Dear Family,

 

IMHO WE ARE OVERDUE FOR A CARSKY REUNION TO PASS DOWN OUR GRANDPARENTS' AND PARENTS'  HISTORY AND VALUES, and to create new traditions and friendships for the next generation.  Aside from that bullshit we all need fun and to focus on what's important in this life:  remembering to laugh in the face of bad luck and genes.  Only the immediate progeny of Cecelia Pasek and Edward Carsky knew the first American grandparents, plus a few of us remember the greatgrandfather  with the goofy name who ate the fat off everyone's plates after dinner.  We also know how the great grandmother named all four of their children, all born at the farm.  That's 12 of us without Bobby.   

 

So...starting to organize and finalize dates!  

 

FIRST, I need someone to accept responsibility for getting the rest of the email addresses and making sure everyone who wants to get them does. SECOND is the need to set up 3-5 person committee to plan a fun schedule with lots of down time  to blame for anything lame and the cold cloudy weather.   THe most important thing is photos so I am hoping the talented Bill Kennedy will be one of our key photobombers.

 

The second most important person referenced above is someone to set up a Fb group or other method of communication everyone who wants to receive, will.  Someone needs to get Ed Carsky and everyone's kids' emails together and send to said tech savvy person who agrees take this on in order  to serve young people and tech dinosaurs alike.  Some aren't on Fb and some barely use or look at email so I guess someone needs to figure that piece out or tell their kids.  I'd prefer not to have to go on another social media site a/k/a time drain.  

 

If the majority of the next younger generation can't or wishes not to come that's fine but I want to know what they've done over the last 20 years and what their personalities and strengths are--what brings them joy.  We know pieces about the major life challenges our kids have had to live with but there is so much more to learn. 

 

The tech piece is not for me.  I can't even figure out how to attach the Colgate Camp link to this email after a bunch of tries.  It's short so you can take a look yourself via dr. google, look at the 2017 ADK Retreat link and the personal pictures to see rooms.  (I have dibs on the chaise lounge in front of the fireplace in the great room.) 

 

Last fall there was general consensus for a 3 day weekend from 6/16/23---6/19/23 OR 6/23---6/26/23.  Please remember that the water will be freezing cold in a large, deep Adirondack mtn-fed lake in June,  so water events are highly unlikely to take up any time except for dunking after overheating or torture.  We also had the choice of September when people attending any kind of school might only be able to come for an overnight or 2, but the water will be much warmer and the weather may be about the same, warm days cold nights.  Just saying... I'm not trying to revisit but I forgot to mention this last year.   For me, September is quieter but it was crazy when I had kids in school at home and I'm going with June unless there's unanimous change.  Lots of outdoor activities available including water skiing and hiking.

 

Please consider yourself or your child(ren) for a committee for a 2-4 zoom meetings to discuss a few funny activities I've listed on separate pages, communication and timing, ordering anything we may want, etc.  I'll coordinate with the innkeepers and hopefully we can just send them our checks individually, but we need to commit to at least 20 people and no more than 40. If  that's possible any additional expense should be nothing or minimal but depends how needy we are.  That's for another day. With a maximum of 40, the number is 13.33 people per (alex/ ed/ jim) family +,  depending on whether another family is under that number.  The camp is right on the lake, there are no stairs or slopes to access it,  unlike both Carsky camps.  It has 9 cabins of 2 large bedrooms and bath, a separate dining lodge and a large living room with flagstone fireplace, 3 meals/day,  Friday night steak and lobster dinner, cocktails on the lake, Sunday night cookout.  Don't know the 2023 price but it was about 120pp per day last year all-inclusive.  

 

I don't know about dogs or special foods and innkeeper hopefully will advise.  Cook has been there for 30 years and it's a great price so we should try to work with them.   The pace was a gift to the college for Colgate families so this group is stretching it, but maybe our grandchildren will want to keep coming and become legacy students :).  (I'm just back from my one year late 45the reunion which was joyous.)  BE THERE OR BE SQUARE.  IT WON'T BE A LOT OF WORK, NO FOOD PREP OR BEDDING TO TAKE CARE OF.  Bring warm clothes and insulin.