JASAN Newsletter January 2024

January 2024 Issue

From the Chair....

While it is nearly February, we still want to wish you the happiest – and hopefully healthiest – 2024. It seems that most of us are living in places that have experienced ridiculous cold, snow, rain (or a combination of all!) during the past couple of weeks. I know it’s been record-setting in Dallas!

2024 brings great opportunities for JASAN – and for JA! We will be celebrating Jack Kosakowski’s 50 years of professional service to JA – and his retirement at our annual meeting in Kansas City, in July. We will also welcome Jack Harris to his new role as the CEO of JAUSA.

We hope you’ll mark the dates – July 17-18 in Kansas City. The conference hotel is the Westin City Center, and the conference hotel rate is $203 plus all the taxes.

For the first time, we have an opportunity for you to apply for a subsidy for the conference.

Lucy O’Donnell and her Staff Recognition and Development Committee have worked hard to

develop this plan and invite every member of JASAN interested in attending the conference to

apply for a subsidy. We will have limited funds for this (of course) and will notify recipients by

April 15.

We're having a little challenge with LinkedIn - you know - things work until they don't...So, we're bringing back the old LinkedIn Group! We're working on several ideas for updated LinkedIn opportunities and will keep you posted. In the meantime, make sure you're connected (or reconnected) to this group.

Read on for news on other happenings within JASAN!

Linda Schoelkopf

Chair, JASAN

lschoelkopf@hotmail.com

Where's the money?

The JASAN Annual Fund Campaign has launched and as of late, we are currently at 28% of our goal. Many thanks to those members who have made their contribution, including 100% of the Executive Committee. It is very much appreciated as we continue to expand our program of work.

You may have noticed that starting Thursday, January 18th, we started recognizing a couple of our donors on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

This year we are fortunate to have an anonymous donor pledge of $2,000 to match contributions

for those who have never donated to JASAN! To help us earn this amazing match, please visit

our website at https://jastaffalumninetwork.org and click the DONATE NOW link to make a

contribution.

Thank you in advance for your support. Your gift now will make our 2024-25 year an amazing

one! JASAN sustains JA’s Mission through the foundation we laid by our collective success.

Happy 2024!

JASAN Membership Update

Let's Grow!!

Please welcome our newest members!

Tracy Birney

Tracy started working for JA of Delaware in November 1989 and retired in February of 2023. She began her career supporting the JA Company programs. Her ongoing positions were mostly financial and administrative, and she was a major supporter in the building of JA Delaware's dual JA BizTown and JA Finance Park facility.

Retirement came a little bit earlier than originally planned and Tracy is now devoting her time to taking care of her aging mother who has Parkinson’s disease.

As a new member of JASAN, Tracy would like to remain connected and continue to support the JA mission.

Jennifer Connolly

Jennifer worked for JA of Maine as their Program Manager from 1999-2003. While there, she expanded the JA Advisory Councils. Then she went on to JA of Western Massachusetts as their Development Director from 2003 to 2006 when she was promoted to President and served from 2006 to 2023.

During her tenure in Springfield, Jennifer and her team undertook many projects with great success. Some of that success included achieving the Phoenix Award and the Five Star Awards. She also increased grant funding from $30,000 to $150-$200,000 annually, created the Career, Leadership & Innovation Center in 2023, instituted the JA Stock Market Competition, instituted the JA EnTEENpreneur Challenge - Teen Pitch Competition, increased participation in the JA Company Program, created an internship with the Springfield Thunderbirds (an AHL team), implemented JA Inspire Virtual 2022, and Implemented 18 Under 18 in 2022. So many awesome projects over the years!

Oh…did we mention she was a JA student too?! Jennifer is now retired from JA and starting a consulting business offering grant writing, career development, business planning, and resume writing. She looks forward to spending time with family, learning to crochet, and spending time doing arts and crafts.