Erin's Dream Lanyards Update

Hey, hey, campers,

Remember that beaded lanyard you made last summer, probably with the help of your counselor (or fearless Craft Guy Joey?)

Those have gone to good use!

The Erin's Dream Lanyard Project is going strong. While we don't have a total count of the number of lanyards produced by CFA in the summer of 2011, we can estimate that it was well over five hundred— which is incredible! Tons of them sold in the camp store to parents and families who stopped by on closing day. I spoke to one mom who had bought six to give to her friends at work. Since the message of Erin's project was fastened to every lanyard made here at CFA, the tenacity and love that their namesake possessed in her short eleven years on earth has been multiplied over and over.. Thanks in part to all of you guys, campers!

As we get close to the holidays —most of us here at CFA are celebrating Christmas, but we know there's plenty of other holidays to remember this season— start brainstorming ways you can put your energy, creativity, or talent into helping others. After our third annual Youth Empowerment Retreat, I find myself realizing again just how great a resource our camp family is. Take a look at these charities that were founded by people well under the age of 20. Consider donating to these charities this winter— or, even greater, consider starting a charity of your own. All of these organizations started very small and very locally, and were started by kids who saw a need. Is there a cause that really moves you? Your CFA family can help! Get in touch with us if you need help getting started.

The Ladybug Foundation was created by a girl of 8, named Hannah, who saw a homeless man eating out of a dumpster. She was determined that no human should have to go to such measures to find a meal, so she started a change drive that has since grown to reach all of Canada and parts of the US.

Free the Children was the dream of a 12-year-old boy back in 1995. It has since grown to a massive, global organization that works to eliminate child labor from the world.

Alex's Lemonade Stand  was created by a 4-year-old cancer patient, Alexandra, in her front yard. Alex was a childhood cancer patient, much like Erin, whose lanyards we made this summer at camp. Though Alex has sadly passed away because of the disease she rallied to fight, the organization she founded has now raised over $50,000,000 (that's fifty million bucks!) for childhood cancer research. That's amazing.

Check out those organizations over your winter break and brainstorm what you could do to better your community, country, and planet!

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment

before starting to improve the world.  

— Anne Frank

The White Rag

In challenging the White Rag, you are accepting the challenge of dedication of your life to Christian Service.

As the Rag Program culminates in this seventh Rag, all the challenges you have faced in the previous six rags are brought together. You have learned to be goal oriented; to live a Christian life; to give to others and accept them fully; to put aside your needs and think of others; and to give of yourself in the best way possible even if you have to sacrifice your wants. To live in Christian Service is to give completely to others.

Let's define those two words:
Christian: adj "all that is noble, and good, and Christ-like."
While there are MANY definitions of Christian, I felt this definition summed it up nicely. Noble, Good, Christ-like - that is what the Rag program is all about.
Service: noun "an act of helpful activity; help; aid"
This is what is meant by service, not being a waiter, providing a service as in fixing something; but rather to bring something greater to someone else through your work, your giving.

I pulled the following from the White Rag Ceremony. It reviews the Raggers Creed and this is talking of humility:

Teach me to do the best I can,
To help and cheer our fellowmen;
Teach me to lose my selfish need,
And glory in the larger deed;
Which smooths the road and lights the day,
For all who chance to come my way.

Through the seven steps of the Rag, that is what you should have learned and directed yourself to be - lose your selfish ways, cheer on your fellowman, and smooth the way for others. As I look to challenge the White Rag this summer, I think of my life, my career and my path forward. I hope that in all I do as a YMCA employee, a School Board member, a mother and a friend, I am begin selfless, encouraging and smoothing the way for others. I pray that in each deed I do, I remember to give to others and not myself. I pray that I can put aside my selfish wants and put ahead others. What a hard task to live up to daily. But with the Rag, my peers and my friends, I know I can do this.

• So where are you in your walk? Just starting your Rag journey to a better you? Three rags into it? Are you living up to the challenge?
• Again, I ask you, how can you better yourself today in giving to others?
• Where do you see the Rag program taking you?
• How will you measure up when challenge calls?
  
• Are you prepared to sacrifice selfish wants for others needs?

As you walk your journey, remember that there are those that care and to always live, laugh, love and lift.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y182?

The Red Rag

The Red Rag is for campers/staff 16 years of age and over who are accepting the challenge toward sacrifice of time, talent, and personal will. Wow-this one is really stepping things up a notch. It is asking you to sacrifice things you love and possibly things you are really good at in light of the good of others.

In the ceremony, there is this story of Albert Schweitzer:

His talent for music could have given him fame as the greatest authority on the music of Bach, and as a great organist. But he sacrificed this talent to use another more needed to God, and prepared himself to become a doctor, founding a hospital in the heart of Africa, and serving the sick of the land.

Wow-to sacrificae his great love of music and purpose himself to become a doctor in Africa is great. How can you do this? Maybe not on such a grand scale, but what can you do TODAY to sacrifice for others?

Before, you have geared yourself to personal goal setting, concern for others and a Christian way of life. Now the Rag is asking you to take time out of your everyday life and give to others. There are so many ways to do this. By mentoring, serving at church, volunteering in your school, community or local YMCA. The Red Rag is focusing you on discovering and utilizing your talents in each day, but also putting aside one great talent to pursue another for the good of others .

• So I ask, what are your talents?
• Are you a musician, an athlete, a chef?
• What are you good at that you can put to task for others?
• Is there something you are really good out but is just self serving and not serving to others? If so, how will you put this aside?

Many of you know I have really discovered my ability to prepare food. While I was good at being a camp program director, I really felt there was something else I could be doing to better serve others. n taking over food service at camp, not only have I found that I love doing it, but I am good at it. For me, cooking is not work, it is joy. So really look and explore yourself and give of time and talent to others.

Find your talent, find an area to focus your talent and serve others. Remember, others before self. Good luck and stay focused.

In the Spirit of Camp,
Allison

Y 182?