Holiday Message from the President
December 20, 2023
Thank you for believing in ACA, New England and stepping up when we needed you. New fundraising initiatives are exciting and scary at the same time. However, when the community blows the goal out of the water by 30% like you all did with Giving Tuesday, those feelings quickly shift to pride and gratitude. If you haven’t done so yet, please consider donating to the ACA, New England Annual Fund to help increase our impact. More donations means more support for camp professionals to attend high-quality, educational programs.
Towards the end of the year, we often reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. Much like a summer at camp, this year has been a rollercoaster of emotions complete with moments of pure joy and times of feeling utterly lost.
As President of ACA, New England, it brought me pure joy to see camp professionals attend their first New England Camp Conference thanks to money raised as part of the Fund for the Future in honor of Bette Bussel. I also sincerely enjoyed celebrating Betsy Kelder at the Conference for her dedicated years of service, unwavering commitment, and Presidential leadership to our organization during some tough times.
In moments when I felt lost throughout the year, I’d often turn to my New England network to feel the positivity or love, to seek valuable guidance, or to just feel heard when I needed to feel heard. I encourage everyone to continue coming together as an industry, as a community, and as a family. If you ever feel lost or alone, know we see, hear you, and we are here for you. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out.
Our work in camping is never done, and that applies to our Association too. We are still committed to delivering high-quality programs, providing excellent service, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to you, the ACA, New England Member. From the highs to the lows and the transitions in between, no matter what is going on in the world, we are here for you.
Now, I have two asks.
We know we are stronger when we open our table and invite folks who have diverse experiences and opinions to sit and share. To that end, our Board of Directors is looking for professionals from all walks of life, whether from the camping industry or beyond, to join our table. Please take a moment to think about who should join our Board. If you are that person or know that person, please fill out this nomination form by January 5th. If you have questions about this, contact me or Michele.
Finally, it’s an honor to acknowledge great programs and industry leaders with our annual awards. Please take a moment to review the list of New England Awards and nominate someone or an organization. Celebrating success, recognizing contributions, and sharing gratitude are foundational to who we are, and it’s our privilege to acknowledge those who make our industry better.
From my family to yours, we extend our warmest hugs and best wishes for the upcoming holiday season with hopes and dreams for an incredible and awe-inspiring 2024.
Ian
Ian Moorhouse
President, Board of Directors
ACA, New England