ed: A repost from the Rev. Bob Murray, Executive Director of Camp Sumatanga.
How Did We Get Here?
July 1,
2009
In the mid to late 1990’s Camp incurred substantial debt for the construction of the Retreat Center and McKinney-Atkins Building. At least one major fund-raising attempt was made and another planned. The second attempt was aborted because it was determined that it would probably interfere with the requests for funding of the United Methodist Conference Center at Birmingham-Southern. Through various donations and from operating revenues Camp has paid this debt down to approximately $750,000.
For most of its years Camp has not had sufficient funds to adequately maintain our facilities. We started a campaign (called The Psalm 16 Campaign) in 2007 to raise funds ($4,850,000) for much needed capital improvements: for restorations to the Pool Camp facilities and to the Lodge; for expansion of the waste water treatment capacity; for paying off the indebtedness; and for starting an endowment to help defray some future maintenance costs. As of June 30, 2009, we have received approximately $1,500,000 in pledges on this campaign.
Since 2000 residential use of Camp has fallen over 30%. In 2008 we had 30% fewer camper nights (heads in bed) than we had in 2000. We believe that this loss of customers was in part because of the result of lack of hospitality, unappetizing meals and unclean facilities. In the past 18 months we have addressed these issues and have taken corrective actions to assure that our guests feel welcomed, enjoy the meals and stay in clean facilities. We have made major strides in changing the attitude and culture here.
We have implemented a business plan that involves aggressive marketing of camp to churches and other groups, but most of the fruit from that effort will not be realized until 2010 since most of the groups that we have attracted are planning several months in advance. The worldwide recession has had a devastating impact on our bookings with many of our longstanding groups canceling their events. In the meanwhile, our expenses are continuing.
Many churches from this Annual Conference never use Camp Sumatanga. Others rarely use it. Some come for day events exclusively. Essentially, we cannot survive if our churches do not use our camp for overnight events.
Facing this disastrous combination of events we have asked the churches of the North Alabama Conference to receive a special offering toward helping us raise $300,000, which we believe will make it possible for us to remain in operations through the end of 2009. As of June 30, 2009 we have received over $162,000 at Camp and we understand that additional funds are currently being held at the Conference Treasurer’s Office. However, this infusion of cash will not save Sumatanga by itself. We must also have more groups come to camp and spend nights in our facilities. If we the people of the United Methodist Church are not going to use it, we don’t need to save it.
If I may provide additional information, please contact me at (256) 538-9860.
Rev. Bob Murray
Executive Director
Sumatanga
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