smoke signals - Donor By Design Group

SMOKE
SIGNALS
YMCA CAMP PENDALOUAN
1243 E Fruitvale Rd, Montague MI 49437
September 2012
pendalouan.org
SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE
IN THIS ISSUE
Summer Recap
Letter from Bruce
Alumni Profile
Tribute to Eddie
Speaking of the Future
New Totem Pole
Pendalouan Day
Alumni Notes
SUMMER RECAP
ENJOY THIS ISSUE?
WOW! WHAT A SUMMER!
Please share this newsletter with
anyone else that would enjoy it.
Nearly 700 resident campers in six weeks, and over 250 day campers
enjoyed a week on the shores of Big Blue Lake this past summer. Campers
enjoyed our new “Cruiser” boats, new compound archery bows, and a new
slingshot range! Family camp had a waiting list and Father-Son Camp
brought together 73 dads and sons for a weekend of bonding in the woods.
Campers and parents had some wonderful words about the impact of their
Pendalouan experiences such as:
“I love Pendalouan so much because it is a place where you can make
friends, have fun and be yourself!” - Billy
“I have been coming to camp for 6 whole years. Being at Pendalouan has
meant the world to me. It’s not only an amazing experience but a lifestyle I
hold dear. I am 3rd!” - Catie
And from the parents:
“Camp is so valuable! Our son had a great time and we like to see how
much he enjoyed it. We notice that he benefits from the positive values that
Continues next page — SUMMER RECAP
UPCOMING EVENTS SAVE THE DATE
Pendalouan Day—October 6, 2012
Halloween Camp—Oct 26-27, 2012
STAY INFORMED
Camp Blog
Pendalouan.blogspot.com
Twitter
twitter.com/camp_pendalouan
Facebook
facebook.com/camppendalouan
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FROM SURVIVAL TO THRIVAL
Several hard-working staff and friends of Pendalouan have helped to bring
us back to a thriving niche on Big Blue Lake that supports kids and families. The future is looking pretty good, but we don’t take any person or
group for granted. And, we have lots of ideas to make this an even better
place. Read this issue to learn about some of the people who are making a
difference and perhaps an idea or project about which you might like to
become involved.
Continued from front page – SUMMER RECAP
are a part of camp and comes
home very motivated to be helpful. Pendalouan is such a great
opportunity for our children to
get to know people and experience nature.”
WHAT’S NEW
“My daughter LOVED Pendalouan. She enjoyed everything
about it - horseback riding,
swimming, the camp traditions,
singing and making new friends!
Can’t wait until next summer!”
ALUMNI PROFILE
What a great Summer! Only 9
months until Summer 2013!
Hail Pendalouan!
Roger Bellinger worked at camp in 1951,
1952, and after sailing around the world
on a tall ship called the Brigantine Yankee,
returned to Pendalouan for the Summer of
1965. Prior to his nautical adventure, he
had no sailing experience! He does,
however, remember canoeing on Big Blue
Lake and down the White River quite a lot
during his first two summers. During his
time at Pendalouan, he spent many weeks
in Cabin #5 aka Lions Cabin and presently,
Eagle Claw. He worked in the Craft Lodge
with Jack Winans (who he still
communicates with) and upon returning
from his trip, he taught sailing on a boat
called the “Jolly Roger.”
-Bruce Spoelman, Exec Dir
EDDIE’S MOVIES
Director Bruce Spoelman “cheesing it
up” with Roger during a recent visit.
One of the highlights of his time at Pendalouan was his fellow staff. “Chief
Horsely did a wonderful job at hiring staff. The camaraderie between the
counselors was great.” One tradition Roger particularly liked was going out
to get ice cream or sodas to celebrate the end of each session. “We’d load
up on the back of the truck and head into Whitehall and away we’d go!”
Roger says the camp motto, “I’m Third,” still comes to mind often and he
continues to share it with others. In addition to the camp motto, he
remembers Chief’s signs that hung in the lodge. Two of his favorites that
shaped his life were, “An interesting life does not just happen” and “Dream
big dreams and then put on your overalls.”
One thing he learned was the importance of responsibility and safety. “Chief
Horsely always stressed safety and that always stuck with me. The
importance of safety - that’s something I never thought much about
before.” He also remembers Chief once calmly saying to him, “Pal, you’re
standing in poison ivy.”
On his travels in the pacific, he stopped in Hawaii and thought it was a neat
place. He has continued to live there for several decades, working in various
teaching and school jobs. He credits Pendalouan with helping him realize
that he wanted to work with children. “Go Pendalouan!” Roger was able to
make it out to to Pendalouan in 2010 and connect in person with his friend
Jack Winans. Roger is retired and still lives in Hawaii with his wife Masako.
A fitting tribute to what would
have been the year of Eddie’s
100th birthday, is completion of
transferring over 20, 16mm films
to a digital format. Dan
Sutherland (camper 1966-1971)
led the project with generous
support from the Film and Video
department of Columbia College
in Chicago. Thanks to Dan and
Columbia College, we now have
professional quality reproductions
of priceless Pendalouan history.
In actual production costs, we
would have had to spend over
$10,000 to compare with this
superb contribution!
SPEAKING OF THE FUTURE…
Our latest (that we are aware)
benefactor to name Pendalouan
as a beneficiary in a will is Krys
Sweeney. She was never a
camper or staff person here and
her kids never attended. But, as a
teacher and Sand Lake
Elementary School principal, she
has a 20+ year history of
meaningful Outdoor Education
experiences with Pendalouan that
have made her want to invest in
our future. We’re looking for more
people that have named
Pendalouan in their will to let us
in on the secret so that we can
inspire others to follow.
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CALLING ALL ALUMNI AND
FRIENDS: PENDALOUAN DAY—
OCTOBER 6, 2012
10AM - 4PM
Pendalouan alum Ken Wyman during phase
I of the Totem Pole project.
NEW TOTEM
POLE
Ken was inspired by the
generosity of this year’s Father
and Son campers as they raised
$272 to restore or replace the
long-standing icon. “I just like the
idea of helping out and this
looked kinda fun!” he quipped as
he began chipping away.
Pendalouan staff procured the
new pole from a local Amish farm
and copied the design of the
original pole onto the new one.
Although it’s a tedious process,
Ken has made great progress.
Look for a brand new pole to go
into the ground soon, complete
with a new Thunderbird beak and
antlers!
The original pole was carved by
Arts & Crafts director, Fred Beck
in 1963. Fred currently runs a pre
-school in Ann Arbor with his wife
Caryn. At this rate, we’ll be
putting in another new
pole in 2061…
The RSVPs are coming in! Pendalouan’s Alumni Reunion Day is fast
approaching! Have you registered yet? Activities include camp tours,
family fun activities like boating, archery, and the climbing wall, a
complimentary lunch, a dedication of camp upgrades, story telling and song
singing, a Pendalouan Trivia Competition, and an update by Executive
Director, Bruce Spoelman. We are expecting representation from every
decade back to the 1940s! RSVP by heading to pendalouan.org or calling
the office at (231) 894-4538.
ALUMNI NOTES
LINDSEY (RUP) DELUCA (Camper
‘89-’93; Staff ‘94-’00)writes: Here
is a photo of a future Pendalouan
camper, my daughter Ayla Ellen
Scott DeLuca, born on May 16,
2012. She hopes to attend
Pendalouan Day this year with her
parents, Lindsey and Jason DeLuca.
JEFF MAYBERRY (Camper ‘94-’04;
Future camper DeLuca.
Staff in ‘05) and Skye Taylor - who
currently live on the other side of Big Blue Lake - took the plunge, literally,
after exchanging wedding vows Saturday August 4, 2012 on the south pier
of White Lake Channel.
JIM FORTON (Camper ‘58-’68) of Wyoming, Michigan writes: I am now
retired from truck driving since 1999 when I was injured on the job. I have
not been back to Pendalouan since I was a camper in 1968. I do think about
the camp and all the great times I had there often.
LAURA (MEENGS) AILKENS (90's Camper and Staff Member in '01 & '02)
married Jonathon Aikens on August 11th, 2012 in Muskegon, MI. Laura and
Jonathon have settled in Ann Arbor, and keep busy as a non-profit
consultant and Apple techie respectively. They are looking forward to their
life together, 'out on the loose'.
ERIC REWITZER (Staff in 84-85) stopped by camp with his wife Annie
earlier this past month when in the area. Eric and Annie currently live in
San Francisco. They took a tour to see how camp has changed since the
80s (and oh, how it has!). Alumni Director Mark Olson even found a Smoke
Signals from when he was a counselor that talked about his cabin and his
co-counselors!
Session 3 Polar Bear 100% participation!
View our wish list at http://
www.pendalouan.org/
alumni/my-support
MANDI HANES (Staff in 09-11) married ELI CAPPS-AMBURGEY (Staff 10-11)
at Camp Newaygo on September 29th, 2012. They follow in the footsteps of
several other Pendalouan alumni that have met their spouse while working
at Camp Pendalouan!
MALAURI WILKINSON (Camper 2010-12) Sadly passed away unexpectedly
this August of a brain aneurysm. She will be missed.
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YMCA CAMP PENDALOUAN
Muskegon Family YMCA
FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
FOR HEALTH LIVING
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
®
1243 E Fruitvale Rd
Montague MI 49437
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Montague, MI
PERMIT NO. 94
THANKS!

Over 70 friends of Pendalouan have donated to
our Campership Fund.

More than $12,000 has been raised this year
for Camp Improvements and facility upgrades.

Over 500 hours of volunteer time from the
Pendalouan Community helped make this
summer one of the best ones yet!
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Here are some great ways to stay connected:





Enter or update your contact information on our website Alumni
Page.*
“Like,” “Friend,” “Share” and “Subscribe” to Pendalouan on
Facebook
Follow us on Twitter for daily notes about what is happening on
Big Blue Lake.
Donate time or money for projects, or specific needs.
Call the office and set up a time to stop by for a tour!
ALUMNI DATABASE
*Go to www.pendalouan.org, click on the Alumni Tab and then on
the left side, click Submit My Info to provide your most current
contact info and accurate camp history. You can also look up friends
by using the Index by Name or the List by Year feature!
HELP US FIND LOST ALUMS!
Do you have any names, addresses, email addresses of former
Pendalouan campers and staff? Contact Mark Olson, Alumni Dir, at
molson@pendalouan.org , 231-894-4538 x104
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