Update At a Glance
It's been a while since we had a Camp Update. We have some
really great things to share with you.
We are happy to report that congratulations are in order. In the past couple of months you have helped
us accomplish a great deal including saving the
camp from privatization. Your efforts across the state saved the camp and its
programs. The Friends did not sit and whine.
Weve worked together and made a difference that will continue the camp
and its programs into the future.
Efforts included:
1. Speaking before the FWC on behalf of the camp in
Tallahassee and Kissimmee
2. Leading a support drive in the Legislature for camp funding
3. Start of planning and projects at the camp
4.
Organizing a strategy session with FWC staff to look at long range plans for
the camp and its programs.
As a result, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission is taking leadership in working toward long-term support and
expanding the use of the facility with our continued assistance as a citizen
support organization.
Since establishment of our group, during the January Reunion, your Board of Directors and a troop of
volunteers have been busy working to establish and provide support and
improvements to the camp. Committees are already at work and more are forming.
The support base of interested people and our email list are also growing. In
addition to what's already been mentioned, look at what's been accomplished:
After being closed for 8 years the camp is back in
operation. Just 3 years of operational data indicates the camp is meeting a
demand:
Camper Attendance
2001 Boys Girls Total Income
235 25
260 $58,500
2002 Boys Girls Total
Income
254 43
297 $74,250
2003 Boys Girls Total
Income
361 66
427 $106,750
The word is getting out and attendance is growing. From this
data, we are also seeing that the camp can generate income in its operation.
Your donations and hours of project time have made possible
the construction and donation of 11 picnic tables, the donation of instructional
materials, plant & animal identification books, maps, and other reference
books. In addition, half of the informational kiosk adjacent the parking area
has been refurbished. Dana Ste. Claire also presented from the Friends an award
of recognition, The Denver Ste. Claire Award for Outstanding Effort in
Supporting and Promoting YCC and Environmental Education for Youth, to board
member Secretary Eleanor (Ella) Foerste for her
help in retaining the camp in the budget during the legislative session.
We have come a long way in one year! Thank you again for all
of your help.
HELP- A
Call for ACTION NOW! The Governor has cut both of the camp director
positions out of his version of the budget and the Everglades is already making
plans to privatize. Based on the recent budget news, it is critical that we get testimonials
that explain what the camp has meant to you both from a personal development
and professional development standpoint. Are you doing what you are doing now
because of camp? How has it helped you? We need your info now so we can get the
info to the appropriate legislative and staff folks. HELP us please. We need
the info as soon as possible! Email them to
scrivenerlf@695online.com. Call me if you have any questions-
407-348-2175.
Ella Cummings Foerste
Camp Reunion A Success!!
Fifty former camp staff, campers and guests attended the recent reunion,
January 18 and 19, 2003, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Youth Conservation
Education Program. The reunion was held at the Ocala Youth Camp, formerly known
as the Youth Conservation Camp, located at the Hunter Education Training Center
at Lake Eaton.
Attendees reminisced, viewed photo albums and slide collections and shared camp
stories. Some fished, hiked, canoed, shivered and ate so'mores at the
campfire. Jim Buckner, a local resident and former camp staff lead a guided
nature hike around the Lake Eaton Sinkhole located northeast of the camp.
Photos will be available soon on the Friends of the Ocala Youth Camp website.
(https://yccfriendsocala.tripod.com/)
Individual donations and a silent auction generated approximately $400 to pay
for the lease of the Fore Lake Group Camp so summer camp participants have a
place to swim!
Reunion participants also donated items for conservation education including
topographic maps, specimens, posters and a mounted 10 point buck head. Group
members also donated two original pen and ink drawings that were artworks drawn
for covers of the Commission's Florida Wildlife Magazine in the 50's. The
drawings were once part of the camp's Conservation Room wildlife displays.
Bylaws were adopted and officers elected.
Chair- Dana Ste.
Claire, Ponte Vedra heritagesrvcs@aol.com
Vice Chair- Jeff
Marr, Ocala
marr1257@mfi.net
Secretary- Ella Foerste,
Kissimmee elforest@aol.com
Treasurer- Bill
Bondank, Ocala coolteacherfl@yahoo.com
Historian-Grady
Caffin, Brandon
gmclrc@gte.net
Working committees were established so sign up to help on one of the following:
Events (2004 Reunion
and work party planning)
Development (fund
raising, grants, volunteers, donated materials)
Public Relations
(promote the facility, help recruit staff and campers, web site, etc.)
Facilities (assist
Greg with improvements)
Sign up, suggestions and comments can be forwarded to the officers or posted to
the comments page on the website.
IMPORTANT NEWS
Next FOYCC/FYCC Reunion is
set for Martin Luther King weekend, January 17 & 18, 2004
Greg has cancelled
the May 3 work party but we still need to get together to help build picnic
tables. Let Ella know if you can help. More on specific needs and help
wanted will be posted on the website soon!
2003 Summer Camp
staff training June 16-20
Sessions for Campers, June 23-27
June 30-July 4
July 7-11
July 14-18
July 21-25
Needs:
Scholarships for needy kids (ask hunting and fishing clubs and businesses for a
tax deductable donation of $250 per youth)
Kids to come to camp. We need to fill the camp and have a waiting list to
demonstrate the need for the camp. Call Greg for brochures and send folks to
the newly revised camp website. http://floridaconservation.org/huntered/camp/
The camp website has been redesigned and it looks really nice with everything
on one page.
Bylaws of the Friends
of the Ocala Youth Camp/Youth Conservation Camp
as approved by membership 01/19/03
Article I - Organization/Corporate Name
The name of this organization/corporation is Friends of the Ocala
Youth Camp/Youth Conservation Camp, herein after called FOYC/FYCC.
Article II - Organization/Corporation
Purpose
The FOYC/FYCC is a not for profit organization/corporation dedicated to the
perpetuation and support of the conservation education and outdoor recreational
programs of the Ocala Youth
Camp located at the Hunter Education Training Center on Lake Eaton in the Ocala
National Forest.
Article III
Membership
- Any
person who is interested in the purposes of the group may become a
member
- To
become a member, individuals must be included on the Membership List
by supply their name, mailing address, email, phone number, occupation,
and
their link to the camp for networking and communications purposes
- Any
member conducting him/herself in a manner not acceptable to the purpose of
the FOYC/FYCC will be subject to expulsion by a majority vote of
the board of directors.
Article IV Meeting
- General
Membership Meetings will be held once a year during the Annual
Reunion at the Ocala Youth Camp/Youth Conservation Camp. Date and time
will be determined at the previous annual meeting.
- The
Officers/Board Members will meet quarterly at the Ocala Youth
Camp/Youth Conservation Camp, at a date and time to be determined by the
Officers.
1.
This meeting is open to the FOYC/FYCC membership wishing to
attend.
2.
Only Officers and Board Members have voting power at these
meeting.
3.
Officers and Board Members reserve the right to exclude
visitors from
discussion of FOYC/FYCC business.
4.
Officers and Board Members reserve the right to call emergency
meetings
as deemed necessary.
- A
quorum at a general meeting is any number of members present plus a
minimum of two (2) officers.
- ROBERTS
RULES OF ORDER will govern all meetings.
Article V Officers
The officers of the FOYC/FYCC shall
consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian.
The Chairman shall preside over all
meetings and shall appoint other members to perform specific tasks of the
FOYC/FYCC.
The Vice Chairman shall preside in
the absence of the Chairman. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings
and file all correspondence for the FOYC/FYCC and post to the website within 30
days.
The Treasurer shall:
- Provide
an annual revenue/expenditure report with appropriate narrative to the
membership at the annual meeting or upon request of a member.
- Create
and maintain an account for all funds and donations handled by the FOYC.
- Secure
a quorum approval prior to expenditures of said fund. This can be secured via emails, written
or verbal consensus.
- All
checks will require two signatures; one by the treasurer and one other
officer.
Article VI - Board of
Directors
The Board of Directors consists of five (five) elected
officers.
Article VII -
Nominations and Elections
A.
Elections of officers will be held once a year at the Annual
Meeting.
B.
A nominating committee of three appointees/volunteers will be
established by the officers and Board Members to oversee all elections
activities as follows:
a. Seek out nominees and secure their interest.
b. Count ballots
c. Report results to the membership.
C.
Nominations for elected positions will be accepted from both
the
nominating committee and the General membership at the General Membership
Meeting.
D.
The newly elected Officers will take office at the close of
the meeting.
Article VIII -Terms of Office
A.
The term of office will be from one General Meeting through
the next.
B.
Any vacated position
will be filled by appointment of the Board unless the vacated position is that
of the Chair, in which event, the Vice Chair will fill the position, for the
remainder of the term.
Article IX Voting
A.
Issues coming before the board shall be voted on by FOYC/FYCC
officers.
B.
Issues coming before the general membership shall be voted
upon by a
show of hands and decided by the majority of those voting, a majority being 50
percent plus 1.
Article X - Dismissal
from Elected Office
A.
Failure to attend two consecutive Board meetings will be
considered
grounds for dismissal from elected FOYC/FYCC Office.
B. Dismissal from office requires a simple majority vote of the Officers.
Article XI -
FOYC/FYCC Records.
A.
Financial records shall be audited by an internal auditing
committee appointed by
the FOYC/FYCC officers on an annual basis.
B.
Complete record of all current FOYC/FYCC members shall be kept
by the
Secretary.
C.
All FOYC/FYCC records shall be open and available to all
FOYC/FYCC
members upon request.
Article XII -
Amendments to By-Laws
A.
Bylaw of the FOYC/FYCC can be amended by a majority vote.
B.
Pending amendments to the Bylaws shall be made available for
review at least 30 days prior to the General Meeting.
C.
Proposed amendments by any member must be made to the Board at
least 45 days prior to the general meeting.
Article XIII -
Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the FOYC/FYCC, all assets will be donated to the
Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
Adopted January 19, 2003
Dana Ste. Claire, Chairman
Jeff Marr, Vice Chair
Bill Bondank, Treasurer
Eleanor C. Foerste, Secretary
Grady Caffin, Historian
