annual report 08.indd - Lutherans Outdoors

From the President h es dent
From tte
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President
Lutherans Outdoors is alive, well, and growing! And because it is,
so do the faith-lives of the hundreds of persons (including campers
and staff) touched and influenced by their experience at one of the
Lutherans Outdoors sites continue to grow. While this past year has
presented challenges, including an operating-budget deficit, good
things, vital ministry, and major developments have occurred.
Over the past year, more than a million dollars has been added to
the “All Are Welcome” capital campaign; we are within thousands of
dollars of reaching the goal of $5,000,000. But there is a challenge
goal and the needs are great, so the campaign will continue.
Joy Ranch is rising from the hills and prairie west of Watertown.
Hopefully, it will open late in 2009. Joy Nelson continues to play a
vital role in making this new ministry site possible.
A new strategic plan and mission statement to provide direction for
the next several years was adopted. The new mission statement is
“Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota welcomes all to explore and
experience Christ’s love in community and creation.”
The Board was expanded to include a representative from the
Wyoming Conference.
Several new staff persons were added – a part-time financial person
(who also works for the South Dakota Synod), a marketing director
(salary provided by a gift), and a director for Joy Ranch.
Lutherans Outdoors experienced a loss of $88,000 in 2008 due to
lower-than-expected donations and fewer campers than anticipated.
Board and staff are working to replace this operating loss with
increased efforts for camper recruitment and financial development.
The Board is grateful for the vision and leadership of Neil Sorensen
and the rest of the staff. They are committed to LOSD and its ministry
and go to extraordinary lengths to carry it out. Neil currently is on
disability. We pray that his health will recover so that he is able to
continue serving LOSD. In the meantime, we are pleased that Bishop
Emeritus Norm Eitrheim (no stranger to LOSD or South Dakota) has
agreed to serve as Acting Executive Director.
The unique and extraordinary ministry of LOSD happens because of
the generosity and efforts of countless individuals and congregations
of the South Dakota Synod. Thank you! And, remember, the best
support you can give is to send campers to our great camps and
uphold LOSD and its staff in your prayers.
Les Svendsen,
President, Board of Directors
Lutherans Outdoors Board of Directors (listed left to right) Back: Howard Swenson, Kurt Osborne,
Rev. Dwight Stensgaard, Rev. Jared Rakness, Rev. Debora Grismer, Brent Steffens, Jon
Proehl, Rev. Les Svendsen Front: Rev. Constanze Hagmaier, Susan Leddy, Darcie Bien, Patti
Gromer, Gene Johnson, Rev. Tom Christenson, and Larry Olson. Not Pictured: Rev. Herb
Wounded Head, Jan Ambler, Susan Marone and Scott Parsley.
Board d of of Directors
Directors
Board of Directors
President
Rev. Les Svendsen
Sioux Falls
Secretary
Patti Gromer
Rapid City
Darcie Bien
Brookings
Gene Johnson
Brandon
Larry Olson
Beresford
Howard Swenson
Bath
Jon Proehl
Parkston
Rev. Dwight Stensgaard
Rapid City
Jan Ambler
Sheridan, WY
SD Synod Representative
Susan Marone
Sioux Falls
President Elect
Rev. Constanze Hagmaier
Madison
Treasurer
Kurt Osborne
Brookings
Rev. Jared Rakness
Elk Point
Susan Leddy
Milbank
Scott Parsley
Madison
Rev. Tom Christenson
Watertown
Rev. Debora Grismer
Aberdeen
Brent Steffens
Sioux Falls
Rev. Herb Wounded Head
Brookings
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