Blog
Written by Kate Stahl
“Are you coming to the Annual Meeting?” Jocelin asked me at the end of the phone call. Jocelin Kaplan (1984-1989), who volunteers on a Takodah YMCA Board Committee, was interviewing me for my thoughts on strategic planning and the future needs of camp.
“Yes, are you?” I replied to my own surprise. I had gotten some email invites, thought about going, but in that moment all I needed was the slight reinforcement of another person I knew to tip me over the decision line.
“I am”, she replied
“Great”, I said, “We finally get to meet in person.” We laughed.
Jocelin Kaplan and I have many connections through camp even though we had not met in person as adults. Her sister is Courtney Jacobs (1985-1998) who was one of the LITS in 1992 when I was LDC (Leadership Development Coordinator). Jocelin is also cousins with Thembi Jacobs (1984-1990) who was a camper when I was a cabin leader. Most importantly, Jocelin is the mother of Aiden (2016-) and Ryan Kaplan (2013-) who are close friends with my sons, Teddy (2016-) and Ben (2016-2019) as campers and leaders.
Now, I should share that this was not my first Annual Meeting, as I have some vague memories of going to maybe two others – one in the 1990s and one in the 2000s. I recalled a packed room with a lot of people I did not know but all of whom had great enthusiasm for Cheshire County YMCA.
This year, I arrived at camp on a beautiful fall day and ran into Jocelin and Thembi in the parking lot. As we walked to the Craig Dining Hall, we ran into Rosy Ripley (1982-1995), Todd Pinsonneault (1986-2012) and Meera Gill (1985-1990) sitting on the porch of TPAC. Rosy and Todd are currently Takodah YMCA Board Members. At lunch I got to sit next to Manuel Sanudo’s (1979-1988) fabulous daughter, Marsella Sanudo (1999-2014), who is also currently a Board Member. As I looked across the room I saw other alumni such as Andrew Fuqua and Susan (Helliwell) MacFaddin (1971-1978). I went to camp and worked on staff with Andy’s sister, Gillian, and Susan’s sister Amy (Helliwell) Hampson (1986-1993). At our table we were joined by Mike Elkins, a young woman who just finished her LIT year with her grandmother and Jeffrey Wallace (2011-2025) – who I quickly discovered knows and worked with Teddy, my son, at camp.
The meeting started as Chris and Sarah shared their goal to “Restart” the Annual Meeting. (I was not aware it had stopped but given the COVID years and the changes from CCYMCA to Takodah YMCA it’s not surprising.) This however did not feel like the “old” Annual Meetings, it felt fresh, new and engaging. The room was a balanced mix of alumni, board members, volunteers, year-round staff and community members. The program highlighted a great talk by Michele Rowcliffe, the CEO of the American Camp Association (ACA) New England, who is a camping industry professional. She talked about balancing the need for change to serve today’s youth by using our traditions to guide forward but not to let them bind us from moving forward. A big portion of the program was recognition and awards. (The HR professional in me was very heartened to see this.) This included years of YMCA service awards for the professional staff and board service awards. Given the camp tradition of CTs and Ten-Year Jackets, it makes sense to see the value of recognition in other groups of the Takodah YMCA.
Now, Jocelin had humbly failed to share with me that she was being honored as the Takodah YMCA Volunteer of the Year at the ceremony, a fact which I only found out later when I looked at the program at my place setting! I was so glad I agreed to come and see her get this award. She has worked tirelessly and quietly to help the Board put into place strong governance programs and a thoughtful review process for the Executive Director. Both were processes critical to strengthening the organization.
Another alumni connection was then watching Frankie Amarosa win the Outstanding Vendor Award. Anyone who has worked at camp in the last 50+ years recognizes the name and important role Frankie plays at camp. While professionally he knows how to run, open and close all the water systems at camp, he also has more love of Camp Takodah than any other person in the world.
Board President Graeme Noseworthy (1983-1989, 2011-2024) and Todd Pinsonneault presented the Excellence in Character Award to Katie Steele (1993-2012). Katie is a person who can help you challenge your thinking while also ensuring you feel valued even in tough conversations. She is bringing innovation to camp based on the core values we all hold dear.
Finally in addition to the great food, good conversations, and excellent program we also got to see and hear about new physical planned projects for camp – such as rebuilding the chapel to stop erosion, building a leadership lodge in North Village and updating the courts in South Village which includes adding pickle ball lines.
I think it is important for camp alumni, who often “depart” camp in their late teens and early 20s to learn about the “rest” of camp to appreciate the professional year-round staff, the volunteers and the connections with the local community. I hope to see more alumni at events like this in coming years. Please ask yourself what you can do for Takodah if you have not been back or involved. The magic is still there.
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