Gen celebrates 35 "Avon" years
    Do you remember the late Rosie Gries? She was the gray-haired lady from Goodrich, ND, who in her 90s, appeared on the Johnny Carson Show because she had sold Avon for 50 years.
    Genevieve Arthaud, Hebron’s Avon representative, is following in Rosie’s footsteps for she recently celebrated her 35^th anniversary with the company.
    The two did meet at an Avon President’s Club luncheon in Bismarck over 10 years ago. Gen still remembers Rosie’s beautiful blue eyes.
    "I also remember," Gen says, "that she was shorter than I am and I’m only 5’ 1" tall. I don’t meet too many people shorter than me!"
    At one of Gen’s meetings, it was mentioned that when Ed McMann telephoned Rosie he was asked to call back, as Rosie was busy, playing the pump organ!
    Rosie was quite a gal but so is Gen.
Since 1973
    Gen began selling Avon April 18, 1973. At the time, she and her husband Lyle and five children lived north of Hebron on the Matt Schwartz farm. She only sold Avon to people living in the country.
    She didn’t know anyone as the family had only moved to Hebron the previous year, first living south of Hebron.
    Her children were all attending the Hebron School and she was bored. She found an ad in the Bismarck Tribune, applied for an Avon position and a Mrs. Florine Burke, Bismarck, came out to interview her.
    "When I started I had no clue about where anyone lived or who they were," Gen said, "and there were plenty of scary farm dogs out there. I’d just get out of my car and treat them like our own big dog – and none of them ever did bite me!"
    Gen remembers that some farmyards had gates that were very difficult to open and close. But she always figured them out.
    The nice thing, Gen added, was that all of those country ladies became her very dear friends. They would put on a pot of coffee and there was always time for a chat.
    One day she stopped at the Paula Schwartz farm. "Paula was kind enough to explain who lived where and how to get there. Soon I knew the country roads as well as the streets in Hebron" Gen said.
    She says she did have sense enough to stay home when the weather was bad. She got to know Ervin Fischer quite well. Ervin was manager of Farmers Union Oil and as the country roads were covered with scoria, she had many flat tires.
    "I never had to change a tire in 35 years," Gen says, "although I could have if I’d had to but I usually made it to town before the tire went completely flat. I did have one flat tire but a kind man stopped and changed it for me."
    Gen drove a black Buick when she began selling Avon and paid $1.12 for a gallon of gas. She laughs and said that the car worked well for her until her son Kevin backed it into a tree. Then she found another car!
    The family moved into Hebron in 1975 when they purchased the Wilma Elmer home. She continued to sell Avon in the country for at that time, Avon was very territorial.
    She has become a friend of the UPS lady, Karen Navotney, who delivers her many orders.
    Now Gen sells Avon "in and out" of the city limits.
    When you sell Avon for 35 years, you make many friends. "I have lost so many customers and friends – either when they moved from the area or passed away."
    Just some include Clara Ebel, Rose Schmalenberger, Pauline Swoboda, Lillian Funk, Idah Krauth, Frieda Finck, Martha Scheuffele, Lucy Walth, Nina Hassebrock, Emelia Truman and Frieda Kearns. The list could go on and on.
    They became more than customers, they were dear friends.
Porcelain Figurines
    In 1969 Avon began awarding 10-inch tall porcelain figurines in memory of their first Avon representative, Mrs. Albee, to top sales representatives. Gen has received 27 of these dolls and is proud of her collection.
    She received these figurines during Avon’s annual recognition banquet. She also received specially made jewelry engraved with the President Club logo at these banquets.
    For completing 35 years with the company, Gen received a plaque reading "Certificate of Recognition – Avon – The Company for Women – presented to Gen Arthaud in recognition for 35 years of dedicated service", signed by Andrea Slater, senior vice president of Avon US.
    In addition, she received earrings each decorated with two diamonds.
    Throughout the years Gen has been awarded many items including China plates, Lazyboy recliner, wine goblets, dishes, lawn furniture and a canister set, for reaching sales goals.
Paper – Paper – Paper
    There’s more to Gen’s job than "ding, dong – Avon’s calling".
    Two campaigns are held each month and her order arrives in many large boxes. She must separate the items, bag them and attach a bill. Then they are delivered.
    Gen says that eight to ten hours of bookwork are involved with each campaign.
    She loves her job but one frustration is with shortages, when orders cannot be delivered on time.
Changes
    Thirty-five years ago many of the perfumes came in decanters –and have become collector items.
    Some of the popular items were fragrances for men and women, red Cape Cod dishes, porcelain nativity figurines and cream sachets.
    Then, she mailed the order in…now a computer is used to place orders.
    Avon has expanded into clothing, under garments and shoes. She is especially proud of the fact that Avon doesn’t test products on animals.
    She is also proud that Avon contributes funds to help wipe out breast cancer and contributes to the Olympic games.
    On a more personal note, Gen is remembered each year on her birthday and at Christmas with a gift from Avon.
Likes To Keep Busy
    Gen has been a busy gal all of her life. She and her husband Lyle, who had a career as an insurance representative with Mutual of Omaha, raised five children – Steve, Jerry, Greg, Kevin and Sue.
    Gen is a 25-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She also belongs to St. Ann Christian Mothers, two bridge clubs, bowled for the 4-Spot bar for many years in both Richardton and Glen Ullin along with team members Viola Richardson, Verda Draeb, Helen Bohnet and Laurie Dakken and was a long- time member of the Haymarsh Homemakers Club.
    You’ll find Gen fishing, trying out new recipes, painting with oils, reading, crocheting, working with ceramics, playing pinochle or gardening.
    She and Lyle love to visit their three great grand babies and 12 grandchildren.
    The two enjoy spending time with Jack and Therisa Hauser, the first couple who befriended them when they moved north of Hebron. The Hausers invited the Arthauds over for dinner and they have been friends ever since.
    Other good neighbors "out in the country" were Steve and Arlene Woroniecki, who now live in North Carolina.
    Their daughter Sue (Mrs. Steve Hanna) lives in West Fargo and they are the parents of a son and daughter.
    Their four sons are Steve and his wife Carol who live in Fargo and have two daughters and a granddaughter;
    Jerry and his wife Karen live in Chula, MO and have five children and two grandchildren and Greg and his wife Lori live in Austin, MN and are the parents of a daughter.
    Their fourth son, Kevin and his wife Bonnie have two sons and live in Jamestown.
    All five of their children are graduates of the Hebron High School.
Avon
    Avon was founded in 1886 by 28-year-old David H. McConnell who sold books door-to-door and gave perfume to entice women to buy his books.
    The perfume became so popular that eventually that was all the women wanted so he founded "California Perfume Company" in New York in a 500 square foot manufacturing and shipping office.
    He later built a 3000 square foot laboratory. In 1906 the San Francisco West Coast office was destroyed in the Great Earthquake.
    By 1918, five million units were sold in North America and by 1928 sales reached $2 million.
    The name was changed to Avon Products, Inc. in 1939, it went public in 1946 and by 1954 sales reached $55 million and the "Avon Calling" advertising campaign got underway.
    Today sales exceed $8 billion worldwide.
    McDonnell chose the name of Avon after the river that runs through Stratford-On-Avon in the English Midlands. The name is a tribute to McConnell’s favorite playwright, William Shakespeare, who hailed from the town.
I’m Enjoying It
    Gen enjoys her job and reports that she’ll keep selling Avon as long as her health lets her "keep going".
    "I had a little knee surgery last year," she says, " and that slowed me down for a while but I’m up and at it once again."
    Gen doesn’t know if she will ever catch up with Rosie Gries’ 50-year-record, but plans to keep following in Rosie’s footsteps!

        HHS Alumni Addresses Needed
  Have you changed your mailing address since 2005 and are you a graduate of the Hebron High School? The All-Class Reunion needs your new address.
    An all-class reunion will be held in conjunction with Hebron’s 125^th birthday. The all-class reunion again plans to publish a directory, listing the names and addresses of all alumni.
    Persons can send their change of address to: All Class Reunion, 504 E. St. N. or email it to hhsallclassreunion2010@yahoo.com.