News You Can Use, from TLC : Finance Department

Board Meeting

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 13:21:10 +0000

Board Meeting, last Updated: 07/18/2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Lions Camp, Inc.

(830) 896-896-8500 | news@lionscamp.com

From the Office of the President & CEO

Stephen S. Mabry, CAE

Board Meeting - An Open Letter to the Board of Directors

Kerrville, TX - April 20, 2020. Welcome to the ABC Format that saves you time and effort by organizing what I want you to do first versus what I want you to know, in this order: Action, Background, Conclusion. This document will give you additional information concerning TLC's Annual Board Meeting, which will be held in-person and virtually, at your option.(Note: the traditional Board Meeting has been condensed and the standing committees will not meet (unless scheduled for virtual meetings prior the weekend) nor will chairman meet with the Executive Committee. Lastly, the elected directors will not meet during the weekend (but will meet virtually at a later date).

Action- Next Steps

Immediately upon receipt of this communication, log how you will attend TLC's meeting by our convenient, online form, (est. time less than 1 minute).
Visit https://www.lionscamp.com daily and on an on-going basis for updates
Keep your eyes on your email for updates (make sure I am white-listed and added to your address book under any of the following cognomens [I've always wanted to use that word in a sentence]: www.lionscamp.com, news@lionscamp.com or domain of lionscamp.com).
Between now and the meeting, make arrangements to have an internet capable device with you, which will be used throughout the meeting whether attending in person or virtually. In-person attendees will have internet access available through TLC's WIFI or your own cellular device.

Background

Dear friends and TLC family: I call you friends and family because that is what you are to me as a result of our history together that spans more than 30 years(and some of you predate me with your care of Texas Lions Camp). I am writing today to provide you additional information and procedures for TLC's Annual Meeting.

The year 2020 has challenged each of us in ways we had no idea it would and that is true for our beloved organization too! I have often thought that one of the greatest gifts God has bestowed is the withholding of the foreknowledge of the adverbs associated with our future and if you think about this year or some of your own past life's events, you will know this to be true. What I also know about God, is that He has perfect timing and has equipped us with excellence to deal with the times and seasons at hand, also one of the greatest gifts He continually provides as we join Him in His work.

In April of this year, the ExComm and I made the gut-wrenching decision not to open residential camping services to children as all are presumed to have co-morbidity and/or compromised immune systems or the possibility that they could return from camp to a family member who does. Admittedly, this describes many of you as well. To the extent that you believe you might bring a contagion with you to Kerrville or are fearful that you might take one home with you as a result of travel to Texas Lions Camp then STAY HOME with my blessing. Another fact that we are going to have to square with, is the likelihood that CV-19 is going to be with us for sometime and we are going to have to learn to operate in spite of it.

The Executive Committee and I have devised a safety plan, that will be strictly enforced for those who feel comfortable with the manner in which things will operate and would like to attend the golf tournament and/or other events in person. Moreover, now that I have advised you of the officially recognized procedure, your attendance in person signifies your agreement to discharge that procedure in harmony with your legal duties of care and obedience to TLC as a board member. For those who choose not to attend in person, please plan to join us virtually. I am currently devising systems that will allow your virtual attendance, check-in, discussion and voting privileges to occur without your being physically present, so long as you are virtually present at the time of voting.

Ensuring the Show Goes On

The importance of our annual meeting cannot be overstated. The entire next year is in fact predicated upon the decisions made with this agenda and without it, our governance structure will not have exercised one of its most important roles: to limit. Some of the more important agenda items we will undertake, include but are not limited to:

Seating of the 20-21 Board of Directors and their election of Corporate Officers
Adoption of the Annual Budget
Adoption of the coming year's Annual Calendar for Summer Camp
Appointment of our Audit firm to audit last year's Financial Statement & Business Acumen
Disclosure of Current Financial Statement
Capital Improvement and how plans have changed

Deliverables

In either case, whether attending in person or virtually, there are a number of things you can expect from me from now until showtime in order to prepare for the meeting. For those who have served in year's prior, much of this equates to what you typically would have received by mail, which will be provided this year digitally and by internet only:

Safety Plan
Call to Meeting
Agenda
Board Book - containing contact lists of leadership, chairmanships, and minutes (released later this week)
By-laws or other Governing Documents
Executive Brief (new this meeting to the full Board) (released week of 7/26/2020)
Financial Statements
Login to systemsfor the Meeting(released 07/29/2020 and morning of meeting).

Conclusion

TLC has one of the largest and most engaged Boards of Directors of any organization in the United States and we are indeed fortunate to have the favor of your support. I look forward to visiting with each of you soon and wish you every safety and good health as we seek to serve our target audience, the kiddos of TLC.

Respectfully yours,

Stephen S. Mabry, CAE
President & CEO
Texas Lions Camp, Inc.

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Stephen isPresident and CEO of Texas Lions Camp, Inc. and recently celebrated 30 years ofservice to this 70 year-old, 501(c)(3) charitable, organization in August of2019. TLC, Inc. has a large Board of Directors consisting of 94 voting membersand over 300 volunteer members that serve on one of 10 standing committees. Asa corporation, TLC has more than 200 full-time and seasonal employees (who areorganized into 7 departments) and over 2,000 volunteers per year that areresponsible for creating an atmosphere of success for more than 1,500 childrenwith physical disabilities per summer. Stephen is a Certified AssociationExecutive with the American Society of Association Executives, a past CertifiedFund-Raising Executive with the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Stephen is afather of three and resides on TLC’s Kerrville campus together with his wifeShawn, who as luck would have it, is a professional editor.

Summer Programs Open Soon!

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:01:44 +0000

TLC2U

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Lions Camp, Inc.

(830) 896-896-8500 | news@lionscamp.com

From the Office of the President & CEO

Stephen S. Mabry, CAE

TLC2U

Kerrville, TX - June 12, 2020.Together with the staff, I am excited to announce that Summer Programs for the Summer of 2020 open on July 5th with our new flagship program: TLC2U! In the coming weeks, children who are registered for Camp will receive a care-package in the mail from TLC. Their box will be filled with camp-swag, goodies and all kinds of activities and items that will be needed for the coming program. Then on July 5th, we will make history together when campers, their families, Lions and staff from all over the world, will have the opportunity to logon at www.lionscamp.com to join in the fun as one, larger community.

Here's a Vid to tell you more:

What's it all about?

https://www.lionscamp.com/become-a-camper.html#TLC2U

What do I need to do?

https://www.lionscamp.com/TLC2U/HOW-TO-GET-THE-MOST-OUT-OF-TLC2U.pdf

What's the daily Schedule?

https://www.lionscamp.com/TLC2U/VirtualWeekPlaninColor.pdf

We are not just making the best of things...we are making history by starting new programs that will involve more people than ever before. Don't miss out - make your plans to join in the fun, today!

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Storms Damage BH-2

Sat, 07 Mar 2020 12:35:48 +0000

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Lions Camp, Inc.

(830) 896-896-8500 | news@lionscamp.com

From the Office of the President & CEO

Stephen S. Mabry, CAE

Storms Damage BH-2

Kerrville, TX - March 6, 2020. As storms moved across Kerr county on Wednesday, March 4 at 4:00 AM, I remember thinking, "it has been a while since we had rain this hard". The wind was up and while I heard rain-drops hitting my back-door directly, telling me that the wind was strong enough to be blowing the rain under the eaves with enough force to reach the door, it didn't seem to be any stronger than other storms we have had that didn't result in damage.

That comforting thought was short lived however and as the sun rose and the morning began, my phone sprang to life to tell me so. TLC's Director of Maintenance, Ken Folsom, reported to me that he was at Bunkhouse 2 and had cut the electricity and the gas off to the building. When I arrived, this was what I saw:

The roof of the back-porch was completely lifted and folded over so that it was laying over the front of the structure and into the front-yard. Roofing materials, beams, lumber and masonry blocks were scattered about, which also had ruptured the gas-line and electrical conduits that were on top of the roof. No doubt the quick action of our Maintenance crew prevented further damage as they moved to secure the site.


Figure 1. Ext View of BH 2	Figure 2. Missing Back Porch	Figure 3. Broken Telephone Pole

Later that morning, Williamson roofing sent a crew to raise materials to the grounds and tarp the site to prevent further damage from pending and continuing rain. Their speedy response and immediate assistance was much appreciated as TLC was preparing to receive 300 volunteers for our March workday at the end of the week.

If you would like to see video footage of my initial walk-through and inspection of the aftermath, please click here.

What Now?

Every Summer is a privilege and a joy to operate but it would be disingenuous of me to suggest that operating a small city and the comings and goings and safety of some 4,000 people in the span of 6 months is not without its challenges. Certainly, this March-Storm has presented a tremendous challenge but with it, also opportunity. The opportunity that lies before us involves our telling the TLC story by more people to more people and how important our mission and message is to more than 1,500 children that will arrive on May 31, 2020 for the first session of camp. It is the power of that story and the invitation to band together during a time of adversity for the benefit of children and something larger than ourselves, that is the silver-lining in this saga.

I cannot tell you as I write this news-release, steps 1-20 that are going to be implemented to preserve operations in Bunkhouse 2 for the Summer of 2020. I can't promise that there will be a quick or easy fix for the building itself. What I can promise, is that this is not our first "storm" both literally and figuratively and I have been a privileged steward to bring resources to bear for children and witness to see how others respond and do likewise.

Storms are part of the story God in his wisdom has permitted within the chapters of our life's story and journey. To be sure, growth and maturity are often predicated upon our response to such events. However, when things do not go as we think they should, the question we must resist is, "Why this...why now? The "Why Question" is invalid and can invalidate our response when it matters most. The better question is, the "What Question" such as, "What has happened and what is my response, Now."

I have always known God to be faithful and while I do not know all of the answers at this time, I look forward to marveling at His provision as we do our part as co-laborers with Him in His work. As we find ourselves, T-minus eleven weeks and counting from Summer Camp 2020, I am borrowing from many chapters both in my own story and that of the TLC Story that tells me with trial and Invitations to Crisis, God is present and promises His provision. Indeed, God-sized problems require God-sized answers.

The below depicted photo of a full-rainbow over Texas Lions Camp's amphitheater was taken that same morning as storms left the area. If you are unfamiliar with that biblical story, the rainbow was displayed in the sky as a reminder for all times of God's promise to man - hope in the aftermath of a great storm. Likewise, if you are unfamiliar with the use of TLC's amphitheater, it is a forum to celebrate and commemorate the challenges overcome by more than 1,500 children per summer and a declaration, "that they need not face their challenges in life alone."

iPhone Photo: Courtesy Steven King, May 4, 2020

Children Can...With TLC ^TM

If you have a heart to assist with the build-back of Bunkhouse 2, please send your tax-deductible gift to Texas Lions Camp, Inc. designated for "BH-2" or to learn more, contact Stephen Mabry or Milton Dare by leaving a comment below, email or by calling TLC at (830) 896-8500.You may also donate online by clicking here.

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CAMPaign Vision2020 Approved!

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:39:03 +0000

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Lions Camp, Inc.

(830) 896-896-8500 | news@lionscamp.com

From the Office of the President & CEO

Stephen S. Mabry, CAE

TLC Board Approves the Launch of CAMPaign Vision2020 & Beyond!

Kerrville, TX - February 13, 2020.During the February 8, 2020 Semi-Annual Board Breakfast, TLC's Board of Directors heard a report from President & CEO, Stephen Mabry concerning TLC's Master Architectural Plan and Feasibility Study for funding those plans. At the conclusion of that report, Stephen asked the Board to adopt and allow the launch of Phase I of the campaign. After hearing further reports and endorsements from the Camp Improvements Committee, Development Committee and Program Committee, the Board enthusiastically voted to proceed and TLC is now officially operating the Capital Campaign known as Vision2020 & Beyond.

Executive Committee Planning Session (Photo courtesy: PCC Stump Weatherford)

The initial phase will be aimed at providing one of the new bunkhouse quads, Lions Leadership Lodge, activity areas and infrastructure needed to support future operations of camp for kids. As the campaign gets underway, TLC will begin the planning and campaign design processes to ensure fundraising success over the anticipated, campaign life-span of 24-36 months which is the amount of time projected to complete the funding of Phase I.

"I am thrilled to have the Board's approval to move forward with the fundraising and ultimately the construction of new housing to meet the future needs of our campus. These projects are necessary for the health and safety of our kiddos and to take proactive measures to ensure TLC remains a relevant and vibrant service available for future generations of children," said Stephen.

It is always the right time to do something to help others, but according to at least one website focused on the Non-profit sector (The Non-ProfitPro), now is particularly a good time to open a capital campaign. Moreover, TLC has been working towards this moment since 2017 and is primed and ready to get started working on our future. Our feasibility study indicates that we CAN succeed at this and, we MUST! Future generations of children are counting on us.

Why This...Why Now?

Our founders likely had no idea what they had set in motion with their vision for TLC or even IF it would work. Despite the uncertainty of success, Lions dared to dream. As a result, here we are 70 years later having served almost 80,000 children and the model and mission has been pressure-tested and proven successful.

But, as one might expect with the time-frame of TLC, time and elements have taken their toll on the housing offered at TLC, some of which is 60+ years old. Moreover, advances in constructions materials, installations, and utilities have advanced and will permit greater accessibility, safety and technologies for kiddos engaged in TLC programs.

Considerthis: accordingto the Texas Department of State Health Services - Statistics Division, therewere 332,836 children born with a special medical condition in the Stateof Texas between 1999-2016. This figure does not include childrenborn with type-1 or 2 diabetes or those who will experience a trauma, accidentor illness during their childhood that will result in a life-alteringdisability. What we can learn from this data, is that if things stay the sameor even get slightly better, very conservatively speaking, there will beat least a quarter of a million children born every 15 years whowill need the services offered at Texas Lions Camp. This time-factor is alsoconsistent with the TLC target age-range for participants.

Bunkhouses

Our plan for the future includes replacing our existing camper bunkhouses with new, accessible facilities. The below depicted schematic is an architectural depiction of the northern-most, planned quadra-plex. A cozy atmosphere, central, shaded gathering area and plenty of space are just some of the features of the bunkhouses that will take us into the next generation of TLC's service to children.

Lions Leadership Lodge - The Triple-L

The Lions Leadership Lodge is a key component of the Master Plan. Not only will TLC need to demolish and remove its only two staff dormitories (now fully depreciated and in need of repair) to make way for the North Quadra-plex, but we will also remove a duplex known as the "Smith Building" (fully depreciated and in need of repair) as well. Smith Building provides housing to one professional staff member (year-round) and our Summer Food Services Director during the summer. I don't think that I need to go into an in-depth discussion of how important adult supervision is to the successful operation of TLC's mission to provide quality, safe programming and care for children who have special medical conditions, but "The Triple-L" will do just that and much more.

"The Triple-L" will begin each year by providing much needed housing for the nursing/medical staff, leadership staff and support staff needed to provide structure, supervision and care over the children engaged in our regular summer program, spanning 6 sessions and ~750 children who have special medical conditions. Later in the summer, the 75 room facility will switch gears when we open our diabetes program and become the headquarters for the 70+ medical staff members needed to provide care and medical support to manage 440 children who have type-1 diabetes.

But that's not all, "The Triple-L" will also become head-quarters and home to the leadership staff arriving to implement partner-programs that are already running, such as Camp Discovery (for children with cancer), Camp Neuron (Texas Epilepsy Foundation's camp for children who have epilepsy), and Camp David (Texas Burn Survivors' camp for children suffering a traumatic burn) just to name a few who provide services to another ~350+. If you think by this time it has already had a workout, buckle up because we are NOT done yet. This facility will make it possible for TLC to further expand its outreach to NEW partner, mission-based, non-profit organizations similar to those listed above in order to serve a wider audience of children with special needs while supporting TLC's own operations - a win-win-win in most everyone's economy.

When TLC's Summer Camp operation is not in session, "The Triple-L" will also provide new and exciting additional housing for volunteers engaged in TLC's workdays. As many of you are aware, the TLC workdays have become wildly popular and we now regularly run in excess of 600 people per workday at each of our three Spring workdays held on the 1st Saturday of March, April and May. As a result of this observation, I have recently adopted the following saying, which I invite you to likewise adopt:

"Before a single child steps foot, wheelchair, crutch or prosthetic on TLC's soil, almost 2,000 of the 34,500 Lions funding TLC arrived early just to make sure that the gate is open and the facility is ready for them to enjoy!"

I'm still not done. Some of you may be unaware that TLC has expanded its outreach through a three-prong missionthat includes our 1) summer programs, 2) diabetes education and 3) disaster relief, all three of which might result in what is classed as "service-revenue". Over the course of my career, TLC has participated in relief operations involving ice, wild-fires, floods, hurricanes, and sheltering of minors, senior-citizens and 1st responders who were themselves engaged in disaster relief. I would also venture a guess that if you are unaware of this fact, you would definitely be surprised to learn that TLC has provided safe-haven shelter to more than 2,000 individuals in the last 30 years. Such operations have allowed us to expand our service-base while raising both operating support and community awareness.

While I recognize the cost of building is significant, the benefits of the new bunkhouses and "The Triple-L" facility are invaluable. TLC will garner much needed resources to offer while providing service-revenue that will discount the cost of construction over the building's useful, service-life. A win for Texas Lions Camp, the adults and volunteers who pour into the lives of TLC campers and most importantly - the children "We Serve."

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Dripping Springs - Leading the Way

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:25:20 +0000

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Lions Camp, Inc.

(830) 896-896-8500 | news@lionscamp.com

From the Office of the President & CEO

Stephen S. Mabry, CAE

Dripping Springs LC - Leads the Way for CAMPaign Vision2020 & Beyond

Kerrville, TX - February 21, 2020. During the February 2020 Board Breakfast, Stephen S. Mabry, President & CEO of TLC, addressed the Board of Directors and prominently featured the results of the Feasibility Study and architectural plans for TLC's future. Immediately following his report and request that the Board officially take action to open a Capital CAMPaign known as Vision2020 & Beyond, the Dripping Spring Lions Club stepped forward and surprised and delighted all in attendance by presenting a $100,000 pledge to TLC to kick-off the CAMPaign.

According to Dripping Springs Lions Club President, Lion Doug Marsh, "the Dripping Springs Lions Club has been working for sometime to make this gift to TLC a reality as we definitely wanted to be apart of the new CAMPaign in a BIG Way! All of us in Dripping Springs are thrilled to be able to make this Leadership Gift at this time to demonstrate our commitment and belief in the future of TLC."

"The timing, material sum and heart behind this lead gift could not have come at a better time. To have just asked the Board of Directors to open a campaign - and then to have the Lions of Dripping Springs demonstrate immediately their belief in our plans - sets the appropriate tone and pace for the rest of the State to now follow. In the coming months and years, we will each have an opportunity to weigh our own commitment to this effort and decide how to respond to the challenge that lies before us. Whatever that financial commitment might ultimately come to mean, it will be borne from each of us doing our part", said Stephen Mabry.

Stephen went on to add, "My admiration and gratitude goes out to each member of the Dripping Springs Lions Club for their gift and for propelling TLC forward in its quest to prepare to receive future generations of Texas Children. Thousands of Texas Children depend on the services offered through Texas Lions Camp, some of whom have yet to be born."

Pictured: from left to right: Tom Blase (Treasurer of TLC), Sandra Marsh (wife of Doug Marsh), Doug Marsh (President of DPLC),

Sharon Kemp (Member DPLC), Richard Kemp (Member DPLC), Stephen Mabry (President & CEO of TLC),

Wes Car (Vice-Chairman of the Board of TLC). (Photo courtesy, Lion Stump Weatherford)

To learn more about CAMPaign Vision 2020 & Beyond, please subscribe to this blog or visit our Next-Level page at TLC's website.. To learn more about Texas Lions Camp, visit us online at www.texaslionscamp.org or call (830) 896-8500.

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