https://test-backlink-1.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-2.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-3.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-4.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-5.blogspot.com/ https://test-backlink-6.blogspot.com/
Wish List - Needs Archives - Bethany Birches Camp

Archive for the ‘Wish List – Needs’ Category

View from the dishpit

Today I was walking around the new pavi.  In part cause I had to do some shoveling in what will become the kitchen.  We still have snow in there from the big storm.  And now that room is getting closed in so we have to get the snow out!  Here is Gary Parker helping to shovel:

Stick Frame - Shoveling out the basement Gary Parker2

It occurred to me as I was shoveling that the folks doing dishes in the new dishpit will have this very view shown above.  How cool!

 

And then I realized that people would climb on the new climbing wall right here:

Stick Frame - Climbing Wall Sheathing

Then I started looking around for other future uses… here’s where campers will go up the stairs to see the nurse!

Stick Frame - looking up through stair well

I got so excited I just had to share this with you.  Speaking of excitement, it’s almost Christmas time.  If you’re still looking for a unique gift for someone, consider buying them a piece of the pavi! Honestly, you can do it right here: bethanybirches.org/shop/. This is the camp’s current wish list.  It will continue to grow.

Wishing you the very best Christmas, full of fun, relaxation and great food!

~ Tuna

Newsletter 2013: 5 Reasons to Attend the Annual Benefit Auction

Many people have been to the annual benefit auction here at Bethany Birches.  If you aren’t one of those persons, I wanted to give you 5 good reasons why you might enjoy the auction:

  1. A Mercedes Benz will be auctioned with NO reserve price, courtesy of Signal Aviation
  2. There will be free doughnuts and coffee during the preview (9 – 10 am)
  3. A snowmobile will be raffled from June 23-September 28 and the winner drawn that morning
  4. Be AT camp. From the view to the campers to a tasty, no-charge lunch, the auction is a good taste of classic BBC
  5. And of course, Sandy Alderfer (auctioneer) will entertain you with his wit and wisdom

For more information, visit the benefit auction page.

Tuna

PS – we’re looking for auction donations!

Fire Marshal Update: Call for help

It’s been about two months since the fire marshal’s visit. We continue to be thankful for the way their office is working with us and helping to make the building safer.

Here’s what’s happening this month (May):

  • Electricians are working on the smoke detection system
  • Egress windows being installed
  • Cutting trees for a neighbor to earn cash for the project ($5000!)
  • Stairways being upgraded (smoke proofed)
  • Exit from loft constructed
  • LOTS OF CLEANING afterward!
Will you join us?  Here are some ways to help:
  • Carpentry, building trades – May 21-June1.  We need at least 2 volunteers each day.
  • Cleaning – we’ll need help with this from June 4-8
  • Cooking – particularly things that can be frozen.  Baked goods too. We need some lunches for people working the last two weeks of May.
You can let us know when you’re available and what you can give by filling this form out.  Again, here are the dates:
May 12:                    Spring Workday – come one, come all!
May 21 – June 1: Carpentry and building help
June 4 – June 8: Cleanup and prep for summer
[gravityform id=”4″ name=”Cabin Help”]

 

Once we hit June, we hope to have occupancy.  We expect to begin a small addition project that will finish the requirements for the building.  But, because of time, we need to postpone that till August and the fire marshal has been gracious in helping us get a timeline that works.

Join me in praying and hoping for a fun-filled, safe, eternally impacting summer!

Tuna

April Monthly Contact

Each month, I write an email to some of Bethany Birches’ supporters.  The topics and content vary.  I share from my heart in these emails, about things that have happened at camp that I just love! A lot of times, I highlight something that one of our campers or staff has written or done.  And, what would a note to supporters be without updates and sharing of needs?!  Expect that too.  Here’s April’s update.

You can subscribe to this update if you’d like right here.

The latest need:

Fire Marshal Visit

This post is about a sad story.  It’s the story of the BBC Cabin the day the fire marshal came to visit.

Bruce and Jay were friendly and clear.  They have concerns about how quickly people could get out of the building in case of fire.  They gave us a conditional permit, which ends April 1, 2012!  After that, no one can sleep in the building until it’s amended to meet Vermont Life Safety Code.

How big of a deal can 8 violations really be?  Apparently a big enough deal to cost $20-$30K (un-detailed estimate) – YIKES!

So I tell the board.  They wisely came to the decision that now is not the time to upgrade the building as we hope to someday.  We must stay focused on the pavilion project.  We’re oh so close to beginning the fundraising effort for that.  So, the vote is that we amend the building as simply as possible in the least expensive way we can.

For those of you who are wondering about these violations, here’s the first draft of a punch list:

ViolationRemedyNotes
1.No Egress window main floor bedroomsInstall 1 egress windows in each of four bd. rms.Window to be 5.7 square feet
2.Stairwells out of code. upgrade wall material. install 20 min doors. install closure on door. upstairs build wall. 4 stairwells. drywall. doors
NoneAdd heating in loftNeed heating because of closure to lofts
3.No exits in loftsInstall exit door in each sided (2 total)Need exit stairway from floor to ground
4.loft ceilingInstall sheetrock
5. inadequate Co2 detectorsInstall hardwired Co2 with battery back-upRun wires with smoke detect system
6.No smoke detectors in basementInstall 2 smoke detectors in basementPart of total smoke detect overhaul
7. no emergency lightingInstall emergency lighting system
8. inadequate fire alarm systemInstall new fire alarm system with communicationsClarify what communications system is
NonePainting and other touchups related to construction

And so here we are.  We MUST do the above if we want to use the building this summer in program.  CAN YOU HELP US?  HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO HELP:

  • Give money!  Just the materials are going to cost over $10K (EDIT on 4/6/12 – materials will probably be closer to $30K!).  Send a check or give online here and give to general operations or where needed most.
  • Give time: we’ll need volunteers to do most of the work.  Consider getting a small crew of experienced people together and come up for a weekend.  A few experienced laborers can make a big dent in just two days.  Call the office or email Brandon.
  • Give material: perhaps you own or have influence in a supply chain that could get us sheet rock, lighting, paint, etc.  If it’s in the above list, we need it.

And so the story of an old camp, that’s doing the best it can, continues.

Something very interesting to me is the fact that I had a two hour emotional cycle after the fire marshal’s visit.  At first I was frustrated and annoyed.  Then, humility kicked in.  So often, when I receive correction, direction, instruction, if I am able to release my frustration, I begin to sense God at work.

God, join us in this endevor and in all of our endevors.  I pray that you will bring the resources and people needed to acomplish this change and that it will not distract from the bigger things ahead.

Pavilion Project: Survey Results

Recently, some of you (141 to be exact) filled out a survey to help us understand the support you have for this project.  The results were helpful and meaningful – thanks!  See the bottom of this post for more context on this project if you’re not sure what all this is about.

Some highlights from the survey results include:

  • Estimate that together you may support this project to the tune of $425,000 in cash
  • Estimate that together you may provide expense offsets to the tune of another $500,000
  • The project as it is conceptualized is well supported among you, specifically these ideas:
  • Additional rainy day space
  • Winter space that allows campers to get and stay warm during winter program
  • Ability for staff to do their jobs well, with less stress
  • The continuation of the pavilion concept (rather than a traditional building)
  • The possibility of a “Barn Raising” meaning, lots of opportunity for volunteer help and labor
  • Support for the current leadership, vision and mission of BBC
  • Diversity around the importance of “Green” construction
  • Diversity around the term rustic and just how rustic BBC ought to be and remain

The cost estimate for the total project including all related expenses and fundraising for normal operations is estimated to be between $1,600,000 and $1,800,000.  Bear in mind that there are many factors that go into these estimates and the project cost and the estimated revenue could change quickly depending on any of those factors.

So here we are.  At a cross roads.  How much faith do we put into these estimates?  How big of a problem is it that there is a $700,000 discrepancy between what is needed and what might be raised?

These are extremely tough questions to answer.  We know we don’t want a mortgage.  We know we need to move forward with this project.  We know God has done unusual things at BBC in the past.

We as a board are looking closely at whether we can overcome the perceived money gap by phasing the building from the outside-in.  If this is possible in a way that is desirable, we will be able to proceed.

———————————

A little context:

For years we’ve been planning toward a more sustainable Bethany Birches (BBC).  One that relies deeply on the wisdom and guidance of our gracious God.  And at the same time, a Bethany Birches that doesn’t need to raise quite so much money for annual support.  A BBC that understands deeply the heart of it’s ministry and is consistently able to find the right people to carry out the work of it’s mission.  And this is the ongoing lesson in humility – to do this work while at the same time recognizing God as the giver and sustainer.  It’s something we’ve been working out for over 47 years now.

Our planning and probing has revealed various things and sparked passionate conversation.  The immediate next step in our work is replacement of our program head-quarters… the Pavi!  It was the first building on site in 1966.  It was added on to in 1968.  The building has lived well and been used well.  It’s old, broken and in many ways can’t do what we’re asking it to do.  For more on the intentions of the project, see this post.

Wish List

Greetings.  Sometimes, supporters will ask what we hope for, what we need to do the work of Bethany Birches better.

Well, most of what we want isn’t what we need and most of what we need can’t be put on this list.  But, there are some tools and other things that will help us do our work better.  Some of these items will make our jobs easier.

If you are able to acquire, buy or otherwise gain for us, any of these things, we will be grateful! And, you can get tax benefit too.

THE LIST (right now)

  • Trail work – lots to do!
  • Benches for fireside sites – we need help on design and materials and install
  • Basketball court repair – $$
  • Large Generator – 15KW to 30KW – preferably PTO driven on 3 point hitch OR propane set in place
  • Pressure washer – ours broke
  • Tools – particularly ratchet set, wrenches, cordless drill
  • Paint brushes and other painting supplies
  • Ladders – step ladders 6′, 8′ or 10′ as well as extension ladders – 16’+
  • Wheel barrow (or two)
  • Logging/Farm winch for 3-point hitch attachment for a 30-40 horse tractor
  • Garden Hoses – flexible… rubber works best!
  • Large mower (52″ or 60″) – our 1970’s model Gravely is almost dead
  • Silage wrap – in large sheet (50×100) – for the ice rink!
  • Pond Beach Enlargement – Excavation services.  Eventually we need to dredge the pond also.
  • Director’s Residence – walkway from front porch to driveway
  • Volunteers during the summer
depo 25 bonus 25
https://tekniksipil.upi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/pkv/index.htm https://tekniksipil.upi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/bq/index.htm https://tekniksipil.upi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/dq/index.htm https://siapdok.id/wp-content/uploads/pkv/ https://siapdok.id/wp-content/uploads/bq/