NEWS TO USE:  Happy Fall!

Fall is here and I hope everyone is having a chance to enjoy some “down time” – if there is such a thing in the camping profession anymore!  Make sure take time to enjoy the great fall colors, those quiet moments in your favorite spot and time with family and friends. 

Now, on with the “NEWS”

GREAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY : The Basic Camp Directors Course is being offered at the Calvin Center in Hampton , GA on December 2 – 6!   The BCDC provides the basics and more for camp directors with fewer than six years or for seasoned program directors and site managers. It is an excellent opportunity to be sure you have well rounded knowledge of the core areas in camping and to begin building your personal network of camp professionals.  For more information and to register, visit:  http://www.acacamps.org/csv.cgi?data=bcdc.csv&template=bcdc.htm   

RETIRING!  Most of us look forward to the day we are able to retire and “play” as much as we choose.  Marge Scanlin, long time ACA employee and volunteer is doing just that.  Many of us know Marge for her broad base of knowledge in the Risk Management Area.   It seems if no one else knew the answer, we could always “ask Marge.”  To honor Marge’s years of Service to ACA and the camp community, a quilt with Camp Patches is being made. This quilt will be presented at the ACA National Conference in Austin , TX (and it is a surprise). Here’s how you can help:  PLEASE mail a patch from your camp to: ACA Southeastern, 3308 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd, Ste 101 , Durham , NC 27707 . Do it NOW while you are thinking of it.  All patches will be then sent to the appropriate person to put on said quilt. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this great THANK YOU for Marge.

NORTH CAROLINA CAMPS:  If your camp is in North Carolina , please take time to read and comment on the “Rules Governing the Sanitation of Summer Camps.”  This set of rules as been in the development process for many years and a draft copy has been filed with the State. Public comments are sought (encouraged). Visit  http://www.acasoutheastern.org/NCrescamprules.doc to read the rules. Comments can be made via email (Rhonda@acasoutheastern.org) or snail mail. All comments will be shared with the committee for review. Comments are due by December 15.   It is anticipated this set of rules will be implemented October 2007.

ACA NATIONAL CONFERENCE:  We are very pleased to announce that Matt Robinson from the Don Lee Center won the Conference Exhibit Hall Drawing for FREE registration to the ACA National Conference. We hope many other members will join Matt in Austin.  The speakers are dynamic, the session many and varied and the location is superb!  For additional information, check out: http://www.acacamps.org/conference/

THERE’S STILL TIME to complete the On-line enrollment survey! If you have not yet taken the opportunity to complete this valuable survey (to ACA and camps), please do so now.  Click on: http://www.acacamps.org/research/camprecruitment.php

SEVERAL of you have called the office with questions/comments about Building Codes, Wage/Labor Issues, Forest Service Permits, etc.  THANKS for sharing your thoughts and please know we are following up on these issues and will be contacting you with appropriate information.  Please continue to bring issues that effect camps to our attention. While we do our best, we need the help of all camp professionals to keep up on issues the effect the entire camp profession and community.

VISITORS and CAMPS being visited in 2007!  The list of additional Standards Courses and Visitor Updates are now posted on the website. Please register for the course you will be attending!  Click http://www.acasoutheastern.org/standards/standards2007.php for the calendar of courses.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN and don’t eat TOOOOO Much Candy!  Enjoy!

Rhonda Mickelson
Executive Director

Pamela Allen
Membership Services Coordinator

American Camp Association Southeastern
919.402.4336 phone
919.402.4766 fax