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. 5
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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