Camp Herrlich Reunion, -70 days

Greetings:

Well, despite the limited number of entries, we have a clear winner in the occupations contest. Drum roll, please. It's Peter Gangsei who came up with seven correct. Here are the correct answers:
1. Sean Deneny: P. Television show marketing
2. Peter Gangsei: O. Roofer
3. Gerry Gengenbach: G. or H.Minister
4. Walter Haag: M. Retired, military
5. Eric Holk: A. or B. Attorney
6. Ralph Midtlyng: G. or H. Minister
7. Larry Monson: E. High steel worker
8. Tom Murphy: I. Occupational therapist
9. Marsha Nyberg: D. Guest house owner
10. Gloria Pabon: N. Retired, teacher
11. Ralph Palumbo: L. Retired, cable guy
12. Steve Perge: F. Mattress salesman
13. Larry Rhodebeck: A. or B. Attorney
14. Bill Schnelli: C. Car salesman
15. Paul Weidiger: J. Organic farmer
16. Tyrone Wims: K. Project Manager

That is now but do you still remember:
* Standing out in the sun, nervous as can be, waiting for The Train?
* First camp meal: spaghetti?
* Peter Gangsei telling time by the sun inside the dining hall?
* Big Jim dealing out pancakes?
* Those staff overnighters?
* Surviving on midnight snacks?
* Tyrone snapping his fingers and his campers marching in?
* Night Patrol?
* Singing "Lilly the Pink" during attitude adjustments at the Tamarack Inn, the Zig Zag Club, the Colony House, the pizzeria in Brewster, or the Monte Carlo?
* The last night all-nighters?
* Hoghead snakes?
* Trips to New York?
* Towner's General Store?
* Hanging out on the raft in the parking lot?
* How Naja used stones back in Lebanon?
* Water Carnivals?
* Camper's choice?
* The goats in the girl's bathroom?
* The Lake Carmel carnivals?
* Hunting for the Heike boy's shoes? or socks?
* "No soap radio"?
* Those summer romances?
* Walking across the lake during the Christmas 1969 reunion?
* The Appalachian Trail?
* The purple door knob?
* Mud Hockey?

Those are some of the things I remember, hopefully, you are planning to share some of your memories with us at the reunion.

Peace, Love,

Big Jim

Camp Herrlich Reunion, -74 days

Greetings:

Those of you who have been stumped by the photos in the earlier blog should be glad to find out that pictures, top to bottom, show: Pat Petersen Puchalski, 1968-9 lifeguard; Marsha Nyberg, 1969 counselor; Gloria Pabon, 1969-70 counselor; and Paul Weidiger, 1971+ counselor.

In the last few days, I've located Eric Holk and with lots of help from Mary Simon, I found Tom Zink.

Peace, Love,

"Big Jim" Lindsey

Camp Herrlich Reunion, -78 days

Greetings:

While thinking about the fact that our reunion was going to be over Labor Day weekend, I came up with the idea for a little contest. Can you figure out what kind of work your fellow staffers ended up doing? Below, you'll find a list of staffers and a list of occupations. All you need to do is match them up and email your answers to me by noon next Thursday, June 19th and I'll announce the winners on the next blog. Don't worry if you don't know them all, I don't think anyone will get them all. Have fun and good luck!

1. Sean Deneny A. Attorney
2. Peter Gangsei B. Attorney
3. Gerry Gengenbach C. Car Salesman
4. Walter Haag D. Guest House Owner
5. Eric Holk E. High Steel Worker
6. Ralph Midtlyng F. Mattress Salesman
7. Larry Monson G. Minister
8. Tom Murphy H. Minister
9. Marsha Nyberg-Leabman I. Occupational Therapist
10. Gloria Pabon J. Organic Farmer
11. Ralph Palumbo K. Project Manager
12. Steve Perge L. Retired, Cable Guy
13. Larry Rhodebeck M. Retired, Military
14. Bill Schnelli N. Retired, Teacher
15. Paul Weidiger O. Roofer
16. Tyrone Wims P. Television Show Marketing

Peace, Love,

Big Jim

Herrlich Reunion, -86 days

Greetings:

Having spent a great deal of time surfing the web trying to locate many of you. I came across some interesting things on my travels. I have decided to share recent photos I have uncovered of a few of your fellow staffers. Only, I'm not going to tell you who they are! Want some hints? The first worked at camp in 1968-69, the female in the second, 1969, the third, 1969-70, and the fellow worked 1971 and after. Can you identify these people? Do they look familiar? What are their names? Enjoy.....

A big thanks to Nancy Gundersen, she provided a new address for Phil Olsen(who's interested in attending). She also suggested that I find Clay Reaser. I found him and he may make it for a day or two the next week he'll be heading off to France. Betty Bommer has sent best wishes to all, she will probably not be able to make the trip because of a severe back injury. We could all throw in a prayer for her rapid recovery.

Peace, Love,

"Big Jim" Lindsey

Herrlich Reunion, -96 days

Well, we've made it to Memorial Day weekend. The semi-official start of the summer. Seems when you're looking forward to something like our reunion, the time sure drags by slowly. We still have a whole summer between us and our weekend together. In the process of driving up to attend my daughter's graduation, last weekend, twicw we sped right by the camp exit off of Interstate 84. Unfortunately, a tight schedule would not allow us to stop. Guess I'll have to wait until August like everyone else.

I hope you've all started making your travel plans. Airlines are continually threatening to raise fares in the face of the rapidly rising fuel costs. It would be wise to lock in a good fare while they're still available. On our trip east, we were somewhat pleasantly surprised by the gas prices we encountered, the highest price we paid was right near home in Indiana. The gas prices across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticutt and Massacusetts were all cheaper. We filled up for thirty cents a gallon less in Massacusetts than what we'd paid in Indiana.

If there are any special activities that you think need to be incorporated into our plans, please let me know. The lake will probably be too cold for a water carnival so, let's skip that suggestion.

Those of you still on the fence about attending need to make up your minds before time decides for you. Remember you don't have to stay all weekend. We'd really love to have you attend, if at all possible. If you have questions about the reunion please feel free to ask. I'll do my best to get you answers. If you haven't returned the questionaire yet, please do so.

Camp Herrlich Reunion

Hello Again:

It's great to be able to just type something up and everyone gets to see it. Nothing to fold, no envelopes to stuff, no stamps, no charge. Some of this new techno stuff is really alright. It's just a darn shame it wasn't around years ago.Us old timers just don't understand all the ramifications of all this "new" stuff. Several of you emailed me concerning the blog, you can click on the"comments" prompt in the lower right hand corner of the page and let everyone see what you write. While I understand and appreciate the power of a bully pulpit, the real reason for this blog is to give everyone a voice. So, please feel free to comment.

The responses to the reunion questionaire have been extremely slow coming in. Please don't keep putting it off until you simply run out of time, money or vacation time and can't attend. To date, it looks like I'll be coming in from Indiana and joined by Rev. Ruben Colon from Georgia, Rev Ed Wiker and Rene from New Jersey, Karen (Kangas) Repka from New Jersey, Tyrone Wims from Philadelphia, Ralph Palumbo from the Bronx, Bob and Nancy Gundersen from Nyack, NY, Peter Gangsei from Wisconsin, Ruth (Heins)Phillips from Connecticutt, Karen Duehne and Eleanor (Duehne) Harrold from the Bronx. Kay(Brookshaw)Aho lives in the state of Washington and she'd like to attend. Norma (Olson)Levett will probably make the trip from North Carolina.Carol (Sautebin) Wright wants to come but hubby, Gordi Wright doesn't want to drive across NY to attend. Pat(Petersen)Puchalski wants to come in from Ohio but doesn't know if she can handle it and the start of her final school year at the same time. We'll work on Gordi and Pat. No one else has responded. What's up with the rest of you? A lot of your friends appear willing to travel a good distance to see you. Come join us. It's only a few days and you don't have to stay all weekend. Please help us fill the camp!

For those of you who have not kept up with the camp through the years, you can catch up at their website: www.campherrlich.org.

For those of you contemplating flying in, please make sure you check flights through the airport in Newburgh, New York, it's only about thirty minutes from the camp and you don't have to deal with any New York City traffic.

Thanks to Rev. Ruben Colon! He kept up with Hector Maldonado through the years so one more has been located.

June graduates: Ruth (Heins) Phillips youngest son will be graduating from law school next month.

Our oldest daughter will be graduating from Smith College in May.

Great accomplishments: Last Monday, April 21, 2008, our former lifeguard and cancer survivor, Pat(Petersen) Puchalski, conquered the Boston Marathon for the third time in three tries. Her time was 4:39:35. To the uninitiated, that means she ran the over 26 mile long course in a little over four and a half hours at a speed of almost ten miles an hour. I get tired just thinking about doing anything for four and a half hours. Imagine running that long! Well done Pat!

Regardless of your political view, please remember that our young men in war zones deserve your prayers, Norma (Olson) and John 's Levett's daughter's fiance is stationed in Baghdad.

Love, Peace,

'Big Jim"

Camp Herrlich Reunion

Greetings:

Well here we go! The old guy using another of the new-fangled techno-toys. Thanks to Norma (Olsen) Levett, who came up with the idea, I can get info out to everyone a bit easier. And, you can respond!?!

First, if you are not already aware, we will be having a reunion of the members of the 1968-1971 Camp Wilbur Herrlich staffs. The reunion willbe held at the camp over Labor Day weekend, August 29- September 1, 2008. If you worked there then, please make every effort to attend. We are all getting older, five of our members have already passed on, please take advantage of this opportunity. You need not stay the whole weekend, but please get there.

We are planning to do something along the lines of a yearbook updating the info on everyone. We will be working on this some over the weekend.If possible, bring along a decent photo from your Herrlich years and one of your family now.

I've spent a good deal of time trying to relocate everyone. The following is a list of those located thus far:

1968: Rev. Ed and Rene Wiker, Norma (Hanauer) Martin, Norma (Olsen)Levett, John Levett, Tyrone Wims, Karen (Kangas) Repka, Ralph Palumbo, Warner Wims, Dorothy (Walker) Shonsey, Rev. Gerry Gengenbach, Judy (Elevick) Reilly, Karla (Supienko) Edwards, Walter Haag, Kay (Brookshaw) Aho, Rev. Ralph Midtlyng, Richie Midtlyng, Sandy (Heverly) Marin, Sean Deneny, Becky (Ludwig) Gibbons, Pat (Petersen) Puchalski, George Kitz, and Rev. Ruben Colon.

Deceased: Bill Coombs, Mary Jo Vircks, and Jim Jacobson.

1969: Rev. Ed And Rene Wiker, Art Baddof, Judy (Elevick) Reilly, Peter Gangsei, Rev. Gerry Gengenbach, Walter Haag, Karen (Kangas) Repka, Betsy Larson, Linda (Larsen) DeLong, Kathy (Miller) Stange, Rev. Ralph Midtlyng, Richie Midtlyng, Marsha Nyberg-Leabman, Gloria Pabon, Ralph Palumbo, Steve Perge, Pat (Petersen) Puchalski, Larry Rhodebeck, Bill Schnelli, John Shouse, Martha Singer, Linda (Walters/Shouse) Turner, and Jeanne Zammataro.

Deceased: Bill Coombs, Debbie Tyrrel, and Kathy (Connelly) Lillestolen.

1970: Bob and Nancy Gundersen, Ralph Palumbo, TyroneWims, Peter Gangsei, Larry Rhodebeck, Karen (Kangas) Repka, Carol (Sautebin) Wright, Sandy Minkus, Steve Perge, Ruth(Heins) Phillips, Rev. Ruben Colon, Sheila (Berg) McCurdy, Mary (Jerard) Kenny, Merrily Szantor, George Kitz, Helen (Lundgren)Newman, Rev. Ralph Midtlyng, Richie Midtlyng, Kristi Vaiden, Mitchell Wright, and Gordi Wright.

Deceased: Debi Tyrrel

1971: Bob and Nancy Gundersen, Bette Bommer, Rev. Donald Burggraf, Eleanor (Duehne) Harrold, Shirley Furtick, Peter Gangsei, Mary (Jerard) Kenny, Kathryn (Kerr) Belscher, Rev. Ralph Midtlyng, Richie Midtlyng, Sany Minkus, Tom Murphy, Deborah Negro, Steve Perge, Larry Rhodebeck, Sue (Schuette-Weidger) LaLama, Mary Simon, and Paul Weidiger.

Deceased: Kathy (Connelly) Lillestolen.

If you know the whereabouts of anyone not listed, please get their info to me as soon as possible. Thank you!