A message from our eliot board president

It is rewarding to be part of the team that works behind the scenes to help our four Eliot camps happen. I’m honoured to be working with Board members who all share a love for this community of ours. In January, we said goodbye to five beloved Board members: our intrepid President Kay Crider, upbeat Treasurer Seth Moran, and hard-working members at large Samaya Oakley, Ward Ramsdell and Rick Pope. 

It has been a very busy quarter and I want to express my appreciation to our new Board members Xander Simmons, Janelle Durham, Rick Duncan, and Lauren McNeill who have jumped in with both feet, taking on committee assignments and liaisons and tackling some challenging issues. Calyn McLeod, our new Registrar, and our Executive Secretary Nancy West keep us on track and are amazingly patient with all my picky inquiries. Even though we said goodbye to Bev Hesterberg as our Registrar, it is a relief to know that she is continuing her involvement as Eliot Bookkeeper. I wonder if she wears one of her two tiaras while she works the numbers?

Thanks to the Nominating Committee, we have a full slate of folks to fill positions on the Board and Nominating Committee for 2025. You can read about the nominees elsewhere in this newsletter. It has been rewarding working with that team.

Our finances continue to improve, thanks to the steady hand of our Finance Committee under Seth Moran. Xander is now at the helm and is needing new Finance Committee members to fill some vacancies. I will be joining them and it will be a bit of a learning curve for me. Through a related aspect of Eliot finances, the Fundraising Committee has been meeting regularly to encourage financial support from our community. Thanks to all who have responded so generously.

I have joined the Leadership Development Committee, which meets monthly and was part of the planning group that led the second annual Leadership Development Retreat. Samaya Oakley, Ward Ramsdell, Dukie Sabourin and I were impressed that 40+ people attended on the zoom call. It was gratifying that Nancy and all but one Board member participated with staff for the upcoming camps to share ideas, concerns, and questions and to hear the latest developments from the Board.

The Governance Committee is now reviewing and updating job descriptions for camp staff. This will be ongoing work that is incredibly detailed and essential. Most descriptions have not been updated since 2017 and there have been many changes in that time period. 

The Children’s Program Committee has completed a revision of the policy dealing with the Littles, our little ones under three years of age. Thanks to members of our community who offered their thoughts on how to make this a policy that works for the children, parents/guardians, and staff. You can read the policy in the Children’s Program Committee update. 

At our April meeting, the Board passed a Sex and Gender Diversity Policy and Statement which can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Thanks to the team that worked hard to ensure that Eliot is an even more inclusive community.

Our Right Relations Team has revised their Restoring Right Relations Policy and have developed graphics and a handout to make it available and understandable for all. The policy can be found on the Eliot website. Thanks to everyone on that Team for all their diligence in getting this off the ground.

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force is being formed to look at the implications of Generative AI and what policy needs to be in place to guide Eliot staff and presenters. There will be opportunities at each of our camps for Elioteers to offer input into that process.

 The Health and Safety Committee has been keeping up to date in determining Covid protocols for our safety at our camps. There is much appreciation for all their care and concern.

There are amazing opportunities for fun and learning at each of our upcoming summer camps. Deans are hard at work putting together programming and staff for July, August, and Creative Arts camps. See you at Seabeck!

Lynn Sabourin, Board President