Friends of Tinnerman /
Tinnerman Guide Association

January 2002, Issue 2

Chairman's Corner

It has been nine months since our organization's last newsletter. The last newsletter was a success in the fact the FOT/TGA received some generous donations and new members, and kept all of us up to date regarding Tinnerman.

The work of the FOT/TGA has helped support the camp by awarding four stipends to staff members of the 2001 staff.

A web site was established by the FOT/TGA and developed by Chris Komlenic, a former guide; Thanks Chris keep up the great work.

Our March Luncheon was a success as well and all enjoyed the presentation by Toni Harting.

The FOT/TGA continues to grow slowly and as a fairly new organization we are still experiencing growing pains. At this time I ask for your continued support in both monetary donations and time. Please attend the meeting if possible and express your thoughts and ideas.

If any one has any ideas or questions about the FOT/TGA, please call me at 440-888-2958 or write to me at the FOT/TGA address below.

Jim O'Donnell
Chairman, FOT/TGA

Fifth Annual FOT/TGA Luncheon

Guest Speaker: World Record Holder Verlen Kruger

The annual luncheon will be held on March 10, 2002 at 1.p.m. at St Mary’s hall in Cleveland. Tickets for the luncheon and speaker are $20.00. Program tickets will be $10.00. Please RSVP by March 4th. If you would like to make a donation to the silent auction but are unable to attend please call the FOT/TGA to make arrangments to have your item picked up.

The guest speaker for the luncheon is Verlen Kruger. Verlen Kruger is the World Record holder for the longest canoe trip, 28,043 miles! If that weren’t enough, he paddled from the Arctic Ocean to South America’s Cape Horn. His slides will cover both of these trips. No wonder his motto is: "All things are possible with God".

"Verlen Kruger is a canoeman extraordinaire, an explorer at heart, a photographer, author, lecturer, and a canoe designer and builder. He is a traveling man, a Voyager, who is happiest when he is moving. He had been to all 50 states before ever discovering the canoe. Since that meeting he has rediscovered all but 2 by canoe. Along the way he has broken nearly every long distance world record in the book (and a few that aren't). Kruger has already paddled a lifetime total of over 90,000 miles." (Excerpt from: www.krugercanoes.com)

Please join us for this exciting opportunity to meet this canoeman extraordinaire on March 10, 2002. Please use the Luncheon form in the back of the newsletter to RSVP. Seating is limited so please register early.

St. Mary Byzantine Church
4600 State Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
216-741-7979

From the I-480 exit at State Road, head north about 1 mile. St Mary's is on the left-hand side. Dress will be informal, and families are encouraged to attend.

Big Auction!

Win a 5 day individual trip to any one of the following destinations: Cape Caution, Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, or Johnstone Strait - British Columbia, or Baja California! This trip, provided by Ocean West Expeditions is approximately valued at $1300. ...More Info.

Recap - Summer 2001 Tinnerman Treks

By Stephen Bittence

If it isn’t fun, it isn’t Scouting! This was certainly true this past summer at our Tinnerman Canoe Base. After an initial week of guides training, we had six weeks of canoeing crews from many parts of the country. The base experienced several changes including the addition of a program director, female staff members, and a married couple, all serving as guides.

Mike Nappier, an experienced Tinnerman Guide returned this year to help create the position of Program Director. As Program Director, Mike developed and implemented many changes. One of the most successful was a ceremony held on Saturday night for returning crews. The canoe base’s history was reviewed at a campfire, which ended with the awarding of the Base’s Maple Leaf Patches to the crewmembers.

This summer saw the addition of Joanie Lis and Tricia Layne as guides to our staff. Joanie & Tricia were valuable members of a tremendous staff with a mix of new and returning guides. This summer’s staff was hard working, dedicated, and a pleasure to work with. To accommodate the female staff we divided the Upper Boat House into two rooms with private entrances. Each room had access to the porch, were the staff was able to enjoy many hours of conversation and camaraderie.

My wife Jeanie & I had a wonderful summer. We worked as a guide team and stayed in the Cook’s Cabin. This was my first year as Senior Guide, which proved to be both challenging and rewarding. This was Jeanie’s first summer at Tinnerman as a staff member and she had a great time.

Both Bob Smith and I are grateful for the support of the FOT/TGA in assisting us in rehiring four experienced Tinnerman guides. Without question, everyone agrees that rehiring experienced guides are the best insurance of safety. Thanks should also go to Bob Becht, the GCC Camping Chairman; to Troy Johnson, GCC’s new Program Director; and all of the other staff members of the GCC.

Treasury Report

By Joe O'Donnell

To date FOT/TGA has $37,175.00. The funds are invested in CD's. $1,000 will be made available for stipends in the year 2002. Stipends were awarded to Cory Dunn, Mike Satyshur, Mike Nappier, and Mike McCullum for the 2001 season.

The annual luncheon netted a profit of $245, thanks to the generosity of the silent auction contributors. They are:

If you would like to donate to this year's silent auction please contact FOT/TGA.

New Council Liason

Thanks to Jenny Enold Lebrun for her efforts in working with the FOT/TGA as the Council Liason. Congratulations to Troy Johnson on his new postion as Program Director and Council Liason to the FOT/TGA.

Voyageur Notes

Guides Needed

Know any prospective guides...17 and older? Tinnerman Canoe Base is looking for qualified guides for the summer of 2002. Please contact Bob Smith, Director at 440-835-1956. Or call the Council Service Center at (216) 861-6060 for applications. Staff interviews by appointment only, call Bob Smith or council Program Director. ...More Info

Address Correction

Every attempt has been made to reach Tinnerman Alumni. If you have a correction or know of anyone that would like to receive this newsletter please contact the FOT/TGA. We need your assistance to make an all-inclusive list.

Membership Report

By Kevin O'Donnell

If your membership has expired please renew your membership by remitting your dues to the FOT/TGA at the address which can be found on our Contact Page.

More information regarding joining and/or donating can be found here.

???'s From the Crews

We asked the 2001 guides what questions they heard most from the crews.....you’ll see times have not changed from when you were a guide:

  1. How deep is the water?
  2. What are we having for dinner tonight?
  3. Are there any fish in this river?
  4. Can we drink the water?
  5. You're supposed to soap the outside of the pot?
  6. Can we have an intinerary with lots of whitewater?

Tinnerman Book

The FOT/TGA is currently in the process of drafting a book about Tinnerman Wilderness Canoe Base, and needs your stories. Please include all dates and times, peoples full names, pictures of artifacts from Tinnerman Canoe Base, and/or pictures of Tinnerman suitable for publication. Please choose a category below or create one, as this will help us index our information.

Please email, snail mail, call or send via disk to:

Kevin O'Donnell
6588 Crossview Road
Seven Hills, OH 44131
216-901-9221 Home/Fax
216-689-1609 Work
kodonnell@core.com

You may also submit stories via the web, and our submission form.

1 Animal Stories, snakes, bears etc.
2 Boats
3 Burner Barrel's (trash now & then)
4 Cedar Strips
5 Changes of River
6 Coleman Lanterns
7 Communication now & then
8 Conservation crews and guides
9 Crew Recollections
10 Crossing to/from the Bustards
11 Directors Past and Present
12 Equipment now & then
13 Exploration of new areas
14 Failed meals (base and trail)
15 Fishing Stories
16 Food now & then
17 FOTTGA History
18 French River Delta
19 Future of Tinnerman
20 Guide Training
21 Guide Trips
22 Hartley Bay House
23 History
24 Maint. Projects
25 Maint. Crew
26 Major donations, Lubrizol, Eaton
27 Names of Canoes
28 Preparing for Crews Arrival and departure
29 Programs ....Crazy Cliffs water skiing, sailboats
30 Red River Cereal
31 Safety Record
32 Spaghetti Dinners
33 Steak Dinners
34 Trips Routes and memorable trips
35 Visitors to the Base
36 Voyageur Program
37 Pictures

Facilities Update

By Mike Loomis, Maintenance Crew Chief

Spring 2001 the crew consisted of Mike Loomis, Bob Huge, Frank Oblak, John Prizzi, Fred Lee, Dave Aljoe, Eric Mathiot, Bob Karmilowicz and Brad Loomis.

Due to the heavy snows last winter, three buildings were found damaged-- two crew cabins and roof of lower boathouse. All three are repaired and back in service.

We replaced the balance of the walkway next to the lower boathouse. In an ongoing project to replace the foundation of the upper and lower boathouse, we poured a cement pad, installed new beams and fixed a sage post on the south wall of the lower boathouse.

We replaced the base for the Tinnerman sign and reattached the letters, installed new boat bumpers on the new dock, and installed a new refrigerator in Main Lodge.

The Fall 2001 crew consisted of Mike Loomis, Fred Lee, Dave Aljoe, Eric Mathiot, Bob Karmilowicz, Brad Loomis and Toby Irwin. We completed the standard closing procedures and installed new red metal roofs on the two crew cabins below the Director’s cabin.

Thanks to both spring and fall crews for their hard work and commitment to Scouting.

Sponsor Needed

We are still looking for a sponsor to cover the cost of the next newsletter. If you or any one you know would like to have their business listed here please call or email Kevin O'Donnell.

Dates for 2002 Tinnerman Crews

Pre-Camp Leaders Meeting
Pre-camp leaders information meeting will be held at the Council Service Center on Saturday, May 11, 2002.

Tinnerman Pre-Trek Training
Held on June 1, 2002. Details will be sent to each registered crew in February. Any former guides available to assist please contact Bob Smith at 440-835-1956.

FOT/TGA Mission Statement

The Association is established for the purpose of receiving and maintaining a fund or funds and applying those funds and/or income thereof to promote the Tinnerman Wilderness Canoe Base operated by the Greater Cleveland Council, Boy Scouts of America, through recruitment, training, and retention of Tinnerman Guides; and toward the improvement of the Tinnerman Wilderness Canoe Base experience for the young individuals and adults who utilize its program.

FOT/TGA Top Ten Things To Do

  1. Join or renew your FOT/TGA Membership
  2. Attend Luncheon
  3. Attend FOT/TGA meetings
  4. Volunteer, as a maintainer or FOT/TGA member
  5. Give Bob Smith a referral for a Guide for 2002
  6. Send us your Tinnerman Story
  7. Help us recruit former Guides and Crew Members
  8. Make your tax-deductable contribution to the FOT/TGA
  9. Promote Tinnerman
  10. Get involved

www.fottga.org

By Chris Komlenic

Since officially going online April 1, 2001, the FOT/TGA web site, located at http://www.fottga.org has met with varying degrees of success. We've been attracting approximately 300 visitors per month on average, and have received numerous submissions of information from users to the site.

We currently have contact information listed for 28 former guides in our "Guide Directory", reaching as far back as 1965. We've also received numerous tips, which have helped us to fill in the many "holes" in our information, and hope to someday soon finalize a list of all known former guides, and their respective years on staff. Submission and posting of each staff member's contact information is voluntary.

Most popular by far, has been our "Image Gallery", featuring photographs of the French River area, and Tinnerman Canoe Base. Currently we have 30 photographs available online, with another 100 or so to be posted sometime soon.

We're also hard at work on a new version of the site, due out sometime in the spring of 2002, which will feature some improvements, and new features that have been suggested by visitors.

The site is intended to be about "all things Tinnerman", and hopefully will grow to become a unique source of related information. You can help by submitting appropriate photos, stories, and other information via the site.

Also in this Issue

FOT/TGA Application
which can be downloaded Here.

Contact Information
which can be found Here.