I first found Camp Chanco as an EYC advisor at a Fall Weekend thanks to the priest at St. Michael's in Colonial Heights who called me up on a Friday afternoon to tell me that the EYC advisor was sick and if I couldn't take them, the group would have to miss the Fall Weekend at Chanco. I didn't know what a Fall Weekend was and certainly had never heard of a Chanco, but I wanted to help out so I called my parents to see if they could keep my then 4-year old son Scott for the weekend and by the next morning was on the way to Camp Chanco in Don's car (which had no heat) and 4 girls who wanted to know if I would let them smoke with me in the car! After freezing to death in an Adirondack in Luke (it was 40 degrees and raining when I woke up on Sunday morning), and an awesome program during which I watched teenage boys holding hands with and hugging other teenage boys and girls dancing with each other and all just very natural and loving, I was hooked. I thought I had died and gone right to heaven as I had found what I had craved all my life - a place to belong and be loved just as I was.

The next Spring I went to an EYC Advisor's meeting and met some guy named David Davenport who told me about all the fun the youth group kids had at Chanco in the summer at Sr. High. He said I should think about spending a week there as a counselor, which I did. The first person I met when I arrived at camp that summer was Fr Frisby Hendrix and the rest is history. But I didn't let that experience stop me. It was without a doubt the best week I had ever spent in my life and I couldn't wait until the next summer. I'm afraid they've all melted into one at this point except for certain "special" times - like David Davenport chasing Ellen around the Dining Hall trying to smear bananas on her face and legs - just because he had a whomping case of the trots for weeks and was on a BRAT (bananas,rice and toast) diet for 2 weeks and was absolutely bonkers! And there was the talent show with "RosanneRosannaDanna" and the time Dave and I caught some kid hiding in the leaves one night in between Matthew and Mark who was "just out for a lay in the woods." The songs and the crazy antics and the long talks late at night and Mary's dynamite rolls are all part of the greatest memories I have.

I left Chanco in August 1981 to go to seminary in Sewanee TN where I graduated with an MDiv in 1984. I graduated 2nd in my class after serving the last year as Student Body President. I was the first Chaplain at Jackson-Feild Home for Girls for 3 years following seminary and was ordained a priest in 1986. From 1987-1991 I was the Vicar at All Saints in South Hill and answered a call to be the Rector of St. Michael's in Albany NY in 1991. I was the first woman to be a full-time Rector in the Diocese where the Bishop would not ordain women. He took to me somehow and used to brag all around the Diocese (I think he was really defending his decision to let them hire a woman) that I said I wasn't fighting a cause - I wasn't a "woman priest" - I was just a priest!) After almost 10 years there, I left for a short sabbatical and then became the Priest-in-Charge at St. Mark's in Hoosick Falls NY (a small town about 35 miles northeast of Albany near Vermont) where I stayed as a part-time "worker-priest" for 4 years. I was also a Police Dispatcher at the local police department for police, ems and fire - stayed at that for 6 years. Also started an online retail store and then opened my own little gift shop in Hoosick Falls which unfortunately didn't do too well and I closed it down after about a year. I retired when I left St Mark's but when a woman who worked at the local PT office where I lived after 3 knee replacements and 8 wrist operations, asked me if I could do services in a Methodist church, I said sure and went to sub for them. They asked me to stay and I've been there for 4 years - just Sunday mornings and a little pastoral care when necessary. They are a tiny group but they love me and I love them and they love their church. They run it and I preach and lead services and teach a little bible study. It's a match made in heaven.

In 2007 I sold my house I had bought in Hoosick Falls and moved back to Albany to be closer to my new "retirement-supplement" job at AAA in Albany and my son, Scott, and his family, who live in Delmar NY just outside of Albany about 12 minutes from my new apartment. Most likely it's where I'll stay until I hit the magic 65 mark (3 more years!) and can get Medicare - who knew I'd be counting the days until that day!! Then I'll probably quit and do freelance writing and other jobs on the internet that I now do in my spare time.

My grandchildren are now 9 and 10 years old and I have discovered that grandchildren are the reason why you have children. I love being "GABBA" and I love being close enough to see them regularly. I only wish they had a place like Chanco in their life.

That's my story - at least part of it - the rest is too gory to tell! It's wonderful to read about people and what they've been doing since the glory days at Chanco.

Hope to make it to a reunion soon - Susan