I'm still buzzing from the Ken Kramarz freylach last night at the San Francisco JCC. I'm sitting at the airport, awaiting a flight to chilly Boston and wanted to share some thoughts on the evening.

If you were there, please share yours too -- there were so many people to talk with and so little time!

It was my first time in the "new" SF JCC and my first thought was what a beautiful building they constructed on the site of the old one. Melinna remarked on how you weren't hit with the scent of the pool chlorine once you walked in -- on the contrary, upon entering the building you are struck by the grand sense of place that it has become.

I don't know how many people attended, but it looked like several hundred, representing all different eras of camp. Kenny Colvin, the official "oldest" camper was there and gave a loving tribute to camp and to Ken, as were board members from throughout the ages.

There were moving speeches given by Diane Stern, Judy Edelson and others and Syd did a phenomenal job as M.C.

In addition to paying tribute to Ken's 25 years of stewardship of camp, the highlight of the evening for me was seeing former staff members and campers from the past quarter century of camp.

For me, as for many, camp was a defining moment in the direction of our lives, and it was so wonderful seeing the people who participated in that transformation. As Rabbi Andrew Davids so eloquently put it, "If I had to point to one experience that influenced the future direction of my life, it was camp."

What a memorable evening it was!

For those who weren't there to join us, or for those who want to keep the party going, we have a special reunion weekend planned at camp this fall.

Once again, we're going to close down the camp season with fun, family and freylach at the Second Annual Tawonga Alumni Reunion.

Mark your calendars now. It's October 13-15, 2006.

For more information, see http://www.tawonga.org/wf_alumni.html

Love,

Steve Gershik
Tawonga Alumni Association President & Current Tawonga Board Member