History
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THE YEARS OF EXPANSION: 1990 - PRESENT
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Handicapped facilities were built in Madrone Lodge in 1990. A new road was built connecting the south part of the camp to the hillside cabins. On March 31, 1990, Michael Welch was appointed Interim Executive Director after the resignation of Davis McLallen. The Camp was authorized, for the first time, to purchase a computer package and printer. At the September 1990 Board meeting, the appointment of Michael Welch as the Executive Director was announced. Steve Daniels became the first Business Administrator in October of 1990. Ray Warren, Executive Director of the Alpine Covenant Camp in California, was hired as a consultant to Review the effectiveness of the camp ministry. After eleven years on the Board of Trustees, Rick Hall resigned and Dick Taylor, Sr. was appointed chairman of the board. The board decided to pursue accreditation from the American Camping Association with completion expected in the Spring of 1991.
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The duration of all family camps was reduced to five nights and 15 meals instead of six nights and 17 meals. New bylaws were written for Alliance Redwoods and approved at the District Conference in October of 1991. The main changes included 1) the Executive Director was appointed by DEXCOM; 2) The Executive Director became the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation; and 3) The Board of Trustees is the Board of Directors.
The budget for 1992 exceeded $1,000,000 for the first time. The newly Revised “Ministerial Club” was started to encourage Alliance Pastors to attend camp and bring their church members. A double-wide manufactured home was purchased for staff housing and placed above Big Rock Lodge on the east side. A full audit was performed on the Camp’s finances for the first time. The Camp committed itself to come into full compliance of Title I of the ADA. For the first time the Camp was able to establish a line of credit at Westamerica Bank of Sebastopol without cosigners or guarantors. The Marriott contract was terminated in the food service department and the camp returned to their own food service director. Nate Kinser announced his retirement after 20 years at the camp. The property was officially surveyed to locate the corners of the Camp.
In 1993 the “Space Available” program for individual campers to use the camp was started. Rev. Mahlon Wilson was appointed Chairman of the Board. Teepee Village was expanded to eight platforms by the RIVCS organization. The Camp was asked to look into the feasibility of a camp in Utah near Park City. Mr. Larry Rash was appointed Chairman of the Board in December, 1993. A Guest Services Director position was established for the first time. The Executive Director was allowed to move his family off the campgrounds due to health conditions.
The main septic tank failed in the winter of 1994 and was replaced at a cost of $9,000. A full-time Outdoor Education Director, Barbara Dry, was hired for the first time. The renovation of the South End cabins was begun.
The Board, for the first time, established a tax sheltered Annuity Retirement Savings Plan for employees. The Camp purchased their first back hoe in 1995. Guest rates were increase by $1.00 per camper day to fund future capital improvements. The Board approved Nordby Construction Company to build the multipurpose building for $1.2 million. Bank of the West approved a $1.0 million loan for the construction of the multipurpose building. After eight years as Operations Director, Randy Muelheim resigned. The South End cabins were renamed to Forest Village. A large propane generator was purchased to supply the majority of the Camp with electricity in the event of a power outage.
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Plans were made to celebrate the Camp’s 50th Anniversary on July 14, 1996. The completion of the Memorial Building occurred on July 9th. The "A-Frame" (Sequoia) remodel was completed and approved by the county. A new ropes course was built in April near the climbing tower.
In June of 1997, the Camp purchased 3.84 acres of land located on the north side of Bohemian Highway, just east of Big Rock Lodge, for $175,000. Later that year, in September, Mike Welch submitted his resignation and George Sutherland, Finance Director, was named Interim Executive Director. In May of 1998, Jim Blake was named the sixth Executive Director of the Camp and began employment in August of that year.
In 1999, a new Hospitality Lounge (including Coffee Central) was constructed in the main office building. In an effort to improve service to its guests, the Camp remodeled the Front Desk area and Gift Shop and began keeping both staffed and opened from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM when guests were on the property. The year ended with a new milestone—the Camp’s Revenue exceeded $2.0 million for the first time.
The District Camping Partnership Model was introduced for the Summer 2000 season and led to record attendance numbers. This model allowed the District pastors and youth workers to take responsibility for planning and running the summer youth camps. Also in 2000 (January), Ken Kinser—former Board member and son of Nate Kinser, former Board member and employee for over 20 years—was hired as the Director of Operations.
The Camp’s strong growth continued through 2001. In 2001, the Camp served over 22,000 guests who stayed over 56,000 camper-nights—both of these numbers were new records for the Camp. Many improvements were also made to the Camp in 2001: a new wet well was constructed to handle the septic needs of the Camp at a cost of $26,000; a new five-stage leach field was constructed at a cost of $15,000 to replace the leach field under the Ball Field; a portable skateboard park was constructed; and a sand volleyball court was constructed in the area between Fireside and the Dining Hall. While performing many expensive upgrades during the year, the Camp was still able to make huge strides on the reduction of its long-term debt: 2001 ended with a long-term debt balance of only $483,000, down from more than $1.34 million during the summer of 1998.
In 2002, a master planning process was begun to achieve MSQ (Minimum Standards of Quality) in the next five years. Along with completing much needed repairs and maintenance to the Camp that had been deferred for many years, MSQ also involves long-term planning and infrastructure improvements that will allow the Camp to continue to grow, service guests, pursue new avenues of ministry, and be healthy long into the future. In May of this year, the Camp celebrated its 20th Anniversary of providing Outdoor Education.
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