Camp Echo Weekly E-Newsletter Apr 21, 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. The Camp Director's personal fax number is 231-928-0711. Staffing Update: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered ---------------------------------------------- Since last week's newsletter, the following had signed their letters of agreement and became official Camp Echo staff members for summer 2002 (There may be others but mail sent to Evanston has to be forwarded to Fremont): Trip/Wilderness Staff: Tom Hodgman Area Heads: Jordan Shea, Sailing. Nurse: Fereshteh Rahmani (A) Cook: Tomasz Jureczyk Town Run: Teresa Blossom (BCDEF) Trading Post Manager: Josh Newman SCs: Justin Altay, Alisa Damholt; Janine Hamilton, Christy Lombardi; Tristan Roche ACs: Compton Page Chase-Lansdale (CD); Sarah Christmas (DEF); Samantha Epstein (DE); Brigitte Frett (C); JCs: Natasha Eme-Stensrud (CE); Keisha Geter (DE); Andrew Leary (ABCF); Annie McKay (DEF); Mick Morel (DF) 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. 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!) ------------ Bill Weis writes, "Here is an alternative chorus for Salvation Army Song: Away away with Scully by gully With Scully by gully, with Scully by gully Away away with Scully by gully The song of the Salvation Army" [Editor's Note: Rich Skolly was an Echo staff member in the 1970's. He's not on the E-News list; does anyone have his email address?] Monte Carpenter writes, "I attended Camp Echo as a counselor in the summer of 2000 for what looks to be the last time ever, unfortunately. I was the guy going around telling everyone that I was going to go and join the Air Force after I graduated from college. I saw a bunch of you this past December at the Camp Echo reunion in Evanston. In writing this, I just wanted to say hello to everyone again. I am now a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force, stationed at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne Wyoming. "I am a Missilier in the 320th Missile Squadron, and I pulled my first Nuclear Alert on the 5th of April of this year. An alert is when I go underground and take command of ICBM's, so if the President ever gave the order to launch, I would be the one to launch the missiles. Pretty crazy for someone who was a camper and then a counselor at Echo for 10 years huh? A lot of people ask me if I will ever deploy overseas, and the answer is no. ICBM's do not deploy out of the US. "Other than that, I am living with my girlfriend Aubrey of over 4 years now here in Cheyenne (no, not engaged yet). If any of you out there would like to talk to me, please feel free to email me at the address above. I had the opportunity to talk to some of you over the Christmas holidays, but have not heard from some of you since (i.e. Kiersten). I would like to hear from y'all. Take care, and for those going to Echo, have a great summer up there!" E-News from Camp! ---------------- Last week was "moving week" for Rob and Linda "Louie" Grierson and for the Assistant Camp Director, Dawn Summers. Rob Johnston was incredible as always, prepping camp for the work weekends while still finding time to help unload two rental trucks on consecutive evenings. Thanks also to cooks Florence Allen and Laurie Marshall, and their daughters, for opening the kitchen for the season and helping unload the trucks. Friday night 14 dedicated high school students [names below] joined us for the annual High School Work Weekend. Staff members Katie Trippi, Laura Gageby, Sara "Swami" Miller, Tony Marshall, Ingrid Davidson, Tom Zwergel, Josh Newman, James Kinney, and Christy Lombardi also volunteered; James' Kenyon roommate Ethan Yake, Christy's U Michigan friend Tom Omar, Katie's son Jim, and Tony's sister Elizabeth pitched in as well. Hauling wood chips, spreading bark, raking leaves, and carrying boats were the weekend projects, with time on Saturday night for a campfire and snack. Although we saw warm temperatures (70-80) early in the week, heavy rains hit about 9:30 Thursday night and the temperature began to drop steadily. Saturday was chilly but clear; Sunday afternoon it began snowing (!) and as I write this nearly an inch has accumulated. Needless to say we are all looking forward to summer for many reasons. [The dedicated high school students were: Alex Behles, Morgan Clark, Rob Gartzman, Graham Golbuff, Kitt Healey, Laura Hershner, Andrew Leary, Lynda Lobo, Arthur Revelski, Tyler Robin, Ben Roy, Eli Silins, Alex Steinberg, and Tom Voit.] Song of the Week ---------------- THE CAMP ECHO SONG Written by Doug Monahan. (Doug Monahan was Camp Director in the mid-1940s; he was Executive Director of the Evanston Y through the 1970s. The "official" name of the Program Office [PO] is the Doug Monahan Resource Center.) I want to wake up in the morning At dear old Camp Echo Where the sun comes a-peepin' into where I'm a-sleepin' And the songbird says "Hello" I want to wander o'er the hillside where the gentle breezes blow I want to be at -- Camp Echo -- it's the finest camp I know! (Without a doubt!) Echo History Tidbits of the Week -------------------------------- Triangle Lodge was a gift of the Camp Echo Committee in 1963. Fremont Lodge was a gift of Fremont friends of Camp Echo, led by then-Committee-member Ted Johnson, in 1965. Dugdale Lodge was a gift of Family Campers in 1968 as a tribute to Jim and Eleanor Dugdale who started Family Camp in 1949. By the way, Family Camp was started in response to the polio scare of the 1940s -- Dr. Winston Tucker, the Health Officer in Evanston, said that children would be safe from polio if they went to camp with their parents. Feel The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org