Willsboro, NY; June 30-- In general, the typical Pok-O-MacCready staff member does not reside in the upper income bracket on the economic scale.  That fact, however, did not prevent the 60 or so members of the 2009 camp staff from giving generously to a worthwhile cause.

     This past Friday night, camp counselors, specialists, support staff, administrators and friends gathered at the North End Tavern for the annual Pre-camp staff auction.  The event, held prior to the arrival of the campers, is organized by Ken “Squeaky” Herz, who not only solicits the collection of the items, but acts as auctioneer. “We started this several years ago,” said Herz, “mostly as a means to give away some clothing to counselors who had traveled a long distance to get to camp and sometimes had no more than a few shirts and shorts.”

     While staff members still donate most of the items, their main function is to serve as bidders and buyers.  Not to mention models (left).  “We not only sold clothing,” Herz continued, “but also services.  Two counselors volunteered to give massages; that brought in over fifty dollars.  And our largest selling item of the night was a set of custom coffee mugs made by our pottery instructor, Kelly Shiulaz, which brought in one hundred dollars.”

SENDING A CAMPER TO THE THREE-WEEK SESSION

     The $1,610 collected Friday evening is being earmarked towards sending an area child to camp for the 2009 three-week (2nd) session.  “We’re still a bit short of the tuition amount,” voiced Herz, “but I have no doubt we can raise the remaining funds necessary to send someone as at least a day-camper, if not an overnight camper.  Amazing that this was done thanks to our staff!”

       Furthermore, according to Herz, an anonymous donor has also approached him for the purpose of sending a local child to camp.  “This person may match what we earned at the auction, or offset the difference.  Whatever the case, this is great news.”

     Plans are already well under way for a second auction, scheduled to take place Friday, August 21, during the Pok-O-MacCready 105th Reunion.  Details will be released in the coming weeks.