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Occupancy Obtained! THANK YOU

It’s true. Occupancy for the Bethany Birches Cabin has been granted. Here’s the proof, in fact.

This post is about the people who made it happen and what happened. THANK YOU!

What happened:

About a year ago we were informed we’d need to stop using the cabin April 1, 2012
The board and I struggled to find a way forward – including how to pay for the upgrades
Many people gave of their financial resource generously. Without these folks, we couldn’t have done it: First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Doug and Becky Clemens, Dave and Beth Anders, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Bernard Sippin and many others.
$75,000 poured in over just a few months.
$65,000 has been spent and we’re done meeting the requirements! We expect to use the “extra” toward a few details in the cabin and any additional toward the upcoming Pavilion replacement. Please do write to me (Brandon) if you’d prefer your gift to be allocated differently.
The fire marshals were kind and flexible and helped us create a building that is much safer in case of fire.

Some of the people: (THANK YOU)

Robert Buchan – helping with permitting and lending knowledge
Paul Derksen & Dave Beidler – carpenters working at a discount seeing the project through
Bergey’s Electric – giving materials and sending retired veterans
Harold & Esther Bergey, Herb & Janet Frederick – the retired vertans
Mike Bryan – overseeing the electrical at a discount
Many volunteers came to help
- The Horsts (Earl, Merle, Mike & Clifford Horst)
- Joanne & Ken Hershey
- Leon Kratz
- Andrew Moyer
- Matt Haritoonian
- Greg Jenne
- Gerry Hawkes
- Kristopher Blanchard
- Scott Hepler
- Dave Doria
- Tom & Gail Smith
- Mary Jane Crockett
- Margaret Campbell
- Diane Root

THANK YOU!

Some pictures from the first first stage

Some pictures from the second stage:

How the lofts look upon completion:

Cabin progress – loft ceilings – killer ski cabin near Killington & Okemo

I am encouraged at the speed with which Dave Beidler is moving along in the cabin. Larry Wilfong joined in to help him recently and they’ve been putting the ceiling in the lofts.

Fire Marshal stopped by yesterday to have a peek. He was pleased.

I continue to be thankful for the many folks who gave to make this necessary project possible. The cabin is going to be an even better, inexpensive location to host your ski trip in the Green Mountains.

Rent the cabin.

Pictures updated:

Help on Sat. Dec. 8

Greetings!

This Saturday, December 8, we could use your help. Here’s what’s going on:

Painting of the easiest kind – priming a brand new wall with nothing on it!
Installing a sub-floor in a basement
Putting the ice rink boards up if time and weather allow

If you can come, just reply in the comments and let me know your time-frame. Even a couple hours will be helpful.

Tuna

Mid-Week Ski Deals

If you like to ski/snowboard/spend time in the green mountains in the winter AND you care deeply about furthering God’s Kingdom here on Earth, keep reading! BBC has developed a wonderful opportunity for your passions to intersect:

We are offering a rate of $15/person/night for midweek rentals this winter. This offer is good for any church-going group starting NOW through April 2013. You must reserve a minimum of 2 nights and cannot combine this offer with any others. You’ll be eligible for the whole cabin with 10 more than 10 people. Minimum of 4 people or $60 charge. Mention the “church goer” discount when making your reservation.

It’s a win win! You get to enjoy a few days of adventure in the snowy green mountains all while helping BBC continue working towards helping youth develop their relationship with God.

To make a reservation visit this page or email camp@bethanybirches.org or call 802-672-5220.

Hope to see you this winter!

Fire Marshal Update – round 2

Some pics from the beginnings of round 2, cabin & fire marshal. Stay tuned for picture progress.

Newsletter 2012: Encouragement in the Face of Challenge

We knew it was going to be a challenge – I remember being in a beautiful place after my frustration subsided upon the fire marshal’s departure. The kind of place in which it’s clear that though this is going to be a hard road to walk, it’s going to be good. It’s a road that God has paved. And it was. Not only did we receive grace from the fire marshal and volunteers but many gave money. And by the end of December, we should be completed with the cabin fire safety project.

And now we find ourselves facing another challenge: the construction of a new pavilion. Lots could be said about this project but that will be the topic of future newsletters. Right now the thing to know is that we’ve begun the fundraising effort. We’re calling the effort Mission Possible: The Pavilion Project. If you have a contribution you’re compelled to make and you’d like to talk about your gift, please contact me at the office (802-672-5220) or by email (brandon@bethanybirches.org).

The third challenge on my mind as I write is the mission the camp has been given – to help young people develop their relationship with God by providing them with a Christ-centered camping experience in a natural and nurturing environment. Inherent is a challenge for staff and campers alike. While we (donors, volunteers, staff) are the helpers, it is the young person and God that must do the relationship building. To become Christ-centered while creating a natural and nurturing setting is a life-long work for each of us. If we can accomplish it, the world will be changed. As Mission Possible states in its theme verse, this sort of change is only possible with God (Matt. 19:26).

And that’s the encouraging part: that seemingly impossible things are possible. Then the challenge of life becomes not how to build that building or how to repair a broken relationship but how to join up with the God who instead makes things possible. If we are willing, God will help in that endeavor too.

Brandon Bergey (Alias: Tuna)

Newsletter 2012: Community of Love: 10th Annual Benefit Auction

Voices chattered against the drone of the cider press as we walked through the fog towards the pavilion. This was the 10th year for the annual event; but my first in attending. The heavy air was not enough to dampen the number of early birds who, by 9:00 am had already gathered to survey the inventory. Huddled bodies milled about the pavilion clasping respective cups of coffee and hot cider. A fire burned in the hearth. I received a free donut and a cup of coffee from Anna Hepler. As the crowd grew, the scene turned warmer. Conversations erupted amidst the silent auction tables. Old friends re-united at the home-made donut dispensary. Ted Shattuck and I both remarked on how long it had been since we had last seen each other. Just before 10 AM, as the sun began to filter through the mist, the auction was underway.

I took a seat next to Brian Goshow, who graciously allowed me to look over his shoulder at the auction manifest every five minutes. The morning slowly built into a raucous occasion full of laughter, bid and counter-bid, and banter all of which were led with the hearty energies of auctioneer Sandy Alderfer. I would be hard pressed to find anyone who would be able to pinpoint a climax during the auction. For some, it was the high cadence of the bidding for Matt Maxham’s side table, eventually won by Jed Dickinson, (or was that Norm Koop’s hand that went up at the last minute?). For some, it might have been the strong supporting bids towards camper sponsorship. And for others, it might have been the donuts hand made by the Hershey-Lapp family.

The highlight for me however was witnessing the broad spectrum of participants who had gathered to share in the event. As I sat with friends from Lancaster PA and from Woodstock Vermont, from Burlington and from Philly, I was aware that it indeed takes all of us to make this event and this camp the great thing that it is.

Seth Shaw

Newsletter 2012: Mission Possible: The Pavilion Project

How has BBC touched your life?

It would be interesting to gather all the stories and memories made by different people at camp. We became involved when we took some young adults from our church to camp for a service weekend. Then we took our family and volunteered for a week, and then volunteered this summer for a week as camp shepherds.

The theme for this summer was “Inside Out” and one of the daily themes was “Big Things in Small Packages”. As we stood inside the pavilion with over fifty 12-14 year olds, we all shared how BBC is a BIG thing in a small package. It is BIG because it is a place where kids feel safe and loved. It is BIG because it is the first place campers learn of God’s kingdom and unconditional love. It is BIG because of the positive impact on everyone there, from the campers, to the staff, to the volunteers. It is BIG because it continues to offer opportunities for these kids to come back time and time again. Did you know that many of the staff are former campers? Do you know how many families send multiple kids there, for many years?

The pavilion needs help, and soon you will hear more about MISSION POSSIBLE: The Pavilion Project. There is a group of people who have volunteered to help on the funding side, and we are called the Resource Development Team (RDT). Our charge is to help keep camp going for another 50 years, by supporting a campaign to fund a new pavilion. The “pavi” (short for pavilion) is the heart of BBC facility, and it needs help. Each person on the RDT has already made specific time and monetary commitments to this campaign. We can’t call others to do the same until we’ve put our money where our mouth is!

Consider how BBC has influenced you… your family… your own journey with Jesus. Think and pray about how you can commit to support camp and its campaign for the Pavi. Talk about it with your family and friends. As Tuna says, nothing at camp has been accomplished alone… it takes a village to raise a Pavi.

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Beth Goshow (alias: Flo)

Final Auction Numbers & Pictures!

Last year, the 9th Annual Benefit Auction happened less than a month after Tropical Storm Irene brought devastating effects to Vermont. The Auction Committee had a brief meeting to decide whether to continue on with the auction. We decided to give it a try… the auction raised $31,869 (gross) in 2011. That was an amazing for the camp auction! The highest auction number before 2011 was in the mid $20K.

I think auction success in 2011 owes thanks to a gift certificate program to help local business, stirred emotions from things like power outages and road closures and a lot of generous people.

To what does the auction owe it’s success this year? Over $33,000 was raised (gross) – $33, 538 in fact! If you were at the auction or inspired by it in any way and have some insight on how this year’s auction raised even more money than last year leave a comment, please.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all those who gave generously to support the mission of Bethany Birches Camp and help subsidize camp programs so any camper can come regardless of financial reality!

Quick Links

Some pictures of Irene destruction
2012 Lot list with prices written in

Pictures from the day

Auction Item Prices

I love the Annual Benefit Auction! Thanks to Phil, Billy and Mary, (Lapp, Sneed & Moyer) we had about 370 doughnuts available at no charge. There were something like 30 left at the end of the day. There were about 120 there. Do the math. Almost 3 doughnuts per person!

There will be more to say about it, but right now, I just wanted to highlight an interesting document – the lot list with prices. It’s astounding. When I read through this I think – WHOA – what a faithful group of supporters!

Here’s to all of you that help make the camp happen 😀

2012 auction lot list with prices

Mark your calendars for next September!

Tuna