By Amanda Crouch, Sponsorship Chair
One of my new favorite summer television shows is The
Astronaut Wives Club, which airs on ABC on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm.
Based on the 2013 New York Times bestseller
with the same title by Lily Koppel, The Astronaut Wives Club is an American
period drama series created for ABC. The series tell the story of the wives of
the Mercury Seven astronauts who pioneered the first manned space flights
between May 1961 and May 1963 during the height of America’s race to the moon. When
the Mercury Seven were selected in 1959, they became instant superstars in the
Cold War space race with Russia, and their seven wives became American royalty.
The wives had tea with First Lady Jackie Kennedy at the White House, appeared
on the cover of Life Magazine, shared in a $500,000 publicity contract and
became fashion icons.
As a
self-proclaimed history junkie, I love the historical aspect of this show,
which features vintage black and white video clips from the actual launches
interspersed with the fictional scenes and portrays the women as similarly as
possible to their real-life counterparts.
During a recent episode, however, I took issue with the show’s portrayal
of the perception of and purpose for the Junior League.
In the fourth episode, entitled “Liftoff,” NASA relocates
the astronauts and their wives to Houston, Texas to be closer to mission
control. At a welcome BBQ with members of “Houston Society,” Jo, one of the astronaut
wives, meets a member of the Junior League of Houston and scores an invitation
for all of the wives to a Junior League of Houston gala. Jo becomes extremely concerned
with becoming a member of the Junior League of Houston, which she describes
several times as “exclusive” and dotes on the fact that membership is
“invitation only” by a committee of “high society ladies.” At the gala, Jo shames
Betty, her co-astronaut wife and friend, in front of Junior League of Houston
members for not being “fancy” enough in an attempt to impress the women and
receive an invitation to become a member herself. Later, when Betty asks where
the money for the fundraising gala is going, she is told that it’s impolite to
ask those types of questions. Unfortunately for Jo, after all that effort and
potential harm to her friendships with the other astronaut wives, Jo ultimately
does not receive an invitation to become a Junior League member.
As I was watching “Liftoff,” I became increasingly concerned
about the perception of the Junior League held by the 4.28 million viewers of
the show as a result of the show’s portrayal of the organization. And thus was
born, the TOP FIVE WAYS JLSA MEMBERS ARE NOT LIKE THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE ASTRONAUT WIVES:
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Volunteer Training Event
From L to R: Valayia Jones-Smith, Stephanie Reese,
Melissa Paschall, & Vanessa Leal |
1. Our membership is not exclusive. Gone are the days where
you had to receive an “invitation” to join the Junior League of San Antonio from
a committee of women who sipped tea and wore pearls. With over 1,200 members, JLSA
is comprised of women from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, and
experiences. We love learning from each other as we volunteer and train
together. Even though they were “celebrities” of their time, the astronaut
wives had to beg their way into the Junior League, and even then they did not
receive invitations. If you have a passion for voluntarism, developing your
potential as a woman and a leader and improving the San Antonio community, you
are not only welcome, but WANTED!
2. We raise money for a purpose – and are proud of it! In
the 2014-2015 JLSA year, our fundraising efforts raised $328,600 to give back
to the San Antonio community. While Jo may have been shushed at the Junior
League gala for asking where he money was going, we are proud to partner with
over 60 local nonprofit organizations and to be able to award cash grants to
deserving organizations, projects or initiatives. If you ask any member of our
committees for JLSA’s major fundraisers, Holiday Olé Market, Fête de Cuvée or
the Resolve for a Better SA 5K, they will be the first to tell you exactly why
we raise money and for whom in the community for the money is raised. We welcome the opportunity to give back to
our community – and enjoy any opportunity to talk about the great ways we give!
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| 2013 SA Food Bank Shift |
3. We are not afraid to get our hands dirty. The portrayal
of the Junior League in The Astronaut Wives focused on gala dresses and glasses
of champagne. If you have the opportunity to witness a Done In A Day project or
volunteer for an SA Works Shift, chances are there will not be any champagne or
sequins during JLSA’s volunteer hours. JLSA members have traded in our pearls
and gowns for t-shirts and ponytails as we are out making a difference in our
community. From gardening with Green Spaces Alliance to cleaning up trails at
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, JLSA members are doing more for the city of San
Antonio than drinking champagne at a gala.
And if you ask any JLSA member, we wouldn’t have it any other way!
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| 2015 G.O.A.L. Retreat |
4. JLSA women are a force to be reckoned with. The astronaut
wives wanted to become members of the Junior League so that they could mingle
with “high society.” Our members join JLSA so they can give back to and make a
difference in our community. And what a difference they make! In 2014-2015,
JLSA members spent 6,460 hours volunteering with our community partners. Outside
of the league, 49% of our members are involved with other causes and many of
our members sit on other nonprofit boards in the community. Additionally, 75%
of our members work outside the home and 63% of our members hold
managerial/professional positions. Most recently, one of our JLSA
members was
awarded the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's "Rising Star of the
Year" for 2015. With programs such as LeaderBoard and GOAL (“Growing Our
Awesome Leaders”), JLSA intentionally trains our members in leadership
development so that our members can grow personally and professionally and
apply those new skills to their JLSA placements as well as activities outside
of the league. JLSA members don’t just sit around and wait for opportunities to
come to us – we create them ourselves!
5. We support one another, inside and outside of JLSA. In
the episode, one of the astronaut wives made fun of her friend in an effort to
“impress” the women of the Junior League. My experience in JLSA, and the
experience of everyone I know who has been involved with the organization, has
been the exact opposite of the astronaut wives’ portrayal. Whether its JLSA
activities or involvement outside of the league, JLSA members are each other’s closest
friends, confidantes and encouragers. We enjoy happy hours together, invite one
another to celebrate achievements in our other organizations and attend one
another’s wedding and baby showers. Many
of our members have found
their lifelong friends through JLSA, friendships that
continue into their sustainer years and beyond.
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2015 Resolve for a Better SA 5K
Julianne Reeves & Lauren Fleischer
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In short, I really enjoy The Astronaut Wives Club.
The show is providing education and knowledge
about America’s race for space and the developments of NASA during the 1960’s
to a generation who was not around during that time to witness all of these
events firsthand.
However, I hope that
viewers of the show, particularly those who may be interested in joining JLSA,
realize that we have come a long way since the Junior Leagues of the 1960’s, and
that being a member of JLSA is not accurately portrayed in the show. I am proud
of how far we have come and all that we are doing for our community – and while
I am a proud owner of pearls and heels that I am excited to break out at Fête,
there is more to me and my fellow JLSA members than being a “high society”
volunteer. JLSA members have passion for a purpose – and I hope that is the
message we leave and the image we have in the city of San Antonio and beyond.
