Friends of Camp Kenan Board of Directors
Robert "Goose" Gray
Founding Member
The One, The Only, Graaaaay Goose! Robert "Goose" Gray, needs no further introduction to most local Western New York residents. A resident of Lockport, NY Goose has been serving the community of Lockport and beyond for many years with his unforgettable story telling, singing and love for the outdoors.
He continues his life long work in resident camps, sharing his special talents with children every summer. Goose remains a beloved fixture at the YMCA in Lockport, NY and Camp Kenan.
He was a part of the founding members of Friends of Camp Kenan and our annual Camp Kenan staff reunion, "Goosestock" is named in honor of his service to Camp Kenan. Goose stayed on the Friends of Camp Kenan Board of Directors during the 2010 elections, as an advisory member. He is an active member of Friends of Camp Kenan and returns each year to Goosestock.
Mark Natemeier
President
I am fortunate to have a beautiful and loving wife and four children [Age 11, 8, 5, and 1] and reside in Erie,
PA. I met my wife at Westminster College in PA and we have lived in Erie since 2000.
I grew up in Gasport NY and was a graduate of Royalton-Hartland High school in 1994.
My grandmother, Ruth Natemeier, was the camp secretary for many years and was the main reason that I started attending Camp Kenan at age 7. For many years I sold 100’s of candy bars so I could attend Camp Kenan at least once a summer and many summers for two weeks. Being a fiercely competitive kid and a kid in no short supply of energy Olympic week tended to be my favorite week of the year.
From 1982 to 1990 I moved from Cadet, to junior and finally to the senior Village. In 1991 I became a CIT with a class of 7, several of them I am still close friends with today. The experiences I had that year with my fellow CIT’s, our director and other staff helped mold me into the person I became over the next five years at camp. I spent one year as a JC, then two summers as a Senior councilor and my final two years on staff I was the Aquatics and Waterfront director. After the summer of 1996 it was finally time to grow up, I had an internship at my college that I couldn’t pass up.
I would come back to camp just once in the next ten years, and that was to see the new tower which was named after my grandmother. However, in 2007 my oldest daughter, after hearing all my stories about camp decided to go to camp at age 7. We have been going back and getting more involved ever since.
Adam VanDeMark
Vice President
I am currently a manufacturing and supply-chain specialist with the Department of Defense in Buffalo, NY and live in Lockport, NY. I began this position in April of 2010. In addition to my position with the DoD, I have also been a member of the Marine Corps Reserves since 1996 and have served both at home and overseas. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at SUNY Buffalo and hope to, one day, return there for a Master’s Degree. While, I still live in the city where I grew up, I have also lived in Florida on two occasions, both times deciding that I would happily give up the weather of Florida for the people of Western New York. I prefer to be active in my local community and support organizations that I feel strongly about. I also enjoy spending time with my fiancée, Kelly, and our two dogs.
I spent many summers at Camp Kenan, not only as a camper (Cadet through Senior), but also as a staff member. I was a Counselor-In-Training, Junior Counselor, Senior Counselor, Waterfront Director, and also spent a couple of summers as the “Spare Tire”, assisting area directors and staff members and working as the Program Coordinator in the off-season. Camp Kenan has always been a special place for me, as I know it has for countless other people.
I greatly look forward to working with the rest of the board members and with all of the people who help to keep Camp Kenan such a special place.
Elizabeth (McGuire) Millen
Secretary
I am currently a stay-at-home Mom, working part-time in retail. I am happily married to Andrew Millen; we will be celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary this year, in September 2011. We have two little girls, Cecilia and Josephine, and our newest addition, our son Elliott.
Until Goosestock 2009 it had been about 12 or so years since I had been back to Camp Kenan for a meaningful length of time. Seeing old friends, spending time with my brother Tim and sharing my love of Camp Kenan with my daughters, meant so much and made me want to be more involved somehow.
When Goosestock 2010 was rolling around again I had to be a part of it. I am now very proud and excited to be member of the Friends of Camp Kenan Not for Profit Organization as the Secretary. I look forward to the years ahead, the fun we are going to have, the memories we are building, as well as the good work we are going to do.
I am so grateful for the familiarity my family, especially my children, will have with Camp Kenan even before they one day becoming campers themselves!
Brigid Tobin
Treasurer
I attended Camp as a camper and later returned as a Day Camp Staff before making the switch over to Resident Camp. I left Camp Kenan in 2002 for a full-time job at St. John Fisher where I did my undergraduate and graduate degrees.
After working at Camp Good Days & Special Times, a camp for children affected by cancer, I returned to work at the Lockport Family YMCA. In 2010, I accepted the position of Business Administrator.
I have attended Goosestock for many years and was actively involved with the planning committee in 2010 before being elected to the Board of Directors. I look forward to serving on the Board as treasurer and
I currently live in Lockport, NY with my fiance Alan and our puppy Bailey.
Kayleigh Fischer
Board Member
My name is Kayleigh Fischer and I am originally from the Buffalo area. I started coming to camp because my
dad was a woodsman counselor for a number of years in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I started as a little
cadet camper in 1995. I was a camper through 2002, a CIT in 2003, a Counselor (and sometimes archery director)
2004-2007, the Ropes Director 2008-2009, and the Assistant Director in 2010.
I am currently a medical student at Stony Brook University and I am interested in pediatrics. I have a sister Allison who came to camp starting in 1997 and stayed through her JC summer. She is now at Elmira College in her senior year.
Here at school I have a cat named Buttons who is a year and a half old. He keeps me sane. I really love CK, it has always been a big part of my life, even before I was old enough to be a camper, and I am glad for the opportunity to support and give back to something so important to me and many others.
Lisa (Polovick) Flaherty
Board Member
I came to Camp Kenan as a camper because my sister Tara came the year before and I just had to do
everything my big sister did! I followed in her footsteps all the way to being on staff. My last summer
at camp was the summer after graduating from Starpoint High School in 2000.
I attended Canisius College and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Computer Science. I worked as an IT Specialist for the United States Attorneys Office in Buffalo, NY and Washington, DC for five years. I now work for the University at Buffalo, for their central IT organization. I married my husband, Kevin in August of 2009 and live on Grand Island, NY with our dog Griffin.
I first returned to Camp Kenan for Goosestock in 2009 and instantly knew I had returned "home". It was clear that I had to make a committment to stay involved with Camp Kenan in whatever way I could. I look forward to serving on the Friends of Camp Kenan board and keeping the spirit of Camp Kenan alive!
Rachelle (Barends) Hathaway
Board Member
I never had the experience of being a resident camper at Camp. As a shy and quiet teenager, I was very fortunate my sophomore year of high school to be selected to attend a Leadership Camp at Camp Kenan. It was that early weekend in September that I first met the Old Grey Goose and a couple very outgoing staff members. After that weekend, I made the decision to apply for a counselor position in the upcoming summer of 1993 and continued to work full summers through 1996. In the summer of 1994 I spent an entire week canoeing the Erie Canal with The Old Grey Goose and four campers. Getting to know Goose and the campers, helping them work together and safely return to the shores of Lake Ontario are only a few of the memories I have from my favorite week as a counselor.
I was born and raised In Lewiston, NY. I attended St. Peter’s RC School then went on to graduate from Lewiston-Porter Senior High, in 1994. I began my undergraduate studies at Westminster College in PA, transferred to Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Education. In September 2005, I began my Master’s in mathematics education. I completed the degree two years later and I received my permanent NYS teaching certificates as an elementary and secondary math teacher.
I worked as a math teacher at a secure juvenile detention center and in 2007 accepted a position with Newfane Schools as a Math Specialist teaching accelerated, remedial and Integrated Algebra. My position was cut at the end of 2011. I currently work as a consultant for a local company, curriculum mapping common core standards.
I currently live in Wright’s Corners, Lockport with my wonderful family: my husband Denis, my daughter Sharidan and our newest member, our son Robert.
Cindy Roth
Board Member
I started going to camp in 1989. My parents sent me to get me out of the house, but it ended up being
so much more than that. I cried on the way in because I didnt want to go to camp and I cried on the
way out becuase I didnt want to go home.
After that I came back for the next 6 summers on staff as a JC, SC, Lifeguard/Pool Director, Aquatics Director, Assistant Camp Director and Day Camp Director (in that order). I was also very privlaged to come back to camp this past summer (2010) and work Olympic week. I even got to be in a cabin for the week.
I now work in the telephone service center for First Niagara Bank and I also work part time for the Sabres and Bisons ticket offices. I live on my own. My sister (who also worked at camp) is still in the area and my Dad (who was one of the camp nurse/EMT's) is now living in South Carolina (gotta love retirement).
Jenn Shepard
Board Member
I started going to camp in 1988 and stayed until 2000. I went from camper to Senior Counselor by the time I left, and loved every minute of every summer I spent on the shores of Lake Ontario. In fact, many of the friends I met at Camp I still maintain today, thanks to Facebook!
After leaving Camp, I received a Bachelor's in English and Women's Studies from SUNY Oswego, a Master of Science in Training and Performance Improvement from Capella University, and will be beginning a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology in January 2012.These days, I am a technical writer and trainer for an international breast cancer research group.
I am excited about being involved with the Friends of Camp Kenan and giving back to the place that brought me so many years of happiness!