Dear Friends and Chanco Family

Forgive me that geography removes me from Camp and the Southern Diocese by about 400 miles. Time has me removed from Chanco by 14 years since I last stepped foot on its surface. Perhaps I can offer a voice from a distance to those who are so closely tied to Chanco now and have been always.

To those who are close to Chanco - and never left it - you are pilgrims and for that your passion is appreciated. I am comforted in knowing that many old names and faces still have ties to the Camp while many of us - do not because of time and distance.

I was as bothered as many to here about Boomer's fate the other night as I check the website often for new additions and old stories. In this case this was a new story about an old face. I don't know the dynamic of things so I will admit ignorance but as an outsider looking in who had a long relationship with the Camp and its family including my own I will make these passionate and perhaps patriotic pleas from the Palmetto State.

First - The formation of an Alumni Association was and is a great idea - something I had pondered for years but never could formulate from my location. However the time has come to accelerate the process to build this alumni base and find any and all alumni. My guess is that if half the people that stepped foot on Camp's soil feel the way many of us do - than we are talking about a formidable force to reckon with.

Second - I hope that the bitterness over Boomer's termination doesn't turn us away from Chanco altogether - my guess is that he would not want that. I think - No I know that the route best taken is that we all become educated with the circumstances. Those of you that have voiced an opinion have continued to add insight into a foggy situation. REMEMBER there are many folks that do not know what has been going on at Camp for several years or even a couple of decades. Keeping the masses informed and educated will help serve any movement to restore things the way we want Camp to be.

I will add to that this - WHO IS IN CHARGE - for everyone who continually checks this site and those that are new - which Board runs Camp - my understanding is that there is more than one committee - What is going on with the Diocese - again reminding everyone that many of us no longer reside in Southern Virginia but we keep Southern Virginia in our hearts.

I have spent 14 years in the heart of ACC and SEC country - making reference to a pair of NCAA Conferences and one thing that I am quite familiar with is the alumni base at the respective universities and their enthusiasm to support and also control the enviroments they love. Anyone who follows the schools in those respective conferences will understand - the Alumni control a lot more than standing committees. There is no reason that the alumni of Chanco cannot function much the same. The time is overdue to go on a blitz to find alumni - contact them - inform them and determine if a large body of pilgrims cannot turn what has been changed.

If there is anymore that I can do - I am able and willing

sincerest regards

Anthony Cox