2026 Citation
Citation for Long and Valued Service to the Assembly
August 26, 2026
By 1979 the Congregational Summer Assembly had been growing and evolving, always engaged in finding ways to “promote the physical, intellectual, moral, and religious welfare…” of us - the constituency which it seeks to serve. So much of what made this possible was the willingness of volunteers to see what needed to be done, and then do it. So the Citation for Long and Valued Service to the Assembly was created to recognize those who year after year have done the work that makes this the place we love. Over the years the Citation has recognized individuals, couples, and even families, but in 2026 the Citation is recognizing an entire organization within the Assembly that has not only offered long and and valued service to all of us, but also totally exemplifies the theme of this summer’s 125th celebrations: Community, Stewardship, and Action - The Women’s Association.
When we begin to enumerate their initiatives and their contributions we go back to the beginning - to 1910 - 10 years before the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote was ratified! The Board of Trustees chose a Committee of Ten ladies to “cooperate with the Board in caring for, beautifying, and improving the grounds and property of the Assembly.” The early works of what became the Women’s Auxiliary included overseeing dining room sanitation and operation of the laundry for the lodge, eliminating poison ivy around the grounds, picking up trash, and controlling the speed of automobiles. They also organized social activities to encourage the development of Community from the start.
When we think of fundraising by the Women’s Association the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, the Art Fair. But the very first fundraiser, selling snacks on the beach, raised $28 to buy silverware for the new Dining Hall. Their first big pledge was for $2000 in 1919 to renovate and enlarge the Community Building - this was 40% of the cost. In that same time period, before they were officially the Women’s Association - and before they had the vote - because there were no lifeguards on the beach, the women proposed that a safety patrol operate along the beach and insisted that women be included in the first lifesaving classes. The women proposed that the Board of Trustees organize athletic leagues, create a playing field, and hold dances. In 1920 the Women’s Auxiliary proposed a raft for the swimming area, raised the money, and paid for it. And they have done the same for every raft since. They were built by CSA volunteers but the materials were supplied by the Women’s Association.
In 1924 they requested that their president become an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees and this remains in place today, in 2026. Finally in 1926, the time had come to formally create the organization that would include all the women - it has no dues, no membership committees, and no initiation fee. The only membership requirement was, and is, to be in sympathy with the purpose of the society and the promotion of the welfare of the Assembly.
Over the years the women adopted rooms in the lodge and provided rugs, curtains, bedspreads and lamps; bought several pianos for both the Community Room and the Auditorium/Meeting House; sponsored and worked the family night dinners and potlucks; bought the stage curtains (more than once) and had them regularly cleaned; purchased the paint for James Schmidt to paint his mural in the Assembly Building. Before there was a Pilgrim Fund the Women’s Association, critical of the condition of the hymnals, bought new ones. In 1950 they published the first Assembly Directory. And before there were Archives and an Archivist, the Women’s Association established a History Committee with Catherine Stebbins and Grace Schauffler beginning a concerted effort to gather Assembly documents and artifacts in one place.
And don’t get me started on tables! Ping pong tables, dining tables, work tables, play tables, side tables, picnic tables - if there is a table anywhere in an Assembly building, chances are it was provided by the Women’s Association.
If the first fundraising effort raised $28 for Dining Hall silverware, now the Art Fair and associated Cottage Treasures and online auction typically bring in over $35,000 which is used both to meet Assembly needs and to provide donations and mini-grants to Benzie County organizations. Last year the Women’s Association aided 16 organizations.
As important as anything the Women’s Association has done over its first 100 years has been the bringing together of members of our community of all ages and genders to become active stewards of the community.
I’m going to ask you to stand if you are able - and to remain standing - as we show how the Women’s Association has allowed us to work together and get to know one another while actively serving our community.
First - all former Women’s Association Presidents
Next - all officers and board members, past and present
Committee and Program Chairs; Potlucks, Dance Chaperones, nursery care, builders of projects
And the Art Fair/Cottage Treasures/Silent or Online Auction in any year
- Field setup
- Cottage Treasures setup
- Bake sale/merch booth/merch design/kids corner
- Parking and Traffic Control
- Clean up
Look around you - this is the CSA!
While this is the Centennial Year of the official establishment of the CSA Women’s Association, clearly their contributions did not start in 1926. We are all grateful for their long and valued service, both out in front and behind the scenes, to “care for, beautify, and improve the grounds and property of the Assembly.”
Tammy Moore, the current president, will accept the certificate on behalf of the Women’s Association - presented by Wanda Shreiner, Citation Committee Chair, a past president --- and her mother.
