Session one in 1949 posted an article about a newly organized council. “For many years there has been in existence a council composed of camper representatives, but this year the two councils have worked cooperatively on many problems,” it stated. The council first periods was composed of Lucille Harding, Jerry Fleming, Helen Hasty, Nan Lipscott and Bertie Van Welt, and represented a “wide diversion of interests”, attempting to be fair and objective with their decisions.
The agenda listed items such as setting up camper schedules, dealing with grievances, settling counselor problems, presenting questions of procedures at staff meetings and store hours. Their goal was to “widen opportunities for campers and extend the democratic system at Maqua” and they agreed that the first meeting was considered a success.
In 1950, the Camper’s Council consisted of Joan Beers, Janice Cameron, Karen Temple, Connie Fisher, Eileen Salmond, Pat Hubbard, Nancy Kula, Judy Harrison, Janie Hale, Judy Waldorf and CIT’s Judy Alcorn and Ann Malloy. Counselors Ann Hayden and Shirley Piguet joined “Dicky” the director planning the morning and evening programs and the frog races.
Hut 1 in fourth period of 1950 housed all the CIT’s and they joined the council, along with Louise Kibble, Karen Temple, Jan Mosier, Mary Brown, Alicia Roberts, Frances Kendrick, Mary Calopsis, Sylvia Jones and their director “Dickie”. They planned all the evening programs, which included a baby party, a water pageant, a chuck wagon style dinner “in true Western style”.
The councils were still operating in 1952, according to articles in the “Loon”. Mary Day, Mary Neal, Ann Martin, Lynne Brown, Sally Macey, Penny Nickel, Roberta Richardson, Nancy Penoyer, Rosemary Michaels and Mary Jane Keschman planned a square dance, a taffy pull, a silent meal, a treasure hunt and another chuck wagon dinner.
“Jinx” was the supervisor in July, with Barb Bowe, Susan Schlecte, Charlotte Mesuse, Kay Watson, Jan Mosier , Judy Cranage, Pat Tripp, Janie Adams, Mary Neal and Nancy Maxwell serving on the council representing their huts.
By 1961 Sue Hier, director, had taken over direction of the council and they discussed activities with the boys camp, the abolishment of assembly, a silent meal, and hot water in the camper’s “Brownie”. Sandy Robins was president that summer with Marty Leversuch as her secretary.
The last mention of the council was from a Program Director’s Report written by Tony Young in 1966. The council had suggested there be clearer signage leading to the camp, and Toni added her suggestions for placement be at the blinking light in town, one at the bend and one at the second curve.
The council and the publication of the “Loon” each summer were important and with the designation of a camper from each hut as a representative, they were able to promote such things as the Worldwide Friendship Ideal in the first session and enlist readers for Chapel Hill. Were you ever on the council?