Mrs. Barbara Jaeger GillisMrs. Barbara Gillis is our November "Sustainer Spotlight." She was super exciting to interview and provided many insights about her role as an active volunteer. In lieu of a headshot of Mrs. Gillis, a world traveler road sign picture was chosen. Read further to find out why!
Mrs. Gillis's full name is Barbara Jaeger Gillis. Barbara was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Barbara is a 1958 graduate of Lancaster Country Day School (Lancaster, PA) and a 1962 graduate of Russell Sage College (Troy, NY). Barbara’s husband’s name is Dan and they celebrated forty-three years of marriage this past September.
Barbara’s current volunteer commitments are the following: President of LCDS Alumni Council; Member of Excellence Fund Committee for LCDS; Chair of Scholarship Committee for Donegal Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; Chair, Lancaster-Dauphin-York Committee, National Society of Colonial Dames in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Recording Secretary for both Daughters of American Colonists and National Society, Daughters of 1812; JLL Sustainer Representative for Placement Committee.
Barbara has a stunning JLL service record of thirty-four years! Besides her experience in the Junior League of Lancaster, she also experienced two and a half years in the Junior League of Evanston, IL; one year in the Junior League of Denver, CO; and four months in the Junior League of Toledo, OH. Barbara's placements as an Active included the Thrift Corner Chair and later the Treasurer of Thrift Corner; Typing Committee; Circulation Committee for the Junior League Newsletter; Member of Planning Committee for Junior League Ball; Co-Chair of the JLL's 50th Anniversary celebration; and member of the Social Committee (organizing dances during the year, etc.).
When asked, "What was your favorite placement?" Barbara replied, "I enjoyed them all, but my favorite would have to be the Thrift Corner." Barbara’s favorite fundraiser was the Junior League Follies and favorite project was the Thrift Corner. I asked Barbara, "How has the Junior League improved who you are?" and she poignantly replied, "I believe the League has given me a sense of being outside myself and knowing that it's not so much who you are as what you can do for others."
This next section about Mrs. Gillis are fun questions that she chose from a list of twenty. First question, "Tell me about your proudest achievement." Barbara replied, "My proudest achievement would have to be when I was elected President of the College Women's Association of Japan. My husband and I lived in Tokyo for 4-1/2 years and during this time I was very active with CWAJ. I was elected President of a 600-women, multicultural organization whose members included Japanese, Europeans, Australians, Chinese, and Americans. I was very proud of the trust placed in me, and I enjoyed it thoroughly."
Second question, "How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with a team?" Barbara replied, "I believe open, transparent communication is key here. Also, being fully up to date with the issues at hand, and be ready to accept an assignment when tasked. I would bring in the project on time in as efficient a manner as possible."
Third question, "Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?" Barbara replied, "Yes, there was. He was my boss when I worked for Honeywell in Denver, CO. He was an honest, non-political, communicative individual who made working for him a pleasure. We became a very strong team and when my husband was transferred to Chicago, IL, we both felt the separation keenly. However, time goes on, and we both wished each other the very best."
Fourth question, "What are you most proud of?" Barbara replied, "The ability to be able to think globally. My living in Japan and England taught me one simple thing and that was that everyone is basically the same; the only thing different is the approach. My husband and I haven taken an overseas trip every year since being back in Lancaster to such places as Peru, Ecuador, the Galapagos, Chile, Argentina, Kenya, Tanzania, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, Cambodia, North Vietnam, Australia, Bhutan, and India. In 2010 we will be traveling to Tunisia and Morocco with a pre-trip to Marrakesh and the possibility of a post trip to Libya. My simple thing learned is constantly reinforced on these trips."
Fifth and final question, "What was the last book that you read?" Barbara replied, "IIt was "The First Tycoon," the story of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a true, rough-and-tumble entrepreneur who came from modest beginnings and ended as (you might say) the father of all the Bill Gateses, Richard Bransons and Warren Buffets we know today. He was unafraid of any challenge."
Many benefits are derived by those who volunteer their time and talent as well as their financial support. New skills are developed, new friendships are made and new opportunities and experiences are provided. Volunteering is a dynamic and evolving activity where choice is fundamental and people use their skills and interests for some community benefit. John Ruskin once said, "The highest reward for a person's work is not what they get for it, but what they become because of it." Many thanks, Barbara, for making a difference in Lancaster County by your generous voluntarism.
