Construction began on the iconic St. Louis Arch. The Olympic Games took place in Innsbruck, Austria (winter) and Tokyo (summer). And a little band from Liverpool made its first trip to the United States: Beatlemania ensued. The year was 1964. In Lake Geneva, the year also saw the formation of a new social and civic organization: the Geneva Lake Women’s Association (GLWA). This year, the GLWA will honor its 60th anniversary with a year-long celebration featuring a diamond theme.
The group’s origins can be traced to a group of women who had been members of the Jaycettes, the now-defunct women’s corollary to the Lake Geneva Jaycees. Like the Jaycees, the Jaycettes had an age limit of 40. So in 1964, a group of women who were about to age out of the Jaycettes formed the GLWA to continue their civic and social engagement through a new channel. The new group proved to be so successful that it has outlived the Jaycettes, which was obsoleted nationally when the Jaycees became a co-ed organization in the early 1980s. The GLWA declared its independence from the Jaycees in 1986, but continued its focus on fundraising and social projects to benefit the community.
Now in its 60th year, the GLWA’s membership is stronger than ever, and the membership has more than doubled just in the past two years. “There were some lean years, where there were so few active members that we could meet in people’s living rooms,” explains current president Laurie Hallmark. “Today, we have over 70 members. We have to find places that can accommodate us now.”
Hallmark attributes the new popularity of the organization to increased exposure, both online and in real life. “Social media has helped us a lot,” Hallmark says. “It can be a game changer. And then there are all the fun events we do throughout the year … that catch people’s attention.”
She also points out that the GLWA can help new members make social connections in the community. “I’m from a little town between Janesville and Beloit,” she explains. “When I got married I moved to [Lake Geneva], but all my friends were in Janesville… I went to a [GLWA] meeting, and the next thing you know I’m a member. The rest is history.”
Some of the events that GLWA has sponsored or participated in include their annual Ladies’ Day Luncheon, Women’s Weekend Lake Geneva and DAS Fest, among others. The GLWA is also the longtime organizer of Safety Town, a beloved local summer day camp that teaches kids street safety through fun, interactive play.
This focus on giving back to the community is at the core of the GLWA’s mission, and the organization has been a strong supporter of many local charities and nonprofits throughout the years, including Meals on Wheels, Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless and Lakeland Animal Shelter. This year, as part of its 60th anniversary celebration, the GLWA will increase its support of local nonprofits with the addition of six $5,000 grants on top of its typical donations. Recipients of the special grants will be announced at a Women’s Weekend Kickoff party at the Riviera on Friday, April 26. The Women’s Weekend theme will be “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” a nod to the landmark anniversary.
The group has planned several other events to commemorate the milestone as well. This year’s Ladies’ Day Luncheon, featuring the theme “Diamonds, Bunnies and Bestsellers,” will take place at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa (formerly the Playboy Resort) on Sept. 9. Christina Clancy, author of the novel Shoulder Season, about a local woman who becomes a Playboy Bunny at the Lake Geneva Playboy Resort in the early 1980s, will be the featured speaker. On Nov. 9, the GLWA will host itsfirst-everFallGalaeventatthesame location, with the theme, “GLWA in the Sky with Diamonds.”
Looking back at the organization’s 60-year history, GLWA member Anne Kordus marvels at the group’s longevity and its deep impact on the community. “GLWA is a dynamic organization that has touched many, many lives,” she says.
