Designer: Joyce Zuelke, CKD Photographer: Shanna Wolf
Lifestyle
Geneva National
EDITOR
Joel Mirsberger
PHOTO EDITOR
Dawn Jensen
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Dave Bunge
Diane Burke
Stephanie Nelson
Meghan Noble
Howard Storck
Interior photos by Ideal Impressions, Destination Geneva National, Paul Caffrey, Barb Degnan, Cassidy Fortunski, Dawn Jensen, Steve Magnuson, Stephanie Nelson, Chris Pisano, Adam Smith, Howard Storck and Diana Whitfield.
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Welcome to the fifth anniversary edition of Lifestyle Geneva National magazine! It all started as a simple idea — to share the treasures of Geneva National with residents and would-be neighbors alike. But sharing only goes so far. Sometimes, you have to experience a place to truly love it. And as you approach the awardwinning, master-planned community nestled among 1,800 acres of hills in southern Wisconsin and wind your way toward the gate, you notice the towering oak trees and abundance of wildlife. Perhaps you catch a glimpse of Lake Como or one of the stunning golf courses. Only then will you you start to understand the beauty of Geneva National.
Geneva National is a diversified residential community comprised of primary, secondary and vacation homes that exist in harmony with nature. It is also the home of not one, but three PGA Championship golf courses. Beyond golf, the community offers a wide array of amenities and activities for all its residents. The clubhouse and two swimming pools — one for adults and one for families — are the centerpieces of the recreation complex, which also includes lighted tennis and pickleball courts, and children’s playgrounds.
The Geneva National Board of Directors has adopted specific core values that drive our strategies, and five-year capital and operating plans. These values have resulted in substantial financial reserves, community association monthly assessment fees holding steady for five consecutive years and the updating of major infrastructure without any special assessments.
In 2021, the community experienced tremendous sales growth in all categories of existing properties, with over 100 properties sold. Even more encouraging is that property values have increased substantially from previous years. In addition to the sale of existing homes, 50 new homes were completed or under construction during the year. Our Property Management team was able to handle the growth, providing support not only to the builders, but also to the new residents without affecting services to existing homeowners. The team has decades of experience in controlling costs and prides itself on providing excellent service.
We welcome everyone to visit and explore our community, and see for yourself why so many choose the Geneva National lifestyle.
John Platz
Geneva National Community Association Board President
12 A Place for Community Living Meet the intriguing neighbors of this diverse, resort-style community.
Where in the World?
Residents traveled the globe with their Lifestyle Geneva National magazines.
What’s Happening at Geneva National?
Whether you look in front of or behind the front gate, lots of new and exciting things are on the horizon.
Just Imagine ...
Geneva National residents Paul and Michelle Caffrey spent 10 years piloting a barge along the rivers of France. Here is one of their stories.
The Heart of Geneva National
The principles of a healthy, creative and generous lifestyle can be found throughout our community.
The Pets of Geneva National Meet some of our furry friends.
The Neighborhoods of Geneva National
Numerous options are available to suit almost any lifestyle. 42 Get in on the Action
At Geneva National, you can choose the life you love! 44 Reflecting on the Past
A family dinner gives birth to Geneva National.
Echoes of the Belfry’s Past
The Belfry Music Theatre has a more fascinating history than it lets on.
the Love of a Horse
Many Geneva National residents share a love and passion for horses.
The fifth hole of the
FAST FACTS
Geneva National Community Quick Reference
Year Established 1990
No. of Homes 337 single-family homes, 592 multi-family units
No. of Homesites 171 available
Size of Community 1,800 acres
Security Two gated entrances with security staff
Amenities
Three world-class golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player
Beautiful golf clubhouse with formal and informal dining options, meeting facilities, a Wellness Center and special event venues overlooking Lake Como
New Swim and Racquet Club featuring family and adult pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and a clubhouse for gatherings
A network of nature and cross-country ski trails
• The Hunt Club Steakhouse and the Inns of Geneva National
Memberships for Geneva National Golf Club are available directly through the golf club, which is not affiliated with the Geneva National community. For more information, please visit genevanationalresort.com.
Available Homes and Homesites
A number of single- and multi-family homes and homesites are currently available for purchase. To learn more about buying or building at Geneva National, please contact one of the realtors or homebuilders featured in this publication.
900 S. Wells St., Lake Geneva, WI 53147
262-275-6253 / 262-249-0009
Enjoy the Geneva National Life In Our
Luxurious New Dream Ranch (Under Construction – Completion Summer 2022) 1374 ROYAL TROON COURT
5 Brm • 3-1/2 Bath • 4,380 sf Living Space
• 10’ Ceilings – Entire Main Floor
• 9’ Ceilings in Lower Level
• 8’ Tall Solid Raised Panel Doors
• Designer Extra Wide Trim & Baseboard
• Wood & Tile Flooring
• Fantastic Gourmet Kitchen
• Custom Maple Cabinetry & Pantry
• Quality Stainless Steel Appliances
• Spacious Laundry/Mud Room
• Stone & Smartside Siding Exterior
• 2 Custom Designed Fireplaces
• Spacious Full Finished 3.5 car Garage
• 8’ Tall Remote Garage Doors
• 2nd Staircase to Basement Storage
• 8’ x 35’ Covered Front Porch
• 14’ x 20’ Composite Deck
• Andersen Energy Efficient Windows
• 30-year Architectural Roof Shingles
• Concrete Driveway
COMMUNITY LIVING A Place for
Meet the intriguing neighbors of this diverse, resort-style
community.
Meet the Leffins
Loretta and John Leffin moved to Geneva National in 2017, shortly after John retired early from his position with a business service and consulting company in Milwaukee. As avid golfers, they began searching for a golf community around the Milwaukee area to spend their summers (when they’re not at their home in Naples, Florida). They didn’t find anything they really liked right away. Then John remembered golfing at Geneva National years ago with their friends, John and
Diane Aldo, who live on the property. The Leffins set their sights on Geneva National and, after viewing several properties, chose Golfview Terrace.
According to John, the couple likes the beauty of the ponds and fountains; the detail and quality of the building construction; the homeowners association; the amenities like the pool, and tennis and pickleball courts; and of course, the three surrounding golf courses.
The Leffins have two daughters — one is a graphic designer for Mission of Hope Haiti in Chicago and the other is employed in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Living and working a short distance from Geneva National makes visiting their parents easy and enjoyable. Loretta plays golf, tennis and pickleball with them on visits, and one of the family’s favorite restaurants, Hunt Club Steakhouse, is just a short car ride down the boulevard. John mentions, “You can do everything you want to do and not leave campus.”
During this past summer, Loretta entertained 12 of her Florida friends who conveniently stayed at The Inns of Geneva National on site. The daily itineraries included boat cruises, relaxing around the pool, golf and dining out. All the firsttime guests to the state raved about the area with its natural beauty and variety of activities. Everyone told Loretta they planned a return visit.
When the Leffins are not golfing or entertaining, they are active in nonprofit activities. John is involved in leadership development programs, which include seminars in Wisconsin and beyond, for the Green Bay Packers and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Business School. Together, the Leffins lead retreats for the Halftime Institute, a teaching ministry that helps lead people to a fulfilling life direction after retirement.
“You can do everything you want to do and not leave campus.”
— John Leffin
And as a family, all four Leffins work with Mission of Hope Haiti. They do aid work on their many trips to the island and were instrumental in starting a technical school to educate Haitians in the trades so they can earn a living.
Since moving to Geneva National, the Leffins have discovered new friends who also have winter homes in Naples, so they can continue their friendships while away from Wisconsin. In addition, John has been impressed with the financial investments evident in the community, which enhance the personal investments of all Geneva National residents. These are just some of the unexpected bonuses to the life the Leffins chose at Geneva National.
In 1991, Ann and Dan Formeller were looking for a weekend home for themselves and their high schoolaged triplets. They were looking to get away from their full-time home in Northbrook, Illinois, as well as Dan’s busy law practice. They discovered Geneva National and felt that it was just what they were looking for, so they purchased a home in the Lakelands.
After spending a couple of years in the community, they realized Geneva National would be the place where this very close family would gather for years to come.
It wasn’t long before the Formellers decided to find a house that the family could share even after the children were grown. Unfortunately,
Ann was diagnosed with a terminal illness shortly after the search for the ideal home began. Therefore, the timetable to find a place accelerated. In 2005, Ann and Dan found their home on Ryder Cup with a beautiful view of Palmer 11 and, with a little remodeling in the basement to create a wine room and second living area, it became the kind of place they had hoped for. Sadly, Ann was only able to enjoy it for a short time before her illness took a toll.
About a year later, Dan’s daughter, Kat, and her husband, Richard Marrero, invited Dan to move into their home in Northbrook. Over time, their household grew to include two daughters, Stella and Adalyn, and a Yorkie named Pauly, while Dan’s Geneva National residence became the beloved second home.
As a triplet, Kat has always been close to her siblings. For example, Kat and her siblings are all attorneys, and Kat and Dan work for the same firm that serves C-suite clients across the country. But even beyond pursuing the same career paths, her brother’s family lives 5 minutes from Kat and his three sons attend school with Kat’s daughters.
Besides Kat’s demanding job, Richard works for a blue-chip employee benefits practice that specializes in helping companies of 100 to 1,000 employees with the strategic planning and development of their medical benefits packages. The stresses of their professional lives, coupled with COVID-19 restrictions, caused the family to spend approximately 75% of their time at Geneva National in 2020 and they continue to spend a large amount of their time there to date.
Kat and Richard talk about their fortune often when driving through the property. “I feel so lucky that we have this place in our life. I really enjoyed growing up in Geneva National and I get to share that with my children. They love it,” Kat says. “To them, coming up to Lake Geneva is just part of how we live our life. This is how we spend our weekends and our summers. Even during the winter, it is the place we spend quality time. I’m happy that I’m able to have my kids grow up the way I did.”
True to the original intent for purchasing the Geneva National house, the whole extended family enjoys what the property has to offer
Investment Management & Financial Planning
in the summer months. One of their favorite activities is golf and they enjoy all three neighborhood courses. But they also take advantage of using the club for social activities like dining and hanging out with friends. Another place Stella and Adalyn especially appreciate is the pool. According to Kat, “They will spend four to five hours there on any given Saturday or Sunday, just swimming and playing.”
The next biggest joy they find here is just being outside. Kat explains, “It’s quiet, it’s open, it’s clean, and it’s nice to take long walks, or sit in our backyard and enjoy the peacefulness.” And even though Kat and Richard were the only house on their street at first, they think it’s wonderful how many homes have been added to the street and neighborhood in general in just the last few years. They’re even happier to see that so many of them are full-time residents.
The Formellers are also encouraged to see the age of the families in the community skew younger. When Kat and her siblings came here as youngsters, they would be the only kids at the pool. Now, there are many families with children the same age as her own, which has allowed her to make many friends in the community. In fact, she sees a lot of families that have what her family has — a multigenerational connection creating a legacy of enjoyment within the confines of Geneva National.
Though when they’re here, they prefer to spend much of their time at home or within the community, Kat and Richard also have interests outside Geneva National, although they admit to saving many visits to local restaurants and shops for the off season. On that note, one of Rich and Kat’s favorite carryout places is Larducci Pizzeria in Elkhorn. Rich emphasizes that you
“I feel so lucky that we have this place in our life. I really enjoyed growing up in Geneva National and I get to share that with my children. They love it.”
— Kat Formeller
shouldn’t judge this book by the cover. In addition to having a varied menu, especially for a carryout-only establishment, it has the best pizza around. When the family goes out to eat, the Hunt Club Steakhouse, Sopra and Café Calamari are among their favorites as well.
The Formellers also like to take trips to Pearce’s Farm Stand, boat with friends and visit the Dip in the Bay ice cream shop in Williams Bay. Occasionally, Rich takes the girls to the playground at Calvary Community Church, which is across Highway 50 and just down the road from the front entrance of the community. Winter activities include sledding with Stella and Adalyn, wine or firepit nights with friends, and hanging out at home, playing board games or watching movies.
Kat and Rich advise anyone considering buying or building a home in Geneva National to: “Do it!” Kat says, “I’ve been here for so long and I really love it. There is so much to do for so many different types of people. It doesn’t matter what age you are or what activity you like, it has so much to offer and it’s a friendly neighborhood to live in.”
Enlightened Style Dual Shades
Enlightened Style Natural Woven Shades
Jerry and Sharon Roberts have been a part of the Geneva National community for many years. They purchased their home in 2001 and split their time between Flossmoor, Illinois, and here. The Roberts have three adult children — one son and two daughters — as well as a very successful business in Illinois.
The Roberts belonged to a country club in Flossmoor in the early 2000s. It was there that Sharon befriended another country club member who owned a home in Geneva National. When Sharon was invited to attend a women’s golf weekend, she says she fell in love with the community, the golf courses and all of the amenities. “As they say, the rest was history!” Sharon laughs. The Roberts began searching
for the perfect place to call home at Geneva National.
Jerry and Sharon especially enjoy the summer months because the warm weather allows them to spend a great deal of time on the three championship golf courses within the community. They try to get out on the courses at least a few times a week. “The courses here offer some of the best finishing holes in southern Wisconsin. Palmer 16 through Palmer 18 are stunning, with a backdrop of Lake Como, the surrounding communities and a beautiful snapshot of the clubhouse to round it out,” explains Jerry.
“The phenomenal views throughout the neighborhood are second to none,” agrees Sharon. “Looking out
“The courses here offer some of the best finishing holes in southern Wisconsin. Palmer 16 through Palmer 18 are stunning, with a backdrop of Lake Como, the surrounding communities and a beautiful snapshot of the clubhouse to round it out.”
— Jerry Roberts
from Player 12 is one of my favorite places within Geneva National.”
This fun couple explains that the Fourth of July weekend is their favorite holiday in the community: “We love to see friends, old and new, and all of the smiling faces in the sunshine. The winter months in Wisconsin can be long, so being able to get outside, spend time with friends and celebrate together is always our favorite time of the year.”
The Roberts delight in the surrounding areas, too. “Our neighborhood is such a great centralized location to everything, including Lake Geneva, Fontana, Williams Bay and more. We can travel to almost anywhere locally within 10 minutes from our front door,” says Sharon.
The couple also loves to attend member events at the clubhouse, and homeowners association events at the Swim and Racquet Club.
“They offer excellent camaraderie with neighbors and friends,” notes Sharon. “There is always something to do here year-round.”
The Hunt Club Steakhouse is another favorite of the Roberts. Between the delicious food and drink options, not to mention the friendly atmosphere, the restaurant is a must when they are in town. On the weekends, Jerry loves to sample the breakfast selections at Turf. Smokehouse, too. He explains, “Breakfast is one of my favorite meals and Turf offers some great options.”
“We enjoy our community here in Geneva National. There are so many great friends, there are endless events and it is an overall great place to live,” concludes Sharon.
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Meet the Bozieviches
Aaron Bozievich and Amberly KinneyBozievich might be new to Geneva National, but they are not entirely new to Wisconsin. Aaron, originally from the Detroit area, and Amberly, who grew up in Door County, moved here from Michigan in the fall of 2019. An area industrial manufacturer recruited Aaron for its finance department, leading to the move.
Needing to find a home as soon as possible, the couple came to the Geneva Lakes area over the Labor Day weekend and started looking. They viewed homes in communities all around the area — Williams Bay, Fontana, Lake Geneva — and then they came to Geneva National.
There they found and fell in love with their home.
Prior to coming to the area, Aaron and Amberly were not even aware of Geneva National. But once they took a look, they said, “Holy smokes, there is a lot going on here.” In their words, the community within a community was the right choice, with its great location and all the amenities it had to offer.
Though the couple came to the area due to Aaron’s job change, Amberly had the flexibility to relocate because her job as an enterprise account executive for Google Cloud allows her to work from home.
Therefore, it was important to find a place with an environment that would be comfortable for Amberly to work in. She loves working from home, feeling that she gets a lot more done than she would in an office. She finds that the flexibility of getting a full day of work in, while still getting things done at home, like walking the dog, is a great arrangement.
Working from home was not part of the plan for Aaron, but with the pandemic, it became necessary for him for a time, too, and the adjustment presented some challenges. “I often had to remind him to close the door of the room he was working in,” comments Amberly.
Destination Geneva National's latest entertainment playground, scheduled to debut summer 2022. The Dance Floor is a lighted Himalayas-style putting course designed by Craig Haltom with 27 holes, fire features, bocce ball, surround sound, and an on-site taco bar & cantina.
For the couple, finding the right home wasn’t just about the indoor living space, it was also about the external environment. They wanted to make sure there was enough room for their dog, Chapman. They love walking through the neighborhoods with him, seeing
all the wildlife and experiencing all four seasons. They even have a video of Chapman interacting with a deer in their backyard.
Aaron and Amberly believe that a neighborhood is only as good as the community it is part of, and
they both really enjoy the Geneva National community. Amberly expressed that, although Geneva National is a big place, it feels like a very small town. While the couple didn’t know anyone when they moved here, they like how friendly people are and can’t believe how many friends they have made in the time they have been here.
Aaron’s recommendation to new residents is to attend as many of the community events as you can — the Welcome Committee’s new resident coffee, activities at the Swim and Racquet Club, and more. Amberly especially loves the pool.
The couple loves exploring the area, too, getting out to some of the local communities or going to Milwaukee and its surrounding areas. One of their favorite activities is dining inside and outside of the community at the Hunt Club Steakhouse, Opus, Sopra, Turf. Smokehouse, Mars Resort, Oakfire, Simple Café and DJ’s in the Drink. They relish having so many wonderful dining experiences out their front door.
“You have a whole spectrum of housing options available and the Architectural Review Committee has done a great job because there is such diversity in the types of homes available.”
— Aaron Bozievich
To change it up, the couple likes to hang out with friends and occasionally goes boating with a few who belong to Gage Marine’s boat club. They also take joy in showing family around the area when they come to visit and do things like taking a scenic boat tour of Geneva Lake to learn the history of the homes that were built on its shores.
Aaron says, “You have a whole spectrum of housing options available and the Architectural Review Committee has done a great job because there is such diversity in the types of homes available.”
IN THE WORLD? Where
Geneva National residents answered the challenge this past year and took the Lifestyle Geneva National magazine with them on their travels. From Peru to Germany, the Grand Canyon to Door County, the magazine went worldwide and here are the pictures to prove it.
GENEVA NATIONAL? What’s Happening at
Whether you look in front of or behind the front gate, lots of new things are on the horizon. In fact, there is a lot of excitement as Scott Lowell, Geneva National Board Member at Large, is moving forward with further development of the Geneva National Professional Village. Now residents can maintain professional offices right out the front gate in a business neighborhood highly visible from Highway 50.
For several years, Compass, Bella Tile, Geneva Cabinet Company, FORM Wealth Advisors, Mia Faccia and Niche have enjoyed this tranquil, yet strategic location for their businesses, and they will soon have new neighbors. A legal firm and an interior designer will be leasing units; a marketing firm is in the final stages of designing its offices; various other prospects are considering moving there; and some existing tenants are expanding. Buildings can be either purchased or leased.
Niche
Niche, a popular business in the Geneva National Professional Village, is remodeling and rebranding to lean more toward a craft cocktail/martini/jazz venue. The aesthetic changes include bar seating, a separate coffee area and an elevated piano stage. Niche will continue to serve its specialized coffees, but is also adding a smoothie bar for those craving a morning or afternoon refreshment.
Destination Geneva National’s latest entertainment playground, The Dance Floor, is a lighted, himalayas-style putting course with 27 holes designed by Craig Haltom. The new recreation area incudes fire features, bocce ball, surround sound, and an on-site taco bar and cantina.
Scheduled to debut this summer, The Dance Floor will be open to members, residents and the public. Whether you are a seasoned golfer or a beginner, putting courses of this caliber are becoming a popular feature at many destination clubs and resorts across the country.
Future Community Enhancements
Geneva National’s leadership believes that expanding opportunities for community and recreation will enrich the experience of living at Geneva National. An upgraded playground, additional pickleball courts, new bocce ball courts, new and revamped fitness trails, and a community gathering area are at the top of the list as resident demographics change. Homeowners’ input will continue to be gathered to determine what elements will have the greatest positive impact for residents.
Geneva National Professional Village
The Dance Floor
IMAGINE ... Just
Just imagine leisurely watching the countryside as you cruise the rivers and canals of France on a luxury Dutch barge. The pace is slow enough you can walk or bicycle the canal paths. Take some time to explore the fresh markets or shop in the small villages that line the route. Tour museums. Enjoy wine tours and luncheons at some of the most prestigious Burgundy vineyards in the Côte d’Or. Finish your day with a gourmet meal on board or enjoy the fare at a local restaurant, then retire to your private stateroom and let the rhythm of the water lull you to sleep. Wake refreshed and ready to enjoy another day experiencing the joie de vivre that is France.
Geneva National residents Paul and Michelle Caffrey spent 10 years entertaining guests while piloting a barge in France and making memories — some serene and some adventurous. Here is one of their stories.
By Michelle Caffrey
The Eiffel Tower glistened only meters from the deck of our barge, Imagine. The Paris landmark’s spectacular light display appeared to be a show meant only for us. Two guests and my husband, Paul, and I sipped champagne from flutes and nibbled on apéritifs of pâté and baguette fresh from the local boulangerie. It was idyllic and romantic, but the journey down the Seine was a microcosm of the trials Paul and I had risen above for six years.
Earlier that day, we’d arrived in Paris as part of our 2006 cruise from Burgundy, France, to celebrate Imagine’s 100th birthday. Our guests, previous clients who became friends, had joined us along the route.
Paul had piloted toward downtown Paris with trepidation. The Seine was notoriously busy with enormous commercial barges and sightseeing boats, bateau mouche Navigation was tricky and rules needed to be carefully followed, lest the river police arrest the offending boat captain. As we approached our mooring spot, matters turned even more complicated. The wind churned up, roiling the Seine with angry waves. Dark storm clouds threatened. Our guests and I sat on the deck, keeping a careful watch as Paul piloted toward our anchorage.
A huge commercial barge loomed next to us, dwarfing our 25-meter boat. Although Imagine weighed 80 tons, we were small compared to the behemoths. Paul gave way as it passed us. Sightseer boats screamed by in both directions with blaring loudspeakers pointing out Paris landmarks.
We’d been told by fellow boaters — bargées — that we should look for the small Statue of Liberty on the Pont de Grenelle as a marker and then make our turn upstream. Usually, our barge handled the waves smartly, but today, the churned waters splashed over the deck, driven by the gusts and fast-moving river traffic. My herbs and flowers on the deck blew over. I wondered if Paul was going to give up and head back to the smoother waters of the Marne River in Champagne.
Paul piloted on and I huddled beneath my foul-weather gear as wind-whipped water stung my face and hands.
And then, the sun broke through the clouds and Paul dodged traffic as he made our turn next to the statue. The harbor master was waiting for us and I expertly tossed him a line to moor. Elated, I made fast to the bollards.
It had been worth it, just as everything that led up to this moment had been.
Five years earlier, the software company we worked for was acquired by a larger one. In our fifties, we took a risk. We quit our jobs to find some other way to make a living. Paul left first, researching an alternative career. Inspired by a PBS series, “Barging through France,” he proposed a charter business. Other couples established cruising operations in France and there was an American teaching a training course on handling a barge.
I learned Dutch barges aren’t like New York garbage scows or the commercial crafts barreling down the Mississippi. These old boats are former sailing vessels, built in the early 20th century, with graceful hulls made of steel. They originally carried goods, but many of them were converted to motorized houseboats after World War II.
Studying the pictures of beautiful, flower-bedecked ships, I agreed to a training cruise, envisioning a French holiday eating Brie and sipping a fine Côtes du Rhône wine.
The training cruise was anything but a relaxing vacation.
Instead of a holiday, we were both expected to work and learn everything about the operation of a boat 60 feet long and weighing approximately as many tons. Surprisingly, I took to barging, handling the lines and even piloting the training boat into locks with only inches of clearance on either side. I expected Paul to do well — he’d grown up with boats all his life. He was a natural. But I surprised both of us when we passed the final test, both written and practical, with honors.
On our last night of the training cruise, Paul and I decided to sell everything we owned, including our house in Boulder, Colorado. We would use the proceeds to find and purchase a Dutch barge and establish a cruising business. Paul had already spotted some candidates. But, he warned me, they would probably need work to make them suitable for us. Later, I would find out how much work would be involved.
“I think I’ve found a market niche no one’s filled,” Paul said. “Instead of fivestar service like the hotel boats, we’ll try a more casual style, welcoming people into our home just like a bed and breakfast. So, I’m thinking of calling it ‘Barge and Breakfast.’”
For almost 30 years in the software business, I’d been too busy to hear my soul. My life had been filled with voicemails, emails, demos, sales quota pressure, delayed flights, irate customers, and hiring and firing employees. I craved peace and wanted the energy back that my jobs had leeched from me. I needed the time to create, to think and to just be. I’d seen a tantalizing glimpse at tranquility on a boat gliding through France at an escargot’s pace.
“To our future as bargées,” I said, clinking my glass against Paul’s.
That week, I’d discovered that if I wanted something, I could do it, even if it didn’t come naturally. I could learn.
Epilogue
We cruised aboard our beloved barge for 10 adventurous years. During that time, we navigated over 10,000 locks. Many of our guests became friends and remain in touch.
Our homeport buddies are boaters from all over the world. Many French people — lockkeepers, port captains, village residents and restaurant owners — supported us, Imagine and her two-person crew, with a warm and genuine friendship. Nowhere was this clearer than in the aftermath of 9/11, when they offered us the safety of their own homes if we could not fly back to the States.
In 2015, I wrote and published my travel memoir, “Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat,” detailing the adventures — and misadventures — of our first year of cruising. Currently writing full time, I am also the author of “Bring Jade Home: The True Story of a Dog Lost in Yellowstone.” My award-winning picture book, “Jade — Lost in Yellowstone,” was published in 2020.
Paul and I now live in the wonderful Geneva National community, where we savor the memories of a life richer than we’d ever imagined. Michelle Caffrey lives in Geneva National with her husband, Paul, a retired amateur sports car racer and barge captain. Her books, “Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat” and “Bring Jade Home: The True Story of a Dog Lost in Yellowstone,” and picture book, “Jade — Lost in Yellowstone,” are available online.
GENEVA NATIONAL The Heart of
The principles of a healthy, creative and generous lifestyle can be found throughout our community.
Much of the beauty of Geneva National is easily seen. The community is surrounded by incredible gifts of nature, including a menagerie of trees and wildlife. Gentle, rolling hills embrace three world-class golf courses that attract players from near and far. Gorgeous homes and landscaping, as well as other amenities, make Geneva National an incredible setting. But what is not so easily seen is the heart of Geneva National. Here is an introduction to the four chambers of the heart — wellness, meditation, creativity and generosity — that reveal the spirit and inspiration of the community.
The Heart of Wellness
By Kelsey Waddell
There is no doubt that the pandemic restricted everyone’s lifestyle and physical activity in some way. Although aimed at minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission, restrictions limited in-person contact and our options for getting the required amount of exercise for a healthy lifestyle (at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week, including muscle strengthening at least two days a week).
Thankfully, the restrictions at Geneva National have been lifted and, due to vaccinations, and everyone being more conscientious of the safety and well-being of themselves and those around them, it is safe to exercise in our Wellness Center.
Exercise can also positively impact the immune system. Several medical studies report that regular exercise
reduces the duration and severity of upper respiratory tract infections. They also suggest that regular physical activity is associated with a decreased incidence of mortality from influenza and pneumonia. Furthermore, moderately intense exercise is associated with reduced risk of multiple health issues and disease. The takeaway is that people who are consistently inactive and do not meet the recommended amount of exercise per week have a higher risk of hospitalization and death from an illness.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways exercise can help boost our immunity — by increasing muscle contractions, blood and lymph flow, immune cell transport and the recruitment of T cells, which helps destroy viruses. Typically, immune cells reside in the lymphoid tissue, but with increased circulation, they can be transported throughout the body, ready to fight off any pathogen and virus that enters. High-intensity aerobic exercise programs are more effective than those of lower intensity in warding off illness, and reducing its duration and severity. That’s because the stronger your heart muscles are the more efficiently they can pump blood, allowing oxygen and nutrients to get to where they’re needed.
The Heart of Meditation — Immunity
By Carla Gorsky
We are living in a stressful time when it is essential to keep our immune systems strong and capable. Ironically, stress is one factor that can diminish the response of our immune systems.
Our nervous system has two branches: sympathetic (fight, flight or freeze) and parasympathetic (rest and digest). When we are reactive to any threat, whether real or perceived, our immune system is repressed to save energy for survival. When our environment, thoughts or emotions create a constant state of stress, however, our immunity is compromised.
Meditation is a tonic for what ails us. Through this simple act, we can turn off “fight, flight or freeze” and initiate a “rest and digest” state of being at will. In a 2016 study,
When we undergo regular bouts of stress (moderate- to high-intensity exercise), the body is able to better handle other external incidences of stress, like upper respiratory illnesses. To improve your immunity, keep your heart and lungs strong by getting the recommended amount of exercise. It may be slow and frustrating at first, but stick with it. Moderate- to high-intensity exercise is meant to push you out of your comfort zone.
Still not comfortable coming down to the gym? A simple Google or YouTube search can reveal many home-based exercise programs, including dance, aerobics, yoga, strength and more. If you don’t have cardio equipment, use the stairs, run in place or do some jumping jacks. Bodyweight exercises, such as squats, push-ups, sit-ups or calf raises on the edge of the stairs, are also useful. Do your part to keep yourself strong and help those in our community stay motivated. Contact me for any extra help.
Kelsey Waddell, ACSM, is the director of the Wellness Center at Geneva National Resort & Club. She is also an ACSM-certified personal trainer and wellness coach. For more information, contact her at wellness@gnresort.com.
researchers conducted a systemic review on meditation and immune health dating back to 1966. After analyzing 20 different studies, researchers found evidence to suggest that practicing mindfulness meditation can not only increase immune cell counts, which aid in protecting the body against illnesses and diseases, but it can also boost immune cell activity.
Heart meditation is particularly well-suited for strengthening the immune system. As you focus your breath in the middle of your chest, the heart’s energy center is positively affected and balanced. This creates coherence between your mind, heart and autonomic nervous system.
Choose a quiet place in your home or in nature where you won’t be disturbed. Sit comfortably in a chair with your spine upright, yet relaxed, and both feet on the floor. After you get comfortable with the instructions, close your eyes. Focus on the middle of your chest. Pretend that you can breathe in and out through your heart center. (It may seem odd at first, but pretending actually increases the flow of energy.)
Make your breath rhythmic, so that your inhale is equal to your exhale. There is no pause at the top or bottom of the breath. In your heart, feel the love and gratitude for someone you cherish as you continue your rhythmic breathing. When your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to your rhythmic breath and the loving feeling in your heart.
Starting with a daily practice of only 20 minutes can create a breath of fresh air for your nervous system. As your anxiety fades, your immunity will grow.
Carla Gorsky, CMT, is the owner of The Peaceful Heart, providing massage therapy and spiritual healing. She offers individual, family and group sessions. For more information, please visit thepeacefulheart.com.
creations. Her inspiration comes from many sources as she scours flea markets for antique buttons and old silver, or discovers polished petrified wood at a rock and gem show. “I become totally immersed in the search for unique and unusual pieces. Sometimes I’ll see something that just calls to me and I know I have to have it. Eventually, it will work its way into the perfect necklace or bracelet,” she says.
A few years ago, Becky realized the dream of having her own dedicated studio space in her home. With an array of beads and specialty fixtures always visible, she is free to let her creative spirit flow. “I love color and I have to be careful not to get stuck in my favorite palette,” she explains. “Every piece is one of a kind.” The finished product has amazing texture and dimension, with a subtle intertwining of color that elevates the jewelry to another level.
“As I’m working, the piece will start showing what it is and then it just comes to life,” acknowledges Becky.
The Heart of Creativity — One Bead at a Time
Becky Britton’s beadwork journey began with a dilemma many experience — not finding the perfect piece of jewelry to complement her outfit — so she decided to make something herself. She’s always been creative, but quickly learned that making jewelry was more complicated than she anticipated. The art of bead weaving is a timeconsuming evolution of skills because the parts are small and there are many components. If something’s not coming together to her liking, for example, Becky may take one piece apart three to four times. According to her, “You make mistakes and you learn … and you take lots of classes!”
Everywhere Becky travels presents a new opportunity to seek out the most beautiful elements to enhance her
The Heart of Creativity — Heart of Glass
Suzanne Flynn, who has always loved art, waited 60 years for her “playroom,” a place of her own where she can listen to music, paint and indulge her creative side. The room has large windows, and is stocked with a record player, sewing machine and art supplies. Canvases of artwork — both completed and in progress — fill the space. It is her dream studio. Suzanne began painting and drawing in junior high, and went on to minor in art and design in college. Even with formal training, though, much of what she does is self-taught. “It’s like cooking: I first read the recipe and then figure out my own way of doing it,” she explains.
Suzanne relishes a creative way to solve a problem. Her talent for creating leaded glass windows began many years ago with a large window in her children’s bathroom. She wanted an alternative to curtains, a way to provide privacy, but still allow light to filter into the room. She taught herself how to create a leaded glass effect and soon the bathroom was sporting a “rainbow fish” theme.
The jump from providing jewelry to friends and family to retail was serendipitous not once, but twice. The first happened when one of Becky’s friends was opening a shop in Sister Bay. She offered to supply her jewelry on consignment, meaning her friend didn’t need to invest in the merchandise and Becky could continue making the pieces that inspired her. The second opportunity arose when she visited Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor and struck up a conversation with the owner. Once the gallery owner learned that Becky was a jewelry designer, she asked to see — and then display — her work. “The organic creative ambiance of the gallery was the perfect fit for my pieces,” she says.
Becky is now expanding beyond Door County and bringing her jewelry to Geneva National by hosting an annual pop-up shop. Because her jewelry is custom and original, customers come to her to create the perfect specialoccasion piece. This is where her passion lies, creating that dramatic statement piece or a delicate slice of glittering beads to enhance the wearer. “I like making something that will never be made again by anyone, truly one of a kind. When you love what you’re doing, you just really get lost and that’s what makes it so fun,” Becky concludes.
Since then, she has expanded her art into the more public areas of her home. There are many things to consider before she can begin a project, however. For example, what is the purpose of the space? How much light should be admitted? What influences around the window (such as color or style) should be considered? Should the window include color, or incorporate textured glass or special accents, such as crystals? Suzanne says, “I have to sit and look at things to determine the best way to proceed, and sometimes they change as I’m doing it.”
The Heart of Generosity
“Making connections” became the key words for Michele and Denny Baltzley’s efforts to say a community “thank you” and come to the aid of local healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since receiving outstanding medical care at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn, Denny wanted to show his appreciation to the staff in some way during the health crisis, which left many medical personnel working endless hours on the job without any breaks. Providing meals, Denny thought, might be a good way to express gratitude, but how?
During a conversation with the owner of Fiddlesticks Bistro in Elkhorn while picking up a takeout order, Denny had an idea. At the time, Fiddlesticks was facing closure because of the COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining. But the restaurant might be able to stay open if it could provide meals for the healthcare workers. Everyone would benefit. So Michele and Denny mulled over how they could involve Fiddlesticks, come up with financing and receive approval from the Aurora Health Care network to make it all happen.
Fiddlesticks agreed to provide the meals without hesitation. And after many detailed conversations with Aurora, Denny was connected with the human resources director for the area. Coincidentally, she also knew the owner of Fiddlesticks and, with this additional fortunate connection, the hospital finally gave the go-ahead.
Denny and Michele compiled a list of about 150 Geneva National contacts and sent out an email explaining the effort and asking for a donation. That email elicited an overwhelming response that generated enough funds for Fiddlesticks to create 1,700 meals to be distributed to Aurora Lakeland from April through May 2020. A second fundraising effort, which included some corporate sponsors, even provided a Thanksgiving meal for all the staffers.
Suzanne’s inspiration comes from many places. She says, “It just happens. I see something, get an idea, then go into my studio to be in the moment and create.”
After much introspection, Suzanne creates a sketch and maps out a grid that she then places beneath the glass as a template. Faux lead strips and the liquid equivalent are applied directly to the glass to replicate the design. She makes adjustments as the work progresses and may even mix her own colors as she goes. “The design may evolve and take a different direction. Creativity comes from the heart and some of the best designs are the result of a happy mistake,” she admits.
After Suzanne and her husband, Scott, moved to Geneva National in 2014, she quickly applied her talent to the dining room and newly renovated bathroom. The leaded glass effect is the perfect complement to their English cottage home. For her next project, she is adding a stunning design to a 10-foot window that greets guests as they enter her home.
When she feels restless or is in need of a muse, she sits on her rooftop breezeway and looks at the stars: “Gazing at the stars has such a calming effect. Their beauty and mystery provide me the peace and introspection I need to feed my soul.”
What’s more, with the help of another Geneva National connection, Michele and Denny made it possible for the generous financial donations to be tax deductible. Denny remarks, “The moon and stars all aligned” to achieve this successful outcome. But it was the Baltzleys’ idea, perseverance, kind hearts and, yes, connections that made all the difference.
GENEVA NATIONAL The Pets of
Well, aren’t these guys the cat’s meow?
For so many of us, our pets are a big part of our lives and lifestyle. Geneva National is a great place to be a pet parent. The open spaces and pet-friendly attitude of many Lake Geneva businesses mean that it’s not uncommon to see watering stations outside front doors.
Because many of our residents are pet lovers, we thought it would be a doggone shame if you missed a chance to meet some of our furry friends.
Denver
Augie
Penny
Henri
Benji
Katie
Richi & Marti
Chapman
Sadie
Lola
“Woof, woof."
Dog
Palmer & Winnie Benny
Odie
Copper & Ruby
Jasper
Charlie Piper
Cooper, Sophie & Star
Fletcher
Harvey
Arnie
River
Blue
Hazel
Kia
Beibei
Renata Rose
Sadie,Wilson & Surrey
Cooper
Phoebe
Chloe
Cartier
Homer
Bucky & Wrigley
Bogey & Tiffany
Flynn & Ruby
Rusty Remington
Maddie & Bailey
Bella
Jake
The Neighborhoods of
GENEVA NATIONAL
Numerous options are available to suit almost any lifestyle.
Creating your lifestyle at Geneva National begins with your choice of home, whether a single- or multi-family unit. The single-family homes blend into the natural areas of their neighborhoods. From pristine settings with 200-year-old oaks or gently rolling terrain, the choice is yours to create your lifestyle. Many of the multi-family neighborhoods offer opportunities for enjoying the captivating outdoors as well — from private decks to the relaxing views of beautiful Lake Como or one of the three championship golf courses.
Single-Family Homes
Custom-built single-family homes and homesites can be found throughout the community, including such neighborhoods as The Reserve, The Savannah and The Woods. These homes offer extraordinary designs and amazing views, settled among acres of serene wetlands, wooded settings or panoramic views of the golf course.
You can find a variety of styles, ranging from two-story homes to lower-level walkouts with features such as vaulted ceilings, open floor plans and fine craftsmanship — all of which help create the perfect lifestyle at Geneva National.
Multi-Family Homes
At Geneva National, we have more than 16 neighborhoods of multi-family homes. When first entering the property, you experience the gorgeous Lakeview homes, which are comprised of Terrace Court, Terrace Point and Lakeview Manor. The Lakeview neighborhood offers townhomes and duplexes with custom finishes, hardwood floors and magnificent views overlooking the 16th and 17th holes of the Gary Player golf course.
As you continue up the Avenue of Champions, you come upon the beautiful Lakelands, Cobblestone Court and
Woodlands townhomes featuring unique floor plans, scenic views and private decks. Many of these units have open floor plans, full walkouts and plenty of space to create the lifestyle you choose when living at Geneva National.
The Highlands, Fairways, Foxwood and Golfview neighborhoods offer townhomes and condominiums. Options on The Turn include standalone and duplex homes. All add to the multitude of designs within Geneva National. Cathedral ceilings, fireplaces and amazing golf course views are only a few of the features that can be found in these beautiful homes.
Complementing the nature of Geneva National, the Villas at Eagleton and Eagleton Ponds are townhouses overlooking the prestigious Lee Trevino golf course. Open-concept floor plans with natural lighting add to the luxury.
It’s all about lifestyle here at Geneva National. Create the one you love.
ACTION Get in on the
As one would expect, many residents enjoy golfing the three championship courses, and the connections and social life that a golf membership provides. Others love hiking, tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, the playgrounds and pool facilities. While the activity is central, it’s often the connection with others that enriches the experience. Then, there are residents that simply enjoy the solitude and beauty, and the option to disconnect that Geneva National grants.
People flock to the Lake Geneva area for the bounty of local attractions and activities, as well as the natural beauty of the lakes, golf courses and other amenities. In late 2020, a group of residents organized the Geneva National Residents Adventure Group as a way for homeowners to meet and connect with other Geneva National residents to enjoy a variety of interesting activities. The informal social club has been well-received and it continues to evolve as participation continues to grow.
To date, the group has walked a large portion of the Geneva Lake Shore Path; hiked Geneva National’s famous Gary Player golf course; and taken on hikes of sections of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Big Foot Beach State Park and Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy. A bike ride from Geneva National to Pedal & Cup in Springfield and a day on Delavan Lake were also great fun for all. The most adventurous event yet was zip lining with a group of 18. Indoor gatherings during the bitter winter months have included a fascinating magic show, and a trivia and potluck extravaganza.
On the docket for 2022 as of this writing are a kayaking adventure on the Nippersink Creek; a day in Milwaukee that includes a walking tour, a visit to a brewery or two, dinner and an optional overnight stay; several hikes on the Geneva Lake Shore Path and in the Kettle Moraine; tubing at Wilmot Mountain’s
amazing facility; and venturing out to some of the unique dining and entertainment venues in the local area. Members are encouraged to set up ad-hoc adventures and gathering opportunities, in addition to regularly scheduled monthly gatherings.
Over 100 people are part of the Geneva National Residents Adventure Group. A website has been set up as a way to communicate about and capture memories of the fun times enjoyed together. Feel free to visit gnrag.com to find out more!
ON THE PAST Reflecting
A family dinner gives birth to Geneva National.
By Katie Alder
Tony Antoniou, CEO of Lombard, Illinois-based Anvan Companies, ventured north of the Illinois border during the early 1970s to build Interlaken Resort & Country Spa (now The Ridge). About 14 years following the construction of Anvan’s first Wisconsin resort property, Tony dined with his sons, Andy and Vance, in the Lake Bluff Dining Room. Admiring the rolling picturesque farmland across the lake, on the northern shores of Lake Como, they wondered what they could do with the idyllic property. In sync, Andy and Vance echoed, “golf course!”
“It was late fall of 1987 when the conversation about building three championship golf courses began. The philosophy behind designing the golf courses at Geneva National was to provide an enjoyable golfing experience for everyone — from the scratch golfer to the novice golfer.”
— Andy Antoniou
During the late 1980s, The Abbey Group, the hotel and restaurant arm of Anvan, was a major economic force in the Lake Geneva area, owning and operating three unique, first-class resort properties, including Interlaken Resort, The Abbey Resort and Lake Lawn Resort. Competition between the sister properties was ongoing as they vied for clientele. Although each property had water access, one recreational aspect was difficult to procure — tee times. There were a limited number of golf courses in the area and tee times came at a premium.
According to Andy, “It was late fall of 1987 when the conversation about building three championship golf courses began. The philosophy behind designing the golf courses at Geneva National was to provide an enjoyable golfing experience for everyone — from the scratch golfer to the novice golfer.”
During the following months, Andy focused on purchasing parcels of land in Geneva Township, including the Petrie Farm and the former Kemah Arabian horse farm encompassing the eastern section of today’s Geneva National. And the Antonious’ concept of creating a golf course expanded into the design
of a masterplanned, 1,800-acre residential-recreational golf course community! While Tony and Andy worked on designing and developing the community, Vance focused on procuring golf course design contracts from three of the greatest names in golf. “Two years ensued while acquiring several farm parcels, as well as obtaining commitments from Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player to design the Geneva National courses,” Andy remembers.
On May 30, 1989, Anvan announced: “Three of golf’s greatest names will shape the courses at Geneva National!” Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player joined Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson at a press conference to introduce plans for the Geneva National golf course development near Lake Geneva. “Our
intention is to make the Geneva National Golf Club the premier golf facility in the Midwest and we’re extremely excited to have these three masters of the game design our courses,” William J. Bissett, vice president of Anvan, declared.
During 1988 and ’89, while the infrastructure, golf courses and 10 miles of roadways were being carved throughout highlands, woodlands and ravines, Tony focused on developing the clubs of Geneva National. With a reputation for excellence, he put together an impressive Geneva National Board of Governors to critique the standards and service of the clubs, including CEOs and presidents of Miller Brewing, Rayovac, McDonald’s and Wrigley Company, in addition to the general director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and a former Wisconsin governor. Advisors to the Board of Governors included the namesakes of the Arnold Palmer Design Company, Lee Trevino/William Graves Inc., Gary Player Design Company and Dick Nugent of Dick Nugent Associates.
The Geneva National golf courses were developed in several phases, with the Palmer and Trevino 18-hole championship golf courses opening in 1991; the courses rotated daily between membership and daily fee play. The Player course was developed in two phases, with the first nine holes introduced in June of 1995. Following the closing of Hunt Club field operations in 1999, the final nine holes of the Player course began construction and opened in June of 2000.
Abandoned for over 12 years, the historic Crane Manor was under renovation and opened as the Hunt Club in October of 1990, the first club of Geneva National. The 56,000-square-foot golf clubhouse was under construction and the first four condominium projects were under development, including the Club Cottages, Lakelands, Woodlands and Highland communities.
August 12 and 13 of 1991 were very exciting, welcoming the legends Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino to play and dedicate their signature golf courses! The Trevino course
dedication was Monday, August 12, followed by the Palmer dedication the next day. During the first dedication, Trevino revealed his humor and wit. Approaching the
NO LAYUPS FROM THE KING
David Baril, director of golf at Geneva National Golf Club in 1991, played Geneva National’s inaugural round of golf with Arnold Palmer. He shares the following memory:
“Tuesday, August 13, 1991, was the second day of golf course dedications at the Geneva National Golf Club. A glorious, sunny day, Geneva National Golf Club members and special invited guests attended a golf clinic, followed by the Palmer Course Dedication and 18-Hole Exhibition. A private gallery of 200 followed Palmer from the driving range to the course and witnessed why he was referred to as ‘king’ … It is important to note that Palmer was not playing particularly well that day, until hole 17.
“The signature hole at the Palmer course at Geneva National is the 17th hole, a par five, a sweeping dogleg left that requires both length and accuracy with Lake Como bordering the entire left side of the fairway, the green
stuck out on a peninsula. The tee shot landing area is moderately generous, however, a small grove of white oak trees guards the left side. A tee shot landing short of the oak trees requires one of two choices: one, a slinging hook to the right of the trees to find the fairway that continually bends to the left, or two, a straight shot over water to the peninsula green. That day, it played into a 20-mile wind at 570 yards. (Please remember that, in 1991, we were still using persimmon drivers and soft Balata golf balls.)
“Palmer hit his drive. He pulled the tee shot and it landed closer to the water than what I thought he intended. Palmer was not wearing a microphone, but one was closeby and all his conversations were being transmitted to the gallery that had been following him all day. He and his caddie were discussing what iron to use to hit the layup shot … I walked over and made a bold statement to a legend that I had just
Club Cottages on the eighth hole, he was drawn to a sign that read: “Lee Trevino: FREE Lemonade!” The legend stopped by to thank young Erin Frommeyer for the lemonade and offer a generous tip. According to Vance, Trevino also commented, “Here’s some money, go buy a lawn,” joking about the immature grass. “The sod installation was scheduled to begin the following week,” Vance recalls.
From visualizing a golf course on rolling farmland over dinner to working alongside three of golf’s legends to achieving a dream, the Antonious created a remarkable residential-recreational golf course community and positioned the Lake Geneva area as a truly great golf destination!
Katie Alder was the membership director from 1990 to 2013.
met several hours earlier: ‘Arnie, no one here wants to see you lay up.’
“He looked at me with piercing eyes that softened quickly as a grin grew on his face. He turned to his caddie and stated with a confidence borne from results, ‘Give me the three wood!’ A swing that had been shaky all day became invigorated as that shot, into a quartering wind, flew straight at the flag, traveling over water 250 yards and landing safely on the green.
“The crowd went wild. We all witnessed the greatness that many had seen countless times. Palmer proceeded to birdie that hole and the 18th hole, his only two birdies of the day. Everyone who was there witnessed Palmer earning his reputation as king.”
PRESIDENT GERALD FORD
Part of the Punchline
“One memory that stays with me is when former President Gerald Ford came to golf in an outing at Geneva National in 1996,” says Jim Buyze, former assistant director of golf.
“Prior to his arrival, security dogs came through the clubhouse sniffing for explosives and the Secret Service was everywhere. A helicopter frequently flew over the clubhouse at a low altitude.
“A security guard in the golf shop pulled a corded phone out of his briefcase, rattled off a long alphanumeric code and said, ‘There’s a helicopter flying toward this location at such and such coordinates. Change his course immediately or I will shoot it down!’ The helicopter goes into a hover and changes its course immediately.”
Chris Goodwick, former director of golf, recalls that, once Ford completed the 18th hole of the Trevino course, he was driven to the front of the clubhouse where the Secret Service and their black SUVs waited for him. It was a hot and humid day, and Ford had to pack a new putter in his bag. He said, “Sonny, you’re stronger than me, can you help me zip this up?” Chris says he was “proud as a peacock” to help, but when zipping the bag, his hand slipped and hit Ford square in the jaw. “I hit him so hard that I could hear his teeth slam shut. I looked at the Secret Service, hoping no one would shoot me.”
However, with the putter secure in his travel bag, the former president was on his way. Two weeks later, Chris received an autographed picture of President Ford to remind him of the best golf story ever!
A Tribute to THE CHAMBERS
A visionary. A gambler. A romantic. A patriot. A gentleman. That’s what it took to breathe new life into Geneva National Resort when Pamela and Garth Chambers purchased the clubhouse, courses and Hunt Club in 1996 — as well as sustain the property for the next 25 years. Having developed two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf communities, as well as resuscitated several upscale golf resorts from coast to coast, this team was up to par for the task. “My dad was a gambler and he bet on this property,” says G.L. Chambers, the resort’s current president and owner. “While the many other deals he made in his life provided a sense of pride and accomplishment, Geneva National gave him so much more — true pleasure.”
club’s membership and launching the Geneva National Foundation, which to date has issued more than $2.5 million in grants to Walworth County neighbors with special needs. Together, they established a true family-owned and operated facility, a rarity for a golf resort of this size and complexity.
Indeed, Geneva National was more than a monetary investment. Pamela and Garth made Geneva National their home, building a house on the Player course, becoming a vital part of the
Garth passed away June 17, 2021, followed by Pamela on February 16, 2022. The outpouring of community condolences and support has been overwhelmingly heartwarming, according to their son. “Over the years, my dad learned that true success comes from investing in community and self — and he lived out that precept here at Geneva National. He was proud to be the owner, but much more grateful to be part of this legendary community of members and staff.” The club, resort and next generation will continue to honor Pamela and Garth’s legacy with a memorial service this summer, and by continuing to steward this very special place they called home.
BTHE BELFRY’S PAST Echoes of
esides being famous actors, what do Paul Newman, Harrison Ford and Gary Burghoff have in common? They all spent time acting in summer stock productions at The Belfry Theater. You wouldn’t know it by looking at it, but this building has quite a history.
Situated in a Delavan cornfield at what would later be the intersection of highways 50 and 67, the building started as a Mormon church in 1888. The church occupied the property until 1932 when the congregation, having dwindled, was disbanded. The property was then turned over to the mother church in Independence, Missouri, and in 1934, a local theatrical group that had been calling itself the Drama Club leased the building. They christened it “The Belfry Theater” and renamed their group “The Belfry Players,” thus creating the first summer stock theater in Wisconsin.
Over the next several years, the group renovated the structure for theatrical purposes and patron comfort. By 1942, the Belfry’s mailing list reached 1,000 patrons and the Belfry Players Scholarship program was established. Applications were open “to any young man who believed he could go above and beyond with his skills.”
For the next more than 20 years, the theater thrived. It hosted many prominent performers, such as Lydia Clarke (who would later marry Charlton Heston) in 1945. Paul Newman, the scholarship recipient in 1949, was also often seen doing odd jobs around the theater to earn his keep.
In 1953, Del Close won the scholarship. Close — an actor, writer and teacher who coached many of the best-known comedians and comic actors of the late 20th century — was
also a major influencer on modern improvisational theater and a co-founder of the iO Chicago improv theater.
Burghoff’s theater career started during his sophomore year of high school when his family moved to Delavan. He performed as Bobby in “The Boy Friend” at the Belfry in 1961. His mother, Ann, who was a professional dancer, also worked at the Belfry as a choreographer.
In 1962, the now-prominent director Keith Fowler honed his skills directing at the Belfry. Then in 1964, a Chicago resident who recently graduated from Ripon College spent the summer performing at the theater. His name was Harrison Ford and he was 22 years old. Ford’s singing voice made quite an impression in several musicals the Belfry Players put on that year.
The theater company was doing so well at this time, they purchased Crane Hall from Crane Farms (now known as Geneva National). The Belfry Players moved the clubhouse onto the property alongside the Belfry Theater and began renovation. Crane Hall is now known as The Belfry House.
In 1965, the Belfry Players moved their facilities further back onto their property because the local government began a project to widen Highway 67. As part of the move, they built a new theater building next to the church and it served as the lobby for the new stage. However, with the expense of the move and construction, the theater company hit hard financial times and ended up suspending the project due to a lack of funds in 1969. They foreclosed on the property the same year.
The little theater sat dormant until the late ‘70s, when it began transitioning from one owner to the next. That lasted until the late ‘90s, during which it was owned by the Dobama Theatre and Southern Lakes Repertory Company. From 1990 to 1995, Joan Schwenk-Schultz, a well-known actress from Chicago, took ownership. In
1996, singer Eddie Cash purchased and renovated the Belfry for his own shows, which he performed until 1998. The historic theater went dark again until 2013 when the Transformative Arts group purchased it. They spent the next two years on renovations and rechristened the building as “The Belfry Music Theatre.”
At times, the all-volunteer staff feels like they are recreating a scene from one of the old Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney movies, “Hey gang, we’ve got these costumes and a stage. Let’s put on a show.” But they also believe the theater is meeting a community need. The first show, a Beatles cover band, was held in 2015 and it sold out. Despite the building having been gutted and people sitting on plastic lawn chairs, their belief was confirmed.
Transformative Arts started with 13 shows in the first season, on Fridays and Saturdays only. The next year, they added Wednesdays and Thursdays to see if people would still come. Then the group expanded the number of shows to 28. Then to 80 and then, before the pandemic hit, they were up to 120 shows per year. Because of their commitment to providing entertainment to the area and the loyal following that it has produced, The Belfry Music Theatre continued to operate during the pandemic in 2020. They were one of the only venues operating in the area in 2020 and, by some reports, one of the only operating theaters in the country at that time.
The group tried to put on as much of a season as they could. The challenge
wasn’t that people didn’t want to attend shows, but that performers didn’t want to travel and risk exposure to the virus. During 2020, only about 30% of the acts came, but in the 2021 season, only three acts canceled.
The Belfry Music Theatre keeps growing. Now acts are calling the theater to come play, which allows the venue to be more selective of whom they want to host. Predominantly, the theater books rock and roll groups, although it’s also dabbled with country and Broadway. At the same time, its entertainment mix has broadened from only cover bands to now adding original acts.
It’s not just the theater’s patrons that contribute to its current success, but the dedicated and enthusiastic crew of 60 volunteers as well. These volunteers include ticket sales staff, ushers, crossing guards, the expert who custom-designed and built a sound system on par with those at high-end venues, and area businesses like Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center, which allows the theater to use its parking lot on performance nights.
The Belfry has come a long way from the tiny theater with a 35-seat capacity where the actors had to crawl through windows at times to get on stage. It is now a 240-seat venue with state-of-the-art sound and lighting to enhance the shared experience of live performance, bringing engagement, inspiration and entertainment to the community by presenting professional productions for the entire family.
OF A HORSE For the Love
The love and care of horses is part of Geneva National’s heritage as the home of the first Arabian horses brought to the United States in 1915. They were stabled at Kemah Farm, which was located on what now is The Woodlands. Many of our residents share a love and passion for horses, including the following who share their stories.
Blue-Ribbon Beauties
“That feeling of exhilaration, of being one with the horse, galloping around the course up to a jump and finding that perfect distance, and letting go for a second as you fly, that is one of the best feelings in the world!” says Roberta Cullinan who has been competing in horse shows since she was 8 years old. She is now completing her freshman year as a member of the equestrian team at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she just took home a blue ribbon for her winning ride.
Roberta’s interest in horses began when she was just 6 and her father, Mike Medin, signed her up for riding lessons during spring break. She enjoyed the experience and soon moved to another equestrian facility where she could be more involved by grooming and tacking up the horses. Her lessons eventually led to competing in local and regional horse shows, beginning with dressage, then moving onto and competing in the hunter and jumper disciplines. In the hunter class, judging is based on the horse’s quality of movement and performance over a series of fences. The jumper class is judged by how fast the horse and rider can efficiently complete the round and clear all the fences. The equitation class judges the rider’s skill and ability to navigate a course of fences with accuracy and correct form.
Roberta has numerous accomplishments, including placing eighth at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Midwest Finals and ninth at the Marshall &
Sterling Midwest Finals. As the capstone to her junior riding career, she qualified for the National Horse Show held at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. “She’s a beautiful rider. This past fall, she had the opportunity to ride in a local circuit’s year-end finals. She got on a horse that she never rode before and took it to first place. As a mom, that is very satisfying,” says Vicky Cullinan, one of Roberta’s biggest fans.
Roberta required the support of her whole family to ride competitively, beginning with training, and lots of trips back and forth to the barn as she would ride six days a week. Although competition is considered an individual sport, the environment is more consistent with a team activity. The camaraderie extends beyond the rider and horse to include other riders and their support systems. Horse shows generally last three to four days, and Mike and Vicky were always there to pitch in and help.
Competing at Roberta’s level requires a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work. “Before a horse show, Roberta may be up at 4 a.m. to go to the stable and take care of the horses — feeding, grooming and doing everything that needs to be done. It’s remarkable how well she’s accepted those responsibilities,” Mike acknowledges.
Being a part of the equestrian team at Miami University means Roberta actively trains two to three times a week. In
collegiate competition, she is assigned a horse in a random draw and doesn’t get much time to get acquainted before entering the ring. Therefore, she has to adjust to riding different horses, so practice includes lessons on separate horses, then work on specific jumping and flatwork skills.
“I can immediately tell if I have a horse that is a little more fresh or high strung. Because I spend so much time in the saddle, I can now adapt the way I ride to help the horse through it,” Roberta explains.
After each event, Roberta has a debrief with her coach and then goes back to the university stable to work on what she can do to improve. “Each time I ride, I learn something different and then I can apply what I’ve learned. I’m always growing as a rider; there is always something new to learn,” she says.
As Roberta moves into her sophomore year, she plans to spend the summer honing her skills riding other horses. She rides whenever she gets the opportunity and has already been invited to show for other people. She hopes to represent Miami University in regionals and perhaps
Mothers, Daughters and a Shared Passion
Kate Bishop’s love of horses began as a child, listening to her mother tell stories of growing up on a horse farm in England, while browsing family photo albums. Kate’s mother fostered her love of horses even more as they took riding outings in their community.
Emerson, Kate’s daughter, has also heard the tales of Nana’s adventures. She began riding at the age of 4. When she was 6 years old, she started to take lessons, consequently falling in love with English-style riding, largely due to her grandmother’s influence. Along with the lessons came the responsibility of feeding, grooming and caring for the tack, which in turn helps to develop trust with and devotion to these noble animals.
Kate’s trail rides with her mother were a passion she grew up with and then passed on to her daughter, who is now 11. “It’s such a lovely bonding experience,” says Kate, to spend summer afternoons together, weaving among the trees on the sun-dappled trails. Kate schedules their rides on local trails, but she also organizes rides a little further from home to keep it interesting and take full advantage of unique destinations. Although Emerson prefers English riding, she says the trail rides give her the opportunity to ride Western style. “It’s really just a lot of fun and one of those things that we can do together,” Kate says.
Last year, Kate and Emerson took a trip to Shenandoah National Park, which offers over 180 miles of trails suitable for horseback riding. What began as an idyllic afternoon on gently winding trails through some of America’s most beautiful landscape soon became a little more exciting than anticipated. The mother and daughter were at the head of a line of horses as the group meandered along the trail.
nationals. “What it’s done for her at a young age is given her purpose, tremendous direction and discipline, which she has applied to everything in her life,” says her proud father.
And as for Roberta? She says, “Riding is the one time where I am fully engaged in the joy of the moment — to focus on riding and being with my other equestrian friends.”
All of a sudden, everyone heard a great commotion behind them and a riderless horse emerged from the woods. One of the other riders was stung by a bee, startling the horse who landed on the bee’s nest and bolted. As horses reared and riders jumped off, Emerson’s horse became alarmed and started spinning. “At first, I was so confused. I didn’t know what was happening, but my mom was there to help me,” says Emerson.
Watching her daughter grapple with the erratic animal, Kate calmly and reassuringly instructed: “Stay on your horse! You know what to do. Just calm her down.” Emerson responded by gently petting the horse and telling her that everything was alright. Thanks to her years of training and experience, Emerson was able to get her horse under control. Then both
ladies proceeded to help round up the other horses and walk them back to the stables.
“It’s a wonderful feeling, for a parent, to know when their children face a challenge that they can keep their head, stay calm and remain in control of the situation. What a great life lesson,” Kate says.
And the incident did not deter Emerson in the least. She continues her lessons over the summer and enjoys her time
Joyful Ride
Alex Grothe’s love of horses began when he was just 2 years old, and was celebrated with books, toys, carousel horses, and carriage and sleigh rides. When he was 5, he was diagnosed with global developmental delay and sensory processing issues. Therefore, identifying something that Alex would find fascinating — horses — was imperative. After his diagnosis, his parents, Jason and Lesley, took advantage of any opportunity for Alex to ride and became connected with a local therapy riding center where their daughter, Lauryn, volunteered. They even hired horses to come to their home for horse-themed birthday parties. “The emotional attachment between kids and horses plays such a transitional role,” according to Lesley.
When the Grothe family moved to Geneva National in 2014, they enrolled Alex in a structured equine therapy program. These programs incorporate various skills, such as color, music, number and shape recognition, with horseback riding to stimulate learning. Lesley says, “It’s amazing the way horses can bring out the language in a child who is mostly nonverbal. If he wants to ride, he can quite clearly express his desire.”
in the stable. She hopes to have her own horse one day. “I love animals,” she says. “It would be awesome to be able to go to the barn every day and work with my own horse.”
Kate says, “It’s an amazing feeling to sit atop this massive animal, to connect with it and experience that special bond.” In addition to that bond, Kate and Emerson are building their own, creating memories and enjoying some of their favorite mother-daughter times as companionable horsewomen during their rides.
Alex, who is now 9 years old, benefits greatly from the structured programs, but his excitement rises when he is given the chance to ride for fun. “He wants to be sitting on a horse where he can run, prance, and bounce up and down,” says Lesley. “I think it gives him a sense of independence and freedom.”
Whenever possible, the Grothes take Alex to Claystone Stock Farms in Delavan. It’s his special place where he can be a part of the hum of activity surrounding the horses. The atmosphere is leisurely and welcoming. Alex can walk around the stables and right up to the horses. He can pet and brush them, which not only aids his sensory development, but also gives him the experience of acting as a caregiver. On occasion, he can sit astride one of the majestic Clydesdales or take a supervised spin on the tractor. One afternoon, when Claystone was hosting a horse show, one of the owners gave Alex a chance to be part of the experience. He put him up on a horse and ran next to him around the ring with Alex laughing the whole time.
Selecting a horse that is consistent with the disposition of the child is important. “Sometimes Alex has an off day and he’s not as regulated, so an older, low-key horse is best. But the ones he really enjoys have a little more spunk,” says Lesley. Alex’s favorite, Sal, is a Tennessee walking horse who was rescued from a slaughterhouse, thus allowing Alex to give Sal the gift of love and purpose.
Many times, Alex is the only visitor at the farm and Shannon, another owner, greets him. They walk to Sal’s stall where Alex can brush him and help put on his saddle. Together, they all walk to the ring and Alex steps onto a platform to get onto the horse. With two attendants, Alex and Sal walk, cantor and gallop. “There is a huge smile on
his face the whole time! There is an invisible connection between the two of them. I’ve never seen a horse be anything but gentle with Alex,” says Lesley. When Alex is with a horse, he is more verbal and more regulated. He is calmer and happier. “I think every parent of a child with autism lives for the belly laughs,” observes Lesley.
An Act of Kindness Comes Full Circle
Georgia Ichen has always loved animals, but her real passion is for horses. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania afforded her the great pleasure of indulging that passion due to the generosity and kindness of her neighbor who owned horses. She was allowed to visit the barn whenever she wished. She would spend hours caring for, grooming and riding the horses, dreaming of one day owning a horse ranch in Montana.
Once Georgia’s mother realized that she was serious about riding, she enrolled her in English-style riding lessons so she could “ride like a lady.” Georgia took the lessons and enjoyed being with the horses, but didn’t like disciplined riding. She was not geared toward showmanship. “I just loved the horses, and was happiest riding through the orchard and farmland behind our home,” she says. “It was so exhilarating, such a feeling of oneness with the horse, bringing it to a full gallop and being in the open air, and that sense of freedom and the horse responding to you.”
After Georgia left for college, her riding opportunities became more sporadic, but she rode whenever possible, eventually enjoying trail rides with her grandchildren in Kettle Moraine State Forest. Then, in 2013, when Georgia and her husband, Jonas, moved to Geneva National, she was introduced to therapeutic riding centers. She remembers, “That’s when I began grooming and caring for the horses at Main Stay Therapeutic Farm as a volunteer. That’s what I really love.”
The Ichens have a winter home in Naples, Florida, as well, where Georgia volunteers three to four days a week at the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center. In addition to caring for the horses, she leads them during lessons for the students. “If you could just see what riding does for these challenged children, it’s just amazing,” she says.
“Horses carry the wisdom of healing in their hearts and offer it to any humans who possess the humility to listen.”
— Unknown
Two years ago, a special opportunity presented itself for Georgia to finally have a horse of her own. Main Stay purchased a beautiful bay named Ali to be used as a therapeutic horse in its programs, but Ali was a little “sassy.” She did not acclimate to the therapeutic arena where she was expected to follow specific instructions and be handled by many different people. In March, an announcement was put out in the stable that Ali needed a new home. Georgia immediately started teasing her husband to “buy me that horse.” When the couple returned from Florida that summer,
“Alex has a good little heart. He’s a sweet kid. You want to see when he’s happy or upset, all those typical emotions. He can get things out better when he is, in some way, engaged with a horse,” adds Jason. “When you have a child with severe autism, you miss that emotional piece, but when your child is bubbling over with emotion, it’s just not something you see every day, it’s amazing!”
Ali was still waiting for a home and, shortly thereafter, she found one with the Ichens.
And Ali found a new friend in a 12-year-old girl named Julianne. Julianne, a friend of Georgia’s granddaughter, also has a passion for horses, and visits the barn to help Georgia groom and care for Ali throughout the summer. The bond between Julianne and the horse is so strong that she agreed to take on the responsibility of Ali’s care during Georgia’s absence. “Julianne and I have an incredible relationship and she has an amazing relationship with Ali. Seeing the two of them together is just beautiful,” explains Georgia.
That relationship has evolved into Julianne starting to train Ali with the hope of possibly one day showing her. “Julianne has a very gentle nature, a very quiet voice. She is likened to a horse whisperer. And Ali has settled in. Someone provided me with the horses to care for and gave me the opportunity to realize my passion. To ride and love a horse was a very important part of my life growing up, and now I’m blessed to be able to give that gift to another young girl with big dreams,” says Georgia.
Ali is still sassy, but very loving, even when Georgia has been away for several months. Ali comes to greet her as soon as the corral gate opens. Georgia concludes, “Never in my life did I really believe that I would one day have a horse of my own. The first time I got up on her, I was so overcome with emotion that I couldn’t ride. I just broke down. She’s a blessing in my life that I can’t describe. I am so grateful. I love her.”
INSIDE TRACK
The fifth hole of the Lee Trevino Course is a classic risk/reward opportunity.
The par-5 fifth hole on the Lee Trevino Course is one of the best on the entire Geneva National property and was surely a favorite of Trevino himself. Stretching 514 yards from the tips, it is another classic risk/reward hole with a definite birdie opportunity or dreaded double bogey close at hand.
The hole plays dramatically downhill on the tee shot to a generous fairway that kicks the ball back into the fairway from a sloping hill on the left. It has a penalty area to avoid on the right. The tee shot favors the patented Trevino fade or left-to-right ball flight to follow the shaping contour of the hole. For the aggressive player trying to get home in two shots, a good shot from the proper tee will leave a shot in the area between 200 and 230 yards to the long and narrow green. Be
careful on the approach as the green is guarded by a narrow creek looking to gobble up any shot that is missed slightly left or short of the green.
The safe and conservative route is to play the Trevino fifth hole as a classic three-shot par 5. A good tee shot will again leave you 200 to 230 yards from the green. A layup shot to your favorite wedge distance (that avoids the creek that meanders up the right side from 100 yards and in front of the green) will set up that birdie chance. When choosing your approach short iron or wedge, be sure to factor in the pin position as the green is 36 yards long, leading to a three-club difference from front to back.
The Trevino course had Better Billy Bunkers installed in 2018 and has some new tee complexes being built for the 2022 season, enhancing its enjoyment and playability. The course offers a wide variety of shots, with some firmer and faster conditions that allow the ball to be run up on the front of the green. You will most likely use every club in your bag. While it sets up for the popular fade, it is a very playable course to the way most people play — left to right or a fader. Trevino always stated of his preferred ball flight, “You can talk to a fade, but a hook won’t listen.”
Playing host to the 2019 Wisconsin State Open, the Trevino course proved
to be a good test for even the best golfers, while remaining entertaining for players of all skill levels. I hope to see you out soon, playing one of the rare course designs from Trevino!
Charlie Brown, PGA, is the member head professional and membership director at Geneva National.
“You can talk to a fade, but a hook won’t listen.”
– Lee Trevino
2022 GENEVA NATIONAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Ice Castles at Geneva National brought a majestic vision of a frozen world to the spectators who traveled from far and near. Unique lighting and music enhanced the features of the
The Swim and Racquet Club offers Geneva National families and friends an opportunity to have fun, exercise, grab a snack or just relax in a resort-like setting. Outdoor concerts add another chance for residents to enjoy the summer evenings, even with impromptu participation.
The Fourth of July brings families and friends together to enjoy food, music and games, plus the opportunity to show off patriotic attire. The fireworks spectacle is the highlight of the day, thrilling the crowd with the largest display in southern Wisconsin!
Fall is the time for the Chili Cookoff competition, the juried resident Craft Fair, and the Trunk-orTreat costume parade and candy-sharing event for children and families.
Cookies with Santa, the popular children’s party, starts off December’s festivities. Later in the month, the Holiday Lights and House Decoration Contest takes place for the enjoyment of the entire community and enables residents to compete for awards in various categories.
Please note that dates and events are subject to change.
Holiday Lights
CELEBRATION
BestinShow
FirstPlace
People’sChoice
SecondPlace
People’sChoice
ThirdPlace
People’sChoice
Thanks to all the homeowners of Geneva National who celebrated the season in our second annual “Light It Up, Geneva National” Holiday Lights and House Decoration Contest. All residents had an opportunity to participate in the community activity either as a contestant, or by casting a vote for the “People’s Choice” or “Kids’ Favorite” awards.
Lifestyle Geneva National magazine proudly presents the 2021 winners!
FirstPlace
Kids’Favorite
SecondPlace
Kids’Favorite
ThirdPlace
Kids’Favorite
GENEVA NATIONAL IN EVERY SEASON
2022-2023 LAKE GENEVA AREA EVENTS
ONGOING
EVENTS
MAY-SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST RIDES
Avant Cycle Café, Lake Geneva
MAY-OCTOBER
DOWNTOWN LAKE GENEVA FARMERS MARKET
Thursdays, Horticultural Hall, Lake Geneva
JUNE-AUGUST
MUSIC BY THE LAKE
Select Dates, George Williams College, Williams Bay
JUNE 4-OCTOBER 1
GENEVA OUTDOOR MARKET
Saturdays, Highway H, Lake Geneva
JUNE 30-AUGUST 11
CONCERTS IN THE PARK
Thursdays, Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
ICE CASTLES
Geneva National Resort & Club, Lake Geneva
MAY
MAY 13-15
LAKE GENEVA WOMEN’S WEEKEND
Lake Geneva
MAY 14-15
LAKE GENEVA BACON FEST
Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva
MAY 20-22
LAKE GENEVA JAZZ FEST
Lake Geneva House of Music, Lake Geneva
MAY 22
SPRING WINE WALK
Downtown Lake Geneva
JUNE
JUNE 15-18
DESTINATION GENEVA NATIONAL
FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
Geneva National Resort & Club, Lake Geneva
JULY
JULY 13-17
RIBFEST
Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn
AUGUST
AUGUST 5-7
DAS FEST GERMAN FESTIVAL
Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn
AUGUST 13-14
ART IN THE PARK
Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva
AUGUST 17-21
VENETIAN FESTIVAL
Downtown Lake Geneva
AUGUST 26-28
LAKE GENEVA MAXWELL STREET DAYS
Downtown Lake Geneva
AUGUST 31–SEPTEMBER 5
WALWORTH COUNTY FAIR
Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER 9-11
TACO FEST
Lake Geneva House of Music, Lake Geneva
SEPTEMBER 10
LAKE GENEVA FAT TIRE RIDE
Lake Geneva, Fontana and Williams Bay
Please note that dates and events are subject to change.
OCTOBER
OCTOBER 8-9
LAKE GENEVA OKTOBERFEST
Downtown Lake Geneva
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER 19-JANUARY 2
PARADE OF TREES
Geneva Lake Museum, Lake Geneva
NOVEMBER 20-JANUARY 1
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva
NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 30
SANTA CRUISE
Lake Geneva Cruise Line, Lake Geneva
DECEMBER
DECEMBER 2
LAKE GENEVA TREE LIGHTING & COCOA CRAWL
Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva
DECEMBER 2-4
LET IT GLOW
Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn
DECEMBER 3
LAKE GENEVA ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS PARADE
Downtown Lake Geneva
JANUARY 2023
ABOMINABLE SNOW RACE
Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures, Lake Geneva
FEBRUARY 2023
WINTERFEST & THE U.S. NATIONAL SNOW SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Downtown Lake Geneva
MARCH 2023
AMSOIL SNOCROSS NATIONAL
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva
APRIL 2023
LAKE GENEVA RESTAURANT WEEK
Lake Geneva Area
PURPOSE
Inspired is a premium coffee shop, a neighborhood place, located in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin employing people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities where they are celebrated, job trained, coached and, over time, placed into a fully integrated work setting.
WE BELIEVE Every Human Being...
• Deserves the opportunity to live life to the full.
• Is made on purpose and for a purpose.
• Longs for a sense of belonging and community.
• Has their own unique gifts and challenges.
HOA OPERATIONS AND STAFF
Geneva National HOA Operating Management Team
GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION
Any Emergency
911
Nonemergencies
Geneva National Security 262-245-3333
Town of Geneva Police 262-723-3700
Geneva National HOA Administrative Office 262-245-9759
Fax: 262-245-9864
N3387 Petrie Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
The Geneva National Homeowners Association (HOA) is the backbone of a well-run business. The operating management team is responsible for carrying out the mission and vision for this residential community. Each employee contributes to the delivery of resident services in a way that makes this community a special place to live. If something should go wrong, residents want to speak with a person that can provide them with solutions. The HOA operating management team is comprised of experienced professionals that support the residents of Geneva National.
Community Service Manager Pat Prahl pat@gnpropertymgmt.com
Comptroller Carol Haskins carol@gnpropertymgmt.com
Executive Director Rick Pozdol rick@gnpropertymgmt.com
Grounds Supervisor Matt Seaver mattgnlandscaping@gmail.com
Maintenance Coordinator Susan Myers susan@gnpropertymgmt.com
Maintenance Supervisor Rick Perkins perkins@gnpropertymgmt.com
Operations Manager Randy Barker randy@gnpropertymgmt.com
Geneva National Is a True Value Compared to Other Area Communities
One of the key factors when making a decision to purchase a home is knowing what other costs may be incurred in addition to the home. Geneva National is a value when
considering the total overall cost of homeownership. The current HOA monthly fee for Geneva National covers a number of expenses that other area subdivision owners pay for separately, either as a quarterly bill — such as a water bill — or included in annual real estate taxes. Pictured is a comparison of what your Geneva National HOA fees cover relative to other nearby subdivisions.
In addition to the different services listed in the chart, your monthly Geneva National HOA fee also covers the cost of security, and membership to the Swim and Racquet Club. For multi-family owners, the monthly Geneva National HOA fee covers not only those services listed above, but also landscaping, snow removal, building maintenance and painting, property insurance and reserves for capital projects, such as roof replacements.
Geneva National truly is a value when you consider the many amenities and services included with your investment.
HOA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD
2022 Directors
John Platz, President
jplatzgnpa@gmail.com
John Bluemke, Vice President jbluemkejr@gmail.com
G.L. Chambers, Treasurer glchambersgnpa@gmail.com
Mike Keefe, Secretary mkeefegnpa@gmail.com
Scott Lowell, Board Member at Large slowellgnpa@gmail.com
The Geneva National Community Association Board of Directors is the governing body that oversees the community. Its responsibilities include operation, maintenance and repair of private roadways and other portions of property; contract procurement for water, sanitary sewer and security services; budget and assessment preparation for the community; hiring an Executive Director as a management agent for the community association; and overseeing the Swim and Racquet Club.
The Geneva National Community Association Board is comprised of five directors, one each from single-family residences, multi-family residences, commercial units, the golf course and clubs, and the declarant. All unit owners within Geneva National are members of the community association, and each unit owner is eligible to run for the community board for his or her area, either single-family or multi-family. Elections take place at the annual meeting, which is held on the date designated by the board each year. Election is for a term of two years.
HOA MASTER ASSOCIATION BOARD
The Geneva National Condominium Master Association Board is comprised of one representative for each individual condominium neighborhood. Each owner of a single- or multi-family residence is eligible to run for the board representing his or her condominium. Election is for a term of one year.
The duties of Master Association board members include: electing an Executive Committee; consulting with unit owners from the board member’s
Current
respective condominium; assisting the Executive Committee in preparation of budgets and assessment information for their respective condominium; and advising and consulting with Executive Committee members concerning the affairs within the condominium represented by each board member.
The Geneva National Master Association Executive Committee is elected by Master Association board members to serve as officers. The
Executive Committee consists of two single-family and two multi-family representatives.
The duties of the Master Association Executive Committee include: administering the affairs of each condominium, including budget preparation and assessment determination; formulating policies to administer condominium affairs and common elements; and establishing rules and regulations for condominiums.
Master Association Executive Committee
Stephanie Nelson, President
snelsongnpa@gmail.com
Richard Pierce, Vice President rpiercegnpa@gmail.com
Neil Holmen, Secretary nholmengnpa@gmail.com
Daniel Osterkorn, Treasurer ...................... dosterkorn@gmail.com
Representatives for the Master Association Condominiums (May 2022)
22
Left to right: Scott Lowell, John Bluemke, John Platz, G.L. Chambers and Mike Keefe
Left to right: Stephanie Nelson, Richard Pierce, Neil Holmen and Daniel Osterkorn
HOMEOWNER COMMITTEES
Striving to Make the Geneva National Community the Best for its Residents
The Geneva National Homeowners Association and resident volunteers continually work together to enhance the quality of life in the neighborhoods here in our community. Committees staffed by volunteers assess how things work and bring new ideas to their particular area of focus. All this happens so that residents can enjoy everything that makes Geneva National a special place to live and play.
The Welcome Committee brings new homeowners together to introduce each other and learn about the surrounding area. Informal gatherings are held throughout the year and gift baskets containing information from local establishments are distributed. The committee also hosts seasonal community functions, including the Derby Day Party, the Summer Block Party, the Chili Cookoff, Trunk or Treat and Cookies with Santa. The goal of the committee is to help new residents feel at home in their new community, and encourage socializing and involvement within Geneva National.
The Pool and Racquet Committee meets to ensure that procedures are followed to keep the pool amenities functioning in the best way possible, and that attendance
is handled efficiently and safely. The committee also helps to plan special theme parties and events, like the lawn concerts held last summer.
The Tennis and Pickleball Committee handles court schedules, and organizes tournaments and skill clinics for players of all levels during the summer season.
The Holiday Lights Contest Committee (sponsored by Lifestyle Geneva National magazine) begins its third year of planning the Holiday Lights and House Decoration Contest. The volunteers organize the contest, tabulate the votes submitted by community members and award prizes to the winners.
The Geneva National Newsletter Committee emails news and information about scheduled events to neighbors. These e-newsletters contain the dates and times of planned maintenance projects, quarterly and annual meeting dates, and important neighborhood meeting and special event reminders for the community. The committee’s purpose is to keep all Geneva National residents informed about what’s happening in the area.
Geneva National Staffed by Peaceful Professionals
Geneva National is a community of residents, guests and visiting golfers. The key to access our premier, gated community is trusted to the talent of the Geneva National security team, which works 24/7, 365 days a year, to maintain a peaceful and secure community.
The security and peace of mind that Geneva National offers residents and guests is unique from most other communities in southeast Wisconsin.
A series of gates, transponders and guest passes allow access to public areas, and limit access to private residential communities. Security officers do more than provide directions to residents and guests; they provide a foundational welcome to our community with courtesy and professionalism as often highlighted by resident compliments, including the following:
“My family’s first visit to Geneva National was on a very stormy night. Although the instructions security gave to find my home were simple, my dad was concerned with the winding pathway on his navigation, and finding my
home in the darkness and pouring rain. Security offered to guide my family to my home and, on arrival in the downpour, Matt got out to open the car door and led my mom safely to my front door.
“Our security is a big WOW!”
Geneva National Homeowners Association rules and regulations are enforced by security, working closely with the Town of Geneva Police Department and the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. With the Elkhorn Area Fire Department and emergency medical technicians, security keeps our community safe and responds to emergencies.
In 2017, Geneva National residents achieved a greater level of security with the completion of the new homeowners association building, which houses a fire truck on premises for quick response times and lower homeowners insurance premiums due to proximity.
In emergencies, please call 911. To reach security 24/7, 365 days a year, please call 262-245-3333.
BUILDING AND RENOVATION
Architectural Review Helps Ensure Beauty and Quality
The Geneva Lakes area — and Geneva National in particular — continues to see strong demand for both new and preexisting homes. In 2021 and into 2022, Geneva National’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC) was very busy reviewing new plans and existing home renovations. The ARC is here to assist with any and all things you want to do when it comes to new construction or making exterior modifications to your home.
The ARC’s guiding philosophy is that Geneva National should be a place where each home conveys a sense of enduring beauty and value based on the use of high-quality materials, and the implementation of a creative design appropriate to the site’s natural beauty and surroundings. Architectural features, such as exterior colors, building materials and design elements (including landscape), are aspects that must be approved before construction begins.
Creating an integrated community with a distinctive overall style and vision enhances the quality of life for Geneva National property owners, and increases the overall value of the property. To help achieve and further articulate this vision, the ARC has prepared architectural design guidelines. These protocols are intended to reflect the goals of the community, and are not intended as rigid constraints on an individual homeowner’s tastes and creativity. They explain and illustrate the aesthetics the community is striving to achieve. Copies are available at the Geneva National Property Association office.
Association staff is always willing and available to review plans and discuss with homeowners how to best make their dreams a reality. Feel free to contact the homeowners association office at 262-245-9759 or visit the Geneva National website at genevanational.com/community
SWIM AND RACQUET CLUB
Geneva National Swim and Racquet Club as a Social Hub
The Geneva National Swim and Racquet Club offers a large variety of social and recreational activities for homeowners and guests. Available year-round for special events, the beautiful clubhouse provides an opportunity to gather friends, family and neighbors. It’s a great place to host an event, such as book clubs, card games and other activities. The Swim and Racquet Club also boasts swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and a picnic and playground area for the enjoyment of all ages. These elements add to the experience, fun and relaxation for Geneva National homeowners.
The facility is overseen by the Pool and Racquet Ball Committee, which is made up of community volunteers. The committee’s mission is to keep the facility current and appealing by assessing the needs and desires of residents.
During the summer season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, the pools are open daily. The main pool is meant for family fun, and includes zero-entry access for little ones and handicap access. It also includes basketball hoops on either end. A splash pad is available for children of all ages. A separate adult pool, for individuals who are 18 and older, offers a relaxing, shallow lounge area and lap lanes, and is handicap accessible. Water aerobics are offered on weekday mornings.
The clubhouse offers a grill with a variety of healthy food and snacks, as well as a beer and wine bar. On the weekends, a poolside waitstaff is available to take your order and deliver your food. The weekends include events, such as live music, food and drink specials, and entertainment, to enjoy throughout the summer months.
For those who prefer exercise away from the pool, there are two tennis courts and four pickleball courts available. League play and recreational play are offered. Not only are the courts lighted for extended playtime, but pickleball equipment is also available for rental.
The fun does not stop with the official end of summer on Labor Day. The clubhouse continues to host events, such as Trunk or Treat, the Chili Cookoff, the Holiday Craft Fair and Cookies with Santa, throughout the entire year. Take advantage of the wonderful social hub that is the Swim and Racquet Club. It allows residents to create lasting memories with friends, new and old.
Swim and Racquet Club Hours: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.7 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Please note that dates and times are subject to change.
OF PICKLEBALL The History
Many Geneva National residents enjoy the game of pickleball, but how much do you know about it? For example, how did it get its name? No pickles are involved ...
Joel Pritchard, a congress member from Washington state, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell invented the game one summer on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Bell’s then14-year-old son, Frank, challenged the group to “make up a game” to relieve the kids’ boredom utilizing leftover badminton and ping-pong equipment. With that, the sport was born. But accounts of how the name originated differ.
According to Joel’s wife, Joan, she started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of the different sports reminded her of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen are chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” However, Barney says the game was officially named after the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it. Whichever story is true, one thing is for certain — pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports that is playable by all ages to come along for some time.
Though the game was invented in 1965, the first rulebook was not published until 1984. That same year, the United States Amateur Pickleball Association was organized to grow and advance the game on a national level. By 1990, pickleball was played in all 50 states and, by 2001, it was introduced at the Arizona Senior Olympics. In 2005, a new corporation for the sport was established, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). In November 2009, the first USAPA National Tournament for players of all ages was held in Buckeye, Arizona. The tournament drew almost 400 players from 26 states and several Canadian provinces.
Also during that year, the first official USAPA website went live. The association cooperated with several websites to discontinue links to places to play, so it could consolidate all the entries into the USAPA database, creating one reliable source for players to find sites to play. Today, the website is places2play.org.
The sport of pickleball is exploding. There are now nearly 8,500 locations on the USAPA’s Places2Play map. The quick spread of the sport is attributed in part to its popularity
within community centers, physical education classes, YMCA facilities and retirement communities. The sport continues to grow worldwide as well, with many new international clubs forming and national governing bodies now established on multiple continents.
Media exposure continues to drive awareness, with several national segments on NBC’s “The Today Show,” CNBC, BBC News and “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” and stories published in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Allure, The Boston Globe, The Economist, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Parade and Axios. Fox Sports also recently inked a deal to broadcast a minimum of 12 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) tournaments through the end of the 2022 tour season, including the PPA Masters set for Dec. 11, 2022.
Pickleball has come a long way from the made-up game played with a hodgepodge of equipment for a bunch of bored kids. There are now leagues that appeal to both recreational and competitive players, clubs, and national and international tournaments. The sport is co-ed, and can be played as a singles or doubles game. The court and rules are the same for both.
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court, 20 by 44 feet. The ball is served diagonally and points can only be scored by the side that serves. Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed, and there is a 7-foot, no-volley zone on each side of the net to prevent spiking. The first side to score 11 points and lead by two wins. Those are the basics, though the rules are more detailed. In fact, in 2021, the USAPA made several updates to the rules, and created an official and alternate version of the rulebook. The official version is intended to be used for tournaments, whereas the alternate was released to simplify the rules presentation and is meant for use in any venue other than tournaments.
There is also a player’s rating or skill level system to assist people in finding the right degree of competition. The USA
Pickleball Tournament Player Ratings are detailed and exact, ranging from 1.0 to 6.0+. However, most recreational leagues, clubs and individuals choose to use a more general assessment of player skill levels that breaks down like this:
Beginner Players (Rating 1.0-3.0). These players have a very basic understanding of the rules and strategy of pickleball, and have some basic shots (such as a serve, return, medium-paced drive and dink) down, but have limited consistency and control.
• Intermediate Players (Rating 3.5-4.0). These players have a good understanding of the rules and strategy, and have both forehand and backhand shots (including drop shots and volleys) that are generally consistent with a moderate number of unforced errors.
• Advanced Players (Rating 4.5 and above). These players have a strong understanding of the rules and strategy of pickleball, and have great command over all shots on the pickleball court, with a limited number of unforced errors.
Some pickleball clubs and leagues use these broader groupings of skill level in order to facilitate the social component of the sport. These general categories are also great for allowing lower-level players an opportunity to improve their skill by playing with and against higher-level players.
That’s a general overview of the game, and many Geneva National residents are already playing or interested in getting in on the action. In fact, in 2021, the Swim and Racquet Club initiated a partnership with the Lake Geneva Tennis club to have an instructor on site several days a week to teach the game to new players and help others improve their skills. The club has also been instrumental in coordinating neighborhood tournaments, bringing an enjoyable new dimension to the community’s recreational offerings.
The Swim and Racquet Club offers two tennis courts and four pickleball courts that are lighted for extended play for both leagues and recreation. Equipment is available for rental. Residents can schedule a lesson or reserve a court time by going to the Swim and Racquet Club page on the Geneva National Homeowners Association website, genevanationalhoa.com
RESOURCES
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Emergencies
911
Ask a Nurse
800-236-4676
Poison Center
800-815-8855
Geneva National Security
262-245-3333
Fire & Rescue – Nonemergency Elkhorn Area Fire Department
262-723-5080
Police – Nonemergency Geneva Township
262-723-3700
Sheriff – Nonemergency Walworth County
262-741-4400
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center (Urgent Care)
0.5 miles from Geneva National 262-245-0535
N2950 Hwy. 67
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center
3.5 miles from Geneva National 262-741-2120
W3985 Hwy. NN Elkhorn, WI 53121
Aurora Medical Center
13 miles from Geneva National 262-763-2411
252 McHenry St. Burlington, WI 53105
VETERINARY CARE
VCA Veterinary Emergency Service
608-314-3510
3710 E. Racine St. Janesville, WI 53546
Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center (WVRC)
262-542-3241
360 Bluemound Rd. Waukesha, WI 53188
CHURCHES
Catholic
St. Andrew Catholic Church
262-728-5922
714 E. Walworth Ave. Delavan, WI 53115
St. Francis de Sales
262-248-8524
148 W. Main St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
St. Patrick Catholic Church
262-723-5565
107 W. Walworth St. Elkhorn, WI 53121
Evangelical
Calvary Community Church
262-245-6294
N2620 Harris Rd.
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Lutheran
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
262-248-3374
1101 Logan St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
262-728-4226
416 W. Geneva St. Delavan, WI 53115
St. John’s Church
262-723-2901
104 S. Broad St. Elkhorn, WI 53121
Methodist
Delavan United Methodist Church
262-728-3644
213 S. Second St. Delavan, WI 53115
Lake Geneva United Methodist Church
262-248-4114
912 Geneva St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Nondenominational Chapel on the Hill
262-245-9122
N2440 Ara Glen Dr. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Lakeland Community Church
262-245-4567
N3181 Hwy. 67
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Mt. Zion Christian Church
262-248-7097
2330 Hwy. 120
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Presbyterian Como Community Church
262-248-3024
W3901 Palmer Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
GOVERNMENT SERVICES & VOTING
Elkhorn Post Office
102 E. Walworth St. Elkhorn, WI 53121
Lake Geneva Post Office
672 W. Main St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Town of Geneva
262-248-8497, Fax: 262-249-8873
N3496 Como Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Williams Bay Post Office
129 N. Walworth Ave. Williams Bay, WI 53191
LIBRARIES
Barrett Memorial Library
262-245-2769
65 W. Geneva St. Williams Bay, WI 53191
Lake Geneva Public Library
262-249-5299
918 W. Main St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
SCHOOLS
Preschool
First Lutheran Church and School
262-248-3374
1101 Logan St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Lake Geneva Montessori School
262-248-4904
912 Geneva St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Lake Geneva Schools
262-348-1000
208 E. South St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Lakeland Preschool Association
262-245-0885
46 Stam St. Williams Bay, WI 53191
Little Red Preschool
262-249-8711
W3812 Beaver Dr. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
St. Francis de Sales
262-248-2778
130 W. Main St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Elementary – Private
Faith Christian School
262-245-9404
W5525 Hwy. 67 Williams Bay, WI 53191
Mt. Zion Christian School
262-248-5255
2330 Hwy. 120 Lake Geneva, WI 53147
St. Andrew Parish School
262-728-6211
115 S. Seventh St. Delavan, WI 53115
St. Francis de Sales School
262-248-2778
130 W. Main St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Elementary – Public Jackson Elementary School 262-723-1200
13 N. Jackson St. Elkhorn, WI 53121
Williams Bay Elementary 262-245-5571
250 Theatre Rd. Williams Bay, WI 53191
Woods School
262-248-3816
N2575 Snake Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Secondary – Public
Badger High School
262-348-2000
220 E. South St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Elkhorn Area High School
262-723-4920
482 E. Geneva St. Elkhorn, WI 53121
Elkhorn Area Middle School 262-723-6800
627 E. Court St. Elkhorn, WI 53121
Lake Geneva Middle School 262-348-3000
600 N. Bloomfield Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Williams Bay Middle/High School 262-245-1575
500 W. Geneva St. Williams Bay, WI 53191
Dr. Kurt F. Jensen
Dr. Alexandria M. Hawkins
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”
