Director’s Letter
Hello and Welcome!
Something about this year has put the concept of time on everybody’s lips; it seems to me that the word "millennium" has been used more during the past ten or so months than ever before in recorded history. Time and its meaning has been on my mind lately, too, but for a different reason, as I have recently become a mother of two. With a child who is two years old living side by side with one who is just approaching four weeks, time, well, it either drags or it flies–most days it does a little of each!
I have also realized as I prepare for SWIM ’99 that I have been attending this camp for half of my life–wow! Each of my sixteen SWIM weeks has been unique, a special time all its own, but they have all included a certain amount of reflection as one year ends and the next begins. I can remember clearly the New Year’s Eve of 1983, sitting in the Teen Dorm with friends, pondering what would be our first food of 1984… Hershey’s Kisses? Doritos? It may sound silly now, but I believe that we all create our own rituals that have meaning for us, and that help us through the transitions in our lives, and sometimes a little silliness is very, very necessary.
It is in the spirit of sacred silliness that I chose our theme for this year, 1999: Last Call. It is, after all, the last call for the 1900s. The last time to listen to Prince’s "1999" in the present tense. The last time to use up those checks with the pre-printed "19__" on them. The last time to refer to the turn of the century as a historical event… It will be the last call for many of these little things, but, like every New Year’s, and like every new day, it will be, more than anything, a beginning. Let’s enjoy it together!
Coleen Murphy
Director
SWIM Community Responsibilities
The volunteers on SWIM’s staff who make this week possible welcome you to South Florida to join our intentional community. Our camp can be fragile, both physically and spiritually, so we have some basic guidelines for our behavior:
Owaissa Bauer is an oasis of calm and beauty in a large metropolitan area — we keep it that way by controlling waste and lessening impact on our surroundings.
Volunteers are needed to assist with transportation to many of our activities. We ask that only safe and insured drivers volunteer, and that no designated driver for these activities consume alcohol or any other drug that may impair driving skills.
Because we are an intergenerational community we all serve as surrogate parents when necessary, but parents must remember that they are responsible for their children outside of the regular youth programming times.
We hope to provide a safe and healthful experience for everyone, but we do not have facilities or staff to handle serious medical problems. Please bring needed medication and let us know of any serious problems you may have.
Volunteers Make SWIM Happen
We are an all-volunteer organization. This greatly reduces the cost of SWIM for everybody.
Some of us (the staff!) volunteer rather more than others. We are all on vacation, and we all work together to make our SWIM community wonderful. Staff positions are filled by the director, and we typically have more volunteers than there are staff positions. A full-staff position brings free registration for thanks, but with a very few exceptions our staff still pay their own room and board fees plus all fees for workshops and outdoor trips.
All non-staff participants volunteer at least one shift in the kitchen, at the information desk, or at Evenings at the Rec. For meals on Friday, we are in the excellent hands of our teen volunteers.
When you register, you’ll see a place to indicate three volunteer time preferences on the registration form. The shift(s) for which you are definitely needed will be in your registration confirmation before SWIM or the Registration Packet you pick up at Registration when you arrive at SWIM. Please don't miss your shift(s). Of course, you can also volunteer for any job that you see that needs to be done. There’s no restriction to the number of helpful things you can do. Also, there’s no restriction to the number of hugs of thanks we will give you!