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			Sarene Schumacher January 2011 - Featured Alum What years were you at camp? 1983-2002 What tents were you in? Seminole, Cherokee, Spartus, Brigs, Buccos, Evian Haven, that one situated above the woodchuck family -Tombstone? The most memorable tent name to me was "Brian" - this was a tipi overflow tent one coed session in which each of its members were indeed named "Brian." I think I was in Brigs that session. What job(s) did you have as staff member? I spent most sessions as a Counselor or the Program Director. I was really all over the map though (not the same as all over Maps): Landsports Director, Nature/Outdoor Adventure Director, CIT Director, Steward, Gymnastics Director, Earth Wonders Specialty Leader, Tripping Director, Archery Director, Fishing Director, Tennis Director, Lifeguard and diver, Resident Camp Consultant, Day Camp Something or Other, and Assistant Camp Director to the infamous Cha Cha Chinze. What are you doing now? My husband and daughter are out breaking a world record for the number of super heroes gathered in one place, and I'm getting a bit of work done while the office is quiet. I suppose it was the costumes that reminded me of the alumni interview for camp. The world should have more Ishkaboobees. In 2002, I relocated to New England for a software job near family, and have been here pretty much ever since. I met a terrific guy, got hitched, and had a baby. The guy is still terrific, and the baby is now 3. The kid outsmarts me on a daily basis (unpacking her lunch last week I asked "why didn't you eat your broccoli?" to which she replied "I was saving it for you!") and wants to be a princess when she grows up. Those who know me will likely find her career aspirations amusing, along with her interests: Mama (driving): I'm going to stop here to grab a couple of things. Do you want anything - are you hungry? Girl: Yes. I would like something to eat and I would like a pair of shoes. Mama: Shoes? Why? Girl: I just don't have enough shoes. Lucky for me, she does share my love of the outdoors and we live in an excellent spot for skiing, sledding, hockey, etc so we have fun year round now that I know to be patient as she selects her footwear. Professionally I'm still happily immersed in software, now with a really great group of thinkers in network security who I feel honored to work with. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Not surprisingly, I would find it difficult to whittle it down to one thing. I suppose the culture of respect and encouragement that pervades on the level of daily operations has always been impressive and influential. Here are a handful of other random memorable experiences: - Back to the Future Crier, Cafe Craft Shop, Camper mission impossibles; sitting in a swamped canoe belting out ridiculous songs for hours as a camper. - Helping a teenage camper learn to swim for the first time - Having conversations with campers years later and hearing their perspective of those short 6 days together. - Seeing camper's camper's camper's become staff members - Cooking for 50 over a "real" fire on a regular basis. It's a nice skill to have. - Gem and Floss: I asked for toilet duty over giving an all-camp taps talk and you said no. Good move. - MMike: Foraging edibles from the kettles was a great introduction to sustainable eating. - QUEST with Foz - going above and beyond to spread as much fun as possible. - Magical days of Phantom Time when everything important was contained within the circular gravel camp road. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Well, Kim Zim did encourage verbosity and name-dropping for these answers, so hello to all plyc'ers from 1896 until now (and some of the people I think of today): Hello to Fello Raggers, Ursa Majors, and Morning Dippers, Hello to the Crafty (BeccaDilley, EDog, 3 Kates, Spider, Ben, Biff, Becky G, Molly G, ...), Hello to the Buoyant (SteveHill, CeCe, Shannon, Jon, Boyles, Percaks, Sport, Flossie (PFD rap = best orientation), JayScheer, Doubledays, Polly, Sarah, Ryan H, Baywatch, Dave, Mari, Sam, Liza, Alison, Roller24, ...), Hello to the Fine Story Tellers (MMike, Sir G, Slim, The Legend of Brain, Eddie C, Eric Stein, Maps, Ted, ...), Hello to the Great Counselors (Nola, Janet, Katie M, Carly, Megan, Jena, Ryan, Caitlyn, Claire, Sue T, Fozzie, Liz, Nicole, Becca P, Percak, 3 Bryns, Emily A, Ruth, Sue 6 & Sue?, Patricia, Jenni O, Beaker, Gina, Derek M, Mike Sauce, Amy M and Dave D, Paul P, Riley Cooper (thx for taking care of my bro and cousin in Fly Boys), ...), Hello to those who brought music in the morning (MMike, Cha, Bubba, Brain, REM, ...), Hello to those who brought music in the evening (Goo, Nolan, Jeff, Pudd, Spider, Flossie, Micki, and many others ...), Hello to the Chefs and the Stewards (Lady Sue, Allen and Anike, that guys who ate raw garlic, Todd, Bones, Vicky, Carolyn, young Drew, ...), Hello to the Gymnasts (Flipper, SarahSteil, Megan, Drew K, ...), Hello to the Oconomowoc Crew (my sibs Andrea, Tyler, and Matt and the O'Briens; Lynn S, Amy D, Jody M, Michelle W, Becky K, Karla K, Kim L, ...), Hello to the Latenight Swimmers (...), Hello to the Latenight Wanderers (back to your unit, Biffer), Hello to the Steadfast Year-Rounders (Nancy, Carolyn, Joelle, Cha, Iris, Gen Lee, The Lee Family, Tony, ...), Hello to the Theatrical (George, Troy and Mike M, Jim P, Courtney, Joe W, Stein, Heather, Navid, RyanH, Mark K, Jenny...), Hello to the Freakishly Energetic (BetsyBetsyBerry, Emily A, Pete and little Ann, Navid, Rich, Nicole W, Nicole Piecemeil, Katie H, Wiler, ...), Hello to the Pranksters (Slim, Slim, Slim, Matt A, Bumble, Brain, ... ), Hello to the Travelers & Outdoor Adventurers (Skeeter, Eric, 2 Daves, Becca P, Carrie, Alyssa, Julia, ...), Hello to the Ones from Faraway Places (French Connection, James, Jamie, Duck, Jemma, Rich, Poso, Bob B, Jasper, Martin, Goshka, Merci, Marie so many others I am blanking and about to misspell...), Hello to the Morning Running partners (um, Pudd?), Hello to the Quiet Leaders (SSteil, Janet, Abbey, Rob, Willy, Geoff H, DC, Julie Lemke, JessieG, Sienna, Justin, Obmas, Kathy, Maura, Mo, Megan, Molly A, Kyle G & Scottie, ...), Hello to the Caregivers (Ruthanne, Stacey O, Jocelyn, Kay, Mary, ...), Hello to the Day Camp Staffers (Vicki, Breeze, Roadrunner, Sport, Kermit, and company ... ), Hello to the Crew from Coed 2 in the late 80's (Megan, Donnan, Drew, Juliette, Nicole, Erica Blue, Meg Strayer, Amy, Cece, ...), Hello to the Influential Red Heads (Bubby, Brandon, Bryn, Gem, Kathleen, Cece, Erin, Sonja, Meghan, Diedrichs,...), Hello to the Royal Families (of Sir Gerald Carmen and Lady Sue; Lees, Russells, Obmas, Morgans, Aschoffs, Holts, D'Angelos, Foucaults, Gassers, Slocombs, Nantells, Zimmermans, Ahrens, this could go on while...), Hello to those who always brought Something More (Steve Hill, Dr Bob Obma, B Holloway, ... ), Hello to the Kettle Game Champions (This could get ugly. Let's go with "The Dark Team," and the women who won Capture the Flag fair and square during staff training in the mid-90's), Hello to the Staff and Program Developers (MMike, Flossie, Gem, Chacha, Eddie, Nantendo, Bella, Shaggy, Slim, Foz, Peewee, Toodles, Riley C, Mo, Bubba, Brain, Becca, ... ), Hello to everyone I left in the "..." (I will likely think of you tomorrow), and Hello to parents who trust PLYC with their kids, and staff who earn it. Would you like to share your email addresses? Yes (but not with web spiders. I guess Spider is ok though) Sarenes{{at}}gmail.com
			Jennifer "Brownie" Brown February/March 2011 - Featured Alum What tents were you in? Boot Hill, Shiloh, Brigadeers, & Buccaneers. Counselor: Antietam What job(s) did you have as staff member? I directed Archery, which was kind of funny, because I knew next to nothing about Archery, but I enjoyed it as an SDP, so it was fun to work there. The worst part of it was repairing arrows with Super Glue, which would always make my fingers stick together (OK, so I wasn't the most coordinated director Archery ever saw). I was also on kitchen staff for one summer during Boys Camp (yeah, remember when there was "Boys Camp" for the first half of summer, "Girls Camp" for the second half, and that innovative thing called "Coed Camp" for one week at the end of the summer? I know I'm a dusty old fogey, but I gotta say it: those were the days, people). What are you doing now? I am married to Ian Ayres and have two kids (Henry 16) and Anna (13). Both of my kids have been campers at PLYC at some point in time, which makes me happy. Our family is very into music, so we sing and make music together often. I'm a professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut, where I teach Civil Procedure, Negotiation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Professional Responsibility. I also direct our Center on Dispute Resolution, which studies and trains people in ways of resolving conflict outside of the court system - negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, especially. Every other year or so, I teach Alternative Dispute Resolution at Yale Law School down the road in New Haven. I've written quite a bit about dispute resolution, as well as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) legal issues. In Connecticut, Ian and I were involved in work to achieve marriage equality for same-sex couples. We testified before the CT legislature and I wrote some briefs for the case that eventually went to the state supreme court. Ian and I also coauthored a book entitled "Straightforward: How to Mobilize Heterosexual Support for Gay Rights." I am very active at St. Thomas's Episcopal Parish in New Haven, where I facilitate an adult discussion group, serve as a subdeacon, and participate in healing ministry. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Wow, "the most" is hard to pick. Phantom gave me a stronger sense of spirituality than I had experienced as a kid growing up in the Roman Catholic Church. Something about the lake, the kettles, singing together, listening to taps talks - I think I resonated most strongly with the third side of the Phantom Square - "favor with God." And especially as I progressed through the SDP program and into working as a counselor, I started to understand how each of us is called to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself" (in the words of the Book of Common Prayer). Raggers gave me a way to make a commitment to my faith in a day-to-day, moment-to-moment sort of way, and though I often fall short of that commitment, it set me on the road to trying. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Oh, gosh yes, though I know many of these names have changed over the years: Ellen Winchell, Barbie Spoehr, Jenny Secrest, Diane Battin, Sue Cowsert, Susan Sullivan, Joe Murphy, Jane Piercy, Ted Anderson, Riley Cooper, Connie Meek, Jane Ralph, Crazy Dan, Pizza Face, Sir G and Lady Sue, the list goes on and on. And all the campers, where ever you may be, who stood up and cheered with me for two summers (everybody now): "AN! AN! ANTI! ET! ET! ETAM! A-N-T-I-E-T-A-M AAAAANTITAM!" Favorite Memories? 1. Working on Kitchen Staff was extremely fun and at times challenging. I often had the "pots and pans" washing duty and my hands were covered with cuts and burns -- no fun. Lady Sue was saintly in her patience with us as we got the hang of working in a big institutional kitchen with very little experience. I remember kitchen raids in the middle of the night a few times, and that wonderful sense of excitement in wondering if we'd be caught "breaking the law." 2. Another funny memory for me is how my nicknames proliferated over the time I was at camp. It began simply (and innocently) enough: I was "Brownie" (how that got started I don't remember, probably at some point when I did "a heckuva job" on something (apologies to any George W fans in the crowd)). "Brownie" morphed into BrownButt, BrownNose, and finally just "Nose" or "Noser," though it's not quite clear whether anyone other than Ellen Winchell called me by these extra names. 3. I also don't remember how it started, but at some point I became associated with the song "Tomorrow" from Annie. I learned the song from Diane Battin (I never actually saw the show until after my kids were born, oddly enough). At least once each session, someone (I swear it wasn't me) would write to the Crier a request that I come up and belt out that song. That was fun. But it really came in handy on the last day of Coed Camp, I believe the first year we held it -- so also the first year I had been a counselor when there were also boy campers around. One little guy in the youngest tent had particularly bonded with me, and he was crying hard the last day of camp (maybe he wasn't looking forward to whatever awaited him at home; I don't know). He asked me to sing "Tomorrow" to him and I'll never foget his steady gaze and his "sniff sniff...sniff sniff" crying, bravely calming himself down, while I sang. That's the time that song has meant the most to me. Would you like to share your email addresses? Definitely: jennifergerardabrown@gmail.com and I'm on Facebook, which has been a terrific way to reconnect with old Phantom friends.
			Bill Cobb April 2011 - Featured Alum What tents were you in? Cactus Gulch was my first, but two stick out among all the many friend-filled tents with incredibly outgoing counselors: Flyboys (the tent formerly known as Sioux) with Geoff Cooper. Vikings with Mark Kindler (co-starring Kim Zimmerman) 25 years have passed, but those remain 2 of the best weeks of my life. What job did you have as staff member? No part of Phantom was ever a job, and I honestly can’t equate anytime in Mukwonago as working, only pure unadulterated fun. I was never a full-fledged Counselor, always “in-training,” so my whole time at camp was really that of a care-free camper. What are you doing now? My most important roles in life are father and husband. My daughter Jordan (9) is a precocious source of pure joy. Nikki (whom I recently escorted down the aisle) reminds me daily how lucky I am, and does her best to keep me grounded. I currently serve as the Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation under Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. In this position I oversee 300 Assistant Attorneys General prosecuting over 10,000 active cases brought by, or against, the State of Texas. I am primarily responsible for enforcing Texas laws that protect consumers, the environment, free markets, and the State's treasury through collection actions and Medicaid fraud prosecutions. I am also privileged to be lead counsel for the State of Texas in our challenge to the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law (brought with 19 other States), and in our multiple challenges to the EPA’s effort to regulate greenhouse gases. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? I should probably say something about increasing in wisdom or stature, but it was really increasing in favor with man (and woman) that influenced me the most. People at Phantom were so friendly, so fun, and so cool that I started to believe that I was friendly, fun, and cool, too. Phantom fueled my confidence. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Crazy Dan (who awarded me a Doctorate for Decopodge), Indo Joe (who has more energy than anyone I know, whether as Mick Jaggar or himsef), Geoff Cooper (notwithstanding that he gave me the nickname ‘muffin tummy,’ Mark Kindler (who taught me how to be cool, and whose musical influence I still feel), Kim Zimmerman (who always made me feel cooler than I knew I was), Tracey Cleveland (who can sing “lollipops grow on the ground” at a pitch only dogs can hear), Mike Giles (without whom I never would have learned of Phantom), and Mike Rule & Sir G (without whom Phantom would not be the memory it is). Favorite Memories? Stratego in the kettles. Suicides and Mountain Dew! Inspection results (seriously). Working in the craft shop (going down, down). Krull Frisbees. Deep I, again, and again. The Elegant Farmer. Shriveled bank cards. MASH in the BCC. Keel surfing. Bug juice. Kitchen raids. Summerfest (notwithstanding). Flea Fly and all camp songs. Would you like to share your email addresses?* Sure, my gmail address is atxcobb. I would love to hear from my old friends.
			Kristen Edgar Potter May 2011 - Featured Alum What tents were you in? Lots of tents: Sioux, Antietam, Shiloh, Atlantus, Spartus, Vikings…Honestly, I just can’t remember anymore. What job did you have as staff member? Hmmm... I ran the store one year, worked in the kitchen with Lady Sue one year, did Theater, Landsports, Archery, Crafts, Boating, Swimming…and, of course, I was a CIT, LIT and an AC before being a counselor. What are you doing now? After college I joined Peace Corps and taught math in Mali. Since that time I've been mostly overseas--other than a quick year in San Francisco where I worked in accounting in the fashion industry (of all things!), a few years of graduate work in New York City, and 6 months back in Wisconsin when my daughter was born. We have lived in Guam, Guinea, Egypt, the Philippines and now Morocco....and of course, Mali. I work for the United States Agency for International Development. I'm the Education team leader- I work with three other people on promoting Education. We mainly work with the government of Morocco to improve their public school system, using US foreign assistance money, and reporting the programs we support back to congress. Right now we are working on two main programs, one training teachers at the middle school level and the other assessing foundation reading and math skills among students in early primary years. I'm really keen on that one because it is new and super interesting--assessing actual learning has always been a tricky (and expensive) proposition but this is done quickly and relatively cheaply. It's been a really interesting job because until now my career has been doing the work on the ground, now I'm on the funder side of the fence, designing the program ideas and managing the funds and reporting back to the US government as well as reporting to the Moroccan government. It's been a great job. I've learned tons, and we've really enjoyed our time in Morocco. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? I loved the people and the outdoor fun. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? There are lots of people from camp that I would like to say hi to…Where to start? Favorite Memories? I hold lots of camp memories dear to my heart, but I guess the most recent one was the joy of picking up my son Nate from his first camp experience last summer and finding him glowing with the fun, bubbling over with the stories and all things good about Phantom…It really brought back the feeling I used to leave with too. It was a fine feeling to see that Phantom has hung onto that joy. Would you like to share your email addresses? Sure, edgarpotter@gmail.com
			Hilary Chermak June 2011 - Featured Alum What years did you attend PLYC? 1984-1986, (1987 I went to an art camp in Green Bay) 1988- 1990 as a camper/SDP, 1991-1993 as staff What tents were you in? Shiloh (Nancy), Boot hill (Gillian), Vikings (Gillian, again), Buccaneers (Amy) What job did you have as staff member? Girls camp Counselor (Antietam), Kitchen (what else for a Chermak), Craft shop director (during girl’s camp) What are you doing now? I was an art teacher for 6 years in Rhinelander, Green Bay and Brown Deer, Wisconsin. I taught as an “at-risk” teacher for 4 years in Milwaukee…in there somewhere I went to grad school and earned my masters in Science in art therapy. Now, I am an art therapist full-time in Waukegan, IL in behavior health and part-time in Milwaukee with Cancer Care. Currently, I am working on obtaining my hours for my License Professional Counseling credentials (LPC) and will eventually receive my LCPC (clinical professional credentials.) I work on my own art work when I can and hope to get enough work to show. I try to keep sane by spending time with friends and family. I am proud that my nephew, Ian, has had the Phantom experience; it is hard to get my nieces and other nephew to go. I have gone through good times and bad…but I have made it through with the support of family and dear friends. I owe my strength and integrity to Phantom. I love the fact I live close to Sir G and Lady Sue so when I need a little pick me up I can end up on their door step, no questions asked ;-) What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Being a ragger. Being accepted for being me. I did go to camp in the shadow of my sisters, but I was able to establish my own being as a staff member. Not many people remembered them when I was on staff and people accepted me for me. I think about camp a lot and proudly drive around with the Phantom square on my car. With being a therapist in behavior health remembering the crazy experiences I had at camp help me to relate to the crazy experiences of my clients. Just kidding. It has helped me be real for my clients; I am able to be present and listen. I am able to be open to their experiences and not be shocked to what I hear. When my days do get tough, I will think about a funny experience at camp or a silly song and feel better. If you see someone swerving on I-94 with their hand in the air like a canoe, full moon and clapping it is probably me singing green canoe! I keep in touch with several friends from camp and they help me to stay grounded- Julie Weavel (Flipper) Jenni Kindschi-Weiderholtz, Sean Carrigian (Bubby) Jesus Villa (Shaggy)- I know I can count on them when I am feeling down or out of sorts, they will help me feel better again, feel like me. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Tons! Let’s see… Jenni, Flipper, Meg Steele, Bubby, Shaggy, Shadow, Sir G, Lady Sue, Cindy Hill, Tracey, Pee Wee, Jenny (Toodles) Carol Hoye Hoye, Bam Bam (Charlie-sorry had to do it), Joelle, Mickey, Jack, Jeff, Maureen, the D’Angelos especially Christy (my life saver), Riley Cooper, Flossie, Catherine Hoffman, Pete Lauf, Spider, the Mahan’s: Derek and Brian, the Morgan’s (Troy and Mike) Kim Zim, Chris Zim, Kindler, Kurt Janka, there is so many more…If I forgot you by name I haven’t forgotten you in my heart. Favorite Memories? I will always remember scaring the pants off the campers during second Co-ed in the summer of 1992. Sir G was telling the story of Phantom Lake on campfire hill. Flipper (Julie), Shadow (Chris), and I were in the bay with a canoe. Flipper had a wet suit on so she would not get cold along with Shadow. I was in the canoe. When Sir G was at the part when the “Phantom” took the princess into the water… I belted out the loudest most terrifying scream that the oldest boys tent, which was Bubby’s (Sean) had trouble sleeping. We heard from perimeter that they couldn’t sleep. It still brings a smile to my face today knowing I helped make the story of Phantom Lake real to one set of campers. I will keep in my heart my last year as a camper in Bucco’s. I was in a tent with Fran, Jenny, Ann, Kelly Turner, our SDP was Debbie Hill and the counselor was Lisa. We went on an overnight in the Kettle Moraine. It rained. We ended up hanging out in the education center and watching nature movies, we had a pet frog named Buba Che and slept in a shed with a bat that we were afraid would get stuck in our hair. I remember reading cover to cover a silly book which the title escapes my memory, but made us laugh. Lastly, I remember being blindfolded for a lunch to practice trust or some kind of awareness of disabilities and Lisa fed me two servings of meat loaf, I didn’t know this at the time but was told during rest hour. I still have the award that was made for me by Lisa and Debbie, it was a new cover jacket to a book stating “I can’t believe I ate two helpings of meat loaf.” Would you like to share your email addresses? Sure...use it wisely! I would love to hear from you!, hilcc4@yahoo.com
			Susan Cowsert July 2011 - Featured Alum What years did you attend PLYC? 1970-1979 What tents were you in? Gettysburg, Atlantus, Brigadeers What job did you have as staff member? CIT, LIT, AC, Counselor (3 yrs.), Swimming and Boating Staff, Boy’s camp kitchen staff What are you doing now? I live in Minneapolis surrounded by lakes, bike trails, running paths and an incredible network of friends and family (my sister Julie moved here from Chicago 8 or 9 yrs. ago). I work as a Marketing/Community Relations manager at a large real estate company. One of the favorite parts of my job is overseeing our Foundation that gives funds to non-profits that work with the homeless or homelessness prevention. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Camp taught me so much, where do I begin? At Phantom I learned: - Leadership, teaching and coaching skills (I loved teaching swimming and boating and working with the SDPs). - How to improvise – remember coming up with Program Announcements on the fly? - Creativity – developing talent show skits (as I remember some of those were just plain bad :-) and writing a new tent song each session. - Respect – every summer you’d come to camp and meet people from all walks of life and you learned to care and have respect for your fellow campers and staff. - The Phantom Lake bond of friendship – it’s incredible to me that some of my favorite friends today are people I met at Phantom Lake when I was 15 yrs. old. How awesome is that? Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Shout out to Lottie Hughes – how are you? Favorite Memories? - Talking my Mom into letting me send my first camp counselor Sally Machalko (sp?) a care package right after I got back from my first session at Phantom Lake. - Having our Atlantus tent get a whole watermelon for capturing the most staff in the Counselor Hunt. - Star gazing on Campfire Hill. - Disc Jockey Riley Cooper spinning his 45s. - Sneeking into the kitchen and snacking from the refrigerator (sorry Lady Sue – I guess this activity was a rite of passage of some sort). - Feeling so much pride after completing my first Chuck Tuna swim. - Having my sister Julie sit in from of me at the last Phantom Square that I spoke taking one of the sides of the square. - Singing, singing, singing. I know my love for music and singing comes from camp. Sitting in the lodge each night and having people like Walt, Fooch or Sully up on stage strumming their guitars and voices filling the lodge with songs like "Seven Golden Daffodils" and "On the Loose" – that was heaven. - Being asked back to be an SDP and then a counselor- what a confidence booster! - Quest trips to the Elegant Farmer. - Surviving (and passing) Bob Holloway’s Senior Lifesaving class. - Buddy checks and porker runs. - Hanging out in the back CC. - Taking the nerve-wracking swim test as a camper. - Working alongside Lady Sue in the kitchen during boy’s camp. - Meeting up with Phantom Lake buddies year-round: Winter camp, Monroe Cheese Days, weekend trips to Champaign and LaCrosse. - The closing Square – the lit candles, the sharing of Luke 2:52 and the audible sniffles. Would you like to share your email addresses? Of course – SusanCowsert09@gmail.com
			Paul Blanke August 2011 - Featured Alum What years did you attend PLYC? Probably the summers of 1947, 1948, 1949 as a camper, and for sure 1954, 1955, 1956 as a staff member. What tents were you in? I am not sure of the names. One tent had John Buckley as counselor and another had Jack Uhlenhop (sp?). As staff I had Kickapoo for the first year I was on staff, and then the last two years I did not have a tent. What job did you have as staff member? 1954: I worked the waterfront, lifeguarding and teaching swimming. 1955: I worked the horses - number 2 under Hank Waschow. 1956: I worked horses as number 1, in charge. I loved it. My horse for all rides was Patches. I still carry a bridle ornament from her bridle on my key chain for good luck. What are you doing now? Well, I am retired, living in Austin, Texas so that I can see 2 of my grandchildren grow. I had careers as a lawyer, a politician, a judge, and a banker, all in the town of Kankakee, Illinois. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? As a camper Jack Uhlenhop, my counselor, changed my life in a major way. When I arrived at camp (age 11) I was terrified of water (had almost drowned in Kankakee YMCA pool). Jack patiently took me to the water once or twice a day to try removing the fear. His patient ways worked. By the end of the camping period I had learned to swim. The following summer I worked my way through the YMCA swim ladder (Minnow, Shark etc.) to the top, and learned all about boating including sailing. I later got the life saving and instructor ratings and taught at the YMCA, and of course, at Phantom. As an adult sailing was my big hobby, and I never would have tried that, had I not learned to swim. Swimming became a big thing in my family – our son (David) is a marathon swimmer and has swum the English Channel and other major feats. All of our children competed in swimming at some point. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Sure! Sir Gerald, of course. He and I started working there the very same minute. The summer of 1954, right out of high school. Marv Lotz, then camp director, welcomed us from the desk on the lodge porch and told us both to take a rake and go rake the hill side next to the lodge. Maybe 2 billion oak tree leaves. Sir Gerald, of course, really never left Phantom. A better world it is, too, for his being there. I am sorry not to be coming to the camp to see the opening of the welcome center named after him. Henry Waschow. One of my lifetime best friends. He was in my wedding. We had lots of great times together. But we have lost touch. Scottie Mire. I think that spelling is right. Her real first name was Vera, I think. She lived in Madison. I carried a torch for her for awhile. I don’t even know her married name. Favorite Memories? Well, maybe this is the place to mention that I married a Phantom girl. Joyce Smith. She was there as a counselor in 1955. We met in high school at Kankakee Illinois in 1954. Engaged in 1956. Married 1957. 3 Children, David, Mary, Sarah, all of whom went to Phantom as campers. Mary worked there for several summers as camp nurse, and her boys, Paul and Dan went there as campers. Now each of our children has 2 children and thus we have 6 grandchildren. We are doing well and will likely stop and see the camp this summer on our summer car cruise. It turned out my Joyce can make cinnamon rolls just as good as Mrs. Toftness, the cook, did in our time there. Sunday morning at Phantom in the 50’s meant a staff member could go down early to the dining hall and get fresh baked cinnamon rolls hot out of the oven. Wow, were they good! Would you like to share your email addresses? Sure – paulfblanke@gmail.com
			Mitch Wolowicz September 2011 - Featured Alum What years did you attend PLYC? 1970-1984 What tents were you in? Basically every tent but the Indian Unit. The tent I most associate with however is Shiloh. That was the tent I counseled. What job did you have as staff member? Having gone through the full SDP Program I've had the opportunity to spend some time at just about every camp activity. Once I became a full-fledged staff member I spent most of my time at the waterfront. My favorite job was working at boating. As a camper that is where I spent most of my time. I loved to sail and had a great teacher, Walt Stewart. He taught me how to tack, go into a run, yell “Jibe Ho” and “ride the boards”. I enjoyed the rowboats for the exercise it gave me and with the assistance of Larry Kinder, became the first to perform a “rowboat over rowboat rescue. Try that one some time, it’s just as hard as it sounds. What are you doing now? For the last 21 years I have been working as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. It’s a job I love for many reasons, the most important of which is that it allows me to help others reach their goals and dreams. It is also a job that has given me the freedom to spend time with my family and to watch my children grow. I’ve had the opportunity to coach my son’s baseball and football teams from age 9 thru middle school. Equally fun (and challenging) was coaching 3 years of girl’s softball and my daughter’s 8th grade basketball team. Memories I will never forget. In my free time I have stayed active in youth activities and I am the current President of our Little League program and serve as a Park Board Commissioner for the Veteran’s Memorial Park District. My wife and I enjoy traveling and have had the pleasure of experiencing different countries and cultures along the way. Life has been very good to us and we feel very blessed. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Without a doubt it was the friendships I’ve made, friendships that 40 years later continue to grow. Thanks to technology and websites like Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with old friends and rekindle camp memories. The funny thing about memories, one memory always leads to another and then to another, and all of those memories have something in common, they make me feel good. We live in a world that moves faster each day, sometimes it just feels nice to step back, and remember camp and the things we did and the friends we made. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? I hate to say this but I am going to preface this as if I were receiving an Oscar Award: To those I fail to mention, you are still in my heart, forgive me. First, to Doug B., who I pray for every night, I know that God is taking care of you my friend. Here we go, Riley, Joe D., Crazy Dan, Fatman, Pokey, Dirty Harry, Habib, Joe Mamma, Bugle Butt (hugs), Amy W, Charlie, Carol, Diane, Sir G, Lady Sue, Sue S., Coop, Ted, Dave, Mtn Mike, JP, John, Cherie, Dan F, Grant W., Tracy C., Barb, Dave, Peter and everyone else who made those summer days and nights so incredible. Favorite Memories? Over 14 years of memories… - Every SDP night out, - Midnight sails, - Kettle games, - The Elegant Farmer, - Sitting on the pier at midnight eating strawberries (thank you Elegant Farmer), - Unit wide pillow fights, - Camp songs around the fire, - The Square Ceremony, - Taps, - Placing a canoe in every tent and setting up a sailboat in a tent (all without waking up campers or counselors), - The Green Mansion (when the showers still worked), - All night movies thanks to Chuck, - The annual drive to camp, - Being the last one picked up at the end of a camp (every time, thanks mom), - Mountain Dew!!!, - The Crier, - The Incredible Hulk (fyi, green lard is water proof), - Riley coming to my High School graduation, - Learning mouth to mouth with Diane (thanks), - Telling Sir G in 60 seconds all the things I could do with a brick (during my job interview), - Summer romances and some of the best times of my life. Would you like to share your email addresses? Of course I would! – mwolowicz@columbus.rr.com
			The Stewart Family October-November 2011 - Featured Alums EDITORS NOTE: Like many Phantom families, there are many Stewarts who have come to camp. We caught up with most of the Stewart clan for our interview. Their families continue to send the next generation to PLYC. Pictured from L-R: David, Susan, Walt, Cecily, Alan, Kate & John. What years did you attend PLYC?* Walt: 1968-1971; 1973; 1975-1977 - Camper, SDP, Staff. Current Board Member. Alan: 1971-76 as a camper, 1976-1978 as an SDP, 1979 boys’ camp counselor, 1980-1981 kitchen staff (do-do-do-do), 1990-1996 chef/food service director. David: 1974-1979 - camper Cecily: 1975 Susan: 1976-1987 - Camper, SDP, Staff What tents were you in? Walt: Mariners; Buccaneers. Alan: Laredo, Atlantis (or is it “us”?), Brigs, Vikings, and others... David: Gettysburg, Shiloh, Cactus Gulch, Shiloh, Spartus. Cecily: Buccaneers. Susan: I can't remember them all. I usually stayed for three weeks at a time- I was always a hold over. What job did you have as staff member? Walt: Counselor; Admiral; Staff Development Program Director Alan: Land sports and swimming mostly, little craft shop, boating. David: I was never on staff, but I did become a counselor for adjudicated kids in Florida and my camp experience helped me in that job. Susan: Kitchen staff during boys camp, Life guard as counselor. What are you doing now? Walt: Private law practice. Alan: General Manager Sopraffina Marketcaffe (Aon Center) Chicago. David: High School Teacher. Cecily: I work as a mom and for a Credit Union. Susan: Taking care of my three kids. What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Walt: Rat from The Wind in the Willows says it best: “...there is NOTHING–absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Oh, and the Phantom Square. Alan: Has to be meeting my wife, Eniko (2% Club) David: I learned to canoe, which I have done many times in my life. I learned to love singing songs for pleasure, which I still do to this day. I learned to question my own integrity with personal relationships and hold myself accountable. I love and remember the wisdom of the Phantom Square and try to keep growing in terms of the square. Cecily: Singing at meals Susan: Camp taught me how to be a minimalist- knowing what you need in the elements and doing just fine without electrical items and other luxuries. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Walt: All the people who worked with me on the waterfront; they made a fantastic team. And all the guys in the 1977 Staff Development Program. Alan: An endless list of friends and family and “whatever-happened-to?”, you know who you are and what you did!!! David: The program director, Riley Cooper, made camp feel special because it was evident he was right where he wanted to be. Cecily: Seri Porter Susan: If Hoye-Hoye has stopped listening to Supertramp, I sure would like to hang out with her. Favorite Memories? Alan: My first session I was to attend as a camper was postponed, something about a dining hall fire, so the session was packed with boys. We ate outside, like cowboys. My tent, Laredo, was a great group of kids, Greg Abbott counselor. It was a great week of camp, one of many I was fortunate to enjoy. David: I loved going swamping and getting dirty. I loved playing capture the flag in the Kettles. I loved playing soccer in the rain on the athletic field. Those are memories I carry with me. Cecily: Only that PLYC is a refreshingly silly place! Would you like to share your email addresses? Walt: stewart@wrsalaw.com Alan: alang_stewart@msn.com David: djeromestew@gmail.com Cecily: familyvenkatesh@gmail.com Susan: sohare@wi.rr.com
			The Loversky Family December 2011-January 2012 - Featured Alums Pictured from L-R (front): Patty Loversky Schiewe, Tom Jr., Perky, Katy Loversky Clark. (back): Mike, Tom Sr., & Tim. Perky: It may be easier for my children to answer these questions because their years at camp meant so much to each one of them but maybe in different ways. I never went to camp until high school when I went as a counselor. I saw the kids having so much fun I decided that when I had kids I would definitely send them to camp. So as they became old enough off they went one by one. We also discovered Family camp. Katy was 3 months old when she first attended. We would always get the old Apache tent and we would do nearby activities and when she woke up someone would yell for us. By the time Katy was 7 she begged to go to camp so Sir G. allowed her to go. Another fun activity was Moms weekend away. We went up on Friday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon. They were wonderful times where we had tons of fun and found new friends. All of us still talk about those weekends. So I didn't answer your questions but hopefully you get the idea. Phantom was a big part of our lives. What years did you attend PLYC? Tom Jr: I was there from 1969-79 as a camper, SDP and one year as a counselor; and then for many years after that at family camps. Two years ago I brought my boys back to for a staff reunion. Patty: I think I was at camp from 1973-1986. I was a camper, went through the SDP Program and got to come in and help counselor for 1 session when I was finally old enough for my own tent! Tim: I think from 1975-1984, plus longer for family camps. Katy: I started going to family camp when I was just an infant (1975). I went on my own from 1982-1990. What tents were you in? Tom Jr: Most of them; I started in Sioux and went all the way up the ladder. Patty: My first tent was Cherokee and I was in there with my friend Julie Ehle! I was in so many other tents I can’t quite remember them all! Tim: Too many to remember. Katy: Apache, Cherokee, Cactus Gulch, Boothill, Antietam, Olympus, Buccaneers. What job did you have as staff member? Tom Jr: Waterfront primarily. I think I also did the athletic field. Patty: When I was a SDP and counselor I was usually at the waterfront since I had my lifesaving and WSI. But I loved the session I got to help at riflery! Tim: I was only an SDP for one year. Katy: I was an SDP for one year. What are you doing now? Tom Jr: I’m primarily a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles, CA. Patty: I taught first and second grade for 12 years after graduation but now I’m fortunate enough to be a stay at home Mom. I’m also the PTA President at the boys' elementary school. I don’t get paid for either of my jobs but they are both incredibly rewarding! Tim: I am a school principal for 5th and 6th grade building of 800 students in Carpentersville, IL. Greatest job ever! Katy: I am married and have two kids and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. My husband, Chad and I met when I lived in California at the beach. We moved here in 2000 and I have been teaching high school biology since 2002. My two boys, Cameron (age 4) and Ryan (age 3) keep us busy playing soccer and superheroes! Hopefully they’ll be campers in the future! What about your camp experience has influenced you the most? Tom Jr: Clearly the friendships -- I still stay in touch with Ted Anderson, Riley Cooper, Richard Rizk, Marshall Wolowicz, Steve Blumreiter and others. Facebook has been a great for that. Patty: Learning to be independent, have self confidence and accept others! Tim: I think that the most important influence was about friends. At camp you made great friends fast. And while you may not see them for a whole year, you would get back to camp in the summer and quickly rebuild those lasting friendships. Katy: At camp, being a part of nature influenced me the most. My husband teases me about my desire to do ‘outside stuff.’ I love to hike and spend time out on the water (when I’m near it!). As a teacher, I have really focused on instilling a love and appreciation for nature and I work on teaching my students their responsibility to become responsible stewards on Earth. Is there anyone from camp to which you'd like to say hello? Tom Jr: I’ve never been able to track down my partner in crime Paul “Poughkey” Kurth – Fatman’s little brother. Patty: Dave Olson (who taught me how he and my brother Tom use to break in to the kitchen without Lady Sue knowing), John Enrietto (my store buddy), Sandy Sue, Carol Hoye, Joelle Horn who all kept me laughing for years, and Amy Wimmer who was always there when I needed a friend. Tim: Too many good friends to single out one or two. Katy: Sir G… I sing “Your Mama Don’t Wear No Socks” to my kids all the time! Mike Rule… what great campfire stories! Joelle Horn, Carol Hoye, Mickey Korb… among my favorite counselors! Favorite Memories? Tom Jr: I always loved the softball games…going head to head with Riley, Dave Olson and Steve Blumreiter. We could all pound the ball pretty good and there was no shortage of jawing out on the athletic field. Those were great times. Patty: Watching the sunrise on campfire hill with Carol, pit wars, and the game on the gravel road in where we would have to dive into the bushes when we saw headlights. Tim: I was in the tent the night that Mike Rule was telling the story of The 8 Foot Tall, Pink Passion, Purple Gorilla when Dave Olsen and Harry Klein stormed into the tent from both doors. It was legen-(wait for it)-dary! I also once threw my car keys to someone wading in the middle of the cold springs at Eagle during a family camp in the 80’s. They never caught them and the locksmith bill was only $100. We had a family reunion at family camp one summer. My mom made us all matching t-shirts. When you are 22, there is nothing cool about matching with your parents. Katy: I loved to purposefully flipping my canoe with friends and not being able to turn it back over due to a major case of the giggles. One year I stayed over the weekend between 2 sessions with my friend Katie Turner. The counselors knew that we were a bit afraid of fish at the time so when we were doing our swimming test and floating, they put on mask, fins and a snorkel and started to touch our feet and legs on purpose to freak us out. Would you like to share your email addresses? Perky: perkyloversky@sbcglobal.net Tom Jr: loversk@gmail.com Patty: pschiewe@att.net Tim: tloversk@sbcglobal.net Katy: katyclark13@gmail.com