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Message from the Director, Steph Anderson
This is truly a pivotal time and place for The Mountain. As the fall season is coming to an end, there is much planning and excitement happening around The Mountain for the upcoming year. As we host guests for the last 2 months of the year we continue to be forward thinking and planning for the possibilities of 2023. Programs, People and Infrastructure is what we are talking about these days. With new staff housing being realized in the very near future, we will be well on our way to having a transformative and exciting 2023.
Grants and your generous donations through our November Match will set us up for a strong new year. Please stay connected, stay engaged, give what you can and walk with us through this exciting time of revitalizing your Mountain!
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$50,000 Match in November |
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Thank you to our generous donor for providing these matching funds.
Our annual campaign supplements revenue, which covers about 75% of expenses, so your gifts make a difference for what we accomplish in our Mountain mission. Your gifts may be applied to the annual fund, a special project, or the endowment fund (now about $600,000).
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By participating in these programs you get the benefit of the experience at The Mountain as well as supporting this special place.
Please join us and invite others!
A long weekend for family and friends to gather for explorations, entertainment, and nature connections. Includes Youth programming of connections and adventure.
A space for beginning and experienced songwriters to learn and share.
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This fall, we have two high-priority special projects: |
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Staff housing With gratitude to all who have contributed to this essential $350,000 project, we are within $100,000 of breaking ground! This project will take care of staff, supporting the work of this special place. This has been discussed for years – we are on the verge of making it happen!
Dam for our lake, important for youth and adult programming – for water sports as well as environmental education.
This major repair is mandated by the state, with a projected cost of $600,000. We have about $80,000 toward this. Sourcing our community; if anyone knows of grants or other funding support you would be The Mountain hero, making youth and adults alike rejoice.
There are so many ways to make a contribution – RMD from retirement accounts, stock transfers, check (mail to Box 1299, Highlands, NC 28741), or credit card. Please contact development@themountainrlc.org to explore the options.
We are so grateful for your previous and current contributions, and for you being part of The Mountain community.
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High-Efficiency Energy Equipment
The Southface Good-Use Grant
This much needed grant of $60,000 which is matched for a total of $120,000 will provide for HVAC systems in the Rec Hall and Commons, mini-splits in duplexes and bunkhouses, and other energy-saving equipment.
A major advantage of a Southface grant is that they do not just send a check, but they provide an energy engineer to evaluate our current systems and make recommendations. This has been an extremely productive relationship!
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Greenhouse
Many of you are familiar with the hoop house, which has been at the farm since 2009. It has been a wonderful asset for educational programs, as well as starting seeds for transplanting to the garden.
We are delighted to have received a grant from Mountain Findings, a local resale store, and a match for a $24,000 greenhouse. This resource will have electricity as well as water, providing for three-season growing and educational opportunities. The farm produce supplements the kitchen, and is sold at two weekly seasonal farmer’s markets, with excess produce contributed to the local food bank.
The recent Asheville congregational retreat gifted us with a service project – dismantling the hoop house to be moved to the back of the farm for ongoing use. The farm will soon have a new greenhouse for you to explore!!
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We are very thankful for the six years that Joey Kyle made a big difference for our Many Hands Peace Farm, as well as local networking. He has exciting new opportunities and is off on another adventure, currently spending time in Germany and France.
Farm hands since the spring of 2021, Cole Phelps and Tolvin Stiles, have been appointed as
Co-Managers of the farm.
Tolvin and Cole have certifications for wild mushroom identification and sales, and Tolvin recently completed bee-keeping workshops. Both are enthusiastic about using their farm experience to build on and expand the production as well as educational opportunities for the farm. Please remember to review the website in the future for 2023 farm camps, farm dinners, foraging tours, and other farm events.
Join us in welcoming Cole and Tolvin in their new role at The Mountain.
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Left: Cole
Right: Tolvin
- Holding Hen of the Woods Mushroom (Maitake)
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The Mountain's Autumn Benefit Auction
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Bidding will be online and on-site Thanksgiving weekend
Final bidding 6:00pm
- Saturday, November 26
We are doing the auction a little differently this year as we have discovered that many people who want to support The Mountain do not especially want more “stuff” to take home. There will be a few items to buy and take home, but mostly the items are from The Mountain wish list, gift certificates from local restaurants, and a coastal condo for vacation.
How will this work? By bidding on specific items (partial or total cost), you get the tax-deduction where no goods or services are received. You do not need to find a place for something else at home, and have the joy of supporting Mountain programming in specific ways.
Examples of items on the Mountain wishlist are bee suits for youth and adults, fruit or nut trees for the food forest, tents or backpacks for outdoor adventure, a case of toilet paper (you even get to use some of this when you visit The Mountain!!), and a golf cart.
Raffle - everyone bidding on an item will be entered into a raffle. Five winners will be drawn, each receiving a $75 gift certificate to be applied at The Mountain. There are many possibilities – apply to MountainCamp, youth or adult Farm Camp, farm dinner or tour, Mountain design program, or gift shop purchase.
Have fun with this auction and enjoy being part of making a difference for The Mountain!
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Capital Campaign "Roots & Wings" |
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You may have heard that The Mountain board is considering a capital campaign to nurture and expand the work of The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center.
Exciting times lie ahead for The Mountain! Our “Roots & Wings” campaign will make the difference as we nurture our roots and expand our wings to lift The Mountain boldly into the future. This campaign directly aligns with The Mountain’s mission by addressing the needs of people, programs, and infrastructure.
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The capital campaign committee is: Anna Martin (Chair, Board Member), Beverly Cree (Campaign Director, Mountain Development Director), Dave Zenner (architect), Lee Reading (Board Member), Charles Lee (Long-time Mountain member, past Board member), Alison Eskildsen (retired UU Minister), Steph Anderson (Mountain Executive Director), and KC Boyce (Board Chair).
This campaign will provide opportunities for everyone- all of you - to participate and make this effort a success. We will be communicating more about this important Mountain opportunity.
call Beverly Cree at 828.526.5838 x254
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Message from the Board
The Mountain Board of Trustees enthusiastically supports the great programming and facilities work that our Executive Director Steph and all Mountain staff are undertaking. In the recent past the Board has approved spending to finalize staff housing in the Craft Barn, to move forward with the staff housing duplex as funds are raised, and to support hiring new staff that will support high quality guest experiences and programming grounded in UU-values.
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My family just returned from a fantastic congregational retreat weekend, and we're looking forward to attending YouthCons and Grateful Gathering this Fall. This is an exciting and beautiful time to visit The Mountain. My husband and I are also talking about the size of our end-of-year financial donation, to take advantage of matching funds and help The Mountain finish off the year strong. I hope you will join my family in supporting The Mountain.
- Anna Martin, Board Member
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Thank you for your support!
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There is always so much happening at The Mountain.
Check out our archive of Mountain Matters.
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At the bottom of The Mountain's Home page add your email to sign up for Mountain Matters! |
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