Are you interested in joining the Board of JWLA, but not sure where to start? Would you like to learn more about leadership opportunities with JWLA? Or do you just want to join the Board for some food and drinks (you should, we're cool)?

Then join us for our Meet the Board Happy Hour on February 29, 2024 (LEAP DAY!!)!

The Meet the Board Happy Hour will be hosted by our very own Director of Communications, Lisa Nommensen. The address will be emailed to those registered before the event, so make sure to register if you are interested in attending. You will have the opportunity to speak with current and past members of the board to learn about what the roles consist of and ask any questions you may have. Light food and drinks will be provided.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

I think that Leap Days are really special, so I have included some Leap Day facts for your enjoyment:

• In 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first Black actor (male or female) to win an Academy Award for her performance in Gone with the Wind. Despite her Oscar-winning performance in this movie, she was not allowed to attend the Atlanta premier (the first premier) of the movie due to the segregation laws in place at the time.
• Ja Rule was born on the Leap Day in 1976. Although he will be 48 years old this year, February 29, 2024 will only be his 13th birthday.
• St. Petersburg, Florida (my hometown) was incorporated on the Leap Day in 1892.
• Julius Cesar is responsible for Leap Days. He brought on a Greek astronomer named Sosigenes to create a new calendar, which consisted of 365 days and an extra day every fourth year. The first year of this "Julian calendar" was 45 BC, which began after the 445-day ultimus annus confusionis ("last year of confusion").
• At first, the extra 24 hours was not an additional day, but, rather, the last day of February lasted 48 hours (basically, how long every day in January feels).
• Technically, a Leap Day will only occur every fourth year MOST of the time. The Leap Day is skipped every centurial not divisible by 4 (i.e. 1800, 1900, 2100, but not 2000, 2400). This is part of the "Gregorian calendar" which was not initially adopted everywhere, leading to Sweden having a February 30th in 1712, prior to fully adopting the Gregorian calendar.