Duane Hicks
Citing a declining membership, the local Kiwanis Club is proposing to sell its Sunny Cove Camp to the Town of Fort Frances for $1, with the intent being for the town to preserve and maintain the camp for the use of district residents.
Details of the proposed deal, which will be voted on by council at its regular meeting next Tuesday (Oct. 13), were explained to a group of about 30 local residents, Kiwanis members, town staff, and mayor and council yesterday evening during a public meeting at the Civic Centre.
Town CAO Mark McCaig recalled that back in early 2008, the Kiwanis Club approached the town about the future operation of Sunny Cove Camp, advising the town that “attempts to recruit new members had not been successful and that the ongoing upkeep of the facilities had become a considerable strain on their aging membership.”
Since the Kiwanis wanted to see the camp continue to be run, they offered to sell it to the town for the sum of $1—as long as the town kept running the camp “in the manner that has always been intended: as a beautiful and serene setting for area church organizations, youth groups, and others to enjoy,” said McCaig.
Then last November, a town committee began examining the feasibility of acquiring Sunny Cove Camp, reviewing all aspects of its operations. The town also continued to consult with the club on financial, operational, and philosophical issues.
In the last year, the parties came up with an agreement that would see the town buy the camp and continue to run it.
Some of the highlights of the proposed agreement include:
•the town will acquire Sunny Cove Camp for the sum of $1 once town council passes a resolution agreeing to the acquisition;
•the name of the camp will stay “Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp”;
•the Kiwanis will keep and maintain all of the pictures, plaques, and historical items on the walls of Russell Hall (if the hall is renovated or replaced, these artifacts will be placed in an appropriate place to continue to recognize the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club);
•a Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp Advisory Committee will be struck, which will see the Kiwanis working with the town to provide input and ensure the present usage will be maintained to certain camp users. (The town will provide a maximum of three designated members of the local Kiwanis Club to sit on the new committee. If the local Kiwanis Club ever ceases to exist, the town will solicit applications from the community, with preference given to former Kiwanians);
•the town will adopt the current booking schedule as priority users based on historical bookings (bookings will need to remain current in accordance with the town’s recreational booking policy);
•the town will provide priority placement based on historical usage and the town’s recreational booking policy, such that if a group traditionally has used the camp at a certain time, they will be given the first opportunity for that
booking time the following year, if possible;
•the town will maintain the primary use of the property as a camp for youth of the district, with the understanding that others uses of benefit to youth, families, and the public are encouraged, as well; and
•if the town ever chooses to divest itself of the operation and ownership of the property, then the town turn it over to an organization that, as closely as possible, parallels the original intent and vision of Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp, and not to a private entity to make a profit.
Longtime Kiwanian Dr. Bob Lidkea, speaking on behalf on the service club, said he feels the agreement is the best way to go.
“Our membership, like most other service clubs, has been declining,” he noted. “In 1961, the club had 67 members. Today, we have 22.
“The average age is high, and we have several members on the Sunny Cove Camp committee that have done far more than their share,” Dr. Lidkea added.
“The mayor and council were aware of our dilemma and did not want to see this facility fold or go into private hands, so negotiations have been ongoing to protect the camp and maintain its current use, and also try to enlarge the use by developing town programs and possible area seminars to increase income,” he noted.
Dr. Lidkea said the camp still will be called “Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp” and a Town of Fort Frances advisory board is to be established that will ensure the present usage will be maintained to certain camp users.
“All bookings are to be made through the town and the present system of rotation will be maintained with existing users having priority,” he explained.
“It is our opinion that the offer to the Town of Fort Frances to take over ownership of Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp is the best way to preserve and maintain the camp for the use of the district population,” Dr. Lidkea concluded.
Mayor Roy Avis said town council and administration, with the full co-operation of the Kiwanis Club, has done due diligence in reviewing the assets and operations of the camp prior to drafting the agreement, and believes the agreement is “going to be a win-win situation.”
“This agreement will continue to provide a much-needed service for families in Fort Frances and district, and also cement the future of Sunny Cove Camp,” he remarked.
“I think the decision we make will enhance the quality of life in this area for many years to come,” the mayor later added.
Briefly reminiscing about the camp, Mayor Avis also noted there’s no doubt “Sunny Cove has touched many lives in this community.”
“What a feel good story this is,” enthused Linda Hamilton, who was among the residents offering input at last night’s meeting. “I can’t imagine anybody having anything bad to say about this.
“How gracious of the Kiwanis,” she added. “And being the volunteer that I am, I know it’s getting harder and harder and harder to get people to volunteer.
“We can now advertise and say, ‘Fort Frances—On the beautiful shores of Rainy Lake’ and actually own something on the shores of Rainy Lake,” Hamilton noted.
“Thank you, Kiwanis and town council,” she concluded. “I hope things go well because this is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for us, I think.”
