Camp Echo Monthly Alumni E-News December 5, 2004 Contents -------- "Echo in the Round" - Double CD Set Alumni Website 2005 Camp Echo Guide Family Camp and Adult Weekends What's Happening at Camp? Join the "Echo Spirit Team" International Camp Echo Day March 21, 2005 Wish List Alumni Notes - Dan Jacobson rapper - Per-Ola Rydgren misses Echo - Ben Woods up in the air - Val Hansen and Steve Weimer moving - John Norland eBay sleuth - Noah Mickey-Colman returns from travels - Mat Garrett graduation - Steve Carver on the radio - Barb McKearnan passing Song of the Month: SAY WHY === your address/phone/school info is appended to this email === "Echo in the Round" - Double CD Set ------------------------------------ The "Echo in the Round" CD set is ready! The price is $25; proceeds go to the "Send a Kid to Camp" Fund. Read all about the CD and the "Send a Kid to Camp" Fund, and see pictures from the rehearsal and the event, on the Camp Echo website at http://www.ymcacampecho.org/MusicCD Alumni Website -------------- Our Alumni website is up and running! Look yourself up with "Index by Name" and look for your peers with "Lists by Year." Click here for the site: http://www.ymcacampecho.org/alumni.html The data we have for you, including current address, is appended to this email. Please check it all for accuracy. Use "Submit My Info" to send us updates and changes. You can email any other member of the list whose name appears as an underlined hyperlink. Their email address is not revealed unless they choose to reply to your message. Alumni Reunion -------------- Join us for the Third Annual All-Time Adult Alumni Reunion! Sunday, December 26, 8 pm, at the Prairie Moon Restaurant in Evanston. No cover charge; snacks provided; cash bar. 2005 Camp Echo Guide --------------------- The 2005 Echo Guide is available on the Camp Echo website. Download from: http://www.ymcacampecho.org/register.html If you would like one mailed out, reply and let me know. Family Camp and Adult Weekends ------------------------------ Family Camp is a terrific time for alumni to return to Echo. You can return as a staff member or as a participating family. To apply for staff: http://www.ymcacampecho.org/apply.html To sign up for camp: http://www.ymcacampecho.org/register.html To bring back those memories, check out our gallery of family camp photos, thanks to Mike Kelly, Photographer. To see the gallery: http://www.ymcacampecho.org/familyweek.html Alumni are also welcome at our Adult Weekends in September: Women's Wellness, Needlecraft, and Scrapbooking. Click here for info: http://www.ymcacampecho.org/adults.html What's Happening at Camp? ------------------------ Though camp has ended for the season, things have not slowed down too much for Rob & Brian. Besides preparing the facility for its long winters nap, we have begun some projects that already look forward to the 2005 season. Work has begun on a new Peak cabin. Broken or missing window cranks and levers in the Dining Room and in several west side cabins have been replaced. Back door exits have been installed in Moon and Horse Haven. The planning stages of renovations of the Kybo East and West shower rooms are nearly complete -- we hope to be adding private stalls for next summer. We also have plans to upgrade the counselor "cubby" in one or two cabins -- built in beds and shelving units -- along with improved ventilation, and heating systems for use in May and September. Extensive work on re-habbing a third War Canoe has begun, and completion of the "finished" basement in the Gate House is also underway. We wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday Season and we'll see you at the Reunion! 2005 Staffing ------------- The hiring process is underway. Numerous alumni receive our weekly staff email bulletins. If you want to join that list, reply to this email. If you are considering coming back to Echo, let me know now! Join the "Echo Spirit Team" -------------------------- We're looking for volunteers to help at the Echo bus departures and arrivals in Evanston this 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. International Camp Echo Day March 21, 2005 ------------------------------------------- Alumni all over the world are encouraged to wear their Echo clothing to celebrate International Camp Echo Day on Monday March 21, 2005. The date was chosen by a cabin of 2004 campers. Send us any interesting stories or pictures in late March. Wish List --------- working window air conditioner (8,000-12,000 BTU) washer-dryer (electric, not gas) for the Director's House Sunfish or Laser sailboats are always welcome Alumni Notes ------------ 2004 Family Camp staff member Dan Jacobson has been writing, recording, and performing rap as "Island" since he was a seventh grader at King Lab School in Evanston. Visit his website at http://www.islandraps.com/ -- Per-Ola Rydgren, Swedish staff member from the mid-80s, is a practicing priest. His job took him to a scout camp this past summer, which reminded him how much he misses Echo, "wandering over the hillside where the gentle breezes blow." -- Ben Woods reported that after spending the summer in Europe, he has headed to Florida for training in jet aircraft. He hopes to be working for American Eagle before the New Year. -- Val Hansen and Steve Weimer have moved to San Francisco. Steve's company closed its midwest office and transferred him to SF. He's the new general manager for the Spanish language newspaper El Mensajero. As of October 10 they still had their condo at Main & Judson on the market. I'm not sure if it has sold; contact Val through the alumni website. -- John Norland recovered a 1981 Gibson 335-S guitar that had been stolen from his car after a month of checking eBay daily. John noticed an auction out of Beloit, WI that was using a copied picture of an identical guitar from an English auction posting. John notified the Rock County Sheriff of the discrepancy, got help from eBay, and the guitar was recovered intact along with gig bag, strings, and straps. -- Noah Mickey-Colman completed his research study in homeopathy Tegucigalpa, Honduras in early September. After adventures in Pico Bonito National Park; on the Cangrejal River; visiting Utila, Esteli, Matagalpa, and Selva Negra; mountain climbing near Volcan Baru; snorkeling in Bocas del Toro; and surfing and fishing in Pedasi, Panama, he recently returned to Chicago. For more info visit: http://www.homeopathyinhonduras.com/ -- Mat Garrett graduated with an MS in Computer Science from IU-Bloomington and is hoping to gain full-time permanent employment in Terre Haute, Indiana with the Digital Audio Disc Corporation as a robotics technician. -- Steve Carver did an in-studio interview and played some songs on "Sunday with Folks" on KBCS radio on Sunday, November 28. -- Barb McKearnan, 77, passed away on October 15. The McKearnans were long-time Family Campers. She was preceded in death by her husband, R.T., and is survived by her children Michael, Daniel, Patrick, Muffie Durst, Peter, Joan, Paul, and Susan. Song of the Month ----------------- SAY WHY brought to Echo by Sookie and Flipper (Malaysian ICCP staff) Say why, do we have to say goodbye, Say why, do we have to say goodbye, Say why, do we have to say goodbye, Say why, my friend, say why. Say when, will we ever meet again, Say when, will we ever meet again, Say when, will we ever meet again, Say when, my friend, say when. Say where, and I'll meet you right there, Say where, and I'll meet you right there, Say where, and I'll meet you right there, Say where, my friend, say where. Say why, do we have to say goodbye, Say when, will we ever meet again, Say where, and I'll meet you right there, Say why, say when, say where. Show The Spirit! -- Rob Grierson Camp Echo Director rg@mcgawymca.org