I got a slew of slides from Bill Taylor a while ago, all from 1979. And by 'slew' I mean hundreds, literally. Not sure who took them. But I scanned most all of them and now there's here at Chanco Once. This easily makes 1979 the most-photo-documented year. Interested parties include Keith Owen (that year's PD), Dave Davenport (you gotsta check out that hair), MC Hagar, Dave Belote, Lynda Ryder, Garland Wood, Steve Smith, Mary & Doris and tons of others. It's like the Land Before Time.

So let the folks you find in the photos know their youth is on parade here, and please chip in with the captioning. Enjoy!

• 1979 - 1st Session
• 1979 - 2nd Session
• 1979 - 3rd Session
• 1979 - 4th Session
• 1979 - Staff Night

Not that I have an update about the website. No, the website itself is being updated (which is an update, I suppose). By me, that is. Expect weirdness over the next couple of days. And if something looks broken, please drop me a line.

UPDATE: Or leave a comment since the mail doesn't seem to be working. And the Photo Galleries also seem a bit wanked. Still working on it...

UPDATE 2: Photo Galleries should be working now.

UPDATE 3: Mail is working, too. If something looks broken, please drop me a line.

Hey folks, from a large vat box of random camp photos I've got three photo albums that I have no year for. I think they are grouped together properly (each album is the same year) but I could be mistaken. Looks like these are from the 1990s, so if the 90s folks to take a look and let me know, everyone will rejoice. Thanks!

• http://chancoonce.com/gallery/etc/199-something/
• http://chancoonce.com/gallery/etc/199-something-2/
• http://chancoonce.com/gallery/etc/199-something-3/

Just heard that Bishop Frank Vest passed away Sat 5 Apr. As far as I know he was the only DoSVa bishop that attended a camp session at Chanco (Sr High '91). And I'm also pretty sure he is the only bishop in the Chanco Navy. He will be missed.

1991 Sr High photo album

Just heard this news and I thought that everyone should be aware of it. The Chanco Executive Board has eliminated the Executive Director's position citing budgetary issues. So this means that Boomer Somers is no longer working for Chanco.

Much of the progress that camp has been able to make this year -- increased enrollment, beginning of a capitol campaign, an overall boost in enthiasm -- is attributable to Boomer. And it disheartens me that the board has managed to get rid of two of my friends in the past year, but somehow the question of Chanco's solvency still remains.

I'm not sure about the politics of all this, but to me it seems that the way to keep Camp Chanco solvent might not be to have no one in charge. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure the Chanco Board has the hard numbers to justify this. I could go on, but I'll just leave it at that for now. Responses and opinions are welcome in the comments.

Well howdy, buckaroos and buckarettes! Hope the winter has been treating folks well. I've just got back from traveling, so my website tinkering continues.

How many times have you come to Chano Once and said to yourself, "The navigation is nice and all, but I wish that I could just see the last 10 things that are new. I've got a life to live, after all, and don't have the time to hunt for teh new stuff." (And yes, you said 'teh' - you are getting on in years)

Fret no more my time-deprived friends. On the front page, there on the right, is the new New & Updated Stuff block. Any new content by anyone on the website will diplay in that very block -- comments, message board posts, bios, you name it. (Except photos, haven't figured that one out yet.)

Enjoy!  continue reading »

The At-Large Director Poll Results are in. Here are the new At-Large Directors:

• Dave Belote
• Sarah (Etheridge) Cargill
• Helen (Hamaker) Somers
• Greg Willis

So now the CCAA Board is in place. I think we'll be trying to get together, either in-person or on the phone, within the next couple of weeks. We'll keep you posted on what we do, and in January we'll start out membership drive.  continue reading »