Board actions reflect strategic plan.

As the National Board of Directors gathered for the November meeting, there was much reflection on the tragic loss of Morry Stein. We celebrated the contributions he has made to our profession, the association, and to the lives of hundreds of children and summer staff. We will miss his humor, inspirations, and intelligence. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

The national board agenda reflected the desire to maintain the focus set before them in the three-year strategic plan.

Strategy 1: ACA will be an inclusive organization of members who are committed to ACA's mission and the value of camp experience for all segments of American society.

In an effort to simplify the membership system, including service fee structure, the board took action to extend the 25% discount for ACA members who are standards visitors/instructors, and in the volunteer, student, and retiree membership categories. The board voted to restructure the service fee paid by camps to support standards, public awareness, and legislation at the national level, and to permit sections to determine their service fee rate to meet their individual needs.

The board passed a motion to add the following Ethics Task Force recommended statement to the Statement of Compliance: "I affirm that I am willing to be held accountable for and understand that my camp can lose it's accreditation status for violation of the Code of Exemplary Ethical Practices for Camp Directors/Owners of the American Camping Association as established in March, 1989." Code of Ethics for All Members including Camp Owners, Directors, and Executives was approved for Council of Delegates' action. The task force also recommended that the statements "I shall follow equal employment opportunity practices in hiring, assigning, promoting and compensating staff. I shall endeavor to employ persons based upon factors necessary in the performance of the job and the operation of the camp." should end with camp. The task force felt that compliance with relevant laws is required by the ethics and to be consistent with federal law, the association is in no position to enforce discrimination charges in camp employment which are not a matter of law.

Strategy III: ACA at all levels must be committed to serving the needs of members, camps, and those conference centers participating in the accreditation program. All members, and accredited camps and conference centers are entitled to specific core services. ACA will establish, provide, and fund these core services, and seek ways to increase and improve services.

The board received and discussed the report from the Core Services Task Force that has been distributed to the sections. This will be a topic for a hearing at the 1995 Conference in Orlando and voted on as a part of the Chartering Agreement. Regardless of the final outcome, the board commended the task force for their insightful work toward to provision of optimal delivery of services to members.

The Kentucky Section and the Tennessee Section requested that those two sections be dissolved and that a new section be created to cover the current geographic areas of the two sections.

Strategy IV: ACA recognizes the need to maintain and strengthen the links between ACA and its Councils.

Saturday, the board met jointly with the Association of Independent Camps council to help facilitate communication and discuss the 501(c)6 Task Force report. The board approved the establishment of a 501(c)6 corporation to be known as the Association of Independent Camps, Incorporated. Changes to the ACA Bylaws that are necessary to recognize AIC, Inc. and its relationship to the ACA National Board of Directors will be prepared for a vote by the Council of Delegates at its 1995 meeting in Orlando.

The board also approved 1995 budget and objectives of the Religiously Affiliated Camps council.

Strategy V: ACA will generate sufficient financial resources to accomplish its mission and effectively serve its members.

The board voted to accept the financial statement of the American Camping Foundation, and approved George S. Olive and Company as auditors for the fiscal year ending in June 1995. A set of financial operating policies were also approved.

The board received the business plan for the certification program and, after much discussion, voted not to continue to subsidize the program. The board reaffirmed its commitment to education for all members, including camp directors, and its support of the National Education Council.

The board empowered the NEC to define, within the existing policies and budget, the procedures for the development and delivery of association education programs and services. The National Certification Board is to develop a phase-out plan for certification. This was a difficult decision as over two-thirds of the national board are CCD's and felt the experience was extremely beneficial to them.

Chicago was approved as the 1999 National Conference site and Albuquerque for the year 2000. These follow Orlando in 1995, San Diego in 1996, New Orleans in 1997, and Dallas in 1998. The board was pleased to be able to extend a reciprocal attendance opportunity to the ACA National Conference for members of CCA, CCI, and IACCA at ACA member rates.

Fred Miller, acting chair for the American Camping Foundation, reported on the work of the foundation and the progress of the endowment campaign. With participation from the sections, we hope to be able to reach the goal and close the campaign with a celebration in Orlando. Jesse Farrow and Dave Hilliard were elected to the foundation board of directors.

The national board adopted a policy on risk management to be monitored and reviewed in 12 months.

Strategy VI: ACA will work aggressively to increase the public's awareness of the value of the camp experience and the accreditation program.

Over 100 million people heard the camp message this past summer. The public awareness campaign committee shared information about the success of the campaign, and their goal to increase the number of children who experience camp by 15% over the next five years. A number of requests to use the artwork and logo "Camp Gives Kids a Worm of Good" generated the need for the board to have a policy related to the use of the public awareness logo.

Strategy VII: ACA has the responsibility to identify external issues that affect organized camps.

Following a report on current legislative efforts, the board requested that ACA staff continue to work with the National Rural Water Association to explore opportunities to influence the new Clean Water Reauthorization Bill.

This was a very full agenda and a wonderful opportunity to share insights with the AIC council. I'm reminded of a story about an old Zen master that sat pouring a cup to overflowing as he faced a college professor seeking enlightenment. "Stop!" said the professor. "Can't you see it's too full?" "And so it is with you," said the old master. "It is only as you empty that something new can come in."

I commend the staff for the quality of their reports to the board. The reports not only represent the work of the staff but of the several hundred volunteers in committees, councils, and boards.

Happy New Year. I am looking forward to seeing many of you in Orlando.

Connie Coutellier is president of the American Camping Association. She was elected by the general membership and is entering her third year of a three-year term.