Ethel Bridge is an amazing woman whose membership and dedication to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs has spanned well over 5 decades!  She is currently the cornerstone of the GFWC Beloit Federation of Women and nearing completion of her second ‘tour of duty’ as the club’s president.  Ethel was instrumental in retaining that club’s membership in the Federation when many of the former members branched out to form the now defederated Beloit Intermediate Woman’s Club.  While it broke her heart to lose many good members, this did not interfere with her determination that the present club retain its charter (and treasury) and remain in the Federation.  Ethel’s home club is aging gracefully and its members having difficulty assuming leadership positions so Ethel single handedly makes sure they are contacted through the monthly newsletter, informed and enlightened through the monthly meetings and programs and participate to the extent they are able in district, state and international federation projects and initiatives.  Her love for Federation remains steadfast.

Ethel’s leadership dates back even earlier to less demanding and turbulent times and to the early days of the GFWC Beloit Junior Woman’s Club when she served as that club’s 10^th president from 1957 to 1958.  Over the years she has recalled the time when few women worked outside the home and instead were able to spend a great deal of time on Federation matters.  Her Federation leadership contributions over these past 50+ years are numerous and varied. 

Locally she has held various department and committee chairmanships and has served as Vice President, President and Past President of all 3 women’s’ clubs in Beloit (Juniors, Intermediate and Federated Women). 

At the district level Ethel has contributed her leadership as GFWC First District Vice President, President and Advisor, Rock County Caucus Chairman, has held various chairmanships such as First District Resolutions/Bylaws, Conservation, Education, Home Life, Public and International Affairs, Legislative and Wisconsin’s Own Library, has contributed her knowledge and skills as the First District Parliamentary Advisor and has served on various district committees (Nominations, Conventions to name a few).

 Ethel has also contributed over twenty years on the State board of GFWC-Wisconsin (known as WFWC ‘back in the day’).  In addition to serving on the GFWC-WI State Board in her local and district officer positions, she has held various state chairmanships (Resolutions, Conservation, Wisconsin’s Own Library and Historian among them).  She remembers and talks fondly of her time spent on Conservation efforts, attending a workshop in Washington D.C. sponsored by Shell Oil, involving herself with “Trees for Tomorrow” and helping to establish the George Washington Memorial Forest that is part of the Chequamegon National Forest.  Over the years she has attended hundreds if not thousands of local, district, state, region and international meetings and conventions.  Travel has become more difficult for Ethel as of late but she continues to try to attend as many functions as she is able and has transportation available. 

Ethel’s leadership and contributions to volunteerism did not only include her love for Federation but her love for her family and local communities as well.  A 1944 graduate of the University of Wisconsin –Whitewater, Ethel stepped up to her civic responsibilities and taught Commercial subjects at Genoa City during the war and before graduating since most of the men teachers were in service.  She persevered and graduated after her first teaching year.  She also taught at Johnson Creek High School and worked at Madison East High School in the office.  She held a position of the Labor Relations Office Secretary at Fairbanks Morse from 1949-50 and substitute taught in Beloit in the early 1950’s.

Married 63 years to husband, Richard, she is the proud mother of two girls and a boy.  While her children were growing up she was active in the PTAs at Royce and Converse Elementary Schools, Aldrich and Lincoln Junior Highs and Beloit Memorial High School.  Not only was she a Girl Scout Troop Leader and a Den Mother but she offered her leadership skills beyond her children’s’ local troops.  Ethel served as a Badger Council Board Member (Girl Scouts of America) and as a Committee Member and head Barbecue Chef for Troop 615’s annual Bar-B-Q Bash fundraiser for twenty years, only recently turning over her apron to the next generation of dedicated Boy Scout supporters.  With her support, love and encouragement, her children achieved the highest ranks that Girl and Boy Scouting offer.

One would be able to stop after all that and consider hers as a life well spent but that would not be the end of the story of Ethel Bridge’s volunteerism in her Beloit Community.  Highlights of her efforts locally include her participation on the Beloit Recycling Planning and “Save the Krueger Pool” Committees.  She had also thrown her hat into the ring as a candidate for the School District of Beloit School Board.   Ethel was honored as Beloit’s Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Woman for Community Service in 1990.   

Finally Ethel epitomizes the Collect for Clubwomen and contributes her leadership to her local faith community.  She has been a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church congregation for over 50 years and has served as a Sunday School Teacher and Bible School Superintendent.  She is a member of the Call Committee and remains a lectern reader (alongside her faithful oxygen tank, Jeannette) and a Chime Choir member.

 Clearly this woman has dedicated her life to volunteer service and is deserving of this, the 2008 Woman of Achievement Award from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs – Wisconsin.