Camp Echo Monthly Alumni E-News December 25, 2003 Back issues are archived at The Camp Echo E-List is now at 710 members. Spread the word! If you want to be removed from this list, reply and let me know. ***** Next issue: late January ***** Contents -------- Alumni Reunion Echo in the Round: The Reunion Concert Family Camp Reunion 2004 Camp Guide 2004 Staff Applications Open Join the "Echo Spirit Team" Wish List Alumni Notes - Paul White, Laurie LaComb, and Rob Strom - Ashley Keith and Trent Vorbau - Gabe Bass - Susan Paul - Jane Engelman - James Kinney - Rachel D Goldberg - Joe Geni - Mwansa Mulenga - Connie Blade Song of the Month: A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Announcements Lost Alumni Alumni Reunion -------------- The second annual all-time Camp Echo Alumni Reunion will be held on Saturday, December 27, at the Prairie Moon Restaurant in Evanston, starting at 8 pm. Over 100 attended last year. Pictures from that event can be viewed at . This year's event promises to attract even more. Don't miss it! Echo in the Round: The Reunion Concert -------------------------------------- Join us for this historic Echo event! The guitar legends of the 60s & 70s (Mike Fischl, Gil Hoel, Kent Smith, and Bob Tarkington) will be performing the "old favorites" as well as a number of Echo tunes that have stood the test of time. We will be recording the Camp Echo Reunion Concert CD for later sale to Echo alumni. Sunday, December 28, 1 pm to 4 pm, at the Prairie Moon Restaruant 1502 Sherman Avenue in Evanston. Brunch 12 noon - 1 pm is $12.00. No charge for the concert, but seating is limited! You must RSVP to Chuck Heisinger: A solicitation for the Camp Echo Alumni "Send a Kid to Camp Fund" will be made. Family Camp Reunion ------------------- Saturday, December 27, 2 pm - 4 pm, in the Chinnock Lounge at the McGaw YMCA. Drop by for refreshments and conversation; bring pictures to share! Children can join the summer campers in the gym and pool. 2004 Camp Guide --------------- The 2004 Camp Guide is available on the Camp Echo website. If you would like one mailed out, reply and let me know. 2004 Staff Applications Open ---------------------------- We welcome alumni who wish to volunteer (or work) for a week or two, particularly for Outdoor Ed in May and September, or for Family Camp in August -- but even volunteers must go through the regular application process. So if you have any thought that you might want to be a part of Echo 2004, download a 2004 Staff Application today: Join the "Echo Spirit Team" -------------------------- We're looking for volunteers to help at the Echo bus departures and arrivals in Evanston next summer. Give us an hour or two on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, or a Sunday morning. Mingle with the parents and campers and talk about your experience at camp. Help with the distribution of bus passes and loading/unloading luggage. To join the "Echo Spirit Team" hit reply and let me know you can help. Wish List --------- bugle 35 mm cameras refrigerator computers: 500 MHz or better PCs; iMacs or better puzzles Thanks to Dorothe' Carver Magid for donating back issues of National Geographic and for entering a gift subscription for Camp Echo to Outdoor Magazine, which the Trip Guides will use. Alumni Notes ------------ Paul White writes, "Rob Strom and I, as well as my wife, Laurie LaComb - yes, I am lucky; she is my wife! - are honored and privileged to be hosting not only the ECHO alumni reunion but the Echo reunion concert as well. We think it's a great idea and could not be happier that Prairie Moon is involved. I don't know how familiar you all are with this particular CD, but on Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert by Columbia Records recorded at Madison Square Garden (a must have), Kris Kristoferson talks about Bob Dylan meeting Johnny Cash for the first time and Bob just walking around the bigger man saying, 'Yeah!'. This is how I felt reading the biographies of the Echo musicians who will be playing at this year's event. 'YEAH!!' We can't wait!" -- Ashley Keith writes, "I just returned from nearly a year's stay in Melbourne with Trent Vorbau and will be returning in February. Trent has opened a cafe with his brother and is enjoying the gorgeous weather they're getting over there! I've been meaning to send you guys a picture of us in front of the Sydney Opera House ... just remember reading in one of the newsletters that you would like photos if former staff did any traveling. I promise I'll get around to it soon! Anyhow, we're doing well and very grateful that camp was there so that we could meet! You guys take care and we'll talk to you soon!" -- Gabe Bass writes, "I just wanted to give a shout out from New Zealand -- I've just finished a semester of school in Perth, WA and now am going to go wwoof around NZ for three months -- and let the ECHO people know that my band's music is finally available to download for free at www.popthepeople.com. I saw Tom Gardner about a week ago. Things on this side of the globe are great. Hope Evanston's keeping on keeping on. One." -- Susan Paul is at the University of Pennsylvania. She is active in ALLIES, a hospice volunteer, running for a position on the board of Student Nurses at Penn, and has a work study job at a store in her dorm called Oasis. -- Jane Engelman has been in Costa Rica for three months studying Spanish, doing organic farming, and living the pure life of a campesina. After the New Year she is headed to Australia for 4 months to make wine on a Biodynamic vineyard outside of Melbourne. -- James Kinney is working in Charleston, South Carolina until springtime. He is enjoying Blue Grass music, getting certified in SCUBA, goes hiking every week, and will soon play a confederate soldier in a downtown playhouse. James is looking for folks who will be in a place financially, mentally, and physically to begin hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine starting in March 2005. -- Rachel D Goldberg is on the synchronized swimming team at the University of Iowa, and is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. She was able to share her Echo bag of tricks when APO hosted Girl Scout University for 400 local girl scouts. Echo alum Gregg Hamilton recently visited. -- Joe Geni joined the Grinnell College cross country team and ran a 35:03 at the Loyola Invite. Joe dropped his entire Echo salary on electronic music equipment that fills his dorm room and drives his neighbors crazy. -- Mwansa Mulenga had an awesome year, and enjoys looking at his pictures of Echo. He wishes the entire Camp Echo Family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. -- Connie Blade needs some special ECHO spirit for her family. Her husband Greg was hospitalized on 11/28 with a very aggressive brain tumor. He had surgery on 12/4 to remove the largest tumor on the right side but surgery on the several smaller tumors on the left is impossible. Greg is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments as well as physical therapy. Connie and Greg need as many kind thoughts and prayers as possible. Song of the Month ----------------- A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (Lennon/McCartney) What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song And I'll try not to sing out of key Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends What do I do when my love is away? Does it worry you to be alone? How do I feel by the end of the day? Are you sad because you're on your own? No, I get by with a little help from my friends Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends Do you need anybody? I need somebody to love. Could it be anybody? I want somebody to love. Would you believe in a love at first sight? Yes IÕm certain that it happens all the time What do you see when you turn out the light? I can't tell you but I know it's mine Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends Do you need anybody? I just need someone to love. Could it be anybody? I want somebody to love. Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends Yes I get by with a little help from my friends With a little help from my friends Announcements ------------- Friends of Camp Echo and the McGaw YMCA have a great opportunity this year to give a great gift with lasting value -- a 6-month subscription to Sports Illustrated or Sports Illustrated Kids -- for just $10! Better yet, thanks to the generosity of SI, the entire $10 subscription price will be donated to the McGaw YMCA - supporting fee assistance and our membership policy that no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. So your gift touches even more people and you don't have to contend with last-minute crowds, out-of-stock merchandise or shipping fees. Go to to order. 100% of your subscription goes to the McGaw YMCA! Build The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org