2012 Year in Review
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2012 Year in Review YEAR IN REVIEW 2012 | 1 From the Board Chair Looking back on Camp Buildings and Property com- Financial Development is concerned with Widjiwagan’s year 2012, I mittee was instrumental in the the short and long-term philanthropic needs see the Board and each of needs assessment, planning, of Widjiwagan and serves as the planning its committees looking for- development and cost estima- and coordinating body for fundraising for cur- ward. I am grateful for the tion of the projects compris- rent operating, capital and endowment needs. many board members and ing Widji’s capital campaign. The committee works closely with the Alumni/ alumni who give their time Twice each year, spring and Community Relations and Widji Y Partners com- and expertise on Widji’s fall, the committee tours camp mittees to accomplish fundraising goals. The committees and taskforces. and reviews the physical sta- committee is currently working on a tool kit to There is a breadth and tus of each building and the educate all board members about endowments depth to board activities grounds. Currently the com- and other philanthropic mechanisms for giving. that I have greater appreciation for in my first mittee is monitoring and advising on the new The success of this committee’s activity over year as board chair. I see constant effort to building and renovation projects occurring at the years is evidenced by the number and value improve the experience campers and parents Widji. Years of conceptualizing and planning are of Widji’s family and memorial endowments. will have with Widji, be it registering for a camp changing the facilities at camp, and the com- Endowment gifts to Widji far exceed the num- session, being on trail or attending a banquet mittee is enjoying the fruits of its efforts. ber of other Y camps and branches and they at the end of a wilderness trip. Noted below are produce income that support Widji camp opera- Camper Services develops policies to allo- many, but not all of these efforts. cate financial aid and makes recommendations tions and financially assist its campers. At right is a list of current Widji board mem- about the “camperships” and camper earnings Outdoor Learning Program committee bers. Not listed are many Widji board alumni programs. Each January the committee reviews supports the work of environmental educa- and volunteers who continue to contribute. I applications and advises whether and how tion staff and instructors who teach and am so very thankful for their extensive volun- much aid might be given. This committee has lead school groups visiting Widji in weeklong teer efforts; they inform and support the work the heartwarming task of allocating the contri- sessions during the fall, winter and spring of our committed and tireless Widji staff. butions earned by Widji’s fundraising efforts. throughout the year. Student and chaper- one evaluations from over 25 predominantly Alumni/Community Relations Committee Executive Committee is comprised of the has led efforts to strengthen the connections executive director, board chair and chairs of elementary and middle schools are reviewed. in the Widji community, particularly focusing the financial development and Widji Y Partner’s The committee discusses and advises on envi- on reaching out through social media, creating committees. The committee is also newly cre- ronmental education curriculum and activi- and enhancing Widji’s website presence. Their ated this year and it replaced the prior years’ ties, funding and outreach to additional school activities have also included organizing the 2nd Finance Committee. The executive committee communities and weekend groups. Annual Widji Rendezvous in September. is responsible for initiating and directing new Risk Management reviews and evaluates all projects in addition to providing the board with reports completed about incidents involving Board Development is a new committee this year, and it has expanded duties beyond financial information about camp operations equipment and injuries to staff and campers in those of the nominating committee it replaced. and expenses, monitoring trends, advising on camp and on trail during Widji’s summer ses- They plan the board’s October retreat and May goals for fundraising and annually recommend- sion. Incidents are rated for likelihood of occur- spring social. The committee is exploring ways ing camper fees for board consideration. On rence and risk level and then recorded in a data- to enhance board member engagement and the committee’s agenda is initiating and direct- base used to direct investments in staff training reviewing board committee structure and con- ing completion of a new strategic plan and and trail equipment the following year. The straints. forming a task force to plan Widji’s 85th anni- database documents and monitors the safety of versary gathering in 2014. Widji’s single staff-led advanced wilderness trips that are unique nationally. 2 | YMCA CAMP WIDJIWAGAN From the Board Chair From the Director BOARD MEMBERS Matt Anfang begins each year by review- Summer Program From there, Listening Point, I have seen the immensity of Matt Bailey ing parent evaluation forms, and all of the camp- space and glimpsed at times the grandeur of creation. There I Shelley Carpenter er evaluations of their trips. Items of concern are have sensed the span of uncounted centuries and looked down addressed in the trail staff training conducted Anne Cowie the path all life has come. I have explored on this rocky bit of Peter Currie in June each year. Other issues may result in shore the great concept that nothing stands alone and every- Maude Dornfeld feedback and requests for changes in central thing, no matter how small, is part of a greater whole…. Elizabeth Flinsch-Garrison administrative service functions. The evaluation —Sigurd Olson, Listening Point forms are also reviewed for any changes that Cindy Gardner would improve receipt of qualitative information. I am incredibly inspired by Edward Garvey Recently the committee initiated a project to Sigurd’s words and believe that Jeri Glick-Anderson update and reprint the Widji songbook. it encompasses so much of what Jenny Hagberg it means to be a part of Camp Tom Hiendlmayr Widji Y Partners committee formed last year to Widjiwagan…no matter what your Christy Hlavacek concentrate on the preparation and execution of connection to Widji is, you are Widji’s annual fund-raising campaign. The com- Mark Holloway a part of the greater whole. At Sara Johnson mittee focused efforts on Give to the Max Day, Widji, that greater whole is con- Keelin Kane call nights and on-line fundraising. These efforts nected to generations of camp- Bill Kellogg resulted in a marked increase in donations as ers and steeped in tradition. compared to last year. The Widji community extends David Kilpatrick In addition to these ten committees there is a throughout Minnesota, across the United States and around Mary Lou Wood Lamain Capital and Endowment Campaign Cabinet. the world. Traditions stem from 1929 and have been nur- Kevin Lagos They have designed and steered the campaign tured over the years to shape summer camp and the Outdoor David Lauth activities of the last two years. The final phase Learning Program to what it is today. Molly Leifeld Anne Lindquist of this campaign will end this spring. Conclusion I was a Voyageur in 1987 and this past summer one of my Bruce Maher of this activity will ensure the continuation and fellow campers sent her son to Widjiwagan for the first time. Lynne Meyer improvement of Widji’s programs for future gen- Aside from this making me feel a bit old, it was a thrilling con- erations of campers. nection to the next generation of Widji campers. Her son, who Elizabeth Miller I have sometimes heard the Widji community undoubtedly heard many stories and had seen pictures of his Ned Patterson jokingly yet hesitantly describe itself as “cultish.” mom’s trips, now has his own Widji connection. Jeff Rick In my experience as chair this year I see that we Jon Ridge Schools that send students to the northwoods for a three- Lee Schafer don’t think alike, but we do think together. We to five-day experience at camp find that same connection. Mark Scott are a mission-driven, relationship-based and vol- While their experience might look different than that of a Court Storey unteer board comprised of members united by summer camper, it is no less impactful. In fact, one teacher shared values and working collaboratively. Wijdi from Seward Montessori in Minneapolis remarked that when Mary Stoick is successful for lots of reasons, and key among his former students return to say hello to him, they routinely Anne Hoyt Taff them is our community of passionate and com- bring up their Widji experience as one of their most important Bruce Thomson mitted board members who always see some- from that period of their lives. John van Vliet thing to improve. The journey to actualize Widji’s Gail Wallinga The Sigurd Olson quote is part of a longer quote posted above unique mission and enhance its program is never Erin Walsh the fireplace in the Sigurd Olson Center at Widjiwagan. It is ending. My heartfelt thanks to my fellow board Peter West a reminder to all of us who are a part of camp, that our own members, board alumni and Widji staff. In 2013 Amy White Widji experience, while important, really is enhanced and we are ever onward. —Tom Hiendlmayr Skip Wilke shaped by being part of the greater whole. —Liz Flinn YEAR IN REVIEW 2012 | 3 A Boys & Girls Club group has first Widji adventure BY BRIAN GEISLER ast summer Widji began an exciting new partnership off and on throughout the day then settled in for the with the Twin Cities Boys & Girls Club.