Actscelerate.com

COG campgrounds?

Friendly Face Posts: 302 **9/26/11 1:38 pm**

Without taking over another thread I was wondering if all states are about to get into the selling of campgrounds? I grew up in a state that had a campground and then sold it. We were promised money to be added to the " youth camp budget" at a tune of 50,000 a year.

That did not happen.

The money was then spent on a new state offices. The only thing that the youth departmentt seemed to get over the whole thing was... nothing.

Now that state has a finical well run youth camp. With the impending tide of youth director change; who knows if that will remain.

SO... WHO CARES ABOUT THE CAMPGROUNDS?
1. we don't use them enough to justify the money
2. we have already stated on this board that we are not a "youth minded" denomination
3. Like everything in this denomination, we are very poor at running the finical side of a campground.

Who knows?

Acts-dicted Posts: 7821 **9/26/11 1:54 pm**

If our Administrative leadership system placed and advanced people based on performance without the political biases problematic in our fellowship, we wouldn't have the same kind of issues with campgrounds.

Occasionally, we get disciplined AND visionary leadership at the state level. But, we generally get what we reward.

Presently, the reward/prize is upward mobility through an administrative leadership farm system as opposed to long-term ministerial development over states and regions.

In that setup, not only do we get short-term decision-making. We also lose out on:

- the knowledge base that builds in a leader over the long haul.
- personal affinity for the people and culture unique to given regions.
- trust and opportunity that ONLY comes from being present....for a long period of time.

Viability of Campgrounds? It's a symptom of a larger organizational problem.

It is interesting...

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5161 **9/26/11 3:32 pm**

I can't back this up with a bibliography at all, but I've heard it said that it usually takes 3-5 years for a pastor to see real results to his ministry in a church. Isn't it odd, then, that we leave our ABs in one place for 2-4 years in most cases?

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **9/26/11 4:46 pm**

Campgrounds COULD be made viable....

Golf Cart Mafia Soldier Posts: 2295 **9/26/11 5:50 pm**

Some of our campgrounds, I imagine, are paid-in-full. They do have upkeep costs, etc., but there's another value they have.

Even if you scoff at sentimentality, there is some value in maintaining a campground for it's heritage value. It is a spiritual landmark to most of us. Who would not be troubled in the least to see a strip mall over the place where the Lord filled you with the Holy Ghost, or renewed your passion, or where you trembled as the preacher spoke of the coming of the Lord?

The Church of God of Prophecy "gets" the importance of landmarks. Yes, some of it is certainly vanity and aggrandizement, but at the same time, isn't it worthwhile to say, "This is where the first General Assembly was held?"

I'm not talking about being a stick in the mud, but rather to keep in touch with our roots.

That being said, I believe Florida could do a better job with its campgrounds. It's a distance further out, but if our State Office were there, we could likely save on the lease of our buildings in a nice business park. Moreover, having it continually occupied would serve to keep at bay that musty smell and the tendency for things to wear away.

Of course, this is a whole lot easier said than done. But with such nice facilities in Wimauma, I don't know why we don't utilize our acreage there to bring economy of scale.

Even though our church is over 50 years old

Friendly Face Posts: 467 **9/27/11 12:33 pm**

The number of kids we send to camp is dwindling rapidly. I have long been a proponent of selling our campgrounds.

They are only used a fraction of the time and they are too far out of circulation to be a viable candidate to rent to other entities.
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relax, life is better with sand between your toes

Re: Even though our church is over 50 years old

Acts-dicted Posts: 7821 **9/27/11 12:41 pm**

Friendly Face Posts: 394 **9/27/11 12:41 pm**

The worst mistake ever made by the WNC Church of God is when they sold the campground in Charlotte. The money has long been gone and one day when that property sells for 50 million dollars, we will look even more foolish.

Re: Even though our church is over 50 years old

Friendly Face Posts: 467 **9/27/11 12:57 pm**

Exile...

Golf Cart Mafia Soldier Posts: 2295 **9/27/11 1:02 pm**

Maybe youth camp needs to be "reinvented"?

reinvented?

Friendly Face Posts: 467 **9/27/11 1:58 pm**

Or done away with?
_________________
relax, life is better with sand between your toes

Re: Even though our church is over 50 years old

Acts-dicted Posts: 7821 **9/27/11 2:42 pm**

WE live and travel full time in our motor home

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **9/27/11 4:51 pm**

We were once traveling, in Illinois or Kentucky. In our Trailer life BOOK there was a Campground nearby listed as the ‘Church of God Campground’ $15 a night or $90 a week. We found it and drove in. it was A great facility.

I did find out it was not our COG. But they merged the commercial end with their church functions and it earned money year round. It is run by volunteers in exchange for free camping. So there are two or three sites set aside for them.

I don’t know how much FL makes on the campground, I have stayed there but the sites are too small for the newer campers. But it seemed to me during the winter months it stayed pretty active.I don’t think the Commercial end interferes with the Church activities, I haven’t talked to anyone about it.

Lifer made a point, When ANY STATE sells their camp ground there should be some HARD GUIDELINES on how the money is used and where it is placed.

WNC is not a good example of proper use of funds.

If they still own the Cherokee Camp Ground it could be developed for year round use commercially and finance all the youth Camps and cut the cost per child.

I like to see campgrounds kept where possible.
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Exile...

Golf Cart Mafia Soldier Posts: 2295 **9/27/11 5:11 pm**

Do away with it? Sure. Except that this year, three boys in my dorm got the Holy Ghost at a Youth Camp. It was old-fashioned, crying, weeping praying through kind of stuff, too.

If nothing else at all, THAT was worth every dime we went into the red.

Most States Summer Camp payment a myth

Friendly Face Posts: 302 **9/30/11 3:01 pm**

In the state of Florida does the the youth budget pay for campground usage? In most state they do not, so the youth budget looks better and the campgrounds look... foolish.

My question is... what is that money they pay go to?

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **10/1/11 6:34 pm**

Campgrounds became WAY more expensive when we started making them carpeted and air-conditioned.

Not that I wish we could go back to the open tabernacle with ceiling fans kind of set-up, just sayin' it was a lot cheaper to keep up a the old style tabernacles than it is to keep up what is basically a big air-conditioned auditorium that we only use for a small fraction of each year (even if we don't run the heat or AC all the time).

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **10/1/11 6:35 pm**

By the way, anybody here know what ever happened to the old Illinois CoG Campground? I attended youth camp there as a kid back in the 70s. I heard they ended up selling it.

Re: WE live and travel full time in our motor home

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5923 **10/1/11 6:51 pm**

WNC Properties

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1302 **10/1/11 7:43 pm**

Don't even get me started.

Rolling Eyes

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Don't blame me. I voted for real change.

Re: WE live and travel full time in our motor home

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **10/2/11 10:29 am**