Friends of TY Updates

Greetings from Alan Abramson

Written by Alan Abramson Thursday, 13 October 2011 16:27

Dear Tranquillity-ites:

Tempus fugit! Time marches on! This is how Pearl would begin many of her conversations and addresses to us. Despite the fact that we may associate Pearl with an old fashioned, bygone era, she was always looking to the future. Those of us who were fortunate enough to work with her in our adult lives would marvel at how quickly a good idea became a tradition at Camp or with the Alumni. Whether it was teaching timeless values about giving back and living together, or whether she was encouraging us to raise money to perpetuate Tranquillity Camp, it was always about building stronger people, financial stability and core beliefsfor the future. The “past” helps us build a great future bygiving us a contrast between the traditional and new while providing a solid foundation of values and experiences for the future.

This week, several events occurred that have helped illustrate to me that dwelling on the past is only important if it helps us build a brighter future for ourselves and those we care about. Together with many Tranquillity Friends, I attended the Jan Cohen Memorial Foundation Annual Golf Outing. Collectively, we support this event together with many friends of Jan’s family, and in return, the Foundation makes a substantial financial contribution to the Friends of Tranquillity Camp. Paul and his children Robin, Stacy, Andrew and Bruce do an extraordinary job of organizing and hosting the event. With Paul & Jan’s grandchildren as current campers, they are truly a Tranquillity family of the past, present and future. To them and to our “Friends” volunteers who manned the contest holes, thank you for your effort and continuing inspiration. I cannot imagine a greater tribute to our special friend Jan. This event is only 3 years old and growing. It is new but traditional. It is building to an even more successful future while it helps us ensure ours. I urge you to monitor the website and join us next year. Play golf or just join us for dinner. It is a distinctly Tranquillity experience.

Whenever Tranquillity-ites gather, we tell stories about when we were kids, and reminisce about childhood friends and our Tranquillity experiences. I am always surprised about how some of us remain traumatized or at least indignant over some meaningless incident or misspoken word when we were campers, or by some recent misunderstood words. Inappropriate behavior should never be tolerated, but our record of success and longevity should speak for itself. All of us deserve the benefit of the doubt because our mission is bigger than any one individual or act, and we all work for a great present and even better future.In the spirit of the high holidays, let me issue a collective apology to all who feel wronged in any way, so that we can all move forward and do whatever it takes to become a contributor to this great organization. Contributing to the development of deservingchildren is a higher calling for a better future.

As another means to a better present and even better future, I am pleased to announce that we are ready to take new steps toward growing our progress in social media. Our website has been an important start but we need to look into Facebook, Twitter, Constant Contact and other forms of electronic community development. We are looking for volunteersof any age to deal with content, updates and planning new services. If there are high school students, college students, recent graduates or young professionals with the skill and time to contribute, we will designate them as formal unpaid interns, replete with recommendation letters and real experience. This is not only a great way to stay close to Tranquillity but it is a surefire resume builder as well.

Happy New Year from me, Alice and our family to yours. May your year be full of happiness, good health, prosperity and Tranquillity. Yours in Noblesse Oblige,

                                                                                                Alan

Dateline Earlton

Written by Richard Lerner Friday, 23 September 2011 12:37

The 93^rd summer of Tranquillity Camp has successfully concluded.  Campers are back at school, counselors have returned to high school and college, and the countdown to 2012 has already begun.  I want to congratulate each one of the counselors for helping to make the summer of 2011 extraordinary.  I also want to thank the alumni, who have given their time and energy to guarantee that Tranquillity Camp remains a unique and rewarding experience for all the children who have been fortunate enough to attend.

On Alumni/Visiting Weekend this summer, dozens of former campers and counselors came from all over the country to reunite at TY.  Saturday evening, our invited Alumni and special guests saw a fabulous “Broadway Review” presented by the Tranquillity Players in the Pearl C. Miller Sports Center.  Later that evening, after the children returned to their houses, we were all treated to a sumptuous buffet in the Dining Room.   It was a pleasure to see so many parents, former campers and staff.  We all had a great day on Sunday, as parents and Alumni visited with their children and enjoyed our beautiful camp.  My sincere thanks and appreciation to all the Alumni, who worked so tirelessly to make the weekend a success.

Throughout the summer, I received numerous calls from past Tranquillity-ites wishing us well and wanting to visit.  It is obvious to us all what an impact Tranquillity has had on our lives.  TY was not just a summer home to so many, but a place where our characters were developed - first under the guidance of Elias A. Cohen, and, for most of us, by the incredible influence of Pearl Miller.  Although Pearl has been gone for eight years, we are dedicated to carrying on in her name.  She remains the guiding light for camp and will continue to be an inspiration to us all.

I would like to thank all who have helped to ensure that Tranquillity Camp remains in perpetuity as Mr. Cohen and Pearl wished. The Cohen Family, The Elias A. Cohen Foundation, The Charles Cohn Foundation, The Schlang Foundation and The Friends of Tranquillity Camp have dedicated themselves to this effort. As we continue to flourish, it is the responsibility of all of us to lend a hand to Tranquillity.  Our mission since 1919 has been to help deserving children.  Whether in financial hardships, from broken homes, or for a host of other reasons, it is our obligation to help.  This past summer we continued our program with the military. We were privileged to have twenty wonderful children from all over New York State whose fathers or mothers are members of the Armed Forces.  These brave men and women had been put in harm’s way serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our mission requires a great effort from anyone whose life has been touched by Tranquillity.  Please support our goals and help wherever you can; whether through financial donations or contributions of goods or services, there are many ways to help. Parents, ask your children what “Noblesse Oblige” means.  Our obligation is the continuance of Tranquillity Camp for our children and future generations.

Sherrie and I look forward to seeing you at the Casino Night this coming March, the Tranquillity Camp Reunion, as well as Alumni/Visiting Day 2012.  Best regards to you and your family for a healthy and happy new year.

Richard

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!

3rd Annual Jan Cohen Memorial Golf Outing - Oct. 3rd, Glen Head CC

Written by Elisa Spiegel Wednesday, 29 June 2011 16:04

It's that time again.  Come join us for a fun-filled day of Golf or Mah Jongg, great food, prizes, friends, auction, fun.
Make note of the date and rain date, get your 4 somes together and register soon.  Keep the love going and music playing.  We look forward to seeing you in October.  Have a great summer.  Be sure to contact me for Sponsorship opportunities.
Best regards,
Paul and the family