To who it may concern I am currerently in Kosovo so I can not Express my opion to any one so hear me out. I under stand that new office buildings are more inporant than the camping and life experances that are ofered buy the place my family helped build. Ever since my Grandfather used to bring me to camp before I was even to young to be in scouts at all. I cant remember life with out this wonderful place. This sitution must be thought out completely. It gives me great pride to walk through the tall pine telling my daughter that her great grandfather help build of of the great camp grounds in MN. Only to sold off in pieces because of buisness deals gone sour. I cant even think of sellling this as a factor to get out of the hole. Hay scouts lets go to the fair grounds and camp out for a week. because they sold more of the camp than last time. Please make this stop. Its bad enough in world right now. Lets make twin valley better. Figure it out

I want to express my appreciation to the Sioux Trail's Scout Family members, who took the time this evening to travel to Sleepy Eye and meet with Scout Executive, Paul Wilkinson, and Council President, Tom Rekstein, and get an update on the current council situation. It was a very healthy, positive meeting.

I also want to express my personal appreciation for Tom Rekstein's candor in admitting that "...mistakes were made in moving forward with the Center for Scouting building project without having all of the cash in the bank".

He also indicated that this is a mistake that we must learn from and that we will not move forward on any camp improvements, until the money is in the bank.

The general consensus (that I perceived to hear) consisted of the following main points:

1. "Extract value" from our existing assets (Camp Cuyuna) with as minimal damage to our overall camping program as possible, through conservation easements if possible, or by sale if necessary, and pay the debt on the Center for Scouting. Close the door on this financial history and let's move forward as a united Scout Family for the good of the boys.
2. Contract with an outside consultant to develop a cub scout profile and subsequent cub scout vision for camping and programming that will consistently attract, engage and retain cub scouts over the next twenty years (to work with the planning committee).
3. Refrain from suggesting the closure or discontinuation of any camping operations, without first attempting a capital fund drive to identify, if the Scout Family is willing to support the costs of enhancing three camps and sustaining three camps.

Many other items were touched upon, but these were the main highlights, as I heard them. Again, I want to thank the Sioux Trails Scout Family members for their healthy participation.

I encourage all other Scout Family members, who have the opportunity to read this, to spend some quality time thinking about what happened this evening in Sleepy Eye. I was proud of my entire Scout Family.

Loran Kaardal

Money no longer seems to be the issue. Easements can take of our debt on the building and create an endowment for youth.The latest twist is population projections which some on the Board are using to keep everything centered around Mankato.In fact this would be a reason to close down Cuyuna. I completely disagree. This issue was looked at 40yrs. when the two councils merged. The boys in the outer part of the council should have every oipportunity in Scouting. Why should leadres and boys drive extra if they do not have to.The 3 camps are paid for. We owe nothing on them The Fairmont foundation and Units in the area can maintain Cedar Point and Great Bend and others can maintain Norsland or we can pool unit money for all three camps over a 5yr. period. Population trends or projections are just that, projections. The people of Duluth are leaving the city and moving into the countryside. That is a fact and a trend that is going to continue. People are looking to get away from the city. I believe that trend is going to continue state wide.Our camps are going to increase in value. Land is going to be harder and harder to come by.Why should a boy in the outer council not have the same opportunities as a boy from Mankato.Please pass this on to all volunteers you know. Frank Samlaska, Troop 24, Mankato

Dear Sirs

I was director of Cuyuna in 1979, it is a beautiful camp. It is an experience I will alway remember. It would be nice if Scouting had all the funds it ever needs. That said it is important to set priorities in the management ofcouncil funds. Though Cuyuna a very special place, it is also, due to it's location, very underutilized. Forntunately Scouting is NOT dependent on owning tracts of land for survival, hard as it is, the council could survive and even thrive without Cuyuna.

I would propose that rather than attacking those in the council who are trying to preserve Scouting and the rest of Cuyuna that the CCAA full heartedly throw themselves into financially supporting and recruiting others to financially support the Twin Valley Council [and thus Cuyuna]. Maybe the CCAA could jump into the breach and lead a passionate spring Family Friends of Scouting Campaign, one of the hardest to volunteers for. Or maybe the CCAA could organize a number of Friends of Scouting Luncheons. At all times keeping in mind the goal of raising funds for the Council.

Unfortunately that plea in most cases like this falls on deaf ears because those in charge of many organizations like CCAA in many councils have an inherant distrust of councils and professional scouters.

Just a word on pros, the give [literally] their lives to Scouting 60, 70, 80 hours a week. They are expected to be "on" 24/7 and are in general underpaid and under appreciated. Accused of being leaches by volunteers that feel they are dedicated with a couple hours a week. Accused of being leeches by volunteers who give $25 to Friends of Scouting and say " I give my time". Next time you see a pro Scouter, give him an unsolicited thanks, ask him sincerely what you can do to help scouting [then do it] Dig a little deeper for your favorite program and support the council for at least $250 a year [less than a dollar a day] better still a $1,0000 a year. Try it you'll shock some poor overworked pro out of years growth.

Just wanted to say that

Dave

Dear Twin Valley Boy Scout Council

I recently received a letter regarding your financial situation and your potential sale of Camp Cuyuna as an option to raise capitol funds allowing your to pay for your new scout office etc. My wife has several suggestions that the St. Croix Valley Girl Scouts used when raising funds to sustain and improve their organization. She has the following suggestions:

1. Consider contacting the St. Croix Valley Girl Scout office and meet with the council executive to gather additional fund raising methods.
2. Consider logging on your land to assist in raising money. This would be selective logging done in September and it would improve the health of your forest/woods.
3. Consider contacting the local hotels and offering the lodge for meetings in the off-camp season, they would be the lodging and you would be the rustic meeting rooms.
4. Have a former Camp Staff reunion at each of your camps. The reunion should charge a reasonable fee for the weekend. Invite all former staff that have worked there. Be sure to have some key people included as guests to bring in the staff. The camp that I attended was deep in Indian culture and partnering and one of the elders came and taught dance and chanting. We also had several of the camp directors listed as attendee's. There were several outings planned for an additional fee such as horseback riding, sailing, waterskiing etc. The reunions were held right after the last campers went home and the camp staff was paid to stay for an additional weekend. Each participant was also asked to bring a silent auction item for bidding. The fund raising also included the sale of bricks that would be used in the remodeling… I think this was a big hit.
5. The Council also had a wonderful artist donate a special piece of art and also a write a song for the council. Posters were given away for donations of a certain dollar amount.
6. Each troop in the council was given a fund raising goal to assist in the effort.
7. A nature photographer, who was also former camp staff donated her work at cost for sale on the Council Web site at considerable mark-up.

These are just a few suggestions. Maybe another one would be to allow camping at the camp as overflow for the DNR campground up the road. It may require the council to install a few more water spouts and latrines but it could definitely raise revenue.

Thank you for taking the time to consider these ideas. The camp is a wonderful place! The Twin Valley Boy Scouts can live without a beautiful building for a head office, but the boys cannot live without a camp and place to escape the city. They learn so much about themselves through the camp experience, I hope that the council will be able to continue that longstanding tradition. I would be glad to assist in anyway possible with reunion idea to raise funds, my wife is also great help!

Sincerely
Doug Naylor, Cubmaster of Warroad Minn, and former Cuyuna Camp Waterfront Director

From an emotional perspective, i am concerned that the sale of land will limit the flexibility of future camp program.

however the council's financial base has been eroding since at least the 1980's when i worked for the council. there are many good hearted people living in the twin valley council area but not enough of them to adequately support the council. i am wondering if the real solution is to merge with another council and consolidate resources which would mean the sale of the service center, staff reduction, etc.

My brother Don just forwarded me the "Call to Action" regarding the possible horrific decision to sell off Camp Cuyuna acreage. I was deeply concerned about this as we both know that once it is gone you will never be able to get this type of environment back. It amazes me that over here in the Bay Lakes Council we actually support 4 camp opportunities with three of them being major sites. The financials have been strapped here but we too just moved into a new Scout Center and have had almost all the funding from United Way cut off.

Our corporate sponsorship along with FOS and endowments has been instrumental in maintaining stability. Fees for camp have gone up and it seems that everything we do requires extra fees but it is worth it. Also the popcorn sale here is a major source of funding and is growing every year. Do you see the same pattern in Twin Valley? Aside from the fact that they spent before they had when it comes to Scout Center.

Personally there is no question in my opinion that both Cuyuna and Norseland need to be saved but the clear choice would be to keep Cuyuna and sell off Norseland. That is a simple thought on a complex issue because of land values, etc. though.

One point that was made about Cuyuna is the utilization aspect. We have one camp that has corporate sponsored lodges that are used all year long by both cubs and scout groups. This is an important part of financial success. Having a camp the size of Cuyuna and only using it 6 weeks a year is a terrible waste of good memories. Cuyuna is a long ways away from the troops/packs which also does not help promote utilization.

Can the family camp area along with the staff housing be utilized more fully in an effort to maintain some type of revenue stream through out the year?

I noticed that Doug DeMarce and his wife are on the executive board. What is your opinion of these two people? The reason I ask is that I worked for Pam many years ago so I have an idea of her tendencies. Does Doug still own the bowling alley in Mankato? I would like to know if you feel they are advocates of selling the camps.

I received a call from Doug Grunzke last week concerning Scouts. He is quite concerned about the decision to offer for sale a portion of Cuyuna. Apparently he is not the only one. He said there is a meeting to be held in Madelia at the VFW on March 7 at 1 PM for any one with concerns about Scouts. The meeting is organized by Frank Samlaska of Eagle Lake. His phone is 507-257-3907 at home or work 507-388-4554. Doug asked that I pass this info on to you if any one from camp alumni is interested and able to attend or want to contact Frank in advance. Wells is having potato pancake supper that afternoon so there probably will not be anyone from Wells attending. Hope you are able to pass this on to those who want to be informed. I understand they are also in the process of doing some remodeling of the office to make it available for rental space.