CLOSING 4 camps Not About the Money
From GSNEO FAQs about the property decision:
Does GSNEO need the money from the camps to pay for daily operations?
No, the money from the property sales will be used to support the remaining Council properties. This initiative is about the reallocation of resources to provide more services and programs to more members across the entire Council area. These are exciting times for GSNEO, in terms of growth. As the needs of our diverse membership changes, the Council must also evolve to remain relevant. "
Summary: The board is saying this isn't about the money – but about accomplishing “ The Vision” .
GSNEO is currently only spending about 10% of it's annual $11 million budget on the camps. The only problem with that figure is that it ought to be spending an even greater percentage! Camping is the most significant and popular program in the council. It is the one whose effectiveness has been proven over the decades.
In addition, the bulk ($8.2 million out of $11 million) of the council's income is earned by the girls through cookie and product sales. Of course it should be spent for programs that they enjoy and benefit from! What else should it go for?
The projected amount of money needed for camp improvement varies widely. On April 16th, we were told by board property committee member Brent Gardner that it would cost $30 plus million dollars to bring all the camps up to accreditation level" (Click hereto read Brent Gardner's entire speech).
Yet the final report of Vision 2012 on the GSNEO website has a chart of deferred maintenance expenses (page 17). The totaled deferred maintenance costs for all camps is only $1,939,000. The largest single projected costs would be a sewage system at Ledgewood and fixing the dam at the Lower lake of Crowell/Hilaka.
The actual cost of the dam repair is unknown because it has not been inspected and evaluated by by an engineer certified to oversee such repairs. The problem is NOT a weakness in the dam, but that the lake needs a larger reserve capacity in case of flood conditions. In February 2011, the Friends of Crowell/Hilaka submitted a written offer to the GSNEO board to pay for the engineering evaluation. They were turned down.
The Biggest Question:
Why is there a $28 million discrepancy between what Brent Gardner told us and what is posted on the GSNEO website of the cost to fix up the camps?
Because the $30 million figure is what it would take to make all 7 camps into Premier Leadership Centers (i.e. pools, sports centers, drama centers, technology centers, etc. etc. at ALL 7 properties).
Does GSNEO need the money from the camps to pay for daily operations?
No, the money from the property sales will be used to support the remaining Council properties. This initiative is about the reallocation of resources to provide more services and programs to more members across the entire Council area. These are exciting times for GSNEO, in terms of growth. As the needs of our diverse membership changes, the Council must also evolve to remain relevant. "
Summary: The board is saying this isn't about the money – but about accomplishing “ The Vision” .
GSNEO is currently only spending about 10% of it's annual $11 million budget on the camps. The only problem with that figure is that it ought to be spending an even greater percentage! Camping is the most significant and popular program in the council. It is the one whose effectiveness has been proven over the decades.
In addition, the bulk ($8.2 million out of $11 million) of the council's income is earned by the girls through cookie and product sales. Of course it should be spent for programs that they enjoy and benefit from! What else should it go for?
The projected amount of money needed for camp improvement varies widely. On April 16th, we were told by board property committee member Brent Gardner that it would cost $30 plus million dollars to bring all the camps up to accreditation level" (Click hereto read Brent Gardner's entire speech).
Yet the final report of Vision 2012 on the GSNEO website has a chart of deferred maintenance expenses (page 17). The totaled deferred maintenance costs for all camps is only $1,939,000. The largest single projected costs would be a sewage system at Ledgewood and fixing the dam at the Lower lake of Crowell/Hilaka.
The actual cost of the dam repair is unknown because it has not been inspected and evaluated by by an engineer certified to oversee such repairs. The problem is NOT a weakness in the dam, but that the lake needs a larger reserve capacity in case of flood conditions. In February 2011, the Friends of Crowell/Hilaka submitted a written offer to the GSNEO board to pay for the engineering evaluation. They were turned down.
The Biggest Question:
Why is there a $28 million discrepancy between what Brent Gardner told us and what is posted on the GSNEO website of the cost to fix up the camps?
Because the $30 million figure is what it would take to make all 7 camps into Premier Leadership Centers (i.e. pools, sports centers, drama centers, technology centers, etc. etc. at ALL 7 properties).
