Photo: Lissa Dohl
Lissa is an enthusiastic, smart, creative and talented women. She joined the JLM in 2007 as a New Member, and her first placement was on the Adopt-A-Grandparent Committee in 2008. This past year, she was the Asst. Chair of the Communications Committee and it has truly been a pleasure for me to work alongside of Lissa. She spearheaded many online initiatives this year including creating an survey to gauge membership engagement with the webite and social media. She took on numerous responsibilities including posting content to the JLM Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn pages, and diligently assisted in editing the JLM weekly email. She took on unfamiliar projects such as revamping the JLM website homepage with confidence and determination. Through her actions, she demonstrated true leadership qualities as well as her commitment to volantarism. I am sure that Lissa will continue to flourish next year in her position as Online Chair of the Communications Committee. Lissa lives in Morristown with her husband and 1 year old son Johannes. Originally from California, Lissa holds a BA in Art History from UCLA and a MA in Culture and Communications: Media from NYU.
Photo: Susan Santomassimo
Susan is a dedicated, truly wonderful league member who is fun, driven, and very smart. This year Susan was the co chair of the Community Projects Committee. She spent endless hours researching community issues, writing excellent communications, and strategizing on how best to present and engage membership in the selection of a new community project. Whenever I send Susan communications or work to review, she almost immediately sends excellent feedback in return. This year she overcame many obstacles with grace and determination and kept the spirit of her committee high. She is a great role model for volunteers in our league, and will make a huge contribution to our leadership team. She is a pleasure to work with and I hope to get another opportunity to work with her closely again. Susan lives in Morris Twp with her husband, and two adorable children, Avery and Addison. She is Senior Vice President of Health Star Public Relations. She is an inspiration in how she juggles work, family, and volunteer time.
In this photo: Sophie and Missy Tannen
Missy was the Co-Chair of the Community Projects Committee (CPC) this year. Missy is a hard working, compassionate, easy going, and smart woman. She is a great manager of her committee and ensures that all the necessary work gets down in a timely and professional manner. She spearheaded many of the summer meetings that kicked off the process as well as co-managed all committee meetings during the year. She attended both the CPC events at Creative Heartworks and Interfaith Food Pantry. She created, purchased all the supplies, and took the lead in facilitating the Interfaith Food Pantry event. When you see Missy volunteering with the children at Interfaith Food Pantry you see someone who was meant to volunteer. The children were very responsive to her caring and nurturing style. We are very fortunate to have Missy in the JLM. She is a role model to other volunteers. Missy lives in Madison with her husband Scott and is a stay at home mom of Sophie (6 years old) and Brooke and Hailey (3 year old twins). She is a former school teacher.
In this photo: Meghan Perrin, Sandi Price
This placement award recipient has been described by her peers as "endless energy", "a clear communicator", "always has the League foremost in her actions", "extremely focused" and "motivated." Her dedication to finding easier, more accommodating ways to run the Nearly New Shop are endless. The fact that she is willing to co-chair this committee next year not only shows her commitment to serving the League, but more importantly, our community. I am of course describing Sandi Price. Her kind, caring demeanor make her a wonderful asset to our League and someone we can all be proud of. Sandi lives in Morristown with her husband Blair and her two children, Caroline and Grant.
JLM Sustaining Star Award 2009-10 presented to Suzy Whitehorn In this photo: Janet Bronocco, Suzy Whitehorn
The Sustaining Star Award 2009-10 was presented to Suzy Whitehorn by Janet Bronocco, JLM Past President 2001-02 on behalf of the Junior League of Morristown at the JLM Annual Dinner on May 26, 2010 at the Hamilton Park Hotel in Florham Park. Below are Janet's remarks.
"The Sustaining Star award was established in 1986 to celebrate the Junior League of Morristown’s 50th Anniversary. The award recognizes a Sustainer who has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of the trained volunteer through her continued leadership in the community. The selection of the recipient is made by the Past Presidents of The Junior League of Morristown. I am honored to present this year's Sustaining Star award to Suzy Whitehorn.
I have known Suzy for the past 18 years. I met Suzy in 1992 when I was a JLM New Member. I had just moved to NJ from San Antonio and I was looking forward to meeting new people so I joined the Junior League. At that time, Suzy was a New Member Advisor and I was placed in Suzy’s advisory group. She was so friendly and welcoming, and made it easy for me and the other New Member’s feel right at home. In fact, many of us from this New Member group remain good friends to this day. Suzy not only welcomed me to JLM, but helped me get to know the area as well. We have been good friends ever since!
I would like to tell you more about this remarkable woman. Suzy grew up in Madison. She is a graduate of the Kent Place School in Summit, and Lafayette College in Easton, PA. Upon graduating college, Suzy entered the Howard Savings Bank Training program. She then worked in the publishing industry for Harper & Row, where she worked on computer documentation and tracking. She later became an Independent Computer Consultant Contractor, working in Human Resources for AT&T and Lucent. She continued her consulting work for several years while was starting her family.
She married Stephen Whitehorn in 1991. They lived in Chatham for several years, and then bought their dream house in Madison-- a block away from the house she grew up in. Suzy & Steve enjoyed renovating their home during one of the coldest winters in NJ history. Built in 1905 and believed to have ties to the Dodge Family, the home is now, thankfully, weather-tight! Suzy and her husband also own commercial property in Madison, and much of Suzy’s volunteer work is tied to the Madison Community. Both she and Steve are actively involved in The Downtown Development Committee. Suzy was awarded the “Leading the Way” Award in 2009 from the Madison Downtown Development Committee for her work on the May Day Committee, where she has been a Co-Chair for several years. For the past 7 years, Suzy has also been a Trustee for the Friends of Madison Shade Tree Committee. In her spare time, Suzy volunteers on behalf of a group of elderly Madison residents, running errands for them or taking them to the grocery store. Suzy and her family are such an integral part of the Madison Community that pictures of them are often found on the front page of The Madison Eagle doing what they do best--- volunteering around town.
Suzy has three beautiful daughters -- Erin, who is 14, Leigh who is 12 and Katie, 4. She is very active in their lives as well. At the Torey J. Sabatini Elementary School, she has served as PTO Vice President for 2 years, and the PTO President for 2 years. She has also helped organize the school’s Devil’s Ice Hockey annual fundraiser, and continued to run the event this year even though she no longer had children at that school!
Suzy has also been a Girl Scout Leader, and is currently coaching her daughter, Leigh’s, softball team.
Suzy is the incoming President of the Kent Place Alumnae Association. As President, she will also sit on the Parent Association Board, as well as on the Board of Trustees. Her daughter Erin will enter Kent Place this fall, as a freshman.
Suzy is currently serving as Secretary of the Stanley Congregational Nursery School Board. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Parents and Professionals for Exceptional Children. This organization is a Parent Advocacy group for those with special-needs children. Among the services this organization provides its membership is quarterly seminars which address various special education topics. The group also has a program called AMAZE, which helps special-needs children with reading and writing.
Now let me tell you about Suzy’s lengthy JLM career. Suzy has been a member of The Junior League of Morristown for 23 years, following in the footsteps of her mother, Janet Shearer Johnson. Suzy joined JLM in 1987 and she has held many positions over the years. Just to highlight a few... She has been a New Member Advisor, on the Computer Committee, a member of the Recruitment and Retention Committee, and DIAD Co-Chair. She regularly attends JLM functions. In fact, last year she was one of the hosts of the “Recession Progression” Cocktail Party. Suzy is one of those volunteers that just does what needs to be done without being told. She has quietly helped so many women in the JLM over the years. You can always count on her to get the job done.
So...Suzy, on behalf of The Junior League Morristown, we thank you for your commitment to the community. We are proud to have you as a member of JLM. I am honored to present the Sustaining Star Award to you this evening. Congratulations!"
