Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-07-23
Regional
Views
BY Richard Gosser
Vice-President
International UAW-ClO

This week will deviate from the regular
column style and confne this writing as an
open letter to readers of this column.
Dear Union Workers:
This is for touch on your pocket book so
before tossing this letter in the waste basket
why not read on and get the facts why we
need and are trying to raise 100000 for the
operation and expansion of the Boys and Girls
Local IL Summer Camp.
Next week another group of 225 boys will
vacation for two week period and August
will be taken over by the girls at Sand Lake.
Did you ever stop to think of the expenses
involved in providing accommodations, care
and recreational facilities for these youngsters
to give them an enjoyable period and to help
build up their bodies and make good citizens
of them?
Let me summarize it briefly; with 225
youngsters at the camp it takes a cook and
seven assistants to satisfy the youngsters ap-
petites with nutritious food. Believe me- after
spending day out in the fresh open air,
swimming and active in recreation, you can
really work up an appetite. Come out and try
it sometime by spending a Sunday at the
camp. For visitors there are picnic benches
located in spacious sections of the camp near
the lake. Visitors are welcome and it is not
necessary to have a youngster at the camp in
order to gain admittance.
In visiting you will see the youngsters
under competent counselors, 70 all total a
recreation director, swimming instructor and
a program director all on full time to keep
the youngsters busy all day long In the even
ing there is boating or fishing. Included in the
program is handicraft work so they may have
the opportunity to learn something worth
while.
To accommodate that many youngsters it \
was necessary to add twelve more cabins to
make it total of twenty five. This, of course,
required lumber, labor and other material.
The expansion was decided on after receiving
a large number of reservations in fact a
larger number than could be accommodated
at that time.
It must be remembered that to equip the
cabins it was necessary to purchase beds and
bedding and that takes money There are nine
youngsters in each cabin with a senior coun-
sellor being with them "a hours day.
When engaged in any activity the young
sters are constantly being looked out for either
by director or instructor of particular ac-
tivity. Just in case of injury there are two
special nurses on duty "a hours and doctor ;.
on immediate call. This assures the parents of
guidance and no need for any worry.
The kitchen requirements include deep
freezer, refrigerator, electric stove and other
machinery for cutting meats. In addition, kit
chen help is extended to young men helping
the cooks.
1t was further agreed upon by the Board
of Governors that a Pavilion 40x80 feet be
built and that it would have a dock leading
from same so that the guests could bathe in
beautiful Sand Lake and would have accom-
modations to change their Clothes locker
space etc. Also in the Pavilion, to serve hot
sandwiches and coffee at very nominal fee.
This can be done for our visiting guests on
Sundays.
Next time you have camp solicitor ask
you for donation give it some thought and, 1.
visualize some youngster who because of his -
costs at other camps has the opportunity t.
spend two weeks at the Local IL Summer
Camp which is getting established as the finest
camp in this part of the country.
Fraternally yours,
Richard Gosser