[nfbmi-talk] camp t questions for lease.

Tue Oct 12 15:52:50 UTC 2010

This is very well written and poingnant Fred!

Thanks for sharing Larry!

Jackie Paulding

On Mon, Oct 11, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Larry Posont <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>wrote:

> There are some matters which we would like addressedFred Wurtzel wrote this
> list of questions concerning the FRP for Camp T. I thought members of the
> NFB of Michigan would be interested, so I am sending it to the list. Good
> job Fred!
>
> I am writing on behalf of Larry Posont, President of the National
> Federation of the Blind of Michigan.  There are some matters which we would
> like addressed regarding our potential proposal to secure a lease to operate
> Camp Tuhsmeheta. Running a camp successfully and effectively depends a lot
> on support and infrastructure.  This camp is not a for-profit activity and
> the number of potential participants is not large enough to create enough
> income to fully support all needed services.  For these reasons, the
> Michigan Department of Education manages a trust fund from witch funds may
> be utilized to subsidize the costs of operations for Camp Tuhsmeheta.
>
>
>
> Second, the programs which have been operated by Opportunities Unlimited
> for the Blind and any that may be offered by the National Federation of the
> Blind of Michigan support the goals and principles contained in the National
> Agenda and the Expanded Core curriculum as provided on the American
> Foundation for the Blind website (www.afb.org)  It is the intent of the
> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan to fully support the efforts of
> the Michigan Department of Education, Low Incidence Outreach, Intermediate
> School districts and itinerant and classroom teachers by providing target
> training in Braille, cane travel, independent living  and the emphasis areas
> contained in the national emphasis in science technology, engineering and
> mathematics (STEM).
>
>
>
> The questions below fall into the areas of physical infrastructure and
> support for efforts around STEM and the expanded core curriculum.
>
>
>
> Activity field -- There is a need for an activity field for providing a
> space for running and goal type sports like Goal Ball and similar sports.
>  There is a field west of the Perch Lane gate which could be graded and
> seeded that would make a suitable place where blind children could run and
> hold athletic games in a safe and open environment.  Our question is whether
> the Department could make improvements in this space or another similar
> space roughly the size of a football field to hold these described
> activities?
>
>
>
> Coffee/hot drink station -- There is not presently a space in the dining
> room in White Pine Lodge to have a suitable hot drink station.  It is
> necessary to bring hot drinks from the kitchen to the tables which create a
> mixed traffic pattern during busy mealtimes.  This poses a potential safety
> risk and does not support the teaching of pouring and transporting hot
> liquids by blind individuals as part of daily living and travel training.
>  There is a space to the north of the dirty dish return window on the east
> wall of White Pine which would suitable for this function.  A minimum of a 6
> foot counter with a water line and electrical outlets for 120v and 220v
> connections for coffee makers and other related hot drink and cooling spaces
> for coffee creamers, water and related products.  The question: would the
> Department be willing to build a minimum 6 foot counter with under counter
> storage with water and electrical service?
>
>
>
> Water to garden -- Through the generosity of individuals and groups there
> is an extensive garden area north of White Pine Lodge.  Gardening is a
> highly enriching activity which contributes too many of the stem and
> expanded core curriculum goals.  Science, spatial relationships, and
> nutrition are just 3 of the many benefits that can be gained from gardening.
>
>
>
> It is presently necessary to either carry water or run hoses across the
> road area to get water to the garden during dry weather.  To create a more
> efficient and usable area, a permanent water source in the garden area is
> needed.  The question is whether the Department is willing to either connect
> to an existing water source or drive a point to ground water level and
> provide onsite water through a pump?
>
>
>
> Door closures on bathrooms in white pine -- For many years, since the
> remodeling of White Pine Lodge to create a Dining room area, there has been
> a need for door closers on the male and female bathroom facilities.  The
> male bathroom is just a few feet from where diners eat.  It would be
> aesthetically and possibly a health consideration improvement to assure the
> doors is closed when meals are being served.  The question: Is the
> Department willing to install door closures on the male and female bathrooms
> in white Pine Lodge?
>
>
>
>
>
> $100,000 for programming -- As mentioned above, there is not an adequate
> population of potential campers who could afford the fees necessary to fully
> cover the costs of providing quality state-of-the-art programming at Camp
> Tuhsmeheta that support the expanded core curriculum and the STEM goals
> recommended by national standards for educating blind children.  To fully
> staff camp, provide trained and credentialed teachers and fund a rich array
> of activities it costs approximately $1,00 per week per child, based on 20
> children per session.  Historically the Department of Education has provided
> support for programming over and above that offered to individual campers
> who qualify for school reduced lunch subsidies.  OUB has, in the past, and
> NFBMI in the future would need to rely on foundation and individual support
> to cover the gap between support provided by the Indigent Blind Fund monies
> and the actual costs.  In this period of reduced incomes for foundations and
> individuals it is difficult to rely on this funding support.  In addition,
> the precarious nature of the present plan of a month to month lease makes it
> difficult to fully plan programming and promise funders a facility where
> programs may be presented.  The question is: Is the Department willing to
> partially or fully support the actual costs of operating Camp Tuhsmeheta
> from Trust fund revenues?
>
>
>
> 60 month lease with 1 year automatic renewals -- During informational
> meetings, it was said that the reason for the month-to-month lease is that
> it would take several months to get clearance through the Attorney General's
> office. As mentioned above, a month to month lease does not provide a stable
> base upon which planning may be made.  There is no guarantee that any
> organization will have access to the Camp facility more than 30 days in the
> future.  It would not be prudent for a funder to provide support for a
> program based on a plan where the recipient may not be able to provide the
> service or program when the time arrives for the project to take place.
>  Question:  Would the Department be willing to enter into a month-to-month
> lease until a multi-year lease can be negotiated?
>
>
>
>
>
> Please direct questions or comments to Larry Posont, President, National
> Federation of the Blind of Michigan at president.nfb.mi at gmail.com or call
> 313-271-3058.  Thank you very much for your attention to these important
> matters.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Fred Wurtzel
>
>
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