Greetings from Harold

Written by Harold Weinman Wednesday, 21 September 2011 18:23

For those of you who did not visit Tranquillity this past visiting day, you missed a day filled with activity and splendor. Friends of Tranquillity Camp members volunteered by serving lunch and at many of the activities that went on during the day. We had vehicles, driven by our volunteers, that helped all the parents and friends go all around camp. They helped the grandmas and grandpas make it easier to visit with their grandchildren. Later on in the afternoon, our famous free ice cream stand was open. What a great job by our volunteers! It’s not easy scooping a thousand ice cream cups for our hungry visitors.

My thanks to Justin Petit, who is a one man show. He barbequed for over a thousand people. Justin told me that it was a cooking record for him, as he did all of that in an hour and a half. Great job to Justin, Harvey Benjamin and all the TY friends who volunteered!

I’m always so amazed when I speak to the parents who are visiting Tranquillity for the first time. These parents are so surprised to see how large the grounds are, how beautiful the bunks are and how the grounds are so well maintained with their beautiful gardens. Our thanks of course go out to Richard Lawrence and Richard Lerner, who are constantly preserving Tranquillity Camp. It takes many man hours and lots of paint, nails and care to make sure that Tranquillity stays as beautiful as it has been in its 94 years of existence.

Next year, the Friends of Tranquillity Camp will be celebrating its 60^th Anniversary. This is quite an achievement. I am so proud to be Chairman of our organization. I follow my dear friend, Nat Menis, in this job. Nat was one of the founding members of our group. Nat and Debbie Menis, along with Pearl and Henry Miller, made sure that the Alumni were always a success. They worked 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ensuring that our organization would thrive. I am so honored to let you know that the Alumni, now called Friends of Tranquillity Camp, is a strong group consisting of 700 families who are responsible for the building of many of our major projects through the years such as: new bunks, Olympic swimming pools, our magnificent dining room, our huge sports center and so many other projects. These achievements are all due to the finances which were contributed by you, the membership. And again, a big thanks (boom-chick-a-boom).

This upcoming year, 2012, Friends of Tranquillity Camp will be celebrating our 60^th anniversary with a Casino Night at the elegant Carltun at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County on Saturday, March 10^th. This event will coincide with the 94^th anniversary of Tranquillity Camp. The cost of this affair is still $300 a couple. You can sell ads in our journal and apply up to $100 towards the cost of two tickets. Contact the people you do business with on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis, for example, your cleaners, hair salon, and favorite restaurants, and sell ads. This event is a blast, offering great food, great music and a professionally run casino. You can win LCD TV’s, iPods and many other great gifts by purchasing raffles and participating in our casino games. Call your friends and start putting together a table. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call me at home at 718-468-0514. Save the date!

I’m delighted to welcome Wendy Seslowsky to our Board of Directors. Wendy is a dedicated worker for our organization. Her love for Tranquillity will make her an important member of Friends of Tranquillity Camp. She has been a significant part of the Florida Chapter, ensuring that it is a success.

In closing, my sincere thanks to our President and the board members for their constant help all year round. My gratitude to our financial secretary, Alan Newmark, and his wife Robin for keeping our books. A special thanks to our directors, Richie and Ira, who make sure that every child who comes to that special place in Earlton, NY has a great summer and will not only enjoy all the wonderful activities but also learn the true meaning of noblesse oblige. Thank you to all of our members for your financial contributions.

On behalf of my family, I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!