TLC. Destiny’s Child. The Powerpuff Girls. These are just a few of the all-female groups that have taken the world by storm. The Jameson Camp Women’s Auxiliary (JCWA) is perhaps another that should be included with those legendary ladies.
The JCWA was founded on July 1, 1985 by Mrs. Evelyn Wolter. The group of women helped Jameson Camp in many facets including fundraising. They were primarily responsible for raising the $3,000 used to purchase this camp van from Palmer Dodge in 1994:
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| October 1994 - The Bradmobile |
Driving the van was an adventure according to longtime staff member Brad Higgins, but as he said, “It was better than nothing.” Jameson was able to get about 2,000 miles out of the van before repairs exceeded camp’s ability to pay for them. Unfortunately, the Women’s Auxiliary itself faced a similar fate as it ran its course over the years and eventually disbanded.
Fast forward almost two decades and the JCWA was re-founded in September 2013 by Co-Chair Leslie Concannon and Development Director Yvonne Matlock.
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| Leslie & Yvonne |
Their basic intent was to create a normal group of volunteers that could provide donations and similar functions. That didn’t work, however, because Leslie isn’t basic and Yvonne isn’t normal. The JCWA soon branched out as a method of extending Jameson Camp’s community outreach initiatives. Before long, the ladies were involved in fundraising efforts and special volunteer projects that helped camp events. Leslie and Yvonne recruited new members and one of their first recruits, Cathy Lee, has personally brought in over $40,000 in donation and sponsorship support since joining the Auxiliary (imagine if they had recruited Hoda Kotb as well). WA and newly appointed Jameson board member Kathy Spangler has also raised more than $16,500. The group has continued to grow the past few years and currently contains 19 members.
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| Preparing flower decorations for the October 2016 BFG |
There are many Jameson Camp promotional events throughout the year, and the JCWA plays a vital role in each one. Whether they’re setting up tables at the May Breakfast, making crafts with summer campers, or preparing baskets for the Casino Nite / BFG, these women have put in countless hours behind-the-scenes. If you’ve ever been to a JC event and you noticed how nice it looked, Jameson Camp has its Women’s Auxiliary to thank for that. The JCWA makes it all look so easy, but the sheer amount of money they’ve raised speaks to their hard work and dedication to fundraising, volunteering, and supporting the children of Jameson Camp.
Since the group began, WA members have helped secure an estimated total of over $135,000 in support to include: sponsorships for the May Breakfast and/or Casino Nite, grants, Casino Nite silent auction, and contributions of in-kind, monetary donations from members and their friends, family and/or co-workers. This doesn’t even include the money they’ve saved camp via volunteering. In 2016, the JCWA logged 344.5 total volunteer hours. With the estimated cost of $20 per volunteer hour, that’s another $6,890.
WA members also help every week of the summer by making crafts with campers (this includes every step, i.e. planning the activity, purchasing or donating the supplies, and volunteering to lead the craft project with the kids). This has helped take the load off a very grateful Program Director Tim Nowak and his summer camp staff. “For the past few summers, the Auxiliary has been able to plan, create, and facilitate Art Expressions activities on a weekly basis,” he says. “Their work with Summer Camp provides a unique opportunity to offer our campers carefully and intentionally planned activities that result in beautiful products the camper can take home with them.”
WA members have helped sponsor the Youth Leaders’ Spring Service Trip since 2014 by hosting fundraisers to include: “Painting With a Twist” and the upcoming “Board & Brush.” They’ve also included mini-fundraisers at these 2 events such as “mystery bags” or “clutch bags” handmade by the co-chairs. “They have taken our Spring Service Trip and made it their goal to ensure that, year to year, the trip has the funds needed to be possible,” says Tim. “The Auxiliary is the glue helping us to ‘keep it together’ in some of our programs.”
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| Karen Midkiff a.k.a. "The Bag Lady" |
To gather ideas and plan for the next event, the JCWA will hold meetings, often at a member’s house. These gatherings are strictly work-related; there is no fun at all and the gossip is kept to a minimum. So what takes places at a typical meeting?
Lacey Dabelow: “Just lots of laughter.”
Jo VanTreese: “A lot of fun and laughs.”
Yvonne Matlock: “We laugh so hard my stomach hurts.”
Anita Hubley: “There is always laughter.”
One can only imagine what the ladies are laughing at, but when it’s time to leave, they’ll have completed their tasks. “The collective talents of this group are a perfect recipe for success,” Yvonne says. Professionals, retired empty-nesters, and stay-at-home moms make up the JCWA, and most of them joined for the same reason: to help the kids. “Everyone needs to have the opportunity to discover their strengths and develop their skills,” says Ariane Cagle, Content Cre8ive owner and one of the original members of the JCWA. “Jameson Camp provides these kids with an encouraging environment where they can learn new things, gain greater confidence in their abilities, and develop self-respect.”
It’s easy to take for granted the work and time put forth by volunteers, but Yvonne wants to make sure the JCWA members are appreciated. “I have the upmost love, admiration and respect for each of the women in our Auxiliary,” she said. “They’ve volunteered hundreds of dollars of their own money and hundreds of hours of their time and talent. I feel a special and unique bond with each of these women and am so in debt to all of them for the many things they do to support me in my role as the Development Director and Jameson Camp youth, often behind-the-scenes and without public recognition.” Tim’s thoughts echo the feelings of everyone at camp: “The Women’s Auxiliary is a wonderful resource and an essential piece of the Jameson Camp puzzle. This group embodies what we mean when we say our ‘camp family’!”
Jameson Camp Women’s Auxiliary Members (* denotes past member)
Sandra Burnett
Pam Barnard *
Ariane Cagle
Michelle Caldwell
Leslie Concannon
Pam Cook
Lacey Dabelow *
Becky Doemland *
Mary DuVall
Patti Gregory
Anita Hubley
Valerie Jasper
Julie Kremer
Cathy Lee
Yvonne Matlock
Linda McCallon *
Rhonda McKay
Beverly McNeely *
Karen Midkiff
Janet Radford
Pam Robbins
Kathy Spangler
Lisa Terrell *
Angie Torok *
Jo VanTreese
Rae Wallis
If you are interested in joining the JCWA or for more information, contact Yvonne Matlock at (317) 241-2661 ext. 12 or email: Yvonne@jamesoncamp.org.
The next JCWA fundraiser is a Board & Brush event on December 5th from 6-9 pm in Brownsburg. Click here for more information.
Kevin Johnson
kevin@jamesoncamp.org
