Where Credit is DueMany of you have got a call or an e-mail from meover the past few weeks.Here’s why: While clicking around the World WideWeb last fall I stumbled across a Facebookdiscussion group page created by Paul Cantin. It’sdedicated to Camp Stephens alumni, aptly namedCamp Stephens Alumni Carbon Dating Society.

After clicking through the dozens of photos Paul,Don Cochrane and others had posted, I soon added

my own. In the following days I hooked up with oldfriends, good friends, who I haven’t seen or spoken toin more than 20 years.

Then I started looking for folks who hadn’t yetsigned on to Paul’s page, with the intent of creatinganother venue for alumni-alumnae to get in contactwith one another, and to pass on whatever newsothers and I could scrape up.

The result is this. I’m keeping it as simple as I can soeveryone can open it without having to buy newsoftware. My hope is that you send it to others so thise-mail contact list keeps growing. Please send alumnie-mail contacts to campstephensalumni@yahoo.caand I’ll keep track of them.

This is purely a way for us to touch base with oneanother. Nothing more.

You also have the e-mails I’ve collected, many ofthem with the help of other alumni. My hope is youuse them, too, to touch base with someone youhaven’t seen in a while. It’s well worth the effort.

Using FacebookBesides Paul, Perry McGregor also has a Facebookgroup page, dedicated to Trail staff and a possiblereunion in 2013, the 50th anniversary year of thewilderness canoe program.

Facebook is easy to use as many of you alreadyknow. You control your privacy settings to your owncomfort level. In my case, it runs on my computer allthe time, much like an e-mail application. It’s open toonly my friends, who I approve.

Facebook also allows you to add photos and video, asPaul and Perry’s sites attest. It’s also a great way to“talk” to one another and pass on information, likethe lyrics to that old camp favourite, "The Fuhrer'sBack In Town".

You can also find similar pages on myspace.com:(This is where you turn your computer speakers up)

http://www.myspace.com/scottmichaelplace

http://www.myspace.com/soundersongs

As long as there is interest I will also send outperiodic bulletins and former Camp Stephens staff,and quick hits like this:

- Steve Wright and Eileen Askew are currentlyliving in Germany with their children whileSteve takes a break from teaching.

- Paul Jordan is responsible for creating theworld’s longest ice skating rink at The Forks inWinnipeg.

- Linda MacIntosh is currently, one half-day aweek, creating a Camp Stephens archive at the“Y” in west Winnipeg. She says some of thematerial goes back to the 1800s. She’s foundsome video, too.

- David Wright is media lawyer who representsthe Winnipeg Free Press, a chore that drives himfreaking nuts dealing with brain-dead reporters.

- Elske Hildes-Ripstein wins the award for themost impressive Google hits.

- Dave Colborne lives in Windsor, Ont. With hisfamily. He teaches guitar and sails as often as hecan.

You get the point.

Again, I’ll do the best I can to keep track of things,but for this to work it has to go both ways. Your ideas and comments are vital. I’ll put togethershort bulletins as stories come up, but if you know ofsomething alumni or camp-related or want to help meout, please let me know. Simply, mine is only one voice (1977-83), and it’simportant others are heard. Ideally, I’d like to sendsomething out a few times a year. There are a couple of more ideas in the works, butmore on that later. I also need more e-mails. I have more than 100, butneed help tracking others like Louis Molgat and BigJohn’s and anyone else you can think.

Open House @ StephensIt’s the last Saturday in May. It’s a chance to visitcamp, if your kid is registered, for a couple ofminutes before they herd you off the island. You have to be in Kenora at 9:30 a.m. to meet atWharf A. Camp staff will then take you to the island.A yummy buffet lunch is served.

Alumni Work Weekend

It’s tentatively scheduled for the early fall. If anyonewants to go out, let me know. Maybe a group of uscan get together, take our kids out so they can runwild and we can be put to work. Thankfully, there areno more composting toilets to clean out. Once a date is set I’ll send out a note to see if there’sany interest. Two people are already on-board. I’ll also find out if the “no booze rule” will be lifted,not that it ever mattered anyway.

40th Anniversary Boys SixWeek

It’s in the summer of 2009. At this point nothing isplanned. The question is, who is responsible forplanning something? Is it the “Y”, or should formertrippers be involved? Seems to me the answer is inthe question. There is a list of former trippers from the 80s andphotos of other recent trips posted on Paul andPerry’s FB sites. More photos and information issure to come in the weeks and months ahead.

A Light From Many FiresOf the alumni I’ve contacted all agreed to beinvolved in this little project. I think it’s a pretty safebet everyone’s curious to see what will come of it.Me, too. The reason is simple, I figure: We still care. Alwayswill.

“Life is short and we do have too much time togladden the hearts of those who travel the way withus. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

Bruce Owencampstephensalumni@yahoo.ca