Holiday Party!!!!!

EAC Holiday Party

(sponsored by Edgehill Activity Club, formerly the annual Holiday Ornament Exchange Party)

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Fellowship with friends AND eat food ... Perfect combination! : )

Time: 3:00pm-8:00pm

Where: K & M's house

Potluck (come on, we're Methodists!)

Chili provided by host family (meat & vegetarian options) & corn bread (gluten free)

Everyone else bring items to go with chili.

Sour cream, cheese, onions, tomatoes, Fritos, crackers

Additional items you can bring are salad, bread, dessert.

Use “goggle docs” sign-up sheet to avoid duplications (11/10/13 email)

Craft Activity Take home both items!

1. Decorate SUGAR COOKIES (including gluten free option)

2. Make an ORNAMENT!

Everyone is welcome!

For more info contact: Tara Johnson

SAVE THE DATE for EAC {annual} Holiday Party

We used to have an annual Holiday Ornament Exchange Party, ala "dirty santa" kind of exchange with wrapped tagless gift (ornament) with numbers you choose. It was a lot of fun, quite a variety of ornaments, some fancy, some cheesy, some beautiful, some simple. I still have a few ... even though we don't have a tree or other Christmas decorations, they are special to me.

Then we had more & more children ... i.e. I had a child, and stopped being as organized about our events; it's probably been 3 years since last December party. However, we want to start again!!!
We like fellowship time with friends AND opportunity to eat food! : )

SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, December 7, 2013

Time: early afternoon probably (many kids ... I know my family eats & goes to bed early)
Where: KK & MN's house - the seriously great party location!
Food: Potluck

I'll create a goggle docs sign-up sheet for food to avoid duplications.
It's going to look at little different probably since there are so many kids, however, still fun!

More details to come.

Let Tara know if you have any ideas or questions.

Tara

post-camping survey

I created it! : )

Please take a few minutes to complete survey.
Link is referenced in 10/29/13 email to campers. 

The info will be helpful for planning for 2014 & beyond.

A few people (4) submitted already feedback when I checked last night (10/31/13).

There is some good stuff - constructive & specific ideas.

With 50 people, 1/2 were children, we had an excellent weekend, relatively smooth sailing (haha, boating reference!).

However, there is always room for improvement, especially procedural communication.

Pretty good considering first year we implemented brunch, craft activity AND the blog!

Hopefully over the next 2 weekends (or month!) I'm planning to create a google doc.

Mike & I can give concrete feedback to some suggestions & how we can incorporate this information into better planning & camping experience overall for 2014.

1. Brunch is probably gone. With that many kids & being outdoors (gets dark so early), early to bed means early to rise, and we're hungry ... early, early, early! : )

REMEMBER to complete SURVEY on-line! 

Let Tara know if you have any questions or issues accessing the survey link.

Thanks!

Tara

Submit PHOTOS by 11/10

PHOTOS

Hopefully we got some good ones this year. We need your contributions!

We want to put together a cool slide show/presentation for church in near future ...

This is all part of a guerrilla marketing campaign which includes the tie dye shirts!

Please email photos to Mike & Tara BEFORE Nov. 10!

I suspect Mike "AKA Chad" will be organizing it. : ) 

Cannot wait to see them all together! Thanks! 

Tara

Group PHOTO - 2 dates!

We didn't get our usual group photo on Sunday morning before departure. :-(

Everyone flew like birds in wind, anxious to get home to a hot shower & warm bed! :-)

Since we have these terrific tie dye T-shirts, let's get a photo at church!

Everyone - wear your T-shirt to church on dates listed below.

We'll meet between services (9:30am) in BIG room. 

• Date 1 is Nov. 3

• Date 2 is Nov. 17

If you can, bring a camera (not phone one) in case Mike or Tara (it will be me!) forget.

We want to put together a cool slide show/presentation for church on Nov. 17.

This is all part of a guerrilla marketing campaign which includes the tie dye shirts!

Nov. 3 photo will be in slide show presentation on 11/17.

We'll add 11/17 photo to slide show later to be used in future publicity!

If you can come on both dates, awesome.

Please be present for 1 photo date so you're included! : )

Thanks!

Tara 

Surplus Funds decision - voice your opinion

We finished tallying 2013 expenses & we actually have a significant surplus - a first for us! : )

That means we have a decision to make.

1. Do we use it for 2015 deposit? 

Reason A: This allows us to contact MBSP in January 2014 when 2015 calendar opens & have a chance at choosing a date that we like.

Typically we contact park office in August & there are only 1-2 available dates. 

That is why we didn't go in 2012 - early August & late October were only dates left. 

Oct. 3-5, 2014 was only date available when I called on 8/9/13 - we had to pay deposit within 2 weeks or lose it.

Luckily you all are awesome & started paying as soon as I emailed group, but we kind of scramble each year which is no fun for Mike & I.

Reason B: It allows us to have funds available to offer scholarships next year (we were able to provide some this year).

Reason C: Another idea is lowering the 2014 registration fee. 

Actually this year we lowered 2011 fee from $25/$45 to $20/$40 per individual/couple for 2013.

2. Do we refund each individual/couple? 

I haven't crunched the numbers, but it would probably be about $5 per individual/couple.

Reason A: It is always nice to have extra money. 

Mike, you get to deal with that fun since you have the money. : ) 

Let us know your answers.

What do you want done with surplus money?

images of 2013 MBSP

49 people - 27 adults, 22 children (6 months-17 years old) + 12 dogs

- Friday night arrival - greeted by friends & dogs, ready to eat taco soup & rice crispy treats
-Saturday morning - early rise, sounds of children "whisper-talking," visit the lake dock, boat/trailer/truck stuck in water!
- all day children running, playing, shouting, laughing, riding bikes/scooters (yours or mine)
- yummy blueberry pancakes from from the griddle for Saturday breakfast
- EUMC camping t-shirts, rubber band design & colorful tie dyed creations in grass, adults helping children, children helping adults
- Mid-day lull ... hike? boat ride? nap?
- Afternoon snacks - perfect timing, fresh fruit, potato chips & dip - yummy! : )
- Visit from Pastor Kaye - what a nice surprise!
- Late afternoon crafts for kids, thanks to Katie
- Hanging out at picnic tables, playing Go Fish
- Spontaneous soccer game starts before dinner, mainly children with Marie & Katie, lots of running & energy ... running with the dogs, too!
- hot from grill - hot dogs or veggie burgers, you decide what will go with a glorious salad bar ... then ice cream!
- Evening campfire - flames crackling to roast marshmallows (gluten free, vegan options), add chocolate & graham crackers (GF ones too) ... S'MORES!!!!
- Rousing game of "Spoons" - not sure who is the "true" winner!?
- Another night early to bed - this time fast asleep until early morning lightning, thunder & downpour
- Sleepy greetings over Sunday breakfast, fond farewell as we pack up, clean out cabins, check with "favorite" park ranger & depart for home ... anticipating 2014!

2013 MBPS camping success!

WHAT A GREAT CAMPING WEEKEND!

If this was your first trip, hope you enjoyed yourself.

If this was your sixth year (started in 2007, missed 2012), hope you feel it gets better!

Thanks for everyone's solutions, especially to carpool & tie dye situations.

SO glad everyone got to MBSP! What a blessing the rain held off until Sunday though not as I requested for our drive back to Nashville! Also how wonderful was it to have Pastor Kaye visit on Saturday! : ) 

Post-survey coming soon - write down any feedback now & save it for survey.

1 idea is to eliminate COOKING for Sunday breakfast & just clean out the fridge.

We always have SO MUCH leftover food. No reason to spend more money & then have to carry it home. We'd still need an assigned meal group for set up & clean up.: )

T-shirts - don't they look FABULOUS?! Even more so with the tie dye designs!!! 

Washing instructions:

1. Rinse each shirt in cold water (individually) 

I don't know about anyone else's kid's shirts, but Julia's shirt had SO MUCH dye!

2. Remove rubber bands

3. Wash all shirts in HOTTEST water possible with small amount of detergent

4. Dry normally

Hopefully yours look as fantastic as ours. Let me know if you have any questions.

Picture opportunity

We didn't get our usual group photo on Sunday morning before departure. :-(

Everyone flew like birds in wind, anxious to get home to a hot shower & warm bed! :-)

Since we have these terrific T-shirts, let's get a photo at church!

Everyone to wear your T-shirt to church - we'll meet between services ... Date TBA.

Thank you for toilet paper contributions.

I kept the 2 hand soap dispensers from kitchen area. I will save them for 2014.

Thank you for filling the compost buckets. It really helps decrease trash.

Next year let's try not to use so many DISPOSABLE products - it's not necessary.

PHOTOS

Hopefully we got some good ones this year. We need your contributions!

We want to put together a cool slide show/presentation for church in near future ...

This is all part of a guerrilla marketing campaign which includes the tie dye shirts!

Please email them to BOTH of us (Mike & Tara) - though I suspect Mike AKA Chad will be organizing it. : ) 

2014 MBSP Camping Date ... Oct. 3-5, 2014!!!!  
MARK YOUR CALENDAR now!!!

Thanks again for making 2013 MBPS Camping experience a great success!

Peace & Love, Tara

Girlhood crush

On ride home on Sunday leaving Montgomery Bell State Park, we heard the following from back seat:
Julia: "I fell in love with Trenton ... but not really because adults fall in love and get married."

She giggles in glee with a HUGE smile (front teeth missing)!!!

Then she adds: "No, I just like Trenton."

Ahhh, so cute! All afternoon on Saturday, Julia followed & watched Trenton ride his bike & play soccer (he's really good ... when are his games? are they close to us??).

Later when I asked her about dinner, Julia said "I'm waiting for Trenton to chase me." I know what she meant, but in a different context, I guess I'd rather she is the "chasee", not the chaser. : )

T-shirt update

T-shirt situation - they arrived today & look FABULOUS! YEAH!!!!! 

I washed them. 

They looked pretty big when I initially looked at them, but shrunk after washing/drying.

Coffee situation

Someone asked an excellent question - Mike usually handles coffee as I'm not a drinker.
Hopefully have update tomorrow ... : )

10-2-13 UPDATE
Mike will take care of the coffee and will also buy half & half and bring some sugar. 
Now coffee drinkers will be good company as some of you have described. : )

S'MORES

We'll have S'MORES at Saturday evening campfire!

WOO HOO!

I purchased the following materials for this fantastic treat:
marshmallows - 2 bags (1 is vegetarian, 1 is vegan)
graham cracker - 2 boxes (1 is gluten free, 1 is organic)
chocolate - milk & dark chocolate bars (8-9 bars)

I plan to get a bag of "regular" marshmallows & box of graham crackers ... just in case healthy versions are not liked by some. : )

Yummy!

Movie Night for kids

This idea was suggested on survey:

• movie for kids on Saturday evening 

Who wants to organize this?

10-2-13 UPDATE
Mike & Charlie are bringing projector & white sheet to make this activity happen. 
Feel free to bring family friendly DVDs. : )

Reminders/Call Outs

General information about MBSP group camp site is in previous blog post. 

1 message to remember - keep it simple, it's just 2 days, leave most stuff at home.: )

Most general Supplies, including condiments, are coordinated by Mike & Tara.

1. Need every family group to bring ONE roll of toilet paper 

That way YOU definitely know you have paper in your bathhouse! : )

2. Liquid soap for kitchen or bathhouse (4 bottles needed)

1. Tara (bathhouse # 28) - I'll bring 1 dispenser from home to put in bathhouse by Cabin 27

2. Barb (bathhouse # 41)

3. Marie (kitchen area)

4. Tara (kitchen bathroom)- I'll bring 1 dispenser from home to put in kitchen bathhouse

REMEMBER

Reusable drinking container for each family member

1 wash rag for cleaning dishes, 2 Towels for drying dishes & hands in bathhouse

Pot holders – if you have an old one, bring it

FLASHLIGHT - it gets dark out there!

Are you excited?!? It is only days away & soon we'll be at beautiful MBSP.

Yesterday Julia said to me "I cannot wait to go camping!"

I hope everyone is feeling that way; we have a FANTASTIC group of people coming.

There are people I'm looking forward to getting to know better & friends I haven't had a chance to see in awhile. Hopefully we'll have this same gorgeous fall weather this weekend!

SAVE THE DATE for 2014 MBSP camping!

Cabin Camping Weekend Retreat 
Montgomery Bell State Park 
October 3-5, 2014
Join us for a FUN weekend of fellowship at group camp site!

Activities for Camping Weekend

From the survey, the following requests/ideas were submitted:

1. leader led hike -  Saturday morning - led by Bonnie
2. activities for children - organized by Katie - parents need to provide/coordinate supervision
3. movie for kids - Saturday evening ... organized by Charlie
4. meditation at lake - Sunday morning - led by Bonnie

I communicated already that we'll have a craft project to tie dye a white T-shirt on Saturday.

Either the EUMC shirt you ordered or BYO - whatever - you don't have to tie dye either.

Tara & Katie will organize the needed materials, instructions, set up and supervise the process.

Time TBA - it will probably take place after brunch.

Even if you arrive after the craft time is over, we'll get you set up to tie dye your shirt.

The other activity we'll have is S'MORES at Saturday evening campfire! WOO HOO!
Tara will coordinate materials for this fantastic treat of marshmallow, graham cracker & chocolate.
Yummy!

Let Tara know if you have additional ideas.  Thanks!

2013-14 plans for EAC

It has been a LONG time since we had regular activities - probably 2 years ago at last MBSP camping trip! We need to plan fun events so we get to see each other more often, maybe once every quarter. How about 4-5 activities each year - that's manageable, right?

Here's what I sketched out quickly. 

Oct. 2013 MBSP camping (cabins)

Dec. 2013 Holiday Gathering at home TBD

early Spring 2014 Game Night (at home TBD or maybe at church)

late May 2014 Camping (tents) 

                                  usually somewhere in Grundy County, typically Memorial Day weekend

Summer 2014 Pool Party/BBQ  (at home TBD ...wonder where??)

Oct. 2014 MBSP camping (cabins) - 10/3-10/5

Dec. 2014 Holiday Gathering at home TBD

Let me know your thoughts.

I'm also thinking about creating a googlegroups "list serv."

We can use it & EAC blog to communicate.

Group Meal Assignments (October 2013)

Schedule of Meals with some explanation of responsibility.
Lead person (in BOLD) makes sure group is organized.

TIME      MEAL                                   PREP, SET-UP, SERVE (BUFFET STYLE), CLEAN UP
6:30P        Friday dinner                       3 = Mike, Marie, Kristen D-B

10:00A     Saturday brunch                   5 = Kathy, Yvonne, Barb, Dorothy, Rose Mary

1-3P         Saturday snacks                  4 = Julia T, Lisa M, Charlie, Rebecca

5:00P        Saturday dinner **               6 = Misty, Kristin, Bonnie, Jai, Shelia, Lisa R 
                                                                 Joel (TENTATIVE)

7:30P        Saturday evening bonfire     Tara will organize S'mores materials.
8:00A       Sunday breakfast                 5 = Sarah, Winnie, Shirley, Patricia, Katie
                                                                 Nicole & Ann help with ingredients

** Each family brings their own protein for Saturday dinner.

Kitchen has equipment, utensils, plates, pots, pans, etc.

There is NO need for disposable products.

There is a grill which Mike usually operates & cooks everyone's Saturday dinner protein. **

The ovens are not great so consider that in your meal planning.
Remember to prepare options for vegetarians.

Fri. Dinner Suggestions: pizza or chili, salad, DESSERT

20 Adults (2 vegetarian *), 17 children = TOTAL of 37

Brunch Suggestions: eggs, potatoes, fruit, bread, juice, cereal, milk

25 Adults (3 vegetarian *), 18 children = TOTAL of 43

Snacks Suggestions: pretzels, popcorn, chips, fruit

28 Adults (3 vegetarian *), 21 children = TOTAL of 49

Sat. Dinner Suggestions: rice, beans, pasta salad, salad, DESSERT

29 Adults (4 vegetarian *), 21 children = TOTAL of 50

Breakfast Suggestions: pancakes, fruit, juice, milk OR leftovers!
27 Adults (3 vegetarian *), 21 children = TOTAL of 48

2013 T-shirt

Get your 2013 shirt as a memento of the MOST AWESOME camping weekend!

1. Wear shirt sometime on October 2013 weekend
2. Tie Dye shirt during Saturday craft activity time
3. Wear it often in 2014 to advertise/promote attendance for MBSP October 2014!

Cost: $5
Projected arrival: Oct. 2
White Gildan Cotton T-Shirt: Adult (S, M, L, XL) & Youth sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL)



For more information contact:Tara

Annual Camping Trip to MBSP

Cabin Camping Weekend Retreat in October
Montgomery Bell State Park 

Join us for a weekend retreat of fun & fellowship at private group camp!
All ages welcome, pets too!
Nominal fee for weekend rental of camp site
Group meals
Participate in different activities or just relax in nature

For more information contact:
Mike or Tara