Meet the President

Margaret Edmonston, JLB President 2009-2010:

Margaret Edmonston

What are the characteristics of an ideal candidate to lead JLB as President for 2009-2010? How about someone who has earned the distinction as JLB Volunteer of the Year; has been in League for 12 years and served in all capacities, including member of many committees and fundraisers, chairperson, and board member; has JLB pedigree as a second generation Leaguer; has been embraced by JLB sustainers; has volunteered in numerous organizations outside JLB; and has proven to be the ultimate hostess and friend to all? Well, we are blessed to have all that and more in our incoming President Margaret Edmonston.

Margaret is a homegrown girl who was raised in Arvin, where her mom, Judith Chase, still lives today. In her younger years, she had been babysat by and babysat for many Leaguers. She graduated from Arvin High School and went on to receive her undergraduate degree from Chico State. Margaret has been married to Bruce, son of Sustainer Joyce Edmonston, for 12 years and they have 2 high energy and adorable boys: Jack (6) and Michael (4).

Margaret has Junior League in her blood. Her mom was the JLB President in 1974-75 and was the chair of the very first Whale of a Sale fundraiser. Now, 35 years later, Margaret is carrying on the tradition as our 2009-2010 President. In another twist of similarity with her mom, Margaret served on the Whale of the Sale Committee during our last two events. During the past year, while she was JLB President-Elect, Margaret also served as the treasurer on the board of her children’s preschool. Thus, as she was traveling to AJLI Conferences and taking in as much information as she could to prepare herself for the JLB Presidency, she was also learning about non-profit financial matters at the preschool. Margaret is coming into this placement with a broad range of knowledge that will definitely serve our League well.

Margaret has decided to engage our Sustainers in an exciting way: she has asked them to begin to prepare for our League’s 50th Anniversary (in 2015) by creating video diaries. The Sustainers have embraced this “assignment” with much enthusiasm. This project will be exciting for all of us to enjoy when it is complete.

On a personal note, Margaret is a terrific cook. She is known to prepare a meal for over 100 ladies for her mother’s church in Arvin without the panic many of us might experience. Margaret will shop, prepare, deliver and help serve and clean up only to return home and prepare a meal for her family - all in a day’s work, or should we say, a day’s volunteering, for our new President. In addition to cooking, Margaret sews really well. If you have had a baby recently, you probably have received a blanket from Margaret in your baby’s colors. There are many kids in Junior League that are enjoying these one-of-a-kind, warm and cuddly treasures. And, if all of that is not enough, Margaret also has a real estate license and can be found on the road trying to find a buyer the perfect house. She works at Watson-Touchstone Real Estate Group.

Margaret is a great listener. She wants to hear both sides of an issue to make sure she understands what each side wants before she makes a decision. She strives to be an informed leader who is considerate of others’ feelings. Margaret has a no-nonsense approach. She is not one for fluff and seeks to get to the point. Add to this a wickedly dry sense of humor and you have a woman with great characteristics to be a successful President. You can usually reach Margaret on her cell phone during the day. Be forewarned though, she is normally at one of the boy’s schools volunteering, so it tends to be noisy! Margaret is quick to reply to any telephone call or email, so do not hesitate to contact her. She is seeking to have an “open door” policy for each and every member to feel comfortable to reach out to her.

As you can read above, Margaret is an accomplished woman. She has a strong foundation to rise to any challenge presented during her year as President. Her theme is “Bridging the Past and Present to Create the Future.” Let’s all get behind our new President to make that happen.


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