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THE TRUSTEES OF CAMP ROTARY
FOUNDATION REPORT ON CAMP ROTARY
This special edition of the HUB has been prepared to convey to the members of the
Saginaw Rotary Club information about the origin of Camp Rotary
as a service project of our club and an update regarding its operation
in recent years. It should enable our members to appreciate the very
significant role our club plays in helping the
Boy Scouts and other youth groups primarily in Eastern Mid-Michigan but to some extent in all Michigan.
History tells us that Lake Beebe was from
early times used by the Ottawa, Potawatomi and Chippewa Indians as
camping and fishing grounds. During some periods they used the area as
a more permanent site. These tribes did not use tepees but lived in
dome-shaped lodges covered with wood bark.
Lake Beebe, a beautiful spring-fed lake approximately 30 acres
in size with towering pines in the surrounding acreage lies not far
northeast of
Clare, Michigan and is centered in a 1,000 acre tract. The story of the acquisition and development of this ideal setting for a
Boy Scout camp is almost like a fairy tale. It is a story of many Saginaw Rotarians and
Boy Scout leaders exercising great foresight and work in bringing us this nationally recognized camp.
In 1924 the camp at Lake Arnold became inadequate for the growing area
Boy Scout Council. Members of The Saginaw Rotary Club, including
Arthur O. Cook, and Max Heavenrich became aware of this problem and with
Boy Scout executives began to look for a new site. Beebe Lake located on a 400 acre site just north of
Clare was inspected. The search team was particularly impressed
with the beauty, location and adaptability of the place. With funds
from
Saginaw Rotary Club members the site was purchased for $3,000 in 1925 and deeded to Wallace Craig Smith, Martin W. Tanner and
Ted Suss, Saginaw Rotary Club members as Trustees for the Saginaw Rotary
Club. It was then leased for $1 a year to the grateful Boy Scout
Council.
The Boy Scouts moved into the camp at the end of August of
1925 and immediately began projects for improvement to make the grounds
suitable for a
Boy Scout Camp. A mess hall was built, a bathing beach was prepared and a new dam was built which raised the lake level by four feet.
In 1932 an additional 40 acres was purchased and in 1950 another 40
acres making the total 480. Improvements continued to be made by the
Scouts often with funds from our Rotary club. In 1952 Dr. Thomas J. Carney willed funds for the construction of
Carney Health Lodge. In 1956 Frank N. Andersen provided funds for
Andersen Chapel which was constructed overlooking the lake. In 1959 Deer Lodge was erected from funds furnished by
R. Perry Shorts. In 1957 the Valley Trails Council of the Boy Scouts entered into a new 15 year lease with the trustees of
Camp Rotary again at $1 a year rental.
A most exciting event occurred in 1964. The Trustees of Camp Rotary
obtained a one-year option on 583 acres of land contiguous to the camp
for a purchase price of $23,320 giving us an opportunity to double the
size of our beautiful camp.
Our Rotary club now had the substantial task of raising the needed funds. The club's incoming President,
Thomas M. Murphy was selected Chairman of the Fund Raising
Campaign.
In order that contributions to the campaign be deductible for tax
purposes it was necessary to form a charitable, (501 (c) (3)),
organization. This was done effective July 30, 1964. The corporate form
selected was a membership organization with the members of our
Rotary being the members of the corporation. The Board of Trustees and Officers elected were the
Camp Rotary Trustees, William Brydges, Max Heavenrich, Jr. and John
Currie. The real estate of Camp Rotary was transferred to the new charitable corporation
(Camp Rotary Foundation) and the campaign began.
The first contribution was from R. Perry Shorts, a long time friend of the
Boy Scouts. His substantial gift gave impetus to the fund drive
and early in 1965 with contributions large and small from 95% of our
club members the goal was reached. The option was exercised, the
property was acquired by the
Foundation. There were many happy campers that day!
In 1970 Bill Brydges died and William H. Palmer was elected to succeed him.
Max Heavenrich resigned in 1971 and Thomas M. Murphy was elected as his successor.
1971 marked the fruition of a regional Scout effort to add to the capital plant at
Camp Rotary. A half-million dollar dining hall and administration building was dedicated in mid-year. Meanwhile the
Scouts had reorganized to include the area up to Alpena. The new council was named
Lake Huron Council. Camp Rotary became the major site for the enlarged council.
The Kresge Foundation Granted the Scouts $30,000 in 1972 for the erection of three shelter cabins. These cabins came just in time for use in our
Rotary District Youth Leadership conference which was started that year.
A new, much needed Reception Center was built in 1974 funded by the Saginaw Rotary
club. That same year Frank Andersen financed the repainting and reroofing of the
Chapel and refurnishing the chaplain's quarters.
During these years there was increased activity in the Winter. Marv
Valentine, Camp Director, suggested that the winterizing of Deer
Lodge would enable the camp to better meet the needs. With a $11,000 contribution from
Frank Andersen this was done.
As a result of some successful wells not too far from Camp Rotary
The oil industry became active in the area and began leasing various
sites. We were fortunate in being included. In 1981 and 1982 we were
paid $115,000. Unfortunately no wells were drilled and prospects for
further payments vanished. However, at that time interest rates were
very good and wise investment of these funds resulted in significant
growth of our investments.
Wise use of these funds was a major concern of the Trustees and meetings were held with our club's
Board of Directors to set forth a policy. It was decided that except for emergencies at the
Camp only income would be used and principal would be preserved.
Under the various leases between the Scouts and first the Saginaw Rotary Club Trustees and later the Foundation, real estate taxes on
Camp Rotary were the obligation of the tenant's, that is, the Boy
Scouts. However, consistent with our club's practice from the time the Camp was first purchased to help the
Scouts in operating and maintaining the Camp, the Rotary
Club paid all the real estate taxes. From the early years their taxes amounted to but a few hundred dollars annually.
By the early 80's, increases in the taxes made the amount too great for
our club to handle. An informal agreement was entered into between our
club, the
Boy Scouts and the Foundation for each entity to pay one-third of the
Camp's real estate taxes. Since 1983 the Foundation's share to the present time has totalled $49,121. This same amount has been paid by our club also in those years.
The Foundation informed the Scouts of the above
noted decision to use income from its funds for capital improvement and
later it was decided to help in the maintenance of
Camp Rotary. From time to time the Scouts have called to the attention of the
Foundation emergency and non-emergency projects. From 1983 to the present the
Foundation has furnished $83,065 for these purposes. Following is a partial list of these projects:
A new roof for the main building. A new dock. Canoe repairs. A new
bridge. Extensive tree spraying for the gypsy moth plague. Correction
of a sanitation and well problem. A new sewage system for the main
lodge. Assisted in funding the COPE course. Walk in cooler problem.
Purchase of a van. ETC.
We are also pleased to report that a short time ago we were audited by the Internal Revenue Service and given a clean bill of health.
The year 1980 marked the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Saginaw Rotary
Club. It is one of the oldest Rotary Clubs
in the World. In celebration, our club decided on a most ambitious and
worthwhile project - the construction of a nature center.
Under the capable direction of Carl Hubinger and
with almost 100% support from the members, our club furnished funds,
material and labor to complete this project. It has been a valuable
addition to the camp.
Contributions from our club totalled $25,000 in cash another $20,000 in
materials and hundreds of hours of labor from club members. Work crews
of usually about eight members spent eight weekends, working Saturdays
and Sundays, boarding at the
Camp and performing most of the labor needed for the construction of the
Nature Center. It represented a unique contribution to the Camp of which we can all be proud.
Upon the death of a long-time Saginaw Rotary Club member, Max Heavenrich
Jr. in 1993, the Center was formally dedicated The Max Heavenrich, Jr. Nature Center in recognition of his outstanding contributions to our
Rotary Club.
Respectively submitted
William H Palmer
Thomas M. Murphy
Carl D. Hubinger
Warren C. Light
TRUSTEES
June 28, 1995