11/17/2011

Friends of Family Camp:

On November 15, 2011 the San Jose City Council compromise decision has given Family Camp a shot in the arm at least for one year. We need to make it happen. Jim Reber has created a Family Camp fund on his website. All donations are tax-deductible. All donations will be used for Family Camp IF DESIGNATED and can be used for specific approved expenditures. Where it asks donors to select a Program Designation. Family Camp is at the top of the list. https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1004334

11/06/2011

Greetings Friends of San Jose Family Camp,

Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is recommending to the City Council that San Jose Family Camp be CLOSED!

The San Jose City Council will be meeting shortly to make a final decision:

Tuesday 7 PM November 15, 2011

Council Chambers at City Hall

200 East Santa Clara Street

Note: There is free parking under City Hall.

PLEASE attend if you can!

E-Mail or Call a City Council Member: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/council.asp

Visit the Friends: http://friendsofsanjosefamilycamp.org

Thank you for your ongoing support

Garry Solmonson

President, FSJFC

01/25/2011

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2011 - CAMP IS OPEN!

March 5, 2011 - Registration at Leininger Center, 1300 Senter Road

No Fish Camp this year because of reinforcement construction

May 20-22 and June 3-5, 2011 - Tentative major work weekend dates

June 17, 2011 to August 14, 2011 - Camp Summer Season

Thank You,

Garry Solmonson

President, FSJFC

11/13/2010

Great News!!

The City of San Jose recently changed its plans to demolish most of the dining room facilities and erect a temporary tent structure and now has decided to reinforce the existing structure with concrete and steel bracing (originally suggested by the Friends some 9 months ago when the condition of the dining facilities first became known). This temporary solution is expected to last 5 years. The City is awaiting approval of the project by the United States Forest Service and Tuolumne County and is moving forward with the bidding process, with construction expected to begin in February of 2011. The Friends will continue to provide volunteer services during this period and will be instrumental in preparing for the Camp reopening in 2011.

The Friends of SJFC held work weekends on October 1-3 and October 15-17 with some 15 volunteers and city personnel participating on each weekend. Numerous cleanup and camp shutdown tasks were completed, with some 380 man-hours of work performed. Super volunteers Smitty, Doug Files and Jerry Vargas completed the installation of the camp's two new water tanks with assistance from the other volunteers. The Board of Directors of the Friends very much appreciate the efforts of the volunteers who participated in the work weekends.

Board member and officer elections will be held at the January 12, 2011, board meeting, with board member nominations presently being accepted. The next board meeting will be held December 8, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation office at 1300 Senter Road (Happy Hollow entrance).

Thank You,

Garry Solmonson

President, FSJFC

09/05/2010

- Some 20 volunteers participated in a work weekend at San Jose Family Camp on August 27-29, 2010. The group, which consisted of members of the Friends of San Jose Family Camp and former camp staff employees, had a productive and enjoyable weekend, accompanied by welcomed cool weather. Food and drink was provided at minimal cost to the volunteers by the Friends of San Jose Family Camp.

- Tasks accomplished included the removing and storing of all furniture, equipment, lights and other electrical fixtures from the recreation room, the city office and a major portion of the dining hall in preparation for demolition. The structural repairs and re-roofing of the A-shed, which will be converted to the temporary camp office, was also completed, and several tent cabins were recovered with tarps and Visqueen. In all, some 270 man-hours of work were expended.

- The Board of Directors of the Friends would like to thank all of the volunteers for a very successful work weekend.

- In other news, one of the two main water tanks serving the camp has been removed, with a new tank to be installed in early September. Finally, additional work weekends will be scheduled in the near future.

Garry W. Solmonson

President, Board of Directors,

Friends of San Jose Family Camp

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