May 31, 2023 -Good Newsletter
Greetings and Blessings to you all,
May was a very full month, with major work projects completed, staff hired for Nature Camp, grants submitted, appeals sent, and the Campaign moving forward.
The staff are busy preparing for a safe, fun, and transformational 60th anniversary summer-and it is almost about to begin! Make sure you are a part of it, through making a reservation or donation!
Please read on for our May news and updates.
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Rev. Kathleen Koran was the Interim Executive Director at Koinonia from 1996-1997. She has served the Metro NY Synod in many roles: rostered pastor, Assistant to the Bishop, Council Member, and more. Pastor Koran has written this meditation to honor the season of Pentecost.
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Board President Report
Hope all of you had a lovely Memorial Day weekend! Things continue to progress at Koinonia, and we are looking forward to a full and festive summer.
We are looking forward to Dedication Day on June 10 from 10am-4pm, which is part of our 60th anniversary celebration! Please join us for this beautiful, historic, celebratory outdoor event at Koinonia. The 11:00am worship in the Chapel in the Pines will be led by two area Bishops, representatives from NYC, Upstate NY, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Atlantic District of the Missouri Synod. The service will include live music, and a re-dedication by Rev. Paul Johnsen. Afterwards we will dine in the Rafters and enjoy a tour of the new waterfront and our renovated Conference Center.
Goal Committee Work
Goal 1 – Operating Revenue (Champion – Mark Wilson): Conference Center Income - $136k, Philanthropic Revenue - $300k, Other Rental Income - $62k
We are continuing to conduct outreach to bring in both philanthropic dollars and rental revenue to ensure a balanced budget by the end of 2023. Our current focus is on our spring appeal and driving registration for Nature Camp this summer. So far we have received nearly 50 applications, most coming for multiple weeks.
Goal 2 – Connections to member congregations (Champion – Kristi Jasberg-Robinson): Continue relationship building with member and other congregations. Grow social media following and engagement.
We continue to cultivate relationships with our member congregations and the social media subcommittee has postings planned for Instagram and Facebook each month.
Goal 3 - Capital Campaign (Champion – Anthony Geraci): Reach stretch goal of additional $500,000 (beyond the $1M) funds raised.
The Capital Campaign is focused on our stretch goal of raising an additional $500k in 2023. We are focused on outreach to congregations and alumni. We have received multiple commitments from congregations and have raised over $100k toward our stretch goal so far this year.
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Fundraising/ Finance Update
As of May 15, we have received
$39,626.19 in donations (not including Capital Campaign funds)! Thank You!
Our Capital Campaign Gifts and pledges are $1,089,149.40, total gifts (2020-present) are $693,775.01, and donations received this year as of May 12 are $91,036.68.
The Honor Stones were delivered before Memorial Day Weekend. We now have a total of 18 stones & we are still taking orders. Please email Jean at jean@koinoniany.org for more information.
Our Spring Appeal was mailed out mid-May, and we need your gift now to prepare for an exciting summer ahead. Please read our letter here.
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Property Updates
This was a great month for new improvements!
The two contractors who were hired to improve two access roads at the campground/beach, build stairs, upgrade the beach area, and put in a patio completed the work the second week of May.
The property team met in May, and discussed the current work, having a NO MOW May, and looking into a possible carbon offset program through the nature conservancy.
Trinity Rocky Point Confirmation Group did a work day and cleared most of the Lake Trail. Thank You!
The Waterfront 60 project is planned a big work weekend during Memorial Day weekend. Many volunteers came out and raked, cleared brush, made paths, painted the privy, and built a new Boat House! Many thanks to Sue and Tom Vorstadt for organizing.
The roofer who we have chosen to repair the Conference Center roof visited last week to give an initial estimate and will return soon to do a walk through with Matt before beginning the work.
On May 31 we had a visit from the Code Officer in the Town of Highland to make sure buildings are ready for the summer. There is a punch list for us, but it's not too long.
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Outreach/Marketing
Facebook post reach was up +23.8% between February 10 -May 10, we added 14 more followers in the past month, and post engagements hover between 350 and 2,000. The last newsletter again had a 52% open rate, up from the previous 48%.
The Outreach/Marketing team had its third meeting, gave feedback on a summer look for the website, the new survey, and the NEXT 60 film. The Goal 2 Social Media Taskforce met and created posts for the next month. The Common Ground and Diamond Club ($1,000 or more a year) brochures are complete and were used un the Spring Appeal mailing, and the commemorative film for the 60th anniversary is complete.
Lora and Kathleen attended the Metro NY Synod Assembly the first weekend in May and made many contacts which will lead to additional participation and bookings. Local radio stations were contacted to list the 5K event, and several ads were purchased to put in the local paper. We are working on expanding our marketing reach.
The Capital Campaign’s Congregational Team continues to visit Church Councils. Kathleen visited a new ELCA church, Calvary Lutheran Church in the Bronx on May 13th and will had a zoom meeting with Trinity Brooklyn’s Church Council on May 16th. We are sending out emails inviting member congregations and Metro New York Synod Churches to send a group to Dedication Day 2.0 on June 10th. Hope you can join us!
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Worship and Programming
Lutheran Witness Along the Delaware
Pastor Mary Button has been invited to join the worship/program team and the Strategic Planning Retreat October 20-22. We are promoting the swim camp in Port Jervis in our marketing.
Nature Camp & Aftercare
The Aftercare program continues to run well, and we have received out first Childcare Council voucher application, which means that we soon will be able to offer free childcare for families who are eligible all year long. We are working with the local code officer on the best designation for our childcare programming, and are following up. We are also in the process of submitting/hearing from 2 grant organizations to assist with the summer. Weeks are filling up!
Becky Morabito has hired all Nature Camp staff for the summer, and that is coming along well. Kathleen has made a connection with an organization. “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers,” which may bring some young people from Monticello to intern and work with the kids over the summer as well, increasing diversity of staff. Matt is looking into hiring a cleaning service to assist with the cabins and cleaning for the summer and fall, considering hiring part-time maintenance help for the summer, and looking for a high school senior or public school cafeteria staff to help in the kitchen.
5K
The 5K raised the same amount of scholarship for Nature Camp as last year and had a similar attendance. We are in the process of assessing the event and making some changes to encourage more participation next year.
June 10th Event-Dedication Day 2.0
June 10th is really coming together-click here for more details and how to register to come up for the day. There are a few buildings left to rent, and 1-2 Conference Center rooms if you would like to stay over.
Team
The Program/Worship team met and talked through the next three upcoming events and looked at 2024 programming which we hope to approve by end of June, one of our goals.
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60th Anniversary Programming
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The 60th anniversary taskforce met May 11th and May 23rd to go through the programming for the August 11-13th event and decide who can help lead each part. Pastor Paul Johnsen and Kathleen met and designed the worship for the June 10 Dedication Day 2.0, which was then sent to the two bishops attending and other participants. The August 11-13th event has a waiting list, and the June 10th weekend is almost full. Here we go!!!
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This May I walked the 5K with my person. It was long! I didn't raise as much money as Emery but I don't know what money is, so it's OK! I can't wait to see all the kids at Nature Camp, and all of the people visiting Koinonia this summer! Woof!! |
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Our Mission is reaching more people, and our vision to become "a flourishing outdoor community that cultivates transformation and ripples peace and reconciliation to the world" is leading us to the future. Thank you for reading this newsletter, for your prayers, your volunteering, your booking of buildings and rooms, and for your financial support. Together, we can build a ministry that will last for the next 60 years and beyond.
God Bless,
Katie Cunningham
Board President
Kathleen Ruen
Executive Director
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