By Nancy Nelson, Development Director

After the phone call, I could have danced on my desk! The phone call was to let me know the trustees of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust had approved a $490,000 grant proposal for the renovation of the Camp’s flag-ship building, Cedar Lodge. This will be the largest grant ever in the history of Warm Beach Camp. As a matter of fact, I have promised the staff that I WILL dance on my desk when the Camp receives this grant.

The Murdock Trust, a foundation based in Vancouver, Washington, has promised this money as a “top-off” grant that will be paid when the Camp has the needed commitments in hand to complete the funding for this $2.3 million project. At the present, all but $900,000 has been committed in cash, “gifts-in-kind” of supplies, and needed services.

But there is a deadline, December 31, 2009, a little more than a year away!

The first three phases of Cedar Lodge Renovation Project, which is part of the $8.6 Million “Embracing the Vision” Campaign, includes moving the restrooms to the main floor. Just in case you’ve never used the Cedar Lodge restrooms that are hidden in the far corner of the basement, just take a glance at the directions outlined to the right of this article. With the baby boomers becoming seniors and the Camp’s ever expanding services to the special needs population, this first phase of the project is way overdue!

Phase two of the Cedar Lodge project will expand and remodel Cedar Lodge Chapel so that it can become a temporary eating area while work proceeds under a future campaign for an expanded dining room.

The third phase of work will remodel and expand the kitchen which is located in the basement of Cedar Lodge. Just a peek into the present kitchen and you will see that this third phase is very necessary to improve current kitchen operations and working conditions. It will also position the kitchen to serve the expanding numbers of guests in the future.

Ever since I took this Development Director position ten years ago, I have lived in a portion of scripture found in Matthew, Chapter 11 from The Message where Jesus says, “… walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Would you please join with many others in praying for the remainder of the needed commitments for the Cedar Lodge Project? If you would like to participate or have any ideas, don’t hesitate to call Director Ed McDowell or myself.

In the meantime, I am taking dancing lessons and am getting ready to clean off my desk top in order to dance to His “unforced rhythms of grace” when the Camp receives this $490,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Trust.

Where are the Bathrooms? No problem…

Go downstairs, turn right, go CLEAR to the end of the hall. Follow the red signs – you’ll get there eventually.

These are directions WBC staff have given for decades to anxious restroom seekers. But, there is a problem – especially with restroom access for seniors and the disabled. “The ones that I feel most sorry for,” says one staff member, “are the elderly who have to either navigate the stairs or find the elevator and pick their way around the food service carts in the basement.”

The solution: restrooms on the main floor of Cedar Lodge – a key component of the Embracing the Vision campaign.