As this year’s president of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County, Gerran Syfan heads an organization proud of its commitment to make this area a better place to live. Through a number of projects each year, the Junior League works to improve the community, especially for families and children.
On Sunday, the league holds its annual Healthy Habits Expo with INK, a program designed to help people get more exercise and eat better. Today, The Times asks Syfan five questions about the Junior League and its commitment to Hall County.

1. What is the Junior League and who can become a member?
The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

We welcome any woman over the age of 22 that lives in Hall County and would like to be a part of our organization.

Our new league year is about to begin so if anyone is interested in joining the League during the 2013-2014 year, please contact the League office at 770-535-1951 for further information.

2. How did the Healthy Habits Expo become a Junior League initiative and what do you hope will result from it?
The annual Healthy Habits Expo — A Child and Family Wellness Event is a result of the Junior League and Interactive Neighborhood for Kids working together to connect our community with resources and opportunities for children and their families to join in the fight against childhood obesity.

Through this event, families in our community are able to gain perspective on how to incorporate physical activity and healthy nutritional habits into everyday routines, as well as learn the importance of preventative health care.
We are expecting this year’s event to be twice as large as last year and for it to continue to do so for many years to come. (This year’s event will be 1-4 p.m. Sunday at INK.)

3. What are Junior League “signature grants” and how have they been used in the community?
The Junior League awards a Signature Grant every five years to a local nonprofit undertaking a project that meets the League’s mission to make Northeast Georgia a better place for children and families through positive change and opportunities that impact our community.

The last Signature grant in 2010 was given out to Gateway Domestic Violence Center for their Power of We campaign to build transitional housing for families moving out of their emergency shelter.

4. The Junior League promotes volunteerism. What are some of the things Junior League volunteers do in the community?
The work from our Junior League volunteers, both active and sustaining, can be seen through several community events such as our annual Harvest Thrift Sale in the Fall, various events to raise money for our annual Charity Ball every December, our annual Healthy Habits Expo every spring, monthly food distributions through our Feeding Our Future initiative, classroom programs with our Kids in the Kitchen program and various other Done-in-a-Day projects done in partnership with other area nonprofits.

Our organization is a great way to get involved in the community through numerous events, interests and opportunities.

5. How has membership in the Junior League been personally rewarding to you?
Not only have I met some of the most wonderful women and friends that will last a lifetime, but I’ve grown to know a community full of people and organizations who will stop at nothing to make our community a better place for future generations.

The work they — and the League — do is inspiring.