"We are incredibly lucky to have Elizabeth and Susan speaking to League members at our kick-off meeting," said Diane Stevenson, JLOEB President, 2006-2007. "Both have tremendous experience, and have made significant contributions to both the League and the East Bay community surrounding them."

Sharing Experience
Elected JLOEB President for 2007-2008, Elizabeth Gebhardt currently chairs the Strategic Planning Committee. Elizabeth's career with the League began in 1993 with the San Francisco Junior League chapter. She transferred to the JLOEB in 1994, and is an honored active and experienced leader having served on a number committees within the organization including: the New Member Committee, Marketing & Corporate Relations, the Women's Business Conference Committee, and in her current position on the Strategic Planning Committee. Professionally, Elizabeth worked as a Financial Consultant for Smith Barney, and recently went on to help her husband Jim found Gebhardt Group, Inc., a wealth management services firm based in Lafayette, Calif.

"The Junior League is unique because it is an organization that leaves a legacy in the community with its many good works. Locally, we have been involved with more than 150 community partners over 70 years, and many of the programs we started are still running strong, making a difference every day in our community and in the lives of our children," said Elizabeth.

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley. She lives in Lafayette with her husband, Jim, and their daughters, Emily, Grace, and son Jack who arrived on August 27, 2006.

Motivating Volunteers
As the featured speaker at the September general meeting and one of the League's most charismatic presidents, Susan Chritton will address everything from the importance of a thank you note or a phone call, to making good use of people's time, to the basic principles of etiquette and the importance of good behavior. Having served as president of the JLOEB from 1997-1998, Susan has a tremendous background and experience in both the League and professionally. As part of the JLOEB, Susan was active in all Membership Development committees including Training, New Members, and Programs and Arrangements. Outside of her League experience, Susan is a Career and Life Strategies coach and President of Pathways, based in Walnut Creek, Calif. Her leadership in career development extends from business to non-profit organizations, where she designs and conducts career development programs and leads workshops in work/life balance. She is a Master Career Counselor and Certified Life Coach. Susan is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco. Susan lives in Lafayette, Calif. with her family and many pets. She embodies the principles of work/life balance.

Living Our Legacy
This year, the League celebrates 72 years of making a difference in the Oakland-East Bay community and in the lives of children and their families. Seven decades of women have been passionately inspired to leave this world a better place for our children. We call it "Living our Legacy," and it is working. Since 1935, the JLOEB has contributed more than 7 million volunteer hours and approximately $3 million to efforts aimed at improving the lives of children and their families in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Diane Stevenson added: "The choices you are making today, the volunteer work that you do today, the money that you give today - is ultimately part of how we leave our legacy. It may feel unsubstantial while we are doing it, but make no mistake, we are making a difference."

Women Building Better Communities
The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. (www.jloeb.org) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

JLOEB Media Contacts:
Dana Young, PR Chair, danayoung@yahoo.com, 415-378-7998
Erika Sinz, PR Assistant, erikasinz@hotmail.com

Editors Note: Images are available in print as well as jpeg format. Digital images have been included with e-mail announcement