About Us

Our Motto:

The Bermuda Junior Service League (BJSL) is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community in which we live. The BJSL's purpose is both educational and charitable.

About Us:

The Bermuda Junior Service League was founded in 1936 by Mrs. C. Vail-Zuill. It was modeled after the Junior Leagues of America. During the early years, the League’s charitable actives centered around helping the hospital, the welfare society and the LCCA. Over time, the League’s projects and community service extremely varied with an aim to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community in which we live. Many of the past projects include the following:

•  The League's first major project was establishing the Victoria Lodge for underprivileged children in 1937. Operation of this project continued until 1945.

•  In 1940, the League opened a toyshop to sell Bermudian hand crafted toys, as there were restrictions on the importation of toys.

•  In 1953 the League was approached with regard to forming a Hospital Auxiliary, to assist the KEMH. Life Members of the League formed the Women's Auxiliary (the Pink Ladies), which today is an indispensable, separate organization.

•  The League was well known for their extravagant plays and fashion shows in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. They were successful fundraising projects for the League and provided Bermuda access to the dramatical arts and culture.

• The BJSL funded and over-saw the building of the Deliverance replica in the late 1960's which was completed May 8th 1971. League continued to operate this project with the help of members' volunteering their time, until 1996 when the ship was sold. The sale proceeds went to local charities, including to the construction of the Windreach playground.

•  In 1990 the League introduced the “Kids on the Block” puppets program. League members volunteered their time taking the puppets to schools and producing puppet shows that dealt with difficult subjects such as divorce, asthma, physical disabilities, etc. The project operated through the League for 9 years before it was turned over to Windreach Recreational Village who now put on monthly shows at the Village.

•  In the early 1990's, the League brought in TV personality and magazine publisher, Martha Stewart as a fundraising project. A luncheon and seminar was put on with Martha as the featured guest.

•  In 1999, the League spent $12,000.00 furnishing the KEMH Rape Crisis Room which is now called the SART Room. Between 2008-10 the BJSL raised an additional $40,000 plus for the updating of SART diagnostic equipment and victim comfort supplies.

•  In 2000, the League spent $23,000.00 providing the KEMH with a maternity bed.

•  The League volunteered and assisted in organizing and serving at the annual tea for seniors held in their honor by Government at Camden House for many years.

•  The League sponsored a pamphlet produced by the Bermuda Police Service on women's safety and community awareness stickers that were printed on public parking lot vouchers. The BJSL also sponsored and facilitated the “Don’t Leave Your Drink” campaign which involved printing posters and installing them on bathroom stall doors in night clubs.

•  For many years the League assisted The Haven (a temporary home for young women) with their annual appeal for funding. The League wrote and distributed the annual letter and collected and deposited the funds on The Haven's behalf.

•  Funded by the League, philanthropist Sylvia Munro crocheted lap blankets in 2002 and 2003 for senior residents at Westmeath and Pembroke Rest Homes and nursery school children.

•  The League ran Santa's Grotto as a fundraiser at Christmas outside the Phoenix in 2003 and 2004.

•  In the spring of 2005, the League sponsored a one day seminar with daytime Emmy winner Rhonda Britten, star of the reality show Starting Over.

Ongoing Projects:

The Bermuda Junior Service League continues to make very positive contributions to our community with the following ongoing projects:

•  For 50 plus years, the League has been providing gift packages to the hospital patients who must spend Christmas Day in KEMH, Agape House and The Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. The number of gift bags filled and delivered by the BJSL ranges between 400 to 450 and number keeps rising.

•  The League has produced two cookbooks: “Bermudian Cookery” in 1974 and the international award winning “Island Thyme” in 2004. Both of these publications continue to fund community service projects supported by the League.

•  In 1994, the League's founder, Mrs. C. Vail Zuill introduced the idea of producing a set of Bermudian playing cards that could be used for bridge tournaments, etc. The League continues to sell these playing cards very successfully island wide which features prints of original Bermudian artwork.

•  The League sells more than 50,000 Christmas cards each year. The cards feature original artwork specifically designed for Christmas in Bermuda that has been donated by local artists each year.

•  For several years the BJSL has partnered with the Red Cross for their blood drive program. Members organize to give blood multiple times a year to keep the local emergency blood stocks up.

•  In 1990 the League sponsored the first debate tournament to be held on the island. The tournament was the brainchild of past member the late Victoria Cox. The annual debate tournament has been running ever since, with the top prize being the Victoria Cox Memorial Trophy. This League run event has become quite infectious encouraging the island’s middle schools, high schools and private schools to form debate clubs whose members usually become part of the school’s debate teams. The BJSL is financially responsible for the trophies, prizes, facility rental, selecting judges and catering for this event.

•  The League holds an annual Coin Drive to raise funds for community service projects. The League places buckets island wide in grocery stores, retail outlets, banks, places of business and schools for a period of time, and people are encouraged to deposit their loose change for "Coins for a Cause". Every year the BJSL select a different cause. The project can raise thousands of dollars. The 2010 recipient was the Bermuda Association for the Deaf.

•  The League established The C. Vail-Zuill Scholarship in 2003 in honour of our founder. The scholarship is generally awarded to a student, who has demonstrated academic excellence, financial need and community mindedness, to assist in his or her pursuit of post-secondary education. Normally $5,000 is given to a single individual, however in 2010 $12,000 was awarded amongst three students. The BJSL has changed its mandate to award one person and will seek to award a minimum of two persons annually because of the increased demand.

•  In 2003, the League introduced a program supplying all children entering the public school system at Primary One with the required school supplies so that all public school children have the tools to learn on equal footing no matter what their social-economic background may be. The BJSL partners with local venders to provide these supplies but costs still can demand up to $6,000 to run the program. In 2009 and 2010 the BJSL extended this program to older school children with the help of teachers identifying children in need.

•  The League receives requests annually from individuals and other charities for financing or items such as money, wheelchairs, hearing aids, physical therapy, etc. In 2010 the BJSL gave $6000 in financial awards to The Women’s Resource Centre, Packwood Homes and the Reading Clinic.

•  The League was well known for their Christmas teas and bake sales held at private homes, which were decorated for the Christmas season by members and opened to the public as fundraisers. These ran from the 1980's to early 2000's, after which, this annual event was transformed into the BJSL’s now famous cooking demos and wine tastings.

•  Since 2008 the BJSL has partnered with the Salvation Army to feed the needy by cooking and severing meals at the Salvation Army Citadel on certain evenings.

•  Since 2008 the BJSL’s members have volunteered to man snack stalls at the SPCA Fair. The League also assists with the SPCA’s annual pet/people marathon “Paws in the Park”.