The phone lines have already begun to buzz as plans are being made for another exciting summer of fun and fellowship at Camp Omagh. God continues to bless this ministry and our prayer is that we honour and praise Him through it.
This year’s workshop is scheduled for March 30 and 31, at Great Lakes Christian College. After a very encouraging and informative time at last year’s program, we are really looking forward to this weekend. The program begins Friday evening at 7:30 with Les Cramp speaking on “Why I Believe in Christian Camping.” Saturday morning, following a continental breakfast, Steve May will start the day speaking about “The Contributions of Christian Camping to the Churches in Ontario.” The remainder of the day will be spent in smaller groups specifically focused on a particular camp area, whether it is crafts, the kitchen or teaching Bible classes. We have some terrific discussion leaders lined up and we hope to see you there! For more information and registration see the Camp Omagh website or call Noel Walker at (905) 563-7303.
Did I say Camp Omagh website? Yes! If you are online, check it out! It is an easy way to find program information and see lots of pictures of things past and present going on at Omagh. Just go to www.campomagh.org
Memorials were received for Sisters Gladys Vance and Elizabeth Hunter. These gifts serve as a fitting tribute and memorial to these sisters, by supporting the Omagh Bible School ministry. For more than 60 years Omagh has been teaching God's Word in a beautiful natural setting and we remain committed to that mission. Each year hundreds of children, teens and adults come to Omagh and develop friendships that last a lifetime. We deeply appreciate these generous gifts to this important ministry.
Our program schedule for 2001 is set and we are pleased to welcome several new directors.
Prime Timers (July 10-13)
Walter Straker & Mark Heuston
Sharpening The Sword (July 13-15)
Max Craddock
Week 1 (ages 7-9) (July 15-21)
Scott Mansfield
Week 2 (ages 8-10) (July 22-28)
George Mansfield
Week 3 (ages 11-13) (July 29-Aug. 4)
Michael Toohey
Singspiration (August 4-6)
Bob Sandiford
Family Camp (August 6-11)
Dwayne Williams
Week 4 (ages 11-13) (August 12-18)
Walter Cromwell
Teen Week (August 19-26)
Rick McBay & Sharon Ellis
Other programs taking place at the camp include:
20’s Weekend (July 6-8)
Brad Cook
Great Lakes Bible College Class (Aug. 27 – Sept. 1)
Our Counselor in Training (CIT) Program is being offered again this year during the first two weeks of our children’s camp. Scott Mansfield will be providing a structured training program to help prepare our future counselors. While there is no fee involved this year, only ten CIT’s will be chosen per week from all those who apply. Those wishing to be involved should get in touch with Scott at 113 Nelson St. West, Meaford, ON, L4L 1G3, or by email at kalvin@bmts.com
Tim Page is no stranger to Camp Omagh. He and his wife Laura have been quite involved in several of the weeks over the past few years. We hope that you will offer them and their family your encouragement and support as Tim takes on the task of camp manager for this year. (We’ll be sure to give him Russ’ phone number!)
Our full time staff for this year has been hired and we are happy to have the following people participate in our camp program this summer:
Shanna Whitehead Office/Kitchen Assistant
Nathan Page Maintenance Assistant
Jill Cann Lifeguard
Megan Brittain Lifeguard
Also working with us this summer we have YOU! Volunteer opportunities abound as always and I am constantly reminded of how much time, work and prayer is given by so many people to make this place tick. Workdays begin June 2nd and follow every Saturday in June. If you can come any of those days, there will be something for you to do, or you can contact Dave Jaggard at (905) 527-7399 for more specific details. If you wish to volunteer to participate in one of the camp weeks you can contact Noel Walker at (905) 563-7303, and he will connect you with the right person.
Tentative projects for this year include the following: repairing the foundations of the boys’ bunkies, building a new girls’ bunkie, building more of the permanent beds in the cabins, painting Joy Hall, and laying down interlocking brick at some building entrances. Dave Jaggard is the chairman of the Maintenance and Projects Committee and the person to contact if you can help in any way.
There have been some changes within the board over the last couple of months. We were very sorry to have Brian Cox step down from the board after doing such a great job as our President for the past couple of years. We hope he is keeping warm up in Muskrat Dam, where his wife has taken a job. All the best to them in the far north and we look forward to their return.
The board voted unanimously in favour of Dave Jaggard taking on the position of President for the remainder of the year. Mark Heuston has been chosen as 1st Vice President and Brad Cook is the 2nd Vice President.
Also serving on the board this year are:
Noel Walker, Charles Kippax, A.D. Fleming, Eartha Zila, Moses Velasco, Howie Taylor, and Lily Whitfield. Serving with the board are Marilyn Kippax, Board Secretary; Karen Hooper, Camp Secretary; Paul Craig, Treasurer.
If you wish to reach any of the board members, please contact the board secretary, Marilyn Kippax at (519) 539-6931.
The Bible Fund, the Scholarship Fund, and the Neil Hart Memorial Fund continue to provide many children with the opportunity to hear about God. Please continue to give to these worthwhile efforts. Contributions can be mailed to Marilyn Kippax, 409 Argyle Street, Woodstock, ON, N4S 2G7.
We welcome a few new members to our corporation and appreciate your support of Camp Omagh. Please continue to encourage those you know to join us as corporation members. There are a surprising number of people who are very involved with the camp, but are not actually members of the corporation. Don’t be afraid to ask them! Having a larger corporation provides us with greater support and input, as well as better communication. It also gives us a larger base to determine who will serve on the board of directors. It’s not too soon to be thinking of people you can nominate for the board for this fall. There will be positions coming open and the people who fill these roles are very important in the decisions made for the Camp. Mark your calendar now for the Annual Corporation Meeting and Dinner, October 27, 2001 in the Johnstone Hall at Camp Omagh.
Along that line, the board has been discussing the idea of a strategic plan for Omagh. We invite your input as to what future projects you might like to see undertaken or how you picture Camp Omagh in five or ten years. Are there steps we need to take now to make that happen? Please share your ideas with us, or better still, write them down, so that we can consider ways to improve our camp even more.
Thank you for all that you contribute, in your own way, which allows Camp Omagh to be the blessing that it is. May it truly be “To God’s glory given.”
Sincerely,
Eartha Zila
on behalf of the Publicity and Membership Committee
and the Board of Directors