Welcome into your Journey of over 100 years of service
The Big Bear Woman’s Club was organized
in 1922 and federated in 1923
Where creativity meets clarity, and vision meets action.
Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution.
Let’s create something meaningful together.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a national and international organization and the largest women’s organization in the world. Organized in 1890 in New York, it is the only women’s organizations chartered by the Congress of the United States. Membership is estimated at 10 million in 46 countries.
Our Theme
Getting together is a beginning, thinking together is unity, keeping together is progress, and working together is success.
Our Motto
The purchase of the man-drawn fire cart by the Woman's Club of Big Bear Lake represents a foundational milestone in the valley's emergency response history, serving as the area's very first fire vehicle.
The Acquisition and Details
The Pioneer Vehicle: In the early decades of the community, Big Bear lacked any motorized or formalized fire apparatus. To provide basic protection, the Woman's Club funded and purchased a small, manually operated fire chemical cart.
Man-Drawn Operation: The cart had no engine or horse hitch. Instead, it relied entirely on human muscle power, requiring local volunteers to manually pull it through the streets to the scene of a fire.
Strategic Locations: To maximize its utility, the chemical cart was kept centrally in the village and was later supplemented by volunteer firemen placing localized hose carts at strategic spots around the lake.
Historical Impact
Precursor to Formal Departments: This initial purchase by the Woman's Club directly paved the way for organized firefighting in the valley, establishing a culture of community-funded fire defense.
Evolutionary Catalyst: The limitations of a man-drawn cart became starkly evident as the population grew, eventually driving the mobilization of funds in the 1930s to transition to motorized equipment like the 1936 REO engine.
Our process is simple and thoughtful.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straight forward and unafraid.
Grant that we realize it is the little things that create differences; that in the big things of life we are as one.
In-person and remote options
Our office is located in Big Bear Lake, CA
A place to gather, grow, and reconnect.
Philanthropy
Our Projects
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Our Projects *
Meet the Team
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Linda Kalous
PRESIDENT
With a vision for building something meaningful, our President brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience.
She sets the tone for everything we do. -
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Barbara Nadow
TREASURER
Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our treasurer is all about building strong relationships. She helps connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care. -
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Billie Hayes
SOCIAL SECRETARY
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our social director brings fresh ideas to every occasion. She turns insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience. -
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Sharon Hall
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our financial secretary ensures every interaction is a positive one. She keeps communication clear, timely, and accurate.
