Junior League of Portland ME

History 1972-1982

1972-1977 Members 298-271

1972-73 marked our 50th Anniversary year.  In 1973 the Junior League sponsored two free performances by The Children’s Theater in honor of this anniversary.  During the year the Thrift Shop was renovated and renamed the “Thrifty Yankee.”

In February 1974, a workshop on “Developing Life and Career Goals” was presented by Project Discovery.  At the termination of Project Discovery on April 1974, a 2-year project at the Boys’ Training Center (renamed the Maine Youth Center) was initiated.  League volunteers were trained in educational and psychological testing, interviewing, counseling, and remedial reading.  This project has received national recognition by being chosen by the Institute of Government of the University of Georgia, for inclusion in a citizen’s Handbook on the Criminal Justice System.

The 1975-76 Provisional membership class of 44 women was the largest in our history.  It was voted by the membership in February 1975, to change the Administrative Year from April 1- March 31 to June 1- May 31.  In June 1976, the fiscal year was changed to coincide with the Administrative Year.

The Children’s Museum and the Children’s Theater projects, voted into being beginning fall 1976, continued to 1977-78 with a high degree of community support. The Task Force structure, which was experimental for a period of years was adopted a permanent part of our League structure.

In 1977, three highly specialized training opportunities, under the newly created Preferred League Placement category, were offered to the membership: Maine Youth Center Probation and Parole Officers, and Southern Coastal Family Planning Center. We were proud to announce, in the spring of 1977, one of our members, Mrs. W. Scott Carlisle III (A.L.) was elected as an Area I Council Committee members.

1977-1982 Members 271-277

IMPACT Handbook published an article on the Maine Youth Center. The handbook was distributed nationally, to be used as a tool for starting projects.

In 1977-78 the Children’s Theater Project evolved into the Friends of CTM with support derived from grants and fund-raising events.  Over 50 performances were given to 20,000 children this year. In 1978 the Children’s Museum became incorporated with thousands visiting its facility at Ft. Williams, Cape Elizabeth.  A Community Board was formed as well as a Project Committee. 1978-79 saw an 18-hour Skills Development Workshop by Carol Clafin of Development Bank, Inc., Mass. Sheila Holderness conducted a Future Planning and Finance Workshop.  In 1980 the first VCD community course was held.

In 1980 the Children’s Museum Project ended and became the Friends of CM. A booklet was published by Nominating and Placement “Strategies for Your Junior League Career,” a new logo was designed by Mrs. Shirley Leighton, a photocopy machine was purchased for League use, and surveys of our membership were performed to determine the changing needs of our membership.  This year a Community Volunteer Fair hosted 46 agencies and coalition with Westbrook College was formed to co-sponsor a conference in 1981. In 1980-81 the Cookbook Proposal unanimously became a League Project. Carole Hart, Chairman of Area I Council was a guest speaker at a membership meeting, and Meg Graham, President of the Association of Junior Leagues, was the guest speaker at our Annual Meeting.  Volunteer Career Development became more established in the community by offering courses at Canal Bank, Westbrook College, and the YWCA.  The Women’s Conference sponsored by the Junior League and Westbrook College was a great success. Deborah Hammond served as a member of Area I Council 1980-1981.

In 1981-82 the Junior League of Portland celebrated its 60th anniversary of participation in the community.  Marion Payson, first president of the Junior League of Portland, received the first Marion Brown Payson Sustainer Award in recognition of her outstanding volunteer service to the Junior League and to the community.  The League funded and designed a brochure for the Alliance for the Mentally Ill’s Amity Center.  The Advisory Planning Committee devised a relevant long-range plan for our League.  This year was a landmark year for the Cookbook Committee, as they published RSVP, to provide a strong base for financial support for League projects.