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Greater New York Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Camp Berkshire Development & Strategic Planning Update
9/11/08
Dear Greater New York Conference Member and Friend of Camp Berkshire:
This is just a brief report and an update regarding Camp Berkshire’s Development and Improvements. As you come to United Campmeeting, this Sabbath, you will be able to notice that our camp is looking much better. The leadership of the Camp (Hector Perez, Manager; Walter Harris, Associate Manager for Development; and Jesus Garcia, Assistant Manager for Maintenance) together with their team are doing great work with the goal that our Camp becomes better than it has ever been. When you see them or anyone on Camp Berkshire’s Staff, please take time to thank them for the many hours of hard work and effort to make Camp Berkshire a place worthy of God and His people.
Following, we are including a report and a few updates, with pictures of Camp Berkshire:
New Inflatable Youth & Young Adult Dome:
Inflatable Dome is already in place. The structure is 170-180 ft. long by 120 ft. wide, with a large seating capacity. It’s a multi-purpose strong building which can be used for worship, sports, and other camp-related activities and programs. It has been temporarily located where the Youth and Young Adult Tent used to be. Once the Master Plan for Camp Berkshire is completed the dome will be place in its permanent location. The Youth and Young Adult worship service for United Campmeeting will take place at the dome this Sabbath (For Pictures, please download Full Report).
New Motel Furniture:
Our motel units are brand new and now its furniture is also comfortable and appropriate. Each motel unit has: Queen Size Bed with quality mattress, night stands with lamps and Radio-Alarm Clock, Frame Picture on the Wall, Mirror, and a Table with four Chairs, Full Kitchen with Stove, Oven, Microwave, and Refrigerator. On the second room there are two brand new bunk bed sets with comfortable mattresses and a dresser. These rooms are very comfortable. Within the next few months they will also include Fast Internet Access.
The cost of furnishing each motel unit was $1, 995.00. We are presently receiving donations to compensate for the purchase of this furniture. We would like to encourage Individual, Families, Churches, and Clubs, to sponsor the cost of the furniture for a motel unit. The name of the Individual, Family, Church, or entity sponsoring the furniture for each unit will be posted on a brass plate on the door, inside of each motel unit. Up to this point we have 4 pledges: Camp Berkshire Staff (1 Motel Unit), The Adventist Youth Ministries Department (1 Motel Unit), The Hispanic Ministry Department (1 Motel Unit), and Jose & Joanne Cortes (1 Unit). We have already received a donation from Josue & Joyce Cortes. Donors will receive a Tax Deductible Receipt of their donation. (For Pictures, please download Full Report).
Donations can be sent to:
Camp Berkshire
ATT: Development Project
680 Berkshire Road
Wingdale, NY 12594
Temporary Trailer Office:
As you come into the Camp, you will see the Camp’s Temporary Headquarters and Registration Office, thus making the registration process easier and the camp leadership and services more accessible. The trailer holds the offices for the Camp Manager, Hector Perez, the Camp Associate Manager, Walter Harris, and the Secretary. (For Pictures, please download Full Report).
Road to the Lake:
For many years the Road to the lake was not functional, making it impossible for emergency vehicles (ambulances or fire trucks) or any other cars to access the lakefront due to down trees, fallen branches, and very uneven and dangerous path. This is one of the reasons why our lakefront has been so underutilized for years. In an effort to correct this critical situation, the path has been cleared and there is a road, with ample access to the lake. Though we prefer that you do not use your car while on the grounds; the lake is now accessible for emergency vehicles and cars carrying a handicapped person who cannot walk to the lake. We are planning to revitalize the Lakefront, with a new boathouse, docks, a beach, and endless water activities there. (For Pictures, please download Full Report).
Golf House/Old Office:
The Golf House/Old Office has been unoccupied for over a year. Just today, Walter Harris, Associate Manager for Development informed our team that it will be ready within the next two weeks. It will become Staff Residence. The following pictures were taken during work hours (For Pictures, please download Full Report).
Some Minor Improvements: There are several new sidewalks to the bathhouse, from the auditorium to the cafeteria, and from the auditorium to the camping area, among others. The mechanical area of the pool has been fenced, and five very old permits have been closed with the Town of Dover, giving us the opportunity to begin open new construction permits, which otherwise would have been impossible. The staff at Camp Berkshire did not have the proper vehicles to move around the camp; they had been using very old and ugly vehicles on the camp grounds, some of them not able to go up the hill and access the entire camp area; two new “mules” (we are not talking about animals here) have been purchased to make the camp more accessible to the staff, save gasoline, speed the work, and make the working situation better for the staff at Camp Berkshire. Brand new picnic tables have been placed in the picnic area for the
enjoyment of families and members during Camporees, Campmeetings, church retreats, and any other events. (For Pictures, please download Full Report).
Presently Pending Projects:
The partitions for the bathrooms at the swimming pool have been ordered and will be installed within the next few weeks. Internet service will also be installed for the motels and auditorium.
MINNESOTA, NEXT BIG PROJECT: Minnesota is a three story building, one of the biggest lodging buildings at Camp Berkshire. The structure of the building is solid, yet it has not been used in a long time. Once rebuilt, it could house between 50-60 people in very comfortable rooms. Following you will see a picture of what the structure looks like.
HOW CAN YOU HELP? You can pray for the Camp, for its leadership and its staff. You can volunteer your time and come with a group of Church members, a youth group, or a club and donate time to specific projects. Recently Pastor
Jose Carpio brought a group of young people and adults from the Washington Avenue and the Fordham Churches and the help was priceless. The AYES Corps Candidates and several Pathfinder Clubs have also volunteered their services at Camp Berkshire. All you have to do is get in touch with Manager Hector Perez and arrange a time for your work day. His e-mail and phone # are:
hperez2183@hotmail.comand (845) 832-6681.
DONATIONS APPRECIATED & NEEDED:
Obviously we are at the very beginning of the development process. A little progress has been made, however there is a long way to go. As we upgrade the facilities of the Camp, donations will be needed. If you would like to donate to the development projects of Camp Berkshire, please send your donation to:
Camp Berkshire
ATT: Development Project
680 Berkshire Road
Wingdale, NY 12594
Some of these projects have been completed but need to be paid for. Others are in process while some others have not yet been started. These are projects we can help with:
Furniture for Motels: $1,995.00 (1 Received, 4 Committed, 7 Needed)
Road to the Lake: $ 10,750.00
Sidewalks: $5,636.28
Go-Karts: $8,000.00
MASTER PLAN FOR CAMP BERKSHIRE:
Thank you for your responses to the Camp Berkshire Survey. Your ideas and suggestions are being seriously taken into consideration as we work together to achieve a shared vision and development plans for our Camp. Feel free to share ideas with me or other team members, they are: Walter Harris, Jaik Koo, Richard Mills, Hector Perez, and Lloyd Scharffenberg.
Many Blessings!!!!
Jose
Pastor Jose H. Cortes Jr.
Director, Adventist Youth Ministries Department
Chairperson, Camp Berkshire Strategic Planning & Development Team
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