Aug 3, 2008

Tree of Life Bible Camp post-camp evaluation meeting was held at Good
Shepherd, Livermore, with 21 persons participating. The meeting opened and
closed with prayers of thanks to our God for the good spirit of staff
volunteers and for a good all-around camp. Treasurer's informal report
indicated we will have near zero balance after annual insurance premium is
paid.

            The chief agenda item was hearing reports on suggestions from
participants. There was discussion of specific items, but no decisions at
this meeting. It was announced that the board is working with camp
management to provide or make available more fruits and vegetable. We are
working on a proposal to hold camp fees to a 5% max increase.   Date of next
Camp meeting is Nov. 9, 2:30pm at Good Shepherd Livermore. Every
congregation is encouraged to have representative(s) at this meeting for
election of board members and promotion of the camp's aims to benefit our
Lord's youth.  Next year's camp begins July 12.

Some evaluation/suggestion responses had been relayed, some were presented
by e-mail. Items in the order in which they came up:

*	Quiet time aims and format to be restudied.
*	Desire for designated staff study meeting place.
*	Concern for how texting is leading people to be careless about OMG.
*	Pastors Kant and Kehren indicate a desire to work with intermediates
again next summer, God willing.
*	Vicar Schroeder commented favorably on closeness of  campers and
counselors.

*	Concern for dehydration and need for parents to be aware of need to
include water bottles in camp preparation.
*	Concern about devotion time running to long, esp for juniors.
*	Concern for the tension between seniors' desire for free time and
the aim of having camp be group activity.
*	Observation that this was the first year that some objected to
swimming time.
*	Question about optimum camper counselor ratio.

*	Appreciation expressed for Chris Driesbach participation.
*	Question about possibility of holding some evening devotions inside
chapel.
*	Issue of private I-pod usage. Also Concern re monitoring music
that insults our God.
*	Observation that 13 - 18 is too wide an age range in sr group.
*	Suggestion about making sr's more aware of being role models.

*	Observation that bathroom 'buddy' system is awkward for some.
*	Tire swing usage needs to be supervised.
*	More variety in the all-camper 

*         Concern for confusion in connection with last minute staff
assignments.

*	We are open to additional ideas, suggestions, observations. Please
send them to Steve Pechin by Sept.30.
 

In the interest of our Lord's ransomed boys and girls.

Thanks again to all volunteers.

ToLBC Board

[Thanks to Pastor Hochmuth for taking most of the above notes.]