Camp Alleghany Alumni Association

Julia Cadwallender

jcadwallender@gmail.com

20s rep, term expires December 2015

Years attended Alleghany: I attended camp from 1997-2006 and was a JC of 2004. I loved being a counselor and Unit Head in Junior Camp as well as Assistant Head of Rifle. I returned to camp in 2010 as Head Hopper and loved being back in the kitchen with Hazel! I'm not sure what my total number of summers is but I have known and loved Alleghany since I learned how to walk at family camp in '87!

Gained from 'Ghany: At camp I always felt comfortable being challenged to try new things. I learned the important skills of both teamwork and leadership that I carry with me in everything I do. 

Most looking forward to: Helping make the Alleghany experience accessible to all girls who want to come to camp while connecting with alumni to share Alleghany's history and traditions.

Matt Gorsuch

mgorsuch2@yahoo.com

30s rep, term expires December 2013

Matt graduated from Radford University in 2003 where he earned a bachelor's degree in Social Science. He is currently an IB History Teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia. In conjunction with his teaching position, he is the onsite coordinator for the Richmond City Street Law program, a partnership between TJHS, Hunton and Williams Law Firm, and William and Mary Law School. Matt is married to Laura (Deitz) Gorsuch, a Ghany Girl from Lewisburg, West Virginia. They live in Henrico County where they are enjoying raising their son John. During his free time, you will most likely find Matt at some sort of sporting event, hanging out with his friends/family or working around the house.

Years at Alleghany: Green Team 2000-2004, Head of Green Team 2005

Gained from 'Ghany: Life long friends who all share those wonderful memories we gained together along the banks of the Greenbrier River...and of course my best friend and amazing wife, Laura.

Most Looking forward to: Growing the Camp Alleghany Alumni Association so it can provide any and all assistance needed to help camp pass along to future generations the incredible environment that began in 1922.

Brooke McCrory

bem@brookemccrory.com

40s rep, term expires December 2014

B.A. Clark-Thomas

bactphd@yahoo.com

50s rep, term expires December 2015

An Alleghany summer is more than a rustic camping experience. With so many distractions and the hurried pace of society today, more than ever young women need a time and place to rest, to reflect, and to gain a better understanding of who they are, whom they are capable of becoming, and how their lives and actions impact the lives of others. Girls' lives are forever changed at Alleghany every summer, but the foundational principles, deep-rooted traditions, and core values developed in community with others remain the same today as 9 decades ago! "Some things don't change come what may."

Years attended Alleghany: Nearly 40 years from 1967-present, minus a chunk of the 80s when DISCO ate my brain! I've enjoyed camp as a camper, counselor, unit head, Head of Drama, Head of Arts & Crafts, Upstart Mom, Head of Mini Camp, family camper, and mother of a Ghany girl!

Gained from ’Ghany: The MOST valuable and lasting gifts include the development of self discipline and the lifelong friendships.

Most Looking Forward To: Enriching others' opportunities to strengthen connections, to develop new ones, and to enabling other young girls to have the same benefits I derive from the Camp Alleghany experience.

Kitty Capito Farrar

farrarmom@gmail.com

60s rep, charter term expires December 2013

Years attended Alleghany:  My first year as a camper at Alleghany was 1965, and I have been there for at least part of a summer ever since!  I spent four wonderful years as a GRAY Sr. Camper before becoming a JC.  I moved along to Tingehood, full counselor, instructed several different sports, Unit Head, Dept. Head, Head of Night Activities, JC Mom, Asst. Head of Jr. Camp and Head of Jr. Camp.  In 1978, I moved to Alexandria, VA in order to work full time with Cooper at his home office.  I was very fortunate to have had the learning experience of working along side such kind-hearted man and savvy businessman.  We took numerous recruiting trips together and I was fortunate to meet many wonderful people along the way.  These days I live only an hour away from Alleghany and I am still able to be a part of Ghany’s magic and do what I can to help Sam and Elizabeth.

Gained from ‘Ghany:  To this day, I believe that offering me the Alleghany adventure was one of the wisest gifts my parents could have given me.  Besides being such a strong character-building experience, it was there that I made some of my best and most wonderful friendships.   Many of my experiences as a camper and young counselor helped me gain the self-confidence I needed to succeed as I ventured into college and other real world demands.  To be sure, the beautiful vistas and comforting feel of Vesper Hill were instrumental in developing my faith and spirituality.  Being able to see my daughter gain all of the above from a very young age, even before she was old enough to be a camper, was, in turn, my gift to her.  One I’ll not forget.

Most Looking Forward To:  My hope is to help keep Alleghany’s mission and ideals as they have always been; strong citizenship, cooperation, the Honor System, sportsmanship and consideration of others.  It is a very exceptional place and I will do as much as I can in order to make a wonderful experience, such as mine and my daughter’s, a reality and not a dream for young girls in the future.

Pattie Ames

pattieames@gmail.com

At large seat 1, term expires December 2015

Pattie Ames is the Director of Children's Ministries at St. Columba's Episcopal in Washington, DC, where she has served over 15 years.

Years I attended Alleghany: I attended camp from 1978-1987, JC of '80, have worked or attended Family Camp since 1983, only missing 2 summers.

Gained from 'Ghany: I gained a positive sense of self, leadership skills, the Cooper Dawson work ethic, great role models and my best friends. I also gained my vocational direction - working with children.

Most looking forward to: Giving back! I have received so much from camp, it is an honor to be on the Board and find ways I can give back to camp, support its mission and bring alums together to do the same. It is also important to me to continue to spread the good word about 'Ghany and give young girls an opportunity to attend camp and experience that Alleghany magic.. 

Taylor Kiland

TaylorBKiland@aol.com

At large seat 2, term expires December 2014

Taylor Baldwin Kiland is the vice president of Marketing & Communications at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.  She is the author or co-author of three books, including Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later (Potomac Books, Inc., 2005) -- which she published with another 'Ghany girl, Jamie Howren; The U.S. Navy & Military Careers (Enslow Publishers, 2006); and A Walk in the Yard: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of the U.S. Naval Academy (Naval Institute Press, 2007) -- also published with Jamie Howren.  Her next book, Leadership Lessons of the Hanoi Hilton, will be published by Naval Institute Press in 2013.  A former naval officer, Taylor also regularly blogs about veterans' issues for Examiner.com and the Naval Institute Blog.  She holds a master’s degree in Marketing Communications from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Years Attended Alleghany: 1977-1984, JC of '84

Gained from ‘Ghany: Having been raised in a military family that moved every two years, my summers at Alleghany served as a stabilizing force in my life. I knew I could count on returning to 'Ghany every summer, no matter where we lived.  I made some of the most important and lasting friendships at Alleghany.

Most Looking Forward To: Raising money to send needy campers to camp!

Eddy Eckart

eddy.eckart@gmail.com

Green Team alum, term expires December 2013

Eddy Eckart is a Vice President at North Shore Associates, LLC, a government relations firm located in Northeast Ohio.  Eddy Graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in English in 2002 and is a candidate for a Master’s in Business from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.  His passions include fishing, auto racing, and visits to Alleghany.

Years Attended Alleghany: Green Team 2000-2001

Gained from ‘Ghany:  Life-changing friendships, a passion for organizations that positively shape the lives of young people, and an abiding love for the banks of the Greenbrier River.

Most Looking Forward To:  Ensuring the success of the Camp Scholarship program and helping to build a healthy and vibrant alumni community that serves past, present, and future campers.

Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise

elizabeth.shreckhise@gmail.com

Camp Alleghany, Inc. representative, term expires December 2014

Elizabeth began her camping experience as a camper at Alleghany when she was 7 years old. After spending ten summers as a camper, she went through the JC program, became a full-fledged counselor, and continued to take on leadership roles such as Head of Dance and Unit Head. In the summers of 2002 and 2003 she was the Head of Junior Camp. She took a few summers off to earn her Masters Degree in Education and Human Development, but returned to Alleghany in 2006 to serve as the Head of Senior Camp. Currently, Elizabeth lives in Staunton, VA during the year with her husband Matt and son Mason. Formerly a School Counselor, she now is proudly working full time for Camp Alleghany as the Assistant Director. She assists Sam in recruiting campers and hiring and interviewing staff, helps keep the camp website current, writes and updates camp literature, and organizes and supervises much of the staff training and program planning for the summers. Most recently she launched Alleghany’s new online registration system, and is working on more projects to bring Alleghany in to the 21^st century while still preserving the history and tradition that ’Ghany is so deeply rooted in.

Years attended Alleghany: 1987-1996 as a camper, 1997-2006 as a JC, Counselor, Head of Dance, Unit Head, Head of Junior Camp, and Head of Senior Camp; presently the Assistant Director 

Gained from ’Ghany: The confidence to be myself and the motivation to work tirelessly towards reaching my goals. I also learned how to work as a team, compromise, and share small living spaces with several other people!

Most Looking Forward To: Connecting ’Ghany Girls and Guys of all ages from all places with each other; uniting together with a common goal of enriching each others’ and future campers’ lives.

COUNSEL