I just had to jump on and give a brief rant about Junyaleague: whose big idea was it to put the general meeting at some YMCA on West Chestnut Street? Y'all should know that I just re-upped with the League and paid my very pricey dues to my former Yankee League just to get involved back here at home. And I love the League, because it brought me all of you, and for that I am always indebted. Making friends was why I joined...contrary to conventional League wisdom, I did not join because I enjoy finding myself in the crossfire of warring gangs in Louisville's west end.
Last summer, when I wasn't even an official member, I attended a fun meeting at the home of one of our dear friends over near River Rd.--y'all know who I'm talking about. And the meeting was everything a League meeting should be and more: it involved friends, wine, food, talk of cookbooks, and the ever-present dissenters who made the meeting last for 3 hours. And in a flurry of misguided longing for what I think the League should be, I signed up to bring a dessert and work the cookbook table at the first general meeting...because, really, that's what the League is supposed to be all about. I did not know when I signed up that I'd have to cross Roy Wilkins Blvd.--after dark--to make good on my commitment.
Why do I bother? Dibbs said it best when she described herself as "Brokeback Junyaleague," because she just can't quit it. I can't either, and I don't really want to. I happen to think the League's aversion to country clubs is ridiculous, but even more ridiculous is making their members drive their little foreign station wagons into the ghetto for no reason whatsoever, when they could just as easily have a meeting at headquarters, or Bellarmine, or even some boring bank on Hubbards Lane. Instead, I'm supposed to park my Saab over on Roy Wilkins Blvd. after dark and carry my little plate of pralines in past the junkies and the whores that you know certain members of the Junyaleague would like to recruit in the next provisional class.
It just exhausts me--I joined the League to make friends and do a little light volunteering. I might not even mind so much if this were a volunteer opportunity in a bad part of town--at least then there would be a point to risking life and limb. I think it's a lot to ask of members.
If I get shot by a drug lord, my blood is on *your* hands, Junyaleague!
I offer this comment only out of concern that you may find yourself hopelessly lost, otherwise. To get to the YMCA on West Chestnut, you *do not* cross Roy Wilkins. Actually, it is next door to the old JLL offices before they moved to the Eastern pkwy locale. In fact, I think the Y is right across the street from Pendennis...which makes me think that Mr. Belle ought to carpool y'all down there and then you could drive his drunk-ass home after the meeting.
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Lola
I think the Chestnut St. Y is different than the "Downtown Y"...at least according to JLL directions it is. (I would, incidentally, have no problem going to the Downtown Y...I mean, it's not the most fabulous meeting location ever, but I wouldn't feel like I were risking a carjacking just to get down there). The Chestnut St. Y is past 9th St., and every Louisvillian knows you're never supposed to cross 9th street. Unless, of course, you're in the Junyaleague, and then you should plan to do all your socializing past 9th St, preferably at 39th and Dumesnil.
ReplyDeleteP.S. This is Twinkle.
ReplyDeleteTwinks is right ... Lola is also right about where the downtown Y is but that's not where the meeting is.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more about the meeting location. I will not be there tonight because I am attending a volunteer function in the ghetto of Smoketown, but at least that has a charitable purpose.
My advice to the JL is simple: BE WHO YOU ARE. There is nothing wrong with being a chic young professional-type (or professional-wife) from the East End who wants to do good in the community. Make life convenient for your members and stop dragging people all over town in a futile effort to "increase our visibility" to people who have no interest in joining the JL even if they have nothing better to do with their funds than pay the dues.
-- Julep
I hope some 9th Street hooker signs up for the winter class. I might even be the Sustainer who pays her dues---just to watch the fun. xo, Dibbs
ReplyDeleteDo you think that lovely young man at the counter will join? He was the only person I saw.
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