Reveille Fall/Winter 2020

FALL/WINTER 2020

EXPANDING OUR IMPACT

The Serious Business of Fun If you have visited Hulbert, you likely have memories of participants enjoying the green grassy space, the sparkle of the waves on a fall day, or the piles of snow on the athletic field.

More vivid are the sounds synonymous with the fun of Hulbert: giddy screams from the ropes course as someone zips from the high platform, laughter from a group trying to steal a rubber chicken

By Nick Wood, Hulbert Program Director

from their instructor, the stampeding feet of a class running from the castle.

But to hear and see only the fun is missing the important lessons. The scream coming down the zipline happens because it is fun, but it is also a celebration of overcoming an obstacle. The outbursts when trying to steal a rubber chicken occur because of the ridiculous sound the chicken makes

when squeezed, but also because the students are learning to communicate and collaborate differently.

Hulbert instructors are masters of infusing laughter while facilitating deliberate learning moments.

Recently, we have taken the serious business of fun on the road through partnerships with several local and

Through fun, engaging activities, students of all ages strengthen their communication, decision-making, and collaboration skills. In this 2019 photo, Hulbert instructor Tori Sumner (seated) offers encouragement as students strategize how to move her a distance of 20 feet using the structure and touching only the ropes.

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Inside this issue

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Message from Vanessa Riegler

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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

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Inspired Giving

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News & Updates

COMMUNITY

Resilient and Here Because of You When Equity and Opportunity Come Together

Dear Aloha Community, Today, I write with joy and a rekindled sense of determination. I have traveled far over the past few months, albeit virtually. My mode of transport: the numerous chats, conversations, videos, and letters I have shared with all of you. I have discovered much about the Alohas through your eyes.

My goal for the future of the Aloha Foundation is to find the space where equity and opportunity come together

in ways that stay true to our spirit. We seek to honor the individuality and unique characteristics of each program, while strengthening the overall whole and lifting up the values that connect us.

inspiration from others in our community; and honoring colleagues— Foundation staff members who retired after long careers of dedicated service and three new Trustees who are joining us for the first time.

Thanks to you, our camps and programs have continued to grow and evolve as each season has passed— even during a global pandemic and our first summer ever without camp.

Whether we are making adjustments or affirming long-held beliefs, we are guided by our conviction that the safety and needs of children and families come first.

We cannot wait to welcome campers and counselors to Fairlee this summer.

In fact, it would be more accurate to say we are bursting with energy and excitement that can barely be contained! Between now and then, we’ll channel our enthusiasm into planning and preparing for a phenomenal 2021.

In this issue of Reveille (our first and only for 2020), you’ll learn more about the work we’ve been engaged in this year—expanding our mission impact in the community through Hulbert; tackling difficult conversations and implementing short- and long-term change through our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force; pivoting to virtual formats to engage our constituents near and far; finding

I hope you enjoy the pages ahead. Dig in and let me know what you think.

All my best,

Vanessa Mendillo Riegler Executive Director vriegler@alohafoundation.org

STAY CONNECTED STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR FAVORITE ALOHA PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS ALL YEAR LONG

Aloha | Hive | Lanakila | Hulbert | Horizons | Ohana | Aloha Foundation

Fall/Winter 2020 Reveille: Jenn Merritt, Director of Communications; Jenn Grossman Wheeler, Director of Photography; Gareth McCormack, Special Photography; Gillian Hersh, Designer. Story ideas, suggestions, or feedback? Contact Jenn Merrritt at jmerritt@alohafoundation.org.

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regional schools and afterschool programs. “Walking into the classroom, twenty first graders cheered, ‘Hulbert is here!’” recalled Norman, a Hulbert instructor, after their third visit to Washington Village School.

Thirty minutes of entertaining activities from the previous two weeks had a visible impact, but there is more to our visits than games. Of our work with the school in 2019–2020, Principal Amy Harlow said, “We saw a huge difference…as we moved through these lessons. [Students] have learned about

and disappointment when they are not ‘winning.’” The school secured a grant to ensure Hulbert could continue working with all students and teachers in 2020–2021.

This year our staff are finding creative ways to engage with students virtually and while practicing social distancing.

Schools tell us their students are grateful for a reprieve from the challenging new realities of school and a chance to reconnect.

Whether students continue to learn

Hulbert instructors are masters of infusing laughter while facilitating deliberate learning moments.

forming positive relationships and how to manage and express their emotions, ideas, and opinions in a healthy way.

They have increased their ability to develop empathy and recognize the needs and wants of others and to regulate their feelings of frustration

from a distance or re-enter in-person schooling, the skills in compassion, communication, processing, and the countless other strategies Hulbert teaches are more imperative to their success than ever. Only seeing friends and classmates through a screen can

Hulbert Program Director Nick Wood

dull one’s sense of empathy and ability to interact face-to-face, while increasing feelings of vulnerability for many.

Honing and reengaging socio-emotional skills is vital for students’ development far beyond this school year.

Laughter and fun make these skills more accessible and encourage us to take risks, to see the positive, and to move forward together. And we take that job seriously.

2020 Hulbert Snapshot: School and Organizational Partners American Diabetes Association Breakthrough Magnet School Hartford, CT Carroll School Lincoln, MA Clinton Avenue School New Haven, CT Connection 101 Norwich, VT Crossroads Academy Lyme, NH Hartford Area Career and Technology Center Hartford, VT Hypertherm Lebanon, NH

Kennelly School Hartford, CT

Sharon Elementary School Sharon, VT

Kimball Union Academy Meriden, NH

Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center/Penn State University (Petersburg, PA)

Kingdom East Afterschool Program Lyndonville, VT

St. Johnsbury School St. Johnsbury, VT

Lunenburg School Lunenburg, VT

Thetford Academy Thetford, VT

Lyndon Town School Lyndonville, VT

Unity School Newport, NH

Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School West Tisbury, MA

Upper Valley Haven White River Junction, VT

Newark Street School West Burke, VT

Washington Village School Washington, VT

Samuel Morey Elementary Fairlee, VT

West Middle School Hartford, CT

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Taking Action to Address Inequities and Support All Members of the Aloha Community

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion alohafoundation.org/dei

Summer & Fall DEI Update

By Alisha Lawrence, Aloha Camp Unit Head, Staff Advisory Board, DEI Task Force

The Aloha Foundation’s mission is to inspire people to become their best selves. As a counselor, I have seen how children and adults thrive when given the opportunity to feel celebrated.

While we couldn’t be together this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pause gave us time to reflect on an important issue within our society and the Aloha community: racial and social injustice. Many of us who are Black and Brown, women and/or femme-identifying, LGBTQ+,

have mental and/or health conditions, or are of a lower socio-economic status have experienced these injustices, even while participating in Aloha Foundation programs.

In June, the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Task Force was created to examine every facet of the Foundation’s work through a DEI lens. Comprised of the Executive Director, two Board members, and five past and present counselors, the group has: • Created a new DEI web page to share progress and next steps; • Held sessions to hear from community members of color and allow a wide

variety of participants to hear these personal experiences; • Launched the “Humans of Aloha” series on social media to share stories of our community’s marginalized groups; • Formed five working groups to review specific aspects of the Foundation and recommend changes for implementation in the near future.

Soon, the Task Force will look to a DEI consultant to assess the Foundation’s business model and programming. We are excited about this work, to ensure every person feels at home within this amazing community.

I have seen how children and adults thrive when given the opportunity to feel celebrated.

How Internal Structures Reflect Our Values

By Rebecca Sigel, Former longtime camper and counselor, DEI Task Force

Recently, the Foundation announced changes to the residential camp programs: older enrollment ages at Hive and Aloha; a shift to open enrollment and full tuition for the Bridge

program at Lanakila; and a formal leadership program for 15-18-year-olds.

These shifts are seeds that can support broader DEI work across the programs and more equitable outcomes.

A camp counselor job can be formative work throughout college; it is also a job which is a privilege to be able to take, financially. At the Aloha Foundation

These shifts are seeds that can support broader DEI work across the programs and more equitable outcomes.

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residential camps, access to this privilege has been exacerbated by unequal structures.

It is more expensive to have a daughter continue through the residential camp programs than a son. The boys’ camp starts at an older age, has a mandatory year off, and the Bridge year has a subsidized tuition model as a counselor.

To keep a daughter with her peers and participating in the leadership pipeline to be a counselor, a parent pays more.

The extra camper years mean the girls’ camps have to recruit more campers

Building on the initiatives

L–R: Alisha Lawrence, Chris Sarkis, Rebecca Sigel

begun by past Aloha Trustees and leaders, the Task Force re-examines our programs through a DEI lens.

Working Group Challenge

By Chris Sarkis, Horizons Department Head, Staff Advisory Board, DEI Task Force

Throughout September and October, Aloha volunteers rose to the challenge of reviewing camp traditions, looking for opportunities to improve racial equity.

After listening to the experiences of our camp community, five areas were highlighted: counseling strategies, our songbooks, developmental needs of campers and the concept of the “Child’s World,” pre-camp training, and further research on Mamie Cochran, one of two people who originally conceived the idea for our camps.

Each group met to identify opportunities for growth, brainstorm solutions, and research new ideas. Those recommendations were reviewed by the DEI

and hire more counselors to remain viable. With the financial barrier of keeping camper-graduate-counselors on board and the need to recruit more staff from the outside on the same Foundation-wide counselor salary, recruitment and retention at the girls’ camps face structural challenges.

The gender inequity implications of the prior structures are transparent. In a country where race and wealth are correlated, these structures may also impact racial and socioeconomic diversity at the staff level, meaning campers of color are less likely to get leaders

Task Force and the Board of Trustees.

Although the groups began their work with a focus on racial equity, this opened a door to explore equity of all kinds.

Sifting through the intersecting webs of our camp traditions and values is a

Our working group came from a wide range of camp experiences.

messy task, demanding we broaden our perspectives and hone in on specific policies. For the Songbooks group, this was our biggest challenge. Group singing is a core element of camp, a tradition that connects us to our

and mentors who look like them and who give them a vision of how they can become leaders at the Aloha Foundation camps and beyond.

Young men may have once needed these extra incentives to continue at the Foundation as caretakers and educators, but times have changed. At the same time, Aloha has taught generations of young women they CAN be caretakers, but the leadership development they receive at camp can also support them to take on roles and jobs closed to prior generations of women. A differential incentive structure that was

community. Every potential decision asks questions of what our values are and who we want to be. An example of this is Spirituals, a distinctly Black genre with roots in slavery: Is it appropriate for a mostly white camp to be singing Spirituals? How can we include more Black voices in the songbook? If we are considering how Spirituals are Christian, do we need to consider all of our religious music? What do experts have to say?

Although our working group came from a wide range of camp experiences, we faced a daunting task. Nevertheless, we leaned on each other and learned.

As we each continue the journey to becoming our best selves, our larger community will reflect that progress.

These are just the first steps.

necessary decades ago may now be a barrier to equity.

The recent program changes don’t make it any less expensive for a girl to persist at camp, but they do bring the cost models into closer alignment.

If a DEI process focuses only on programs, it may miss equity, representation, and bias concerns within the internal structures and systems of the organization. The commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion must be supported at the core.

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Camp Skills to Job Skills PERSONAL REFLECTIONS FROM TWO ALUMNI

Faith Davis Former Aloha camper and counselor Owner, Faith Davis Massage & Yoga LLC, Boulder, CO

I run a maternity-centered wellness practice where our focus is on supporting growing families with massage therapy, yoga for parents and babies, and compassionate postpartum doula care. To run my business smoothly, provide empathic care, and find balance in my own life, I still rely on the skills I cultivated as a camper and counselor at Aloha.

Whether leading a trip, planning a tent family canoe breakfast on Lake Morey, or counseling a new camper adjusting to life away from home (and cell phones!), collaboration always made the outcome richer than if I’d packed, planned, or counseled on my own.

Collaboration mindset also serves me as a business owner. It allows me to put the needs and well-being of clients first and to create an environment of collaborative care with colleagues

rather than considering them competition. Active listening and valuing varied viewpoints help me take in feedback and navigate the needs of the business, my colleagues, and each individual client.

I often draw on the time management I learned while pursuing ranks in Campcraft. I’m not sure I’ll ever be as busy as the summer I went for my Vagabond! And no matter how full my workday, getting outside—whether climbing in Boulder’s foothills or sitting quietly by the creek—refills my heart, just like a hike to Winships or a Sunday evening reflecting at Wedding Ring.

I am grateful for so much I gained at camp, especially for my longtime friends, but really, Aloha is everywhere in my life.

I am grateful for so much I gained at camp, especially for my longtime friends, but really, Aloha is everywhere in my life.

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Alden Roberts Former Lanakila camper and counselor Tech Lead of Customer Solutions Engineering for the Americas—sales engineering group supporting Google’s largest advertisers San Francisco, CA

I’ve thought a lot about the impact that camp had on the person and professional that I’ve become. Looking back, my 10 summers at Lanakila were times of profound growth for me personally, but the years as a counselor are the ones I consider to have most strongly influenced the professional I am today.

Healthy collaboration built on trust and respect are very important, and unfortunately are not always hallmarks of today’s corporate landscape. However, I can’t imagine them not being at the center of my day-to-day interactions as a peer, mentor, and leader in my organization. There’s no question in my mind that those values were modeled and instilled in me during my time at camp.

and staff dynamics influence success, and that those dynamics don’t happen by accident, instead leaders invest countless hours and a great deal of energy creating them. I could go on, about how camp so frequently demonstrated how diversity of perspective yields better results, how forgiveness in the face of mistakes is a great catalyst for growth, or how “What do you want?

What are you doing to get it? Is it working?” works as well on 30-year-old software engineers as it does on a perturbed 11-year-old, but instead I’ll finish off by saying I believe my time at camp was critical in instilling a vision for how to be the person I aspire to be when I get to the office each day.

In conversations past and present, it’s become clear to me how much staff

I believe my time at camp was critical in instilling a vision for how to be the person I aspire to be when I get to the office each day.

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By John Wallick

Inspired Giving Aloha spirit? To me, as a Lanakilan, that means discovering who you want to be and trying to be your best self. There is no such thing as a perfect person, we all have flaws, but striving to be who you want to be is definitely possible.

to the same cause—giving campers the chance to find their best selves.

Since then, I’ve been able to apply many of the skills I learned at camp to my daily life. If I can’t get together with my friends, instead of being disappointed, I

When I first arrived at camp, I was determined not to like anything about it.

But thanks to my dedicated counselor and a fellow camper, who would become my best friend, I learned I could turn anything into a positive. It was in my power. Those two people completely changed me. Though it took a couple of years to settle in, my confidence grew with each summer, as did my ability to help younger campers overcome their own doubts and embrace camp life.

look for alternatives. Can we find a different location? Can we Zoom? What are some possible solutions?

Transitioning from a camper to a counselor was a lot more work than I anticipated but doing it with people I loved further changed me. I didn’t complain of being too hot, too cold, too hungry, or too tired. It was never actually “too” anything because I knew the people around me were experiencing the same thing and we were all devoted

When my grandmother asked what I’d like for my birthday this year, I realized I really didn’t need more stuff. What I really wanted, though, was for others to have that same feeling camp gives me—on the inside. Every year at Lanakila’s Sunday Gathering—beginning my first summer—I’d heard about the Aloha Campership fund and how it helped

make camp accessible. As a nine-yearold I didn’t think too much of it, but over time the importance of that started to sink in. So I asked my grandmother to make a gift to the campership fund. I explained it would mean a lot to me; I wanted other campers to have the same

I learned from my time at camp you can always change for the better, no matter where you come from, no matter what your background is.

experience I did since it changed me so much.

I learned from my time at camp you can always change for the better, no matter where you come from, no matter what your background is. I am happy our donation will help another camper discover who they want to be and support them in becoming their best self.

John, pictured here on the Lanakila campus, was a camper from 2012–2017 and returned in 2019 as a First-Year Bridger. We hear he’s been playing his guitar a lot this year and is ready to treat us to his music at camp in 2021!

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To those of you who have already made contributions, we thank you!

Give the

gift of aloha Will you consider making a gift to the 2020 Aloha Annual Fund before December 31?

The Annual Fund is the lifeblood of our mission—from our first-in-class programs, to financial aid that enriches the experience of every camper, to our industry leading 2-to-1 camper to counselor ratio.

alohafoundation.org/give

It’s our pleasure to support your program this year. We recognize that you still have costs despite not being able to collect revenue from campers.

What a difference the program has made in the lives of our children.

Alison and Brian Bodor Alison and Brian are current camp parents.

Embrace the Challenge In 1905, our first campers ferried their way across Lake Morey to Aloha Camp.

The camps’ ripple effect has grown every year since. The 1905 Leadership Circle celebrates alumni, family, and friends who support the impact with gifts to the Aloha Annual Fund of $2,500 or more.

To date, more than 65 community members like you have joined the 1905 Leadership Circle. Please help us expand the Circle with your own contribution.

Thank you!

Share the gift of Aloha and join today! alohafoundation.org/1905

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We were so, so sad when camp was canceled this summer, but we could not be more committed to the Aloha family and more grateful for the role that Aloha has played in our lives.

Amy Remus Scott and Ryan Scott Amy is a Hive/Aloha alumna and former Aloha counselor.

She and Ryan have two current campers.

Our kids completely understood the decision to close. Thank you for all you and the rest of the Aloha staff have done to keep us all connected and feel like we are part of a larger family.

Annette Severiens-Himes and Brett Himes Annette is a Hive/Aloha alumna and former counselor. Annette and Brett’s two children are current counselors and former campers.

Which of these activities have you tried?

As part of our six themed weeks of virtual activities this summer, the Aloha community created some truly terrific content that’s fun year-round!

Hannah Holdaway, Horizons counselor

alohafoundation.org/alohaconnections

Musical Bonus!

Counselors created playlists for each themed week this summer. Listen and enjoy one—or all six!

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! !

S ALOHA N O I T C E CONN

All these & more!

Need a camp fix? Looking for a fun family activity?

Light Up the World

Food, Glorious Food

Get Creative!

m Make Your Own Luminary

mE njoy the Trip Leader Recipe Book

m Create a Wooden Ring

m Build a Cooking Table

m Learn How to Milk a Goat

m Build a Sundial

m Beautify Your Addressed Envelopes

m Cook Brownies in an Orange Peel

m Make Bracelets with Horizons

m Make a Rock Chain of Hope

m Make Shel’s Cookie Bars

m Read about Animated Films

m Watch a Campus Drone Video

mW hip Up Bucky’s Tomato Soup

m Record a Dramatic Scene

Go Wild!

Work it Out!

You Can Do Hard Things!

m Brush Up on Your Canoe Strokes

m Watch Mountain Biking Tips & Tricks

m Try Out Photography Tips from a Pro!

m Learn Easy Tips for Reading a Map

m Try a Guided Meditation Exercise

m Experience Aloha’s Solo Sunday

m Test Out a Recipe: Dirt Dessert

m Complete an Aloha Workout

m Write Your “I Am From” Poem

m Learn the Vermont State Song

m Do the “Map of My Heart” Activity

m Read Liz’s Story: How to Go from a

m Create a Rock Sculpture

m Brush Up on Frisbee Basics

Non-Runner to a Half-Marathon

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LONGTIME FOUNDATION EMPLOYEES RETIRE | 107 YEARS COMBINED SERVICE TO THE ALOHAS

Honoring Recent Retirees When Phil Ameden, our Director of Food Service, came to the Alohas in 1993, two of our six main programs had not yet been founded. “Gluten free” wasn’t part of our vernacular. Ever patient and calm, Phil led the way as the Aloha Foundation’s dietary needs evolved. Buffet for 1,000 people? 500 ice cream bars for a camper unit party tomorrow? All in a day’s work! He got us through every tricky situation with s’mores and a smile.

This summer, Lynn Daly retired after an incredible 30 years of service to the Aloha Foundation. She was the behindthe-scenes powerhouse keeping the Hulbert Outdoor Center running in

smooth order for all those years.

Working many nights and weekends, Lynn managed hundreds of bookings and created umpteen reports for school programs, family camps, rentals, weddings, and more.

Stephanie Lewis joined the hardworking Aloha Foundation accounting team in 1997. With her keen attention to detail and excellent customer service skills, she worked with thousands of constituents over the years to collect the Foundation’s income through tuition revenue and philanthropic gifts.

She also performed countless other key functions like planning events for staff.

You may have spoken with her on the

phone or been greeted by her smile when you visited the Foundation Office.

Chances are you met the incredible Cheryl McKinley during her 27 years at the Alohas. As a reliable “go to” person in the Foundation Office, she made sure Board meetings and other events went off without a hitch, handled registration and travel for innumerable staff and campers, and tracked paperwork for 400+ seasonal employees each year.

We are so pleased Cheryl gets to spend more time with her family, including Mason, her grandson and Lanakila camper, and soak in the beauty of the Sunshine State.

Thank You Fabulous Four

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What I miss the most is seeing colleagues and campers. Jody and I are looking forward to next spring when we will sell our house and move to Maine. —Phil Ameden

I’ve been reflecting on my years with the Aloha Foundation. It truly is a wonderful place to work. I feel lucky to have been a part of the Aloha community. —Lynn Daly

I truly believe that we will come out of these unprecedented times better than ever. From my family to yours, we wish you good health and happiness!—Stephanie Lewis

I’ve been enjoying outdoor activities and time with family and friends. I miss my Aloha family and hope to be involved with the camps during summer 2021.—Cheryl McKinley

Births

News & Updates

Charles Floeckher (Lanakila alumnus and former Horizons counselor) and wife Michelle had baby Eleanor Wren on September 1, 2019.

Lizzy Schulzinger Shelawala (Trustee, Hive/ Aloha alumna and former Hive counselor) and her husband Amit welcomed baby girl Nisha Ami on November 16, 2019.

Lianda Gannon Stoel (former Hive counselor) welcomed twin girls Harper Ashland and Eloise Frances with husband John Stoel on December 12, 2019.

Jenn Wheeler (Lanakila counselor and Foundation Photographer) and Bleecker Wheeler (Lanakila alumnus and former counselor) welcomed baby girl Pilot Pasley on January 3, 2020.

Ila Goodspeed (Foundation Buildings and Grounds) and husband Ed Goodspeed met their baby boy Jeremiah on January 5, 2020.

Carolyn Browning (Hive/ Aloha alumna) had baby boy Charles Thomas on January 26, 2020 with husband Matthew Hammer.

Alexis Leone Potyrala (former Aloha counselor) gave birth to Olivia Grace on February 15, 2020 with husband Josh Potyrala.

Aisling Daly (former Lanakila counselor) and husband Barry Bree welcomed baby boy Tadhg on February 20, 2020.

Charlotte Wonnell Maury (former Hive counselor) and her husband Patrick met James Thoburn on June 25, 2020. He is a bundle of joy and energy.

Andrea Walker (Hive/Aloha alumna, former Aloha counselor, alumni ambassador) and Colby Walker (Lanakila alumnus, former Lanakila counselor) welcomed a son, Logan, July 6, 2020.

William Berkey (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) and Brittany Silva greeted daughter Nora G. Berkey on July 20, 2020, weighing in at 9lbs 11oz.

Ben Bezark (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) and Michelle Gertz Bezark (former Aloha counselor) welcomed Sylvia Rose on August 19, 2020.

Claire Maggiotto (Hive/ Aloha alumna and former Aloha counselor) and her husband Jamie Bruening met baby, Magnolia Marie Bruening (Maggie), on September 24, 2020.

Derek Prill (Lanakila alumnus, former Lanakila counselor, alumni ambassador) and wife Katherine welcomed Charles Francis in the fall of this year.

Justin Cottrill (former Lanakila counselor and Hulbert staff) and Maggie Perry (Hive/Aloha alumna and former Horizons counselor), greeted baby Bastian on October 7, 2020.

Congratulations to one and all!

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Weddings

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Peter Miller (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) and Calantha Girard Miller (former Lanakila counselor) wed on March 28, 2020 in Culver, Indiana.

Nick Wood (Lanakila alumnus, former Lanakila counselor and current Hulbert Program Director) and Jamie Rosenfeld (Hive/Aloha alumna and former Hive counselor) married in an intimate ceremony on May 30, 2020.

Jamie’s sister, Ali Rosenfeld (Hive/ Aloha alumna, former Aloha counselor), officiated.

Tommy Gerrity (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) wed Sophie Novack on July 30, 2020 in a small ceremony at East Rosebud Lake in Montana. In attendance were family, including the parents of the bride and groom. Erin Gerrity, sister of the groom officiated.

Jamie Cohen (Hive/Aloha alumna and former Aloha counselor) and Lee Kellogg wed on August 8, 2020 at Stoddard Park in Holliston, MA. Jamie’s sister, Liza Cohen officiated, and Jeremy Cutler was the photographer.

L to R: Barbara Ellinghaus, Jamie Cohen, Lee Kellogg, Liza Cohen, Jeremy Cutler

Geoffrey Browning (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) married Ms. Devin Parsons on September 6, 2020 in Maine. They originally met in 2013 while working in Congress.

Representative Barney Frank officiated.

L to R: Geoffrey Browning, Devin Parsons, Carolyn Browning Hammer

Faith Davis (Aloha alumna and former counselor) married Alex Iselin on September 7, 2020 on the beach in Watch Hill, RI. L to R: Sarah (Sincerbeaux) Strew, Sasha Gagarin, Eliza (Dodd) Leeper, Jamie Cohen, Faith Davis, Jeremy Cutler, Alex Iselin, Liza Cohen, Sophie (Newbury) Berglund, Will Gridley, Eliza Parsons, Morgan Davis

Robert Hoyt (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) wed Bailee Walton on October 17, 2020.

In attendance: Elton Hoyt, Andrew Hoyt and Dana Hoyt.

Jeff Friedman (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor) married Katherine Schwartz on October 18, 2020. Jeff’s brother, John Friedman was in attendance. L to R: John Friedman, Jeff Friedman, Kathryn Schwartz and Hilary Levey Friedman

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Congratulations to the newlyweds

In Memoriam Herbert Windsor Hobler (Lanakila alumnus), 96, died August 10, 2019 in Skillman, NJ. Herbert graduated from Princeton and served in WWII as a navigator on a B-29.

Carrie Markgraf Blum (former Hive counselor), 59, a resident of Northborough, MA died on January 2, 2020. She received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Middlebury College and later, a PhD in Psychology from University of Vermont. Most recently, she worked as a research scientist.

Matthew Bender IV (Lanakila alumnus and former Trustee), 88, passed peacefully in Albany, NY on February 23, 2020. Matthew graduated from Princeton and then embarked on a successful career in publishing. A devoted philanthropist, he was involved with many worthwhile organizations, including the Aloha Foundation. He is survived by his wife Phoebe, his two sons, Christian and Jeffrey Bender, his daughter, Jean Bender and eight grandchildren, Jackson, Charlie, Claire, and Matthew Bender; Emma and James Bender; and Otto

and Mabel Sabina. All of Matthew’s children and grandchildren attended the Aloha Foundation camps.

Robert Bassett (Lanakila alumnus and former Lanakila counselor), 87, passed on February 29, 2020 in Warwick, RI. He received a degree in Botany to be followed by Ed.D from Harvard.

He worked for many years as the Walpole Superintendent of Schools where he pioneered many innovative programs, combining his love of education and the environment. His environmental stewardship was fostered by his time spent at Lanakila. Robert is survived by his three daughters: Sarah, Katherine and Carolyn and grandchildren Dana Heino, Brandon and Steven Kavanagh, Willem Goff, Ian and Ronan Mackey. He is also survived by his brother David Bassett, and his twin sister Elizabeth Bassett Wolf. Robert’s siblings, children, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews attended Aloha Foundation camps as campers and counselors.

Frances Alden (Aloha alumna), 88, left us on March 14, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. She

loved gardening and her volunteer work.

Richard Hulbert (Lanakila alumnus), 90, passed on July 8, 2020 in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated first from Harvard, then Harvard Law School to begin a very successful legal career. He is survived by his four children, a son, Jonathan, and three daughters, Ann, Laura, and Mary Hulbert, as well as seven grandchildren.

Richard’s children and several of his grandchildren attended the Aloha Foundation camps.

Gordon Clark Williams, Jr. (Buildings and Grounds staff member at Ohana), 78, of Durham, NH died peacefully on July 24, 2020.

A graduate of New England College, he served in the Navy during the Vietnam era. His extensive career in the construction field allowed him to travel, a pastime he pursued whenever possible. He is survived by two daughters, Kerrie and Christa Williams, along with two grandchildren, Tyler O’Connell and Aidan O’Connell. He is also survived by his brother, Andy Williams (former Hulbert Outdoor Center Director).

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SHIFT YOUR FOCUS AND FIND GREATER BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

By Jeremy Cutler, Director of Special Projects

Success Counseling How can Success Counseling be useful in a pandemic? Wow, what a topic! And perhaps not one perfectly suited for merely a few short paragraphs, but let’s give it a shot.

We could start by saying Success Counseling is an internal control psychological framework that borrows from and builds on many other counseling and philosophical traditions…zzzzzzz. Uh oh. I’ve put you to sleep already. Okay, new approach coming up!

How about I give you a bare-bones look at Success Counseling, and then

include some vintage SC questions you can ask yourself during times of high stress or hardship (2020, anyone?), even if you’re a beginner.

The quick idea: Success Counseling looks at the world and what is happening around us (like a global pandemic) and helps to illuminate the places where we still have perhaps more control over how we think, act, and feel than we might realize.

Instead of saying something “makes us feel” a certain way, SC helps us focus on the places where we do retain some power, even in very difficult circum-

stances. By introducing thoughts, questions, and actions with an inward focus, Success Counseling helps us to thrive and find balance in situations where it’s hard (or unwise) to fully control or change what’s happening around us.

This definitely sounds applicable to the last 12 months! So, in honor of one of my favorite talk-show hosts, I’m giving you a “Top 11” list of Success Counseling questions that an expert camper or counselor might be asking themselves at regular intervals. None of this is easy.

It takes practice, discipline and lots of mistakes. Give it a try!

The quick idea: Success Counseling looks at the world and what is happening around us (like a global pandemic) and helps to illuminate the places where we still have perhaps more control over how we think, act, and feel than we might realize.

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alohafoundation.org

If I were being that best version of myself, how would I approach this situation?

11

Am I remembering my basic instructions to be loving, powerful, playful and free? Am I replacing activities that don’t help me follow those instructions with activities that do?

10

What are the things I can’t control in this situation? How much time and energy and power do I want to give to those things?

9

Back in the non-pandemic “good old days,” what was I doing and what was I saying to myself when I hit rough spots? Can I 8 push myself to do those things and tell myself those things now, even if I don’t feel like it?

Success Counseling

What am I hoping will happen (in this situation)? Is what I’m doing getting me closer to that, or dragging me further away? If it’s the latter, does it make sense to try a different approach?

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TAKE THE TOP 11 QUESTION CHALLENGE

When the people in my life (boss/child/parent/teacher/student/ partner/friend) feel so annoying, maybe I can remember that they too are struggling and doing the best they can with the informa6 tion they have. Maybe I can seek to understand where their behavior is coming from, instead of just getting angry with them.

Do I know anyone who seems to be handling themselves well these days? What are they doing and saying to themselves? How do I think they would handle it if their kids drove them crazy/boss 5 was unreasonable/partner wasn’t pulling their weight/parents were grouchy, etc.?

What are my most important qualities and/or values? How can I hold onto these and bring them out on a daily basis? Who or what can help me do this?

4

What’s most important to me? What are the big things that if I get right, will allow me to ignore some of the other things that might not go my way?

3

To learn more or book a virtual workshop for your school or workplace email me: jcutler@ alohafoundation.org.

Or ask your own kids, who are probably budding experts in their own right! In the meantime, hang in there and reach out if we can help in any way!

Can I still feel proud and strong if I handle myself the way I want to (being honest, working hard, sticking to my values), even if things don’t change as a result?

2

What’s a small step I can take today that won’t necessarily get me to any proverbial finish line, but one I would take if I were serious about being the person I say I want to be?

1

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Warm Welcome Introducing…three new Aloha Foundation Trustees!

The Board of Trustees is a group of alumni, parents, and friends of the Alohas who are committed to furthering the mission and long-term viability of the organization. They offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and carry the responsibility of ensuring our financial sustainability.

John Bova Ridgefield, CT

Lewis Goff Pelham, MA

Maggie Owens Moran Boston, MA

John is our first Board member whose primary connection to the Alohas is through our newest program, Ohana Family Camp, founded in 2008. As we look to the future of the organization, his perspective and experience in finance will be important. John, his wife Temi, and daughter Jennifer returned to Ohana for four consecutive summers in 2016–2019 and are looking forward to planning their next visit.

John is Vice President—Private Equity at RGP, a global consulting firm that focuses on human capital and bringing the right people together to create transformative change.

For nearly 30 years, Lewis taught English and outdoor education in a variety of settings including Landmark College in Putney, VT; the Northfield Mount Hermon school in Gill, MA; and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School in South Hadley, MA. He is focused and thoughtful about intersectionality, and will contribute another important viewpoint as the Aloha Foundation addresses questions related to DEI. He is the father of former Lanakila camper Willem, as well as an Ohana family camper and participant at Hulbert’s August Family Camp.

Lewis’s wife is Aloha alumna Carolyn Bassett, whose father Bob Bassett spent 10 years at Lanakila as a camper and counselor in the 1940s and 50s.

Maggie is a producer who started her career with ABC News in London, and worked for CNN and NBC in New York before going freelance. Her most recent television project was a documentary on New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman that aired on Showtime last year. Maggie spent eight summers at Hive as a camper and counselor, beginning in the early 1980s. She and her husband Bill have a daughter Birdie who is heading to Hive for the first time in 2021 and a son Will who is returning to Lanakila. Maggie’s mother, Biddy Owens, was a camper and counselor in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and later a Board member who was honored as Trustee Emerita.

John It is vitally important to me to support the personal reflection and growth that are part of becoming one’s ‘best self.’

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Lewis I’m grateful for the invitation to join the important work done in service to the camps.

Maggie The Aloha Foundation means so much to me and my family, I was thrilled to say yes to serving on the Board.

By Posie Taylor, Executive Director Emerita

Left: Matt (far left) as a Lanakila camper in 1941. Right: At the Aloha Foundation’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 2018, Matt announced he would make a $500,000 charitable gift to the Alohas.

Remembering Matt Bender (1931–2020) Although Matt would be the first to clarify that he was not one of the original Trustees who set in motion the creation of the Aloha Foundation, the truth is that he began his service on our Board almost immediately after those first few months. He had been a camper and his kids were in the midst of their camp careers at that point when Matt joined the fledgling non-profit, launching a commitment to us that lasted over 50 years.

In the beginning, there were many challenges and missteps, with a Board unsure about how to handle camp leaders who were also feeling their

Matt helped us grow & change the focus, as he learned to be a true Board giant over time. way. Lengthy Board discussions about who should do the camp laundry or which direction camps should paddle

on the Connecticut luckily made way for more strategic and complex discussions of who we were and what we wanted to become.

Matt helped us grow and change the focus, as he learned to be a true Board giant over time. He encouraged us to build the leadership structure of the Foundation. He weighed in on every major decision from session length to land purchases to starting Hulbert, Horizons, and Ohana. He continued to be an active voice, even after his terms on the Board ended, as he was elected one of our earliest Emeritus Trustees. In that role, he came to Board meetings and continued to visit every summer to keep in close touch with how we were doing. Until his last illness, he watched and learned, cheering us on but also asking those vital, tough questions.

For me personally, Matt was much more than a Board supervisor or my boss. Over the years, we developed a deep and lasting friendship, nurtured by regular and frequent lunches in Manchester, Vermont, halfway between his home in Albany and mine in

Vermont. Always over The Equinox House’s fancy version of that basic camp favorite lunch—tomato soup and grilled cheese—he dispensed advice on camp issues while I listened with attention. He was a big fan of Aloha’s communication style and substance.

He would always tell me how he brought our latest Annual Report or Reveille to the much larger non-profits he served in Albany. I was thrilled he thought so highly of our efforts!

But our conversations roamed over a much broader landscape. We shared family concerns, assisted each other when there were challenges at the non-profits we were involved with, passed on tips for good reads and travel adventures. In my own small way, I have patterned my modest philanthropic efforts on Matt’s careful research and hard work. Matt worked at his philanthropy every day, giving to so many, mostly in the Albany area, but always with an eye towards his friends in Fairlee. In short, this wise and conscientious man was a good friend to me and to the whole Aloha community and we miss him dearly.

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Non Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Manchester, NH Permit No. 724

2968 Lake Morey Road Fairlee, Vermont, 05045

STEP FORWARD FOR THE ALOHAS, EACH AND EVERY MONTH What’s an easy, meaningful, and lasting way to give back to Aloha? Become an EverGreen sustainer!

Visit alohafoundation.org/give to set up a monthly recurring contribution of $25, $50, or any amount that works for you. In its inaugural year in 2019, 61 Aloha community members joined the program. alohafoundation.org/give

From Ohana Family Camp’s main lodge, the view of Middlebrook Valley and Lake Fairlee is second to none.