Seven Questions with: Tatiana Hladky

• Years in League: Became new member in 2014-15
• Hometown: San Francisco

1. Why did you join the Junior League of Tucson? I wanted to join the Junior League ever since we moved to Tucson and started going to Junior League Rummage sales in the 1990s.  I thought that this group of women did great things for the community.  These women are go-getters and doers.  I didn’t join until my friend, Junior Leaguer; Anita McGuire encouraged me to join.
2. What has been your favorite placement in the League and why? So far I love the Done in a Day placement because you get to go to different non-profits and do a variety of tasks.  Done in a Day makes me feel good because I know I am helping in the community.
3. If you could volunteer with someone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you want to with them? Eleanor Roosevelt, hands-down.  She was a passionate advocate for the rights of women, racial and ethnic minorities, and the poor. I would have liked to have gone with Eleanor to teach classes for the poor who lived in tenement houses as well as investigate the horrible working conditions many young women experienced. Her work with poor and needy families taught me a great deal about the hardships many Americans faced in the turn of the previous century.   Many of these problems are still going on today.
4.  What skill have you learned in the League that you can use in your personal or professional life? Volunteer management through my role in the DIAD committee.  It is good to have expectations of everybody and have them fulfill their responsibilities within the organization.  Also Junior League offers a great way to network with other organizations in our community.
5. Do you engage in other community involvement in Tucson? I regularly volunteer in congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.  I have also tutored elementary school children at the public library.
6. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? Knowledge of what this community needs and I want to make Tucson a great place to live.
7. Three words that describe the Junior League of Tucson? Awesome, Caring, and Energetic.

Seven Questions with: Julie Charters

• Years in League: This is my 1st active year.
• Hometown: I moved around so much growing up but I like to claim Longmont, Colorado.

1. Why did you join the Junior League of Tucson?  I wanted to volunteer and make a difference in my community.  I’ve always heard wonderful things about Junior League and I believe women, in particular, have the power to make great things happen!  
2. What has been your favorite placement in the League and why? Well, DIAD is my only placement so far but it’s where my heart is for sure.  I have loved this year and I’m really looking forward to chairing the committee next year.
3. If you could volunteer with someone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you want to with them? Hmmm, maybe Bill Gates.  His foundation does a lot of good.  I think he seems to truly care about his initiatives on global health issues.  Plus it would be cool to do some actual volunteer work and then hand them a giant check too!!  Even though it’s on a smaller scale, I love when we do that with JLT.
4. What skill have you learned in the League that you can use in your personal or professional life?  The importance of setting a real agenda to hold an effective and timely meeting.  If your meetings are effective, then there’s room for fun and socializing too, which is totally necessary!!
5. Do you engage in other community involvement in Tucson? My life outside of JLT is basically just my family and kids so I’m involved in their school and sports teams, including the Board of Oro Valley Lacrosse.
6. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? Sorry if this is cliche or dorky, but honestly, I don’t really hope to gain anything.  I just want to be a good person and give back to others by being involved in an organization that makes a real difference in people’s lives in many different ways.  I like that JLT provides me with an opportunity to engage with women, be a friend, and help people in Tucson who really need it.
7. Three words that describe the Junior League of Tucson? Effective, enjoyable & uplifting.

Seven Questions with: Paola Becerril

• Years in League: 2 active years
• Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico

1. Why did you join the Junior League of Tucson? To meet amazing women that would share my interest in volunteering and improving the community while having fun doing it.
2. What has been your favorite placement in the league & why? I have been on the Communications committee both years, which has been awesome! Being the Chair this year has kept me busy and I love it. Plus it gives me a legitimate excuse to be on Facebook more than anyone ever should…
3. If you could volunteer with someone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you want to do with them? I would want to go on the Extreme House Makeover show and build an awesome house with Kate Middleton and her entire Royal Family (prince Harry too) for a very deserving family. Yup, final answer.
4. What skill have you learned in the league that you can use in your personal or professional life? Time management! Will work on my delegating skills next.
5. Do you engage in other community involvement in Tucson? For the past three years my family and I have chaired the Remarkable Mom Celebration which is a big fundraising event for Tu Nidito. Won’t be chairing it this year, but I am still planning on being involved.
6. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? I hope to expand my leadership skills and continue to help the Tucson community.
7. Three words that describe the Junior League of Tucson? Friends, Leadership, Volunteering.

Seven Questions with: Vanessa Bechtol

• Years in League: 3 years
• Hometown: Napa, CA

1. Why did you join the Junior League of Tucson? To meet awesome women! I love volunteering too, but after 10 years of running a non-profit, I was looking to meet new people more than I was looking for volunteer opportunities. Volunteering with friends has turned out to be one of my favorite aspects of JLT.
2. What has been your favorite placement in the League and why? New Member Committee because you get to meet a large group of women at once and help guide their initial experience in JLT.
3. If you could volunteer with someone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you want to with them?Volunteering in a community garden with Michelle Obama.
4. What skill have you learned in the League that you can use in your personal or professional life? How to delegate! I’m used to taking on the majority of the work at my job even with a very full plate, but there is so much work to be done for the New Member Committee that learning to delegate tasks and responsibilities is critical. Fortunately we have amazing women on the committee who are ready to step up!
5. Do you engage in other community involvement in Tucson? I’ve been a volunteer with Watershed Management Group and Greater Tucson Leadership since 2012. I’m the president of a non-profit women’s leadership group and was also recently appointed by City of Tucson Mayor & Council to serve on the Commission on Food Security, Heritage, and Economy. In November I’m joining the Board of Directors for the Southwest Folklife Alliance, which is the non-profit that puts on Tucson Meet Yourself Festival.
6. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? I want to continue to grow my leadership skills while also sharing my sense of social responsibility to a broader audience.
7. Three words that describe the Junior League of Tucson? Training. Fun. Friendship.

Seven Questions with: Katie Leary

• Years in League: Starting 2nd active year
• Hometown: Slippery Rock, PA