New York , NY – April 16, 2012 –he Junior League Movement will celebrate its 111th anniversary in San Francisco when more than 1,000 members from 293 individual Junior Leagues from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the UK come together for the 2012 Annual Conference of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. The event, from April 19-21, is open to all League members and, this year, will be grounded in the theme of “Leadership Reimagined.” Coincidentally, it falls within National Volunteer Week, a perfect way to highlight the work that AJLI’s more than 155,000 volunteer-members do in their communities!

“This year’s theme of ‘Leadership Reimagined’ is a potent one for League members,” said AJLI President-Elect Toni Freeman, a member of the Junior League of Charlotte. “As an international organization of women volunteers, we have stood the test of time for 11 decades. But, like any other major nonprofit organization, our future depends on the quality and strength of the leaders we grow from within our ranks. This meeting, our largest annual event, will focus on doing just that.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the writer, director and producer of the documentary Miss Representation. By focusing on the words of prominent American women as varied as Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem, the film details how women are judged more strongly on their beauty and sexuality over their capacity as leaders. The Oprah Winfrey Network has acquired the broadcast rights to Miss Representation for its documentary film club. Ms. Newsom, a well-known actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including In the Valley of Elah, Something’s Gotta Give, Rent, Life, Mad Men, and The Nanny Express, is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MissRepresentation.org, a call-to-action movement that gives women and girls the tools to realize their full potential.

“Following in the footsteps of our founder, Mary Harriman, The Junior League Movement has served as a model of women volunteers who, together, seek to create lasting civic and community impact on issues that affect women deeply in their everyday lives,” said Delly Beekman, outgoing AJLI President and a member of the Junior League of Monmouth County. “Jennifer Siebel Newsom is a model for what one woman can do to shine a constructive light on an issue that affects all of us as women.”

The AJLI Annual Conference is as much a training event for League leaders as it is a legislative and celebratory event. It is designed to provide each delegate with the tools and inspiration she needs based on her role in her League, with workshops on topics like fund development, leadership training, collaborative decision-making and nonprofit financial management.

AJLI sponsors include Kashi, Lierac, Digital Cheetah, Marsh, EatingWell, and Océ.

About The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer, Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, creating demonstrable community impact.

Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is comprised of more than 155,000 women in 293 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world.

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