ABOUT THE COVER We are pleased to be continuing our new tradition of having pictures on four pages of the Spirit! In addition to the front and back covers, the alternate sides of these pages capture even more of what was special in 2012. The top picture on the front cover displays the four High Senior Captains of the White Chaos and the Blue Juveniles (left to right): Mitchell Lesser, Matt Shaffer, Danny Brack, and Jacob Stetson holding this year’s Color War plaque. The bottom picture shows many of our fine 2012 staff members getting ready for our always popular Wrestlemania. The inside of the front cover shows an all-star group of 13 year old happy campers (left to right): Aaron Stone, David Rubin, Anthony Shea, Sam Shapiro, Jackson Quist, Jordan Jones, Brett Middleton, Alex Romantz, Ben Burns, Brendan Delaney, Zach Miller, Ari Natansohn, Zach Zysk, and Justin Smith. This is followed below by the camp celebrating after our “House Game” victory over Robin Hood! The inside of the back cover depicts two scenes from West End’s World Cup. On top there is an action shot of the regatta event. This matchup is between South Africa and Brazil. On the bottom, there is a picture of this year’s World Cup Champion Greece, whose flag is now hanging in the dining hall for the entire year. Team members are from left to right front row Brian Barrera, Houston Barenholtz, Kaleb Decker, Noah Leslie, Jacob Denning, Kevin Wu, and Diego Rivera, and back row Farid Mawanda, Coach Mason Williams, and Jacob Stetson. The back cover displays two memorable scenes from this year’s exciting Desert War. The top picture shows Jordan Sarnie being hoisted by exuberant members of his team after he successfully captured the flag. The bottom photo shows many members of team Fortune at the conclusion of Desert War, right after painting Desert War Rock yellow to celebrate their victory. Special credit and thanks go out to photographer Ben Eggert, who should take great pride in these cover photos and the thousand plus pictures he took during the season. Thanks also to Bryna Leeder and Ramie Lepler who lent their time and talents to our photographic efforts all summer. DEDICATION Throughout its over one hundred year history, West End House Camp has relied on its alumni members for the support it needs to continue to operate, expand, and be a first class organization. Alumni assistance comes in many different forms. Expertise, volunteer activities, and financial support are but a few of the ways WEH Camp has been fortunate to benefit from its strong and active alumni. Two men in recent years have come to the forefront and been extraordinary in their support: David Krivitsky and Henry Lewis. David Krivitsky’s West End House roots go back to his father, Benjamin (“Tom Cornell”) Krivitsky, and his uncles, Sid Krivitsky and Dr. Harold Krivan. Dave is also the proud uncle of former campers Jimmy and Bobby Musiker. Dave was a star track athlete at Boston English High School and Dartmouth College; he attended WEH Camp in the late 1930s and early 1940s. After serving in the United States Navy, he moved to New York City and has resided there for the past sixty or so years. However, Dave never forgot his experiences at WEH Camp; he has kept in touch and tries to visit the facility each summer. He has always been very supportive (e.g., sponsoring the electric scoreboard in the gym), but at the time of the Camp’s Centennial celebrations and thereafter he has become a true benefactor to the cause, endowing through the David Krivitsky Charitable Gift Fund an administrative position within the organization. Henry Lewis, or Hank as he is usually called, was a camper in the early 1960s as the result of his own father’s (Edward’s) membership and affiliation with our organization. In turn, Hank’s own son, Nick, also attended the camp. Thus, Henry Lewis has had the opportunity to observe firsthand over a period of almost fifty years how the camp has grown, expanded, and continues to reach out to boys from all walks of life. He resolved that he would make a commitment to offer substantial support. Hank has in recent years sponsored fundraising events where he has taken the lead in donating substantially through the Henry R. Lewis Family Fund and through his own company, Vantage Deluxe World Travel. He is responsible for the establishment of the William Margolin Fund for Excellence, the interest from which is used to ensure that eligible active members of the WEH Boys & Girls Club will have the means to attend camp; to provide assistance to boys associated with the Wounded Warrior Project; and to offer support to the WEH Girls Camp. Hank’s generosity and evolving plans will mean a brighter and more secure future for our camp. In honor of these two gentlemen, and in tribute to their commitment and support of West End House Camp, the 2012 Spirit is respectfully and gratefully dedicated to DAVID KRIVITSKY and HENRY R. LEWIS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many people whose assistance during this past year has been invaluable to us. We would like to acknowledge the following individuals and institutions that contributed to the success of the season: ·Michael Berger, President of WEH Camp, for his tireless efforts on our behalf. ·Past Presidents Henry Barr and Marty Jacobs for their continued assistance. ·Members of the Camp Corporation, who oversee the operation and whose committees meet regularly to ensure that WEH Camp is the very best it can possibly be. These great people are listed elsewhere in the Spirit, and each has been tremendous in his or her support of the Camp. Special thanks to Adam Barr for his work on the website, and to Bill Swiecicki and Bob Goober for ther superb work regarding the maintenance and property management aspect of our facility. ·Aaron Leppo (Full Line Graphics) – thank you for your patience and generosity in arranging for the printing of the 2012 Spirit! What a classy publication! ·Bert and Esther Wynn for their presence and help at the Breakfast from Day One! ·Tony Goroshko for driving his truck to camp on the final day and transporting trunks & luggage back to Boston. ·Sheila O’Connell and St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton for their donation of medical supplies. -Tony Costello and the fine folks at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Brighton – we thank you for the use of your parking lot for bus departures and arrivals. It is an ideal meeting space! ·Sincere gratitude to the staff at the West End House Boys & Girls Club, especially Executive Director Andrea Howard, Kristin Rhuda, Mark DaCruz, and Jenny Nute. Special mention to Karen Cyr, whose presence we shall greatly miss. ·Ken Kandler for his donation each summer of hand sanitizers and other health- related products, as well as his generous contribution of prizes for the Camp Breakfast raffle. -Brien Wong for meeting the returning buses at Franciscan Hospital and making sure that campers and luggage were always accounted for. Thanks Jimmy Lepler for helping out as well. Bob Kessin for his generous donation of staff shirts. MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I am delighted to state that 2012 was a great summer! A near record number of campers, a safe and healthy season, an excellent staff, new activities, and an enthusiasm all across the board made for a tremendous eight weeks. Although WEH Camp is open ten weeks each summer (one week for staff training, eight weeks for campers, one week for the Alumni), the task of directing it encompasses a full 52 weeks each year. By my calculations Steve Lepler puts about 80 weeks worth of effort into this - his dedication, energy, creativity, concern, and organizational skills are unmatched, and the success of 2012 is the direct result of these tireless efforts. His fervent determination to ensure that West End House Camp remains the very best among all camps is evident. Thank you, Steve, for all you have done and will continue to do! Ryan Wilensky has been an indispensable addition since he came on board in October of 2007 as Director of Operations. His dedication is in the true “Spirit of the House,” and he continues to play an extremely important and positive role in the lives of the youngsters we serve. Special gratitude to Registered Nurse Rosemary Connors for tending to the medical needs of campers. She did so with professionalism and concern, and always in an upbeat and pleasant manner. It was a great joy having Lee and Linda Russell back to head up the kitchen. They, along with Tom Mercier, turned out superb meals each and every day. Under the expert care of Property Managers, John Fredette and Steve Chamberlain, our facility remains in excellent “up to date” shape. They are amazing and very talented people; we are so very fortunate to have them. Ramie Lepler was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand, especially when it came to driving the boat or taking pictures. Thank you, Ramie, for all that you have done for us. I am especially pleased to offer thanks to my wife, Bryna. Her volunteer efforts keeping track of the campers’ spending money, picking up the mail, making trips to the clinic or hospital, stocking the canteen, helping in the infirmary, picking up supplies, etc., are truly invaluable. She is a remarkable person! Most of all, I want to offer my gratitude to the staff and to the campers. Ultimately, the success of the season comes down to quality of campers and quality of staff – and once again both “categories” were of the highest level! Special thanks to Danny Walsh and Michael Jacobs for their efforts both on and off the waterfront! Don’t forget to check out our fantastic website (www.westendhousecamp.org ) and to let your friends know about us! We continue to attract many new campers through word of mouth, and we welcome your referrals.