Association News

Share the Message About ACA Accreditation
We encourage you to take advantage of all the online ACA-Accreditation Marketing Tools—display your camp's ACA-accreditation logo proudly and properly! Click on "Share the Message" for your online resource for accreditation marketing.

From proper logo use, press releases, and key messages to links to ACA's parent information site, www.CampParents.org, and more, find out everything you need to know about accreditation at www.ACAcamps.org/accreditation.

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New Online Tools to Promote the Value of ACA Accreditation
Do you need help when asked to give a presentation at a P.T.A meeting—or to a church or community group? ACA has developed talking points and a PowerPoint® presentation to help you share the message with parents and the public about the benefits of the camp experience and the importance of ACA accreditation. These are available for download online. The talking points are in an online, Web version and in PDF format.

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PROTECTScreen
ACA is pleased to announce the commencement of our partnership with the FBI that will allow camps to receive $18 Criminal Background Checks on volunteers in less than one week! All the information and materials you need to get started on this program can be found online at: www.ACAcamps.org/publicpolicy.

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Make a Difference!
Members eligible to vote in the ACA election will be receiving either a print notification and ballot or an e-mail indicating the link to vote online by the end of December. Deadline for voting is January 29. The candidates and open positions follow:

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Marge Scanlin Retires
After forty years of serving as a volunteer and national staff member with the American Camp Association (ACA), Marge Scanlin, Executive Officer, Research and Intellectual Resources, has decided to move on to the retirement phase of her life. Many of us have come to associate Scanlin with varied aspects of ACA during her twenty-six years on the national staff: education, accreditation and standards, risk-management, and research. She has often been the "behind the scenes" motivator, helping the Association take important steps forward through strengthened networks with other outdoor and youth organizations, financial backing through grants such as with the Lilly Foundation Inc., and tireless personal efforts at meetings, trainings, and conferences. While we will miss her presence and contributions, we wish her well as she has more time to spend with family and friends, to devote to her singing, to enjoy her patio and flowers, and to travel to those vacation destinations on her wish list.

As a tribute to Scanlin and her most recent contributions to ACA through research, an endowment has been established in her honor. The Marge Scanlin Outstanding Student Research Award will be presented each year at the national conference to a student (undergraduate or graduate) whose research has been judged to have made the most significant contribution to the camp profession that year. This endowment allows us in ACA with a lasting opportunity to acknowledge Marge's passion and commitment to quality and improvement based on solid information by encouraging those characteristics in young scholars. If you would like to make a contribution to the endowment, please send a check to the American Camping Foundation: Marge Scanlin Endowment and mail it to ACA, 5000 State Rd. 67 North, Martinsville, IN 46151-7902. The first award will be made at the ACA 2008 National Conference.

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Camping Magazine's Editorial Advisory Committee Welcomes New Members
The Editorial Advisory Committee bids an appreciative farewell to three members of the committee: Barry Garst, Viki Kappel Spain, and Steve Purdum, who contributed their professionalism and expertise to the committee. With career paths and responsibilities changing for these members, Camping Magazine opened three committee positions simultaneously.

The magazine is proud to announce the following new members will be joining the Editorial Advisory Committee January 1, 2007:

Marcy Brower—Co-founder and former co-owner/co-director of Circle M Day Camp in Wheeling, Illinois, Brower is a long-standing member of the American Camp Association (ACA), Illinois. She serves as the newsletter editor and Mid States liaison. She has held numerous voluntary committee positions within ACA including recently serving as Board-Member-at-Large for three years on the National Board and the 2006 national conference committee. She continually works to extend camp opportunities to minority children and staff.

Gretchen Vaughn—Currently, Vaughn serves on the editorial committee for Girl Scouts—Mile Hi publications. In addition to experience in general camp management, she specializes in bullying prevention and camp wellness. Currently, Vaughn is the program executive and resident camp director at Flying "G" Ranch. Her educational background ranges from a B.A. in Asian studies to an M.A. in Chinese.

Andy Wexler—Wexler is president and founder of Pali Entertainment Group, parent company of Pali Overnight Adventures, Pali Mountain Retreat & Conference Center, as well as the Family Magazine Group. He has been a regular spokesperson for the news media and industry events and has worked consistently for the past fifteen years creating enriching and educational programming.

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Camping Magazine Subscription Rate Changes
The following rates for Camping Magazine subscriptions are effective December 1, 2006. ACA Associate and Professional Members receive Camping Magazine free of charge as a benefit. Student Members receive the annual Staff Training May/June issue.

One-year subscription: Mainland U.S., $29.95; Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico; Canada & Mexico, $48; Foreign, $54

Two-year subscription: Mainland U.S., $56; Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico; Canada & Mexico, $92; Foreign, $104

Visit www.ACAcamps.org/campmag to order additional subscriptions for your staff members.

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Got Campshots?
A photo kiosk will be displayed during the 2007 ACA National Conference, Austin, Texas, in the Communicamp area. Here, you will be able to drop off CDs of your camp’s photos. ACA is collecting historical and contemporary photos from all ACA-accredited camps for use in Camping Magazine, promotional materials for ACA’s 100th Anniversary celebration and the 150th Anniversary of the camp experience, and other ACA  marketing and communications print and electronic publications.

In order for any photos to be considered for publication, the camp, camp location, and photographer if applicable must be identified. An approximate date must be indicated on all historical photos. For current photos, include a statement indicating your camp has model releases on file for all identifiable subjects in the photo.

Remember to bring your camp’s photos to conference!

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Stand Up and Be Counted . . . There’s Still Time
On October 19 the first-ever CAMPaign ’07 Phone-A-Thon was held and raised nearly $25,000 to the total of $3.5 million raised so far! Didn’t get called? Still want to show your support? You can add your name to the list of donors to CAMPaign ’07 by donating online (https://www.acacamps.org/campaign/pledgeform.php). Plans are to celebrate our success at the conference in Austin. Don’t be left out!

Special thanks to all of the ACA National Board members and volunteers from New England, New York, Ohio, and Southern California that helped make calls during the Phone-A-Thon. They did a great job!

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