07/14/2010

- City staff reports the capital budget has been approved at the June budget hearing for the demolition of the camp dining hall and set up of a temporary tent structure. City specifications and bids are to be forthcoming. Goal is to have camp positioned to open by end of April 2011.

- The National Park Service (NPS) has stated they need to have the Master Plan done within a year which is half the previously stated timeframe. The city staff is negotiating to restore the originally stated deadline and is moving the master plan forward.

- The Friends would like to have caretaker volunteers who would monitor camp throughout weekends till December. Currently we have coverage through the first week of September.

- The City hopes to set up work parties in the near future. The first order of business is to remove and replace the water tanks one at a time and ensure the water system provides clean, safe drinking water. There have been several other construction lists generated. Most importantly is to have A shed roof completed and converted to the camp staff office. We will need to send up a work groups on several weekends. We are awaiting city go ahead to set up a work schedule.

- The Friends will let you know the dates of the work parties as soon as they are announced in a "BLAST" e-mail.

Board of Directors

Friends of San Jose Family Camp

05/01/2010

An ad hoc citizens' group, Save Family Camp, has been formed by the San Jose Parks Foundation, the Friends of San Jose Family Camp, and concerned campers and groups to ensure that Family Camp reopens for the 2011 season, and to resolve the camp's long term budget problems. The group is currently developing a comprehensive plan to address the immediate concerns for 2010, and for future Family Camp operations, including several operational and budgetary alternatives.

City of San Jose staff continues to work on obtaining bids and permits for the demolition of the dining hall, the reinforcement of the kitchen/scullery area, and the construction of the new dining facility.

We shall keep you updated as to new developments. Your present (or anticipated) membership in the Friends and support of San Jose Family Camp is greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Garry Solmonson

President, FSJFC

03/01/2010

Beginning in 2010 the board of The Friends of San Jose Family Camp, decided to increase the annual membership from $10 to $20. With the closure of Family Camp for 2010, several of our traditional fund raising opportunities have been eliminated.

The Friends can no longer host the Friday night Fish Camp Spaghetti Feed. Our registration sign-up raffle was also cancelled. We planned to add an exciting silent auction to complement our traditional raffle which has always offered three or four liter bottles of premium wine, donated by Lunardi's Market as our top prize. Finally our weekend camp coffee event has to be postponed until Family Camp is back in business.

However, the Friends will remain active completing repair projects at Camp, to minimize start-up impact in 2011. We need your support and your renewed membership in 2010 to continue our important work at SJ Family Camp.

Thank you,

Garry Solmonson

President, Friends of SJ Family Camp