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Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc.

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  • December 15, 2015 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The names of the SAA’s Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program recipients for 2015 were announced by Owen Gibbs. Requirements for the scholarships: complete two years on staff having fulfilled their terms of employment, enrolled as a student in good academic standing at an accredited post-secondary institution, and receive the recommendations of management at Northern Tier.

    The scholarship recipients are: Brenden Carr (Butch Diesslin), Travis Gibson (Friends of Tinnerman / Tinnerman Guide Association), Raymond Hill, Erik Keeler, Christopher Kolischak, Christopher Martin, John McKinney, Mathew Meyer (Christopher D. Breen Memorial), Jeremy Neufield, Derek Richard, Isaak Ridge (Clifford J. Hanson Memorial), Katherine Rose (Erickson Memorial), Daniel Smith (Terry J. Wall Charles Sommers), and Tressa Theis (David Hyink).

    Congratulations to all recipients and we look forward to your return to Northern Tier as staff and as alumni members of the association!


  • December 15, 2015 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Check out the entries for this year's SAA staff photo contest on Facebook.

    These outstanding photographs consist of fifty-four photographs submitted by nineteen 2015 Northern Tier High Adventure staff.

    • “Mesaba lake” by Robert Dunne (Award of Excellence)
    • “Reflection” by Charles Yates (Award of Merit)
    • “Conquering Heartbreak” by John Young (Award of Merit)

    Judging was done by Steve Niedorf, professional photographer. Steve gave an insight into how photographs are judged in the Winter 2013/2014 issue of Reflections that can be found at http://www.holry.org/

    Thanks to all who took time to submit their photos for this year’s contest.


  • March 30, 2015 10:28 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Work Week: May 28 – June 5
    May 28 through June 5th, this is your chance for some sweat equity and camaraderie with your fellow alumni members and current staff, and also benefit Northern Tier programs and facilities. We can use help for a day or a week, so come as early and stay as late as you can! Meals and accommodations on the base will be provided at no cost. The work will involve a variety of projects on the Base, including some work on the Welcome Cabin and bunkhouses.

    You will have the added opportunity to participate in training week activities and Seminar Day on June 4. Seminar Day is sponsored and staffed by fellow alumni to provide additional education for trail staff in outdoor and guiding skills. If you have an area of expertise you are willing to share, please contact us. A volunteer alumni dinner is planned for June 3.

    You also have the option of heading out on the trail after a few days work (advance arrangements with Northern Tier are required if using base equipment or leaving from the NT landing).

    Register your interest at http://portal.holry.org/event-2114855

    We hope to hear from you! For more information and to arrange to participate contact Dick Shank.
  • March 30, 2015 10:24 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    We’ve all heard about Scouting’s newest High Adventure facility, the Summit Bechtel Reserve located near Beckley, WV, but most of us don’t know much about it. That’s going to change.

    The Philmont Staff Association and Summit management are pleased to invite SAA members and their guests to the PSA Weekend at the Summit June 19 and 20, 2015. For those of you with children aged 11 years (for Summit activities) and 12 (for whitewater rafting) and up, this will be the most action-packed family weekend the PSA has ever offered.

    On Friday, June 19, you’ll get your eyelids peeled back whitewater rafting on the gnarliest section of the famous New River Gorge rapids and on Saturday, June 20, you will participate in all the activities at the Summit’s Action Point and get a broad sampling of the program the Summit offers. When you leave, you’ll have a good idea of what the Summit is all about.

    The cut-off date for purchasing rafting and meals is June 13. For more information (including lodging) and to register on-line visit http://bit.ly/CheckOutTheSummit.

    The Summit is located near Beckley, WV, (limited air service) and 1.5 hours from Charleston, WV (good air service). There are plenty of nearby sites and activities which allow your visit to West Virginia to become a fullblown family vacation. 



  • March 30, 2015 10:15 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Read the Winter/Spring 2015 edition of the Reflections Newsletter online.

     

     


  • July 12, 2014 8:15 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    A ten-year project of the Charles Sommers Alumni Association has reached another milestone with the delivery of an advanced schematic design proposal from a world-class museum outfitter.

    As many of you know, the SAA has undertaken an ambitious effort to restore the Lodge Building to preserve its place at Northern Tier and enhance its role in program at the base. Mike Holdgrafer, Northern Tier Committee member and past president of the SAA had the initial vision and sustained energy to tackle this project, and the exceptional generosity of Jim Sowell has enabled this project to develop beyond initial expectations.

    Countless SAA members have contributed “sweat equity” to this project over the past decade. The results so far include complete exterior restoration, including log replacement, caulking, sealing, and finishing, total interior cleaning and varnishing of logs, ceilings, rafters and windows, fireplace renovation, and library floor replacement.

    Split Rock Studios (www.splitrockstudios.com) was engaged last year to help us with the museum/interpretive center logistics for the Lodge building. We were led to them by their work at Chik Wauk Lodge Museum on the Gunflint Trail, and also their work at numerous national and state parks. For more information, and to add ideas, please contact Dick Shank.
  • July 12, 2014 8:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Manitoba artist and mapmaker Réal Bérard has once again generously donated the SAA a painting titled "Campfire Dreams". The paining is based on a pictograph from near Fort William in Ontario.

    The paining will be auctioned at the reunion’s banquet to support the SAA’s seasonal staff scholarship fund. Join us at the reunion and bid high!
  • May 14, 2014 4:22 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Read the Spring/Summer 2014 edition of the Reflections Newsletter online.

     

     

  • May 11, 2014 7:39 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Register today!

    When: Friday, August 22 – Sunday, August 24, 2014

    Why: To reconnect with friends and make new friends, pass the paddle to the next generation of alumni – and have fun!

    Register: http://reunion.holry.org


    By Karl Huemiller 

    August 22 - 24 alumni from all over the country will be coming together on Moose Lake for the 2014 Reunion Rendezvous where we will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Northern Tier program and 20 years of support by the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association. We will celebrate with activities on base and in Ely, a picnic in Whiteside Park, and a banquet at the Grand Ely Lodge. Our biennial banquet will feature event speaker Kevin Callan “The Happy Camper.” Youth attendees will have the opportunity to tour and sleepover at the world-renowned International Wolf Center.


    I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting their families. Many of us have made big changes in our lives over the past few years, getting new jobs, having kids, or retiring. I am eager to hear about everyone’s great life adventures, plans for the future, and sharing some of my own stories.

    With all the exciting events planned for the coming reunion, we need some help to make the event the best that it can be. Volunteers are particularly needed to help out with a picnic in Whiteside Park and finding items for the banquet's auction. We will also need help with registration check-in and setting up at the banquet. If you would like to help make the reunion a great event, contact Karl Huemiller.

    What your reunion registration includes:
    • SAA/Northern Tier Anniversary Reunion T-Shirt* (Only available to those who attend the reunion!)
    • Banquet at the Grand Ely Lodge*
    • Meals though Friday dinner to Sunday breakfast
    • Lodging at Northern Tier on Friday and Saturday night
    • Saturday picnic at Whiteside Park and two museum or tour activities in Ely
    * T-Shirt and banquet attendance are subject to availability. Late registrations may be affected. 
    In an effort to keep the reunion affordable there is a low all-inclusive price. In addition, to encourage recent alumni to join us, more "experienced" alumni have the opportunity sponsor a "fellowship" so younger alumni can afford to attend. Young alumni can learn more about applying for a fellowship on the registration site.

    I hope to see you and your family in Ely at the reunion. It will be an event you will not want to miss.

    Visit http://reunion.holry.org to register.
  • January 18, 2014 6:49 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Are You Philmont’s 1 Millionth Camper?


    The Philmont Staff Association’s Annual Trek is wildly popular (114 Trekkers participated in 2013) and in 2014, the PSA is inviting all members of the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association and the Sea Base Alumni and Friends Association to join them in this enduring PSA tradition (28 years). This invitation is extended as part of the Exchange Program between the PSA, SAA and SBAFA which provides an opportunity for the members of the Associations to experience the High Adventure programs offered at the BSA’s premier High Adventures bases.


    Philmont is projecting that the 1 millionth camper will arrive July 12, 2014. This projection is based upon assumptions, so when you arrive at Philmont July 14, 2014 for the Trek, you will have as good a claim as anyone to being the 1 millionth camper.


    The 2014 Trek is July 14 to July 21 and the cost is $475. To be compliant with Philmont’s “9,000 foot rule”, you must spend the night of July 13 in the Philmont area. (Philmont will provide free tent accommodations.) Your more detailed schedule is as follows:

    1. Report to the Philmont Welcome Center at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 14. You will spend most of the day doing medical re-checks, checking out food and gear, trip planning, group photos, etc.
    2. Hit the trail on Tuesday, July 16 following customized itineraries available only to participants in the PSA Trek.
    3. Spend 6 days and 5 nights on the trail having glorious fun.
    4. Come off the trail Sunday, July 20, attend Philmont’s closing campfire and receive the Philmont Arrowhead Award.
    5. Depart Philmont on Monday, July 21.

    Trek eligibility requirements are as follows:

    1. Be a member of the PSA, SAA, SBAFA or Trek-eligible family member,
    2. Be a member of the BSA,
    3. Presented a completed appropriate medical form,
    4. Be 14 years old (by date of arrival) OR completed 8th grade and be at least 13 years of age by date of participation,
    5. Be in good physical condition.

    You are encouraged to bring your Trek-eligible family members. Trek-eligible family members are your spouse, child or step child, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild, niece, nephew or in-law of the PSA, SAA or SBAFA member. All Trek-eligible family members must meet the requirements above.


    Soon after you register, you will be contacted by the PSA Trek coordinators who will guide you through the process of finding a crew, planning itineraries, answer any questions you have, and help you find rides to and from the Denver and Albuquerque airports. By the time you arrive at Philmont, you will already be part of a crew and have experienced the fun of pre-Trek planning with your crew mates. You will not be left to flounder on your own.


    On-line registration at www.philstaff.com. You can also register by sending $475 per person to Randy Saunders, PSA, 17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron, New Mexico 87714. If registering by mail, please include a piece of paper with your name, whether you are SAA or SBAFA, the names of Trek-eligible family members, mailing address, e-mail address (of each participant) and phone number.


    The cancellation policy is as follows:

    1. Cancellation prior to the registration deadline of June 1, 2014 will receive a full refund.
    2. Cancellation after the registration deadline will not receive a refund. Monies paid can be used for another PSA, SAA or SBAFA event prior to the end of 2014 or can be contributed to the general fund of the cancelling participant’s association.
    3. In exceptional cases, the Executive Director AND Vice President of Service of the PSA can authorize full refunds for cancellation after the registration deadline.


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