Current News

Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association
C/O Alan Woodruff, Secretary
PO Box 41,Woodgate, NY 13494

Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association
Purchases and work we have done
For CR in recent years

CRSAA Board of Directors Meeting

Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association
C/O Alan Woodruff, Secretary
PO Box 41,Woodgate, NY 13494

March 21, 2007

To Camp Russell Staff, past and present:

Spring has sprung in Woodgate, at least according to the calendar. However, we had eight inches of snow over the weekend, the temperature was +5 this morning and a vintage snowmobile race was held on 18 inches of White Lake ice Sunday. After this will come mud season, followed by black fly season and THEN Camp Russell will open for its 90^th consecutive summer season.

New camp director Barry Worczak has put together a 2007 staff led by several veterans. Jeff DeLucia will again be putting out culinary masterpieces from the kitchen. Rick Rotondi will continue to oversee fun and safety on the waterfront. Dave Roberts

will return to run the new shooting range, a tremendous facility now across the road. After an absence of six years, Jeff Steele will be back to head up the Conservation Area.

Kim Kiefer, a veteran of three staff seasons, is taking over the high adventure program.

Yours truly? I am officially retired, but will be on hand most of the time helping out with odds and ends. At the request of our CD, I am trying to set us up to offer the new fly fishing merit badge.

Mountain biking! Sailing! Skin Diving! Campfires! More!

What we need now are more units and campers. As one who has experienced our great offerings and spirit first hand, we hope you will sing Camp Russell’s praises far and wide in an effort to increase our attendance and ensure our future.

Our CRSAA reunion for 2007 will be on Saturday, July 14. We ask you to arrive around 11 a.m., which will give departing units time to clear the parking lot. As usual, things will be informal with opportunities to chat with friends, shop in the trading post, tour our updated facilities and sit down to a Chef DeLucia feast around 1 p.m. Here’s to Dear Old Russell, Dunderbeck and more will make the rafters vibrate!

Whether or not you join us on July 14, we hope you will sign up to be an official part of us. Dues remain at $5.00, which cover this mailing, the cost of having our crsaa.org web site, and the reunion lunch. Contributions above and beyond the dues are very welcome and allow us to provide CR with many niceties not covered in regular camp budget. Last year, we secured a drop-in rowing rig, purchased with a donation by Lawrence Piper in memory of his Scoutmaster father. REGISTER ONLINE or download the form and send it in!

We have bought leatherwork and woodcarving tools, a radio/cassette for the camp bus, blades for our portable sawmill, a rescue tube for the waterfront, a portable weather radio/scanner and many other things. This year, we have authorized getting some pop-up targets for the range. We also made a major contribution to buy a beautiful carved eagle at an estate sale at Frank DeVito’s house. The plan is to install it over the swinging doors to the kitchen. Personally, I feel that this 6 foot by 18 inch by 4 inch creation on a piece of clear pine is the best woodcarving that Frank ever did.

Please join us on July 14 if you can. It is always great to see old friends and to relive some of our cherished camp memories. Check out our web site for more news.

Alan Woodruff, CRSAA Secretary

January 15, 2007

On January 16, 2007 the CRSAA Board of Directors conducted the annual meeting. Present were: Chris Read, Dan Gilmore, Paul Frezza, Jeff Steele, Bill Willman, Spike Woodruff, Jeff DeLucia, Dave Roberts, and Michele DeLucia. Mark Miller, the Council Vice President of Properties was there as a guest.

The following was approved at the meeting:

To change the Charter to add two more Board of Directors. This will bring the total Board up to seven (three officers and four Directors). Tom Adams and Dave Roberts were elected as new members of the Board.

To continue to purchase a Friends of Scouting membership to the Revolutionary Trails Council.

Authorized Dave Roberts to purchase “knock down“ targets for the Rifle Range.

A ½ page add in the Woodgate Library publication

Jeff De Lucia and Dan Gilmore are going to look at the prospect of a proposal for a grant to enhance the demonstration area in the Conservation Area. Jeff will present the idea to the Council Camping Committee and Dan will look for available monies. If necessary the CRSAA would be willing to “front” the money should it be required.

Jeff Steele will look at the options of making the DeVito building a permanent museum and will consider the possibility of being the official curator.

A date for the summer reunion was set for Saturday July 14, 2007.

After the business portion of the meeting Mike Miller gave his thoughts on various future projects and ideas to better the camp and looked for input from us. Most interesting is the NYSDOT project of straightening out the curve at Panella’s and widening the shoulders of Route 28 in front of camp. The concept of an overpass or tunnel underneath Route 28 is not under consideration by the NYSDOT. He also listed proposals to change the entrance to Camp parking and rerouting the right of way through camp to the private properties on the lake. The Board assured Mark of our cooperation and offered any assistance that would be required.

A. Chris Read

April 2, 2006 - Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association

January 16. 2005

	Current News
	04/18/08
	Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association C/O Alan Woodruff, Secretary PO Box 41,Woodgate, NY 13494 Spring, 2008 To Camp Russell Devotees, Perhaps you worked on the Camp Russell Staff many years ago and have cherished memories of long hours, sweaty work projects or Frank DeVito telling you to “Get your hands out of your pockets, you big baboon!” Perhaps you are a more recent staff member and have observed the many changes and improvements that blend with our long-standing traditions. Camp Russell is not only a physical location but a way of life to those of us who have spent one season, several summers or, in my case, the last fifty years using our influence in an effort to make our campers better Scouts and human beings. In 2008, as we observe Camp Russell’s 90th anniversary, our experienced staff’s dedication to CR’s continuing purpose will be as strong as ever. Challenges, however, confront us. The last two summers have seen a decline in the number of troops and campers. This, coupled with rising costs for fuel, food and other expenses, has required us to shorten our season and hire less staff. If these trends continue, there is a real possibility that Scouts in coming years will not have the opportunity to come to Camp Russell. How can the alumni help? Our major need at present is to recruit more troops and campers to partake in our resident camp, high adventure and specialty offerings. Alumni who live away from our three county Revolutionary Trails Council can spread the word to Boy Scout troops in their area. Relate to them your memories and how we are Large enough to serve you yet small enough to know you.” Refer them to our association’s web site (crsaa.org), which includes a link to the RTC for further information and registration. Much as we hate to say it (and much as you hate to hear it), there are always financial needs. Dues and donations from our alumni are devoted to improvements at Camp Russell. (See enclosed list of our projects) This year, we have pledged to purchase steel roofing for the original camp building that once housed headquarters and the health lodge and is now the home of our unique museum. Our purchases, mostly of extra program items not in the camp budget, are made each year as the need arises. Saturday, July 19. Our annual reunion will be on Saturday, July 19, starting around 11:00 a.m. We will observe CR’s 90th anniversary, renew acquaintances, look over the facilities and enjoy a great lunch, complete with songs and fellowship. Pictures of years gone by will be on display. Whether or not you join us on July 19, we hope you will return the form to help us continue our efforts and keep our data base current. Together, we can help ensure that Camp Russell’s greatest days are ahead of us as we approach 100 years of service to youth. Yours in Scouting, Alan “Spike” Woodruff, secretary, on behalf of President Bill Willman and the rest of our officers and directors. CRSAA – 2008 Please return this form to: Alan Woodruff, secretary Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association PO Box 41 Woodgate, NY 13494-0041 Name___________________________ Phone______________________ Address______________________________________________________ E mail___________________________ When on staff_______________ Enclosed are my CRSAA dues of $5.00 for 2008. Donations above and beyond are appreciated and will be applied toward the betterment of Camp Russell. Amount enclosed _________________ Please make check payable to Revolutionary Trails Council, BSA and list CRSAA on the memo line. I will will not (circle one) be present at Camp Russell on Saturday, July 19, for the annual reunion. Number attending __________ May be put your name, address and e mail in a members’ only section of the CRSAA.org web site? ___________ Feel free to include a note about yourself, your memories of camp, etc. Any received will be on display on July 19. We hope you can make it.
	Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association Purchases and work we have done For CR in recent years Battery powered scanner/weather radio Hay and labor to spread it with grass seed on parade field Parts for chimney repair at the trapper’s cabin Cedar shakes for front of lean to roof and labor to install Work party to disassemble and remove collapsed shelter in CA Pressure washer for camp ranger $300 worth of leatherworking and woodcarving tools 100 spruce trees and labor to set out Radio/cassette for camp bus Rescue tube for waterfront Annual Friends of Scouting donation to Rev. Trails Council Reprinting of 75th Anniversary Book Paying for annual ad in Woodgate Library Trail Guide Split rail fence to surround monkey bridge GPS unit for high adventure use Drop-in rowing rig for canoe Enhancement, enlargement and printing of DeVito picture Frame for DeVito picture Production of a Frank DeVito memorial patch Securing a Frank DeVito carved eagle to hang in dining hall Regular participation at spring and fall camp work days Blades, battery, cable and paint for Wood Mizer Sawmill Fishing and fly fishing supplies Administrative Costs Annual mailing of notice and donation receipts Web page expenses Lunch at reunion All this made possible by YOUR contributions! Thanks for your continuing support! More to come in 2008!
	CRSAA Board of Directors Meeting 1/16/2008 Meeting Minutes On January 16, the CRSAA Board of Directors conducted the annual meeting. Present were: Chris Read, Bill Willman, Paul Frezza, Spike Woodruff, Jeff Steele (guest) Barry Worczak (guest), Dave Roberts, Jeff DeLucia and Tom Adams. The annual dues were set at $5.00 as in previous years. The reunion date was established as Saturday July 19, 2008. There were two Charter changes approved. The first was Article 2. to allow anyone with a vested interest in Camp Russell to become an active member. This would include those not having served on staff but would like to be a part of the Association and help Camp Russell. They may include former campers, scoutmasters, etc. The change included that the members who were not on staff would need approval from the President and Secretary. The second change was to add Article 7 which would allow amendments to the Charter by a majority vote of the Board. It was also decided to change the name of the Association to the Camp Russell Alumni Association. This name will better reflect the membership and those who were not on staff will not feel excluded. (Note: From CRSAA President Bill Willman - "...to close the issue of Alumni name change, it has been agreed by a 5-1 vote in favor of reverting back to the official name "Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association". Note that the alumni association membership is open to other friends of Camp Russell with the approval of the President and Secretary." 3/19/2008) A change in the Board of Directors was agreed upon to be effective after the meeting. Chris Read will step down as President (after having served 10 years) and will become a Director. Bill Willman will change form Vice President to President and Jeff DeLucia will become Vice President. It was again decided to purchase a Revolutionary Trails Council (RTC) Friends of Scouting membership for $500. It was decided to again to purchase an ad for the Woodgate Library and to note that this is the 90^th anniversary of Camp Russell. The ad will reflect the name of just Camp Russell and no other camp owned or operated by the RTC. Chris will contact Dan Gilmore to see if there are possibilities to still obtain a grant for enhancement of the demonstration area in the Conservation Area. It was determined to try to buy a display case for the museum each year, Jeff Steele will co-ordinate this. Discussion was on the roof replacement for the DeVito Building. The CRSAA has committed to pay for the metal roof to be installed. It is anticipated that it will happen this year.	Reunion 2007 The 2007 Reunion held on July 14, 2007 was once again a great "Russell" experience. Many staff members returned for fun and fellowship. Staff Alumni Reunion Photo, 2007 Front row, l-r: Chris Aiello, Brian Stone, Chris Overacker, Two Cecconi children, Rosmarie Squire, Charlie Squire, Mickey Willman, Chris Read, Peter LaPuma, Jean Russell. Second row: Horace “Stoney” Stone, Millie Stone, Russell Outtrim, Scout Executive Bob Myers, Peter Cecconi, Rick Rotondi, Jr., Nate Schwarz, Bill McEachern, Ted Russell, Bill Willman, Bill Cusworth, Steve Silverman, Paul Frezza, Vito Rizzo, Camp Director Barry Worczak. Third row: Camp committee chairman Mark Miller, Matt Stephens, Chuck Stephens, Spike Woodruff, Shawn Dibble, Jeff DeLucia, Rick Rotondi, Sr., Donna Rotondi, Dave Roberts, Bill Kleindienst, Diane Sjodahl, Dr. Tom Welch, Sabrina Doolittle, Tom Adams, John Larney, Martin Babinek.
	Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association C/O Alan Woodruff, Secretary PO Box 41,Woodgate, NY 13494 March 21, 2007 To Camp Russell Staff, past and present: Spring has sprung in Woodgate, at least according to the calendar. However, we had eight inches of snow over the weekend, the temperature was +5 this morning and a vintage snowmobile race was held on 18 inches of White Lake ice Sunday. After this will come mud season, followed by black fly season and THEN Camp Russell will open for its 90^th consecutive summer season. New camp director Barry Worczak has put together a 2007 staff led by several veterans. Jeff DeLucia will again be putting out culinary masterpieces from the kitchen. Rick Rotondi will continue to oversee fun and safety on the waterfront. Dave Roberts will return to run the new shooting range, a tremendous facility now across the road. After an absence of six years, Jeff Steele will be back to head up the Conservation Area. Kim Kiefer, a veteran of three staff seasons, is taking over the high adventure program. Yours truly? I am officially retired, but will be on hand most of the time helping out with odds and ends. At the request of our CD, I am trying to set us up to offer the new fly fishing merit badge. Mountain biking! Sailing! Skin Diving! Campfires! More! What we need now are more units and campers. As one who has experienced our great offerings and spirit first hand, we hope you will sing Camp Russell’s praises far and wide in an effort to increase our attendance and ensure our future. Our CRSAA reunion for 2007 will be on Saturday, July 14. We ask you to arrive around 11 a.m., which will give departing units time to clear the parking lot. As usual, things will be informal with opportunities to chat with friends, shop in the trading post, tour our updated facilities and sit down to a Chef DeLucia feast around 1 p.m. Here’s to Dear Old Russell, Dunderbeck and more will make the rafters vibrate! Whether or not you join us on July 14, we hope you will sign up to be an official part of us. Dues remain at $5.00, which cover this mailing, the cost of having our crsaa.org web site, and the reunion lunch. Contributions above and beyond the dues are very welcome and allow us to provide CR with many niceties not covered in regular camp budget. Last year, we secured a drop-in rowing rig, purchased with a donation by Lawrence Piper in memory of his Scoutmaster father. REGISTER ONLINE or download the form and send it in! We have bought leatherwork and woodcarving tools, a radio/cassette for the camp bus, blades for our portable sawmill, a rescue tube for the waterfront, a portable weather radio/scanner and many other things. This year, we have authorized getting some pop-up targets for the range. We also made a major contribution to buy a beautiful carved eagle at an estate sale at Frank DeVito’s house. The plan is to install it over the swinging doors to the kitchen. Personally, I feel that this 6 foot by 18 inch by 4 inch creation on a piece of clear pine is the best woodcarving that Frank ever did. Please join us on July 14 if you can. It is always great to see old friends and to relive some of our cherished camp memories. Check out our web site for more news. Alan Woodruff, CRSAA Secretary
	January 15, 2007 On January 16, 2007 the CRSAA Board of Directors conducted the annual meeting. Present were: Chris Read, Dan Gilmore, Paul Frezza, Jeff Steele, Bill Willman, Spike Woodruff, Jeff DeLucia, Dave Roberts, and Michele DeLucia. Mark Miller, the Council Vice President of Properties was there as a guest. The following was approved at the meeting: To change the Charter to add two more Board of Directors. This will bring the total Board up to seven (three officers and four Directors). Tom Adams and Dave Roberts were elected as new members of the Board. To continue to purchase a Friends of Scouting membership to the Revolutionary Trails Council. Authorized Dave Roberts to purchase “knock down“ targets for the Rifle Range. A ½ page add in the Woodgate Library publication Jeff De Lucia and Dan Gilmore are going to look at the prospect of a proposal for a grant to enhance the demonstration area in the Conservation Area. Jeff will present the idea to the Council Camping Committee and Dan will look for available monies. If necessary the CRSAA would be willing to “front” the money should it be required. Jeff Steele will look at the options of making the DeVito building a permanent museum and will consider the possibility of being the official curator. A date for the summer reunion was set for Saturday July 14, 2007. After the business portion of the meeting Mike Miller gave his thoughts on various future projects and ideas to better the camp and looked for input from us. Most interesting is the NYSDOT project of straightening out the curve at Panella’s and widening the shoulders of Route 28 in front of camp. The concept of an overpass or tunnel underneath Route 28 is not under consideration by the NYSDOT. He also listed proposals to change the entrance to Camp parking and rerouting the right of way through camp to the private properties on the lake. The Board assured Mark of our cooperation and offered any assistance that would be required. A. Chris Read
	Reunion 2006 Attendees at a July 15, 2006 celebration of the late Frank DeVito’s over seventy years of service to Scouting and Camp Russell. Seated, l-r: Millie Stone, Horace Stone, Stan Wheater, Beth Richey, Martha Lee, Jean Russell, Eleanora O’Connor, Joe Bouffard, Mrs. Hannahs and Jack Hannahs. Standing, front row: Paul Stone, Tom Labayeski, Chris Aiello, Jeff Delucia, Bob Hermann, Eric Wheater, Brayton Bigelow, Bob Myers, Rick Rotondi, Tony Carpenzano, Miles Hoerle, Chris Lee, Jeff Richey, Peter Cecconi, Ted Russell, Mike Marusic, Tom Adams, Dan Kealy, Paul Frezza, Mickey Willman, Jim Callahan, and ”Spike” Woodruff. Standing, back row:* Mason McMahon, Chris Read, Susan Read, John Schwarz, Tom Welch, John Booth, Dan Richards, Nate Schwarz, Bill Willman, Dave Roberts, Kim Kiefer, Rod Grabowski, Ron Blois, Sabrina Doolittle, Mark Miller, Al Schrader, and Dave Manore. On roof: “Rusty,” the sea serpent, a DeVito creation. *indicates a 2006 staff member.
	April 2, 2006 - Camp Russell Staff Alumni Association C/O Alan Woodruff, Secretary PO Box 41, Woodgate, NY 13494 April 2, 2006 Dear Camp Russell Staff, Past and Present, The snow is fast vanishing in Woodgate, ice should be out of White Lake in a few days and Camp Russell is being readied for its 89^th consecutive season. A major loss. Frank DeVito, whose health has not allowed him to work at camp for the past six years, passed away on March 15 at age 92. Anyone who ever worked with Frank has cherished memories of his leading Dunderbeck at a campfire, helping a homesick Scout with a project, playing a homemade xylophone, making those great mushroom and egg sandwiches for the staff late at night, playing The Orange and Green on the harmonica for Tim O’Connor to dance a jig, triple-tonguing “Assembly” on the bugle, inspiring new Tenderfoot Scouts as they received their pins. The list could go into the hundreds. Your Staff Alumni officers and directors have chosen Saturday, July 15, for the 2006 reunion. Highlighting the day will be a combination memorial service/celebration of Frank’s more than seventy years of Camp Russell involvement. Certain to be included will be Dunderbeck, a chance for attendees to share memories and our traditional closing songs. There will also be a great lunch with the opportunity for more shared memories. Plan to arrive around 11:00 a.m. to give troops time to clear out. New Camp Director! For the first time in over thirty years, Camp Russell will have a professional Scouter as Camp Director. Dave Fitzgerald is serving Herkimer County and Richfield Springs as the Diamond District Executive. Dave came on board last year and has several years’ experience as a Scoutmaster. Many returning Staff veterans will be helping Dave learn the ropes. As in past years, we are asking for $5.00 annual dues to handle CRSAA administrative details such as this mailing and web site expenses. Check out the web page if you haven’t done so already; Webmaster Rod Grabowski has done a great job with it! When the roster is added, use of the password will be necessary in order to gain access. (No dues are expected from those who are still students) Donations above and beyond the dues are most welcome and will be used to provide “niceties” for CR not included in its annual budget. Some of our past donations include: 1. A portable emergency scanner/weather radio. 2. Purchase and installation of cedar shakes on the lean to near Headquarters. 3. Providing chimney pipe and connections for the fireplace insert in the Trapper’s Cabin.” 4. Putting down grass seed and fertilizer to change the parade field from dusty brown to green. 5. Purchase of an ad the past two years in the Woodgate Library Trail Guide. 6. Putting an article and photo on Camp Russell in the White Lake Association 25^th Anniversary book. 7. Getting a bird feeder and seed for winter use. 8. Providing a snap-on rescue buoy for the waterfront. 9. Using a donation from a former trek guide to buy a GPS unit. 10. Contributing a Friends of Scouting contribution annually to the Revolutionary Trails Council. 11. Purchasing around $200 worth of new leatherworking tools. 12. Removing a collapsed small shelter in the CA and planning updates to the nature trails. 13. Reprinting the 75^th Anniversary Book. This year, we have committed to give a campership to each of our aquatic and conservation specialty weeks, which will be held for the first time in many years. We are also purchasing a drop-in rowing rig with special oars and a sliding seat for a canoe and plan to get another one next year if it is popular. Donations in memory of Frank DeVito. Our current plan is to use at least some of these to do any necessary repairs to the old HQ building, which is dedicated to Frank, and re-establish the camp museum. Here’s hoping that we will see many old friends at CR on July 15. Please use the form on the next page to give us a heads up that you are coming. Walk ins are welcome but having an approximate number helps us plan the lunch. Our best to all of you and Here’s to Dear Old Russell, drink her down, down, down! Sincerely, Chris Read, CRSAA President and Alan “Spike” Woodruff, Secretary
	January 16. 2005 On January 16, 2005 the CRSAA Board of Directors conducted their annual meeting. Present were: Chris Read, Bill Willman, Spike Woodruff, Jeff DeLucia, Paul Frezza, and guest Rick Rotundi. The following expenditures were approved: To again purchase a Friends of Scouting membership to the Revolutionary Trails council (RTC) To purchase a rowing crew rig to outfit one of the Grumman canoes at Camp Russell. These are becoming very popular, are used at the Jamboree, and now many of the High Schools are doing crew as a sport. A ½ page Ad in the annual Woodgate Library publication. We also set a date for the reunion this summer of Saturday July 15th After the meeting the new Camp Director came and introduced himself to us, his name is Dave Fitzgerald. He is the RTC District Executive for the Diamond District (formerly the General Herkimer Council). Ironically, he was a theatre major in college so that should enhance the campfires. We also had the pleasure of meeting with the RTC Field Director Tom Labayewski and Vice President for Camping and Properties Mark Millar who gave us insight into future ideas at Camp. One new activity is that the rifle range is going to be moved to the Conservation Area permanently this spring. The intention is to bring more activity and awareness to the “other side of the road”. We used this opportunity to tell the rich history of the conservation Area and ideas on how it can be expanded and used more as it has fallen off in popularity the last few years. One additional comment, we took the opportunity before the meeting to go visit Frank DeVito at St. Luke’s Nursing Home. Frank turned 92 this month and considering everything he is well. We played a tape of Dunderback and the three closing songs for him. We all enjoyed the visit. A. Chris Read

04/18/08