Camp Echo Weekly E-Newsletter Apr 14, 2002 ***** Camp Echo E-List Update ----------------------- The Camp Echo E-List is now at 409 members. Spread the word! Change of Address: ----------------- For those sending paperwork to Rob Grierson: Paperwork should now be sent directly to Camp Echo, 3782 S Triangle Trail, Fremont, Michigan, 49412. Sending paperwork to the YMCA in Evanston could introduce up to a two-week delay in the process. The Camp Echo fax number is 231-924-0061. The hiring process for Echo 2002 will be on "hold" for a few days while the Director makes the transfer from Evanston to Fremont. Assistant Camp Echo Director Hired ---------------------------------- Dawn Summers has been hired as the Assistant Camp Echo Director. Dawn, a North Carolina native and a graduate of UNC Charlotte, spent three years working at Tresslercare Wilderness School in Pennsylvania and four years working at Black Hills Children's Home in South Dakota. Most recently, she completed a Masters in Outdoor Education at the University of Northern Colorado. Dawn has experience in backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater canoeing, high ropes, and low-impact camping techniques. Dawn will wear several hats at Camp Echo. As Program Manager, she will have overall responsibility for all aspects of the Camp Echo Program. Dawn will also serve as Outdoor Education Director, and as Teen Camp Director (alongside James Kinney, Main Camp Director) in charge of the Teen Adventure Project (Trips), Outpost/Birches, and the CIT/LIT programs. In the fall, Dawn will be working in the Youth Department at the McGaw YMCA, providing linkages between the programs at Echo and the programs at the YMCA. Dawn will also help plan and implement new teen programs for Echo 2003. Dawn is, at this very moment, loading up a U Haul in preparation for making the move from North Carolina to Michigan. Staffing Update: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered ---------------------------------------------- As of Saturday's snail mail, and since last week's newsletter, the following had signed their letters of agreement and became official Camp Echo staff members for summer 2002: Trip/Wilderness Staff: Gus Granchalek, Barbara Morgan, Tiffany Primus, Kiersten Rippeteau, Meredith Stevens SCs: Chad Limones, Tom Gardner, Alex Okrent, Amanda Sullivan ACs: Carrie Behrends (ABCD), John Donoghue (AB) JCs: James Bruski (DE), Rachel Carrington [correction] (ABE), Brian Lee (CD), Morgan Minear (ABC), Susan Paul (EF), Nicole Pochopien (EF), Natasha Eme-Stensrud (EF), and Neil Walther (EF). JCs as listed above may have already been contacted by James Kinney to make adjustments in the sessions they will attend; if so, then that information may be more recent than the listing above. Outdoor Ed/Family Camp: Ingrid Davidson Nurses: Shelly Spielman (D1) Remember that the most important form to send back quickly is the signed letter of agreement. All other paperwork (tax forms, health forms, etc) can follow at a later date. However, do not leave anything until the last minute. Alumni Notes (Send in your news!) ------------ Today is Meghan Gordon's 20th birthday! Jane Weis writes, "Our son Jim just emailed us your weekly Echo E-Newsletter and it was such fun to read -- so many happy memories. I cannot believe that you have 400 people on your list. That's just great. Our hope is that sometime down the line, the Weis family can all go to Echo for Family Camp. Liz lives in Montana with three little girls, Jim is a single living downtown Chicago and Bill and Susan with 6 year old live in Franklin (Milwaukee). It was certainly fun to read Jim's memories of Camp Echo and I know that Bill would have many more to add. "Jack and I retired to a retirement center in Door County, Wisconsin last year and we love it. We don't get back to Evanston very often, but we are very mobile, still have our minds intact (sort of!) and are very happy here." E-News from Camp! ---------------- Dateline April 7th. RSJ reporting: For the last ten days Brian McGinn and a fellow carpenter, Tom Halisey, have been residing in the Gatehouse with Rob and Ruby, and working on some projects in Camp. The last of the old walls in the dining room (the Mooses' wall) has been insulated and sheeted with plywood to improve and spruce-up the place. It looks really good and there is also a new built-in closet to house the brooms and dust pans. Lakeside's screened porch received attention from the woodworkers as well. The old porch has been glassed in, insulated, sheeted with plywood on the inside and new siding applied where necessary. A new door is on order and should be installed within a week or so. The program office (PO) has also had a bit of a face-lift in the form of desktop space for computers. A total of thirty feet of countertop has been constructed on two walls of the office. Finally, if you visit the Trading post this season you will notice right away that the old TP facade is gone. The old wall was torn out and a new one built about four feet in front of it. The new wall affords the TP some additional space but more importantly gives our camp store a new, brighter look. Things are also improved functionally as well with two new, counter-balanced, sliding windows from which to serve campers. Shelving under the counter is complete and more shelving and storage area is still in the works. Needless to say it has been a busy ten days. Many, many thanks go out to Brian and Tom for generously sharing their time and expertise to develop and improve Echo. We salute you! Also on the list for kudos this week are Rob Lockwood and Aleks Granchalek, who transported the Cahill pickup, a freezer donated by Gabe Bass' mother Tessa Fischer, and numerous styrofoam bricks from the McGaw Y construction site up to camp. Keep the faith, Rob Song of the Week ---------------- SALVATION ARMY SONG [Editor's Note: The original title of this song appears to be "Away With Rum", and the lyric at the end of the chorus is/was "The Song of the Temperance Union". In searching the Internet I located at least 36 additional verses, five of which I've added below after the traditional four, for your singing enjoyment.] ***** We're coming, we're coming, our brave little band On the right side of temp'rance we do take our stand We don't use tobacco because we do think That the people who use it are likely to drink! (CHORUS) Away away with rum by gum With rum by gum, with rum by gum Away away with rum by gum The song of the Salvation Army We never eat fruitcake because it has rum And one little bite turns a man to a bum Oh, can you imagine a sorrier sight Than a man eating fruitcake until he gets tight? We never eat cookies because they have yeast And one little bite turns a man to a beast Oh, can you imagine the utter disgrace Of a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face? Oh we don't give backrubs we think they're a crime We always condemn them in song and in rhyme An alcohol back rub is worse than straight gin When you think of the liquor absorbed through your skin! We never drink water, they put it in gin One little sip and a man starts to grin Oh, can you imagine the horrible sight Of a man drinking water and singing all night? We never eat peaches because they ferment And a peach will ferment at the least little dent Oh, can you imagine a sight more obscene Than a man getting tipsy on peaches and cream? Beware of plum pudding, the kind that they light They drench it in brandy so it will ignite The thought is revolting to temperate folk For people go blotto inhaling the smoke! We never touch coffee, it makes our eyes gleam At least when they add Irish whisky and cream Oh, can you imagine a fate more unkind Than slugging down coffee and going stone blind? We never eat cornflakes because they have malt And we can't imagine a much greater fault Oh, can you imagine a sight that's more droll Than a woman at breakfast slumped over her bowl? Echo History Tidbit of the Week ------------------------------- Under the leadership of Neil Featherstone, Camp Echo began building the present camper cabins in 1962. Funds were sought from various sources, including the major service clubs. John Altmeier, Armen Minasian, and Carolyn Morby's father obtained funds from the Optimist Club; Larry Peterson, Jim Dugdale, and Frank Endicott obtained funds from the Lions Club; Al Butler, Ben Gaines, Tom Dowdle (of Wiebolts), Neil Featherstone, and Ken Theil were active in the Ys Men Club; and Doug Monahan and Norm Grimm obtained funds from the Kiwanis Club. What service clubs have not yet built a cabin at Echo? Feel The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org 847-475-7400 x259