Putting Plans in Place to really Improve Campus  Nov 2009  Getting Board in place first

Devin Hollands <devinhollands@gmail.com>Nov 20, 2009, 12:10 PM

to flipglen, bcc: leaders

Phil,

  We are planning pretty nice things for Unirondack and would like you to help with the process.  We have real solid camp directors so it is a good time to be involved.  The board is small and composed of dedicated folks.  We have been trying to shy on the selective side so we can maintain a board that works well together.  No one wants the stress or bother of major issues around the governance of the camp.

  One of our requirements we have tried to implement is to have folks serve on committees so they can see what is up and we can get to know their commitment.

Clearly you have met that hurdle as you have been involved with the B/G committee since....  1995 or so...   Your families dedication to the camp is clear and you potential energy, experience and insight will be welcome on the board.

So far all response from board members is very positive in having you get more involved.

Do you have any thoughts on the camp and things you might like to see or support?

Our major pushes are:

  Expanded programing in off-season using Darren's great skills at running group things...

  Continued strong summer program around Dan G. primarily with Darren handling a few key weeks

  Major improvements around the grounds - swimming area, Stevens performing arts center, Adirondack boathouse reconstruction, renovated staff housing...  minor camper room expansions

  Fund raising campaign to fund endowment and building and set up giving programs in a serious way  - which will be ongoing... out-reach type program...

Let me know what you think.......

Devin Hollands, President

Unirondack, Inc.

phil lewin <flipglen@cogeco.ca>Nov 20, 2009, 6:40 PM

to me

Hi Devin,

As you know, I am not a "yes man". You may not like everything approach or thought I have. I doubt if that threatens you much. Keep in mind that last year Dan was trying hard to get me involved with the board and, as I expected, they didn't want much to do with me. Hey... I have a pretty thick skin. (I have to!)

That being said, I would be willing to be on the board and participate fully if I am needed. Some notes mixed in with your letter.

At 12:10 PM 11/20/2009, you wrote:

Phil,

  We are planning pretty nice things for Unirondack and would like you to help with the process.  We have real solid camp directors so it is a good time to be involved.  The board is small and composed of dedicated folks.  We have been trying to shy on the selective side so we can maintain a board that works well together.  No one wants the stress or bother of major issues around the governance of the camp.

Keep in mind that the board doesn't control who is ultimately on the board. The member churches, through the annual meeting elections, do. It is critical that the board maintain good, open communications with key supporters in all church communities. This has no direct benefit to the camp as it is purely politics, but indirectly it is critical.

Do you have any thoughts on the camp and things you might like to see or support?

We need to keep improving the buildings more than we need new buildings. This doesn't mean we can't do both were feasible and beneficial, but this is my first priority.

Our major pushes are:

  Expanded programing in off-season using Darren's great skills at running group things...

I look forward to experiencing "Darren's great skills". I haven't had the opportunity to see him in action, but Dan tells me how great he is.

  Continued strong summer program around Dan G. primarily with Darren handling a few key weeks

The above is an interesting switch of gears because Darren has not taken to the summer portion of the Director's job as Dan had hoped. It is easy to be flexible when you have good people, but the board needs to be looking even 10 years down the road for camp leadership.

  Major improvements around the grounds - swimming area, Stevens performing arts center, Adirondack boathouse reconstruction, renovated staff housing...  minor camper room expansions

Swimming area... yes. "Stevens performing arts center?"  News to me. We don't really have a boathouse. That would be nice. But having staff living in slums builds character! (:>)  Room expansions, yes.... more summer campers, no. We need to cap the quantity on campus.

  Fund raising campaign to fund endowment and building and set up giving programs in a serious way  - which will be ongoing... out-reach type program...

I am likely to have ideas re fundraising as I am a marketing person, however I don't feel comfortable with any role that involves approaching people in the UU community. (I will get more windows!)

Let me know what you think.......

And that's what I think at this moment.

Take Care,

Phil

Report on camp status Nov 2009 and Dreams of the large improvements possilbe - Devin Hollands

The camp has been tucked away tightly for the winter by many volunteer hands.  We can look back on a very successful year full of incredible programs that offered experiences for campers and staff that will never be forgotten.  Our wilderness teen canoe trip ventured out onto Stillwater for a week of true backwoods camping and exploring.  The youth camps were just full of high energy excitement driven on by a talented staff who came in from as close as Lowville as and far as New Zealand.  Unirondack continues a old tradition of bringing in talent from other countries – allowing our staff and campers a unique opportunity to truly learn from and experience people from other parts of the globe. 

    Unirondack’s new dual leadership role where Dan Gottfried and Darren Gosgrove split up the numerous tasks of administering and running the summer camp has been a great success.  The feedback has been extremely positive towards the summer presence and their off season administration efforts.  As a board we are very pleased with their dedicated efforts and continued push for program, facility and administrative improvements.

   Financially the camp had a very strong year due to tight budget controls, large camper numbers and detailed tax and governmental work by the directors.  The budget was thus able to absorb a vast array of new or upgraded items purchased for the camp including a heart defibrillator, mini van and a revamped camp communications system.  Of coarse larger numbers of campers means greater where and tear on our facility – whose upkeep and improvement requires large annual expenditures from donations and endowment income. 

  Our new directors and board have come up with some visionary goals for improvements to the facilities and grounds that we hope to accomplish over the coming years.  Five key areas to focus on are: the major public buildings (Gilman and Lodge), housing for staff/campers, Waterfront, athletic field, boathouse.

  With Gilman we have expanded the dining area and hope to add more space in the existing building to allow more elbow room and greater kitchen/food serving options.
  The Lodge has undergone a transformation with new hardwood floors, windows, lamps, bathroom and other upgrades.

   A small addition to Zigmund is planned to allow more floor space a new bathroom and possibility for dividing cabin for smaller groups.  The Morse meeting room – an Adirondack style mini-great room was brought on-line this summer and used extensively.  The room is an extension of the directors cabin (Sophia Fahs) and was dedicated to Butch Morse our former caretaker.  We are wrestling with ways to improve the Overlook building.

  The Waterfront is located at the most scenic spot on our camp with views of the extreme Adirondack beauty to stop the heart.  We have come up with some plans to bring back a natural beach and add a small deck/screened shelter for sitting and watching the loons or campers swim.  This work will include removing most of the ancient cement retaining wall at the shoreline.  The floating dock system has been revamped by our crew and staff and was successfully used last summer and should continue to serve us well.

  On the Athletic Field we plan to address issues with the leach field and improve our sports equipment and facilities.  We are working with architects planning a lakeside pavilion in the south east corner of the field near the cook-out area.  This screened Adirondack style pavilion will be the heart of our performing arts, nature and rainy day activities.  The pavilion will serve all the functions which our original recreation hall once did while offering many additional uses.  The pavilion will greatly add to our programming possibilities and we plan to break ground this spring and complete construction before summer.

  One last dream is to not only replace the Boathouse (which we had to dismantle in 1978 due to rotten wood) but expand on it and make it in the grand Adirondack style of our original mini-great camp.  Our boating program is extremely popular and having greater access to the water would make it all the better. 

I hope this mini-report lets you feel at ease that the camp is being cared for properly and dedicated folks are working hard to maintain and improve our special camp.  I urge you to get involved in helping us with this grand UU camp in any capacity you can.  You can spread the good word of the camp to others, help on a committee, join us at work weekends, send campers, sponsor campers with financial needs through our campership program, consider donating to our endowment or capital funds, get yourself and your family up to the foothills to see and experience  Unirondack.           - Devin Hollands