Program Continues to Benefit from Partnerships
Confidence Learning Center is not the organizer of activities such as the Fishing Has No Boundaries Event which closes out the summer season. However, the partnership with the FHNB chapter has allowed two organizations with very similar interests and goals to mesh and create one of the outstanding events in the nation.  For instance, the February 2006 edition of Boating  Life featured a six page photo filled description of the Camp Confidence event of the previous year entitled "Catch of a Lifetime". If you missed that issue, it is available online at their website. To catch up with this year's event which was bigger and better than ever go the Brainerd Chapter Website.

Another exciting partnership program this fall is the upcoming Minnesota Fetal Alcohol Family retreat which will take place October 18th-21st.  All families whether they are adoptive or birth families with children affected by fetal alcohol are welcome to attend this gathering of their peers where several fun filled days of activities are provided.

This Winter CLC is the host site for the Region Five Special Olympics which has been held at CLC for at least 25 years.  This brings over 200 students from Central Minnesota together in a non-competitive atmosphere.  These winter sports may not be available to them at school or in their family setting and a good time is always had by all.  

Bob Slaybaugh would like to encourage anyone who has an idea about a partnership through church, family, business, etc. to work with people with developmental disabilities to contact him immediately.  The program at Confidence is so flexible that most partnerships will work.  Our donors perhaps do not realize that they are impacting such a wide variety of activities for people with developmental disabilities.  For instance, the cost of the FHNB activity would double for the Brainerd Chapter without the cooperation of Confidence Learning Center.

Karen Owen Receives Citizen of the Year Award
Long time volunteer and current Board President Karen Owen was recently selected for the honor of Brainerd Citizen of the Year.  If all the letters nominating Owen were laid end to end, it would cover a fair amount of real estate. The article in the Brainerd Dispatch quoted Executive Director Jeff Olson's contribution.

"Karen is a quiet, unassuming person with one of the biggest and most compassionate hearts in our Brainerd lakes community," wrote Jeff Olson, Confidence Learning Center executive director, in his nomination letter. "Her commitment of time spent volunteering not only to Confidence Learning Center but to our community is unsurpassed. There cannot be only 24 hours in a Karen Owen day!"  

Karen gives her her time to many causes besides Camp including Kinship Partners, Sertoma, Meals on Wheels, MBNA, American Cancer Society, and on and on.  Confidence Learning Center is proud to be a part of honoring this tremendous lady.

Karen is pictured below at a recent Board Meeting at Confidence Learning Center.  In her capacity as President of the Board she had two very special events to oversee.  Kevin Lockwood, who has been the hard working head of the maintenance department for twenty years was present to receive a very special present from Confidence Learning Center, an Old Henry Golden Boy Collector's 22.  The Board wanted to honor Kevin who has always been a quiet hard-working asset to Camp in a way that he would appreciate.  Karen also had the pleasure of accepting a check in the amount of $10,400 from John Tobie who represented the Bemidji Eagles.  Their Fall Extravaganza which benefits Confidence Learning Center was a huge success.  Pictured left to right are Board Member Jim Potvin, Karen Owen, Executive Director Jeff Olson, John Tobie, and Director Emeritus Dick Endres  The partnership between the Eagles and Camp continues to be a huge support for program. 




 

 

 

 

 

Rally Up North is Huge Success
The Rally Up North was held at the Old Waterfall Labor Day Weekend.  This event continues to grow each year and plans are underway to revamp the entire weekend.  The RUN will move to the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds next year to accommodate the growing number of participants.  The structure of the ride will be somewhat different according to the Rally Committee's preliminary ideas.  To keep up with what's new and different for next year, check their official website .  The committee recently presented a check for $5,000 to Executive Director Jeff Olson and Board Member Mark Korte on the left in the photo. The committee members are Jim Christensen, Bart Harmer, Aimee Spitzack, Eric Olson and Jesse Fossum.  One of the tremendous benefits of the R.U.N. is the amount of visitors it draws to our photo albums on the web site.  The week after the R.U.N. the official visitors numbers rose from a 2,300 average week to well over 11,000. All of these visitors have an opportunity to find out about Confidence Learning Center through the information included in the albums as well as a visit to the main site. Thank you Rally Up North!

Super Heroes Program
Helping CLC can be done in many ways such as buying a ticket for the Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Contest, donating your old car or boat for the Fall Auction, using your Famous Dave's Customer Loyalty Card for Confidence Learning Center (loyal customers have already added over $1,500 to the program budget), and now nominating a Super Hero!

Anytime Fitness has a national program to benefit the American Heart Association and local charities.  A business or individual can nominate a Super Hero and donate $100 which is divided between the American Heart Association and in the case of the Nisswa and Brainerd businesses, Confidence Learning Center.  The
nominee's certificate which stresses the ideals of courageous self sacrificing people who set an example for every one will be displayed at one of those stores.  This program shows that there is a little hero in everyone that keeps one honest, gives one strength, and make one noble.  CLC is proud to be a part of this program. For more information visit either the Brainerd or Nisswa location of Anytime Fitness

Outdoor Auction Results
The Annual Fall Auction was held on September 22nd with the largest turnout of bidders and buyers ever.  Proceeds amounted to about $17,000.  The Women of Today provided the lunch and many volunteers need to be thanked for their outstanding efforts.  Major items that attracted the crowd included vehicles, boats, and many antiques.  Two whole households of furniture and collectibles were donated this year.  CLC is already gearing up for next year's auction and is perfectly willing to help you with your fall clean-up.  Call Kevin Lockwood at 218-820-2258 for more information or to schedule a pick-up.
 
Rendezvous Update
The Rendezvous at Confidence Learning Center allows persons with developmental disabilities who live in nearby communities to come to CLC once a month for fellowship and fun.  Each monthly Rendezvous is centered around a theme and many of them are labeled active or passive depending on the skill levels of the participants.  Activities are varied on the basis of how mobile and reactive the participants are. November 8th is a passive activity entitled "Naturer's Recyclers".  Participants learn how Mother Nature takes care of the recycling problem and then learn some new uses for some old "junk".  A more active
approach to this will be taken at the November 15th session.  The Christmas Holiday party that includes a hayride, caroling, Santa Claus, cookies and dancing is scheduled for both groups on December 13th.    

Introducing the New Office Manager
The new voice you will hear on our telephone starting this month is that of Diane Eksten.  Diane is a native born member of the East Gull Lake Community.  In fact, she lives on the family farm that her father homesteaded.  Her background as a receptionist and bookkeeper for a local plastics industry for many years will serve her well in her new capacity.  She has three grown children and many grandchildren.  Diane is looking forward to meeting the Campers and settling in to her new job.
  
Mary's Help Wanted Corner
• Wanted outdoors groups who are willing to work on the mountains of firewood created by the huge storm this winter.
• Much needs to be done by November 1st. Saw, haul, pile and work in our great outdoor environment!
• Our Rendezvous in November and December are very hands on and can use extra volunteers.  See the dates and descriptions above and call Mary at 218-828-2344 to get involved in these fun activities.
• Tired of staring at your own garage or basement walls as you work on projects?  CLC has many challenging repair activities that will satisfy that handyman urge in any guy or gal.  If you like working with tools and helping a good cause at the same time join the CLC Tool Time Crew!

Board Attends Retreat
In an effort to step back and examine board policies the very busy and active members of the Confidence Learning Center Board took the time to organize a half-day Board Retreat on September 21, 2007. Presenter was Jeanne Murphy who is a CU Growth Strategist with Strategic Solutions.

Charter School News
The Confidence Learning Center partnered with the organizers of the Backus Charter School this past year and acted as their sponsor in their application to the State Department of Education to begin their school in 2008.  This partnership would have involved the students adopting Camp as their community service project as well as utilizing Camp facilities for some outdoor recreation projects.  The application did not pass the State and the future of the charter school is in question at this time.  Thanks to Reed Campbell for heading up the committee that worked with the charter school group.