Women's Board salutes the past, looks to the future

Past presidents of the Women's Board of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center were honored at an April 5 luncheon. Pictured are Judy Lain, Mady Deter, Mimi Cruse, Ellie Kirchner, Karen Huhndorff, Jo Theis and Carolyn Griffen.

The Women's Board of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center welcomed former WB presidents, Center staff, and guests during our April Salad Luncheon on April 5 at the Center in Bay Village. The past presidents attending included Mimi Cruse, Mady Deter, Carolyn Griffen, Ellie Kirchner, Judy Lain, Jo Theis and Karen Huhndorff. Each was introduced and honored with a yellow rose boutonniere.

The Women’s Board of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is a volunteer organization with a rich history. Started in 1954 by six women, it has evolved to a group of women of all ages, skills, experiences and talents. The purpose of the Women’s Board is to support Lake Erie Nature & Science Center through service, leadership, community awareness and fund raising. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month, September through June, at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village.

Dr. Elberta "Bert" Fleming, the founder of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and director for 32 years was honored in memoriam with a cake for her birth date of April 5, a very fitting tribute to this pioneer of understanding and sharing nature with others. News articles, photos and scrapbooks were displayed, covering the history of the Center from its founding in 1945 until today.

Dr. Fleming had a vision for the future. It was important to her that children learn from experiences and discovery, for the lessons they learned in science through nature were essential for their future based on the principles that learning is fun and children learn best by doing. The charter states that this non-profit organization will connect people of all ages to nature in order to motivate natural curiosities and creative abilities, encourage an understanding of cultural diversity, and instill civic responsibilities by developing a desire to conserve our natural resources.

Dr. Fleming’s vision is thriving in the 21st century. Today, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center serves more than 168,000 children and family members per year from a wide region across Cuyahoga and Lorain counties and beyond. The number of programs offered has increased exponentially with more than 200 different programs including early education, planetarium shows, wildlife encounters, field trips, scout programs and seasonal family events, involving more than 60,000 participants today.

Stop by and enjoy this gem "in your own backyard." For more information, visit the website, lensc.org, or call 440-871-2900

Karen Huhndorff

I am a member of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Women's Board and occasionally submit articles to publicize Women's Board activities. 

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Volume 9, Issue 9, Posted 9:29 AM, 05.02.2017