Letters from the Chair
May 2011
Greetings from your YLS co-chairs! As our two-year term as your co-chairs draws to a close, we wanted to take time to reflect on some of the successes that YLS has already experienced in 2011. In March, YLS participated as volunteers for the second year in a row for the St. Pats in Five Points Festival with more than 40 YLS members donating 73 hours of their time to raise $1,500 for YLS. From these funds, $500 will be given to the United Way Community Impact Fund to further support the mission of United Way of the Midlands.
The YLS Professional Development committee organized a thought-provoking event in April titled “The Inclusion Illusion,” which provided a forum to have courageous conversations and candidly discuss what diversity means. Led by the Weathers Group and Dr. Moss Blachman, participants were challenged to consider situations where diversity has and has not been achieved and think through possible solutions. Most recently, we held our signature YLS members-only event, Cocktails and Conversations, in partnership with the United Way’s Tocqueville Society. This was our 4th annual C&C event, and more than 65 YLS and Tocqueville members met at the Summit Club for networking and small table discussions about philanthropy, community involvement, and how to improve the Midlands. It was an evening of very inspired conversations.
We are now looking forward to our YLS Annual Meeting planned for Thursday, June 23. All YLS members and potential members are invited to tour the new Transitions center – 1901 Main Street – at 4:30 PM, which has been a major initiative of the Midlands Housing Alliance and United Way to help individuals transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Transitions is a shining example of how United Way works with community partners to make a significant investment and impact in our community. We hope that you will join us on this exclusive tour.
Following the tour, we will have our Annual Meeting at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce – 930 Richland Street – at 6 PM with brews and BBQ provided. During the Annual Meeting, we will introduce the 2011-2012 YLS Steering Committee and executive officers. We are proud to share with you that our Professional Development Chair, John Reeves, has agreed to take the reins and serve as YLS Chair for 2011-2012. John, Area Rental Manager - North West Columbia at Enterprise Holdings, has been a member of YLS for three years. There are also a number of new faces joining John on the Steering Committee this year, and we are confident that these leaders will bring fresh ideas and new energy to continue to grow and strengthen YLS and increase its impact in the community. And, we know that they are already hard at work planning a fantastic summer event to kick-off their new term. Be sure to check out our Facebook page (Keyword: UWYoungLeadersSociety) and follow us on Twitter @YLSMidlands.
We are very proud to have served as your co-chairs over the last two years as the organization has grown to close to 400 members and made some significant achievements in the community, including raising money for United Way. We are confident that YLS will continue building upon this success moving forward. If you have any questions regarding your YLS membership or if would like to become a member, please contact Whitney Sousa at 803.733.5419 or wsousa@uway.org.
Thank you for your support, involvement and all that you do to LIVE UNITED.
Kristie Cross and Emily Brady
Young Leaders Society Co-Chairs
