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Greenwood Ministries Association Annual Meeting Oct 21
Dear Friend of Camp Greenwood,
Thank you for your support, your prayers and your advocacy for Camp Greenwood! We are so grateful for all of the blessings that God has provided during the first Greenwood Ministries Association camping season of 2017! And we are especially grateful to you as a member of our non-profit organization for your good will, support and encouragement.
We would like to invite you to increase your connection to the camp by coming to our first annual meeting of the Greenwood Ministries Association on Saturday afternoon, October 21st, better yet join us for camp fire and free overnight on October 20th, see attached schedule of events. If you are unable to make it to camp for the annual meeting, we will miss you, but please remember to vote online for nine board members, by clicking on this link. If you vote online, you will not be eligible to vote in person at our annual meeting. Online voting is a perfect choice if you cannot come to the annual meeting.
Greenwood Ministries Association (GMA) is operating with a transitional board. The transitional board members are: Rev. Karen Fitz La Barge, Rev. Bill Pinches, Jake Dayringer and Amy Henson-Bohlen. All members of the transitional board are seasoned Greenwood supporters and are willing to stay and continue serving Camp Greenwood. We also have other individuals who are willing to serve on the board for terms of varying length, bringing the board up to its full strength.
At the annual meeting we will be forming a nominating committee to search for board members for next year and we will be creating teams of volunteers to help with various needs at the camp. We will hear reports about how the 2017 year went from our partners in ministry, Jim and Suzanne Bates of Camp Westminster on Higgins Lake as well as updates about our visioning process with Run River. We will also be starting our search for photos, memorabilia and stories to celebrate our 60th year in 2018!
Again, thank you for all that you do to help the Greenwood Ministries Association. Camp Greenwood is alive and thriving with your help and passion, we are grateful to be serving with you in this endeavor!
Camp Greenwood Forever!
The Greenwood Ministries Association Board
Spring Clean-Up Day: Saturday, May 13
If you’re looking for a mini-mission opportunity, here it is!
Camp Greenwood’s Spring Clean-Up Day transforms camp from winter slumber to summer action! Work will include raking paths, painting, cleaning cabins, removing shutters, putting up screens and doing minor repairs. There is a job for every one and every ability! No special skills are required.
It is refreshing to spend a day at camp after a cold winter. You’ll meet fun co-workers, have great camp meals and serve a worthy cause. Most importantly, many hands will make light work for everyone!
Plan to bring any personal work items and some clothes to get dirty. Breakfast starts at 8:32 am sharp. A $15 registration fee covers meals and supplies.
We really appreciate your generosity and energy!
Check Out What we Have in Store
After much careful crafting our summer brochure is ready! Copies are going out in the mail hot off the presses but you can download a PDF version right now.
Be sure to check out our recently revamped Devil’s Lake Expedition. This is an advanced trip for those who already have some climbing experience under their belts and want to push their boundaries.
Register today and you’ll get $15 off your registration.
At Greenwood or on the road, we’re looking forward to another great summer!
Greenwood Ministries Association approved to operate Camp Greenwood!
On Tuesday, Dec 6th the Presbytery of Lake Michigan approved a motion to allow Greenwood Ministries Association, a new non-profit organization to manage Camp Greenwood and to begin strategic planning for the use of the camp property. A large part of the support for the Greenwood Ministries Association was the successful summer of 2016 and the $106,275 pledged from over 100 pledging units to support and improve the operations at Greenwood.
Quoting a supporter of Greenwood “Thanks to God and so many others! So much hard work. So much success in a short period of time. So much promise for the future. Light, hope and joy in this season of Christmas. Praise God!”
We are so grateful for all of the pledges of support for Greenwood Ministries Association. We are very excited about all who have chosen to be a member of GMA. We will be contacting you with more information about our first annual meeting and ways to serve after the first of the year.
Summer 2017 Registration is Open!
Camp Greenwood has launched an exciting 2017 Schedule! It’s time to register for an unforgettable experience this summer!
Check our new and exciting schedule featuring multiple opportunities for exploration, skill building, character development and pure fun! Register by January 15th to receive a $20 discount and the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for an extra free week at camp!
Time at camp plays a critical role in the year round education of your child! Camp develops confidence, resilience and independence. Time at Camp Greenwood is a gift of life skills that children and youth need to be strong, caring and creative adults.
Camp Greenwood located on the beautiful Woodbeck chain of lakes is a unique opportunity to experience community, grow in Christ and celebrate God’s creation.
Don’t miss this window of opportunity to get $20 off your registration fee and enter a drawing for an extra free week of camp! Register Today!
Highlights from Summer 2016
We’ve been featuring a lot of photos from the summer on our Facebook page but we’re happy to be able to share here our summer 2016 highlights video!
A Message from the Presbytery
“The purpose of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan is to challenge, encourage and equip
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| Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the peace of Christ be with you.
The purpose of this communication is to address concerns some have expressed regarding two communications, which you may have received last week. In one email, the Greenwood Ministry Association announced the formation of its new nonprofit corporation and solicited funding support. Another email from the Presbytery of Lake Michigan office announced upcoming financial decisions confronting us sharing some hard facts.
The Leadership Team reported to Presbytery at the February meeting, that based on consultation with Sessions and various entities by its task force convened by George Hunsberger in fall of 2015, that Presbytery would NOT be operating a camping ministry at Camp Greenwood in 2017. The Leadership Team appointed a Camp Exploration Transition Team made up of two members of the Leadership Team, and two members of the Greenwood Agency and convened by the General Presbyter to explore two scenarios identified by the earlier Task Force for a new future for Camp Greenwood. Those scenarios include collaboration with other camp(s). This team has been in communication with several interested groups. Thursday, August 18th is the deadline for proposals. The team is scheduled to meet Monday, August 22nd to consider proposals. They will report and make recommendation to the Leadership Team. The Leadership Team will hold a hearing on Thursday, August 25 to hear from the Camp Exploration Transition Team. Members of the Budget & Finance Committee, the Greenwood Agency, and the Discipleship Ministry Team have been invited to hear, ask questions, and comment on this initial report to the Leadership Team. They will update Presbytery at the September 17th meeting. They will work through October to perfect the preferred proposal, and share recommendation to Presbytery in November for consideration at the December 6th meeting. The Presbytery approved plan will then be put into motion.
The Greenwood Ministry Association is one group preparing a proposal in coalition with Camp Westminster at Higgins Lake to conduct camping ministry at Camp Greenwood next year. For their proposal to be considered they need to show financial viability with a five year business plan. Other anticipated proposals will likely involve selling camp property and reinvesting in other camp ministry.
The Presbytery Office communication was not authorized by the Leadership Team or Budget & Finance Committee. We regret this communication implied to some advocacy for a particular position. Its intent was to share the larger financial stress within many of our congregations and presbytery. The Budget & Finance Committee reports a significant operating deficit this year. The Budget & Finance Committee held budget hearings with ministry unit leaders yesterday, Tuesday, August 16. The concern was that people need to know that something has to give. Either we find new income, or some combination of major reductions will be required for campus ministries, covenant partners and presbytery staff.
Important decisions are before us! In facing them, may we live out our faith in boldness and not fear. We covenant to guide in an informed transparent process. We encourage everyone to bring your best Christ like selves to this difficult task and to whatever decision(s) are made.
Yours in Christ,
Helen Havlik, Moderator Andrew Thorburn Vice Moderator George Hunsberger, Past Moderator/Leadership Team Chairperson John Best, General Presbyter Fran Lane Lawrence, Stated Clerk Wayne Komejan, Treasurer |
Bring a Friend to Camp!
Bring a friend with you to camp and both of you will receive an exclusively designed “Friends at Camp Greenwood” t-shirt in addition to the camp shirt that everyone receives. This is great not just for the week of camp but also to have someone to talk to the rest of the year who really understands what Camp Greenwood is all about!
In order to qualify:
- Your friend must register between now and June 10
- Your friend must indicate that they were referred by a currently registered camper
- Your friend must be registering for a session that you are also registered for
Get the process started, check out our summer schedule then let your friend know when you’ll be at camp!
A New Management Partnership
Camp Westminster on Higgins Lake and Camp Greenwood near Greenville are partnering to provide even more young people with the special opportunities of attending summer camp. We are sharing some staff. We are finding opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements through shared administrative functions. Camp Director Suzanne Bates and Fund Development Director Jim Bates are providing leadership for both camps.
12 Ways you can Help Camp Greenwood
Greenwood depends upon the generous support of you, our extended camp community. Below are just a few ways you can support Greeenwood as we prepare for another great summer season.
1. Register your child, grandchild, neighbor, church member for camp online at campgreenwood.org/register or call us at 616-754-7258 or mail in your registration form.
2. Plan a family camp, men’s work weekend, youth retreat, mission trip at Greenwood this summer and fall at campgreenwood.org
3. Make a donation to the scholarship fund at campgreenwood.org/donation
4. Put a link to the camp website on your church’s website.
5. Put Greenwood’s bulletin blurbs in your bulletins, go to campgreenwood.org/subscribe to make sure you are on our email list and then forward emails to others.
6. Plan a Camp Sunday or family night and invite a Greenwood representative to be there.
7. Like us on Facebook, comment on posts and share them.
8. Volunteer to be a camp chaplain for a week.
9. Volunteer to be the camp nurse for a week.
10. With your church’s mission committee put together backpacks for camp for nancially challenged campers.
11. Pray for staff that are coming to camp or adopt and support a staff member for the summer.
12. Keep the ministry and all those who serve there in your prayers.