This issue’s spotlight on the Board of Directors of Camp Mohawk is its President, Morgan (Beverly) Carpenter. Morgan is a member of a three-generation Mohawk family: her mother, Suanne (Doza) Beverly, Morgan and her younger sister, Glenn (whose daughter, Rylee went to camp for about five years; Glenn for nine years) and Morgan’s twin daughters, Savannah and Grace. Morgan stated that “my mom instilled Mohawk in us,” singing camp songs and talking of Camp as far back as Morgan can remember. Her mother was best friends in elementary school in Norwalk, CT, with Bonnie (Smyth) Heudorfer and they attended Mohawk together. Morgan was seven in her first year at camp and returned for eleven years. Her daughters broke Morgan’s record this year by attending and working at camp for twelve years and they are proud of that! They consciously aimed to beat their mom’s record. As Morgan put it, her husband, Jason whom she met in college is not “of the camp world,” but has grown to accept that Mohawk is a part of life in the Carpenter household. Both Morgan and her sister are planning to attend the upcoming Pumpkin Fest.
Morgan was born and grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, where she still lives but she came to Camp every year often delaying her flight back to Southern Florida due to storms and hurricanes. She would arrive back home on Sunday and begin school on Monday. Morgan graduated with a B.S. in Construction Management and has stayed in that field focusing on high-end residential new construction. She loves her work.
Morgan’s daughters are identical twins and sophomores in college, Savannah at The University of Alabama and Grace at Louisiana State University. Although she lives in Florida, for the past two years, Morgan has been spending more and more time at the house she and her husband purchased in Goshen, CT. That’s right - near Mohawk! Morgan is focused on making the community around Camp aware that Mohawk is there. Morgan is somewhat amazed that the people who live around camp don’t even know it’s there. She is trying to “grow community involvement” by spreading the word that there is “a magical place” nearby. She believes that tapping resources of the community through articles and advertisements about special events such as Pumpkin Fest, will help ensure the longevity of Camp for another one hundred years.
Morgan began at camp in the 1980s at a time when enrollment was low, and Mohawk was actually struggling to survive. The Utes and Seniors units were closed. Morgan was in the same cabin, Cabin 7, for three years with the same five campers and the same counselor, Alison Poole, who ran the waterfront. From there, these same campers all moved to Oscadees and were CITs together. This is certainly not the norm for most Mohawkers, but it worked then as there were less campers.
Morgan then became a CIT (with Fran Marchand as CIT Director) and a JC in 1994, her final year at camp but what a year! She and a girlfriend who worked in the office lived in a Utes cabin. She was never a cabin counselor and “loved campers but loved not living with them.” She remained in the Utes cabin doing tasks not usually associated with being a JC. Staff was limited and although Morgan was teaching volleyball and waterfront activities, Fran said to her, “I need a Program Director.” Seriously? This was another leaner time at camp and staff members wore many different hats. Morgan was not officially Program Director but performed a myriad of the duties associated with the role. Morgan described Fran as having “a wealth of knowledge.” He taught Morgan elements of leadership that she has carried with her to this day. In her unofficial Program Director position, she planned the all-camp, weekly, and evening activities as well as the closing ceremonies. She also organized weekend activities and made announcements. She has remained good friends with Fran who gave her opportunities and “unlimited building blocks of life.” There were “people in her corner who formed me into the person I am today.” These people kept Mohawk going.
1994 was Morgan’s favorite year at Camp. “I had freedom and great responsibility. Someone saw it in me.” That someone was Fran. (This writer has heard this same sentiment from many current Board members!) Morgan knew the entire Marchand family from her childhood and all the children played together at Camp for years. Patrick Marchand became “a tremendous asset” and the Marchand and Carpenter families are still very close today. A little trivia is in order here. This writer recently spoke with MJ Curtin May (who was a CIT with Suanne). MJ said she was pretty sure that it was Morgan’s mom who introduced the much-loved song “Barges” to Camp. Morgan verified it. Morgan doesn’t recall it being sung while she was a camper, but it was brought back (thanks, Morgan) while she was a CIT. I am certain I can speak for many alumni when I say that this song means more than can be expressed. It remains today as one of those songs that represents Camp and has been sung to countless infants and young children by alumni when new mothers or aunts. Sadly, Suanne has passed away, but we remember her with love and now with gratitude when we sing “Barges.”
Morgan has been a Board member for eight years. Fran asked her to join and at the time, Morgan was the youngest member. She championed technology that has come to be standard, such as videoconferencing, making it possible for the Board to meet while not in the same room. This, of course, came in handy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Morgan was the Vice President and she became President this past February, starting a two-year term. Morgan says she enjoys the work and that she has “volunteered my whole life”. This has included helping the Junior League and the PTA for a number of years. Being on the Board “is a blessing to me.” She states that camp is a special place and her Board work is how to “give back and see camp thrive”.
Tapping into the Litchfield County community is a real goal for Morgan. The resources of the area are many, including financial. Her personal goal in terms of the community is “to make some waves.” As Board President, Morgan is “taking the time to listen.” Having been the youngest member of the group, she believes that “having young alumni on the Board is an asset.” Just as large an asset are all Board members ranging in age from their 20s to 80s. All bring knowledge and those who have never been Mohawk campers personally bring great experience in other arenas that benefit Mohawk. If experience was not gained at Mohawk but elsewhere, “the love isn’t lessened. We’re there for the same reason: the betterment of Camp.” Thank you, as always, to each and every member of the Board of Directors of Camp Mohawk. We are lucky to have so many dedicated people whose leadership, time, and dedication are so valuable. For this two- year term, we are fortunate to have Morgan Carpenter leading the charge. Keep making those waves, Morgan. After each conversation with a member of the Board, it is abundantly clear that Mohawk is in good hands.
Comentarios