Hello everyone,
2020 has certainly been an interesting year, and as it comes to a close I wanted to reach out with an invitation to our AGM and to provide an update on how our year has progressed, how we have allocated some funds, and our thoughts towards 2021.
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, at 6pm EST by Zoom meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to:
To come to the meeting, please RSVP to [email protected] and you can join at the following link:
https://fcbcanada.zoom.us/j/98943632726?pwd=L1M0ckljdVJGNVFwV0pBT2cxVEdhUT09
We look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM. If you cannot make it but have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] anytime.
Over the past decade, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of camper applications. The first year we saw a significant spike, the Board decided that we would continue our commitment to never rejecting a camper that met our application criteria, no matter the cost. To that end, we now spend 3x what we used to allocate to camper bursaries. To offset the increased spend – which has been roughly $150,000 a year for the last several years – we had to increase our focus on fundraising. With the Hockey Tournament, Live and Silent Auctions at September Camp, and our Art Show, and an increased social media presence, we have created a more engaged and powerful brand that has attracted a growing, more diverse, and dedicated donor base.
Through these efforts, the Bursary Fund is fortunate enough to be in excellent financial position. So much so that when Covid hit in the spring, we decided to suspend fundraising activities while still providing all necessary bursaries for 2020. We have also decided that we will support all 2021 bursaries, regardless of any fundraising activities.
And while camp was cancelled this summer, we continued to support some of our not-for-profit camps to help them through their financial difficulties. Since we are healthy financially, we thought we should use our funds to help keep the Canadian camping community as strong as it can be.
This is a testament to all of you, annual donors, art show ticket buyers, auction bidders, and of course the Bursary Board and Committee members. We have received tremendous support over the last 48 years from all of you, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your time, effort, and donations. Without you, we would not have the financial stability or the confidence in our decision to support 2021 campers.
We cannot thank you enough for your continued support. We look forward to not only sending kids to camp in 2021, but in seeing each of you at one of our events or maybe even up on Canoe Lake!
If you are missing camp and in need of some Canoe Lake love, you can grab a copy of the Algonquin Special Camp Colouring Book (available at TSCBF.com) and Fires of Friendship: 80 Years of the Taylor Statten Camps (please email me directly at: [email protected]).
Finally, stay tuned for an update on our 2020 virtual art show. We have been working over the past several weeks on a plan to bring the show to everyone. It will take place in early November.
Cheers,
Mouse
Chair, Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund
2020 has certainly been an interesting year, and as it comes to a close I wanted to reach out with an invitation to our AGM and to provide an update on how our year has progressed, how we have allocated some funds, and our thoughts towards 2021.
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, at 6pm EST by Zoom meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to:
- Approve the minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting;
- Receive the Audited Financial Statements for 2019;
- Appoint the Auditors for 2020;
- Elect Directors; and
- Provide an update on the TSCBF’s activities.
To come to the meeting, please RSVP to [email protected] and you can join at the following link:
https://fcbcanada.zoom.us/j/98943632726?pwd=L1M0ckljdVJGNVFwV0pBT2cxVEdhUT09
We look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM. If you cannot make it but have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] anytime.
Over the past decade, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of camper applications. The first year we saw a significant spike, the Board decided that we would continue our commitment to never rejecting a camper that met our application criteria, no matter the cost. To that end, we now spend 3x what we used to allocate to camper bursaries. To offset the increased spend – which has been roughly $150,000 a year for the last several years – we had to increase our focus on fundraising. With the Hockey Tournament, Live and Silent Auctions at September Camp, and our Art Show, and an increased social media presence, we have created a more engaged and powerful brand that has attracted a growing, more diverse, and dedicated donor base.
Through these efforts, the Bursary Fund is fortunate enough to be in excellent financial position. So much so that when Covid hit in the spring, we decided to suspend fundraising activities while still providing all necessary bursaries for 2020. We have also decided that we will support all 2021 bursaries, regardless of any fundraising activities.
And while camp was cancelled this summer, we continued to support some of our not-for-profit camps to help them through their financial difficulties. Since we are healthy financially, we thought we should use our funds to help keep the Canadian camping community as strong as it can be.
This is a testament to all of you, annual donors, art show ticket buyers, auction bidders, and of course the Bursary Board and Committee members. We have received tremendous support over the last 48 years from all of you, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your time, effort, and donations. Without you, we would not have the financial stability or the confidence in our decision to support 2021 campers.
We cannot thank you enough for your continued support. We look forward to not only sending kids to camp in 2021, but in seeing each of you at one of our events or maybe even up on Canoe Lake!
If you are missing camp and in need of some Canoe Lake love, you can grab a copy of the Algonquin Special Camp Colouring Book (available at TSCBF.com) and Fires of Friendship: 80 Years of the Taylor Statten Camps (please email me directly at: [email protected]).
Finally, stay tuned for an update on our 2020 virtual art show. We have been working over the past several weeks on a plan to bring the show to everyone. It will take place in early November.
Cheers,
Mouse
Chair, Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund
RSS Feed