Once again Stan the stooge for the board is visiting sites with stories about Camp Fire problems and white washing the problems. Stan point out the quotes that are not full truth. Please point us in the direction of some contradictions in events. Many Camp Fire Members did not sell candy and why should they? Should they spend their time selling candy for an organization that has lied to them? What I call selfish is asking children and Camp Fire members to sell candy when you have already made the decision to close Camp Cimarron but you did not tell the Camp Fire membership that you were closing Camp Cimarron until after the candy sell money was collected. What are we supposed to help the council do? Are we supposed to help them close Camp Cimarron, sell the horses for the CC Rider program, help them borrow $200,000 on Camp DaKaNi, so they can mismanage more funds.

The Heart of Oklahoma Council and Camp Cimarron are not the same. If they were the same then why is the HOC not closed while Camp Cimarron is? The reason we do not know what it costs to run a year round resident camp is because the HOC keeps fudging the numbers.

Stan you should come to the Camp Fire HOC annual meeting (sorry they postponed the meeting indefinitely because some of the board members know they will be voted of the council.) Yes the council needs to be saved, to do that many of the board members that got us into this situation need to be removed from the board. Edna Stinnett needs to be removed from the board. Phyllis Morris is no longer the Interim Executive Director. Let's hope Kim Kamp Leslie can make the changes nessary to save HOC, however one of her first acts as Executive Director was to send a letter to the CC Riders telling them they needed to raise $71,844.33 to save the horses (this was an attempt at extortion in my opinion.) The CC Riders program does not cost $71,844.33 per year. This was their attempt to get the CC Riders to raise extra money for the council to cover other expenses not related to the CC Riders program.

Question for you Stan when you fall on hard times do you borrow $200,000 on the family house, blame your children for not selling enough candy, try to extort $71,844.33 from them, and threaten that if they do not raise the money in 14 days you will sell or close everything they love?

I stumbled on this article just recently after being made aware of the situation by a friend. I have been in Camp Fire most of my life. I attended two of the Heart of Oklahoma council camps and participated in many clubs and groups in both this council and national. I stood " outside in winter weather conditions selling candy" every year until I graduated. I earned my WoHeLo and am still very proud of everything I have ever done for the organization. I gave service in the name of service to my council. I sold candy in the name of the council without expecting anything in return besides to still be an organization that could help me make a difference in the community . It extremely saddens me that some people would make this an issue of "I did this for you. Now, what are you going to do for me?". Totally selfish and does not mesh well with the Camp Fire law.

It's funny because some of the quotes in this column are not the full truth from the parties involved. And for some to refuse to sell candy with prior knowledge of problems is completely hypocritcal. (I could point you in the direction of some contradictions in events.) Maybe more questions should have been asked at this meeting before writing the article. Things like "How involved have you been recently in other programs?" or "Did you personally sell candy this year to go to camp?". Just some thoughts to ponder....

My question is why hasn't someone tried to use the media to raise the funds? Instead, it brings a very negative light on a youth association that is brought together in the name of service and the betterment of the community. The Heart of Oklahoma Council and Camp Cimarron are the same. Some have given up on the Council and all the other programs associated with it and only expect the few choice programs they participate in to remain during a time of need. There are many programs offered to youth in Camp Fire. Camps are only a very small part of a wonderful, diversified whole but it seems that is completly overlooked. Again, maybe some more question should have been asked. Just remember, that heaven forbid this ever happens, if there is no Camp Fire Heart of Oklahoma Council, there will be no Camp Cimarron. I highly doubt that anyone could raise enough money to keep the camp open for some of these kids to attend until they graduate. I would love for someone to prove me wrong, but I know for a fact that none of these people know how much it really costs for year round up keep of a resident camp.

And as a final thought:
When you fall on hard times, do you cancel your cable before you stop feeding your family? Sit and think about that.

Money is tight for non-profits. BUT it doesn't look like Campfire even tried. Refusing help and not attempting to raise other funds shows they don't want to mess with the issue. These news stories have generated so much interest they could have easily raised enough money (i've never bought campfire candy, but I and most people I know would have after reading these stories!). They are using a very transparent excuse.. something deeper is behind the decision (or just lazy).

I attended Camp Cimarron for 7 years in the '60s and '70s. I made friends at Cimarron who have remained friends over the past 40+ years. It breaks my heart that anything could prevent Cimarron from being around for generations to come. If Camp Fire can't sustain this camp financially, perhaps a group of concerned citicens could find financial backing to buy it and keep it going!!! If I win the lottery, I will do it myself!!!!!!

Tim, again thank you for attending the meeting and taking an interest in our problems. Camp Fire needs help and these kids want representation. The parents are not hoping that this council goes under, just that the financial irresponsibility ends. We would be happy to support a financially responsible Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council.

Tim thank you for covering this story and attending the council meeting. I wish you could have seen how the meeting deteriorated after you and the cameras left. I want to do everything I can to save Camp Fire, but I am afraid many board members need to be removed from the board and competent people need to be put in their place before Camp Fire has a chance.

The way the majority of the board threated the Friends of Cimarron was disgusting. Their are some very good members of the board to bad they are not in the majority.

My son and daughter attended Camp Cimarron last year for the first time and when we received the letter saying it would not be open this summer, my kids were devastated. They have been talking about Camp for several months already. It was the highlight of their summer last year, and they were looking forward to attending again this year. It is difficult for me to understand how a non-profit entity like Camp Fire USA could not raise the money or apply for grant funds to make the needed repairs. The money is out there for the taking, and it's a shame no one involved took the initiative to grab it. I think it shows lack of fiscal planning, lack of leadership, and a blatant disregard for the hundreds of children who look forward to spending a portion of their summer at Camp Cimarron.