The Times, They are A-Changin May/June 2006

Editor: While Leon shares with us some of his thoughts on how Camp Brotherhood has changed for him, let’s remember to keep our own thoughts on this subject positive and helpful. It is not an easy thing for anyone to speak about matters that may be controversial. The editors are glad that he considers it an important topic for discussion. How do you feel about what Leon has to say?

As the Camp Brotherhood Symposium approaches, I cannot shake a feeling of “disconnection.”

I have been a NWSSA member since 1989. The rewards of learning about stone sculpting and building a lifetime of friendships and looking forward to the camaraderie each time we all get together seems to have changed within the past few years. I can’t help but wonder what has happened. Why do things seem different now? This question comes up mainly about the Camp Brotherhood Symposium. I’m not just talking about other people. Even for myself, there is a disconnection: a lost-out-in-the-woods feeling, a “distance” between all of us. Where is everybody?

I’ve been discussing this with some other long time members who have had the same feelings. The main reason that we agree on has been the spatial changes that have taken place as Camp B’s facilities improve and new buildings are added. For the first fifteen years, Fisher Lodge was the main building, and the “HUB” of all activities. Most people stayed in the lodge’s dormitory rooms, some had tents, and a few used the cabins. But, for me, the heart and soul of what I think of as the energy came from just about all of us using the lodge as a gathering point. Whether one wanted to sit by the fireplace, read a book or symposium literature, thumb through portfolios, play the piano, sip a cup of tea or just sit and enjoy the beautiful sunsets out on the deck with a glass of wine, it was all done at Fisher Lodge.

There was always somebody there with whom you could spend a quiet moment to renew your sense of belonging. You folks who have been around for a while know the kindred spirit that I am talking about.

If you wanted to engage in conversations about art, life, personal feelings and/or challenges, whatever, there was always someone around to help make that happen. This has always been, and remains, a very important element in any symposium.

All of us are somewhat tentative, a little shy or insecure upon our first arrival at a place like Camp B. The Fisher Lodge hub almost guaranteed that anyone needing a personal contact would find one. With all of us there, someone would take it upon themselves to make sure that you felt welcome.

We had our meals there, our meetings, slide shows, lectures, dancing, singing, even drumming. All of that going on in one place seemed to facilitate the intimate culture that fed our souls.

These days, with the new, distant dining hall; more luxurious (and, again, more distant) cabins, and meetings scattered all over the place – our lifeblood keeps spreading out. In my opinion, it is being spread too thinly.

These circumstances keep all of us at bay a little, or a lot. This is especially true for the newcomers. They have to make a conscious decision and effort to participate. Yes, we are adults and do what we want, but stop and think about the apprehension and fears that you had when you showed up at your first symposium.

I believe that this disconnectedness has something to do with the fact that fewer people are participating and fewer are volunteering for all the tasks that make this organization function. We need to do more than to simply be a member who takes advantage of the freebies and opportunities that membership gives us.

The building changes have been made and we can’t go back to the way it was. What we can do is to make more of an effort to reach out to everyone, especially to those who are new. We must go to the dining hall to eat, but maybe we could have more of our events in Fisher Lodge. By gathering there more often, we might make it, once again, the socially friendly and restorative hub of Camp B.