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“This is a difficult time and we all need to work together to save our Camps and Foundation.”
Justin Brasch, ’80, ‘81. BOD ‘90’s
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“The approach adopted by the Board is absolutely not the vision and direction that Freddie would have endorsed!”
Kwabena Nyarko, ‘73
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“May this crisis bind us and make us stronger. Rise Up O Flame!”
Michael Cherone, ’94, ’95, ’99
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“To me, tradition and heritage should decide that moving be reserved as the very last choice. I’m not sure that’s the case for now.”
Tietie Zhang, ‘96
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“There is strength in tradition. Guidance in heritage. These are some of the core ways of the Navajo people…. Hozho’ naha’sdlii”
Brian Victor, ‘84
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“We need to use the valuable human resources we have available ensure many more generations of young people have the chance to go into the woods, unplug, and experience life at its core. We cannot do that by ignoring voices of dissent.”
Michelle Baker Willis, ‘90, ‘91
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“The idea and ideals of CRS can be pursued anywhere, of course, but selling off the existing properties without longer and deeper participation of the alumni/ae seems to me to damage the collaborative and cooperative spirit that has long been at the heart of Freddie’s purpose and legacy.”
Michael Shermaan, ’59, ’60, ‘61
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“(Freddie) wanted to change the world. And all he did was run a summer camp. All he did was run a summer camp. Think about the extraordinary power in that statement.”
Jeff Newman, ’84, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97 ACD, ’98-’00-Director of B&G
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“This is a beloved land full of history, stories, laughter and love…. I do not accept that selling Red Hook in such haste is the only option we have!”
Vera Lucia Gonzalez, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14
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“I find it hard to believe that the only way out of the financial quagmire we are in is to sell the sites where camp has taken place for generations…. Moving Rising Sun to “someplace” else just doesn’t seem to be the right answer.”
Jonathan Gross, ‘78, ‘79
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“I do not agree that mortgaging our past is the only way to ensure our future.”
Scott Kaye, ‘91, ‘92, ‘97, ‘11
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“I strongly feel that co-location, and the sale of Red Hook, would both be serious missteps in our effort to carry forward Rising Sun.”
Annalisa Jensen, ‘89, ’95, ’97, ‘98, ‘06
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“I believe that not considering the opinions and commitment of people who feel strongly about this issue will alienate them. Our alumni are our most valuable resource. Let’s be open to alternative solutions.”
AnnMarie Walton, ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, ‘99, BOD
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“Camp was an important piece of my development and foundation of who I am. I treasure Freddie’s camp vision and his personally felt caring for me. I hope the camp site can be retained. I will help all I can.”
John Randall, ’55, ‘56
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“The decision to sell the properties is … unfair because it was only taken by a small group of people…. An abundance of our alumni are learned people in different fields of work who can come together and find a way out that could be beneficial to everyone concerned.”
Karabo Thema, ’13
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“CRS gave to me what I needed to be a leader and a good person. It’s a shame what’s going on.”
Gustavo Arturo Peñaloza Arraya, ‘03
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“Unless there is absolutely no other way to fix the issues facing CRS, the campgrounds must be preserved.”
Alexander Evelson, ’12
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“Camp Rising Sun isn’t just a place where part of our lives happened – it is integral to what happened during a part of our lives.”
William Klaus, ’83, ’84
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“Please save our camp, the location has everything to do with the spirit of the camp.”
Stephen Chanda, ‘04
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“Greater transparency and simplicity would help the Board and alumni make better decisions about the future of the camps.”
Rosslyn Wuchinich, ‘92, ‘93
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“We simply must find a way to save the original campsites, without them we lose all connection with our past history. What would Freddie do?”
Jon Juergensen, ‘69, ‘70
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“The CRS Web site is full of phrases like ‘professional consultants,’ ‘endowment performance,’ and my personal favorite, ‘lower regulatory burden’…. It’s difficult to picture Freddie talking this way. If he had, he might have stayed in the hat business.”
Mel Brender, ’61, ’62
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“It is essential to step back and look at the situation in a transparent way. Otherwise, what Freddie stood for and worked so hard to build stands a good chance of being permanently ruptured.”
Edward M. Ginsburg, ’52, ’53, BOD late-50s
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“CRS must engage in a structured and inclusive dialogue. I heartily support that. A real New Dawn.”
Samuel Baron, ’07
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“We have among our membership the top professionals experts in all areas needed to resolve this crisis–let us engage them NOW.”
Pawel Mikolajczak, ’73, ’83
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“We’re fighting to preserve a part of each one of us that simply can’t be transported elsewhere!”
Bruce Douglas, ’40,’41,’42 and forever after
| Board of Directors J.C. CALDERON, AIA, PRESIDENT ALEX GARCIA-OSUNA, SECRETARY ANDREW CLATEMAN, TREASURER STEPHEN BANG, MEMBER 5 CLIFF STREET |
Advisory Board ELI ATTIE SAM BELTRAN, EDM ANDRE CAMPBELL, MD BRENDAN GLYNN CYRILLE HANAPPE, ARCHITECTE SUSAN HINKLE ROBERT KAPLAN SCOTT KAYE, MS, RN-BC GERALD A. MCINTYRE, ESQ. SEBASTION PUGLIESE, AIA TINYA SEEGER NICHOLAS T. SKIPITARIS, MD KASPER WILLEMOES |
Mission
The mission of the Alumni & Friends of Camp Rising Sun, Inc. organization (also known as “SaveCRS”) is to help ensure the survival of the traditional Camp Rising Sun eight week long summer program for teenage boys and girls at their respective traditional campsites through the meaningful engagement of alumni and supporters. We believe that this goal can only be accomplished through full transparency, fiduciary prudence, and formal recognition of all alumni as full stakeholders in the Louis August Jonas Foundation, Inc. LAJF is the legal body that was entrusted to preserve the vision of the founder, George E. Jonas, who bequeathed the assets that make the camp program possible today. SaveCRS is committed to the preservation of a program that is provided free of charge to campers who, as stated by Mr. Jonas, “have limited or no financial means.” We call for the restoration of the program’s original objectives, as explicitly expressed by Mr. Jonas in his own words and deeds (see the archived document Objectives of Camp Rising Sun in our Supporting Evidence section).
Vision
Our vision is to see the two heritage camp sites in Dutchess County, NY return to the decades long traditional eight week program and continue in perpetuity, supported by a unified and enfranchised alumni body. Through alumni and supporter engagement, direct accountability by the LAJF Directors to the alumni community through direct suffrage, and respectful collaboration between all parties, we are confident the Camp Rising Sun program, campsites, and community can once again become united and self-sustaining.
Values
Our core values are as follows:
1. Preservation of the historical properties and restoration of the founder’s vision, original goals and lost elements of the CRS program
3. Fiduciary responsibility
4. Equal representation for all alumni
5. Organizational transparency and competence
6. Recognition of the value of non-monetary contributions of alumni and friends of CRS to continuing Freddie’s vision.
Financial Analysis
A detailed financial analysis already completed indicates that our Mission and Vision is financially achievable with the appropriate allocation of resources by LAJF and a real commitment to reducing overhead expenses that the current Board of Directors leadership has not permitted. The current and on-going expenditures on year round staff and overhead is not responsible or sustainable.