Dear Friends,

Summer once signaled the end of the season here in the desert and thus the end of most activity.  That is not so anymore.  With summer vacation in full swing, attendance is still up at La Quinta museum.  We congratulate the museum manager and staff on the effective programming that is being offered.  I am also very proud of the role the Historical Society has played in this success.

We have many exciting programs coming this Fall.  Please mark your calendars for our October 24th kick-off party.  The theme is “Honoring our Past” and it will serve as our main fundrasier for the year.  Your support of this fundraiser is vital to the funding of our programs and maintenance of our collection.

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful Summer and I look forward to seeing you this Fall.

Linda Williams, President

Kay Wolff’s name is associated with so many aspects of La Quinta that one would think that she, like Louise Neeley, has spent her entire life here.  In reality, Kay lived in Illinois from childhood through college.  Following a memorable sojourn in the jungles of Venezuela, she accepted the position of Regional Coordinator of the Tile 1 Migrant Program of which Fred Wolff was California State Director.  Fred had occasionally vacationed at his fathers’s home in La Quinta and, in 1980, he and Kay established their home here.  Fred and Kay each had one child from previous marriages.  They were not content to have an idle retirement and soon became active in the Property Owner’s Association and worked diligently in promoting development of La Quinta as a city.  Fred Wolff was to become the first Mayor and with their goal achieved, Fred and Kay accepted new challenges.  The Arts Foundation was established and the first Art Festival took place in 1983.  Subsequent to their travels in the Czech Republic, the Bystrice Program was established wherein a Czech Mayor and five teachers came to La Quinta to learn English, stayed with local families, and became involved in the community.  Later, a student exchange program was developed wherein two La Quinta Middle School students went to the Czech Republic and two students from the Czech Republic attended Palm Desert High School.

Kay always participated in Fred’s projects as well as maintaining her own career and interests.  She served as Assistant Principal at Truman Elementary School for five years and was subsequently Director of Federal Projects for Desert Sands School District.  Currently, she participates in the Cove Neighborhood Association, is a volunteer at the La Quinta Museum, and is on the Board of Directors of the Healthy Family Foundation.  She also assists CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and has conducted emergency training sessions for seniors.

Kay received the “Volunteer Spirit Award” at La Quinta Museum’s First Anniversary Celebration May 9, 2009.  She states that she “loves La Quinta; it was built on volunteerism and volunteerism is alive and well”. The same could be said of Kay whose life in La Quinta continually places focus on community involvement.

Vera Thaxton, Roving Reporter

LOUISE NEELEY has lived her entire life in the Coachella Valley as she was born at Point Happy and lived there until her marriage to Charles Neeley in 1945 when they established their home in Indio.  Throughout the ensuing years, Louise has maintained an active relationship with the development of the valley and the people that have made it their home  The La Quinta Historical Society could not have chosen a Historian/Ambassador better qualified for the job!  Louise says of herself, “I enjoy doing, keeping busy, people, and history” and a quick glance at her resume of involvements and awards indicates a high degree of achievement in all areas.  She and Charles were married fifty-four years and have one son who lives on Bainbridge Island, WA.  During her early years, she was ‘the strong woman standing behind the successful man’ in several fields of endevor; the last being school secretary at Westside School during the nineteen years prior to her retirement in l988.

Two years of ‘retirement’ were enough for Louise.  When Fred Rice called a meeting to formulate plans for the La Quinta Historical Society, Louise took pictures depicting the early history of the area.  She helped plan field trips for adults and children and served as Manager of the museum.  When La Quinta’s Museum was opened in 2008, the City of La Quinta hired Louise to assist in the transition.  Also at the request of the City of La Quinta, Louise served on the committee to plan the 25th Anniversary Celebration of La Quinta as a municipality.

From the time of her retirement in 1988 until now, Louise has presented “The Louise NeeleyScholastic Award” to an eighth grade girl at the Westside School.  Louise consistently gives generously of her time, energy, and expertise to the La Quinta Historical Society and City of La Quinta.  Most appropriately, the La Quinta Historical Society awarded Louise with “Recognition of Lifetime Services” at the La Quinta Museum’s First Anniversary Celebration, May 9, 2009

Vera Thaxton, Roving Reporter “Historical Oracle”

Mark your calendars for our October 24th kick-off party.  The theme is “Honoring our Past” and it will serve as our main fundraiser for the year.  Your support of this fundraiser is vital to the funding of our programs and maintenance of our collection.

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