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Another great season at the Assembly has come to an end. The recap in this video will surely bring smiles and fond memories.

Our office will close for the season today, Friday, August 19th at 4:00pm. That is the last day for UPS, FEDEX and USPS mail delivery to the Assembly Building. After that time the mail that is addressed to 2128 Pilgrim Highway will be redirected to the Frankfort Post Office.
A Message from our Managing Director

Wow! What an amazing ride these past nine weeks have been. This week I find myself reflecting on the season, just as I did in June each year during my 30-year teaching career. Every day of this summer brought about exciting activities and unexpected surprises at the Congregational Summer Assembly. In the coming weeks I will still be processing this season, but here is a glimpse at some of the takeaways I want to share.
 
     This summer I learned what makes this place so special for all of you. Many shared that the CSA is home, it is your constant, it is where you reset, spend time with family and catch up with lifelong friends. It is a place that takes you away from the chaos of the world. It is where you find spiritual peace. It is where your family can enjoy each other without the pressures of day-to-day responsibilities. Your kids can run around outside and play as they grow and make new friends. Some of you even met your spouse here.
     The rich traditions here offer predictability and safety. It is a place unlike any other, and you all hold it dear to your heart. There is not one word to describe this special place; it cannot be wrapped up in one statement. It means so many different things to so many of you, and what I see is that those who participate, volunteer, work, and spend time vacationing here fall in love with it. Everyone who takes action on its behalf does so out of love, and the effort to preserve strong traditions and experiences. 
     In addition to meeting all of you, one of the biggest highlights has been working with our incredible staff. When I began interviewing and hiring staff this past winter, I knew it was going to be a great team. They have exceeded my expectations with their level of professionalism and dedication. Thank you to our 2022 crew!!
     Seeing strong volunteerism in action is amazing. The CSA is a model to show how a community can thrive when people step up to volunteer. Each time I updated the white board this summer I was in awe of how many volunteers work tirelessly to make the activities that happen here each day a success. It is absolutely incredible how much you all care. Please take time to reflect on the positive difference you make in this community - the CSA would not be what it is without you!
     Thank you to everyone in the CSA community for making the 2022 summer season so great! Thanks for taking a chance and letting me be part of this community. See you all in 2023!

Amy Somero

 
Volunteer Opportunity

This Saturday, August 20th at 3:00pm we need help bringing in the rafts and lifeguard stands. Join the fun and help us prepare the waterfront for winter.
 
Church Service this Sunday, August 21

The last service of the season will be at 11:00am led by the Rev. Pamela French Pendexter, a retired UCC minister. She served for 20 years at First Congregational Church of Dundee, Illinois, 13 years as Senior Pastor. She and her husband Jim have been living on Crystal Lake since their retirement 15 years ago. Their two grown sons, Andrew and Jonathan, and six grandchildren have vacationed here all of their lives and consider this true paradise. No Adult Bible Class or Sunday School this week.

Last Sunday was our Celebration of Life service.  If you missed it, you can watch the service in this video recording. 

The Women's Association has extended 9:00am yoga classes on the Lake Michigan tennis court for three weeks, ending with the last class on September 9th. These classes will be held on Wednesday and Friday (no Mondays).
From Ed Allred, President of the Board of Trustees

     The last weekend of the Summer Season is upon us.  The sounds of children playing on the ball field, of tennis players hitting balls at the Crystal Lake and Wood courts, of sails flapping in the wind, of friendly neighbors chatting while walking down the paths are all abating. 
     While it saddens me to think that the season is wrapping up, I'm very proud and grateful for the fantastic season we had.  Many of our traditional activities returned and a redoubled effort to improve our programming was incredibly successful.  I am thankful and appreciative of all those who made it happen.  The staff and countless volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure we could have a memorable summer . . . and that it was! 
     Many will continue their work throughout the off-season to ensure Summer 2023 is one not to miss.  We all look forward to reuniting then and gathering as if we had not left.  Until then I wish you a happy and healthy off-season.  Thank you again for being part of one of the best communities I have ever had the pleasure to be associated with. 

Sincerely ~ Ed
From the Tennis Committee
 
     It was a wonderful, busy season for the committee as it expanded its horizons, fulfilled its role in helping select new staff and set attendance records for lessons for all ages.
     Steve Shreiner decided to return to the CSA fold after years up at the Downs, and coaching and playing around the country.  He brought with him his characteristic enthusiasm and a staff which included Jonathan Blessing as his second-in-command, along with several assistants who combined to make the program shine.
     The Board of Trustees instructed the committee at its November meeting to address the growing interest in pickleball by adding court striping for four more pickleball courts on the Crystal Lake courts.  We worked with Steve and our dynamite new managing director, Amy Somero, to get bids for both cleaning and striping the courts.  The work was done before the season started, and pickleballers of all ages began to use the courts in the afternoon.  Rick Rodes volunteered to coordinate biweekly clinics for pickleball, and the courts were filled every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. 
     We conducted two tournaments and introduced a very popular new event in which parents and/or grandparents teamed up in doubles with children and/or grandchildren.  Sixteen teams signed up in July.  We began utilizing volunteers as match supervisors to answer questions on rules, facilitate play and provide general oversight. The August tournament suffered from a series of events which included two rain days, operetta practice for “Beauty and the Beast,” and a major sailboat regatta at the Crystal Lake Yacht Club, and a couple of matches were not completed.  With careful planning we hope to make next year’s tournaments even better. 
     We removed 21 signs from the various CSA tennis courts and replaced them with 9 new ones, which makes for a cleaner look and better spectator viewing.  We also replaced the old court numbers and racket hanger with new ones made of cedar with black numbers. 
     We will be submitting a proposed budget this fall to provide new equipment, resurface two (perhaps all!) of the woods courts and repair or replace bleachers and benches. 
     Thanks to everyone who participated in the program and volunteered their time to make the season a success. 
From the Youth Committee
 
What a fantastic summer for our youth! We hope the connections and experiences they had will be cherished for years to come. Before the 2022 Season officially closes, the Youth Committee wants to share some highlights and also some very special thank you’s. We are already planning for Summer 2023. Save the date and spread the word for Summer 2023 Teen Dances - July 18 and August 1! 

Love,
The Youth Committee
(Christie Bednar, Diana Campbell, Luette Frost, Jen Hamdorf-Torrens, Jonie Leete, Stacey Peoples, Sophie Scanlan, Jenn Swetland, and Shannon Wise)
Highlights …
  • Successful implementation of separate middle school and high school programs
  • July Teen Dance with over 100 participants from the surrounding community
  • August Teen Dance with over 100 participants from the surrounding community
  • Middle School Lock-In
  • Crystal View After Hours Party
  • Interplay with Trebuchets STEM Event
  • Beginner Needlepoint Class
  • First ever Youth Leader Training
  • Field trips using the Benzie Bus
  • Remind App for easy and safe communication with families and youth
  • Variety of activities (i.e. bonfires, nature hikes, tie dye, volleyball/newcomb, soccer, tennis round robin, ping pong tournament, craft nights, water sports, Bigger & Better
Thank you’s…
  • The Board of Trustees and Ad Hoc Strategic Committee for listening, acknowledging and supporting the reimagining of youth programming!
  • Stacey Peoples for leading a meaningful and impactful training for staff interacting and leading our kids and youth.
  • Teen Dance Chaperones - Alan Marble (security), Margie Finley, Carol Johnson, Jeff Swetland, Sam Rosenblatt and Zoe Bednar
  • Steve Tezak of Starbase Alpena for leading an incredible “Interplay with Trebuchets” STEM Event (also special thank you to the ENTIRE Tezak & Dawley Family!)
  • Amy and Sarah Blessing of Loop for leading “Learn to Needlepoint”
  • Johnny O’Neal for beta testing a game with our middle school youth.
  • Heather Lotzar- our Youth Director for her willingness and compassion to take everything on this summer.
  • Our Youth Leaders - Sasha Nieman, Madeline Hart and Matthew McCormick
  • Amy Somero - for her consistent support, positivity and feedback to help make this summer so memorable for our youth.
  • The AMAZING (anonymous) community member who made a generous donation to Youth Programming the day after the July Teen Dance.
  • Our community - for the constant positive and supportive feedback!
Sasha Nieman was selected for the 2022 Youth Citizenship Award. She embodies and teaches the spirit of the “CSA Way” with genuine compassion and enthusiasm. She has made significant contributions to the CSA by working on the waterfront for the past 11 years, taking over the tradition of MC'ing Stunt Night, previously run by her mother, and most recently leading our youth with a positive attitude as one of our amazing Youth Leaders. 
Women’s Association
Summer 2022 RECAP
 
       The Women’s Association’s summer activities came off without a hitch thanks to the CAN-DO attitude, creativity, and fun supplied by so many who contributed to our efforts this summer. With CSA members of all ages, we learned, played, laughed, worked and provided good deeds throughout the CSA community.  PLUS we successfully raised funds to secure programs and projects for next summer ~ 2023!
      
How do we say THANK YOU to everyone who contributed?  Let us count the ways:
First – for the fitness classes - thank you to all the instructors of yoga, pilates/yoga fusion, water aerobics, and strength and balance classes.
Second – to the many program leaders – Youth, Adult Art classes, Ecology, Arts and Crafts, Waterfront - once again you filled the summer calendar with wonderful classes.
Third – to our two outstanding summer program featured guests – Michael
Bofshever for his original, live performance of his one-man show PLEASE DO NOT SING: A Story through Poetry and Prose; and Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director of FLOW (For Love of Water) thank you for your excellence and inspiration.
Fourth – To Fritz and Susan and the team at the Crystal View who help sell the Women’s Association merchandise.
And last, but DEFINITELY not least – thank you to Margie Finley and Lisa Gates for Co-Chairing the Art Fair and Cottage Treasures, along with the Treasure Trove and Silent Auction (Laura Millar and Renee Fisk).  The 2022 one-day event garnered just shy of $17,000 and came within just dollars of last year’s all-time record.  Shout outs go to ALL the volunteers helping in the days leading up to the Art Fair and the day of – pricers, sorters, parkers, vendor relievers, bakers, merchandise sellers, set-up teams and clean-up crews.  You know who you are, and we appreciate you SO much.
       A special shout out goes to Amy Somero, Elaine Walton and the office staff; and Tom Mauer and his maintenance crew.  Thank you for your back up and your help with “heavy lifting” when we needed it most.
       The Women’s Association offers our appreciation and thanks to Jane Karraker who is leaving the Board as Secretary, and Nancy Gaffney who served two terms (plus some) as Chair.  Their leadership has been amazing. 
       If you have ideas, suggestions, or input for the Women’s Association as a wrap-up to this summer or for next summer season, please let us hear from you.  The Women’s Association will have several leadership slots open starting next summer and we’d love to tell you more about how you can get involved.   Email CSAwomensassociation@gmail.com or President Ann Whelpton at agwhelpton@gmail.com
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Congregational Summer Assembly · 2128 Pilgrim Highway · Frankfort, MI 49635 · USA

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