Fall Conference - September 7-9, 2007 - St. Petersburg

"Connected by Hope" - Welcome Reception - Friday, September 7

Mrs. Donna Nagelsen's Home

Vicki Lukis (Palm Beaches); Jill Ecklund (Palm Beaches); Pamela Kincaid (Jacksonville); Esther LeBovick (President-Elect, Palm Beaches); Jamiee Peirce (Palm Beaches); Melissa Fritsch (Palm Beaches). [70]	Beth Patterson (Palm Beaches); Noemi Coltea (Palm Beaches); Jack Levine (Advocacy Resources); [71]
Julia Irvin (South Brevard); Noemi Coltea (Palm Beaches); [72]	Brent and Susan McLean, Frank Scarritt, Dahlgren Scarritt, and Langston Holland. [73]
Ginger Reichl, Ann Vickstrom (President, St. Petersburg); Kirsten Stephenson (Ft. Lauderdale); Mr. Dan Vickstrom; [74]	Noemi Coltea (Palm Beaches); Karen Gaumer (Clearwater-Dunedin); Jenay Iurato (Tampa). [75]
[3197]	Mary Jo Monahan, Executive Director Family Service Centers, Inc. [3202]
Ann Vickstrom (President, St. Petersburg) gives the opening remarks. [77]	A beautiful evening! [78]
Approximately 120 people attended the reception. [79]	SPAC Chair Melissa Fritsch (Palm Beaches) [81]
Elise Minkoff, Michelle Todd (Gov. Crist's representative), and Mary Jo Monahan. [3204]	Esther LeBrovick, Beth Patterson, and Noemi Coltea, all of Palm Beaches. [3206]
Ann Vickstrom. [3207]	Laura Donaldson and Ann Vickstrom. [3208]
Ann Vickstrom and Becker Holland. [3209]	Mary Wyatt Allen and Melissa Fritsch. [3210]
Becker Holland, Donna Nagelsen, Ann Vickstrom, Michelle Todd, and Melissa Fritsch. [3213]	Ann Vickstrom and Melissa Fritsch with Becker Holland (Past President, Gainesville) and her mother, our gracious hostess, Mrs. Donna Nagelsen. [82]
Elise Minkoff (Immediate Past President, St. Petersburg) with Dr. (USF). Elise recently earned a spot on Leadership Florida. Congratulations, Elise!! [83]

Saturday, September 8

Renaissance Vinoy Resort

Strategic Planning - Facilitated by Jack Levine

Founder of 4Generations Institute & President of Advocacy Resources

Jack describes an effective bridge of communications between non-profit organizations and decision makers such as legislators and philanthropists. The stantions are labeled 'Data', 'Solutions',  and X. [84]

The Media and Public Affairs

Tim Nickens, Deputy Editorial Editor, St. Petersburg Times

Jodi Pushkin, Newspapers in Education, St. Petersburg Times

Elise with Jack and Tim Nickens of the St. Petersburg Times. Elise describes the powerful relationship that the Junior League of St. Petersburg has developed with the Times. [91]	Carol Bryant (Tallahassee). [93]
Meg Korakis (Tampa) [94]	Tim Nickens and Jodi Pushkin of the St. Petersburg Times. Tim talked about how to address a newspaper's editorial board to try to persuade them to take a stand on your issue and publish it. Jodi describes how to partner with a newspaper to publish educational materials for distribution in schools. [95]
Amy Brand (Boca Raton) with Melissa Fritsch (Palm Beaches). [96]

Lunch and Afternoon Session

Salvador Dali Museum

 

Ann Vickstrom with Mary Jo Monahan, Executive Director Family Service Centers, Inc. [97]	D. Gay Lancaster, Executive Director, Juvenile Welfare Board [98]
Legislative panel. [99]	Christina Rahija (St. Petersburg) and Rep. Rick Kriseman (D), District 53. [100]
Junior Leaguers having a round table discussion with Rep. Kriseman: (President-Elect, Gainesville); Karen Gaumer (Clearwater-Dunedin); Kim Jackson (St. Petersburg); Christina Rahija (St. Petersburg). [101]	Rep. Kriseman checks his notes while talking with Charlotte Mather (Ft. Lauderdale) and Shelly Berry (President-Elect, Central & North Brevard). [102]
Rep. Bill Heller (D) District 52 with Meg Korakis (Tampa) and Beth Patterson (Palm Beaches). [103]	Kellie Mejia (Boca Raton), Rep. Peter Nehr (R) District 48, and Amy Brand (Boca Raton). [104]
Melissa Fritsch talks with Rep. Janet Long (D) District 51. [105]	Rep. Ed Hooper (R) District 50 with Carol Bryant (Tallahassee) and Holly Vreeland Parrish (Greater Lakeland).[106]
Diane Zambito, Executive Director for Connected by 25, a program for young adults who have aged out of foster care in Hillsborough County. The program is also being started in South Brevard, and Clearwater-Dunedin. [107]	A participant and a staff person for Connected by 25 in Hillsborough. [108]
Melissa Fritsch and Ann Vickstrom with the representatives. [109]	Diane Zambito discusses how Connected by 25 came to be. [110]
Diane Weiss, Co-Executive Director, Forty Carrots Family Center in Sarasota. [111]	Ms. Weiss describes Forty Carrots' innovative parenting education and child abuse prevention programs and outreach. [112]

Happy Hour at the Vinoy

Vicki Lopez Lukis (Palm Beaches) with husband Sylvester. [113]	Vicki Lukis, Berry, Sylvester Lukis, Melissa Fritsch, and Jill Ecklund[114]
Laura Donaldson (Tampa) with husband Chris. Laura is a past SPAC Chair. [115]	Esther LeBovick(President-Elect, Palm Beaches) and Donna Waters (Pensacola). [116]

Croatian Naive Art Gallery

Wine and Cheese Reception

Ann Vickstrom with gallery owners Jim and Donna Nannen. [117]	Ann Vickstrom and husband Dan. [125]
Jim and Donna described the discovery of these wonderful reverse oil on glass paintings by untrained artists in Croatia. Theirs is the only collection of Croatian Naive in the Western Hemisphere. [128]	Carol Bryant (Tallahassee) and her fiance Doug Martin. The wedding is October 6. Congratulations Carol and Doug! [129]
	http://www.CroatianNaiveArt.com
Junior League of St. Petersburg members Lisa Johni, Jenn Maxwell (President-Elect), and Janette McCurley. [130]

Renaissance Vinoy Resort

Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Rep. Rich Glorioso (R) District 62 with Laura Donaldson (Past SPAC Chair, Tampa) and baby Isabella, our newest SPAC member![131]	Diane Kimes (Martin County); Carole Ezell (Ft. Myers); Jeanne Dozier (Ft. Myers); Donna Waters (Pensacola); Shelly Berry (President-Elect, Central & North Brevard).[132]
Becker Holland (Past President, Gainesville) and Shelly Berry (President-Elect, Central & North Brevard). [133]	Pamela Kincaid (Jacksonville); Jessica Bohan (Daytona Beach). [134]
Jenay Iurato (Tampa) with husband Kevin, and Karen Persis (Orlando) with a friend. [135]	Noemi Coltea (Palm Beaches), Kirsten Stephenson (Ft. Lauderdale), Dorothy MacDiarmid (Past President, Boca Raton), and Esther LeBovick (President-Elect, Palm Beaches). [136]
SPAC Chair Melissa Fritsch presents Rep. Glorioso with the Legislator of the Year award. Rep. Glorioso dedicates one of his six bill slots each year to improving foster care. [137]	The Hon. Judge Irene Sullivan discusses how child abuse affects brain development. Judge Sullivan presides over the Unified Family Court in Pinellas County, handling delinquency and dependency cases. [138]
Michelle Jameson, head of Girl's Mission Possible program. The program works closely with Judge Sullivan. [139]	The Hon. Judge Irene Sullivan and Michelle Jameson. [140]
Elise Minkoff (Immediate Past President, St. Petersburg), Ann Vickstrom (President, St. Petersburg), and Mary Wyatt Allen (St. Petersburg). Mary was last year's Berta Blecke Award winner for her extensive advocacy work. [141]

Renaissance Vinoy Resort - Sunday, September 9

SPAC Business Meeting

 

SPAC Chair Melissa Fritsch (Palm Beaches) reads the letting nominating Dorothy MacDiarmid (Past President, Boca Raton) for SPAC Chair-Elect. Dorothy will become SPAC Chair May 1, 2008. Congratulations (and thank you!), Dorothy! [142]	Amy Brand (Boca Raton) and Kellie Mejia (Boca Raton). Kellie is interested in early childhood development policies and programs. [143]
Sara Evans (Clearwater-Dunedin) and Donna Waters (Pensacola). [145]	Jill Ecklund (Palm Beaches). [146]
Melissa Fritsch facilitating the discussion on this year's action plan...the top 3 legislative priorities will be aggressively advocated for...the remainder of the top 10 issues will be tracked and researched. [147]	Julia Irvin (Past President, South Brevard; Past SPAC Chair). "If you need a license to drive a car, why don't you need a license to have a child?" [148]
Action plan...[150]	More action plan...[151]
Jessica Bohan (Daytona Beach); Pamela Kincaid (Jacksonville); Shelly Berry (President-Elect, Central & North Brevard). [152]	Holly Vreeland Parrish (Greater Lakeland); Jessica Bohan (Daytona Beach); Pamela Kincaid (Jacksonville). [153]
Becker Holland (Gainesville); Jaimee Peirce (Palm Beaches); Noemi Coltea (Palm Beaches); Beth Patterson (Palm Beaches). [154]	Sara Evans (Clearwater-Dunedin); Donna Waters (Pensacola); Karen Persis (Orlando). [155]
Kristin Calder (President, Boca Raton), Dorothy MacDiarmid (SPAC Chair-Elect, Past President of Boca Raton), Margaret Sisek (Sarasota), Amy Brand (Boca Raton), Kellie Mejia (Boca Raton). [156]	Diane Kimes (Martin County); Jeanne Dozier (Ft. Myers); Carole Ezell (Ft. Myers). [157]

July Taskforce, Orlando

SPAC Chair Melissa Fritsch with guest speaker Summer J. Pfeiffer, Director of Governmental Relations for Children's Home Society.	Jill Ecklund and Vicki Lukis (Palm Beaches). Jill is the Asst. Statewide Expansion Director and Vicki is the Statewide Director for the Girls Advocacy Program (GAP).
Children and Families Taskforce participants Kirsten Stephenson (Ft. Lauderdale), Ann Vickstrom (President of the JL St. Petersburg), Carol Bryant (Tallahassee) and Julia Irvin (South Brevard).	SPAC Secretary-Treasurer Amy Brand (Boca Raton) and Health, Environment, and Criminal Justic Taskforce Chair Becker Holland (Gainesville).
Jenay Iurato (Tampa) with SPAC Legislative Analyst Carol Bryant (Tallahassee).	Jaimee Peirce and Noemi Coltea (both of Palm Beaches) with Karen Gaumer (Clearwater-Dunedin).
The Palm Beaches contingent (minus Melissa Fritsch).	Margaret Sisek (Sarasota) with Kirsten Stephenson.
Vicki Lukis gave a great presentation on how to lead a constructive debate in your league when discussing controversial issues.	Charlotte Mather and Kirsten Stephenson of Ft. Lauderdale.

June Taskforce, Tampa

Lunch is served!	Cindy Terry (Orlando) with Charlotte Mather (Ft. Lauderdale).
Karen Gaumer (Clearwater-Dunedin) with Becker Holland (Gainesville).	Health, Environment, and Criminal Justice Taskforce participants Amy Brand (Boca Raton), Taskforce Chair Becker Holland (Gainesville), and Jaimee Peirce (Palm Beaches).
SPAC Chair Melissa Fritsch with Vicki Lukis (both of the Palm Beaches).	Jennifer Lima-Smith (Tampa) with Melissa Fritsch.
Charlotte Mather (Ft. Lauderdale), Donna Waters (Pensacola), Carol Bryant (Tallahassee), and Cindy Terry (Orlando).	Laura Jacobs Donaldson and Jenay Iurato (both of Tampa) and Karen Gaumer (Clearwater-Dunedin).
Meg Korakis (Tampa).	Jennifer Lima Smith and Jenay Iurato (both of Tampa).
Donna Waters (Pensacola) and Laura Jacobs Donaldson (Tampa).	Jaimee Peirce (Palm Beaches) and Cindy Terry (Orlando).
Carol Bryant (Tallahassee), Melissa Fritsch (Palm Beaches), and Amy Brand (Boca Raton).	The group with the Honorable Herbert J. Baumann, Jr., dependency court judge with the 13th Judicial Circuit.