Buildings at FV don't get built by themselves, of course. But most of us have always just exclaimed ("new building!") and then figured out how to use it for the benefit of the kids and families who love to visit our valley. Although FV is a non-profit organization, the capital (one-time expenses, not in the operating budget) needed to do any construction or renovation must be found. For the Mitchell Conference complex (Geyer Hall, the renovated former girls' dining hall; Lakeview Lodge) and the new Wellness Center, we went into a capital campaign. Lots and lots of folks were involved. Two major gifts of $1 million each were pledged by Paul Guenther (wellness center) and Helen Geyer (Mitchell buildings) but hundreds of others gave smaller yet significant amounts, including many alumni (I'm proud to say). The fellow who co-chaired and led this campaign on the Trustees side was the remarkable Hunter Corbin, one of the kindest and most thoughtful--and most effective--people you'll ever meet. At the recent at-FV meeting of the Board of Trustees, trustees and staff gathered in the Day Room of the dining hall before lunch one day and thanked Hunter, presented him with a plaque...and Jerry Huncosky announced that the new road leading behind the Group Home (gray house that used to be the Devlins' and then Whites' residence) up to some new staff houses would be named in Hunter's honor: Hunter Lane.Thank you, Hunter! Every child who has a fever or a sprained ankle this summer might well thank you too, as he or she sits in a beautiful comfortable spacious and friendly waiting room and can get some nursing TLC in a real treatment room. The digs are so good that one imagines campers will want to stay overnight rather than tramp back in the dark and cold rain up to a sandy-floored old cabin on the hill! Oh well.
