Board of Directors Archives - Bethany Birches Camp

Posts Tagged ‘Board of Directors’

Board Spotlight: Looking Back

They say that “time flies when you’re having fun.” It’s hard to believe that in just a few months, I will have completed nine years on the Board of Directors. In some ways, it feels like I was much younger when I joined, and in other ways it seems like last week.

Some words that come to mind when thinking about board work, and the directors in general. Passion, integrity, resilience, thoughtfulness, intentionality, team-work, kindness, etc. Assuming the role of board chair stretched me as a leader, but this group of board members, who are so passionate about Bethany Birches Camp and its ministry, made it a privilege to serve in this role. I made mistakes along the way but was given much grace as I grew into my role.

A few years ago, several board members and I attended a conference called Thriving Boards. This conference was the gold standard for everything board related; like how to conduct a meeting, make agendas, take minutes, call for a vote, create a board policy manual, create an executive director contingency plan, fundraising, budgeting, donor relations, and much more.

It was an intense three days, full of training sessions and fellowship with other camp leaders. But the biggest takeaway was the importance of boards focusing on governance. We can get sidetracked at times, like deciding the paint color of a bathroom, or where to buy a new lawn mower. Now we feel comfortable saying “stop, this isn’t governance”, and move on to more important things.

The board has done a great job of focusing our time on the governance of camp, adhering to the bylaws, supporting (and trusting) those in other positions to do their jobs well, and empowering our Director to run camp to the best of his ability. It has been neat to see the transition.

Some of our greatest (and time consuming) accomplishments over the past few years have been the redrafting of the bylaws, the completion of a board policy manual, the review of camp’s compensation schedule, and navigating a global pandemic. In short, BBC was one of the only camps in Vermont that remained open in 2020, because we felt strongly about finding any way possible to fulfill our mission.

As I leave the board in good hands, my prayer is that there will continue to be a constituency of camp supporters that will willingly volunteer and engage in the governance and oversight of this wonderful place called Bethany Birches Camp.

~ Chad Yoder, outgoing board chair

Board Spotlight: Body of Christ and Recruitment

I first came to Bethany Birches Camp in the spring of 2015. Amber (Cheeks) Bergey who was running the program had recently found out she was expecting their first child that summer, so Brandon asked me to help by jumping in as Program Director. I ended up staying for an additional three summers and falling in love with the camp and its mission. However, I also desperately missed my family in Pennsylvania and didn’t enjoy wading through two feet of snow just to get to work many months out of the year. So eventually my wife and I moved back to Pennsylvania where we now reside with our one-year-old son. When the board reached out to me about joining I was ecstatic. As I said, I love the mission and vision of the camp but wasn’t able to support the work of the camp in person. Joining board meetings over Zoom and periodically meeting in person seem like a great way to support BBC while also providing a unique perspective to the board because of my hands-on summer and winter camp experiences.

So far I’ve been incredibly honored to be part of a group willing to donate so freely of their time and skills to further the camp’s mission. In so many ways this small group represents what Paul talked about when he described the Body of Christ. Each one of us has our own experiences and skills that we bring to the table. Some have been on boards before, for some this is their first time. Some have extensive experience working with finances, others can provide well established opinions on construction projects. No one of us alone can do it all, but together we’re honored to provide leadership for the camp and are excited to see Bethany Birches grow. I’m one of a few members on the Board Development Committee. We’re always looking for great people to join the board. As I mentioned above, you don’t need to have board experience. For many of us, our love of BBC is the main reason we joined the board. If you or someone you know would be a great addition to our team please let us know! You can email [email protected] and we’ll follow up with you.

~ Dan “Chick” Laubach

Board Spotlight

Bethany Birches Camp manages to combine the very best of the old and the new. At the end of October, BBC hosted the Camp Association Annual Meeting, held for the first time ever on Zoom. While we could not gather together for the traditional potluck supper, as the Association has for many years, we could meet, talk, and conduct business safely. Conducting the Annual Meeting via Zoom also allowed seven out-of-staters to participate without traveling. At this meeting the Association approved two new members of the Board of Directors. Margaret “Batman” Campbell, Lebanon, New Hampshire and Maxwell “Nye” Halik, Wakefield, Massachusetts, who both have had a long affiliation with the camp. At a subsequent meeting of the Board, Max was approved for a one-year term as Vice President and Margaret was approved for a one-year term as Board Secretary.

Margaret first visited BBC in 2005 to participate in a Women’s Retreat. A year later she began regular volunteer work in the camp office which continued until late summer 2015 when she moved from Vermont to New Hampshire. During that time Margaret helped with mailings, camper registrations, paying bills and making bank deposits, as well as other duties. One of Margaret’s particular interests has always been the Kids to Camp Fund which provides assistance to campers when a family cannot afford to pay the entire cost of attendance. You can give any time to that fund at www.bethanybirches.org/give.

Max was first introduced to camp by his friend Taylor in 2007. Max was apparently taken in by Camp’s combination of silliness, laughter, truth and “Mission Impossible.” Since he was 14 years old, Max has figured out how to return to Camp every year. First, he came as a camper, eventually worked as a counselor, and in 2015, Max served as Assistant Program Director. Of particular importance to Max was how the Camp gave him a concrete model for living a life following Jesus. Serving as a staff member at BBC gave Max the opportunity to introduce young campers to the way of life he found so rich and fulfilling.

Joining the Board of Directors in late Spring of this year “felt like a full court press,” Margaret said. “We had frequent meetings during spring and early summer trying to help the camp staff develop plans to safely hold camp in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. At the outset it seemed impossible,” she said but in the end, it worked and camp sessions were held safely. “I’m excited about working on the Board with others who are committed to providing quality, caring, nurturing programs for youngsters that will introduce them to a meaningful way of life.”

Max felt similarly swept along by the process of joining the Board during a time of pandemic preparation. “It was good to step in to assist Chad [Chad Yoder is the Board President] and the other board members, to feel useful especially for a summer where I knew I would not be able to come volunteer personally,” Max said. Asked about his thoughts on now officially being part of the Board and serving as Vice President, Max had this to say: “I’m really looking forward to contributing my hands-on experience with the day-to-day reality of counseling and running programs at BBC.” Max was on staff for many summers. “My hope is that this practical familiarity with the camp will help guide our strategy and to direct time and energy towards where the camp needs it.”

Max is excited to join the board and in his words, “Serving on the board after working at camp was something modeled for me by others serving BBC, such as Dave Ross. I’m so proud of our community, which demonstrates commitment to what we care about. I hope that other campers and counselors, former or current, will see that pattern, and think about how they could continue to help this camp which has given so much to us.”

There are so many within the Bethany Birches community that have long been active in providing financial support, volunteer time, avenues for camp publicity, camper and staff referrals and general encouragement and cheerleading. We need each of you! If you are not part of the association, you are encouraged to consider becoming members. If you’d like to talk about this possibility, please contact Brandon Bergey (Executive Director) or Chad Yoder (President of the Board of Directors).

~ Brandon “Tuna” Bergey, Margaret “Batman” Campbell, Max “Nye” Halik

Board Spotlight – Why I Care

I care deeply about Bethany Birches Camp. It all began 39 years ago, when I was 13 years old. My family had traveled to Vermont for a wedding and we were invited to the camp for a picnic the day after. My parents made connections with some former college friends who were associated with the camp and that summer we came up to help out for a week. I recall driving the old Ford tractor and “helping” Tim Farrar as he was building the new bathhouse. This was a dream come true for any kid. That week led to several more family trips to volunteer at camp and several other times when I came as a camper. After high school I returned as a counselor and then a year out of college, I again headed north to VT (from PA), this time for good. I spent the summer as assistant Program Director with the intention of staying in the area afterwards. That was 27 years ago…

Janet and I were married at BBC and our son Micah attended as a camper. I’ve been on the auction committee since its inception and am starting my second stint on the Board. I helped tear down the old pavilion and helped with certain aspects of the new Pavi. Camp is a part of me and always will be.

What draws me back again and again? What is it about this place that makes it impossible to stay away? The easiest answer to these questions is that I always sense God’s presence at camp. God is present in the people, the stillness, the chaos, the laughter, the firelight, the star-studded sky and in the fog coming off the pond on a cold Fall morning. Every time I’m at BBC I feel as if I have grown spiritually and personally.

The other thing that I am drawn to is our vision. It was once written like this by Brandon, our Executive Director: We want to continue building a community of love where no one is cast out. In this community, God’s reality is realized. Peace, love, justice, grace and compassion are central in our relationships. Life makes sense because the Creator of life is met and known. And what a wonderful Creator!

We envision a facility that enables relationships and communities to form. Our facility is natural, simple, and comfortable. Our vision includes program that is absolutely fun, educational and unique. In all we do, create and build, we point to God as Jesus did.

As the Board looks to the future, I am comforted that we are surrounded and supported by and made up of people who care deeply about the basic principles upon which we were founded. Our mission remains simply to help young people develop their relationship with God by providing them with a Christ-centered camping experience in a natural and nurturing environment.

~ Fred Schlabach, Board Vice President

BBC Board Spotlight

Summer and Winter Camps are the focus of Bethany Birches. A lot of people contribute to make camp happen. The BBC Board of Directors (BOD) is a group of 9 folks who think about the broader vision of BBC and where it’s heading into the future. Stacy Selbo is a member of the BOD. What follows are her reflections on how she got involved with BBC and what the Board is currently working on.

Our family moved to Vermont from Atlanta in 2004, and settled in Bridgewater in 2005. While we were active in our Atlanta church, our 3 boys also had meaningful, Christ-centered summer camp experiences from first grade until they could no longer be campers. We didn’t know what our Vermont experience would hold for our family spiritually, but shortly after being in the Woodstock, Bridgewater area, our youngest son had opportunities to visit Bethany Birches camp with the First Congregational Church of Woodstock Youth Group. We were thrilled to learn about this magical and special place just 15 minutes from our home!

Simultaneously, Amber (Cheeks) Bergey and I were involved in a women’s bible study with a small group from a variety of churches. It was a familiar connection and we stayed in touch. Then, I joined the Board in 2015.

The Board is active and meets throughout the year beginning with an annual retreat (January) to review and coordinate the direction of camp with Brandon. As a Board, our main focus is to consider the resourcefulness and sustainability of BBC, which continues to head in a very positive direction. Enrollment is up to nearly record attendance, thanks to proactive marketing and consistent fundraising. In 2017, BBC is debt free which is a remarkable accomplishment, with gratitude to Brandon for driving that goal.

While the Board continually reviews strategies, we are primarily focused and thoughtful about the spirituality that BBC represents and conveys to our campers – living the Mission.

I am especially thankful that an extraordinary camp like Bethany Birches exists here in the secular mountains of Vermont. What a special place for young people to learn about Christ!

2015 Annual Report and Meeting

Greetings BBC Supporters:

Each year in March, we have our Annual Association Meeting. The Association is the formal ownership group of the camp (being a non-profit, there are no financial benefits to ownership). FYI – anyone can join the association.

It’s a fun evening; sharing a meal, hearing from the staff and board directors and conferring together about important issues. This year the association had discussion around the camp’s core values.

You can listen to a good portion of the meeting right here.

The annual report can be found here. If you would like a copy mailed to you, let us know here at the camp office (802-672-5220).

It would be great to see you at next year’s meeting!

Brandon “Tuna” Bergey

Board Report

It is hard to believe that the holiday season is already fast approaching. It feels like it was just a few weeks ago that my husband and I were bringing our girls to camp for teen week; now we are planning for their return for the first Teen Connect weekend. Time moves quickly and with our Pavilion Project slated to break ground next August, the board has been busy overseeing preparations for this to happen on time. We are currently in the process of selecting a construction manager to coordinator the day-to-day activities of the project. As Bethany Birches moves forward on this major undertaking, the board is mindful of the need to do this with minimal impact on our ability to continue the main mission of the camp – providing all children with a place to find God. We are also well aware of the importance of the old pavilion in so many people’s lives. Plans are being considered for an event next summer to pay tribute to the building that has been an important part of BBC for so many years.

Having not been a camper at Bethany Birches as a child, I enjoy any chance I have to be a small part of summer activities. This past summer, I had the opportunity for a second year to assist with medication drop off during registration. It is amazing to see what a well-oiled machine BBC is when it comes to welcoming campers. It was fun to be there to watch the staff interacting with campers and each other. I understand why my daughters love to come to camp. It is also wonderful to see how my girls bring camp home with them. This summer, in fact, they took BBC abroad. My daughters, Katie and Annie, and their friend (and fellow BBC camper) Flossie traveled with me to Ethiopia. Bethany Birches traveled with us in many ways – music, stories, Dutch Blitz and, literally, the clothes on their backs. In each of their suitcases, there must have been at least 2-3 articles of clothing that came from BBC. All of these pieces of camp are literal reminders of the knowledge that God surrounds them and stays with them wherever they go.

Sandy Soho
Board Member