Back in 1974, Flower Mound didn’t look much like it does today. The population hovered around 4,000. Family farms still graced the landscape, and developing neighborhoods searched for the appropriate directions. 

Even in those early stages of growth, however, there was an obvious level of community spirit, and two small citizen groups proved their commitment to serve their neighbors. Today, 50 years later, the Summit Club and the Women of Flower Mound are the city’s two oldest civic organizations.

On February 3, the two groups joined together with their neighbors to celebrate the community efforts that have been their purpose for the last five decades and what has them going stronger than ever in 2024. 

Bryan Webb, president of the Summit Club, takes his role seriously and has plans for a bigger and better future. “We take exceptional pride in being one of the two oldest civic groups,” he said. 

Chelsea Wehr, President of the Women of Flower Mound, agrees. “We’re so proud to share the ‘50 Fabulous Years of Service’ with the Summit Club,” she said. “We all love our town, and expressing that love through service to our neighbors has been a wonderful experience for everyone involved.”

The Summit Club

The Summit Club is a fraternal organization focused on providing financial support and volunteer help to  local charities and events. 

“It’s a sincere labor of love and commitment,” Bryan said. “Every year we cook more than 15,000 hot dogs for various town and school events. About 3,000 of those are for the children’s July 4 parade. We co-host the annual Easter Sunrise service on the Flower Mound, which is the town’s namesake. The Mound Foundation and the Women of Flower Mound help us with that one.”

Last October marked the Summit Club’s fourth annual Smokefest, Texas State BBQ Championship, and fundraiser. “It’s grown tremendously,” Bryan said. “Last year we had more than 40 competitive teams, with 600 to 700 people attending. That allowed us to increase our payout to $10,000. We also moved the event to Parker Square.”

Flurry’s Steak Out is held in conjunction with the Smokefest, “but it’s technically a separate event with separate tickets,” Bryan explained. “Both events raise funds to support local organizations, academic excellence awards, and college scholarships.

While many of the Summit Club’s events are planned, some are in direct response to a need in the community. 

“We had a community veteran involved in a horrific car accident. He lost both legs, pushing us to have a huge blood drive. It’s become an annual event, sponsored by Carter Blood Center,” Bryan said. “We always want to be ready for those emergencies and able to rally support quickly.”

The Summit Club is always looking for new ideas to raise money. “We dipped our toes into a kind of bold project last year with a Whiskey Tasting,” We had about five companies provide their brands, and it was well received. We’ll do it again this year and have plenty of parking space for Uber and other designated drivers!”

The club’s motto is “Community Leadership Through Community Service,” and they have never veered from that motto in 50 years.

The events and activities listed here barely scratch the surface. Check SummitClub.org for more information.

The Women of Flower Mound

The Women of Flower Mound, led by Chelsea Wehr as the incoming president, hit the ground running in 2024. The organization has always been strong but 2024 seems especially energized with new faces and a refreshed, outside-the-box thinking.

The organization has supported the community through service, connection, and education since 1975. “We’re so focused on all facets of education, including the presentation of several scholarships, that we even operate according to the school calendar,” Chelsea said. “Our goal for 2023-2024 is to raise $20,000 for scholarship funding. We’re injecting a lot of new, fresh thinking into our planning, and the results are exciting.

The Women of Flower Mound will introduce their inaugural golf tournament in October. “This will also be the first time to try a new format for our Christmas celebration for kids and their families,” Chelsea said. “People wanting to participate will sign up and be given a time slot. This will allow us to spend more quality time with the kids and their gifts, instead of trying to tend to everyone at once.

A wine tasting is set for April 20. “There will be wines from around the world and you can choose your level of participation – just taste and enjoy and/or expand your knowledge,” Chelsea said. 

“We’ve made a huge effort to take our organization digital, putting almost everything online. This saves a lot of time and effort because it lets us streamline so much content.”

Scholarships are the heart of the Women of Flower Mound. The guiding philosophy is the best way to support the community is by nurturing the young people who are the future leaders. The last five years have seen nearly $50,000 in scholarships distributed to local seniors. Five scholarships were given in 2023, including one to a trade school. 

One of the most valued scholarships is the Helen H. Johns Memorial STEAM Scholarship, which is open to female high school graduates pursuing a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, or Math.

Created in 2018, it forms the centerpiece of the organization’s scholarship program.

More information, along with applications, can be found at womenofflowermound.org.