Just a quick note: Gary Mednick and Mike Fiedler are putting the finishing touches on the plan. They have a block of rooms, so disregard the previous blog message about reserving your own.
The details will be announced in group email.
Best,
Artie
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Calling All Campers!
As web master of Camp Omega On line, I'm always thinking of new and better ways to bring us together. The forum has turned out to be a great success, and now I think I may have a way of topping that: a way to call each other whenever we're on the website or on line, using a free internet service. There are several, I use one called Skype. Don't ask me what it stands for.
Here's how it works:
Step 1: Go to the Skype website, http://www.skype.com
Step 2: Download the free software. Choose a user ID, usually your name. Mine is art.steinman
Step 3: Get something to use as an internet phone. Radio Shack, or any other electronics retailer should have them. There are inexpensive ones that start at six or seven dollars. Remember to ask for a VoIP phone.
Step 4. Send me your user name and I'll add you to a Camp Omega contact list. With the contact list you can simply put in a user name and Skype will check to see if that person is on line and will connect your call, right then and there, over the Internet. I think I can even set up a free conference call for a "virtual reunion".
There are no charges for the calls, even international ones. Andrew Fold is a Skype user, and others may be, too.Please send me an email at warlord@campomegaonline and let me know what you think!Artie Steinman
Here's how it works:
Step 1: Go to the Skype website, http://www.skype.com
Step 2: Download the free software. Choose a user ID, usually your name. Mine is art.steinman
Step 3: Get something to use as an internet phone. Radio Shack, or any other electronics retailer should have them. There are inexpensive ones that start at six or seven dollars. Remember to ask for a VoIP phone.
Step 4. Send me your user name and I'll add you to a Camp Omega contact list. With the contact list you can simply put in a user name and Skype will check to see if that person is on line and will connect your call, right then and there, over the Internet. I think I can even set up a free conference call for a "virtual reunion".
There are no charges for the calls, even international ones. Andrew Fold is a Skype user, and others may be, too.Please send me an email at warlord@campomegaonline and let me know what you think!Artie Steinman
Friday, May 4, 2007
Other Camps In Our Lives
When Omega closed, our hearts were broken. Some of us ended our camping careers. But others had it in their blood and, hard as it was, they started over at another summer camp. Certainly, there were good memories and friendships from that experience as well.
My camping life started before Omega. At age ten, my Mom took a job as drama counselor at a camp called Rondax, in the Adirondack mountains near the town of Old Forge. Rondax was where the rich kids went for the summer and my Mom's job made it possible for me and Wes to go. They had every imaginable activity. My poor Dad was working in Manhattan and would schlep up every weekend, an eight hour drive, to see my Mom for a couple of days. I was terrified when I found out that I'd be sleeping in a cabin with ten other kids and a couple of sadistic counselors. I begged my Mom to let me go home, but thankfully, she "encouraged" me to stay and that's how I got hooked on summer camp.
After one year at Rondax my Mom switched camps to Da-Ro, named for Dave and Rose, can't remember their last names, think it was Wilansky. Mom was the girls head counselor. Linda was the swimming counselor, if I remember correctly. The camp was in the town of Linlithgo, a tiny town in the Rip Van Winkle mountains. The nearest city was Hudson, New York and across the river was Newburgh, where, ironically, much of our family is situated today. Rita and I even lived there for a couple of years. For a special treat, on visiting day, my folks would take us to a restaurant in Newburgh, which at that time was a thriving place. I would order Lobster Newburgh (I am not kidding!).
Harvey Goldstein was the boy's head counselor, and we had a great time. He had a wacky sense of humor, probably still does. His wife Marilyn was the arts and crafts counselor, I think. Da-Ro is where I honed my raiding skills, and I met Harley Wishner, who at that time played accordion. We wore Beatle wigs and performed at socials. After camp we went on to form the Jagged Edge and record two singles, which are collector's items today.
Harvey was a strict bunk inspector, and if our bunk had a great rating we'd be taken to Hudson to Stewart's ice-cream parlor, where you could make your own sundaes.
I made camper of the year at Da-Ro, no mean feat. I must say, that we had great times during the three years we went there, and we never thought anything could top it. But we were wrong. The Schwartz's and Steinman's created a masterpiece called Omega. Many followed them from Da-Ro to Omega. And the rest we all know.
So that's my camping history, what's yours? What camps did you attend, pre and post Omega?
My camping life started before Omega. At age ten, my Mom took a job as drama counselor at a camp called Rondax, in the Adirondack mountains near the town of Old Forge. Rondax was where the rich kids went for the summer and my Mom's job made it possible for me and Wes to go. They had every imaginable activity. My poor Dad was working in Manhattan and would schlep up every weekend, an eight hour drive, to see my Mom for a couple of days. I was terrified when I found out that I'd be sleeping in a cabin with ten other kids and a couple of sadistic counselors. I begged my Mom to let me go home, but thankfully, she "encouraged" me to stay and that's how I got hooked on summer camp.
After one year at Rondax my Mom switched camps to Da-Ro, named for Dave and Rose, can't remember their last names, think it was Wilansky. Mom was the girls head counselor. Linda was the swimming counselor, if I remember correctly. The camp was in the town of Linlithgo, a tiny town in the Rip Van Winkle mountains. The nearest city was Hudson, New York and across the river was Newburgh, where, ironically, much of our family is situated today. Rita and I even lived there for a couple of years. For a special treat, on visiting day, my folks would take us to a restaurant in Newburgh, which at that time was a thriving place. I would order Lobster Newburgh (I am not kidding!).
Harvey Goldstein was the boy's head counselor, and we had a great time. He had a wacky sense of humor, probably still does. His wife Marilyn was the arts and crafts counselor, I think. Da-Ro is where I honed my raiding skills, and I met Harley Wishner, who at that time played accordion. We wore Beatle wigs and performed at socials. After camp we went on to form the Jagged Edge and record two singles, which are collector's items today.
Harvey was a strict bunk inspector, and if our bunk had a great rating we'd be taken to Hudson to Stewart's ice-cream parlor, where you could make your own sundaes.
I made camper of the year at Da-Ro, no mean feat. I must say, that we had great times during the three years we went there, and we never thought anything could top it. But we were wrong. The Schwartz's and Steinman's created a masterpiece called Omega. Many followed them from Da-Ro to Omega. And the rest we all know.
So that's my camping history, what's yours? What camps did you attend, pre and post Omega?
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Reunion Ruminations
Been giving a lot of thought about the reunion. Gary Mednick, Mike Fielder and I are going on a scouting trip on May 12. Alan Brownfeld is thinking of hosting a Florida reunion at his bar in Pompano.
Since the website was launched, we've ALREADY had a reunion of sorts. I've traded emails and calls with Omegans I haven't heard from in, well , forty years. And it continues. So, now that we have been reuniting on a one-to-one and small group level, the next logical step is to gather as many of us in one place, or a couple of places, and have some face time.
From the master contact list, it appears that Omegans are concentrated in the tri-state area and Florida, with a few folks in California, Massachusetts, Georgia, etc. Since we've been working towards a whole-camp gathering, the logical place is looking like a hotel near the airport, most likely Newark Liberty. This assumes that we will have a decent group of campers flying in from the above-mentioned states. The thinking is that travellers would have easy access to the hotel, and tri-state drivers are about the same distance from the airport.
Does this make sense to you? What are your thoughts? Let me know. Next post will be about potential itineraries.
Thanks,
Artie
FYI. I inadvertently gave the wrong email address for Alan Brownfeld in my comment below. His email address is brownfeldauto@aol.com
Since the website was launched, we've ALREADY had a reunion of sorts. I've traded emails and calls with Omegans I haven't heard from in, well , forty years. And it continues. So, now that we have been reuniting on a one-to-one and small group level, the next logical step is to gather as many of us in one place, or a couple of places, and have some face time.
From the master contact list, it appears that Omegans are concentrated in the tri-state area and Florida, with a few folks in California, Massachusetts, Georgia, etc. Since we've been working towards a whole-camp gathering, the logical place is looking like a hotel near the airport, most likely Newark Liberty. This assumes that we will have a decent group of campers flying in from the above-mentioned states. The thinking is that travellers would have easy access to the hotel, and tri-state drivers are about the same distance from the airport.
Does this make sense to you? What are your thoughts? Let me know. Next post will be about potential itineraries.
Thanks,
Artie
FYI. I inadvertently gave the wrong email address for Alan Brownfeld in my comment below. His email address is brownfeldauto@aol.com
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Mail Call - Letters Home from Camp Omega
Hi fellow Omegans,
How many of you still have the letters that you wrote at camp to your family back home? Lloyd Dorfman thought it would be a gas if we put some of them up on the web. Just post to this message. Here are a few:
Approx August ???, 1967 From Lloyd Dorfman, Camp Omega
Dear Mom and Dad:
I am fine. How are you. I am having fun here at camp accept that Marty Berman is a cloddy creepy jerk!
Approx July ??, 1967 From Richard Dorfman
Dear Mom and Dad:
Camp is fine, I am working hard but the food is not good. I've already lost 5 pounds and expect to lose 5 more before visiting day so, bring stuff to eat. Eric and Lloyd are ok too, they'll need packages
Approx August??, 1967 From Richard Dorfman
Dear Mom and Dad:
I still can't believe you had the audacity to leave us at camp while you went to Jamaica.....
Approx July ??, 1967 From Eric Dorfman
Dear Mom and Dad:
I am fine
How many of you still have the letters that you wrote at camp to your family back home? Lloyd Dorfman thought it would be a gas if we put some of them up on the web. Just post to this message. Here are a few:
Approx August ???, 1967 From Lloyd Dorfman, Camp Omega
Dear Mom and Dad:
I am fine. How are you. I am having fun here at camp accept that Marty Berman is a cloddy creepy jerk!
Approx July ??, 1967 From Richard Dorfman
Dear Mom and Dad:
Camp is fine, I am working hard but the food is not good. I've already lost 5 pounds and expect to lose 5 more before visiting day so, bring stuff to eat. Eric and Lloyd are ok too, they'll need packages
Approx August??, 1967 From Richard Dorfman
Dear Mom and Dad:
I still can't believe you had the audacity to leave us at camp while you went to Jamaica.....
Approx July ??, 1967 From Eric Dorfman
Dear Mom and Dad:
I am fine
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)