The Camp Sertoma Club of NC, VA & MD

DURHAM - John Edward Graham died November 7, 2008, at home in the presence of his family and priest. He was born February 28, 1927, in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of Sophie Kloeckler and John Freeman Graham.

John joined the Navy at an early age and served in the Pacific during World War II on the USS Orleck. He lived and worked in Winston-Salem and in New Jersey for Western Electric and Bell Labs and for W.A. Brown Instruments as a sales engineer and received annual recognitions as an outstanding salesman. He moved to Durham in 1972. After retiring in 1992, John embraced many new challenges as a church and community volunteer.

He was a Scout leader both in Winston Salem and in Durham, received the St. George Scouting award and was a Vigil Life member in the Order of the Arrow in WAHISSA Lodge.

At Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Durham, John became affectionately known as “Papa John.” He taught preschoolers in Sunday school and worked with youth seeking to be confirmed.

John’s passion for politics started at the age of 13 handing out Wendell Willkie buttons. The Durham County Republican party honored John recently as its 2008 Man of the Year. Involvement in the Durham Sertoma Club was another highlight in John’s life. Twice he received the Sertoman of the Year award and was a member of Sertoma International. During many summers, John offered leadership to Camp Sertoma’s Deaf Camp. In 1996, John became actively involved in Friends of State Parks as a member, board member and most recently as a two-term president of the board. On the day before he died, state parks officials and rangers visited John and presented him with service awards including the Old North State Award.

John is survived by his wife, Dorothy Burns Graham; his children,

Cynthia La Jeunesse of Hermosa Beach, Calif., John Charles Graham of Greenville, Donna Graham of Winston-Salem; stepchildren Scottie Seawell of Carrboro; Malcolm Seawell of Denver Colo.; Mary Ashley Seawell of Denver Colo.; grandchildren Stephanie Stewart, Caroline Graham, Erin Boyle, Rachel Boyle, Lauren Boyle, Hallie Ferguson, Annie Ferguson, Evelyn Ferguson, Will Seawell, Cole Seawell, Macallan Seawell; and sisters, Jeanette Landgraf of Silsbee, TX and Mary Callahan of Columbia S.C.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered 10:00 AM Saturday, November 15, 2008, from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Dan McLellan, OFM, presiding.

Friends may visit Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home.

Memorial gifts may be made to North Carolina Friends of State Parks, PO Box 37655, Raleigh, N.C. 27627, www.ncfsp.org, or to Immaculate Conception Church youth program.

On-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries.

Arrangements for the Graham family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.

The Tar Heel club will graciously host another meeting of the Camp Sertoma Club on January 24, 2009.

Honor Roll of Donors
Donations Received January - September 2008

Chesapeake Bay District
Alexandria
Frederick Evening
Fredericktowne
District Total $3,750

Doug Council District
Capital City
James E. Shepard
Jubilee
Meridian
Raleigh
Tar Heel
Wilmington
District Total $11,100

Henry C. Carter District
Bill Parker of Charlotte
Charlotte Hornet’s Nest/NC Endowment
Greensboro
Old Salem
Winston Salem
Yadkinville
District Total $7,740

A heartfelt thank you to the clubs that have donated. May we add your club to the list? Mail check, to Clutch Coverdale, Treasurer, 604 Clearfield Ave., Chesapeake, VA 23320

Dear Sertoma member and/or friend of Sertoma Deaf Camp:
 
You’re invited to enjoy fun weekend at Camp Sertoma of North Carolina.  For more information, please see the attached flyer.
 
Two new elements to the high ropes course were introduced this past summer — the giant swing and the flying squirrel.  Those who are brave enough can attempt them.
 
Please share this information with your club members.  Bring a friend with you.
 
Hope to see you there!
 
John Kelly
Chair, Sertoma Deaf Camp of NC Committee

Food Lion “Shop and Share”

This one time effort will pay dividends forever! Show your MVP card to receive their special prices and a portion of the MVP purchase will be paid quarterly to the Camp Sertoma Club. 

• Go to www.foodlion.com 
• Lion Shop & Share
• Just for coordinators 
• MVP registrations forms (print out copies)   Get info from friends, family, church members, everyone, etc.    Fill in the 12 digit MVP #, name and phone number  
• Then go back to;
• Lion shop and share 
• Register MVP card 
• Select Organization
• Select NC 
• Select Raleigh 
• Select Camp Sertoma Club 
• Select Add my MVP cards 
• Enter 12 digit MVP #, name & phone number= YOU ARE DONE

Download the Food Lion Fundraiser instructions. If you have any questions please contact Jeff Cape at jeffrey299@aol.com.

Thanks,

Janis Henderson-Hunsucker
Webmaster

The camp club July newsletter was just emailed out minutes ago. It is my first newsletter and I hope it went out without a hitch. Please download it or view it on the newsletters page.

Janis
Camp Club Secretary

Fun Weekend 2008 September 19-21, 2008
At Sertoma 4-H Educational Center - Westfield, NC

The Fun Weekend is a treat to thank Sertomans (and non-Sertomans) for all their contributions to the success of Sertoma Deaf Camp.  Come and enjoy the relaxing environment and the fellowship with other Sertomans.  It is also a great way to introduce new members to our multi-state sponsorship, Camp Sertoma of North Carolina. Bring the family if you’d like (but leave the pets behind; sorry, pets are not allowed on state property.) And maybe think about bringing a new club member from your hometown who hasn’t been exposed to Camp Sertoma yet. Here’s some activities to choose from:

· Swimming
· Canoeing
· Ropes Course (including the flying squirrel & giant swing)
· Gaming
· Food, fun and fellowship
· Porch sitting (our favorite activity at Camp)

Bring your own towels, bed linens, snacks, sodas, and adult beverages. We’ll provide the meals starting with dinner on Friday and ending with breakfast on Sunday.  Saturday night will include entertainment and silent auctions, raffles, and games to raise money for camper scholarships and other needs.  Bring an item to raffle or auction.

Please reply to John Kelly if you have any questions or to sign up. Please note the names of attendees, nights lodging is needed and whether you have a preference of a cabin or a room in Cheshire Hall (the “hotel”), and meals you plan to eat. We would like to have a head count no later than September 12th so the activities and meals can be planned accordingly.

NOTE: The Sertoma Deaf Camp Committee will meet at 8:30 am on Saturday, September 20th. The Camp Sertoma Club of NC/VA/MD will meet at 9:30 a.m. or immediately following the committee meeting.  Interested Sertomans and non-Sertomans are invited to attend.

Download the flyer to post at your next club meeting: Fun Weekend 2008

Dear Sertoma Deaf Camp Committee Member:

The 2008 Sertoma Deaf Camp is now in the record book.   By any measure, it was a rousing success.  Approximately 80 children enjoyed a marvelous experience this past week, and you’ll learn more about it at our next meeting in September.  Thank you to everyone on the committee for the roles you played in making it happen.   

Many, many thanks to Maggie Blehm, the Summer Camp Director, for all of the long hours and hard work she put into planning the camp.  Her thorough preparation was clearly evident during this past week as everything ran smoothly.  The children just adore her and it’s not hard to understand why.  She truly has a gift for working with youth.  We’re very fortunate to have her working for “our” kids.

Maggie assembled a wonderful and talented staff of counselors this year.    All of them possessed tremendous enthusiasm and intellect.    All of them demonstrated a love of working with children.   How else does one explain their wlllingness to carry children piggyback up and down the trail to Hanging Rock?

Thank you, also, to Michael Hoffman for hiring outstanding interpretive counselors and sign language interpreters.  He must be doing something right to persuade an interpreter to drive all the way from Atlanta just to work a half week.  Michael was also busy doing whatever was needed — whether interpreting, driving a van, taking care of the needs of a child. 

Thank you to Sandy Waterman for the long hours she expended in receiving registrations and assuring all of the paperwork was completed for each camper.   Sandy also volunteered during camp week teaching the children proper horsemanship.

Thank you to Ray Clarke for an excellent job of supervising the transportation of the campers, and to the volunteer drivers who made it happen.  I can say that for the first time ever, in all of my years of transporting children to and from the camp, this year was the first time I actually had to wait for the parents at the last delivery stop, instead of running as much as an hour behind schedule.    Credit also goes to Maggie and her staff in helping to make this possible by giving priority checkout to the children riding back on the vans.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered in whatever capacity this past week.  I will not name names for fear of forgetting someone. 

Last, but not least, let’s thank Sertoma 4-H Center Director Keith Russell for his overall leadership and to North Carolina 4-H for providing us with an excellent facility, top notch kitchen and maintenance staff, and an outstanding educational and recreational program. 

Sincerely,

John Kelly

Chair, Sertoma Deaf Camp Committee

This month’s Henry C. Carter District Newsletter is now available Read about the District Leadership Conference held at Sertoma 4-H Center.

Janis Henderson-Hunsucker

On Monday, June 16th 2008 the Fifth Third Financial Literacy Classroom was dedicated. Camp received a check for $50,000 to pay for the construction of the classroom.