Who represents saveCRS (17 replies and 14 comments)
I fully support Save CRS and its statements to date. Furthermore, I have been personally contacted by J.C. Calderon in advance of the release of every single statement asking me whether Save CRS can continue to use my name in support. So when my name is on that list, rest assured that it represents my opinions.
Both the tone and the insinuations in Pats message at the beginning of this thread are deplorable.
It is such a shame that two people who are almost the same age cannot find common ground. Pat and J.C. were born in 1965 shortly before my second year at camp.
While J.C. has worked tirelessly to inform and engage so many alumnae in order to reopen Red Hook, Pat and the BOD more or less presented the New Dawn as a fait accompli without much involvement of the broader alumni base.
I wonder why Pat persistently attempts to belittle the Save CRS group of alumnae. Nor can I understand the continued attempts to divide and conquer the "opposition" by refusing to engage the group but willingly discuss with individual alumnae. Ultimately, neither strategy is pretty.
Why is it so difficult to let the authorities do an objective safety check of the facilities at Red Hook? The $150 would be well spent.
Why is the SaveCRS group called a cohort? Are we part of a medical experiment? If so, where is the control group?
Eric Brown
CRS 1964-65
just because words are interesting ;
co·hort
ˈkōˌhôrt/
noun: cohort; plural noun: cohorts
1. an ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries, equal to one tenth of a legion. synonyms: unit, force, corps, division, brigade, battalion, regiment, squadron, company, troop, contingent, legion,
"a Roman army cohort"
2. a group of people banded together or treated as a group.
"a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation"
« six centuries ».....saveCRS being >600, or one tenth of the (almost « legion ») 5800+ alumni?
maybe no insult intended-
maybe a pretty apt choice of words ?
maybe « cohort » is a compliment !
I am not actually a member of SAVECRS, I am just one alumna, speaking only for myself, deeply dissppointed to see anyone in our alumni community being treated with derision or contempt. In the past eight months, while trying to learn from a range of perspectives on the challenges facing Rising Sun, I owe thanks to multiple board members and several people involved with SAVECRS who took some time to speak with me. One board member said « What Rising Sun needs is not less of JC Calderon, but more JC Claderons », Noting that if more alumni were as involved as JC, CRS would be in much less trouble. This board member sincerely appreciated the passion, leadership, time, and hard work JC has dedicated to bringing people together and working with others in concern for Rising Sun. Even if that board member and JC were working for different or opposing solutions at the time. .
Improving communication can't happen if we're simultaneously building up contemptful and dehumanizing conversations about each other behind each others backs. We are not improving communication, even with our carefully worded, polite phrases, if we use them to make intentionally hurtful remarks.
The one thing we have in common= a shared early experience learning to effectively function in a group with empathy and understanding. The tendency to try to make people look stupid in front of each other in CRS forums makes me super sad. For every point scored in combattive online verbal pingpong, how many silent alumni in the middle are tempted to give up hope and leave the conversation ?
There are several thousand alumni who are not on the LAJF Board of Directors and who are not part of SAVECRS, We see how people treat each other, and note that on some level how you treat anyone is how you treat everyone. Saying again to both « sides » and all of us between, we've got to communicate and solve our problems with respect and integrity, if not, what is the mission of CRS we claim to want to make sustainable ? What is the CRS we hope to to save ?
Lets keep talking! Its possible to make really strong points without using them to spear each other !
With appreciation for everyone's continued attention and engagement –
Hoping our forums serve to help us better understand each other and build solutions instead of tearing each other down…………………...
Annalisa
Go to "Add comment" if you want to add your name to this letter and comment:
This May 14, 2015 letter sent to the Board with no response as of June 4, 2015 has been signed by the following Alumni of Camp Rising Sun:
From: Save CRS
Date: Thu, May 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM
Subject: Our Commitment
Attn: To all members of the Board of Directors, Emeritus Board members, Members Advisory Council members & Staff of the Louis August Jonas Foundation, Inc. (LAJF)
Dear Patrick,
Thanks for your clarification that you would want $1.5 million pledged by September for the next three years in addition to Seth Frank's recent unprecedented offer of $750,000 before agreeing to open Red Hook. While SaveCRS is unanimously prepared to support you publicly, privately, financially and voluntarily when you announce that Red Hook will reopen in 2016, we both know that requiring us to commit $1.5 million is unreasonable in such a short period of time. We would also need to reach an agreement on the use of these funds. Nevertheless, we trust your offer is sincere and our supporters are willing to work hard on your behalf when you choose to reopen Red Hook for the 2016 season. We are prepared to provide substantial additional financial support to Seth Frank's enormous financial offer which, in and of itself, would permit Red Hook to reopen in 2016.
We want to remind you that 664 alumni and friends endorsed our highly critical Petition, Declaration or both and that we only contacted about half of the reported 5,884 alumni. As you know, your data base only contains about 3,000 alumni email addresses. When you announce the decision to reopen Red Hook and accept Seth Frank's magnanimous donation, we are prepared to reach out to all 5,884 alumni, with your help, and ask for their financial support. This is our commitment to you.
You also recently publicly characterized the Red Hook camp as having "unsafe conditions." As a licensed and registered architect in New York State for 18 years, I want to caution you that a "safe" condition is not open to anyone's interpretation nor is it an idiosyncratic term. There are legal thresholds which define the health, safety and welfare of buildings and their inhabitants. In my professional opinion, Red Hook meets and exceeds the standards for a summer camp and is safe to open in 2016 and beyond. Red Hook can reopen with a concomitant commitment to improve the buildings and grounds. But there is no physical basis for its continued closure.
The only honest and objective way to corroborate your claim of "unsafe conditions" or to dispute mine, would be for the LAJF to contact the building officials at the Town of Red Hook Building & Zoning Department and request an inspection. Here is their contact information:
Town of Red Hook Building & Zoning Department:
7340 South Broadway
Red Hook, NY 12571
Robert Fennell, Building Inspector, [email protected]
Steven Cole, Code Enforcement Officer, [email protected]
Town Offices
9am - 4pm
Monday - Friday
Hours are subject to change
845-758-4623 or 845-758-4603
845-758-9018
http://www.redhook.org/TownDepartments/BldgZoning.html
These officials are ready, willing and able to make a prompt inspection and report on the conditions of the buildings of the Red Hook campsite, within a time frame of about two weeks and at a nominal cost of $150. This is the preferred alternative to a non-official report from within or outside LAJF, as it will provide authenticity, objectivity, official professionalism and credibility to the CRS Community.
As the Building & Zoning Department requires an invitation from the property owner to make the inspection and report, we respectfully propose that the Board of Directors call the Building Dept. today, confirm to us that you have and share the report with us and the CRS Community. We are prepared to share with LAJF, if you wish, the cost of the inspection and report. Please inform us promptly of your response to this request. A decision to request an independent inspection from the Town of Red Hook will ensure the alumni community that the Board truly seeks an objective review of the current conditions at the camp.
In full disclosure, we have already requested past reports from the Building & Zoning and Health Departments. All 32 reports from the Department of Health from the last 3 years are now available on the SaveCRS website where you will note there were no DOH violations issued for the "Children's Camp" "Swimming Pool" or "Food Service Establishment" inspections and only 1 out of 14 items for the 2012 "Water System" inspection was in violation but subsequently remedied. There were no "Water System" violations in 2013 or 2014. You can review these reports, as well as the June 21, 2014 B&G Site Visit Report completed prior to the New Dawn announcement, here:
http://www.savecrs.org/more-information/
In the interest of full transparency and in response to the Board's decision, we may share this information with as many alumni as possible for the benefit of the entire CRS Community. We will applaud your decision if you choose to contact the Building Department.
We trust and hope that you will think carefully before moving forward with co-location, rejecting $750,000 as well as the donations of a unified alumni body, and denying the opportunity for a credible independent report all of which could help you preserve the mission of Camp Rising Sun as it has existed for 85 years. To reiterate, we are firmly committed to preserve that mission and will continue to work towards that goal.
We look forward to the Board's response.
Sincerely,
J.C. Calderón, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Shared on behalf of the SaveCRS Group of Concerned Alumni & Friends
CRS '81, '82, '84K
Buildings & Grounds Committee 1980s - 2014
Buildings & Grounds Committee Chair 2012-2014
Calderon Architecture & Design
5 Cliff Street
Beacon, NY 12508
(work) 845-504-3706 (cell) 917-459-0542
http://www.calderonarchitecture.com
Certified NYS ESD MBE
Jerry Wong
CRS '81, Selection 90s, 00s, 10s
Peter Wong
CRS '71, '72
Dick van der Wateren
CRS '64
Robin Tung
CRS '81
John Tumino
CRS ’81, ‘82, former LAJF Board Member BOD '92 - '97
Benjamin T. Suratt, MD
CRS ’81, ‘82
Rubin Spann
CRS '81
Nicholas Skipitaris, MD
CRS '80
Steve Shirk
CRS '57-58
Matt Shaw
CRS '04, '05, '10-'13C, Program Committee current
Noel Selegzi
CRS ’81, ‘82
Mark Seader
CRS '56, '57, Former B&G Committee Member
Robert Sarlls
CRS ’78, ‘79, former LAJF Board Member early 1990s
Hadi Salehi Esfahani
CRS ‘70
Martin Rybczynski
CRS '79
Rick Rodgers
CRS Caretaker Red Hook, 2002-2005; Member Building and Grounds 2002-2014
Johnny Reinhard
CRS '79-81 music counselor, '88 program director, '93-'95 Clinton music counselor, visiting counselor/resident both camps multiple years, '07 RH music counselor, '08 C music counselor
Jackie Ramos
CRS Counselor ’91, ’92
Stephen G. Racioppo
CRS '68, former LAJF Board Member BOD ~1997-’02
Sebastion "Sam" Pugliese
CRS '80
Christopher Pratt
CRS '84
Jeff Orlowski
CRS '99, '00, '02, '06
Juan Pablo Ordonez
CRS '14
Irwin Nydick
CRS ’39, ’40, ’41, ’42, counselor, LAJF Board member, MAC member, many years of various committees work
Ilya Novofastovsky, Esq.
CRS '89 '90
Jeetu Nanda
CRS '81
Manou Georgila Myrsini
CRS '14, camper
Magdalena Musiala
CRS '95, '96, '99C, '01C, '04C, '05ACD, '06CD, '07CD, '08CD
Panu-Ilari Mikkola
CRS '95
Bruce McClennan MD
CRS '56, '57
Jude Martini
CRS '83, '84
Slawek Magala
CRS '66,'74C ,'78C,'80C
Paul Lombardi, MD
CRS '81, '82
Socrates Litsios
CRS ‘51, ’52
John Litsios
CRS '35, '36, '37, '38, '46 CD, former Board member, former B&G Chair & member & 1946 Camp Director
Fred E.J. Linton
CRS '53
Ted Lewis (Rexin)
CRS '80, '81
David Leveson
CRS '49
Ann Marie Lee
CRS '92,'93,'94, '99c, BOD alumna
Liz Lee
CRS '95, '96
Mats Kleivane
CRS '01, '02, '11C
Jim Ketchum
CRS '45, '46, '47
Scott Kaye
CRS ‘91, ‘92, ‘97C, ‘11 volunteer
Rob Kaplan
CRS '57
Menahem Kanafi (Chuck Kane)
CRS '81
Jyrki Kallio
CRS '80 Finland, 87C, 01C/R, 02VIS-C/E, 03VIS-C/R, 04–05PD/R, 10–11VIS-C/R, Program Committee member 2002–07, CRS International Assistance Team Chair 2003–04
Jan Ingemansen
CRS 83, 92-94C, 95-06ACD, 98C, 2001ACD, 2004CD
David Hérault
CRS Camper 89
Ambassador Ulric (Rick) Haynes, Jr.
CRS '47 and '48. As a Counselor, Co-Camp Director, and Camp Director in the 1950's and twice a member of the LAJF Board in the 1960's and 1970's
Cyrille Hanappe
CRS ‘85, French Selection Committee
Brendan Glynn
CRS '80, '81
Eddie Ginsburg
CRS '52, '53C; LAJF Board member late 1950s
Alejandro (Alex) Garcia-Osuna Polanco
CRS '89, '90
Seth Frank
CRS '48 & '49 Camper, 1980's Director, Director Emeritus
Marc Filerman
CRS '81, '82
Stuart Falk
CRS '45, '46, '47
Gideon Evans
CRS '87, '88
Sandi DuBowski
CRS '86-'87
Bruce Douglas
CRS '40,'41,'42
Sanat Dixit, MD
CRS ’84, ‘85
David "Brush" Dinneen
CRS '46,'47','48, Counselor '52
Louk de la Rive
CRS '60; '64C
Paul Crowson
CRS '78
Pete Comas
CRS '89
Orlando Colon
CRS '80, '81
Jonathan Cole, Ph.D.
CRS '68
Andrew Clateman
CRS '81
Francis Chen
CRS '44-'46
Laura Cerone
CRS ’89, ‘90
Andre Campbell, MD
CRS ’72-73 LAJF Board Member 1989-2000
John (J.C.) Calderón
CRS '81, '82, '84K, Buildings & Grounds Committee Chair 2012-‘14, B&G Committee 1980s-2014, Selection Committee 1990s -2000s
Tonya Buckler
CRS '97C, '98, '99, '00, '01 Clinton ACD, '03 Head Chef & '07 Camp Director
Eric Brown
CRS '64, '65
Mel Brender
CRS ’61, ‘62
Justin Brasch
CRS '80, '81,LAJF Board Member 1990s
Sam Beltran
CRS '80 '81
Alan Bell
CRS 1958, guest counselor 83
Eric Beckman
CRS '81, '82
Stephen Bang
CRS '65,'66, '77-'79 Caretaker, '80-'82 Construction Counselor and Maintenance Director, a few years on Program Committee & decades on Buildings and Grounds committee
Eli Attie
CRS '82 '83
Chris Arzt
CRS '82 '83
Darren Aronoskfy
CRS '84
Douglas Ammerman, MD
CRS '96
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: O'Malley, Patrick
Subject: Re: Thanks
To: "J.C. Calderon"
Hi JC,
Agree it was a productive meeting. 2 sites in 2016 is possible, but it will require more substantive financial commitment to infrastructure needs than is currently on the table. Seth has put up an offer of 750K over 3 years. Can we get saveCRS to match that 2 fold in order to get to a 2 site program (2.25m total), as we commit to continue to be frugal with budget (Noel and Larry are on this like a wet suit)? Its time to put up in a committed way. My preference, honestly, is the traditional 2 site program, but we need to contribute financially to make it happen, and not continue to kick the can down the road. Without the financial basis, we will not be able to open in 2016, and will be forced to work a co-located option. The SPC is struggling with these issues now (which the alumni community will be allowed to weigh in on soon). Having a strong financial commitment to the open in 2016 option will certainly influence that decision.
Warm regards,
Pat
On Sat, Apr 25, 2015 at 9:09 AM, J.C. Calderon
Dear Patrick,
Thank you for meeting with us. We all thought it was productive. Please consider the following:
Please give alumni another chance to understand and develop a new culture of giving that we all agree is needed, open 2016 to operate normally & in the traditional manner but this time with all hands on deck. You will have the support of everyone in our meeting, and that of all of our supporters and Seth as well. We will work with you to make Seth's latest offer happen in a way that is acceptable to you. We will need a feasible goal but Darren as well as everyone in the meeting will go to bat for you. Help us help you restore the chance that alumni will begin to buy into a new culture, a reset button regarding their relationship with CRS -- and buy more time -- by operating 2016 normally, with minimal cap ex (Willy), while making the message to the alumni very clear: "We need your help now, or camp will never be the same" i.e. 2017 will not be guaranteed to be the same. We will work hand in hand with the BOD and CRSNYAA and every other alumni organization on fundraising and on this new culture of giving.
But we ask you to bring 2016 back on two sites and give you our word that all hands will be on deck. Please think about it more. Thank you again.
Sincerely yours,
J.C.
Andrea Fontemaggi CRS 1986 supporting the request for an inspection by the building officials of the Town of Red Hook Building & Zoning Department
OK, lets do it. Enough talk. The stage is set....
Based on the idea that the money will go to camp under the condition that RH stays open and that the supposed costs are '500k' and the gift is '750k' over three years....I see little loss in accepting the money, but a substantial change in camp (and a large risk in it's ultimate success) by declining the money. As a camp alumni, I fully support JC's views and would urge the BOD to accept the very generous offer.
If "buying time" to right the ship of LAJF is needed, what at all is wrong with accepting one of the single largest donations in CRS history to fund operating expenses for a couple of years to run proper camps and give us the runway for ALL of us to raise $$$ to build up the endowment and insure the right funding and structure of LAJF to run both camps?
Just wanted to share my email response to J.C.
I respect what you are doing, although I'm not at all opposed to a co-ed program. CRS already welcomes different sexual and gender orientations. I not only believe that co-location makes sense, I'd merge the camps.
Still, the board should listen to the will of the alumni as a whole, and in that, you have my support.
All the best,
Jason Rosenfeld
'86 and '87
Jason I respect your personal opinion and appreciate your acceding to the will of the alumni, which has yet to be fully embraced by the BOD
Quick question - if we go coed (a) how are we different than most other summer programs and (b) how are we best transmitting leadership and personal development and solid group dynamics while hormones are flowing in both sexes? I can assure you that many campers would get much less out of camp with the near constant distraction by the opposite sex
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Aliki Perroti
Date: Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 10:36 PM
Subject: Re: Our View from Camp Rising Sun's Tent Hill: A Ray of Hope
To: SaveCRS Group of Concerned Alumni & Friends
Your letter of June 4th is a persuasively reasoned, sound and
sober assessment and forward looking projection of the future
of CRS, with a concludingly poignant photo of Freddie, with a
tear in his eye, reminiscent of the Native American who had
one when he surveyed the desecrated environment. Freddie's,
for me -- and I suspect for you -- is a metaphor for the so-called
New Dawn and the effect it will have on Camp Rising Sun.
I believe it would be appropriate to set forth the text of my
proposal so the entire CRS Community can see just what
it is. That will prevent it from being twisted and distorted.
It was accurately quoted by Noel Selegzi in his email of June 2nd.
I hope your letter will generate further support for the effort
to Save Camp Rising Sun.
With my best wishes,
Seth Frank '48 & '49
Sent from my iPad
From: Aliki Perroti [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 12:18 PM
To: Selegzi, Noel
Subject: Re: Your Gift
Dear Noel,
Thanks for your email and all your ongoing efforts.
If, as and when there is a board commitment to reopen RH in 2016
for a traditional boys camp single gender seven week season, I am
prepared to transfer $100,000 to the RH rehab and maintenance fund
(with any unused portion to revert irrevocably to the GEJ Scholarship
Fund if, as and when RH ceases to be used as a boys camp summer
facility) and additionally to provide $100,000 for each separate camp
operation for three years, so long as they function in the traditional
seven week seasons, and an additional $50,000 for special needs.
Mindful of my lack of immortality, I am prepared to create a trust fund
with a colleague(s) of mine, as Trustees, to administer the fund in the
event I am not around.
Best,
Seth
Sent from my iPad
Folks,
An email was sent out on behalf of "saveCRS" by JC but its not clear who represents the broader saveCRS cohort. Is this just JC spewing JC? Or is it a message that was vetted with all who identify with the saveCRS community? Its hard to tell. The email was projecting that it was representing >600 alums, but is that true? Its odd that the message was not even posted here. Trying to get clarity on the fidelity of the saveCRS communications.
Best,
Pat