives, everyone I met made me feel as if I had known them forever. Everyone I met was sweet, smart and sincere. I immediately loved everyone. I felt closer to these women after the first General Membership Meeting (GMM) than after a year in my other League. The acceptance was immediate, both administratively and emotionally. The Board was quick to "process" me, and everyone else was quick to make me feel like I belonged without having to be sponsored or invited. I was able to begin this transition into my new world immediately.

This all-inclusive, open-armed League is the perfect fit for me right now. I would not have wanted to wait to become established in order to join the JLGNF. I am thankful that they allowed me (and other transfers) to join first and establish later.

When my friends in NJ ask me how I like Georgia, without missing a beat, I tell them it's magical.

-- Melissa Boozikee, Active Member; Attic Sale Co-Chair

Never had I ever thought I could have such influence on another person

I always seemed to be one step ahead of my college friends and one step behind friends who were having babies. My friends who lived in town made friends with other young people who lived in town. My friends with babies made friends with other people with babies. I was stuck in the “in-between” with no place to meet anyone who seemed to be where I was in life.

And so when I joined JLGNF in the fall of 2013 my main goal was to find one or two friends with whom I had something in common and were in similar places as me in their lives. But in all honesty, I expected to get very little out of the experience.  Little did I know, JLGNF would offer so much more!

“Make new friends, but keep the old… one is silver and the other gold….. “

“Make new friends, but keep the old… one is silver and the other gold….. “, “To help people at all times” and “to make the world a better place” – These were some key messages I was taught in my younger years and also what I encourage my two daughters to do.  Then I realized, I’m not doing what I’m asking my daughters to do….other than through their associations (Girl Scouts, Beta Club, Chorus, their friends’ parents, etc., etc. etc.).  It was time to do something on my own! 

Why I joined the Junior League...

Allison Fillman
2014 JLGNF Marketing Chair

Moving from New York City to John’s Creek, GA was a HUGE change for me! Not only was I recently married, buying my first home and starting a new job, I did not have many friends (or any family) in the greater Atlanta area.

I had a very basic understanding of The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. I had friends that were in different chapters (New York City, Montclair, NJ, etc.). My original perception of Junior League was that it was for stay-at-home moms who baked pies and wore pearls and heels (which was NOT me)! So, I never joined.

Renee Adams and Allison Fillman

After moving to John’s Creek, I wanted to get involved in my new community, meet new friends and learn more about my town. My friends (in other AJLI chapters) encouraged me to seek out the local Junior League chapter. This is how I found The Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties. 

Quick Dinner recipe from JLGNF's "At Your Service" Cookbook

Rushing around the house, getting your kids to soccer practice and trying to prepare a healthy meal for your family can be quite a challenge. The JLGNF’s “At Your Service” Cookbook can help you and your family by offering delicious, quick and easy recipes that you can prepare ahead of time or on the same day. The Chicken Tetrazzini recipe on p.98 proved to a great recipe that our family will enjoy over and over again. I even used a store bought rotisserie chicken to speed up my time in the kitchen which is great way to incorporate flavor without compromising taste or quality.

Delicious Breakfast Treat from JLGNF's "At Your Service" Cookbook

Back to school means back to rushed morning routines for many of us. So why not slow down this weekend and enjoy a delicious and decadent breakfast treat?  Pain Perdu from At Your Service (p 46 ) is a simple and quick recipe that provides a tasty beginning to your day.

Pain perdu or "lost bread" in French, is a great way to reclaim stale or "lost" bread. The hard bread is softened by dipping in a mixture of egg, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. The slices cut on a bias are pan-fried in butter and traditionally dusted with powdered sugar and served with jam or syrup on the side.

And my mother used to ask me why I spend my free time tied up with the Junior League….

 

Ashley Shoemaker
VP, Membership

I was excited when my friend Anne Marie moved to the Suwanee area, just down the road from me.  Most of my girlfriends from college were married and busy with their own lives.  I on the other hand, was dating a great guy, but found myself in a bit of a lull in my personal and professional life.  I had recently left my job as a staff nurse in the NICU at Northside Hospital.  I was tired of working 12 hour night shifts and I was ready to try my hand at a normal nine to five job like the rest of the world.  I landed a great (or what I thought was a great) gig working as a NICU Case Manager for a national insurance company.  The best part about it was that I was going to get to work from home…in my pajamas, drinking coffee, and watching Days of our Lives everyday.  What could be better?