March 24, 2025 • 31 mins
What role did women's clubs play in shaping modern society? How did the Women's Club of Carlsbad leave an indelible mark on their community over the last century? Dive into episode 151 of the Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact podcast, where I, Bret Schanzenbach, have the pleasure of chatting with Kae Gernandt and Edith Broyles from the Women's Club of Carlsbad.
We're celebrating the club's rich history as they gear up for their 100th anniversary in 2025. From advocating for road safety and education to their pivotal role during the Great Depression and World War II, this club has been a powerhouse of change. Today, they continue their legacy through philanthropy, supporting local charities, and offering scholarships. Curious about their journey and how you can get involved? Tune in to discover the past, present, and future of this incredible organization. Don’t miss it!
Kae Gernandt Bio
I joined WCC (Juniors club) in 1997 to participate in community service and to meet like-minded, compassionate women. Being a busy mom/wife and my work life as a deposition court reporter was fulfilling and challenging, but the rewards of helping others is so gratifying. I've served on the Board as president, VP Fundraising, treasurer, and publicity director in addition to serving on committees too numerous to name. I co-founded our Carlsbad Holiday Market in 2014, which continues to this day, and is our biggest fundraiser of the year.
Edith Broyles Bio
I have been a member of the Woman's Club of Carlsbad since 2015. I was drawn to it because of the numerous philanthropic opportunities, which focus on our Carlsbad community as well as local neighboring communities. Along the way I have also enjoyed the friendships and camaraderie with other women that believe in the importance of giving back and supporting various charitable organizations. We have a rich history in Carlsbad and are currently celebrating our Centennial Anniversary.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Intro (00:02):
Carlsbad, people, purpose, and impact, an
essential podcast for those wholive, work, visit, and play in
Carlsbad.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:14):
Good afternoon and welcome,
everybody. My name is BrettSchonsenbach. I'm the president
and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamberof Commerce, and I'm once again
your host. And today, I amfortunate to have two guests
with me today. I have Kay Oh mygoodness.
I practiced this five times.Gernant.
Kae Gernandt (00:33):
Very good.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:34):
All right. Kay Gernant and Edith Broyles.
Kay is the vice president offundraising, and Edith is a very
active member, and they're bothfrom the women's club of
Carlsbadan. Yes. Yes.
Good afternoon, ladies.
Edith Broyles (00:48):
Thank you.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:49):
Thanks for joining me today.
Kae Gernandt (00:50):
Thanks for having us. Absolutely.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:53):
You guys have some significant milestones this
year. I think it's just fairthat we just go right out and
say it. You guys are celebratingyour one hundredth anniversary.
Kae Gernandt (01:03):
Yes.
Bret Schanzenbach (01:04):
It's a very fun year in 2025 for you. But
before we get into stuff aboutthat, I was impressed as I've
gotten to know you guys a littlebit and learn about the role
that women's clubs have playedin our nation's history, really.
(01:26):
Not just Carlsbad, which ofcourse we're going to talk about
and is very impressive as well.In our nation, you guys or not
you guys personally, but thewomen's club movement has had a
pretty significant role, goesback to, gosh, the late 1800s.
Tell us a little bit about someof the significant things there.
Kae Gernandt (01:49):
Well, when they first started forming, it was
mainly to have women beeducated, have the opportunity
to be educated, and also toimprove society.
Bret Schanzenbach (01:59):
Yep. And it's hard for us to remember back
then, but I mean, weren'tallowed to vote. Women weren't
allowed to I don't think, couldthey even own property? No.
Couldn't own property?
I mean, that's a It seems soforeign now, but if we think
back, there was a lot toadvocate for and to help women
(02:21):
socialize, but also educate andthose kinds of things. And in
the early 1900s, I know that thewomen's club movement was
involved in things likelibraries. That was a big deal.
But I really love this story, ifeither of you would like to
(02:43):
share, from June McCarroll andhow her role and the little
story about how she got whitelines on our roads. I mean, is
so cool.
Kae Gernandt (02:56):
This was a big movement. She was driving on her
way out in the middle of thedesert on her way to Indio and
met a car on the road andrealized there needs to be
something here to delineatebetween us and them. So she came
back and started a letterwriting campaign to have white
lines put on roads for safetypurposes. And that turned into a
national movement and worldwideafter that.
Bret Schanzenbach (03:19):
I mean, we take it so much for granted,
right? It seems like commonsense now. We drive down the
road. Now we've advanced.There's different color lines.
Are white lines, there's yellowlines. But back in the day, were
no lines. And of course, if wego to some foreign countries,
still are less advanced, and soyou might see some of this. But
(03:42):
she was the mover and shakerthat got this white line going
down the middle of our roads.And so it looks like it took
about seven years to get itfully into the mainstream.
But that's amazing.
Kae Gernandt (04:02):
I know. It's amazing what women can do when
we get together.
Bret Schanzenbach (04:05):
Yes. 3,500 miles of lines were painted.
That's a lot of lines. I thinkthat's California only. Yeah,
that was California.
Very cool. And then there wasanother crusade in the sixties
for seat belts. Tell talk usabout that.
Kae Gernandt (04:24):
Exactly. Can you imagine getting into a car today
and not putting on your seatbelt?
Bret Schanzenbach (04:28):
I know. It's so foreign.
Kae Gernandt (04:29):
Unbelievable. And in 1961, another one of our,
women in the women's clubslaunched the campaign for seat
belts and cars. And so they,that led on eventually, think,
the baby car seats also to keepour children safe. Yeah. And
they say that it resulted in theinstallation of 1,000,000 seat
belts in cars in 1961.
Bret Schanzenbach (04:53):
Yeah. I mean, we take it for granted because
it's such a safety device,right? And with so many
accidents, but back in the day,it wasn't a thing at all. But it
takes initiative, right?
Intro (05:06):
-:
Kae Gernandt (05:06):
It does.
Intro (05:07):
-:
Edith Broyles (05:07):
And some of us are old enough to remember those
days.
Bret Schanzenbach (05:11):
I mean, I remember the times before car
seats, right, as a child. But Idon't remember the days before
seat belts, although I don'tremember them being as big a
deal. Like, it wasn't so muchwhere, like, it was just de
facto you got in and put a seatbelt. I don't remember when I
(05:31):
was a child, but I think as mychildhood, our cars had them.
But now it's just like, don'tmove until everybody's buckled
up.
Which, of course, has saved alot of lives through a variety
of things. And so that's reallyfascinating to see that impact.
(05:53):
Let's talk Carlsbad for aminute. So you guys were founded
in 1925. So who wants to kickthis off?
Edith Broyles (06:03):
Oh, go ahead. This
Bret Schanzenbach (06:05):
is the part where the audience can't see you
two looking at each other. No,you. No, you. You go first. You
first.
Kae Gernandt (06:12):
Well, they started in nineteen twenty twenty five
when everybody didn't have aneighborhood. People were very
spread out. And so it started asa social group coming together
and developed into having aplace where women could gather,
get together, socialize, andthen it morphed into doing
social work in the community forthe good of the community, such
(06:34):
as, advocating for trees inCarlsbad on the old Elm Street.
Developing the libraries,setting up educational
experiences for kids likekindergarten. And so that's how
those gals got together andstarted with us.
Bret Schanzenbach (06:51):
Yeah, that's wonderful. And I, you know, with
us, the chamber, having justrecently celebrated our
centennial, you know, I tookthat opportunity to kind of dig
into the chamber's history. AndI'm assuming the listeners know,
but for those of you that don't,the Chambers was started in
(07:11):
1923, so just a little bitbefore the Women's Club. But as
you guys know, there'sconnections there, you know? Roy
Chase was the basically kind ofthe founder, if you will, and
the first chamber president.
And his wife was one of thefounders of the women's club.
Kae Gernandt (07:31):
Yes. And we're not even sure what her first name is
because all those women backthen went by Mrs. Roy Chase.
Mrs. Edith Royals.
Bret Schanzenbach (07:40):
Oh, so we don't even have that. How
interesting.
Kae Gernandt (07:42):
I've done some research and found out, but it
was funny how we were associatedwith being our husbands.
Bret Schanzenbach (07:47):
Sure. Sure. That was common at that time.
Kae Gernandt (07:50):
Right. Very common.
Bret Schanzenbach (07:51):
That's interesting. You know, I did, in
our process of digging into ourhistory and preparing to
celebrate our centennial acouple years ago, I did find
actually a picture of Roy Chaseand his wife.
Kae Gernandt (08:04):
Oh, nice.
Bret Schanzenbach (08:04):
Yeah. And now that I think of it, I wonder I
would have to go back and look.I wonder if both their names are
written on it because that couldgive you some insight if
Edith Broyles (08:15):
they Thank
Bret Schanzenbach (08:17):
you. Yeah. We'll have to dig that up and
see
Kae Gernandt (08:19):
how
Bret Schanzenbach (08:20):
very fascinating. But the two
organizations were prettyclosely associated back in the
day. And one of the things thatI thought was very forward
thinking and astute was way backnear your inception. You guys
(08:42):
purchased your own clubhouse, Imean, your own building that was
yours. And that became like yourspot.
Kae Gernandt (08:50):
It is, at a time when women couldn't own
property. Even more amazing.
Bret Schanzenbach (08:54):
Yeah, it is amazing. But I love that because
it gave you your place to kindof hang your shingle, so to
speak, and gather people. It wasvery and then so I I love it, It
was on Pine And Fourth Street.
Edith Broyles (09:08):
Right.
Bret Schanzenbach (09:09):
I mean, we still have those well, wait. Do
we have Fourth Street still?
Edith Broyles (09:12):
I don't think so. We have Pine. Pine, but not
Fourth.
Bret Schanzenbach (09:15):
Yeah. We'd have to really dig in and figure
out where that was exactly. Andbut also impressive. Fairly
early on, your membership wasstrong. Tell us, how many
members did you have?
I have some notes here, but Ithink you have equal notes.
Kae Gernandt (09:36):
It's said that in 1928, only three years into our
existence, that we had 200members.
Bret Schanzenbach (09:41):
Amazing.
Kae Gernandt (09:42):
Fascinating to me because back then I heard we
only had 600 inhabitants inCarlsbad, which wasn't even a
city
Bret Schanzenbach (09:48):
at that It's before we were an official city.
Yeah, 200 members. That's sostrong. Now, as we look back
historically, something thataffected everybody, including
organizations like the Chamberand clubs like yours, was the
Depression in the '30s. So thatwas a tough time.
(10:11):
And the women's club sold theirclubhouse back then, which makes
sense. You got to do what yougot to do. But that turned out
to not be their last permanentlocation. You guys have
continued to invest and have aplace to call your own over the
years. So the Depression hits,you guys sell your clubhouse I'm
(10:40):
just kind of looking throughsome of my notes here.
Kae Gernandt (10:41):
To the Carlsbad School District that they then
used as their auditorium.
Bret Schanzenbach (10:46):
Wonderful. Kept it in the community. Then,
is it '19 Let's see, 1931. Talkto me about Elm And Madison.
Kae Gernandt (10:59):
That property was donated to us by the McClellan
family, which I'm sure a lot ofpeople know that name. A past
president of the chamber and thefirst mayor, associated with our
airport. We found that plot ofland on the map, and it's
currently where Kentucky FriedChicken is. So our clubhouse
(11:20):
used to sit right there.
Bret Schanzenbach (11:22):
That's great.
Kae Gernandt (11:22):
In that spot.
Bret Schanzenbach (11:23):
Yes. The McClellan family's got a great
footprint that they've left herein Carlsbad, a legacy, as you
said, past, present. Actually,the McClellons had multiple
family members who chaired theboard of directors for the
chamber. Think like father sontype of thing, you know? And
then, as you mentioned, firstmayor.
(11:44):
Our airport's still named afterthem for donating that land to
the county. So that's great. Butthen you guys sold that
clubhouse too.
Kae Gernandt (11:56):
We did. We We moved on and upward.
Bret Schanzenbach (11:59):
Yeah. You guys don't let a lot of moss
grow on you. You just keepmoving and shaking.
Edith Broyles (12:04):
Yep. You
Kae Gernandt (12:04):
needed more space.
Bret Schanzenbach (12:06):
Tell me, though, about Julia Sharpley,
because this also connects toCarlsbad's history in the 1930s
and what she did.
Kae Gernandt (12:16):
She was the one that donated property over by
McGee Park that then was usedfor the first fire station. At
the time Carlsbad didn't haveone, we had to rely on Oceanside
or other areas around to put outour fires. And so she donated
that land for our first firestation.
Bret Schanzenbach (12:32):
Amazing individual citizens, you know,
donating property for such civicthings. So amazing.
Kae Gernandt (12:39):
And
Bret Schanzenbach (12:44):
my notes say that the building, although it's
not a fire station anymore, isstill there.
Kae Gernandt (12:48):
That's what I hear too.
Bret Schanzenbach (12:50):
Yeah. Still there. So it's still standing in
our community. Gosh, that'sninety five years ago, right? Or
roughly ninety five years ago.
That's amazing. And yourinvolvement wasn't just
(13:12):
involvement in things inCarlsbad. World War II hit, and
you guys were very active. Telltell some of the things you guys
were doing back then with yourclubhouse.
Kae Gernandt (13:22):
The Red Cross worked in our clubhouse and held
classes for citizens, sewing forservicemen, veterans, and did
financial planning and trainingfor women in the community that
perhaps were left behind withouta husband to help them with
those endeavors.
Bret Schanzenbach (13:38):
That was, yeah, tough, tough situation,
right? Not everybody came back,obviously, from the war. And so,
having to become a little moreindependent, etcetera. No,
that's great. And you guys lentyour clubhouse out to the Red
Cross for that.
And if I skip anything, let meknow. But if we fast forward, as
we all know, Carlsbad finallydoes become its own incorporated
(14:02):
city in 1953, which in largepart, our chamber was very
involved in that. Oceanside wasmaking a play to grab part of
Coastal Carlsbad that wouldeventually incorporate the power
plant. Now, our big power plantsmokestack's gone now, but it
was kind of iconic in Carlsbadfor And when the vote to annex
(14:28):
that part of Carlsbad intoOceanside failed by the way, it
failed it tied, 45 to 45, so itfailed. And it was then that the
chamber jumped up and said,We've not got to protect
Carlsbad.
And so we led the charge toincorporate. And that was also a
narrow vote that the citizenspassed to become our own city.
(14:51):
But in 1953, Carlsbad becomesits own city. And as was already
mentioned, Dewey McClellan, apast chamber president connected
to you guys as well, becomes thefirst mayor. But you guys still
got very active in thecommunity.
Talk about some other things youdid in the in the 50s that have
still exist today.
Kae Gernandt (15:12):
We purchased play equipment and trees for Holiday
Park when that was beingestablished. We worked with
Georgina Cole, the founder ofour namesake of our Cole
library. She actually had set upa lending library in the
clubhouse, and sort of got thatwhole library thing going in
Carlsbad. Let's see. In
Bret Schanzenbach (15:35):
I think she even founded that Friends of the
Library group that I believestill exists today.
Kae Gernandt (15:40):
She did. And club members with her were helped her
to start that up and were veryactive in the Friends of the
Library, the fundraising arm ofthat.
Bret Schanzenbach (15:48):
So, beautiful I mean, we have some great
library resources now, but thatreally goes back to your club.
Edith Broyles (15:56):
It does. And
Bret Schanzenbach (15:57):
Carlsbadians have you guys to thank for that.
Let's do this. We're gonna takea brief pause. We are talking to
Kay Gernant and Edith Broylesfrom the Women's Club of
Carlsbad. And when we come back,we're gonna talk a little bit
more about their history andbring it full full forward to
what they're doing today.
(16:18):
So stick with us. We'll be rightback. So Kay and Edith, we're
(17:23):
kind of going through your guys'history, which is very rich.
Lots of benefits that ourcommunity has received from the
involvement of the CarlsbadWomen's Club over the last
hundred years. And if we kind offast forward to your current
property, which you guyspurchased and is now Well, you
(17:46):
tell.
And it looks like, I believefrom my notes, in about 1961,
you purchased the property thatis currently your clubhouse. Is
that right?
Kae Gernandt (17:55):
Yes.
Bret Schanzenbach (17:55):
And where is that?
Kae Gernandt (17:56):
It's right across from Carlsbad High School on the
corner of Monroe And Basswood.
Bret Schanzenbach (18:01):
Okay, so 1961 to today. Man, that thing's
appreciated quite a bit.
Kae Gernandt (18:06):
It has. Well,
Bret Schanzenbach (18:09):
I applaud you, though, for not just
cashing it out because thatcould be a lot of money in your
coffers. But having that assetis very valuable. I've been to
the physical club. I know youguys occasionally, or maybe, I
don't know, regularly rent itout to different groups. And my
daughter is in theater, she'sdone a couple plays with the
(18:32):
Carlsbad Community Theater.
And she's auditioned therebefore, she's had rehearsals
there before. And so I've had achance to be at your facility.
And so you have that. And tellus a little bit about now, if I
(18:53):
miss anything that you want tohighlight from your history,
feel free. But otherwise, Iwould love to hear what you guys
are really passionate about.
And here's the mission statementI found on your website. Your
mission is to strengthen ourcommunity and enhance the lives
of others through volunteerservice and philanthropic
endeavors. So tell us a littlebit about the activities you
(19:16):
guys do today.
Edith Broyles (19:18):
Well, think that's one of the things that
really draws women to the club.It did for me. I could join many
different groups to just networkwith women or make friends,
which we do get to do there. Imean, we all develop
relationships and whatnot. Butit's the philanthropic
involvement that really drew mein.
(19:39):
I think women like that. We haveso many different things. Do you
want me to just list a few ofthe charities that we donate to
or service with? One Safe Place,Meals on Wheels, Got Your Back,
San Diego Food Bank, CommunityResource Center. I mean, are
some of the bigger names.
Alabaster Jar, Foundation forWomen Warriors, Boys and Girls
(19:59):
Club of Carlsbad. But we also dosmaller things like the women
get together and make comfortpillows to give to women that
have had breast cancer surgery.We have some of the women that
crochet or knit, I'm not surewhich it is, handmade baby hats
to be able to take to thehospitals to give out as We have
(20:20):
scholarships for graduatingsenior girls that they go
through an application processand a committee evaluates them
and we give them scholarships.So there's lots of community
cleanups, the Carlsbad fivethousand. And then again, the
fundraising that we do, theHoliday Market, which as Kay
(20:42):
mentioned before, is our biggestfundraiser of the year, and
Bunko and Bingo and many thingsthroughout the year that we can
get involved in as little or asmuch as we want.
But the idea is that we arealways giving back and have so
many different ways that we cando that.
Bret Schanzenbach (20:59):
I love that. So let me come back to the
holiday market because I thinkwe were actually talking before
we turned the mics on. Tell usabout the holiday market,
because it sounds like it's abig annual thing for you guys.
Kae Gernandt (21:11):
It is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It was
started in 2014. And we puttogether items that our members
make during the course of theyear. Some we do together, some
we do as projects. We also havevendors that we invite in that
are jury to come in and selltheir wares, and we open up the
clubhouse.
It's actually this year going tobe on November 15 from nine to
(21:33):
two. And we invite the public inand they come and they shop.
They get a start on theirholiday shopping and they get to
choose from so many lovely,wonderful items that we sell.
And then all of that money inthe past has gone back into the
philanthropic groups that wesupport and collaborate with.
Bret Schanzenbach (21:50):
I love it. And I'm sorry if you said it, I
might have missed it. Did yousay exactly when it is? Or it's
in December or?
Kae Gernandt (21:57):
It's in November.
Bret Schanzenbach (21:58):
It's in November.
Kae Gernandt (21:59):
Okay. I'm sure it's on November 15.
Bret Schanzenbach (22:01):
November fifteenth.
Kae Gernandt (22:01):
Okay. At our clubhouse.
Bret Schanzenbach (22:02):
Good. I got that out there. If you had said
it already, I apologize. Buteither way, we got it out there.
November 15 at your clubhouse.
Your clubhouse is, you saidwhere it is, but it's across
from Carlsbad High School.Across from their football field
at least.
Kae Gernandt (22:18):
Exactly. And we do lots of rentals out of that
clubhouse. Rent to businessesand individuals on a one time
basis if they like or on aweekly basis. They come in and
have their meetings, seminars,get togethers at our clubhouse.
Bret Schanzenbach (22:33):
And then, Edith, I want go back to what
you were sharing aboutscholarships. So, you mentioned
you guys do scholarships forgirls who are graduating. And
then, is there other criteria?Do they have to live in Carlsbad
or go to a Carlsbad high school?Or what would be other criteria
that people might have to apply?
Edith Broyles (22:48):
Yes, it's local Carlsbad high schools. And I was
on the committee a few yearsago, so I'm not sure what all
the current criteria are, but ittalks about their community
service. And some of these gals,when we sit and listen to their
stories about what they've done,it's so inspiring to see what
(23:09):
these girls have accomplished intheir time in high school. And
you want to give them all ascholarship because they're all
so worthy. We just want to givethem a little something to go
off to college with.
Obviously we can't afford hugetuition amounts, but it's just
something to reward them forwhat they've in the way of
giving back in their communityin the high school and
(23:31):
volunteering and all of that.
Bret Schanzenbach (23:33):
Well, and I know, like you said, you would
like to probably give more, butI bet if we were to add up all
you've given over the decades Doyou have that number?
Kae Gernandt (23:41):
I do have that much is that? I can't go back
decades and decades because ourrecords really got solidified
in, 02/2012. But since 02/2012,we have given away $33,500 in
scholarships to local girls.
Bret Schanzenbach (23:55):
Nice.
Kae Gernandt (23:56):
Going on to college. We've also given away
$28,000 in nursing scholarshipsthat we give to nursing students
that are already in college. Andwe're going to be expanding that
this year to other nursingcolleges and universities here
in Carlsbad and San Marcos.
Bret Schanzenbach (24:11):
Wonderful. Oh, that's fantastic. So you
give away to charities and yougive scholarships. Your biggest
fundraiser is your market thatyou have November 15, which we
just talked about. Are thereother fundraising things we want
to highlight or activities inany way that we want to
highlight?
Kae Gernandt (24:32):
Maybe a little bit of the social aspect that Edith
talked about a little bit. Wehave a monthly lunch and learn
where our members can cometogether, they get a delicious
lunch, they get an educationalexposure or a crafty kind of
thing that they can puttogether. We have a game night
once a month that the gals canget together and just play
random silly games and get toknow each other better. We have
(24:54):
a book club that's on the socialaspect too. Happy hours and
holiday parties and things likethat for the social part of our
lives to help people connect.
Bret Schanzenbach (25:05):
Yeah. That's wonderful. And when I was
preparing to chat with you guys,I was on your website, and it's
not that much money to be amember. It was like $50 or $60
or something. You guys mightwant to raise that a little.
(25:25):
That's really, really areasonable amount. And then,
obviously, then you have a lotof fun things as a member that
you can tap into, like thesesocial lunches, or happy hour,
or the lunch and learns, etc.But yeah, I was amazed by how
low that cost was.
Kae Gernandt (25:46):
We are very reasonable. And there's nothing
more rewarding than the rewardswe get for giving back. It's
gratifying that you can beuseful in the community and do
good things and help others.
Bret Schanzenbach (26:00):
Very nice. Now, are women's clubs in
general, are they still likelike you guys have survived, and
I would say to a certain degree,thrived over a hundred years. Is
that story similar in othercommunities? Like, does every
community in North San DiegoCounty have a woman's club and
(26:21):
that kind of thing? What do youfind?
Kae Gernandt (26:24):
Not every community has their own woman's
club. Some communities grouptogether. We have women in our
club from San Marcos Vista,Oceanside, local But there are a
couple other communities, or I'msorry, women's clubs in North
County that you can choose fromand check them out too.
Bret Schanzenbach (26:41):
Sure. Okay. No, I was just curious how if it
was I I in the chamber industry,you know, we've definitely seen
over the years, in the industryin general, membership has
shrunk. And it's a challenge forus in our industry to continue
to get out there and articulateto the next generation of up and
(27:01):
coming entrepreneurs andbusiness leaders and such, you
know, who we are and the valuewe bring. You know, we're
constantly having to sellourselves.
You know, and I didn't know ifthere's similarities with what
you guys are experiencing or
Kae Gernandt (27:16):
how that experience where we've actually
merged with a couple differentwomen's clubs because maybe
their numbers have declined orpeople in the club don't want to
be in leadership positions. Theywant to do the work, but they
don't want to be the leader. Sowe've actually merged with two
other women's clubs in the lastten years or so. I see. And
grown our numbers that way.
But I think you're probablyright. It seems like, some
(27:37):
numbers have been going down andwe have to reach out. We're
trying to reach out to getyounger members. We have some
younger members, stay at homemoms or working moms, but they
can come to our meetings therein the evenings. And so they can
come and get some of that typeof fulfillment in their lives.
Bret Schanzenbach (27:52):
Wonderful. And as you guys look at the
different charities that yousupport, do you have a system
for evaluating who you supportyear to year? Or is it kind of,
we're going support these sameones that we've always had? Or
if somebody in the club says,Hey, here's something that is
really good, we should supportit. Do you have a system?
Edith Broyles (28:13):
We do look at those. I mean, are some of these
that have been very longstanding. And there is a
philanthropy committee that whenthe monies do come in, they
evaluate and present to the clubwhere they are going to allocate
the funds to. So yes, I've seenmembers oftentimes come in with
an idea of somebody else that wecould add to our list. And some
(28:36):
are at it and some aren't.
But I've just got a short listhere and you can see how long it
is. But yes, a lot of them we'vebeen donating to for quite a
while now.
Kae Gernandt (28:48):
They seem to all focus When I was working on the
website and gathering andgetting things organized, they
seem to mainly focus on womenand children. Some animals, some
Environment. Environment. Yeah.I think that's only natural for
us to be concerned about womenand children.
Because women and that's what wedo. We nurture and care take for
(29:09):
not only ourselves, but thecommunity.
Bret Schanzenbach (29:11):
Anything else, though, that we want to
get on people's radar?
Edith Broyles (29:14):
Well, I do have to mention that we just had a
very successful fashion show intea that was, again, just for
fun, just to gather the womenfor something, because we
haven't done one. I think thelast fashion show might have
been back in 2014 or something.And so there is a committee as
part of the club. It's calledFederation, which now we're
(29:34):
trying to call activities. Andwe do like to just plan
activities like that.
And this was a great outreach tothe community. I think we had at
least as many guests as we didmembers. We had 115. We were
sold out. It was a fabulousevent.
And I did bring flyers over tothe chamber as well. So we
utilized your exposure a littlebit.
Bret Schanzenbach (29:56):
Perfect. That's what we want to hear.
That's what we want to do, is tobe able to partner with you
guys. So if somebody islistening in today and is
saying, didn't even know we hada woman's club in Carlsbad and I
would like to learn more. Wouldthe website be the best place to
direct them to start with?
Kae Gernandt (30:17):
I believe so. Yes. You can learn lots of stuff on
the website. The website URL is?Womans,withanA,
womansclubofcarlsbad Org.
Bret Schanzenbach (30:27):
So W0MANS, WomansClubOfCarlsbad Org. Okay.
There you heard it, Go check outall the great things that our
Woman's Club of Carlsbad hasdone in their history and is
doing currently onto the nexthundred years. So onward and
(30:48):
upward. Well, thank you both fortaking some time out of your
schedule and your calendar tocome and share with us.
I love getting to know betterour strong institutional
organizations that have madeCarlsbad what it is today, and
that definitely is you guys. Soreally appreciate it. And yeah,
I look forward to continuing towork together.
Kae Gernandt (31:12):
Thank you for having us.
Edith Broyles (31:13):
Thank you so much.
Bret Schanzenbach (31:13):
Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks for joining us
today on our Carlsbad People,Purpose and Impact podcast. If
you got value out of our episodetoday, please hit the follow
button on your favorite podcastapp and please tell a friend.
Can't wait to see you next timeon Carlsbad people, purpose, and
impact.
Carlsbad, people, purpose, and impact, an
essential podcast for those wholive, work, visit, and play in
Carlsbad.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:14):
Good afternoon and welcome,
everybody. My name is BrettSchonsenbach. I'm the president
and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamberof Commerce, and I'm once again
your host. And today, I amfortunate to have two guests
with me today. I have Kay Oh mygoodness.
I practiced this five times.Gernant.
Kae Gernandt (00:33):
Very good.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:34):
All right. Kay Gernant and Edith Broyles.
Kay is the vice president offundraising, and Edith is a very
active member, and they're bothfrom the women's club of
Carlsbadan. Yes. Yes.
Good afternoon, ladies.
Edith Broyles (00:48):
Thank you.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:49):
Thanks for joining me today.
Kae Gernandt (00:50):
Thanks for having us. Absolutely.
Bret Schanzenbach (00:53):
You guys have some significant milestones this
year. I think it's just fairthat we just go right out and
say it. You guys are celebratingyour one hundredth anniversary.
Kae Gernandt (01:03):
Yes.
Bret Schanzenbach (01:04):
It's a very fun year in 2025 for you. But
before we get into stuff aboutthat, I was impressed as I've
gotten to know you guys a littlebit and learn about the role
that women's clubs have playedin our nation's history, really.
(01:26):
Not just Carlsbad, which ofcourse we're going to talk about
and is very impressive as well.In our nation, you guys or not
you guys personally, but thewomen's club movement has had a
pretty significant role, goesback to, gosh, the late 1800s.
Tell us a little bit about someof the significant things there.
Kae Gernandt (01:49):
Well, when they first started forming, it was
mainly to have women beeducated, have the opportunity
to be educated, and also toimprove society.
Bret Schanzenbach (01:59):
Yep. And it's hard for us to remember back
then, but I mean, weren'tallowed to vote. Women weren't
allowed to I don't think, couldthey even own property? No.
Couldn't own property?
I mean, that's a It seems soforeign now, but if we think
back, there was a lot toadvocate for and to help women
(02:21):
socialize, but also educate andthose kinds of things. And in
the early 1900s, I know that thewomen's club movement was
involved in things likelibraries. That was a big deal.
But I really love this story, ifeither of you would like to
(02:43):
share, from June McCarroll andhow her role and the little
story about how she got whitelines on our roads. I mean, is
so cool.
Kae Gernandt (02:56):
This was a big movement. She was driving on her
way out in the middle of thedesert on her way to Indio and
met a car on the road andrealized there needs to be
something here to delineatebetween us and them. So she came
back and started a letterwriting campaign to have white
lines put on roads for safetypurposes. And that turned into a
national movement and worldwideafter that.
Bret Schanzenbach (03:19):
I mean, we take it so much for granted,
right? It seems like commonsense now. We drive down the
road. Now we've advanced.There's different color lines.
Are white lines, there's yellowlines. But back in the day, were
no lines. And of course, if wego to some foreign countries,
still are less advanced, and soyou might see some of this. But
(03:42):
she was the mover and shakerthat got this white line going
down the middle of our roads.And so it looks like it took
about seven years to get itfully into the mainstream.
But that's amazing.
Kae Gernandt (04:02):
I know. It's amazing what women can do when
we get together.
Bret Schanzenbach (04:05):
Yes. 3,500 miles of lines were painted.
That's a lot of lines. I thinkthat's California only. Yeah,
that was California.
Very cool. And then there wasanother crusade in the sixties
for seat belts. Tell talk usabout that.
Kae Gernandt (04:24):
Exactly. Can you imagine getting into a car today
and not putting on your seatbelt?
Bret Schanzenbach (04:28):
I know. It's so foreign.
Kae Gernandt (04:29):
Unbelievable. And in 1961, another one of our,
women in the women's clubslaunched the campaign for seat
belts and cars. And so they,that led on eventually, think,
the baby car seats also to keepour children safe. Yeah. And
they say that it resulted in theinstallation of 1,000,000 seat
belts in cars in 1961.
Bret Schanzenbach (04:53):
Yeah. I mean, we take it for granted because
it's such a safety device,right? And with so many
accidents, but back in the day,it wasn't a thing at all. But it
takes initiative, right?
Intro (05:06):
-:
Kae Gernandt (05:06):
It does.
Intro (05:07):
-:
Edith Broyles (05:07):
And some of us are old enough to remember those
days.
Bret Schanzenbach (05:11):
I mean, I remember the times before car
seats, right, as a child. But Idon't remember the days before
seat belts, although I don'tremember them being as big a
deal. Like, it wasn't so muchwhere, like, it was just de
facto you got in and put a seatbelt. I don't remember when I
(05:31):
was a child, but I think as mychildhood, our cars had them.
But now it's just like, don'tmove until everybody's buckled
up.
Which, of course, has saved alot of lives through a variety
of things. And so that's reallyfascinating to see that impact.
(05:53):
Let's talk Carlsbad for aminute. So you guys were founded
in 1925. So who wants to kickthis off?
Edith Broyles (06:03):
Oh, go ahead. This
Bret Schanzenbach (06:05):
is the part where the audience can't see you
two looking at each other. No,you. No, you. You go first. You
first.
Kae Gernandt (06:12):
Well, they started in nineteen twenty twenty five
when everybody didn't have aneighborhood. People were very
spread out. And so it started asa social group coming together
and developed into having aplace where women could gather,
get together, socialize, andthen it morphed into doing
social work in the community forthe good of the community, such
(06:34):
as, advocating for trees inCarlsbad on the old Elm Street.
Developing the libraries,setting up educational
experiences for kids likekindergarten. And so that's how
those gals got together andstarted with us.
Bret Schanzenbach (06:51):
Yeah, that's wonderful. And I, you know, with
us, the chamber, having justrecently celebrated our
centennial, you know, I tookthat opportunity to kind of dig
into the chamber's history. AndI'm assuming the listeners know,
but for those of you that don't,the Chambers was started in
(07:11):
1923, so just a little bitbefore the Women's Club. But as
you guys know, there'sconnections there, you know? Roy
Chase was the basically kind ofthe founder, if you will, and
the first chamber president.
And his wife was one of thefounders of the women's club.
Kae Gernandt (07:31):
Yes. And we're not even sure what her first name is
because all those women backthen went by Mrs. Roy Chase.
Mrs. Edith Royals.
Bret Schanzenbach (07:40):
Oh, so we don't even have that. How
interesting.
Kae Gernandt (07:42):
I've done some research and found out, but it
was funny how we were associatedwith being our husbands.
Bret Schanzenbach (07:47):
Sure. Sure. That was common at that time.
Kae Gernandt (07:50):
Right. Very common.
Bret Schanzenbach (07:51):
That's interesting. You know, I did, in
our process of digging into ourhistory and preparing to
celebrate our centennial acouple years ago, I did find
actually a picture of Roy Chaseand his wife.
Kae Gernandt (08:04):
Oh, nice.
Bret Schanzenbach (08:04):
Yeah. And now that I think of it, I wonder I
would have to go back and look.I wonder if both their names are
written on it because that couldgive you some insight if
Edith Broyles (08:15):
they Thank
Bret Schanzenbach (08:17):
you. Yeah. We'll have to dig that up and
see
Kae Gernandt (08:19):
how
Bret Schanzenbach (08:20):
very fascinating. But the two
organizations were prettyclosely associated back in the
day. And one of the things thatI thought was very forward
thinking and astute was way backnear your inception. You guys
(08:42):
purchased your own clubhouse, Imean, your own building that was
yours. And that became like yourspot.
Kae Gernandt (08:50):
It is, at a time when women couldn't own
property. Even more amazing.
Bret Schanzenbach (08:54):
Yeah, it is amazing. But I love that because
it gave you your place to kindof hang your shingle, so to
speak, and gather people. It wasvery and then so I I love it, It
was on Pine And Fourth Street.
Edith Broyles (09:08):
Right.
Bret Schanzenbach (09:09):
I mean, we still have those well, wait. Do
we have Fourth Street still?
Edith Broyles (09:12):
I don't think so. We have Pine. Pine, but not
Fourth.
Bret Schanzenbach (09:15):
Yeah. We'd have to really dig in and figure
out where that was exactly. Andbut also impressive. Fairly
early on, your membership wasstrong. Tell us, how many
members did you have?
I have some notes here, but Ithink you have equal notes.
Kae Gernandt (09:36):
It's said that in 1928, only three years into our
existence, that we had 200members.
Bret Schanzenbach (09:41):
Amazing.
Kae Gernandt (09:42):
Fascinating to me because back then I heard we
only had 600 inhabitants inCarlsbad, which wasn't even a
city
Bret Schanzenbach (09:48):
at that It's before we were an official city.
Yeah, 200 members. That's sostrong. Now, as we look back
historically, something thataffected everybody, including
organizations like the Chamberand clubs like yours, was the
Depression in the '30s. So thatwas a tough time.
(10:11):
And the women's club sold theirclubhouse back then, which makes
sense. You got to do what yougot to do. But that turned out
to not be their last permanentlocation. You guys have
continued to invest and have aplace to call your own over the
years. So the Depression hits,you guys sell your clubhouse I'm
(10:40):
just kind of looking throughsome of my notes here.
Kae Gernandt (10:41):
To the Carlsbad School District that they then
used as their auditorium.
Bret Schanzenbach (10:46):
Wonderful. Kept it in the community. Then,
is it '19 Let's see, 1931. Talkto me about Elm And Madison.
Kae Gernandt (10:59):
That property was donated to us by the McClellan
family, which I'm sure a lot ofpeople know that name. A past
president of the chamber and thefirst mayor, associated with our
airport. We found that plot ofland on the map, and it's
currently where Kentucky FriedChicken is. So our clubhouse
(11:20):
used to sit right there.
Bret Schanzenbach (11:22):
That's great.
Kae Gernandt (11:22):
In that spot.
Bret Schanzenbach (11:23):
Yes. The McClellan family's got a great
footprint that they've left herein Carlsbad, a legacy, as you
said, past, present. Actually,the McClellons had multiple
family members who chaired theboard of directors for the
chamber. Think like father sontype of thing, you know? And
then, as you mentioned, firstmayor.
(11:44):
Our airport's still named afterthem for donating that land to
the county. So that's great. Butthen you guys sold that
clubhouse too.
Kae Gernandt (11:56):
We did. We We moved on and upward.
Bret Schanzenbach (11:59):
Yeah. You guys don't let a lot of moss
grow on you. You just keepmoving and shaking.
Edith Broyles (12:04):
Yep. You
Kae Gernandt (12:04):
needed more space.
Bret Schanzenbach (12:06):
Tell me, though, about Julia Sharpley,
because this also connects toCarlsbad's history in the 1930s
and what she did.
Kae Gernandt (12:16):
She was the one that donated property over by
McGee Park that then was usedfor the first fire station. At
the time Carlsbad didn't haveone, we had to rely on Oceanside
or other areas around to put outour fires. And so she donated
that land for our first firestation.
Bret Schanzenbach (12:32):
Amazing individual citizens, you know,
donating property for such civicthings. So amazing.
Kae Gernandt (12:39):
And
Bret Schanzenbach (12:44):
my notes say that the building, although it's
not a fire station anymore, isstill there.
Kae Gernandt (12:48):
That's what I hear too.
Bret Schanzenbach (12:50):
Yeah. Still there. So it's still standing in
our community. Gosh, that'sninety five years ago, right? Or
roughly ninety five years ago.
That's amazing. And yourinvolvement wasn't just
(13:12):
involvement in things inCarlsbad. World War II hit, and
you guys were very active. Telltell some of the things you guys
were doing back then with yourclubhouse.
Kae Gernandt (13:22):
The Red Cross worked in our clubhouse and held
classes for citizens, sewing forservicemen, veterans, and did
financial planning and trainingfor women in the community that
perhaps were left behind withouta husband to help them with
those endeavors.
Bret Schanzenbach (13:38):
That was, yeah, tough, tough situation,
right? Not everybody came back,obviously, from the war. And so,
having to become a little moreindependent, etcetera. No,
that's great. And you guys lentyour clubhouse out to the Red
Cross for that.
And if I skip anything, let meknow. But if we fast forward, as
we all know, Carlsbad finallydoes become its own incorporated
(14:02):
city in 1953, which in largepart, our chamber was very
involved in that. Oceanside wasmaking a play to grab part of
Coastal Carlsbad that wouldeventually incorporate the power
plant. Now, our big power plantsmokestack's gone now, but it
was kind of iconic in Carlsbadfor And when the vote to annex
(14:28):
that part of Carlsbad intoOceanside failed by the way, it
failed it tied, 45 to 45, so itfailed. And it was then that the
chamber jumped up and said,We've not got to protect
Carlsbad.
And so we led the charge toincorporate. And that was also a
narrow vote that the citizenspassed to become our own city.
(14:51):
But in 1953, Carlsbad becomesits own city. And as was already
mentioned, Dewey McClellan, apast chamber president connected
to you guys as well, becomes thefirst mayor. But you guys still
got very active in thecommunity.
Talk about some other things youdid in the in the 50s that have
still exist today.
Kae Gernandt (15:12):
We purchased play equipment and trees for Holiday
Park when that was beingestablished. We worked with
Georgina Cole, the founder ofour namesake of our Cole
library. She actually had set upa lending library in the
clubhouse, and sort of got thatwhole library thing going in
Carlsbad. Let's see. In
Bret Schanzenbach (15:35):
I think she even founded that Friends of the
Library group that I believestill exists today.
Kae Gernandt (15:40):
She did. And club members with her were helped her
to start that up and were veryactive in the Friends of the
Library, the fundraising arm ofthat.
Bret Schanzenbach (15:48):
So, beautiful I mean, we have some great
library resources now, but thatreally goes back to your club.
Edith Broyles (15:56):
It does. And
Bret Schanzenbach (15:57):
Carlsbadians have you guys to thank for that.
Let's do this. We're gonna takea brief pause. We are talking to
Kay Gernant and Edith Broylesfrom the Women's Club of
Carlsbad. And when we come back,we're gonna talk a little bit
more about their history andbring it full full forward to
what they're doing today.
(16:18):
So stick with us. We'll be rightback. So Kay and Edith, we're
(17:23):
kind of going through your guys'history, which is very rich.
Lots of benefits that ourcommunity has received from the
involvement of the CarlsbadWomen's Club over the last
hundred years. And if we kind offast forward to your current
property, which you guyspurchased and is now Well, you
(17:46):
tell.
And it looks like, I believefrom my notes, in about 1961,
you purchased the property thatis currently your clubhouse. Is
that right?
Kae Gernandt (17:55):
Yes.
Bret Schanzenbach (17:55):
And where is that?
Kae Gernandt (17:56):
It's right across from Carlsbad High School on the
corner of Monroe And Basswood.
Bret Schanzenbach (18:01):
Okay, so 1961 to today. Man, that thing's
appreciated quite a bit.
Kae Gernandt (18:06):
It has. Well,
Bret Schanzenbach (18:09):
I applaud you, though, for not just
cashing it out because thatcould be a lot of money in your
coffers. But having that assetis very valuable. I've been to
the physical club. I know youguys occasionally, or maybe, I
don't know, regularly rent itout to different groups. And my
daughter is in theater, she'sdone a couple plays with the
(18:32):
Carlsbad Community Theater.
And she's auditioned therebefore, she's had rehearsals
there before. And so I've had achance to be at your facility.
And so you have that. And tellus a little bit about now, if I
(18:53):
miss anything that you want tohighlight from your history,
feel free. But otherwise, Iwould love to hear what you guys
are really passionate about.
And here's the mission statementI found on your website. Your
mission is to strengthen ourcommunity and enhance the lives
of others through volunteerservice and philanthropic
endeavors. So tell us a littlebit about the activities you
(19:16):
guys do today.
Edith Broyles (19:18):
Well, think that's one of the things that
really draws women to the club.It did for me. I could join many
different groups to just networkwith women or make friends,
which we do get to do there. Imean, we all develop
relationships and whatnot. Butit's the philanthropic
involvement that really drew mein.
(19:39):
I think women like that. We haveso many different things. Do you
want me to just list a few ofthe charities that we donate to
or service with? One Safe Place,Meals on Wheels, Got Your Back,
San Diego Food Bank, CommunityResource Center. I mean, are
some of the bigger names.
Alabaster Jar, Foundation forWomen Warriors, Boys and Girls
(19:59):
Club of Carlsbad. But we also dosmaller things like the women
get together and make comfortpillows to give to women that
have had breast cancer surgery.We have some of the women that
crochet or knit, I'm not surewhich it is, handmade baby hats
to be able to take to thehospitals to give out as We have
(20:20):
scholarships for graduatingsenior girls that they go
through an application processand a committee evaluates them
and we give them scholarships.So there's lots of community
cleanups, the Carlsbad fivethousand. And then again, the
fundraising that we do, theHoliday Market, which as Kay
(20:42):
mentioned before, is our biggestfundraiser of the year, and
Bunko and Bingo and many thingsthroughout the year that we can
get involved in as little or asmuch as we want.
But the idea is that we arealways giving back and have so
many different ways that we cando that.
Bret Schanzenbach (20:59):
I love that. So let me come back to the
holiday market because I thinkwe were actually talking before
we turned the mics on. Tell usabout the holiday market,
because it sounds like it's abig annual thing for you guys.
Kae Gernandt (21:11):
It is our biggest fundraiser of the year. It was
started in 2014. And we puttogether items that our members
make during the course of theyear. Some we do together, some
we do as projects. We also havevendors that we invite in that
are jury to come in and selltheir wares, and we open up the
clubhouse.
It's actually this year going tobe on November 15 from nine to
(21:33):
two. And we invite the public inand they come and they shop.
They get a start on theirholiday shopping and they get to
choose from so many lovely,wonderful items that we sell.
And then all of that money inthe past has gone back into the
philanthropic groups that wesupport and collaborate with.
Bret Schanzenbach (21:50):
I love it. And I'm sorry if you said it, I
might have missed it. Did yousay exactly when it is? Or it's
in December or?
Kae Gernandt (21:57):
It's in November.
Bret Schanzenbach (21:58):
It's in November.
Kae Gernandt (21:59):
Okay. I'm sure it's on November 15.
Bret Schanzenbach (22:01):
November fifteenth.
Kae Gernandt (22:01):
Okay. At our clubhouse.
Bret Schanzenbach (22:02):
Good. I got that out there. If you had said
it already, I apologize. Buteither way, we got it out there.
November 15 at your clubhouse.
Your clubhouse is, you saidwhere it is, but it's across
from Carlsbad High School.Across from their football field
at least.
Kae Gernandt (22:18):
Exactly. And we do lots of rentals out of that
clubhouse. Rent to businessesand individuals on a one time
basis if they like or on aweekly basis. They come in and
have their meetings, seminars,get togethers at our clubhouse.
Bret Schanzenbach (22:33):
And then, Edith, I want go back to what
you were sharing aboutscholarships. So, you mentioned
you guys do scholarships forgirls who are graduating. And
then, is there other criteria?Do they have to live in Carlsbad
or go to a Carlsbad high school?Or what would be other criteria
that people might have to apply?
Edith Broyles (22:48):
Yes, it's local Carlsbad high schools. And I was
on the committee a few yearsago, so I'm not sure what all
the current criteria are, but ittalks about their community
service. And some of these gals,when we sit and listen to their
stories about what they've done,it's so inspiring to see what
(23:09):
these girls have accomplished intheir time in high school. And
you want to give them all ascholarship because they're all
so worthy. We just want to givethem a little something to go
off to college with.
Obviously we can't afford hugetuition amounts, but it's just
something to reward them forwhat they've in the way of
giving back in their communityin the high school and
(23:31):
volunteering and all of that.
Bret Schanzenbach (23:33):
Well, and I know, like you said, you would
like to probably give more, butI bet if we were to add up all
you've given over the decades Doyou have that number?
Kae Gernandt (23:41):
I do have that much is that? I can't go back
decades and decades because ourrecords really got solidified
in, 02/2012. But since 02/2012,we have given away $33,500 in
scholarships to local girls.
Bret Schanzenbach (23:55):
Nice.
Kae Gernandt (23:56):
Going on to college. We've also given away
$28,000 in nursing scholarshipsthat we give to nursing students
that are already in college. Andwe're going to be expanding that
this year to other nursingcolleges and universities here
in Carlsbad and San Marcos.
Bret Schanzenbach (24:11):
Wonderful. Oh, that's fantastic. So you
give away to charities and yougive scholarships. Your biggest
fundraiser is your market thatyou have November 15, which we
just talked about. Are thereother fundraising things we want
to highlight or activities inany way that we want to
highlight?
Kae Gernandt (24:32):
Maybe a little bit of the social aspect that Edith
talked about a little bit. Wehave a monthly lunch and learn
where our members can cometogether, they get a delicious
lunch, they get an educationalexposure or a crafty kind of
thing that they can puttogether. We have a game night
once a month that the gals canget together and just play
random silly games and get toknow each other better. We have
(24:54):
a book club that's on the socialaspect too. Happy hours and
holiday parties and things likethat for the social part of our
lives to help people connect.
Bret Schanzenbach (25:05):
Yeah. That's wonderful. And when I was
preparing to chat with you guys,I was on your website, and it's
not that much money to be amember. It was like $50 or $60
or something. You guys mightwant to raise that a little.
(25:25):
That's really, really areasonable amount. And then,
obviously, then you have a lotof fun things as a member that
you can tap into, like thesesocial lunches, or happy hour,
or the lunch and learns, etc.But yeah, I was amazed by how
low that cost was.
Kae Gernandt (25:46):
We are very reasonable. And there's nothing
more rewarding than the rewardswe get for giving back. It's
gratifying that you can beuseful in the community and do
good things and help others.
Bret Schanzenbach (26:00):
Very nice. Now, are women's clubs in
general, are they still likelike you guys have survived, and
I would say to a certain degree,thrived over a hundred years. Is
that story similar in othercommunities? Like, does every
community in North San DiegoCounty have a woman's club and
(26:21):
that kind of thing? What do youfind?
Kae Gernandt (26:24):
Not every community has their own woman's
club. Some communities grouptogether. We have women in our
club from San Marcos Vista,Oceanside, local But there are a
couple other communities, or I'msorry, women's clubs in North
County that you can choose fromand check them out too.
Bret Schanzenbach (26:41):
Sure. Okay. No, I was just curious how if it
was I I in the chamber industry,you know, we've definitely seen
over the years, in the industryin general, membership has
shrunk. And it's a challenge forus in our industry to continue
to get out there and articulateto the next generation of up and
(27:01):
coming entrepreneurs andbusiness leaders and such, you
know, who we are and the valuewe bring. You know, we're
constantly having to sellourselves.
You know, and I didn't know ifthere's similarities with what
you guys are experiencing or
Kae Gernandt (27:16):
how that experience where we've actually
merged with a couple differentwomen's clubs because maybe
their numbers have declined orpeople in the club don't want to
be in leadership positions. Theywant to do the work, but they
don't want to be the leader. Sowe've actually merged with two
other women's clubs in the lastten years or so. I see. And
grown our numbers that way.
But I think you're probablyright. It seems like, some
(27:37):
numbers have been going down andwe have to reach out. We're
trying to reach out to getyounger members. We have some
younger members, stay at homemoms or working moms, but they
can come to our meetings therein the evenings. And so they can
come and get some of that typeof fulfillment in their lives.
Bret Schanzenbach (27:52):
Wonderful. And as you guys look at the
different charities that yousupport, do you have a system
for evaluating who you supportyear to year? Or is it kind of,
we're going support these sameones that we've always had? Or
if somebody in the club says,Hey, here's something that is
really good, we should supportit. Do you have a system?
Edith Broyles (28:13):
We do look at those. I mean, are some of these
that have been very longstanding. And there is a
philanthropy committee that whenthe monies do come in, they
evaluate and present to the clubwhere they are going to allocate
the funds to. So yes, I've seenmembers oftentimes come in with
an idea of somebody else that wecould add to our list. And some
(28:36):
are at it and some aren't.
But I've just got a short listhere and you can see how long it
is. But yes, a lot of them we'vebeen donating to for quite a
while now.
Kae Gernandt (28:48):
They seem to all focus When I was working on the
website and gathering andgetting things organized, they
seem to mainly focus on womenand children. Some animals, some
Environment. Environment. Yeah.I think that's only natural for
us to be concerned about womenand children.
Because women and that's what wedo. We nurture and care take for
(29:09):
not only ourselves, but thecommunity.
Bret Schanzenbach (29:11):
Anything else, though, that we want to
get on people's radar?
Edith Broyles (29:14):
Well, I do have to mention that we just had a
very successful fashion show intea that was, again, just for
fun, just to gather the womenfor something, because we
haven't done one. I think thelast fashion show might have
been back in 2014 or something.And so there is a committee as
part of the club. It's calledFederation, which now we're
(29:34):
trying to call activities. Andwe do like to just plan
activities like that.
And this was a great outreach tothe community. I think we had at
least as many guests as we didmembers. We had 115. We were
sold out. It was a fabulousevent.
And I did bring flyers over tothe chamber as well. So we
utilized your exposure a littlebit.
Bret Schanzenbach (29:56):
Perfect. That's what we want to hear.
That's what we want to do, is tobe able to partner with you
guys. So if somebody islistening in today and is
saying, didn't even know we hada woman's club in Carlsbad and I
would like to learn more. Wouldthe website be the best place to
direct them to start with?
Kae Gernandt (30:17):
I believe so. Yes. You can learn lots of stuff on
the website. The website URL is?Womans,withanA,
womansclubofcarlsbad Org.
Bret Schanzenbach (30:27):
So W0MANS, WomansClubOfCarlsbad Org. Okay.
There you heard it, Go check outall the great things that our
Woman's Club of Carlsbad hasdone in their history and is
doing currently onto the nexthundred years. So onward and
(30:48):
upward. Well, thank you both fortaking some time out of your
schedule and your calendar tocome and share with us.
I love getting to know betterour strong institutional
organizations that have madeCarlsbad what it is today, and
that definitely is you guys. Soreally appreciate it. And yeah,
I look forward to continuing towork together.
Kae Gernandt (31:12):
Thank you for having us.
Edith Broyles (31:13):
Thank you so much.
Bret Schanzenbach (31:13):
Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks for joining us
today on our Carlsbad People,Purpose and Impact podcast. If
you got value out of our episodetoday, please hit the follow
button on your favorite podcastapp and please tell a friend.
Can't wait to see you next timeon Carlsbad people, purpose, and
impact.
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