Friends of CLN 2019 Annual Report

Friends of Camp Little Notch

Providing opportunities for all people to practice living in harmony with nature, each other, and themselves.

Annual Report to Membership August 2019

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Table of Contents Accomplishments and Committee Summaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Governance and Nominating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Fundraising and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2018 Financial Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Five-Year Financials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Children’s Summer Program Income: 2014-2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Overall Program Income: 2014-2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Income and Expenses: 2014-2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Looking Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Heartfelt Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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A MESSAGE FROM FOCLN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Camp Little Notch is a magical place. Our mission is our guide to providing opportunities for all people to practice living in harmony with nature, each other, and themselves. This report will provide information regarding organizational, programmatic, and financial activities and accomplishments of Friends of Camp Little Notch in the 2018 calendar year.

This was the organization’s third full year as owners of Camp Little Notch, having fulfilled the dream of purchasing our beloved property in March of 2015, 443 acres located in Fort Ann, New York. The purchase was made possible through practical and financial assistance from hundreds of people, and a $500,000 loan from the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region. The balance of making monthly mortgage payments according to the Board-approved payment schedule and implementing strategies for program growth and development is carefully monitored by our Executive Director, Board of Directors and financial consultants to make sound decisions to sustain Friends of Camp Little Notch.

Andrea Cirabisi served as Executive Director from October 2016 until the end of January 2019. The organization continued to plan and implement strategies to increase the financial and program stability of Friends of Camp Little Notch. The priorities for 2018 were to use smart data driven decision making to provide quality programming for as many people as possible via our signature children’s program, rental groups and community events at Camp Little Notch.

We saw camper numbers continue to increase in 2018, with 84 campers for 126 camper-weeks, compared with 81 campers and 96 camper-weeks in 2017. In order to enhance the camp experience for campers we expanded our one week sessions from 6 days to 7 days in 2018. This gave campers more time to adjust and settle in as well as progress through more activities. After careful consideration of the true cost per camper per day and research on fees at similar camps, the decision was made to increase fees by $140 3

each tier. In 2017, one week (6 day) camp session costs were $810; Tier 2 $610; Tier 3 $510; 2018 pricing for 7-day sessions were $980 for Tier 1 - $980; Tier 2 - $780 and Tier 3 - $680.

Sally Sills was the Camp Director for the 2018 season. Although an experienced camp director, Sally was new to CLN. The summer offered some challenges with the heat and copious rain, and the 7-day session structure made it difficult for staff to have enough time off. However, the staff did a fantastic job on meeting the needs of the campers and the summer was a success overall!

It is important to appreciate and value our accomplishments and the camp’s 80 year history, and to build on these toward a sustainable future. Our accomplishments thus far would not have been possible without the tireless contributions of our members, stewards, wood fairies, and staff. Together, we have the knowledge and the ability to continue to move our organization forward, providing opportunities for more people to live in harmony with nature and themselves. We are grateful to serve on the board and look forward to working with our members and volunteers to achieve and implement our mission.

With hope rising up.

Friends of Camp Little Notch Board of Directors Executive Committee

Directors at Large

Emma Dundon, President

Becky Dixon

Susan Smith-Franks, Vice President

Jennifer Lescovich

Dan Berryann, Treasurer

Katie Mooradian

Patricia Stott, Secretary

Val Healy

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMITTEE SUMMARIES

Program Children’s Summer Camp Program

The 2018 Summer Camp Program continued to build on the experiences of previous years. This was the seventh consecutive summer of programming by Friends of CLN with three weeks of girls program and the addition of A Week for Boys at the end of the summer. After many requests from members and camper parents, the board voted to implement a session that would allow boys to experience the magic of Little Notch. The board also decided to increase camp fees to reflect the true cost of camper per day, and to provide camperships to as many campers as possible, based on demonstrated financial need. Fees for 2018 were as follows: Tier 1 = $980, Tier 2 = $780, Tier 3 = $680.

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In 2018 we offered A Week for Boys for the first time, along with three weeks of our Girls Program. There were 18 boys for the one week session. Overall, we had 84 individual campers, and a total of 126 camper-weeks, with an average of 32 campers per week. These numbers were a slight increase from the 2017 registrations. We offered a two-week session with a 6-day canoe trip which was cancelled due to lack of enrollment, however the second two-week session with the 3-day canoe trip with 7 campers. We had two CITs in 2018 after not having a CIT program for the previous two years. In 2018, we offered 2 two-week sessions that overlapped with one week sessions, so that it was possible for girls to attend for the full three 6

weeks. This option was challenging because the four campers who attended all three weeks ranged from ages 10-14. This group had too wide of an age range and was too small to be their own group, so they had to change camper groups each session which was not ideal.

FoCLN Community Programs We continued to offer programming by Friends of CLN, which included: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Spring and Fall Stewards Weekends Memorial Day Weekend Father’s Day Weekend Adirondack Balloon Festival Weekend Women’s Weekend All Friends Weekend Open Camping

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Group Rentals We also continued to serve a wide variety of rental groups: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Wild Med Adventures (return annually to do Alternative Wilderness Life Support training) River Run Montessori School Autumnal Equinox Gathering of Northeast Shamanic Practitioners Girl Scouts Service Unit #209 (encampment) Saratoga Waldorf School (11th-grade Botany class) Private Wedding Family and Member rentals

Daisy Troop 5010 for donated their bake sale earnings to Camp Little Notch after being here for an encampment in June 2018!

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Property The Property Committee and stewards dedicated many hours of dedication and physical labor to ensure that the land and facilities at Camp Little Notch are safe and in good condition. This committee remains very busy year-round, opening camp at Spring Stewardship Weekend, caring for the property throughout the season, closing camp at Fall Stewardship Weekend, and conducting monthly winter walk-throughs. There were over 70 volunteers at the 2018 Spring Steward Weekend! Without our stewards we could not keep camp running.

Maintaining 443 acres of Camp Little Notch property requires a significant investment of time and resources. We are becoming more aware of the need for some major enhancements to the property, particularly in the kitchen and dining hall. It is important to recognize that the cost and energy involved in managing the property will continue to be a significant portion of our budget. A strategic plan for major improvements will require planning for a capital campaign that includes grant funding as well as private donations.

Some highlights of 2018 were the creation of a map of the depth of Lakes Pond for the Mile Swim route, major repairs on the floating bridge, repair of plumbing fixtures in the Health Center, installation of a solar light in the Wolery, repair of the IMAG floor that had rotted due to bad drainage, and repair of the drainage that caused the problem! A special project for 2018 was to create silt barriers in Tall Timbers to keep further erosion from filling the lake with silt.

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Forestry Management Plan As we reported last year, in 2016, members of the Property Committee engaged in discussions with Meadowsend Timberlands Limited (MTL) regarding creation of a sustainable forestry management plan. A family owned forestry company, MTL purchased from Open Space Institute nearly 2,000 acres of the original property that made up Camp Little Notch. The Board voted to hire MTL to create a comprehensive forestry management plan. The 83-page plan was delivered to us in July 2018. The Board voted to approve the plan, with implementation to begin in the summer of 2019.

Implementation of the plan will bring needed revenue to the organization (estimated $5,000-$10,000 annually, as well as other benefits. We have approximately 312 acres of land that can be logged, with high value timber at the south end of the property. The logging will be sustainable, selective harvesting, which is consistent with our mission and our conservation easement. The plan offers options for opening up spaces for additional wilderness activities, such as remote camping sites and bird watching. Lastly, sustainable forest management keeps the property healthy. The Forestry Plan also included an inventory of invasive species which is helpful for future planning related to property management.

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Governance and Nominating At the Annual Members Meeting, four new board members were elected for two year terms: Emma Dixon, Katie Mooradian, Val Healy, and Dan Berryann. Benj Gleeksman and Tess Lecuyer ended their terms. We are very grateful for their service to FoCLN.

The Board of Directors fall retreat was held in late September. Julie Martinek and Monty Metz were the facilitators for the retreat. During the retreat, a new committee structure was introduced which allowed for a decreased number of committees and consolidation of focus areas. The new committees are Program, Property, Fundraising and Governance, Finance and Development, Recruitment (members, campers and staff) and AV (Website, Social Networking and Marketing).

There were a number of changes in leadership of FoCLN in late 2018 and early 2019. Kelly Krein-Hart stepped down from her position as President in November 2018, and Andrea Cirabisi resigned from the Executive Director position in January 2019. Julie Favreau-Schwartz became an advisor to the board in February 2019. The remaining members stepped up to continue the work of the organization and elected new officers.

Fundraising and Development ● ● ● ● ●

All Friends Silent Auction - $2,300 Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends - $1,125 Glennpeter Diamond Center December silent auction - $3,393 SPAC Staffing refreshment tents - $13,688 Facebook Fundraisers Giving Tuesday and Birthday fundraisers - $11,200

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Daisy Troop 510 donated proceeds from their bake sale to CLN after attending the Girl Scout Encampment in June 2018!

Finance The treasurer and the finance committee, together with the Executive Director, managed the campership application and allocation process; created and obtained Board approval for the operating budget for 2019; maintained fiscal oversight; and provided ongoing reports to the Board of Directors.

Our loan from the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region was crucial to the ability of the organization to go through with the purchase of Camp Little Notch. We continue to pay back the $500,000 loan following the board-approved schedule of payments.

With programming operating at a roughly break-even point, we continue to be dependent on grants and fundraising for ongoing support to make our mortgage payments, hire essential staff, and continue to maintain the property.

2018 FINANCIAL UPDATE Below you will find: ●

Five Year Financials (Income and Expense)

●

Children’s Summer Program Income: 2014-2018

●

Overall Program Income: 2014-2018

●

Financial information for 2018

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An Accountant’s Report of audited financials is available upon request. Please email info@friendsofcln.org for more information. The numbers presented here are taken from the organization’s (unaudited) Profit and Loss statements. The way the audited figures are grouped and presented makes it difficult to pull out and present the data that we think will be of most interest to members.

CHILDREN’S SUMMER PROGRAM INCOME 2014-2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

6

4

4

4

4

# of Campers

115

88

73

81

84

# of Camper Weeks

130

110

86

96

126

Camp Fee Income

$54,000

$63,000

$44,000

$57,700

$66,200

Camperships allocated

$14,000

$4,000

$5,000

$6,500

$5,000

Average campers/week

22

28

22

24

32

$523

$609

$569

$669

$783

$68,000

$67,000

$49,000

$64,200

$71,200

# of Weeks of Camp

Income per Camper-Week Total Income

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OVERALL PROGRAM INCOME 2014-2018 2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Children’s Program

$68,000

$67,000

$49,000

$60,000

$71,200

Rentals

$20,000

$26,000

$30,000

$8,000

$15,700

Community Program

$12,000

$13,000

$13,000

$13,000

$11,500

TOTAL

$100,000

$106,000

$92,000

$81,000

$98,400

INCOME AND EXPENSES 2014-2018 Income

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

$100,000

$106,000

$92,000

$81,000

$98,400

Events

$4,000

$5,000

$3,000

$1,800

$2,300

Direct Public Support for Operations

$30,000

$31,000

$96,000

$98,000

$80,600

Insurance Claim (Tinuwen Unit House fire; 2014 and 2016 numbers)

$40,000

$0

$4,000

$0

$0

Membership Dues

$8,000

$9,000

$14,000

$7,000

$4,500

Other Misc. Income

$9,000

$10,000

$7,000

$800

$600

Subtotal

190,000

161,000

216,000

$188,600

$186,400

Direct Public Support for Land Purchase

$119,000

$384,000

$25,000

$11,000

$14,300

TOTAL

$310,000

$545,000

$241,000

$199,600

$200,700

Direct support for ED, to be used in 2018

n/a

n/a

$25,000

$25,000

$25,000

Direct support for land, to be used in 2018

n/a

n/a

$35,000

$25,000

$25,000

$310,000

$545,000

$301,000

$249,600

$250,700

Total Camp Operations Revenue (Children’s Program, Community Events, Rentals, camperships allocated)

Other

TOTAL

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Expenses

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Contract Services

$12,000

$18,000

$26,000

$20,000

$13,800

Facilities and Equipment

$17,000

$27,000

$62,000

$39,000

$45,800

Salaries, Benefits, Taxes

$57,000

$62,000

$84,000

$138,600

$141,000

Operations

$33,000

$26,000

$23,000

$39,000

$39,100

Insurance

$15,000

$16,000

$23,000

$22,500

$25,000

Travel and Meetings

$1,000

$480

$190

$1,600

$500

Lease (2014) or Mortgage (2015-2018)

$50,000

$42,000

$69,000

$64,000

$45,400

$185,000

$192,000

$266,000

$324,700

$310,600

TOTAL EXPENSES

Loan in 2018 Principal paid in 2018: $25,800 Interest paid in 2018: $19,600 Outstanding Balance as of 12/31/18: $366,300

LOOKING FORWARD Strategic planning for the next 3-5 years is at the forefront of our future planning and development.

Expansion of summer programming and rental groups will ensure that we have the income necessary to expand our staff and maintain and improve our facilities. We will work to expand our board of directors and committee membership, including members from the surrounding communities.

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HEARTFELT THANKS We would like to give a huge and heartfelt Thank You to these individuals and entities for contributing funds, in-kind donations, and/or valuable time and skills to Friends of Camp Little Notch in 2018.

If we somehow missed listing you for 2018, please emailinfo@friendsofcln.org to let us know and we will add your name to the electronic copy of this report, which will be available on our website.

2018 Individual Supporters and Donors Joan Agines

Don & Janice Berryann

Kathie Bujan

Jasmine Allen-Meyer

Dan Berryann

Margaret Burch

Gene Altman

Cindy Bingham & Judy Miller

Heather Burnett

Lisa Altman

Amy Blom

Emily Caffry

Denise Alvarez

Ralf Boeck

Cathleen Callahan

Calvin Anderson

Sharyn Bouck

Marcia Canaday

Michael Anthony

Sherie Braun

Susan Canfield

Andrea Bachinski

Ben Brower

Matthew Cardellio

Chrys Ballerano

Gina Brown

Nilya Carrato

Debbie Bartz

Barbara & Leo Brown

Christa Caruso

John Bartz

Kim Brown

Liz Caruso

Margaret Beckman

Nancy Brumaghim

Kim Casanova

Andrew Berryann

Crescentia Brynolfson

Teresa Casey

Amanda Berryann

April Buchanan

Nancy Cashman

James Berryann

Rob Bujan

Kathy Castracane 16

Jennifer Chandler

Heather Dexter

Patricia Favreau

Andrea Cirabisi

Emma Dixon

Gina Felice

Diane Cleveland

Rebecca Dixon

Christa Flaherty

Cynthia Clo

Phil & Becky Dixon

Kathy Fleischer

Kitty Cole

Jen Dodge

Cheryl Fleury

William Cook

Patti Domfort

Nancy Frate

Anne Cook

Jamila Dphrepaulezz

Pamela Frazier

Barbara Cook

Edith Dundon

Melissa Fredericks

Susan Cook

Emma Dundon

Pam Freedman

Kathleen Crabill

Matt Dunn

Elizabeth & James Fuller

Sara Cremins

Michael Dunn

Rebecca Funk

Bryce Currie

Alex Dunn

Julie Garstecki

Cailie Currin& Margaret Jones

Elizabeth Dunn

Kari Gathen

Jeffrey Cutler

Frederick & Barbara Eames

Maureen Geiser

Jeff Czajkowski

Robin Eddington

Laura Geminiani

Rebecca DaCorsi-Keller

Deb Fann

Elizabeth Gibbs

Wendy & John Delehanty

Judy Farnan-Farago

Francis Gilroy

Marcella Devoe

Charles & Dale Farrar

Benjamin Gleeksman

Mike DeWein

Lindsay & Julia Farrar

Riley Gohlke-Schermer

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Louise Goldstein

Tala Henry-Halabi

Steve and Mary Kozlowski

Gerald Goodrich

Karen Herkes

Zachary Krein

Sue Green

Andrea Herman

Harriet & Kelly Krein-Hart

Jill Griffin

Emma Hogan

David Krogen

David Grigg

Jennifer Horn

Jim Kubiak

William & Ilene Hafker

Sheyna Horowitz

Leah LaFera

Mark Hammond

Larry Hotmer

Gayle Laki

Laurice & James Haney

Jennifer House

Diane Lapan

Dafydd Harries

Margy Howes

Laurie Lapan

Catalina Hart

Kristine Ingemie

Kathleen Larkin

Kelly Hart

Mary Louise & Eric Jackson

Donna Lasher

Lynn Hartwell

Cynthia Johnson

Tess Lecuyer

Ann Haun Rymski

Charlene Johnston

Cheri Lee

Beth Hayes

Laura Jordan

Jennifer Lees

Laura Haes & Joe Ayotte

Laura Kaye

Marcus Leh

Jeanne Healy

Mollie Kennedy

Christopher Leh

Audrey Healy

Kathleen Kieffer

Mary Leh

Jules Kobek

Jennifer Lescovich

Dolores Kovaric-Mabb

Christtina Liceaga

Alan

Hein

Kayla Heisler

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Ian Lobdell

Amy Mayers

Carly Nix

Paul Lobdell

Ally McCabe

Erin O'Brien

Fran Lobdell

Meredith McCarthy

Robin Oliveira

Jay Loveland

Nancy McCormeck

Ruth Olmsted

Jo Lum

Megan McGivney

Megan Osika

Kenneth Lush

Daniel Medina

Bill Osswald

Geo Maciolek

Lisa Meehan

Christopher Osswald

Brigid Mack

Kirsten Metz

George Painter

Amey Maffucci

David Metz

Sandy Palmer

Yvonne Mallory

Lisa Metz

Laurie Pegaz

Beth Mann & Chris Van

Barbara Metz

Anne Peters

Marie Meyer

Carolyn Peterson-Vaccaro

Lisa Maria

Marilyn Miles

Robert Petralia

Andrea Marie

Bob Miller

Alisha Phillips

Kathie Marie

Gern Mooney

Ronald Pokorski

Eileen Marie

Katherine Mooradian

Melissa Pollack

Stephanie Marshall

Anna Moskal

Daniel Pollay

Joe Martinek

Jack Nabozny

Barbara Proctor

Julie Martinek

Barbara Neznek

Jennifer Pruden

Veghten

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Joan Puglia

David Serosky

Kay Storm

Mary Reid

Bridget Shaw

Tricia Stott

Laura Reid & Nancy Brossard

Elizabeth Sheffer-Winig

Christy Stout

Nan Reid

Sally Sheldon

Janet Strominger

Jeff Reisner

Barbara Siler

Robert Stronge

Michelle Riendeau

Barbara Simms

Denise Sylvester

Bill Rockenstyre

Melissa Slavin

Monica Tarantino

Patricia Roesch

Jill Smith

Kathy Tarentino

Starr Ross

Ian Smith-Franks

Gabrielle Tayac

Jeanne Ross-Neuwirth

Susan & Lydia Smith-Franks

Fiona Taylor

Zoë Rothstein

Sheila Sokolski

Clifford Teeter

Linda Rupp

Amy Solis

Albert Thompson

Anne Sande

Arnold Soong

David Tomidy

Chet Sanders

Gretchen Soule

Pamela Trenhorn

Katie Scheidt

Tracy Spadaro

Melissa Trotter

Kathy Schermer

Steph Stevens

Patricia Tuzzolo

Wendy Schmidt

Larry Stevenson

Beth Ufford

Abigail Schwartz

Sean Stinson

Barbara Vahey

Julie and Ari Schwartz

Elizabeth Stone

Sue Van Hook

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Jessica Vedder

Rebecca Ward

Julie Welch-Dye

Samantha Vitagliano

Mariann Warner

Janet Witte & John Hopkins

Alison Waltz

Lou Watson

Tyler Wolcott

Deena Wang

Wendy Weeden

Ingeborg Zimmerman

2018 Group and Business Supporters and Donors

Glenpeters Jewelers Action Septic Service

Honest Weight Food Cooperative

Adirondack Foundation - Adirondack Gives Fund Amazon Smile

The K Foundation

Axiom Landscape and Home Improvement, LLC

Legends Hospitality, LLC

Boscovs

The Kevyn Aucoin Memorial Trust

Community Loan Fund

Network For Good

Crandall Public Library

PayPal Giving Fund

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Stewart's Foundation

Tri Village Sr. Citizen

Target Corporation

Property Stewards Samantha Adkisson

Nicholas Cirabisi

Melissa Fredericks

Gianna Barnett

Cynthia Clo

Savannah Fredericks

Amanda Berryann

Adaline Colligan

Betty Fuller

Dan Berryann

Justin Cross

Jim Fuller

Ben Brower

John Davis

Sara Fuller

Martin Bryan-Tell

Julia Davis

Kari Gathen

Erin Burby

Molly Donaldson

Elizabeth Geiser

Everett Burby

Emma Dundon

Maureen Geiser

Ruth Anne Burby

Elizabeth Dunn

Benjamin Gleeksman

Susan Canfield

Michael Dunn

Charlie Gleeksman

Sara Carl

Julia Farrar

Audrey Healy

Jocelyn Carpinello

Lindsay Farrar

Jay Hui

Jenny Chandler

Erin Feldman

Chuck Jaeger

Andrea Cirabisi

Greg Foster

Marcia Jaeger

Joseph Cirabisi

Macey Fredericks

Cynthia Johnson

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Caleb Jones

Rowyn Pemrick

Susan Smith-Franks

Dana Jones

Deborah Perry

Meadow Stellas

Haley Jones

Alisha Tyler Phillips

Elizabeth Stone

Lauren Jones

Jennifer Pruden

Monica Tarantino

Heidi Kelly

Alyra Rain

Miriam Tell

Tess Lecuyer

Mary Reid

Molly Tell

Jennifer Lescovich

Nan Reid

Nadia Tell

Kyle Luzzi-Dundon

Megan Sanzo

Robin Tell-Drake

Gwen Menyuk

Avery Schorr

Chris Van Veghten

Cindy Moorcroft

Meredith Schorr

Amanda Wang

Katherine Mooradian

Samanta Smith

Beth Wolcott

Jack Nabozny

Ian Smith-Franks

Tyler Wolcot

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