GENEVA CENTER….Still a Spectacular Venue

In August 2013, Sharon and I moved from Wisconsin to NW Indiana and immediately began attending First Pres-Valpo. In late 2014, after I become a business mentor with the local SCORE Chapter, and began assisting small businesses with the Business Plans, I was asked if I would join a Transition Task Force of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley to evaluate some future options for Geneva Center. Geneva Center was and still is a property of the Presbytery (since 1965) which had programmed Summer Church Camp for all the churches in the Presbytery along with being a host facility for many retreats, conferences and meetings by our Presbytery and many other churches, non-profit organizations and even private families and private companies.

The Task Force recommended changing the operating management of Geneva Center from a committee of clergy within the Presbytery to operating as a Christian-based hospitality business under direction of to-be-created separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. That recommendation was approved and since 1.1.2016 Geneva Center, Inc. (“GCI”) has been the operating entity while Presbytery remained the property owner renting the facilities & grounds to GCI. I have had both the pleasure and challenge of being the president of the GCI board of directors since 2016.

GCI is now in its 9th year of operating Geneva Center. The business objective is to have revenue from GCI users cover the operating expenses of Geneva Center, thereby leaving all donations and gifts to be used for the capital expenditures necessary to keep the facilities & grounds in good repair and enhanced where possible. (So many other similar venues get caught in postponing or deferring maintenance and upkeep until the condition deteriorates to a level that makes catching up cost-prohibitive.)

Somehow GCI survived COVID enduring two years of minimal usage and dramatically reduced revenue.

Then came the challenges of rebuilding the user groups and getting former guests to return to a venue they hadn’t been at for years. Lots to grapple with.

First Pres Valpo has many families with fond memories of their time and/or their children’s time at Geneva Center. Our session held a two-day retreat there in 2023.

First Pres Valpo has also always been a financial supporter of Geneva Center as has the Presbyterian Church Resale Shop and the congregation through the Second Mile Offering each year. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

The GCI board has a role in identifying and implementing how GCI relates to the ministry & mission of the Presbytery. I remain enthusiastic and committed to seeing the future of GCI unfold positively.

Jim Hubbard, President

GCI Board of Directors

PS:  Visit www.genevacenter.org to see what a great place this would be for your family’s next gathering or reunion. Nature’s beauty and God’s wonderful work is always on display.