The first meeting of 2013 of the Women’s Association Board will be on Monday, July 1st.  This is a change from the date listed in the calendar – Wednesday, June 26th.  Exact time and location on July 1st to be announced soon. We are looking forward to a great 2013 season!

2012 was a milestone year for the CSA Women’s Association. New bylaws were adopted at the August meeting to reflect a more modern, membership-driven organization.  In the fall of 2011, an ad hoc committee was empowered by the Board to study and revamp the bylaws.  At issue was the leadership model, which no longer appeared to be working as the demographics, demands and time at the CSA had changed for the majority of our members (all women who are eligible to purchase privilege tickets are automatically Women’s Association members).   The new governance model created a five-person leadership team with two-year terms: two co-chairs of the Arts and Crafts Fair, a Treasurer, a Secretary and a Communications Chair.  There will no longer be a President or Vice President. The text of the new bylaws appears at the end of this page.

We thanked Deb Cename for her outstanding five-year term as Women’s Association President and for her help with this transition, and voted in our new leadership team.  Congratulations to Jane Karraker and Debbie Albright for chairing this year’s successful Arts and Crafts Fair, and thank you for agreeing to continue on the new leadership team as Arts and Crafts Fair co-chairs.  Jan Petty Lauerman is continuing as Treasurer, Judy Furber is the Secretary and Beth Congbalay is the Communications Chair.  Thank you to our retired board members Merry Elrick, Ellen Hersher, Beth Kloskowski, Sandra O’Neal and Susan Teatak, all of whom put a lot of time and thought into ensuring the future of the Women’s Association.

Board members for 2010-2013 include: Beth Madden, Marilyn Schmid, Nancy Reid, Jean Ann Wolfe and Kathy Way.  Board members for 2011-2014 include: Mary Lou Stanton, Beth Congbalay, Jane Karraker, Marjorie Pearsall-Groenwalk and Lou Rollinson.  And our newest Board members for 2012-2015 are: Ginny Knutsen, Beverly Cheng-O’Neal, Carol Edmonds, Karen Williams and Barbara Cooper.

As we move forward to 2013, several changes will be in effect.  As Board members retire, they will be replaced by two new members per year, rather than five.   Along with the Leadership Team, there will eventually be a total of 11 Board members rather than the current 19.

The entire Women’s Association Board will help with our annual Arts and Crafts Fair, to be held on July 24th, 2013.  The latest application for Arts and Crafts Fair vendors is available on this link  2013 CSA Arts & Crafts Fair Application.  The profits from this event will continue to fund items and programs that benefit women and children at the Assembly. But the Women’s Association will transfer the execution of certain programs to individuals or other committees including Lemonade Sundays, Outdoor Movies, Authors & Artisans Fair, Potluck Dinners and Art Workshops.  If CSA members would like to add new programs, they should absolutely contact the Women’s Association to be considered for funding. Click here for the Funding Application CSA Funding Application 2012-13

Beginning in the summer of 2013 there will be one annual meeting of the Women’s Association.  In the past a meeting was held in both July and August.  The Board will try to vary which month it is held in for the future to allow as many members as possible to attend.

Programs that the Women’s Association helped fund this past summer included activities of the Youth Program, Ecology Program, Art Workshops, Family Potluck Dinners, and Arts and Crafts Classes. Special purchases included new landscaping around the Assembly Building, two long tables for the Community Room, a new sign for the Woods Courts, and funds to help purchase a new copy machine for the Assembly Office.

There were charitable contributions approved for: the CSA Education Scholarship Fund, Crystal Lake Watershed Association (for swimmer’s itch prevention), Benzie Area Zonta Scholarship Fund, Benzie County Council on Aging, Family Independence, Grow Benzie, the Paul Oliver Hospital Women’s Health Program and Community Spirit Food Source.

After the summer of 2013 we will begin working on a new CSA Directory.  The information listed in this directory will be gathered from the records in the Assembly Office, so please check over your information when you register.  You can contact the office with changes if you are unable to be there in person.

The Women’s Association looks forward to another fantastic summer full of fellowship, enrichment and contributions to our CSA community.

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

At its November 2010 winter meetings, the Congregational Summer Assembly (CSA) Trustees authorized a survey of all adults who have participated in the CSA’s activities.   The core purpose of the survey has been to attempt to discern what have been the elements of the “glue” that binds together the community of those who come to the CSA each summer.   To further strengthen that sense of community, the survey asked of participants what factors shape the extent of their participation, where they put their time, talent and energies when they are at the CSA and might in the future, their opinions concerning the quality of the CSA’s programs and activities, and how these programs and activities might be strengthened.

Click here for a summary report on the CSA Survey. (It’s a WORD doc)

Click here for a table of all the remarks. (It’s an Excel spreadsheet)

Click here for a table of all the questions and responses. (It’s an Excel spreadsheet)

The CSA will host its 34rd annual Arts and Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at the Assembly Ball Field, M-22 at Crystal Lake.

More than 100 artists participate from all over Michigan and beyond.  Fair goers will find jewelry of all kinds, decorative art, pottery, oil paintings, watercolors, fine photography, wooden art, children’s delights, doll clothes, books, herbal soaps, baskets, wearable art, and much, much, more. 

   A food tent will offer breakfast and lunch, such as donuts, hot dogs, pizza, snacks and beverages.  A bake sale will offer an array of homemade goodies.  The Cottage Treasure sale will take place inside the CSA assembly building from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  A cottage treasure presale will be held for CSA MEMBERS ONLY from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24^th. 

   The CSA Arts and Crafts Fair is sponsored by the CSA Woman’s Association to raise funds to support local charities and projects to enhance the CSA.

   To find out how to become a vendor, contact Nancy Reid at nancyreid362@gmail.com or 231-399-0150.  For additional information about the fair, contact Susan Teteak at tsteteak@charter.net

At long last - the calendar is here! 

Sunday            June 17         First Sunday Service            11:00am

Monday            June 18         Office Opens/Programs Begin      9:00am

Thursday          June 28         Women’s Assoc. Bd. Meeting       9:00am

Thursday          June 28         Potluck Dinner                   6:00pm

Monday-Saturday   July 2-7        July Tennis Tournament              TBA

Saturday          July 7          Board of Trustees Meeting        9:00am

Monday            July 9          Children’s Operetta Tryouts      1:00pm

Tuesday           July 10         Women’s Assoc. Coffee/Speaker    9:00am

Friday            July 13         Outdoor Movie                       TBA

Saturday          July 14         Water Carnival                      TBA

Saturday          July 14         Dutton Concert                   8:00pm

Wednesday         July 18         Art Workshops                       TBA

Thursday          July 19         Potluck Dinner                   6:00pm

Friday            July 20         Operetta Dress Rehearsal         7:30pm

Saturday          July 21         Children’s Operetta              7:30pm

Tuesday           July 24         Cottage Treasures Pre-sale       5:00pm

Wednesday         July 25         Arts and Crafts Fair     10:00am-4:00pm

Saturday          July 28         Burrows-Getz Concert             8:00pm

Monday-Friday     July 30-Aug. 3  Ecology Ed. In Residence    Noon-1:00pm

Monday            July 30         Adult Operetta Tryouts           1:00pm

Tuesday           July 31         Women’s Assoc. Bd. Meeting       9:00am

Wednesday         August 1        Art Workshops                       TBA

Friday            August 3        Trustees Meeting                 9:00am

Friday            August 3        Ecology Day                         TBA

Saturday          August 4        Annual Meeting                   9:30am

Saturday          August 4        Water Carnival                      TBA

Saturday          August 4        Armstrong Concert                8:00pm

Monday-Saturday   August 6-11     August Tennis Tournament            TBA

Tuesday           August 7        Women’s Assoc. Coffee/Speaker    9:00am

Wednesday         August 8        Authors and Artisans Fair           TBA

Thursday          August 9        Women’s Assoc. Bd. Meeting       9:00am

Friday-Saturday   August 10-11    Adult Operetta                   7:30pm

Monday-Friday     August 13-17    Gibson Series               Noon-1:00pm

Thursday          August 16       Potluck Dinner                   6:00pm

Friday            August 17       Office Closes/Programs End       4:00pm

Sunday            August 19       Last Sunday Service             11:00am

There will be a beach picnic at Point Betsie Sunday afternoon  around 5 or so.  Come out and enjoy the day and meet some new people.   I’ll be serving marinated chicken on the barbie, baked beans, and anything else that comes along. I haven’t been able to obtain any salmon the last few years.  The usual rules apply.  Bring a smile and get to know 2  people you don’t already know…. Hope to see you there.

A huge THANK YOU, goes out to Chris Earl…..She has salmon and is happy to share…There will now be fish on the menu as well as chicken.
The pic today is a self portrait of how the fish see me from under water.  Obviously I have too much time on my hands….
Be well,  Jay

VERY important…..I’m going to be sending CRYSTALNEWS via g-mail starting next week.  This change will allow me to send more frequent issues. It is currently taking almost two hours to send  one.  If you didn’t receive a CRYSTALNEWS test e-mail yesterday I need for you to send me a blank e-mail to crystalnews13@gmail.com  with ADD ME  on the subject line. I don’t want to lose any recipients during this transition…I’ll be sending a CRYSTALNEWS with a picture on Monday from the new system to make sure every one is on board…

Shiver by the River went off as planed, even without Mother Natures cooperation. the 40+ temperatures, the week of the festival took a huge toll on the ice and snow. The parade has grown nicely over the years and each year we see more and more involvement in the festival. A big thank you to all who help make it happen…..Our weather here is moderating into Winter lite and my kayak is making noises about getting wet soon….Crystal is still frozen, but only for a few weeks more.

I’m happy to offer a new item from Walk Softly Photos…The first annual Cottage Calendar.  June, July, August and September, (the important months) annotated with most of the Summer events and functions…It is a limited edition of 100, so if you really, really want one let me know and I’ll send or save you one…$7.00 which includes shipping…the calendar is 11″x17″ and the images are 7″x!0″ on card stock and suitable for framing…what a deal…and a bonus picture on the very back to hang on the icebox over the Winter to remind you of Summers to come….
While I was out of town this past weekend my turkeys left home and didn’t leave a note….If you see them, tell them the free lunch is back on..and I miss their antics.  They are so funny as the weather warms up and they start thinking about the up coming breeding season..

Be well,  Jay

The Nominations Committee presented the following slate of officers at the 2010 Annual Meeting:

Bob Cooper
David Dennison
Irene Fisk
Joan Hughes
Julia Frost Nebonne

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Baity Stearns

The 32nd CSA Arts and Crafts Fair will be held, rain or shine, on July 28, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   More than 100 artists from all over Michigan and beyond will participate.  The CSA Arts and Crafts Fair is sponsored by the CSA Women’s Association to raise funds to support local charities and projects to enhance the CSA summer experience.

If you wish to reserve a vendor space, please contact Beth Wolszon at bethwol@sbcglobal.net or 312-939-6271.  You may donate to the bake sale from 8 -10:00 a.m.  Bring fudge, coffeecake, breads, pies, cookies, cupcakes, quiche, or any of your favorite baked goodies.  Support the Cottage Treasures sale – all items welcome EXCEPT couches/sleeper sofas, major appliances, building materials, light fixtures, sinks, and non-working electronics.  CSA members are welcome to come to the pre-sale on Tuesday, July 27th from 5-7 p.m. in the Assembly building.  Bid on specialty items in the Silent Action Wednesday, July 28th from 9 a.m.-12 noon  and be present at 12:30 p.m. to see if you were the highest bidder.  Children can enjoy games at the Kids Korner near the Woods Courts and everyone can stop by the Food Booth to enjoy donuts, coffee, drinks, and lunch.

The women’s association needs the help of each CSA member to help make the fair a success.  Lend a hand – look for volunteer sign-up sheets posted on the Assembly Building porch a few weeks prior to the fair.  Thank you!

Email posting is on its way for those of you that are hesitant to learn the new website's backend functionality.  Stay tuned for more information!

Open the local links menu item (under the “Community” tab) and follow the first link for information about an important court case making its way through the Michigan judicial system.