By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
For Meredith Meyer, Lakeside is home in every sense of the word.
As a fourth generation Lakesider, Meyer’s connection to the community began long before she could put it into words. Summers at her parents’ Lakeside cottage shaped her childhood and instilled a deep love for the traditions, relationships and rhythms that define life at Lakeside.
“My parents have a cottage at Oak and Fourth, so I grew up spending my summers here,” Meyer said. “My father’s family is rooted strongly at Lakeside. His grandfather was a Lutheran pastor and used to preach at the Lutheran Church in Marblehead. Other family members also owned Lakeside cottages.”
Those early years were marked by simple joys and lifelong friendships. Meyer remembers hours spent on the Dock making friendship bracelets, riding bikes to the lighthouse, sailing on the lake and working summer jobs at The Abigail and at the gates. Lakeside was where friendships deepened and independence blossomed.
Meyer was raised in the Detroit area, where she still lives today with her husband, Salam Chaudhary. Their daughter, Morgan, is a senior at Amherst College, and their son, Reed, is a freshman at Southern Methodist University. A proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Meyer flies her maize and blue flag from her Lakeside porch, even in Buckeye country.
When the couple started their own family, there was no question they wanted their children to grow up with the same summer traditions. In 2005, they purchased a cottage on Oak Avenue, continuing the family’s legacy into a fifth generation.
“We wanted our kids to have the Lakeside experience growing up,” Meyer said.
That desire naturally led to deeper involvement in the community. Meyer served five years on the Lakeside Association Board, while Chaudhary completed two terms on the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation Board. Over the years, the couple has supported the Impact Fund, and Meyer found meaningful ways to contribute her professional experience in public relations and communications.
With a background that includes media relations at Henry Ford Hospital and agency work in the Detroit area, Meyer volunteered as part of a group that helped edit The Lakesider newspaper for several summers.
“There was one intern who was in charge and needed support with The Lakesider,” said Meyer. “I knew that was a way I could help because it’s a big project. I’ve always assisted with marketing and communications wherever I could. I’m a grammar nerd and a writer, and I just wanted to volunteer my skills.”
Recognizing Meyer’s expertise, Gretchen Colon, Lakeside’s V.P. of Advancement & Marketing, invited her to serve on the Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force. Alongside Brenda Haas, Meyer helped ensure clear and thoughtful communication during the complex project.
“I appreciate Gretchen and Lakeside for valuing the role of communicating the Streets and Drainage Project, because it can be very disruptive,” Meyer said. “Gretchen did most of the writing, but we looked at it from a high level and figured out how we could most effectively share that information. There are many volunteers with valuable skill sets who contributed countless hours.”
For Meyer and Chaudhary, service has also meant giving in ways that strengthen Lakeside for future generations. When their children were young and taking classes at the Rhein Center, they noticed how popular the programs were and how limited space sometimes restricted participation. They proposed colorful tents and made the lead donation to expand both capacity and programming outdoors. These tents have provided a canopy for creativity for all ages.
As their children entered their teen years, they saw another opportunity. Remembering the teen center from her own childhood, Meyer recognized the importance of a dedicated space where young Lakesiders could connect.
The couple supported the 2015 Giving Tuesday project to launch The Underground Teen Center. Today, the space serves teens six nights a week during the season and hosts Middle Grade Madness (MGM) programming during the week. Meredith and Chaudhary also contributed to the community pool project.
“We saw what our kids and their friends needed,” Meyer said. “If our kids needed it, then other kids needed it, too. You want your kids to want to come to Lakeside, and part of that is having a space where they can connect.”
Even as their children have grown, the couple continues to give through unrestricted support, ensuring Lakeside can meet evolving needs.
“Lakeside has meant so much to our family,” Meyer reflected. “It has provided a special place for us to connect and for intergenerational experiences that you will not find anywhere else. We’re grateful for Lakeside, and we want it to continue for our kids and for generations to come.”
For Meyer and her family, giving back is about honoring a legacy, strengthening a community and ensuring that Lakeside remains a place where stories like hers continue to unfold.
