Junior League of San Jose

I’ve been a member of the Junior League for five years, 3-​years in Seattle and 2-​years in San Jose. So, undoubtably I’m somewhat biased. But I would have to say that this is an amazing organization. Their mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers — and that’s exactly what they do. If you are looking to just spend a few hours a year giving back to the community, the Junior League is NOT for you. All members do spend many hours donating time in the community, but if you read the mission statement carefully, you’ll note that it is three pronged — and JLSJ takes the other two prongs very seriously (promote volunteerism and develop women). Members spend perhaps the bulk of their time in the League learning how to be more effective members in the community.
You’ll learn how to serve on a board, follow parliamentary procedures, nominate leaders, evaluate the merits of non-​profits, lead meetings, balance budgets, take minutes, work with a wide variety of individuals, organize events, market an organization in the community… the list goes on and on. And this is all in ADDITION to the substantial amount of hours you’ll spend volunteering in the community. So yes, sometimes the events do not feel like they are directly impacting San Jose. But it is through these events that members learn the skills needed to become non-​profit board members, PTA presidents, non-​profit founders or just reliable non-​profit members. The League truly is a training ground for tomorrow’s leaders.
On top of that, there is a fabulous social aspect. It’s a very self-​selected group of women who care about making a difference in their communities (in both the short and long term) and are willing to take time out of their busy lives to be impactful. The League is extremely inclusive, but because the mission of the League is so focused, naturally those women who choose to join the League have a lot in common and this contributes to what makes League events so fun and rewarding.
Additionally, joining the League is not a small commitment in any way — there are annual dues and hourly commitments. The annual dues support all of the training activities and community events that take place throughout the year. Members directly benefit from the dues. The hourly commitments insure that members are dedicated to the Leagues mission, and that they are balancing time spent in the community and time spent improving their non-​profit skills.
All in all, I’ve found the Junior League to be extremely rewarding and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to form stronger ties with the San Jose community, meet like-​minded women and develop their non-​profit skills. Look at their website for additional information, such as when Open Houses occur, what membership dues are, etc.

A wonderful organization for women to get leadership training, serve the community, and make friends all while having a great time.

I loved this group for many years.. where else do you get to wear a gold Tiffany’s bra on a stage in front of hundreds of people?
Pros:
You will meet wonderful, dynamic women.
You will have the best volunteer training around.
You’ll have the opportunity to go to countless charity, social, and educational events.
You will meet lifelong friends.
Cons:
This group is a wee bit expensive to participate in. If money is an issue, investigate the costs before joining (or, if, like me, you prefer to donate directly to a charity, think about that too).
Sometimes activities seemed more fluffy than functional. As a former social worker, I thought the fashion show was fun but wasn’t sure how much it truly benefited those in need.
This group tries really hard to be diverse.. but I’m not sure it’s there yet. I’m going to leave it at that. :)
Overall, I’d say this is a wonderful experience if you have the time, energy, and funds to actively participate. Many will say you get out of the League what you put in, and I would agree!
Thanks JLSJ, for 3 great years!

I can’t believe there are no reviews for Junior League of San Jose!!!
I have been a member going on 3 years now and excited about my next year as I will be welcoming the new members into their first year and helping them experience the best of the league!
This is an awesome organization of powerful, influential, dedicated women all working for a great cause to make improvements in their community. Their community program works to help young children enter elementary school ready to learn and thrive. What could be more rewarding than that!
This is also an organization that helps you meet like minded women where you develop friendships that last forever. I can not say enough good things about this organization and hope you check it out!

Love being a part of this organization. Just completed my sixth year volunteering with them.
This organization has been true to it’s word when I first joined in 2002… we train women volunteers.
I have sat on many committees in the League: from fundraising to mentoring other members. I love the variety of opportunities.
Lately, life has been crazy, so I have to make sure I balance work, family and volunteering. This group understands that and at no time have I felt pressure to do more… just give what I can.
I highly recommend looking into Jr. League to make a connection with your community while learning how to volunteer!