Annual Themes (1961 - 2008)

August - The YCF (Young Calvinist Federation) board agreed that the Girls’ Club movement required assistance and approved appointment of a committee of young women members of the YCF Board and girls club leaders to take action in this matter.

January - Meeting resulted in appointment of committee to prepare program and constitution. Calvinettes was born

February - Organizational meeting held at Beverly CRC, Wyoming, Michigan. Panel discussion included:

importance of meeting spiritual needs of girls and molding their lives. inviting all girls to join the goal of clubs should be Study of the Word, encourage participation Christian fellowship among girls Good fun Developing leadership Get spiritual interest of girls back into church rather than school

April - The suggestion was made to use the name Calvinettes as a catchy name for the organization.

January - it was decided to

order white neckerchiefs have merit badges and emblem designed approve certificates of rank adopt silver gray and deep blue as Calvinette colors

February - First Aid badge - required for Gleaner; Etiquette and Hostessing - required for Reaper; Homemaking - required for Harvester.

June - Leadership Training Committee appointed to plan Leadership Training Courses for various areas to include instruction on how to teach the Bible lessons, as well as handicraft demonstration.

January - Mrs. L. Barb Vredevoogd appointed first (part-time) Calvinette Director.

Theme - Calvinettes Be Thankful to God - first theme introduced.

July – Calvinist Cadet Corps -YCF Study committee presented a suggested organizational chart consisting of three (Calvinettes, Cadets, and YCF) youth ministry branches headed by a united youth board. The organizational structure was approved.

July - Shirley Lautenbach appointed part-time Calvinette director.

September 29 - Calvinettes has 461 clubs.

February - A new part time director, Cecilia Mereness was hired. The “Charm Course” from Manna Publications was offered for grades 9 and 10.

October - Decision made to work toward a new separate magazine for Calvinettes.

February - Magazine name suggestions: first choice Touch - suggests contact; by touching we are aware of others. Suggests that girls, counselors, & the Service Center keep in touch by sharing ideas, plans, suggestions.

July - 1st Calvinette Counselors’ Convention held in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

September - First issue of Touch published.

December - Touch Circulation at 9,700.

1971

April - The three ministries of Cadets, Calvinettes, and YCF joined together as UCY (United Calvinist Youth and were all housed in the same building at 1333 Alger SE, in Grand Rapids.

January – Report on program revision committee: Badges for Junior and Senior Calvinettes should be separated.

July - Program revisions included: The youngest girls would be called Busy Bees. Uniform suggested: a yellow vest with a bee insignia for membership. The rank structure was dropped from current programs.

November - Adopted as Calvinette verse and aim: Micah 6:8, song: Jesus Is All the World to Me.

March - A survey showed approximately 20% of girls in Calvinettes were not in a church family

March - Jo Ilbrink was hired as the first full time Executive Director.

May - A committee has been appointed to write new material for Advanced Calvinettes - to replace Manna Publications’ Charm Course.

July - First theme badge developed, first theme sectional offered at convention.

May - Bible helps publication renamed: Connections, mailed three times per year to registered clubs. Cable becomes a quarterly publication to counselors.

March - Decision made to begin long-range plan to unify all program levels and materials.

January - Position of part-time Leadership Training Coordinator approved.

July - Women of Faith - Then and Now for Busy Bees introduced at convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

July - Clothes Designed by Jesus for Busy Bees introduced at convention in London, Ontario.

November - A program introduced to minister to girls who live in isolated areas: mission fields, military bases, etc.

June - Decision made to change the name of Busy Bees to Awareness Calvinettes.

July - Revised Discovery handbook introduced at convention in Vancouver, British Columbia.

November - Personnel Committee accepted Jo Ilbrink’s intention to retire as of March 1, 1995.

January - The CEB (Calvinettes Executive Board) approved expanding Awareness level of Calvinettes to first grade.

July - Celebrate 25th Annual Calvinette Counselor’s convention at Wheaton, Illinois.

November - Jan Boone selected to be Executive Director upon Jo Ilbrink’s retirement.

January - The Awareness program level names to include: Grade One - Observer, Grade Two - Learner, Grade Three - Achiever. CEB approves Touch to include use of full color on some pages.

February - Jo Ilbrink retires as Executive Director.

March - Jan Boone begins tenure as Executive Director. New Awareness materials to replace Busy Bees and Blossoms and Beehives. Titles for new materials: God’s Kids (grade 1), Hearts Reaching Up to God, and Hearts Reaching Out to Others (grades 2 & 3).

May - Approved adopting new version of Jesus is All the World to Me by Colleen & Grace. Touch utilizes first full color insert. Touch circulation is 15,000.

November - GEMS Girls’ Clubs chosen as the new name of the ministry. This was done in an effort to better convey our mission and vision – helping bring girls everywhere into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

January - A new logo for GEMS Girls’ Clubs was adopted.

March - New advanced curriculum Finishing Touches! completed and approved to market outside of GEMS/Calvinettes.

May – GEB (GEMS Executive Board) decides to adopt the title Club Coordinator instead of Head Counselor. First Annual GEMS Golf Classic held – a fundraiser for GEMS Girls’ Clubs

September - Touch magazine goes full color throughout!

November - GEB approves revising the Discovery Badge Book and utilizing more color on the merit badges.

September – 1st Celebration Gathering held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

August - 1st Get Connected! Camp is held on Lake Tippecanoe in Webster, Indiana

May – Finishing Touches! On Guard Series & Kingdom Kids made available.

November – ACTS (Area Counselor Training and Support Program) adopted. 34 areas replaced the existing 52 councils. This will provide on enhanced plan for delivering training to leaders.

March – Bridges, our board game, is being designed.

May – Touch magazine has a name change – SHINE brightly. A new magazine for Awareness Level girls is introduced – Sparkle. Power House is the new name given to the previously named Celebration Gatherings.

April – New website for GEMS unveiled.

September – GEMS has been invited to be involved in the Girls of Grace tour organized by Point of Grace.

March – SHINE brightly sold through QSP – Reader’s Digest Fundraiser Program – catalog, enabling girls not in club to more easily purchase the magazine.

November – The name of Counselor’s Convention was changed to Counselors’ Leadership Conference.

December – The first Heartwarming Christmas Tour of Homes is held – a fundraiser for GEMS Girls’ Clubs.

January – New version of Jesus is All the World to Me by Colleen & Grace is produced.

May – Believin’ It Girlz Tour is the new name given to the previously named Power House.

September – GEMS Girls’ Clubs is introduced to the idea of expanding GEMS Clubs to Africa.

July – A team goes to Zambia, Africa to build The House that GEMS Built for orphans. Training for Zambian women to be GEMS Counselors also takes place. Four new clubs are started in Zambia, Africa.

January – Christian Service Brigade partners with GEMS.

March – A promo video for GEMS Girls’ Clubs is created. This can be used in churches or at large community gatherings to promote GEMS.

April – The GEMS website is given a completely new and fresh look. SHINE brightly circulation is 15, 578. Sparkle circulation is 5,119.

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