A National Historic Landmark in Northern Michigan Leadership Letter from the President and Executive Director
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Annual Report on Giving 2020 A National Historic Landmark in Northern Michigan Leadership Letter from the President and Executive Director Dear Bay View Members, Friends and Supporters: 2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Many of our members and friends were able to come home to Bay View despite an international pandemic that resulted in drastic changes to travel, our operations, and our programming. Our staff, the Board of Trustees, and our committees and volunteers all pulled together to keep everyone safe while still offering as much programming as possible. In spite of the challenges presented by the pandemic, your spirit of giving flourished. Any successes and achievements made during Bay View’s 145th season would not have been possible without you. In this, the second year of our Annual Giving Report, we honor your- volunteer and financial contributions, and we thank you for the key role you play in Bay View’s current and future success. This report highlights gifts received during our fiscal year, which ended September 30, 2020. Since our Annual Fund and programs are so crucial to our mission, we have created donor lists for those areas, in addition to the total list of donors at the end of the report. Here are just a few examples of the ways your thoughtful gifts supported Bay View Association this past year: • Over $650,000 was raised to support the Waterfront Improvement Project, with the bulk of that funding coming in FY 2020. • We exceeded our Annual Fund goal by over $34,000 with 79% of the gifts unrestricted, which allows the Board to earmark funding for our areas of greatest need. • Significant donations were made to support our program areas that helped us take some of our programming online, enabled us to offer limited swimming and tennis lessons, provided funding for our music faculty and outdoor concerts, and many other examples. • Many of our supporters converted the purchase of Vesper Concert tickets, or recreation program registrations, to donations. Words cannot express how thankful we are that you continue to believe in, and champion, one of the nation’s oldest and best Chautauquas. Whether a donation was $10 or $10,000, your support helped to preserve and improve our historic buildings, and helped us fulfill all aspects of our mission. In addition to those who make financial contributions, our volunteers continue to be a source of inspiration for us. The culture of volunteerism thrives in Bay View, and we are the better for it. Those serving on volunteer committees support the work of the professional staff and help to sustain and improve Bay View. We are grateful to our committee members for all the time they spend helping to make Bay View run smoothly. Bay View is an extraordinary community because of you. We look forward to another successful year in 2021 and hope to see you during Bay View’s 146th Assembly Season! With gratitude, Carol M. Neithercut Mike Spencer President Executive Director Mission Statement To be an institution in which Christian values and traditions are central; To enrich the human experience for individuals and families within Bay View and the surrounding community through a seasonal program of religious, educational, cultural and recreational opportunities; to provide a Christian perspective in a changing world. Professional Staff: Mike Spencer, Executive Director Barbara Pfeil, Finance Director Jake Porath, Superintendent Thank You Rance Carpenter, Assistant to the Superintendent Zach Panoff, IT Manager With deepest Jessica Webster, Development Assistant gratitude, we honor Lori Willingham, Senior Accounting Analyst Lesley Tarsi, Communications Coordinator you, the individuals Ed Woelfert, Accounting Analyst and organizations, who Jen Cronk, Administrative Coordinator supported Bay View’s Chris Chickering, Post Office Master mission this year. Your Carrie Lyons, Development Support Michael Hearit, Administrative Support financial and volunteer Rev. Daniel Moser, Director of Worship contributions are Chris Ludwa, Director of Performing Arts impacting Bay View Jeanne Greer, Director of Education Amy Liddicoat Seamster, Director of Recreation now and building a Laura Smith, Assistant to Director of Worship legacy for future generations. Board of Trustees: As a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization, Bay Carol Neithercut, President View relies on the Robin Sims Caldwell, Vice President Eric Breisach, Treasurer generosity of Fred Weber, Secretary members and friends to help preserve the Dianne Boyd, Trustee spirit and site of Bay Walt Byers, Trustee Peggy Child Smith, Trustee View, enriching the Jon Chism, Trustee lives of all who seek Julia Healy, Trustee the Bay View Karl Hansen, Trustee experience each summer. We invite all to come and Experience Summer With Us in the historic Bay View. Because of you, our multi-generational community continues to prosper and thrive. Bay View 2020 Program Area Highlights RejoiceWorship PerformingInspire DiscoverRecreation This year Bay View Worship programming saw big Arts changes, ranging from outdoor church services to Psalm The eight-week long music festival, which normally readings at the speaker stand. Although COVID-19 caused attracts students and faculty from across the country, was many speakers to be postponed, your support allowed challenged this summer. Despite regulations limiting us to adjust and even expand our programming to have gatherings, Bay View found inspiring new ways to connect online Worship services. to one another through music with online streaming. Highlights of Worship: Highlights of Performing Arts: • Our family and friends watched Worship Services safely • The Music Festival aired six virtual Vesper concerts for the first from the comfort of their home through Bay View’s time in Festival history! Youtube channel. • John Wright delighted audiences across the country in his • Resembling the first Assembly seasons of the past, mem- virtual recital. bers and guests gathered “on the grounds” for 3 services. • The van der Have’s hosted the 13th consecutive High Tea on • When visiting speakers were unable to travel, talented the Bay. This time in virtual format! speakers from the local community graced our stage. • A virtual Jeff Daniels concert was a highlight of the season, • Altar Guild hosted weekly Holy Communion, moving away thanks to Lakeside Chautauqua and the Crouse Visiting Artist from the traditional Eucharist practices to serve attendees Fund. as safely as possible. • Over 75% of Vesper patrons who pre-purchased tickets • Adult Sunday School met socially distanced in person and converted their purchase into a donation! via Zoom to accommodate for all members and guests. • Spectrum Brass and “Change Gonna Come” produced two • A new tradition, the “Psalm of the Day” started this successful live concerts, featuring music from Sam Cooke. season, with community volunteers sharing a Psalm at the • Received a MCACA grant of $13,000! This offsets revenue lost Speaker Stand every Monday through Friday. from programming we were unable to have. • Altar flowers provided beauty to the worship sermons and • Thanks to the support and vision of our underwriters and allowed members to celebrate a loved one, by donating donors, the festival maintained a presence throughout the flowers in memory or in honor of those we love and summer. cherish. • Members and guests gathered outside for a concert on the steps of Hall Auditorium! Bay View 2020 Program Area Highlights DiscoverRecreation EducationEnrich Staff and volunteers worked extra hard this year to This year, with many cancellations, postponements, and create a safe, stimulating environment for people of all additions, Bay View members and friends still managed to ages to participate in healthy activities while developing meet and provide life-long learning for all. The Education life-long friendships. The Bay View Recreation motto Department worked tirelessly to find innovative ways to “fun and recreation” rang true, despite what COVID-19 share knowledge in new formats, including outdoor imposed on programming. meetings under the tent and via Zoom. Highlights of Recreation: Highlights of Education: • Amy Seamster Liddicoat started as the new Recreation • Nine classes were held outside under tents or outside Director. Despite the obstacles imposed by COVID-19, Amy, the Craft House. One of the classes was even held in with the support from the committee and volunteers, found the Bay View Woods! ways to meet safely and provide programming for both • Some teachers opted for Zoom to teach their classes. children and adults. In total, six classes used online formats. • Lisa Marie Maxson and Rocky Rosacker offered an • While we weren’t able to host our most popular orienteering experience in the Bay View woods. events (the Big Read, Bridges, and Friday Forums) this • Community Service Day continued, guided by Steve year, the spectacular speakers are scheduled to return Popper of Meals of Hope, and packed almost 13,000 meals in 2021. for families in the area. • Julie Merrell’s pop-up class, “Becoming White • Gretchen Rush joined as the new Tennis Director. This was Allies,” was full both sessions. The class discussed her first time in Bay View and all were impressed by her Robin DiAngelo’s novel, White Fragility. Here, we ability to run a top-notch tennis program on the fly! gleaned insight into future goals of offering classes • 12 families signed up for the first cottage keepsake craft of based on perceived needs and current issues. the season. To our delight, over 20 families attended. • The Morning Council’s “Justice Panel” and the Sam • Morning Council funded the film license for Recreation’s Cooke After-Show Discussion created safe and traditional movie night productive spaces for discussion and analysis. More • Bill Hauschild offered limited swimming lessons to keep “cross-programming” events between Education and participants safe. Performing Arts will definitely be held in future years! Bay View 2020 Program Area Donors Robert G. Banwell Jane and Robert L. Bauer Linda Beaupre Gordon Becker ProgramFrom 11/1/2019 Area - 9/30/2020 GiftsGrace A.