Seabeck Conference Center is dedicated to the moral, social and spiritual well-being of its guests and staff by providing a setting that is conducive to education, renewal and character enhancement.

That is our mission statement. I really like it. Extra words have been added and subtracted through the years, but that is basically the same statement that we used 103 years ago at our founding. I think spiritual and renewal are the ones that resonate for me. We represent all six of these expressive words, but those two seem to fit the best for me. As I say, I can't always quote our mission statement word for word, but I live it every day. Isn't it wonderful that Seabeck is a moral, social and spiritual constant in an every changing world?

This was a much different country back in 1915 when we were founded. The U.S. had just become a world power and we were about to fight two wars to prove it. It's amazing when you think about all the change the world has seen in the past century, yet our mission lives on. As a non-profit organization we are not allowed to get involved in the political process. As a non-profit exec, I am smart enough not to get involved publicly. I will just say, in the current climate in the U.S. and the greater world, we need Seabeck more than ever. We are dedicated to spiritual renewal. Who couldn't use some of that? 

We had a huge boost to our campaign this week. Eliot Institute pledged $220,000 to our campaign. That is in addition to the $100,000 given to the Centennial Campaign. What an incredible gesture of support and friendship!!! They are our biggest single user, hosting two full weeks of 250 in the summer and two four-day events of 125+. They also hold their board retreat here every January.  Thank you so much Eliot Board, staff and guests!

Firs is completed. I am very excited by the results. the four new restroom areas are small, but comfortable and private. The new carpet and bedspreads add to the look. We like it so much that we have decided to expand the concept to Cedars this fall and winter. Early plans call for separate bath areas like Firs and custom rooms. We might even try a winter/summer furniture swap. We would take some of the beds away during the non-summer time and add comfortable furniture. We have always had a dream of turning room #1 into a lounge. That dream may come true 7 or 8 months a year. We also plan to do some cement work and lighting upgrades here and there this spring.

Mark your calendars for a special event at Seabeck on the afternoon of May 20 ^th. We are just formulating the plans, but it will be a campus wide celebration of philanthropy and the donors who make this place possible. More details coming soon!

I also hope you can join us for the Seabeck Celtic Arts Concert on February 12 ^th (see below). Let us know if you want to spend the night. We have a few free rooms.

Thanks,

Chuck

• CINNAMON ROLLS:  We were serving a dish of 8 huge cinnamon rolls to each table. We do use some of the leftovers for bread pudding, which by the way, is delicious. We have reduced the number of cinnamon rolls on each table to 6. There is still leftovers for the bread pudding, but cutting back is working.