Author: wiawaka

Wiawaka Center for Women is currently seeking nominations for the Mary Fuller Award for Women Helping Women.  This award honors women who use their personal or professional influence to improve the lives of other women.

On June 17, 2019, the Mary Fuller Award winner will be honored at the annual Wiawaka Ladies of the Lake Luncheon to be held at the Lake George Club in Diamond Point, New York.  Also present will be members of the Board of Directors, donors, sponsors, friends of the Wiawaka Center for Women.  Local media will be invited to cover the event.

For nominees to be considered, the following form must be completed and received by February 1st, 2019.  Please click here for a form to nominate: 2019 Mary Fuller Award Women Helping Women Form

Questions:  Marina Skea, Wiawaka Center for Women, Board of Directors, 518-361-8781

Wiawaka has been awarded the Adirondack Architecture Heritage (AARCH) Award for the restoration of Wakonda Lodge.  Executive Director Meaghan Wilkins and several board members and staff attended an awards luncheon on September 18, 2017 at Nettle Meadow Farm in Thurman, NY.  AARCH recognized the hard work and dedication of Wiawaka’s board and volunteers who worked for over a decade to raise funds and restore the Adirondack lodge, that had been closed in 2003 due to structural issues.  Wakonda was reopened in June of 2013 and has been a great re-addition to the property.

“I have enjoyed creating programs and working with the Board and staff to highlight Wakonda’s original purpose as an artist retreat,” said Wilkins, “The addition of our Artist in Residence Program and Georgia O’keeffe Week” wouldn’t have been possible without Wakonda’s reopening”

Wakonda Lodge has ten guests rooms, a small kitchen/art classroom and a sitting room dedicated to Georgia O’Keeffe. Visitors are welcome to tour it and any of our four historic buildings.

SAVE THE DATE!

Ladies of the Lake Luncheon
& Award Presentation
Monday, June 17, 2019  11:30am-2pm
Lake George Club, Diamond Point, NY

Nominations are open for our 2019-Mary-Fuller-Award-Women-Helping-Women-Form

Luncheon Volunteers Needed!
The Luncheon Committee is seeking volunteers to assist with raffles and the silent auction. Beginning in January 2019 assistance is needed in soliciting and picking up auction items. On the day prior to the luncheon we will need help delivering items to the Lake George Club and on the day of the luncheon assistance will be needed in selling raffle tickets and assorted silent auction tasks. If you would like to volunteer and be part of Wiawaka’s signature fundraising event please contact Marina Skea at mkskea@aol.com by February 1st, 2019 and indicate the following task(s) with which you can assist: auction item solicitation and pick up (between January 1 and June 17) ; raffle ticket sales (on June 17) ; assorted auction activities (on June 17).

Rene Clements was appointed to serve in the Wiawaka board at the July 17th meeting of the Board.  Rene has served over 11 years as the Executive Director of the Greater Glens Falls Senior Citizens Center Inc. Upon her retirement she was honored by the City of Glens Falls Mayor  by designating a “Rene Clements day” for her service to Seniors and to the entire Community. Rene has an extensive background in banking, finance and business management. A native of Glens Falls, Rene has had over twenty years experience in the not-for-profit arena. Rene was also the former Business Manager the Tri-County United Way and a Vice President at Evergreen Bank. 

Rene is a very active volunteer in the community.  She is currently a board member of The Conkling Center, The Glen At Hiland Meadows and The Glens Falls Collaborative.  She served on the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) Advisory Committee as Chair for many years.  Rene is very proud to have served on The Special Olympics Organization Committee, something dear to her heart.  Rene has a great appreciation of the arts. She is currently on the board of Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) serving as Chair; is Past President and Past Treas. of the Adirondack Theatre Festival, still serving as a board member. She is also the former President, VP, Assistant Treas, and Board member and still an active member of the Glens Falls Community Theatre and this year was honored by receiving “Honorary Member”. She is a volunteer with The Chapman Museum, North Country Ministry & the Glens Falls Symphony to name a few.

Rene resides in Queensbury with her husband Brian (current Town of Queensbury Councilman for Ward 2) and has two grown children, Chad & Andrew and three beautiful granddaughters.  In her spare time she loves spending time with family and friends and boating or just spending time looking at the majestic Lake George

Before Yaddo was founded in Saratoga Springs, Katrina and Spencer Trask built their first artists’ retreat at Wiawaka – an Adirondack lodge known as Wakonda where students from the New York Arts Club held their first retreat. Georgia O’Keeffe was a registered guest-artist in 1908.  To commemorate her stay we put together a Georgia O’Keeffe themed week which featured lectures, art classes, programs, tours and even meals with Georgia in mind.

This special week brought in record numbers of guests and ur rooms, meals and programs were all sold out. It was exciting to see such excitement and so many new faces learning about the history of Wiawaka.

A permanent display which includes books, prints, information and a replica of Georgia’s dress sewn and donated to Wiawaka by Lisa Hall, has been installed in Wakonda Lodge and is open for visitors to view.  Thank you to Glenda Lewis and Catie Owen for working on this important project and brining light on Georgia’s time at Wiawaka.  During your next stay, please visit Wakonda to see the interesting display.

The 2nd Annual GOK Week will be held July 8-13, 2018.  We plan to add more programming opportunities for guests to enjoy,

For just over a week, five talented women spent their days painting on the grounds of Wiawaka.  In keeping with the original tradition of Wakonda lodge, we housed these women and gave them the opportunity to create and take in the natural inspiration found on our exquisite lakefront property  The week ended with a 2-day art show and sale which featured work done at Wiawaka as well as pieces brought by each artist.  The group generously donated 25% of their sales to Wiawaka.

These five women will return in 2018, July 1-8th for the 3rd annual Artist in Residence Program.  There are still a number of openings to participate. Artists may email their current resume, a bio and 3 samples of work to Meaghan Wilkins, Executive Director  at wiawakadirector@gmail.com.

Congratulations to Peg Mackey and the Zonta Club of Glens Falls who were honored at today’s Ladies of the Lake Luncheon on June 26, 2017.  Peg received the Spirit of Wiawaka Award for her long term service and dedication on the Wiawaka Board of Directors. Jean Bureau accepted the Mary Fuller Award on behalf of Zonta for their work with women locally and internationally. The luncheon was held at the Lake George Club and featured a wonderful silent auction. Thank you to all the donors, attendees and organizers who make this event possible.

Save the date for the 2018 luncheon, set for June 18, 2018!

Wiawaka is pleased to announce that Doreen Kelly has been chosen as it’s Executive Director.  Ms. Kelly has a history of dedication and commitment to Wiawaka, as a previous Board Member and most recently as Board President.

Ms. Kelly has a background in development, client services, human resources, banking and fundraising. She has been actively involved on many committees with local orgainizations and brings valuable non-profit management expereince. Ms. Kelly offers the committment and dedication along with her management experience and background to support the mission of Wiawaka and its strategic plan. 

Ms. Kelly was quoted saying  “I am honored to lead Wiawaka as its Executive Director. Wiawaka is a local historical gem on beautiful Lake George. I encourage people to stop in for a tour, spend the day or an overnight, take a class, participate in a retreat, or spend time enjoying the beauty and history of Wiawaka”.

Ms. Kelly is a native of Glens Falls and is a graduate of the College of Saint Rose. She graduated from Leadership Adirondack, Sales and Leadership training among other continuing education courses. 

She encourages you to stop and say Hi!  She is looking forward to meeting everyone. 

Wiawaka is always looking for interested individuals to serve on committees, help with events and perhaps be interested in joining the Board.  Please contact Doreen for more information by emailing her at: wiawakadirector@gmail.com.

For a complete list of the 2019 Board of Directors/Officers click here.

In 2015 Wiawaka’s main dock was damaged in a storm.  The damage was so great a total rebuild was necessary.  Through fundraising efforts and securing funds through a loan we were able to complete the construction of a new dock in time for the 2016 summer season. Our dock is cherished because not only is it a popular gathering place for our guests each summer but it also serves as a protective barrier for our historic boathouse.

Though the project is complete, your help is still needed! We had to take a sizable loan to pay for the construction, so donations are still needed even now that the replacement is finished. Please call our office at 518-668-9690 to make a donation, mail a check or donate online.