Mountain Women History - 2005 to 2018
In the fall of 2003, the Hospitality Committee of the Mountain Homesteaders Association, chaired by Kate Allenbach and including Jean Bertelsen, Sue Tiller and Joan Stemmler, discussed how to welcome newcomers to the mountain. They sought to determine how to identify permanent residents living on the mountain, and how the women on the mountain could get together to relieve the tediousness of the long winter. Slowly the idea of “Mountain Women” took hold and ongoing discussion, research and planning culminated in a first meeting on February 4, 2005.
The meeting’s purpose was to determine whether there was an interest in establishing a network of mutual support for women living on the mountain, especially during the winter months. Kate Allenbach, Kathy Knowles, Joan Stemmler and Irma Graf planned the event. More than thirty women attended and expressed their overwhelming support.
Out of that meeting grew the essence of what Mountain Women is today: a networking and social support group with mechanisms to accommodate special interests, communication and neighborhood cohesion, as well as to contribute to the vitality of the greater Wintergreen community.
Four geographical neighborhoods were designated and each developed a telephone tree for immediate communication needs: Blackrock, Devils Knob, Laurel Springs and The Springs. A survey was conducted to determine members’ needs and interests, and a Welcoming Committee was formed by Lynnda Gilliam, Kate Allenbach, Nancy Neville, Gloria Daly and Jean Bertelsen. This committee later disbanded when the organization developed a Steering Committee and Neighborhood Chairs.
By the second meeting, March 11, 2005, the survey was completed and a decision made to meet monthly on the second Friday at 10 a.m. Meetings would be a combination of social and planned programs as well as a business session. Preferences were compiled for interest groups that included: Book, Food, Garden, Handwork, Scrapbook and Shakespeare.
Neighborhoods would rotate hosting the meetings and the meeting place would be Trillium House in inclement weather and Chestnut Springs Pool Pavilion in warmer weather. Dues of $2 per month would be voluntary to cover the cost of room rental and expenses. This amount has since been increased to $3 per month.
By April 2005, the Steering Committee was formed to include Joan Stemmler, Kate Allenbach, Irma Graf, Martha Misker and Angela James and the telephone tree captains – Mary Ellen Condon-Rall, Jean Bertelsen, Kathy Knowles and Helen Eisenhart. Irma Graf often led a hike after the meeting for those who were interested.
After its initial ten months, Mountain Women noted its accomplishments:
- Provided a structure for Mountain Women to meet on a monthly basis.
- Provided social opportunities and a mechanism in which new arrivals can meet residents.
- Formed four geographical neighborhoods with chairs who organize three meetings per year.
- Organized a Steering Committee consisting of three founding members, four neighborhood chairs, a treasurer and an email/secretary.
- Provided three interest groups: Garden, Handwork and Book.
- Provided a venue for the introduction of topics of interest to the community.
- Provided a forum for members to present action suggestions and enlist the help of interested parties.
- Established a dues structure and treasury to fund rental of meeting site and refreshments.
- Transcribed and distributed minutes for members on a monthly basis.
Steering Committee members also noted that the organization still had to achieve:
- A working telephone tree.
- A structure/schedule for rotating the Steering Committee and positions.
- A mission statement.
In 2006, most of these remaining concerns were addressed by an active Steering Committee. Bylaws were created, offices were identified, Steering Committee position descriptions were written, and an orderly transition of three-year Steering Committee terms for nine members was established with elections to be held each December. All of these documents and actions were approved in early 2007.
Over the years traditions have been established that the membership continues to support including periodic reports from the leadership of WPOA and WPI and other important Wintergreen constituencies, a summer performance by the Wintergreen Performing Arts Academy students, and the much anticipated holiday brunch in December.
More recently, Mountain Women have taken leadership roles in communicating vital information updates in emergencies created by water issues and other situations. Our convening of a WPI/WPOA Meet the Candidates program in 2009 followed by a more formal forum in 2010 proved so popular that a new expanded communitywide candidate forum was held in September 2011, with the support and help of its originator – Wintergreen Mountain Women.
Our expanded web site provides contacts and meeting information as well as volunteer opportunities and community links.
The membership - now 150 strong - is grateful for the thoughtful leadership provided by our founders and the subsequent Steering Committees for their ongoing contributions to the vitality of Wintergreen.2006 Steering Committee
Joan Stemmler |
President |
Cindy Coy |
Vice President |
Martha Misker |
Communicating Secretary |
None designated |
Recording Secretary |
Hazel Griffith |
Treasurer |
Mary Ellen Condon-Rall |
Blackrock Neighborhood Chair |
Jean Bertelsen |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
Irma Graf |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Helen Eisenhart |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Sylvia Stafford |
Member At-Large |
2007 Steering Committee
Cindy Coy |
President |
2009 |
Sylvia Stafford |
Vice President |
2009 |
Martha Misker |
Communicating Secretary |
2007 |
Mary Ellen Condon-Rall |
Recording Secretary |
2008 |
Hazel Griffith |
Treasurer |
2009 |
Sue Carlson |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Jean Bertelsen |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
2007 |
Irma Graf |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2008 |
Joan Stemmler |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2008 |
2008 Steering Committee
Cindy Coy |
President (term ends December 08) |
2009 |
Sylvia Stafford |
Vice President (assume presidency Jan 09) |
2009 |
Joan Stemmler |
Communicating Secretary |
2008 |
Mary Ellen Condon-Rall |
Recording Secretary |
2008 |
Hazel Griffith |
Treasurer |
2009 |
Sue Carlson |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Cindy Coy |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
See above |
Vera Jones |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Carolyn Barkley |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Barbara Porter |
Member At-Large |
2010 |
2009 Steering Committee
Sylvia Stafford |
President |
2009 |
Barbara Porter |
Vice President |
2010 |
Cindy Coy |
Communicating Secretary |
2009 |
Carolyn Barkley |
Recording Secretary |
2010 |
Hazel Griffith |
Treasurer |
2009 |
Sue Carlson |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Cindy Coy |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
See above |
Vera Jones |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2011 |
Helen Eisenhart |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2011 |
Barbara Marker |
Member At-Large |
2011 |
2010 Steering Committee
| Barbara Porter | President |
2010 |
Marti Szczar |
Vice President |
2012 |
Chris Casey |
Communicating Secretary |
2009 |
Carolyn Barkley |
Recording Secretary |
2010 |
Barbara Marker |
Treasurer |
2011 |
Sue Carlson |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Cindy Coy |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
2010 |
Vera Jones |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2011 |
Yvonne Behm |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
2012 |
2011 Steering Committee
Marti Szczur |
President | 2012 |
Camille Kurtz |
Vice President | 2013 |
Chris Casey |
Communicating Secretary | 2012 |
Carolyn Barkley |
Recording Secretary | 2013 |
Barbara Marker |
Treasurer | 2011 |
Terri Brooks |
Blackrock Neighborhood Chair | 2013 |
Cindy Coy |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair | 2012 |
Vera Jones |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair | 2011 |
Yvonne Behm |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair | 2012 |
2012 Steering Committee
| Marti Szczur |
President |
| Camille Kurtz |
Vice President |
| Chris Casey |
Communicating Secretary |
| Carolyn Barkley | Recording Secretary |
| Ellen Hampton | Treasurer |
| Terri Brooks | Blackrock Chair |
| Cindy Coy | Devils Knob Chair |
| Sylvia Stafford | Laurel Springs Chair |
| Yvonne Behm | The Springs Chair |
2013 Steering Committee
| Camille Kurtz |
President |
| Mary Ellen Condon-Rall |
Vice President |
| Maria Spence |
Communicating Secretary |
| Mary Carlson | Recording Secretary |
| Ellen Hampton | Treasurer |
| Terri Brooks | Blackrock Chair |
| Anne Marie Goss | Devils Knob Chair |
| Sylvia Stafford | Laurel Springs Chair |
| Michelle Clark | The Springs Chair |
Your 2014 Steering Committee
Mary Ellen Condon-Rall |
President |
Joyce Tate |
Vice President |
Maria Spence |
Communicating Secretary |
Mary Carlson |
Recording Secretary |
Ellen Hampton |
Treasurer |
Jo Ann Armstrong |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
Anne Marie Goss |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
Joyce Claman |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Co-Chair |
Michelle Clark |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Your 2015 Steering Committee
Mary Ellen Condon-Rall |
President |
Joyce Tate |
Vice President |
Maria Spence |
Communicating Secretary |
Mary Carlson |
Recording Secretary |
Terri Brooks |
Treasurer |
Jo Ann Armstrong |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
Bev Holloway |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
Joyce Claman |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Co-Chair |
Hilary Partridge |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Your 2016 Steering Committee
Joyce Tate |
President |
Barbara Porter |
Vice President |
Jo Ann Armstrong |
Communicating Secretary |
Mary Carlson |
Recording Secretary |
Terri Brooks |
Treasurer |
Marti Szczur |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
Bev Holloway |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
Joyce Claman |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Hilary Partridge |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Your 2017 Steering Committee
Joyce Tate |
President |
Barbara Porter |
Vice President |
Jo Ann Armstrong |
Communicating Secretary |
Mary Carlson |
Recording Secretary |
Terri Brooks |
Treasurer |
Marti Szczur |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
Sally Singletary |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
Joyce Claman |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Mary Ellen Thompson |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Your 2018 Steering Committee
Marti Szczur |
President |
Joyce Claman |
Vice President |
Jo Ann Armstrong |
Communicating Secretary |
Sallie Singletary |
Recording Secretary |
Terri Brooks |
Treasurer |
Sue Carlson and Eva Blum |
Black Rock Neighborhood Chair |
Carolyn Felling |
Devils Knob Neighborhood Chair |
Judy DeWitt |
Laurel Springs Neighborhood Chair |
Joyce Tate |
The Springs Neighborhood Chair |