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Visioning 2014: Looking Back, Planning Forward

The past few years have been a challenge for KEC. Camper demographics are changing and we are struggling to compete with an increasingly diverse and specialized camp market. Our rental market is growing, but has created new policy, staffing, and facility challenges. The congregations of the Red Deer Presbytery continue to support us generously, but they are also struggling. In September 2013 the Board of Directors decided it was time to revisit our goals. Through a one-year visioning process we hope to gather data that will help us make informed decisions about site development, programming, policies, and marketing. On November 9, 2013, the KEC Board gathered at camp with a diversity of stakeholders: alumni, campers and parents, staff, rental groups, and congregation members for Visioning Day. Over 40 people gathered for presentations, brain-storming sessions, and open discussion about what needs to change at KEC. An online survey was also available for those who couldnt attend. This spring we are using the ideas and data gathered from our Visioning day to guide us in setting new 1-3, 5, and 10-year goals. Our mission will remain the same: to model a Christian lifestyle in an outdoor setting within a community that promotes outreach, spiritual awareness, personal growth, and harmonious living. However, we are ready to take new approaches through a data-driven and stakeholder-informed process.

Rental Profile: A Ladies Retreat 26 ladies enjoyed the long weekend in February. Beautiful weather, good friends, and food made for a perfect get away from their usually hectic lives. Since February, 2008 this group has been coming out to camp twice a year for what we loosely call a crafting weekend. Janet Ball, board member from Trochu/Elnora Pastoral Charge originally started the weekend with a group of family and friends that enjoyed crafting and spending time together. Over the years, friends brought friends, and the retreat has grown to a crowd of around 30. This year, four generations of Janets family were in attendance Janets mom Mabel Baker, sister Judy Morris, niece Charlene Nunemaker, and great-niece Paige Nunemaker.

www.kasotaeastcamp.org info@kasotaeastcamp.org

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KEC REVAMPED! Our camp is undergoing many updates that will expand its

potential as a program, rental, and retreat space

New Shingles We have secured most of the funding required for re-shingling Ross Lodge via a grant from the United Church Mission and Service Fund. Proceeds from the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast at Sunnybrook United were also donated to this project. This winter was very hard on the eaves trough and it will have to be replaced so additional funding is welcome.

Basement Development We have secured a $50,000.00 loan from ANWC to begin the completion of the basement in Ross Lodge. This work will consist of installing the roughed in plumbing for the washrooms and showers, water lines for in floor heating, and necessary mechanical equipment to heat the floors, and the pouring of the floors. Window openings for the basement have been cut for some time and we have received a corporate donation for the windows themselves. (Name of the corporation will be made public at a later date). Work is expected to begin in mid October 2014.

Kitchen Renovations On March 8, what started as a work bee to install puckboard behind the utility area in the Ross Lodge kitchen became a major facelift for the kitchen, entry, hallway and bathroom, and even to the main room, when a dozen volunteers showed up to help.

Headed up by Vern Lowe, Leo Quaife, and Brian Godlonton from the camp property committee, Ross Lodge was a beehive of activity. While Charlie Ball and Brian Godlonton were cutting and installing the water and wear resistant wall coverings to the walls in the kitchen, many others were busy washing walls and ceilings, patching and sanding in preparation for painting.

On March 15 and 16 the facelift continued. Madeline Hendrickson provided lunch for coffee breaks to our hard workers. Lindsey Tatarnic, Murray Marsh, Joyce & Leo Quaife, Vern & Alana Lowe, Brian Godlonton, and Janet Burghardt-Moore worked long hours to apply the two coats of paint. Volunteers put in a total of 168 hours to complete this

New Bathroom Greg and Brenda Reid have generously donated new bathroom fixtures for Reid House. These need to be installed prior to June 1st. If you have some handyman skills, and can help with this project, please contact Vern Lowe 403-343-3285.

Top: Leo Quaife painting & the amazing results in Ross Lodge. Bottom: Brian Godlonton clearing snow, and Reid House.

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Fundraising & Promotions

Hundred Times A Success! Last April KEC unveiled our first primarily online fundraising campaign. For the Hundredx100 project, we took a big goal- raising $10,000- and broke it into 100 smaller steps. Through Facebook, a mail campaign, and congregation appearances, we asked individuals and business owners to make $100 donations toward our goal. We used a bare tree to mark our progress on the camp website. Every time a donation was made, we added another leaf to our money tree. The tree grew rapidly; by December 31 we had achieved 108% of our goal! Over half of the donations received were from new donors or people who hadnt donate in the previous years. The money raised will be split between supporting our summer program and maintaining camp facilities. The generous donors are posted on our website and will receive a letter of thanks in the mail. Thank-you! Hundredx100 is proof that great things come one step at a time.

Nuts & Bolts of Summer Fun Megan Anderson and her crew of Christmas elves (board members) were busy through the Christmas season mixing, baking, and selling 3 different varieties of Nuts & Bolts at congregations and Christmas markets throughout Red Deer Presbytery. The Sylvan Lake Christmas Market, and Red Deer Christmas Bazaar were highlights. Over $1200 was raised.

Winterfest This is the second year that KEC has hosted a booth at Sylvan Lakes Winterfest. On Feburary 15, Deb Marsh and Janet Burghardt-Moore handed out postcards and promoted a draw for a free week at camp.

Shamrock Breakfast Sunnybrook United celebrated St. Patricks Day with a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and green eggs! $425 was raised and donated to help shingle Ross Lodge.

Cow Patti Theatre On April 25, 125 guests attended the Cow Patti presentation of the golf comedy "The Foursome" at the Lacombe Golf and Country Club. Guests enjoyed a delicious brunch and dessert prior to the theatre production. 12 Silent Auction Baskets were bid upon raising $810 including a $40 donation. Of the 125 seats, KEC sold 96. We received $10 from each seat sold and made an additional $960. Two more donations have recently been received for this event in the amount of $190. This brings our total raised to $2000!! Cow Patti Theatre supported six businesses this year, and as one, we will be receiving an additional amount once everything is tallied up. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to Cow Patti Theatre and the Lacombe Golf and Country Club for this opportunity.

Left: Megan Anderson at the Red Deer Christmas Bazaar. Centre: Elena Sponholz-Jickling helping mom prepare nuts and bolts. Right: Vern Lowe helping at the Shamrock Breakfast. Bottom: Silent auction prizes Cow Patti Theatre.

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1) Isabel Wymann 2) Angela Wymann Richter 3) Chris Liddle 4) Doug & Moira Milne 5) Christina Wymann 6) Dr. Tammy Dunbar, Portage Veterinary Hospital 7) Dr. Peter Lawson, Lacombe Veterinary Centre 8) Destin Skauge 9-10) Tony & Edie, Biggelaar Builders 11) Veronica Whitbread 12) Leslie & AL Collins 13) Mary Turner 14) Tim & Moira Ellen, Smiths Cylinder Service 15) Michelle Volkart 16) Gayle Burkholder 17) Jonathan Rose 18) Rita Pizzey 19) Cameron Wright 20) Lawrence Aimoe 21) Carol Howe 22) Marianne Slomp 23) Jean Schmidt 24) Maxine Hughes 25) Shona Sponholz 26) Betty Clarke 27) Betty Quantz 28) Wayne Dresser 29) Iris Dresser 30) Innisfail Church 31) Margaret Richards 32) James & Grace Balkwill 33) Lily Campbell 34) Judy Morris & Family 35) Isabel Whyte

36) Donna Nowle 37) Margaret Williams 38) Leslie Broks 39) Michael Nowle 40) Cindy & Lawrence Aimoe 41) Lucas Aimoe 42) Dennis Hueppelsheuser 43) Linda Hueppelsheuser 44) Al-Terra Engineering 45) Martin & Linda Broks 46-50) Bruce & Joy Ing 51) Earl & Penny Giebelhaus 52-53) K.M. Winterhalt 54) Anne Stojke 55) Inga Owens 56) Katherine Gall 57) Terry Souveny 58) Doug Maas & Laurie Stafford- Maas 59) Lorrie & Clark Jantzie 60) Myrtle Pallister 61) Lorna Aimoe 62) Deborah Neufeld 63) Christine Kawamura 64) Fay Kapjek 65) Joan Howes 66) John & Marg Geisler 67) Daphne Walroth 68) Doreen Bills 69-70) Les & Marg Markham 71-72) Jim & June Lore

71-72) Jim & June Lore 73) Jean Jickling 74) Faye Hibbs 75) Kathleen Reid 76) Dawn Nawrot 77) B & F Hughes 78-87) Huxley UCW 88) Catherine Rispler 89) Lenora Thomas 90) G. Jickling & A. Sponholz 91) Sunnybrook UCW 92-101) Gaetz UCW 102) Good Limousin 103) Shirley Thomas 104) Dorothy Hrynuik 105) Mary Shaw 106) Elsie Garson 107) Fay Dudley 108) V & G Chocholacek

suMmER pRogRAMs Longtime KECers will notice some major changes to our summer programming this summer. We have revised our summer schedule and pricing scheme based on feedback we received through phase 1 of our Visioning Process. The result is a straightforward system of camper fees, and weeks that accommodate a broader range of campers.

Register Today! Summer Programs 2014 A B K-Day (6-9yrs) July 3 $50 - K1 Junior Camp (8-12yrs) July 6-11 $330 $450 K2 Teen Week (12-14yrs) July 13-18 $330 $450 K Weekend for Congregations & Community July 18-20 Youth $25 Adult $50

K3 Family Camp (All Ages) July 20-25 Youth $160 Adult $220 K4 Junior Camp (8-12yrs) Jul 27 - Aug 1 $330 $450 K5 Primary Camp (6-9yrs) August 5-8 $280 $400 K6 Junior+ Camp (8-14yrs) August 10-15 $330 $450 CIT Counselor-in-Training (15+ yrs) 2 Week Program

Jul 27 - Aug 1 August 4-8

$360 $480

PRICING OPTION A This is our bottom line camping rate. Option A prices are not eligible for further discounts. PRICING OPTION B & EARLY BIRD PROMO Pricing option B better reflects the cost of operating and maintaining camp. This option includes a $120 tax receipt. Register before May 15 and save $50! FAMILY CAMP, K-WEEKEND, & K-DAY These camps feature subsidized rates and are not eligible for further discounts. If a camper attends K-Day and then decides to attend a full week of camp, we will apply a $25 credit.