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My own self, At my very best, All the time” · we find the moral courage to be upstanders, not...

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My own self, At my very best, All the time” 2016
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Page 1: My own self, At my very best, All the time” · we find the moral courage to be upstanders, not bystanders? In response, Marilyn began to talk of the things that link all of us,

“My own self, At my very best, All the time”

2016

Page 2: My own self, At my very best, All the time” · we find the moral courage to be upstanders, not bystanders? In response, Marilyn began to talk of the things that link all of us,

Special Removable Section

Letter from the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

A World of Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

My Odyssey Has Just Begun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Alumni Spotlight: Chevaan Daniel . . . . . . . . 6

Infographic: Where on Earth!? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

NLC: The Results Are In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Rick Davis: A Life In Search of the Comic Denominator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Take It In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Codman Senior Leadership Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

In Motion, On Mission Update . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Post Cards from the AYF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Save the Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

AYF by the Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Merrowvista: Building a Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Three Campers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Fueling the Eternal Flame Society . . . . . . .22

Annual Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Honor Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Let's Keep in Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Songs of the Founder Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

INSIDE

Aspire Nobly, Adventure Daringly, Serve Humbly

Front cover photo courtesy: facebook.com/TerpstraPhoto

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1

FOLLOWING THE THREAD

Last week, I swapped my commute north to the Ossippee Mountains for a longer drive south to the Cape, where I boarded a ferry for Martha’s Vineyard. Camper, Marilyn Scheerbaum, had graciously invited me to come and learn about a youth leadership program in her community. The Vineyard in the fall is hard to resist, but even harder – an enthusiastic Marilyn. With a hint of guilt, I accepted the invitation knowing it would keep me from other work. As the ferry crossed the sound, I read up on the organization and prepared questions, challenging myself to make good use of time.

It was a powerful 24 hours, not because of what I learned in the meeting with the other organization, but better, what I learned and reconfirmed about the AYF through my time with Marilyn.

You see, Marilyn spoke of her experiences at Merrowvista and Miniwanca and the role the people, the programs, and the philosophy played in shaping her, not only as a youth but as an adult; a mother, a citizen, a business woman, an athlete, a ukulele player, and most recently a novice chicken farmer with a flock of two. Into the evening we discussed how for each of us the journey towards best self and balanced living has been hard, wonderful, full of twists and turns and more than anything, unending. And then we celebrated just that – that it is unending.

In the morning we sat across the table enjoying fresh eggs, old songs, and favorite stories. She asked me about our current participants, the health of the organization, and hard questions about why certain things had changed. I asked Marilyn my current nagging questions: how we might ensure that the work of the AYF is not just “kid’s stuff”, and what can we as AYFers do to support each other in our larger community if we wish to remain passionately engaged in a mission that calls for our best in a world where far less than best seems the acceptable norm? How might we adults keep each other fueled as sources of light in a world with still too much darkness? How do we find the moral courage to be upstanders, not bystanders?

In response, Marilyn began to talk of the things that link all of us, across the decades, who have been shaped by the varied programs and the unchanged mission of the AYF. “No matter when we came it seems we have shared values, shared hope, shared language, shared songs. We need to stay linked…there is a thread.” A thread…

There it was again, the thread. I asked her to excuse me as I (unlike the early founders) leapt for my cellphone to Google a poem by William Stafford that recently spoke to me as I read it. It seemed to be saying what Marilyn was saying in that moment:

THE WAY IT ISThere is a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about what you are pursuing. . You have to explain about the thread. But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old. Nothing you do can stop times unfolding. You don’t ever let go of the thread

Marilyn helped me recognize that what is best about the AYF is the thread. It remains unchanged in an ever-changing world. Children are born. Campers grow and adventure. Former program participants become purposeful adults who do good in the world. Amazing people pass from this world and their light lingers long. We all suffer and celebrate. Nothing can stops time’s unfolding. We need to hold onto the thread.

This issue of the Founder Fire celebrates individuals who have followed the thread and, in so many ways, form it; our early founders who specialized in the wholly impossible, Odyssey campers who peddled steep mountains in search of the high road, conference and school programs participants who learned to face life’s difficulties while also caring for others, now-adult campers using their gifts courageously to do a world of good, and Rick Davis, who inspires us still to perform seemingly impossible feats. We thank our growing list of supporters who I pray will never let go – for you keep our youth and our programs on mission and in motion.

And I thank Marilyn Scheerbaum for her example, and for pulling me off course so that I might stay on course. I have unending respect for Marilyn and for all you campers who will never achieve alumni status – choosing instead to hold the thread as you launch into the deep to pursue your best – aspiring nobly, adventuring daringly, and serving humbly at every age.

Hold Tight!

A letter FROM THE PRESIDENT

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2

FRANK SO

In some ways, Sheldon is living the dream that she first discovered at camp. “That feeling you get when you dig deep and bike to the top of camp hill—and you’re like ‘yes! I did that!’ I wanted that all the time. I wanted to lead trips as a way of life,” she said. Sheldon leveraged that drive and has

become a professional athlete and high-level mountain guide. She is only the 12th American woman to earn her American Mountain Guides Association certification, and is one of the elite group of approximately 225 guides worldwide who hold this distinction.

Part of Sheldon’s personal development has been building her own idea of best self. She practices positive self-talk, and focuses on her abilities rather than her deficiencies. “Sometimes I have to remind clients—and myself—that it’s okay that you aren’t a marathon runner or a Ms. personality or whatever

—you just climbed Denali.”

Beyond any individual expedition, Sheldon’s goal is to demystify the professional athlete and guide. She speaks at corporate events and gives presentations around the country focusing on building confidence in women and girls. “Sports are so important for women, because they allow us to experience really positive, empowered moments with our bodies. I thought to be a professional athlete I had to be super skinny, wear a bikini, and laugh while paddle boarding. That’s not true, but it’s an idea that I still have to work through.” Sheldon will often show a presentation of an incredible trip she led to the top of an iconic mountain, but she wants to break the magic of these accomplishments. “People think ‘but I can’t’ and I want to tell them—no one else knows what they’re doing, no one else thinks they can do it, calm down, you can probably do it. There’s tons of cool stuff out there. Just find your thing and go do it.”

Sheldon Kerr photo courtesy: Krystle Wright

Frank So has dedicated his career to international humanitarian work, and he credits his time at AYF Cedar Lake for some of his first cross-cultural friendships. “The ILC [International Leadership Conference] was an intensive experience. I connected with kids from Brazil, France, Italy, and all over the

US, people of different religions, cultures, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Sixteen is a formative age to reinforce ideals of understanding and trust and I remain very close with many of the friends I made through ILC.” Frank has since devoted his time to some of the most violent conflicts in crisis zones such as Haiti and Darfur. He has worked for NGOs, the UN, and most recently turned

his attention to the United States government. When we caught up with Frank, he was on his way to Philadelphia to help organize the Democratic National Convention. “The ten years I spent abroad illustrated how important the United States is in the global political sphere. I felt I had a responsibility to return and, in my capacity, be of service. I needed to advocate for policy and actions that progress values of tolerance and education.”

Frank considers himself a global citizen, but right now, he is focusing on the national community. “We are facing some of the most challenging times in America, hands down. There’s such sadness and desperation, I think about the violence in Ferguson, in Dallas, and in Chicago, and then about environmental crises like Zika, drought, and Ebola. We have to help mitigate disasters and see the humanity in each other.”

Frank believes that experiences like AYF programs challenge young leaders and encourage them to be people of action, as well as critical thinkers. “I think about that award, I DARE YOU. How are we daring each other? We need to dare each other to build trust and have faith in one another. And that takes courage.” For Frank, ILC discussions and reflections helped build his confidence and trust in others. “You don’t need to go to Darfur or work in the White House to have an impact,” Frank says. “You need to be active in your community.”

SHELDON KERR

How alumni are serving the global community and putting the mission into actionA WORLD OF GOOD

by Tovah Burstein

4 years as a Conference partici- pant at Cedar Lake

1996: I Dare You awardee

2016: Political Strategist

7 years as a camper and leader

1999: Biked to the top of Merrowvista’s camp hill

2016: AMGA certified guide and Ambassador Athlete with Outdoor Research

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3

HEATHER McPHERSON

Jamie admits that the climate justice movement is often a whole lot like summer camp. “You do lots of group activities, talk about values, and sing songs. Making banners is a whole lot like arts and crafts and then hanging those banners is like a team challenge at the high ropes course.” The AYF

helped deepen Jamie’s appreciation for the natural world, but his commitment to social issues was underscored by experiences before and after his time as a camper.

Jamie credits his parents for encouraging an interest in environmental and social justice issues. Then, as a student at Middlebury College, he took a class on climate change and all the social movements he cared about became fused. “For me, the climate crisis is the ultimate challenge. Whether you care

about the economy, human rights, the environment, or any other social issue, climate connects them all.” Along with a few friends, Jamie started a campus group to encourage progressive climate action. They organized a group bike ride to the Vermont state house to demand legislative action and successfully lobbied Middlebury to commit to carbon neutrality.

That student organization became the seed for an international career in climate activism. Along with several other graduates and author Bill McKibben, Jamie co-founded the environmental advocacy non-profit that would become 350.org. “It’s been incredible to see such a movement come together over the last few years. I still feel that the world is in rough shape, but this movement gives me hope.”

Jamie maintains that summer camp helps prepare young people to make change for the better. “I think empathy is incredibly undervalued as a leadership skill. More than a classroom, the AYF helps teach kids how to really be engaged, and how to work together to take on common challenges. So many of our problems in the world could be addressed if we had a greater sense of understanding and community.”

For Heather, summer camp was a place of consistency against a backdrop of change. She had spent her grade school years moving around the world, following her father’s work in global development. Growing up overseas inspired her to pursue an international career.

In 2012, Heather relocated to East Timor as the operations manager for a maternal and child health project. After centuries of colonization, and violent political disruptions in 2006, Timor had one of the lowest Human Development Index ratings in Southeast Asia (according to the United Nations Development Programme), and one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. “The goal of the project was to help the government roll out their

Basic Services Package at the community level. My local colleagues and I worked closely with existing structures such as the ‘suco’ [village] health committees, councils of elders, and traditional healers. We helped to identify health priorities such as sanitation, reproductive health counseling, and family planning.” Heather became the liaison between stakeholders, including donors, NGOs, and local leaders. “During my time at camp, I learned the strength of communities that come together to solve a problem, and that is the same approach that I apply to my work.”

More recently, Heather has returned to the Boston area. “I was surprised to find that the challenges here were so similar to the ones I had seen abroad. It still came down to talking with different community leaders and stakeholders and encouraging them towards a shared objective.” Heather always knew she wanted to work for a mission-driven organization, but she isn’t sure yet where her path will lead.

Camp is still alive and present for Heather. In her own way, she has been able to bring that spirit to each of the places she has lived and worked, including Ethiopia, Swaziland, and Ukraine. “I used to worry that I had to be at that place—camp—in order to be that person—my best self—but I’ve come to realize that we can all find ways to share that magic wherever we go.”

JAMIE HENN

10 years as a camper and village leader

1999: Canoed the Allagash River

2016: Co-Founder of international climate campaign, 350.org

12 years as a camper and leader

2002: Hiked the 100-mile wilderness

2016: Project Manager at Harvard Global Institute

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Excerpts of learning, wisdom and reflection: Vespers shared by Miniwanca Odyssey

OliviaMiniwanca has taught us all

how to challenge our mind,

bodies, and spirits to becoming

our best selves. Now we will

take the valuable lessons taught

to us and share them with the

rest of the world.

HannahEver since we were younger,

people have told us to leave

no trace. In reality, leaving a

trace is okay. Not a physical

trace, but an intangible trail

of actions that inspire others

to pay it forward.

EmmaA flower does not grow

to be prettier than the one

next to it. It simply lives in

its own harmony.

SarahIt may have taken us days

to bike through mountains,

but it could take years for those

mountains to unfold within .

KateThrowing away the

self-doubting mentality and

building yourself up is the

best advice I can give.

Campers of Miniwanca’s Voyageur and Odyssey groups celebrate in Lake Michigan after completing their journeys

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. . . My Odyssey Has Just Begun

SarahIt may have taken us days

to bike through mountains,

but it could take years for those

mountains to unfold within .

MyliaThe mountains in life will

never move. They will stand

their ground and challenge

you. But if the mountains have

taught me anything it’s to take

each obstacle in life head on .

KarliI will always be a nomad

of the mind and of the soul .

Odyssey has shown me the

value of change and of

movement.

MakenzieIt is important to look back.

To look back at the past and

become aware of the steep

uphills, the smooth downhills,

and how they shaped me.

I will look back while

moving forward.

JulieanneI know that my reciprocated

care and support for others

had the power to carry them

over mountains.

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6

“It was so cold!” says Chevaan Daniel, of his first memory arriving at AYF Cedar Lake in 1995. “For a boy from a tropical island, this may as well have been the North Pole, not California.”

It was the first of many revelations at Cedar Lake for Daniel, who had made his first trip overseas, to be at the AYF camp in its inaugural year with a group of campers from all over the world. “I arrived at Cedar Lake doubting

my own potential. I left knowing for certain that I could lead,” he says. Today, returned home to Sri Lanka, Daniel is a leader in the media industry of the island nation, and a voice for humanitarianism and grassroots development, in a country still facing the aftermath of 30 years of civil war.

After finishing school, Daniel began his career in media working in radio and television, first as

a typist and translator. By his twenties, he was a household name in Sri Lanka as a well-known news anchor for MTV News. He made stops back in the United States, as a Fulbright scholar, working in New York at NBC, before eventually reaching his current position as Group Director of Capital Maharaja group, Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerate with businesses not only in media, but in manufacturing, power, energy, and national security.

Sri Lanka is nestled in the Indian Ocean off of the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Home to a population of 20 million, it is a multi-cultural and multi-religious society with two national languages, Sinhalese and Tamil (English is widely spoken as well), and practices Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. From 1983 until 2009, there was intermittent fighting between the government and a separatist group called the Tamil Tigers, who wanted to form an independent state for Tamils, the second largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka.

Media in Sri Lanka has been historically public, and controlled by the government, but private media has proved to be a powerful force in recent years. For Daniel, this has meant scrutiny both on him and his team. In 2009, the Maharaja company’s television headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, was attacked by a group of 20 armed assailants who destroyed broadcast equipment, held staff members hostage, and attempted to burn down the station’s facilities. After appearing on CNN to discuss the attack, an order was issued for Daniel’s arrest. Several months later, he had to spend some time underground again, when information about an attempt on his life emerged.

Throughout all of this, he remained in Sri Lanka, working with mentor and the Chairman of the Maharaja group, Rajendram Rajamahendran, whom Daniel considers an impactful figure in his life, inspiring him to be his best.

With the Maharaja group, Daniel has taken to embodying the change he wishes to see happen on a larger scale. He is currently deeply involved in the ‘Gammadda’ Initiative, a unique project that resolves problems faced by rural communities with direct and immediate intervention.

“We decided to move beyond traditional reporting, rather than depend on politicians and a regional bureaucracy to provide solutions.” With teams focusing on building roads, bridges, and water reservoirs, they are leading the charge to complete these national projects. “We want to be active participants in creating the future of this nation, and not passive observers,” says Daniel.

For Daniel, the initiative is another way to use and share the gift he first discovered during his time with the AYF. “It was at Cedar Lake that I learned the first lessons in compromise, patience and understanding. Even though camp at Cedar Lake lasted for just seven days each year, each of us went through a plethora of emotions and challenges. And we had no choice but to sort it out amongst ourselves. I learned that misunderstandings that arose as a result of cultural differences could sour teamwork if it wasn’t handled carefully,” he says.

He Wished to Seeby Madeline Welsh

SRI LANKA

THE CHANGEALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CHEVAAN DANIEL

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Connecticut

30

Maine

32

New Hampshire

140

New York

36

Pennsylvania

41

Virginia

47 W. Virginia

6

North Carolina 16 Tennessee 17

South Carolina12

Vermont

13

Washington, D.C.

5

Massachusetts

280

Maryland

65

New Jersey

25

Rhode Island

6

Missouri

370

Texas

111

Illinois

271

Ohio

247

Kentucky

35

Michigan

310

Indiana

56

Arkansas

7

Alabama

24

Mississippi

6 Georgia

44

Florida

64 Louisiana

22

Arizona

19

Australia

2

Brazil

1

Canada

1

France

9

Germany

2

Ireland

2

Mexico

13

Netherlands

1

New Zealand

3

Spain

10

Sweden

2

Switzerland

6

United Kingdom

7

Venezuela

3

New Mexico

1

Hawaii

1

Colorado

37

Utah

2

Kansas

41

Oklahoma

29

Iowa

31

Minnesota

19

Wisconsin

51

Montana

4

Washington

11

Oregon

13

North Dakota

8

Nebraska

5

California

24

United States2,634

7

Where on Earth!?The home communities of AYF 2016 campers, staff, NLC participants, and NLA recipients

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In the summer of 2012, Dr. Bob Dvorak and Rob Schumacker of Central Michigan University began a longitudinal study of the National Leadership Conference (NLC) in an effort to document measurable change in the skills and abilities of participants

over the course of their years in the program. Given the preexisting conference curriculum, which focuses on leadership skills, civic engagement, and positive youth development, the goal was to assess the outcomes and personal growth of young adults.

Approximately 566 participants completed assessments from 2012-2015. The primary assessment tool was The Review of Personal Effectiveness with Locus of Control (ROPELOC). The ROPELOC measures important psychological and behavioral factors that constitute life effectiveness, such as time management, social competence, leadership, self efficacy, and self confidence, and is specifically designed for assessment of experiential programs, such as NLC.

THE IMPACT OF NLCThe data would suggest that participants consistently experience personal development in several of these factors from year to year. These young people have an increased ability to handle difficult situations and find solutions (self efficacy). They improve on their ability to manage stress and maintain self-control (stress management). They improve their planning, efficiency, and use of time (time efficiency). And they are ready to cope with life’s changes (coping with change). In fact, all factors (except for external locus of control) showed at least modest gains. Though the four named above started with generally lower initial mean scores, they also showed the largest increase post- over pre-conference.

Participants also ranked statements about internal locus of control highly throughout the duration of their conference careers. This would suggest that participants strongly believe they have internal responsibility for their actions. They began NLC with this belief and it persisted, both over the course of their first conference and their subsequent years at NLC. Congruently, participants maintained very low scores on external locus of control, suggesting that NLC participants believe they have responsibility for success, not that external forces determine personal outcomes.

Based on the data provided in this report, two primary points can be made:

Stability and Consistency: Over the four-year study period, responses and results from NLC participants were very stable. There were increases in mean ROPELOC scores, as well as increases in almost all of the fifteen individual leadership factors. Despite participants’ repeat exposure to the ROPELOC survey, data patterns remained consistent from year to year. This would suggest that the NLC program and curriculum continues to produce a consistent and positive increase in leadership skills and attributes.

Key Factors: Given this consistent pattern of results, NLC staff can direct attention to target specific factors and prioritize as necessary to achieve desired outcomes. Self efficacy, stress management, time efficiency, and coping with change all demonstrated strong positive increases across the four-year study. This may mean “keep up the good work and maintain focus on these areas.” It is also worth noting that some factors such as leadership ability, open thinking, and self-confidence were consistently scored high at pre-conference and remained high over the course of the program. These may represent those areas of “keep doing what you’re doing” in regards to planning and refinement.

Further examination of the data from 2012-2015 will delve into other subsets of NLC participants. There is also a fair amount of self-reported qualitative data on participants, their leadership skills, and to what degree NLC curriculum impacted them. Entire cohorts (participants who were in the study for all four years) can be examined for trends in their responses. Likewise, all first-years can be compared across all four years of the study in order to analyze the initial impact of NLC on participants. The AYF can utilize the results from this study in numerous ways. It provides documented evidence of participant development, and supports efforts to evaluate and assess the impact of AYF programs.

THE RESULTS ARE IN:A SUMMARY OF A FOUR-YEAR STUDYOF THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

BY DR. BOB DVORAK & ROB SCHUMACKERCENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Bob Dvorak and Rob Schumacker are faculty members at Central Michigan University. They can be contacted at [email protected] and [email protected]

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HOW THE ROPELOC WORKSEach item of the ROPELOC is measured on an 8-point scale, ranging from

“FALSE, not like me” (1) to “TRUE, like me” (8). Participants ranged in age from 14-21 years old with a mean of 17 years old. The trend in reported gender of participants was towards a larger percentage of females. This percentage was highest in 2012 at 63% and lowest in 2013 at 51%.

NLC participants showed a significant increase in their ROPELOC mean scores in all four years of the study. Pre-conference average scores ranged from 6.10 to 6.22. Post-test averages ranged from 6.40 to 6.52. The largest difference between the two was observed in 2012 (An increase of .40 ROPELOC points on the pre- and post- mean), with the smallest mean difference observed in 2014 (.25 ROPELOC points).

6.0

6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

6.6Pre-test Post-test

6.50 6.52

6.20

6.48

6.40

6.156.22

6.10

2012 2013

Overall ROPELOC Trends

RO

PE

LOC

VA

LUE

S �

2014 2015

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Rick DavisThis year’s end-of-season staff gift at Merrowvista was a t-shirt with the logo of the founder fire under a big-top tent with a quote from Rick Davis, former camper, leader, volunteer and passionately enkindled spirit, describing why he ran away to join the circus. In a 2013 interview at the Ringling Brothers Clown College Hall of Fame, after a long career of performing and teaching circus arts to young people, Rick described his experience of the circus as “an amazing coordination of humanity for a common purpose.”

He goes on to explain the incredibly diverse community that is the big top. So many people of d i f ferent nationalit ies, age groups, and backgrounds, all with remarkably unique skill sets, coming together; their own sense of time and space, and language, “all to perform these seemingly impossible feats…not to create a factory or build a million widgets…but rather all just to create a moment of magic” for others.

Richard “Ricky” Hall Davis, 64, passed away in September 2015, after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

Rick’s association with the AYF actually began long before he was born. His parents Hartwell and Nancy Davis met as leaders at Miniwanca in the early 1940s, where they were the respective buglers for Boys Camp and Girls Camp.

Rick and his brother Roger were among the very first Four Trails leaders at Merrowvista. In 1969, Rick, a young student at the time, had to make the difficult choice between using his two tickets to Woodstock, or co-leading the fledgling Outpost program. That summer, he led a group of older campers in the construction of a lean-to shelter on property loaned by the Holbrook family in Vermont.

After graduating from Alleghany College with degrees in psychology and philosophy, Rick realized he wanted a living philosophy, one that embodied the wonder and amazement of life in this world. Shortly after, he enrolled in the Ringling Brothers Clown College in Sarasota, Florida,

where he began a career as a circus clown, originally touring with the Ringling Brothers’ Barnum & Bailey Circus.

It was later that he began what he called his “search for the comic denominator.” This passion to connect people through laughter and a shared yearning for magic would drive his career that

followed. After a stint with Circus Odyssey in Puerto Rico, Rick was inspired to travel to developing countr ies, giving free clown performances to any organization willing to feed and house him. Supported by the Peace Corps and Project Troubadour, he traveled to villages, orphanages, and refugee camps in 15 countries, including Brazil, Honduras, Costa Rica, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, St. Vincent, the Dominican Republic, and China. Typically, he would arrive in a village and begin strolling around in character and playing an accordion. Within minutes, the entire village would follow him back

to his trunk, which served as his stage, where he performed magic, skits and mime. Later, with Project Troubadour, Rick used this model with a group of musicians seeking to connect through universal themes in music.

A veteran entertainer, Rick performed at the 1982 World’s Fair, Radio City Music Hall, the White

House, Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center, and First Nights across New England. He also had a love of Gilbert and Sullivan, and appeared in numerous operas with the Raylynmor Opera. For a time, his character as ‘The Professor of Totally Useless Skills’ taught an abundance of fun tricks and stunts at schools and in shows across New England that were eventually the subjects of two books, Totally Useless Skills and Totally Useless Office Skills. Rick also developed websites, creating schoolshows.com, an online directory connecting schools with independent educat ional assembly programs.

Later in life, Rick recognized that teaching circus arts to youth was his true calling and passion. He felt one of his greatest accomplishments was helping to found the American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO), which is dedicated to that purpose. He served on AYCO’s board of directors from its inception in 1999 until his death, and he was a powerful force in keeping AYCO going in its early years. He and his wife Jackie also founded CircusLearning LLC, a southern New Hampshire organization offering youth-centered circus arts through its programs, Silver Lining Circus Camp and Flying Gravity Circus.

More than anything, Rick was a steward of the possible, always keeping the AYF close to his own heart. Living in southern New Hampshire, he made frequent visits to the Canaan Valley, regularly volunteering his skills and trekking up to the Ledge to reconnect with the magic of this community. And now his connection has come full circle, his words inspiring a new generation of leaders to recognize the value of camp, an amazing coordination of humanity for a common purpose.

A Life In Search of the Comic Denominator

by Jim Davis

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If I had to sum up my experience as an Avail camper in one phrase, it would be “Take it in”. Take in the sights and sounds of the service we did in the communities of West Michigan, whether we were playing games with kids in a summer school program, climbing sand dunes to clear trash from a beautiful beach, or listening to the stories of the elderly people we built fairy houses with. Take in the hugs. The hugs from fellow tribe members, campers and leaders... Take in singing with your new friends. Take in the sunsets, the hot sun, the sand in your shoes and the friendship bracelets on your wrist… I have had the most amazing experience getting to know my fellow 19 Avail girls, and all of the girls of Miniwanca. I have tried to take in every memory, because they serve as reflections of growth within myself and around me, and my development into a balanced, strong, loving and positive person who is her own self, at her very best, all the time. – Eliza, Avail Senior

11

A camper’s reflections on her learning as an Avail Senior

Take it In

This past March, Merrowvista piloted an exciting new program with longtime partner in Boston, Codman Academy. The Senior Leadership Summit, two years in the making, came from a shared dream of a semester school model. For the seniors, it is their fifth and culminating program at Merrowvista and one of their capstone experiences with the school.

The original visioning of the program brought with it some specific objectives. That, for students:

Developing my best self matters, not only to me but to the people around me as well.Students are set up to see the ways their education impacts not only the way they imagine their own lives, but how the broader community can benefit from their growth as well.

With the balance of skills and abilities I am gaining, I can actually make an impact on things.Students are given opportunities to link their academic learning directly with their ability to understand, interpret, and affect the world around them in diverse ways.

I can see ways to make a positive difference in my community and in the wider world.In the critical moments when this connection is realized, students are inspired to invest themselves in goals that include community needs, and see more clearly their personal opportunity for service.

The summit also required the Merrowvista staff to adapt to a different type of curriculum delivery. Facilitators collaborated with Codman faculty to

create lesson plans, co-teaching content to students. Classes combined academic lessons, leadership development, and themes around social justice. In math class, for example, students learned about statistical analysis, while designing an experiment on the high challenge course. They attempted to track the ways that social norms (support, encouragement, advice, etc.) impacted their perceived levels of individual success, discussing the implications of their findings as they related to their Boston communities.

The Merrowvista team is again excited to have the opportunity to hone the program with this year’s senior class.

CODMAN SENIOR LEADERSHIP SUMMITby Jiin Cruz

Avail is a verb meaning “to be of use”– a fitting name for Miniwanca’s in-camp program for high schoolers, focusing on leadership and community service. The program has become a central aspect of both Boys Camp and Girls Camp over the past several years, as each Avail group has shaped its own experience and that of those around it.

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12

IN MOTION, ON MISSION CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AS OF AUGUST 1, 2016

Gifts and Pledges to Date:

Program Scholarships and Operations $441,000

Facilities Restoration $697,000

Undesignated Donations $2,431,000

Planned Giving $3,647,000

Program Scholarships and Operations

Facilities Restoration

Planned Giving

These dollars will support our program operations and enable new groups of

youth to discover their best self at Miniwanca and Merrowvista.

Contributions go directly toward restoring and enhancing existing structures at both Miniwanca and Merrowvista, so that a new

generation of young people has a place to learn, laugh, and grow.

These gifts ensure that the AYF will deliver on its mission for years to come. Those

who make planned gift pledges become members of the Eternal Flame Society.

Since the campaign launched in January 2014:

1,400 individuals have made contributions to the AYF

This includes:�� 500 first-time donors,

�� 90 multi-year pledges, and

�� 25 individuals and families who have

joined the Eternal Flame Society,

AYF’s legacy giving initiative.

If you are interested in making a pledge, a donation, or need additional information, please contact Scott Myers ([email protected]). Thank you so much for your ongoing trust and confidence.

GOAL:

$1,500,000

GOAL:

$2,500,000

GOAL:

$4,000,000

Help us reach our goals! We are tremendously grateful to those who have contributed to the campaign thus far, and we hope you will continue to support us to its conclusion and beyond.

CA

LLIN

G

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A

September 1-4, 2017 • ayf.com/boys-camp-reunion

PLACESTAMP HERE

TO

Send me to a Founder Friend!

Aspire Nobly • Adventure Daringly • Serve Humbly

PLACESTAMP HERE

TO

Send me to a Founder Friend!

August 25-27, 2017 • ayf.com/mvreunion

PLACESTAMP HERE

TO

Send me to a Founder Friend!

Aspire Nobly • Adventure Daringly • Serve Humbly

PLACESTAMP HERE

TO

Send me to a Founder Friend!

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A15

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SAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE

@Development

Nov 12Brain Games Trivia Night

6:30pm Boston Button Factory

ayf.com/brain-games

2016

@Development

Apr 30Donald Danforth Jr.

MemorialDinner and Auction

ayf.com/golf

2017

@Development

May 01Donald Danforth Jr.

MemorialGolf Tournament

ayf.com/golf

2017

@Miniwanca

Apr 21

Apr 23Volunteer Weekend

ayf.com/volunteer-weekend

2017

@Merrowvista

May 12

May 14Volunteer Weekend

ayf.com/volunteer-weekend

2017

@Merrowvista

Aug 25

Aug 27Alumni Reunion

ayf.com/mvreunion

2017

@Miniwanca

Jul 19

Jul 23Summer Seminars

for Women

ayf.com/ssw20

17@Miniwanca

Sep 01

Sep 04Boys Camp

Reunion

ayf.com/boys-camp-reunion

2017

@Miniwanca

Aug 09

Aug 12Alumni & Family

Camp

ayf.com/family-camp

2017

@Merrowvista

Jul 02

Aug 17Summer Camp

ayf.com/merrowvista

2017

@Miniwanca

Jun 25

Aug 04Summer Camp

ayf.com/miniwanca

2017

@Miniwanca

Jun 10

Jun 17National Leadership

Conference

ayf.com/nlc

2017

August 25-27, 2017 • ayf.com/mvreunion

Aspire Nobly • Adventure Daringly • Serve Humbly

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A16

AYFBY THE NUMBERS

76% of campers and 48% of National Leadership Conference participants received financial assistance and discounts through our scholarship funds.

6,683People

In 2015, AYF served

44from

States

19and

Countries

at Miniwanca,

Merrowvista

and St. Louis

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: 290 Participants

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD: 867 Recipents

SUMMER: 535 Campers

CSP: 2,526 Participants in 43 Programs

SUMMER: 606 Campers

CSP: 1,859 Participants in 38 Programs

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17

“We specialize in the wholly impossible.”1 Such was the spirit driving the earliest days of the American Youth Foundation. In last year’s Founder Fire, we described the discovery and planning of Camp Miniwanca. But that was not the AYF’s only big project that year. Just as Miniwanca was racing toward opening day of the 1925 camp-conference season, a similar race was on in the mountains of New Hampshire. Land had been secured late in 1924 – hundreds of acres, in fact – with the help of Boston businessman Lyford A. Merrow (In-yan-ite 2 – Stone Face), who called Center Ossipee his home. And work had begun on a road into the camp. But it was not until April 1925 that the directors could make the crucial site visit needed to design and develop the New England location, variously known as Lost Brook Glen or Camp Ossipee, in time for the August 1925 camp-conferences.

Our narrators will be Herbert Mayer (Kicica 2 – Comrade of Mine), a Boston University professor and camp-conference graduate chosen as the very first director of this New England camp, and John L. Alexander (Kinji-Gissis 2 – Shining Countenance), the key founder of the AYF’s four-fold philosophy.

As was true with Miniwanca, the directors knew exactly what they were looking for. Their New England conference programs demanded specific features that wove the landscape into camp activities. What was on their list? Sites for tent platforms and ‘villages.’ A large central dining hall, roomy enough to welcome the hundreds of campers who would fill it in the coming summers. An assembly building that could double as a worship space. A lake suitable for swimming instruction and boating. A grove for a council circle. An inspirational outdoor gathering place for the evening ‘Hillside’ vesper services – preferably

with a view of sunsets, but close enough to the center of the action, where the Night’s Doings activities would follow. Add in an administrative building, along with structures for teaching the AYF’s curriculum, and the cumulative effort would become the American Youth Foundation’s New England home.

THE PLANNING VISITWith all these needs in mind, the three men traveled a newly built road into the yet-to-be-built Camp Ossipee, envisioning the campers they would be welcoming four months later – and all the years to follow. Here are some of the sights and sounds of their visit that day, in Mayer’s words:

by Sarah Forbes Orwig

Article continues on next page u

Merrowvista Tents – 1925

B U I L D I N G A C A M P

1

Merrowvista

Lyford A. Merrow

1

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18

1 “Although previous expeditions to Sentinel Mountain and the Lost Brook Glen brought about acquiring the site, the actual task of laying out the camp was not begun until April 17.” 3 Experts had already been hired for site construction and were acting on instructions from Mayer, Alexander, and Merrow. “On Friday morning a party made up of the three already mentioned and the architect, builder, and superintendent made a tour of inspection. After a ride along roads just recovering from winter’s grasp, the group set out on foot. For a distance the newly made road afforded good walking, then the clank of pick and shovel disclosed the construction work in progress. Now and then came the rumbling blasts of dynamiting huge bowlders. Soon the party was picking its way along the rough mountain trail, leaping over swollen streams, stumbling through dead leaves, splashing over ‘Bull Run.’” 4

How does an organization design and build a camp in four months? And why build a camp in New Hampshire, when the AYF’s office was in Chicago? Vision and experience made it possible. Lyford Merrow’s business and civic connections did much to support the young American Youth Foundation in establishing its New England camp. Next, the four-fold program had deep roots in the northeast. Starting in 1920, the four-fold camp-conferences, under John Alexander’s direction, expanded to Geneva Point on Lake Winnipesaukee, in New Hampshire. That location, still operating today as Geneva Point Center, is about 30 minutes away from Dan Hole Pond. Mayer had served as director of the Geneva Point conferences since 1921, so he was more than ready to take the reins of the new Ossipee camp.

Alexander added his description of that site visit: 1 “Over at Camp Ossipee on the high lands, which slope to the lake with the mountain battlements in the rear, we – the architect, Kicica, Inyanite and I– staked out the great new Dining Room and approved the reconstruction of the Club-Chapel from the great, old-fashioned, high-peaked, workmanship-built barn of massive frame and timbers. Then we followed the open spaces on the slope towards the Lake and located the Tent Houses. Back on the ridge, the old colonial Headquarters House looked benignly down on us, and we could easily people these surroundings with the smiles, laughter, and shouts of twelve score eager older boys and girls. Camp Ossipee is a ‘Knock Out!’”

A CLOSER LOOKMuch was accomplished during that chilly springtime site visit, but in many ways the essential work had just begun. Alexander and Mayer still had to assure themselves that the new plans would work seamlessly with their program. So, back they went, just the two of them, on Saturday morning, to take an even closer look at the landscape. “As we worked,” Alexander wrote,

“the roar of our mountain cataract as it plunged over the falls was making music in our glen, lined with giant trees and gigantic rocks. The murmur of the tumbling waters – our gravity water supply – clear, cold and sparkling, always was an obbligato to our planning and surveying.” 5

Picking up the narrative, Mayer notes, 1 “Scanning the landscape for anything of special value to camp life, [we] completed [our] task after a long trampling. Neither of the directors will forget the first meal at camp. A lunch carried from the hotel spread upon a table rock in the center of camp more than met the physical requirements. In true thrifty fashion a part of the lunch was set aside for a later time.” 6

They promised to return Sunday afternoon and again on Monday. Just in case they missed anything. Just to make sure they were building the best camp they could. And then the weather changed. “Early Sunday morning the snow began to fall. Without any intermission it continued for twenty-four hours,” said Mayer, with no apparent exaggeration. “There was nothing to do but stay in the hotel or walk on the porch. Roads were blocked. Automobiles were stalled...The last trip to the property arranged for Monday was also impossible.” 7

Alexander, ever the philosopher, waxed poetic. 1 “It is really wonderful to be in the White Mountains in two feet of snow. There is no question about the quality of the name of these majestic, old hills under such conditions. As I write these lines in Center Ossipee Inn at Mountain View with Kicica opposite me and look out through the west windows, Sentinel and Danhole Mountains and grim, old, pinnacle-pointed Chocorua are glistening white. I assure you that I am really glad that the snow was postponed until our actual survey of the camp site was concluded.” 8

THE MOUNTAIN RANGES AND VALLEYSEven as they immersed themselves into the details of day-to-day camp life, both Alexander and Mayer thought of the camp in the context of its larger surroundings: Sentinel Mountain and the Ossipees, Mount Chocorua in the White Mountains, the Presidential Range, and all the valleys and small lakes and rock outcroppings that they knew would uplift and inspire the campers for generations to come. To paint a picture of the camp’s geography for future campers, Mayer offered this sweeping, bird’s-eye view:

1 “From the boulder shores of Danhole Lake, nestling in a mountain valley, to the crest of the Ossipee ramparts stretches the camp property, more than 700 acres… The lake shore is as rugged as the mountain side. ‘Glacial pebbles,’ some as big as the Log Cabin, are scattered in riotous confusion along the water’s edge… To those brave spirits who will endure the fatigue and bruises of climbing the rocky mountain side, there remains the glorious thrill of a matchless landscape panorama.” 9

THE SUMMER OF 1925Once the snowstorm relented and travel was possible, Boston was the next stop on their itinerary. There, they began ordering equipment for the camp: pipes for plumbing, lumber for tent platforms and new buildings, dishes, cooking and serving equipment, cots, tent canvases, chairs, and everything else needed by the end of July. All plans for Camp Ossipee progressed. In his final message to campers in June, Alexander wrote,

“August days will people these delightful scenes with a new life as the Pilgrim founders build their new homes among the granite hills and sandy shore of Ossipee. My happiness will be multiplied to find no Founder absent. Put wings to your feet and fly quickly to the Great Council Rock in the Glen of the Lost Brook.” 10

Herbert Mayer – 1921-22

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19

The plans were good. The camp came together quickly. The work was speeding toward opening day when in early July, a serious loss occurred. Lyford Merrow, who surely saw much of the camp taking form that summer, passed away on July 4th in his hometown of Center Ossipee. The foundation responded by memorializing him with this name: Camp Merrowvista. Every camp program honored him with a memorial service that summer, and a spirit of gratitude continues to this day. As for the first Merrowvista camp season, the “wholly impossible” became a reality:

CAMP MERROWVISTA!“From the first call of reveille to the last sounding of taps, each day seemed like a new voyage of understanding on a vast sea... and when, at the close of day, we took our personal inventory of that day’s accomplishments, how surprised we were to see how many leagues we had traveled...” 11

1

1 “We specialize in the wholly impossible” was published in the October 1925 issue of The Founders’ Four-Folder, page 13.

2 The names – In-yan-ite, Kinji-Gissis, and Kicica – are acknowledged here to identify the three men, who refer to each other by these monikers in their narratives.

They originated from the Council of Chiefs – a tradition Ernest Thompson Seton established in sincere respect for the systems of honor and recognition he had observed when living among Native American peoples.

Notes 3 – 7 Quotations can be viewed in the June 1925 Founders' Four-Folder

8 Later in this piece, Kinji referred to Whittier’s long-form poem “Snow-bound,” the last four lines of which are: “The traveller owns the grateful sense / Of sweetness near, he knows not whence, / And, pausing, takes with forehead bare / The benediction of the air.”

9 The Founders’ Four-Folder, March 1925, pages 25-26

10 The Founders’ Four-Folder, June 1925, page 13

11 Memories from Evelyn Seufert, President of the “Firsts,” reflecting on the first summer at Merrowvista, October 1925

Visit ayf.com/history

to access our archives,

where you can learn more

about the early years

of the AYF including

the first summer of 1925.

Two young men dive from the raft on Dan Hole Pond – 1938

The "glacial pebbles" Herb Mayer described in 1925.

A view of the farmhouse, original to the property when purchased.

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20

Teach the children. We don’t matter so much, but the children do.

Last June, AYF alumnae Catherine Dugan and Grace Liao spoke with Merrowvista camper Yasmin, fresh off her canoe trip on Newfound Lake. The two women sponsor Yasmin as part of a growing group of alumni that have chosen to support campers over the course of their entire AYF experience.

Catherine is a firm believer in the ripple effect. “Helping Yasmin go to camp is a gift that can multiply,” she said. “No matter how long [Yasmin] finds camp fulfilling, contributing to the sponsorship program will continue to give to Merrowvista’s and other campers’ communities.”

Show them daisies and the pale hepatica. Teach them the state of sassafras and wintergreen. The lives of the blue sailors, mallow, sunbursts, the moccasin flowers.

The three women connected during EZ time, a block of time in camp to nap, write letters home, read a few pages of a book, or play gin rummy with the deck of cards an enterprising friend thought to bring for the session.

Catherine

Grace

Yasmin

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21

Three Campers,Three Campers,One CommunityThe three women took full advantage of their conversation. For Yasmin, it was a chance to connect with interested, interesting adults, real-world people with a vested interest in her success as a camper. For Catherine and Grace, it gave them a rare (and coveted) opportunity to check in with a young woman looking to make the most of her AYF experience. They talked about Trailblazer trips, song challenges outside of camp, past experiences at Dan Hole Pond, and what the future holds for Yasmin as she prepares for her next summer as a Four Trails Explorer.

Grace and Catherine asked Yasmin about Village Insights during the canoe trip. For campers on overnight trips, a ‘VI’ is a chance for the group to come together after a long day of paddling or hiking or biking, and debrief the day, or talk of life outside of camp. “We talked about how we are a community made closer,” said Yasmin, referring to that first night of the trip.

“That’s great!” said Catherine.

“Yeah, everybody was quiet. We looked at the stars and there was a shooting star. That was my favorite part of camp so far.”

And the frisky ones — inkberry, lamb’s-quarters, blueberries. And the aromatic ones — rosemary, oregano. Give them peppermint to put in their pockets as they go to school.

For Catherine, there are a few reasons why she and Grace chose to sponsor a camper together. “The sponsorship program represents a really important step towards Merrowvista being a more inclusive space,” she wrote,

“especially for young people of different races, religions, socioeconomic experiences, and home communities. I appreciate that Grace and I are sponsoring Yasmin together! It has been a great way to keep Merrowvista in our hearts and families even as we are outside of the Canaan Valley.”

The womens’ conversation turned to the challenge of describing this kind of summer to people back home- to try and tell an inclusive story to people outside of camp.

“I always thought it was hard to talk to friends at home about camp,” said Catherine. “What do I tell them about? Will they understand?”

Yasmin agreed and told a story about how she becomes her best self outside of camp.

“A lot of school friends kind of understand camp,” she said, “but they thought it was weird with song challenges. And then sometimes at school, I do that when everybody’s quiet—I’ll bang on the table and scream for a song.”

“At school?!” said Grace.

“Yeah, you’re not allowed to so they looked at me weirdly.” Grace and Catherine were pleasantly surprised by Yasmin’s boldness, maybe even a little envious. When they were campers, they said, they would be embarrassed to stand in front of camp and sing a trip report or a song during councils.

Give them the fields and the woods and the possibility of the world salvaged from the lords of profit. Stand them in the stream, head them upstream, rejoice as they learn to love this green space they live in, its sticks and leaves and then the silent, beautiful blossoms.

Grace and Catherine enjoyed connecting with Yasmin, and love the idea of sharing a place and a community that inspires each of them to be at their best, no matter where they are.

The gong of the bell rang out, signaling the transition to the afternoon’s interest groups.

“Do you know where you’re going next?” said Grace in the caring, even tone of a village leader.

“Yes,” said Yasmin. “To the tree between the Eating Lodge and the Bahn.”

“Ok,” said Catherine. “Have an awesome rest of your day!”

Attention is the beginning of devotion.

by Anthony Marvullo with a passage from Upstream, by Mary Oliver

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22

Why AYF? The AYF has such a long and positive history

with my family. We’re about to send the 4th generation

to Miniwanca. The values of the AYF stay with us from

one generation to the next.

For you, what is the value of AYF programs?

Giving kids the opportunity to learn , to explore, to dare.

By coming together every summer, these kids enrich

themselves culturally, spiritually, athletically and

intellectually. I ’ve participated in some of these

programs... the kids love their time here!

My legacy is to AYF because… We need to continue the

good work at Merrowvista and Miniwanca. These camps

are the best. We need to support them !

Alumnus John Drew explains why he is passionate about investing long term in the AYF mission.

We are able to grow our community and serve a more diverse population of young people because of the support of donors like John. We hope you will consider contributing

to the AYF mission through a legacy gift.

To learn more, visit ayf.com/donate or call us at 314-719-4343.

THE ETERNAL FLAME SOCIETY

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12%

11%5%

72%

Program Fees

*Contributions

Endowment Draw

Releases from Restriction

Breakdown of 2015 Revenue

12%

9%6% 4%

Program Support

Alumni Relations & Fundraising

Scholarships Awarded

Facility Maintenance & Construction

Administration/Operations69%

Breakdown of 2015 Expenses

David G. Danforth Chairperson

Christopher Danforth Vice Chairperson

A. Neil Sweeny Treasurer

Pamela R. Evans Secretary

D.D. Danforth Burlin, Esq.

Donald Danforth III

William H. Danforth, M.D.

Glenn E. Davis, Esq.

Kevin J. Hunt

Jeffrey McDonnell, CFA

Daniel Miller

Elizabeth Mulcahy Telthorst

Jason Purnell

Deborah A. Seidel

Andrea Van Cleve

Patrick West

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kay Bell

Jean Booker

J. Patrick Mulcahy

Marie Oetting

ADVISORY MEMBERS

23

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | Operating Actuals: January 1 to December 31, 2015

REVENUE

Program Fees (Camps, Conference, Schools) $ 4,177,689

Releases from Restriction: Construction $ 280,962

*Contributions (Grants, Donations & Other) $ 678,480

Endowment Draw $ 658,938

TOTAL REVENUE, SUPPORT & DRAW $ 5,796,069

EXPENSES

Program Support $ 4,002,276

Facility Maintenance & Construction $ 522,976

Administration/Operations $ 346,635

Scholarships Awarded $ 700,679

Alumni Relations & Fundraising $ 223,503

TOTAL EXPENSES $ 5,796,069

Thank you for continuing to support and share our mission with others.

As a nonprofit organization, the American Youth Foundation depends on the generosity of our alumni, families and friends. We are so grateful for the support of the many volunteers and donors who give their time and resources to help move our organization forward.

Your commitment allows thousands of young people to experience the core values of four-fold balanced living every year, and it enables the AYF to continue to build toward the future, creating important foundations that ensure the health of our organization for years to come.

For more information about our financial statements, including our annual audit, and

annual IRS Informational Return Form 990, please visit ayf.com/publications.*The above numbers do not reflect all activities related to the IMOM Campaign.

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HONOR ROLL | Campaign and Contributor Donations, from January 1 to December 31, 2015

FOUNDERS CIRCLE($10,000+)

The Albers-Kuhn Family FoundationAnonymousJane Brock-WilsonThe Dalton Family

David and Christina Danforth

Mrs. Donald Danforth, Jr.

John and Sally Danforth

William H. Danforth, MD

Dorothy Danforth-Burlin and Johannes Burlin

Enterprise Holdings FoundationHanesHarris Family Charitable FundThe Mulcahy Family

Elizabeth Mulcahy Telthorst and Dean Telthorst

JoAnn Mulcahy

O’Brien Family FoundationThe Pillsbury FoundationDeborah A. Seidel

Joseph and Marlene TootAndrea and Peter Van Cleve

Barbara J. WashburnThe Weaver Family

DIRECTORS CIRCLE($5,000+)

AnonymousDonald and Susannah DanforthDr. Chandlee DickeyJohn DrewKenneth and Bonnie Hargreaves

Kevin and Jana Hunt

Kennelwood Village Inc.Anton Thane KetchamHarold and Susan LaPine

Jeffrey and Jennifer McDonnell

Vanette McKinney and Family

Nestle Purina PetCare CompanyMarie P. Oetting

Eleanor and Ed Shaheen

The Unangst family

John R. Woods Foundation

ADVENTURERS CIRCLE($1,000+)

Allstate InsurancePhilip and Meredith AnsonJulie and Mike Austin

Mrs. Melvin C. Bahle

The Bailey FamilyJay and Diana BaumohlKay and Harvey Bell

Wendy and Lee BenderskyKathleen Beyerman and Rick HawkinsGary J. Bloomfield, Ph.D.Christena BoltonJean Booker and Geraldine ThompsonTeresa S. BowersKara and Jim BrittinghamThe Buchta FamilyLaverne BuntingLouis and Rochelle CainLiz CalhounGerard Oprins and Cindy ChristensenHarriet CollierThe Cook FamilyStacey and Phil CorcoranChristopher and Molly Danforth

Ms. Elizabeth G. DanforthGlenn and Susan Davis

W. Joseph DeubleDonald Danforth Plant Science CenterCatherine Dugan and Grace Liao Elaine EadlerPamela R. Evans and Dr. Diane M. Radford

Debra Ferrari and Emily FerrariDan Forbush and FamilyEric and Deana FoxJerry and Connie FritzGraphic Packaging InternationalMonica and Mark HatfieldJohn Hecker and FamilyHeplerBroom LLCKristin Day-HinkenCraig and Katherine HylandJory Johnson and FamilyPatricia Cobb JonesKarpel SolutionsGage KentKent Precision Foods GroupWard and Carol KleinEmily and Dennis Knuth

Amy and Nathan KostalTravis KrousThe Kysela FamilyLake Forest DentalLakewood Board of EducationLakewood Rocky River Rotary ClubKeith and Monique LawtonJeffrey Libson and FamilyKelsey LivingstonLogan UniversityDavid and Mary MacMillinElbert Magoon and FamilyAllen Mahler and FamilyAndy and Nancy MarrThe Mason FamilyThe McDermott FamilyKip and Carol McGilliard

Clara McLeodBuz and Kimberly McOmberMicrosoft Matching Gifts ProgramDaniel and Anne Miller

The Montie FamilyMichael and Lynn MulcahyAntonio Munoz and Begona GarciaOcean Hill Collegiate Charter SchoolSarah Forbes OrwigTom and Shirley Fleming-Oxtoby

The Palomaki Family

Margaret Ride Peterson and FamilyReeths Puffer Middle SchoolMarian Reineke

Jennifer RhodesJames and Mary RobertsLinda Slagell and FamilyCody and Carrie Smith

Keith and Virginia Smith

St. Louis Christmas Carols AssociationStandard ProcessJeff and Ellen SteinwachsMike Stevens and Peggy Walker-StevensStifler Family FoundationBarbara W. StrawnMary StruckhoffA. Neil Sweeny and Family

The Daniel & Henry CompanyMichael and Jennifer Trippeer

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth ManagementThomas and Carolyn VaughanSusan W. VennAnna Kay Vorsteg and Vicki Boyd

WalmartWashington University AthleticsKristy WeberPatrick and Kim West

Whitehall District SchoolsJulia Gerber Woodward and Family

LEADERS CIRCLE($500+)

James W. AbshagenMartha Allard and James CartigliaPhoteine AnagnostopoulosBabson Capital Management, LLC.Joe BatyNancy Brokaw and FamilySusan J. BuckleyThe Cady FamilyAmy CampbellChristian and Carol CamposDaniel Cassidy and FamilyLouise Orcutt Cleveland and FamilyThe Rev. Robert M. Close, Jr.The Cobin Family

Commerce Bank of St. LouisCharles DanielAlice and Richard DickinsonDavid and Megan Dietrich

The Drew FamilyThe Drucker KidsWayne Duckworth and FamilyKimberly and Brad EarnestBruce EdwardsFrances Ekern and FamilyMarjorie Goetzke EntorfEdman and Virginia GrayRobert and Cynthia GrimmRobert and Sally HarrisonJennifer and Kenneth HarropThomas HaubenstrickerAmy JordanKaspick & CompanyJennifer Keller and Mary DeBisschopHeather and Douglas KileyJane KotenKuhn FoundationAva LancasterMelinda Love and Sean BryantMartha MacMillin and George PleskoLauren MarchElizabeth C. Marshall

Susan H. McLeodJohn and Nancy McMillanHeather McPhersonMalcolm McPherson and Deborah HooverLindsay MortonSusan M. MulcahyBill NicholsonMeg NystromPatrick O’HaginDr. Richard and Ethel PhillipsBarbara PiersonBarbara S. QuealJohn Reichenbach and FamilyMichael RobertsFlorea and Clay SansingThe Schantz FamilyElyn S. SchmitzCarolyn A. SharpP.J. SmithSusan Snedaker and FamilyEdie and Charles SpencerRobert SteigerKate SteinJanet G. StrubeMs. Kelly TappelThe Thomas FamilyGeraldine J. ThompsonRobert and Mary TrainerElizabeth and Gadalia Vainer

Michael and Donna WarrenRobert and Margaret WatsonPaul and Marianne WeichselbaumLinda and Nicholas WenriPhyllis Carrington Wertime and FamilyAnne Westerhold and FamilyDickson and Ann WhitneyMr. & Mrs. Delbert WilliamsonMary Jane Wiseman

PATHFINDERS CIRCLE($250+)

Carolyn Anderson and Barry EdwardsMark Arnold and Kathryn KochJay Aronson and Family

Thomas and Hunter BaileyBeaumont Consulting, Inc.Amy BeckerLaura BlissKregg BodilyAnn and Gregory Boren

Tucker BranhamJanice Biggs BraswellA. Jason BrauerE.Chandlee Bryan

Richard BurstKevin ByerleyThe Challoner FamilyJohn and Kay ClarkMarshal and Mary Ida ComptonCord Moving and StoragePaul Craun and FamilyPeter DiGasbarroCathleen Dorinson and FamilyDeborah DucarDerek FilcoffNeil Fisher and Meryl LooninFusion IT LLCDiane E. GabelhouseWayne and Margo GagnonR D Geddes TrustMichael and Nancy GoydaDave and Laura GrabowskyChristopher W. GreggKen GrosskopfSusan and James GullicksonKaren and Jesse GwidtD. Won and Myung HahnBeth HaneyBrooke M. HarringtonAmy Harvey and Jennifer TuckerMrs. Barbara HenrichsHoughton Mifflin Matched Giving ProgramAnne F. Hughes and Stanley Livingston

The Humphrey Family

Impressions DirectLiz and Daniel JacksonThe Jaeger FamilyJuliet JohnsonReese and Hollie JohnsonThe Kaplan FamilyThe Karr FamilyBen and Veronica KentDouglas and Heather KileyLisa KralinaJames LanganThomas Marshall and Judith Marshall JobbittMartin and Timoli MatthewsThe Maxeiner FamilyHugh and Caroline McLaughlinJulie and Steve Meadows

The American Youth Foundation extends our deepest gratitude to the following individuals, corpo-rations and foundations for their generous support of our programs and the children we serve.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. Please accept our sincere apologies for any errors or omissions.

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HONOR ROLL | Campaign and Contributor Donations, from January 1 to December 31, 2015

Dean and Pat Messinger

Tom and Anne MooreScott Moriearty and FamilyAndy and Molly MulcahyNetwork For GoodCatherine Okhuysen and Anne WilliamsonSteve OsbornSteven Parker and FamilyAmanda PerkinsCatherine PowellChloé RistoBarbara Roden and FamilyNancy RogersMallory RuschAdam RussellMarilyn R. ScheerbaumBrian and Sara SchneidewindManoochehr and Maryann SharifiBailey SheatsDavid SimmonsChristopher Spiek

Elizabeth SpinnerJulie and Donn StengeleMark TapperThe Thompson FamilyMaura TobinTom and Sharon TraftonFred Turner and FamilyBob and Nancy WagonerAlan WardRachel WatsonWeiss Family LLPCharlie WheelerBrad Whittaker and Caitlin Hughes-WhittakerAstrid Wielens and Bridget StearnsMatt ZiemianskiJoe Zuccarello

CHALLENGERS CIRCLE($100+)

Stephen M. AbbottWilliam and Dorothy AchorMark and Cindy AdamsSally and Robert AndersonHayley AnsonBenjamin Applebaum-BauchEverett and Sheryl AsmusPhil and Kathy BaggettNancy BaldwinMary BannisterKaren BaratzClarence BarksdaleReverend and Mrs. A. Otto Baumann, IIDouglas and Karen BeattieAnn and Harlan BeckemeyerRachel and Brad BeneTerri BennettThe Bhuyan FamilyThomas J. BlankeThe Bleeke FamilyAmy J. Bohigian

The Bowers FamilyMr. Henry W. Boyd IIITim and Martha BoydThomas G. BrackmanLynn H. BradleyMark BramerVincent and Jill BreschLarry and Debbie BrownThe Brown FamilyWill T. BrownEleanor BryanReba K. BullenEdward B. Burrow, Jr.The Bushouse FamilySandra and John ButlerCharles Cammack IIIAlan S. CampbellMeg CampbellThe Cannon FamilyIsabel CarrerasNadine ChalmersArlene S. Chamberlain

David ChernoffDavid and Debra ClarkePeter Claybaker and Kelley MaharLaurel ClaysonPenny Perkins CoffinChristi CollinsTimothy ConwayJames and Martha CookLara Cooper

Dr. Margaret H. CooperLannon Hoy Corley and FamilyTom CowanRoss Ann CraigElizabeth CrawfordHelen M. CrawfordNikki CrawfordAnn CrosbyCharles and Nola CroweBeverly CruteJiin CruzMargaret and Michael CurlGrace DanforthJamie and Nathan Daugherty

Helen DavisMary Pat DeaneThe Defoe FamilyKim Denney and Michael DoyleMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey DickNancy DickinsonArdath DixonDogwood Promotions, Inc.Hallie Dovich

Mark DrewAudrey DurruaElizabeth EarlySylvia EllisEye Health ServicesCarolyn A. FaberKatherine FalkDavid and Beverly FarrellBarbara J. FeltonDaniel and Katherine FerrissFrank and Eileen FieldTerry FinnColonel Jack D. Fisher

Dona Foerster and Family

Missy Foote and FamilyByron Foster and FamilyLafayette and Antoinette FrederickThe Gallagher FamilyThe Garner FamilySarah Garner and FamilyLaurie and Bruce GeiselLucy GintzPeter and Emily GloreBrian and Rebecca E. Goldstein, Esq.Larry and Nancy GoodlundDouglas GoodrichJeanne E. GoodwellKaren M. GraneBarbara J. GreigDavid and Debra GrimmMark and Cheryl GrimmPaul M. GrossThomsa E. HaasRobert HagemannDawn Hammersley

M. Kay HannahRobert Harlan and FamilyKathryn Mellis HarperDolores and Robert Harris

Adolph and Veronica HarrisDr. and Mrs. William R. HarveyTodd HavensEllis HayRobert and Michele HaydenPrudence HeaneyKeith and Sherrie HeffingtonThe Hegarty FamilyKatherine D. HeinCatherine Campbell Henn and FamilyCari HensleyAlix B. HillCarl and Sue HillNancy and Raymond HillShane HindeSarah Knight Hindle and Winston HindleLeslie and Bruce Hoffmeister

Sandra HolcombeShirley Ann Holt Hale and FamilyGwen HouserSusan Melson HuffmanJennifer HullHelaine R. HunscherJody Jones HunterKathryn R. Hunter

Mary and Ronald HustedJonathan and Sarah IgoeJoan and Richard InnisRobert and Ginny IstnickEileen and Sindelar IvanJohn HancockThe Johnson FamilyJanelle JonesThe Jones FamilyEli JudgeTodd and Sarah KallmanCarl and Marybeth KantnerElizabeth KantnerAleta KeelJeff Keiser

Ms. Mary V. KelmanMary KennedyKey Private BankMarilyn and Alan KieffaberC. Benjamin and Sondra KirbyPat and Lucy KirbyEmily and Greg KlimekPaula KlotzRandy and Laura KniffenKaren KnodtSara J. KremerWilliam and Pamela KuehlingEvelyn and Thomas KurtzRobert LamJana Lane and FamilyMariann Laue BakerDonna LeachLaura and Buddy LeachThe Lemaire FamilyJohn and Katy LillyPatricia A. LintalaRobert and Joan LohreyJean Ann and Charles LuckhardtLyndsey LunsfordElizabeth LupferKaylene LyonsFrank MaggiorottoSara Marblestone and Sheri TraceyJacob MartensenByron and Marianna MartinByron MartinellLeslie and GeorgeJay Todd MaxCarolyn C. McCollumRev. Amy E. and Brian McCreathCatherine McDonaldGregg MerzChristopher MilanoBeverly C. MillerJill Millis and FamilyKathy MillsLaura J. MohrScott and Jane MoldenErin S. MonoloWilliam and Martha MonroeJason MuchowAnne MuellerEd and Barb MumfordBrooks and Amy MurphyScott and Katie Myers

David NagyThe Nielsen FamilyPaul and Sheila NollenMr. Brian O’Loughlin and FamilyChristine and John OrsbornMary Tess O’SullivanSara and Matthew OttmanDorothy K. ParkerCarol ParonisWilliam and Debra PattersonBonnie and Evan PearsonMary PendletonAnne Pennock

Donor names in bold have made a multi-year pledge to the In Motion, On Mission Campaign. Denotes Eternal Flame Society Member

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26

Perinatal & Pediatric Services, IncKenneth and Margaret PerkinsLois PerryJennifer Pett-Ridge and FamilyJennifer and John PhilleyKarl and Doris PiersonSteven and Frances PiesbergenAnn and Jesse PittmanSuzie GordnerPollakWilliam PostonJeff Prince and Beth FirminDoris S. Pruitt-StrainSuzanne PullenJason and Amanda PurnellMs. Jan QuealGary and Christeen RaekerRancocas Valley Regional High SchoolJames and Helen RandelsPhillip RanneyNancy RatliffJames RedmondJanet Reece

Kimberly ReedLyndsey and Blate ReichardtJane A. ReynoldsSandra Nelson RichardsonDon and Deborah RileyCharles RimmerMs. Roy B. RinehartJames RingwaldJean RobertsonElizabeth B. RoghairRichard and Victoria RubinScott RuppertClare and Frank SanfordMelissa Sarver

SAP Software SolutionsThomas and Carole SawaSteven SchrepperJames Schultz and Lela IveyThomas and Kathleen SchweichGinger G. ScottShouhei SennoMary Margaret SequinoHarry ShapiroJohn SheaDennis and Patricia SheidlerJoshua and Brie ShelleyBillie Shelton and FamilyLinda S. ShirkJanet Silvester and FamilyBill and Peggy SlyCarey SmithDouglas Smith and FamilyBecky Smith

Nancy Solon and FamilyThe Sonricker Family

Laura K. SpenceEva M. StahlJacob and Karen StampenThe Stemmler FamilyGladys StevensonBruce J. Stuckel

William C. Stude, Jr.Summer Seminars for WomenThe Swanson FamilyLuella SwisherPiroska L. SzaboAshley TarkingtonMichael Tchou

Keith TebbeCarol TeenerJeanne and Mitchell TomlinsonThe Twiddy FamilyFred VahleJean Van BuskirkMargaret Van CleveNorma Jean Vavra KleinBetsy Vicente and FamilyThomas and Lynn WahleStuart WalkerJohn and Vicki WallerDr. Charlotte WardChad Warner

Jane and James WeingartnerGail and Randy WellerAmy WendholtMarla WesterholdP. Cooper and Debbie WhiteJames Williams and FamilyBeth WilsonKatherine Wissman

Nancy and William WittkampDouglas WoodwardAaron WrightHolley Young

DARERS CIRCLE($1+)

Andrew and Grace AbelCharla Abernathy

Tisha AchornDeborah K. AhrensArden AlexanderBarbara J. AndersonMichael AndreaniCaroline AnsonKathleen and Judson Armstrong

Erik and Meghan ArnoldJudy Baker and Barry BakerBonnie BarenholtzGerry BarnettDoreen and Billy BeaudetteStephanie BeckmanEva BednarWilliam BehrRichard and Barbara BellMeg BergenLance BernhardtSteve Bernstein and Amy LittleBarbara and Douglas BerryJan Conversano and James BeslSara Lou BicknellKerry BjorkmanChristy L. BlandElizabeth BlewGeorge Bohigian and FamilyLisa and Barry BoucherJohn Ford BowyerMelissa A. BoyleCindy BrewbakerRuth BrittonJulie S. BrownMolly Browning and FamilyMerrill BuettnerGrace BurghoffNancy E. BurkeKatie BurrowsSarah CaliendoRev. CammackDennis CaplingerNoble CarpenterJohn and June CarterTheodore Christner and Claudia TrautmannStacy Chriswell

Abigail ClaeysBradley and Mary CollinsDr. and Mrs. Thomas D. CollinsSally H. ConnellJames and Patricia CookPeggy Mill CopelandMrs. Elizabeth H. Cornelius

Adrian CossCatherine E. CoxMary CravenThe Curtis FamilyJerry and Ellen DaltonThe Davidson FamilyClark and Karen DavisThe Davis FamilyDell Giving / Your Cause, LLCLoren DentonTracie DetwilerBetty J. DeWittBarbara Ruhl DeYoung and FamilyMarcella L. DeysherJanet and J. Edward DiamondShannon DickersonGerald and Joan DiehlBarbara D. Doerrer-PeacockNatalie DohrJoann M. DonhamRachel D’Souza - SiebertTauna and Douglas DurandMr. and Mrs. Karl EberhardTessa EndressScott EvansTod EwingKristy FalconBrigitte FalwellChris FarrarWilliam Feiler and Patricia FeilerAlan B. FeltmarchMrs. Evelyn FergusonSuzanne Lilly FerrallAmy FikesFrancille and John FirebaughMatthew FitchCarol FitzsimmonsJohn and Anne FoltzCarol and Loren FordRobert and Sylvia FrankMark Gabrenya and FamilyVirginia Bollman GalleMary GatesFred and Vicki GatlingSharran L GavinHenry and Mary Kay GempelerMrs. Peggy Piper GissendannerMilt and Maggie GonzalesGrace GoodmanAndrew GossardJane and David GossardJean Marie GossardPamela GoudyElizabeth GowanAnne GrahamThomas Grossman and FamilyThe Grubb FamilyDonna GrunikLaura HaasFrank HackmannSuzanne HalmDavid E. HanpeterNorma B. Harlow

Bob Harmon and Carolyn Metzger HarmonBeth HasekWilmar and Marie HaubenstrickerThe Heininger FamilyElizabeth HerrCyrena HightJeff HilerCalista L. HillmanRuth HintzFrederick S. HirdKathryn HodgdonMimi S. HolmesStefani HolmesGwendolyn Hood and FamilyMichal T. HoraceElizabeth HowlandStuart HuffmaniDesignWilliam IrelandWael and Roxanne JaberJane Rosborough JacksonMelvin JenkinsDouglas and Beverly JensenHeidi and Jim JohnsonTerri and John JohnsonCecil and Lisa JunkinNancy and Charles KaelberJanet KarrDorothy KeenceHannah KennedyKeren and Taylor FamilyFaith KilloughFlora E. KitzmanDaniel KocarnikJudy and Michael KoehlClarence and Marilyn KohringAnn and Lionel KreamerJane KuipersMichael LalliLiza LanphierElizabeth and Stephen LazowskiMary Lee-ClarkMax LeslieMrs. Geneva LewisJill LewisLes and Jill LinderPeter and Margaret LinkEileen Dressel LischerJeanne D. LischerChristopher Litterio and FamilyPhyllis LittleThe Litwiller FamilyMatthew LitzingerJo Wang Loi and FamilyStephanie LookenbillMegan LumnahMarc LusskinBrad LutzKathleen Madrey FisherDavid MagoonWill and Annie MalanHerman ManuelHarriet Marshall

HONOR ROLL | Campaign and Contributor Donations, from January 1 to December 31, 2015

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Anthony MarvulloCarol Maus and FamilyChristopher MayerJoseph and Marlene MayerBarbara Cosner McCabeHerschel and Mardell McClurkin

Gale and Martin McDermentElizabeth McDonnellSarah McDowellEmily McIntoshSean McIntoshAlisa and Robert McKenrickJames McWilsonDonna and Robert MeagherSuzanne and Thomas MeirinkAlec and Deborah MelnickRebecca MelnickKathryn MeyerBarbara J. MichaelMarjorie MillerCurt and Jane MillimanEmily MillimanJoseph and Kathryne MitchellThomas and Nancy MohsMonsanto FundRebecca and Bruce MontgomeryMary MooneyCarolyn J. L. MooreEric Moore and Julia WolfeMary MorningstarTony MorrisBill MorrisMichael and Mary MotykaMichael and Joan MullenStephen Murrill and FamilyHelen and Jack NaleidMary Cooper NelsonMarty NeumanBruce and Marcia NewtonCarolyn Ohle and Todd CooperSarah and Katsuo OkumaMary OlchSverre Olsen and FamilyWilliam Orndorff and FamilyWilson and Joanne OverallGinger and Michael Partee

Hannah PattersonSarah L. PaughW. RobertPascual PerazzoEdward PetersStuart and Debbie Pettitt

Alexandra PhilippidesAnnie PiffelLois and Ron PollardMartin and Mary ProudfootSharlyn and Stephen RadcliffeKristin and Michael ReckKaren RedfearnDouglas ReevesCaroline ReinstadtlerBrent ReppThe Resch FamilyLaurie Rinehart-ThompsonCaroline and Wilbert RobertsonPaul and Susie RobillardMarty and Ann RobinsonJim RosboroughLisa RosenbeckDarius RuckerGary Ruggiero and FamilyHelene Saunders and FamilyJulia SchenckTrisha Schleusner and Corey VollinkRonald and Jane SchollLesley and Thomas SchuldtD & G SeymourRaymond and Carol ShanabruchJohn A. ShearerWill SheltonSarah Shepherd-BrowningBrad ShivelyWilliam and Patricia SimmonsChristofer SimontonJudy and William Sindecuse Hayden Amy SkalinderMonica SmithRoss SmithLeslie R. SnyderJohn and Mary Lee Sonderman

Kenneth SorensenMargaret StammTyler StengeleSusan StewartThe Stillman FamilySarah Stillman

Alan and Linda StockdaleJean StorchScott and Carol StrawnJanet StreiffAnna SylvesterJean E. TannerNancy TellierMichelle ThompsonDr. Margaret E. TownerBarbara Trzebiatowska and Natalie NowickiUnited Way Silicon ValleyCharlene UrbanSusan and Donald VercruysseAmy von der HeydtRobert WalrondCinda Lou WaltonDr. and Mrs. Donald L. WeaverStephen WebsterGene WeeksNancy WeidnerVirginia WellesKelley and Kyle WescoeMichael WestWest Mound InvestorsKatherine Westgate and FamilyKatie Whelan and John DallmanLauren WhiteStephen WhiteRuth and Charles WhitemanN. Jane WhittonDavid and Mary WickerCourtney WiherWendell and Mary WilliamsEmily WillinghamThe Wolf FamilyKelley and Bruce WolffRobert and Pamela WunderGordon and Lana Yaney

Dwight ZieglerHelen Ziercher

HONOR/MEMORIALIn honor of Girls Camp Reunion 2015

Karen Baratz Amy Becker Meg Bergen Amy J. Bohigian Ann and Gregory Boren The Cannon Family Christi Collins Lara Cooper Elizabeth Crawford Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Dick Diane E. Gabelhouse The Gallagher Family Karen and Jesse Gwidt Amy Harvey and Jennifer Tucker Elizabeth Herr Mimi S. Holmes Gwendolyn Hood and Family The Humphrey Family Liz and Daniel Jackson Jory Johnson and Family Janelle Jones Emily and Greg Klimek Emily and Dennis Knuth Harold and Susan LaPine Elizabeth and Stephen Lazowski Rev. Amy E. and Brian McCreath Buz and Kimberly McOmber Vanette McKinney and Family Barbara J. Michael Jennifer and John Philley Christine and John Orsborn The Pillsbury Foundation Jennifer Rhodes Nancy Rogers Clare and Frank Sanford Deborah A. Seidel Amy Skalinder P.J. Smith Nancy Solon and Family Eva M. Stahl Janet G. Strube Mary Struckhoff Susan W. Venn Susan and Donald Vercruysse Julia Gerber Woodward and Family Katie Woodward Holley YoungIn honor of YG Cabin 30 of 1971

Sarah Forbes Orwig In honor of Bruce Barmby

Kip and Carol McGilliard In memory of Roberta Blanding

Sara Lou BicknellIn honor of Ann B. Boren

Grace GoodmanIn memory of Thomas P. Bowlus

Robert Harlan and FamilyIn memory of Susan Lee Bowyer

John Ford Bowyer

In memory of Bill Comfort

Michael and Nancy GoydaIn honor of the Danny Grads

Jane KotenIn memory of Ming Djang and Chung Kuo Liao

Catherine Dugan Thomas Liao & Beverly Sha and Grace LiaoIn memory of Sue Hartman

Amy JordanIn memory of Nilva Jean Henderson

Ann Crosby Cecil and Lisa Junkin Florea and Clay SansingIn memory of Wendell Herring

Eileen Dressel LischerIn honor of Patricia Cobb Jones

Anna Kay Vorsteg and Vicki BoydIn honor of Elliot Kastner

Stifler Family FoundationIn honor of Heather Kiley

Kristy WeberIn memory of Sandra P. Kirkbride

Charla Abernathy Kerry Bjorkman Merrill Buettner David Chernoff Clark and Karen Davis Gerald and Joan Diehl Tauna and Douglas Durand Mrs. Peggy Piper Gissendanner

Elizabeth Gowan Anne Graham Donna Grunik Suzanne and Thomas Meirink Wilson and Joanne Overall Jean Robertson John and Mary Lee Sonderman Charlene Urban Helen ZiercherIn Honor of Susan Marshall LaPine

Janelle JonesIn honor of Eric and Brian MacMillin

Martha MacMillin and George PleskoIn memory of Florence L. Mahler

Allen Mahler and family

HONOR ROLL | Campaign and Contributor Donations, from January 1 to December 31, 2015

Donor names in bold have made a multi-year pledge to the In Motion, On Mission Campaign. Denotes Eternal Flame Society Member

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28

In honor of Elizabeth C. Marshall

The Johnson FamilyIn memory of Jennifer Mason

Marilyn and Alan Kieffaber The Mason Family Monsanto FundIn Honor of Mary Ingalls Mathewson

Sylvia EllisIn honor of Erin K. O’Brien

The Karr Family Janet Karr Courtney WiherIn memory of Earnest Ohle

Carolyn Ohle and Todd CooperIn memory of James Preston Orwig

Dr. Margaret E. TownerIn honor of Jacob and Anne Palomaki’s 50th wedding Anniversary

Alix B. HillIn honor of William, Debra, and Margaux Patterson

Phillip RaneyIn honor of Chloé Risto

Carolyn A. Faber Beth Wilson Anonymous

In memory of Edward and Bernadette Schuette

Julie and Donn StengeleIn memory of Shirley Shearman

Gerry Barnett Grace Burghoff Jerry and Ellen Dalton Tracie Detwiler Henry and Mary Kay Gempeler Thomas Haubenstricker Wilmar and Marie Haubenstricker Cyrena Hight Katherine Falk Donna Leach Laura and Buddy Leach Herman Manuel Kathryn Meyer Thomas and Nancy Mohs Lois and Ron Pollard Suzanne Pullen Shouhei Senno Linda Slagell and Family Jacob and Karen Stampen Gladys Stevenson Janet Streiff Robert and Mary Trainer

Weiss Family LLP Mr. & Mrs. Delbert Williamson Dwight Ziegler AnonymousIn memory of Helen Sheidler

R D Geddes Trust David Nagy Dennis and Patricia SheidlerIn honor of Linda Smith

Kelley and Kyle WescoeIn honor of PJ Smith

Karen Baratz Ann and Gregory Boren Tucker Branham Sarah Shepherd-Browning Stacey and Phil Corcoran Mary Craven Margaret and Michael Curl Edman and Virginia Gray Karen and Jesse Gwidt Amy Harvey and Jennifer Tucker Elizabeth Herr Gwendolyn Hood and Family The Humphrey Family Liz and Daniel Jackson Janelle Jones

Harold and Susan LaPine Stephanie Lookenbill Sara Marblestone and Sheri Tracey Barbara J. Michael Susan M. Mulcahy Sarah Forbes Orwig Jennifer and John Philley Marty and Ann Robinson Nancy Solon and Family Susan Stewart Julia Gerber Woodward and FamilyIn honor of Anna Kay Vorsteg and Vicki Boyd

Kathryn Hodgdon In honor of Anna Kay Vorsteg

Houghton Mifflin Matched Giving Program Jane KotenIn memory of Martha Wasson

Photeine Anagnostopoulos Bonnie Barenholtz Noble Carpenter Janet and J. Edward Diamond Eye Health Services Fred and Vicki Gatling

Pamela Goudy Dave and Laura Grabowsky Thomas and Molly Grossman Suzanne Halm Joan and Richard Innis Eileen and Sindelar Ivan Key Private Bank David Magoon Elizabeth McDonnell Perinatal & Pediatric Services, Inc. Raymond and Carol Shanabruch David Simmons Joseph and Marlene TootIn memory of Louise Hoerner Williamson

Thomsa E. HaasClare and Frank SanfordIn honor of Eugenia Zavaleta

Jane Koten

HONOR ROLL | Campaign and Contributor Donations, from January 1 to December 31, 2015

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29

Old Chairs to MendSONGS OF THE FOUNDER FIRE

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCHSTAY CONNECTED WITH THE AYF

AYF.COMSame online home, new best self look!

With a year-round blog, calendar, videos, and photo galleries of programs and events, we hope the fresh feel makes it easier for you to stay up-to-date on all things AYF.

@SOCIALMEDIAIf you just can’t wait for Volunteer Weekend, you can always connect online with Merrowvista or Miniwanca (or both!):

SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH USIf you have experienced an AYF program, directly or indirectly, we invite you to complete a brief survey in order to inform AYF’s programming and planning.

Please log onto: surveymonkey.com/r/ayfmission

It will be available to complete until December 31, 2016.

1.

Chairs

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Enthusiastically reintroduced by Neil Sweeny, and joyously embraced by the Merrowvista community.

Sung in a three part round

Page 32: My own self, At my very best, All the time” · we find the moral courage to be upstanders, not bystanders? In response, Marilyn began to talk of the things that link all of us,

“My own self, At my very best, All the time”

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDST. LOUIS, MO

PERMIT NO. 5283

American Youth Foundation www.ayf.com

Merrowvista147 Canaan Rd.

Ctr. Tuftonboro, NH 03816 603-539-6607

Development Office6357 Clayton Rd.

Saint Louis, MO 63117 314-719-4343

Miniwanca8845 W. Garfield Rd.

Shelby, MI 49455 231-861-2262


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