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Kismet Rock Foundation E-News
Issue 1, 2010

From the Desk of Sarah Garlick

Greetings!

 

     This past December, Chairman of the Board Ted Wroblewski stepped down after more than six years of leadership and service to the organization. I am deeply honored to fill this position and carry on Ted's unfailing support and championing of Kismet's mission. His are big shoes to fill. Ted's impact on the growth and success of the Kismet Rock Foundation cannot be overstated. His wisdom, care, and dedication have been invaluable to the organization and have gone far beyond the call of duty. On behalf of the entire Kismet family, I extend our sincerest gratitude and best wishes to Ted and his family. Thank you, Ted!

 

     I hope to interact and get to know many of you during the Kismet outreach and fundraising events in 2010. Like many of Kismet's supporters and volunteers, I first learned about the organization when I started visiting the White Mountains to climb on Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledges. Since moving here fulltime three years ago, I have become an ardent Kismet supporter because I know, first hand, how powerfully the lessons and skills of climbing can penetrate all aspects of life, and because I believe so strongly in offering the opportunity to experience these gifts to everyone in our community, not just those with financial means.

 

     As many of you know, the early spring is a busy time for Kismet. Director Mike Jewell is traveling throughout New England giving presentations at middle schools to recruit our first-year students for the 2010 program. What you might not know is how heartbreaking this process can be. Mike comes back from nearly every presentation with the same story. He gives his slide show to a classroom full of children, then asks who is interested in attending the Kismet program, and all the hands shoot into the air. Right now, we only have room for one or two of these kids from each school.

 

     Please consider making a donation today to ensure that we can at least meet our goal of serving 55 students this summer. Your contribution will also help strengthen our organization, allowing us to continue to grow and serve more of these children in the future.

 

Thank you for your support,

 

Sarah Garlick

Chair of the Board of Directors


Meet the rest of the Board of Directors

Mike Jewell Receives Governor's Citation for Service

Mike Jewell, Kismet's founder, was recently honored with a citation from John Lynch, the governor of New Hampshire.
citationA part of the citation reads: "Be it hereby known that I, John Lynch...join with my fellow citizens in extending my personal best wishes and sincerest congratulations to Michael Jewell in recognition of your hard work, dedication and perseverance...The State of NH is fortunate to have you in the community and grateful for your commitment..."


Photo: A governor's citation from John Lynch for Mike Jewell (middle) by Sarah Garlick, Chair of the Kismet Board of Directors (right) and Ted Wroblewski, immediate past Chair of the Board (left).

Mike says he felt quite emotional we he learned of the award, "not because it was directed toward me but because it erased the remaining loneliness that I experienced during the first 5 or 6 years of Kismet's existence..."

One behalf of the whole Kismet family, we congratulate you, Mike!

Intern Endowment Fund Established in Memory of Micah Dash, Jonny Copp and Wade Johnson
On the Friday night of the MWV Ice Fest in February, Jim Shimberg, a longtime friend of Kismet, presented a check for $2,500 to establish an Intern Endowment Fund in memory of Jonny Copp, Micah Dash and Wade Johnson, who died in an avalanche while climbing in China in 2009.

Photo: Jim Shimberg presents a check for $2,500 to Sarah Garlick, Kismet Board Chair, at the MWV Ice Fest in February, initiating the MicahJonnyWade Memorial Intern Endowment Fund as MC Freddie Wilkinson (purple tights) looks on. Anne Skidmore photo

Jim 'passed the hat' for nearly a year, collecting contributions from $1 up to $500 to create the fund. Kismet is honored to carry on the memories of those three men who were so loved and are so missed with this very special fund for Kismet graduates.
The Intern Fund is reserved for Kismet graduates who return to the program as intern staff members.
Interns play a vital role during first- and second-year programs, acting as liaisons between students, in-house staff and climbing instructors. "They impart their wisdom from personal experiences, in essence, passing the torch to potential future graduates," said Rob Vandegrift, Kismet Program Coordinator.
Contributions to the new fund are welcome. Please visit the donation page and type 'MicahJonnyWade Fund' in the Memorial/Honorary Notes' section while making your contribution.  
Program Report from Mike Jewell
"How We Find Our Students"

mj     The selection process of students is the most critical aspect of the Kismet program. Because we are an educational institution and because our students live (during their program weeks) in small groups of approximately eight children, it is very important that every student is able to handle the curriculum and is able to positively interact with the Kismet community. Even one child can significantly destabilize the group dynamic. And obviously, we want students who enjoy and benefit from the education that we offer.         

     During the early years of Kismet we accepted students based entirely on the recommendation of the staff of boys and girls clubs and of schools, however, it soon became clear that it would be necessary for Kismet staff to have an active hand in the selection process. Thus, this critical process has become a cooperative effort between sending-school staff and Kismet staff. We now use a five step filtering process that is extremely successful:        

     First school staff identifies 13-year old students who qualify   financially for our program and who would likely benefit from a Kismet education.        

     Second, we give a thorough presention (with slides) to potential students so they are able to self-select based on their interest. Theythen apply for the program with their parents' permission.        

     Third, we return to schools to interview each applicant.        

     Fourth, we confer with school staff to verify what we are seeing in each student.        

     Fifth, the students' first year with us is considered part of the   selection process since no interview process can be perfect.                 

     This has become an extraordinarily effective system for student acceptance.  Nearly every student that we have accepted during the last few years has been an excellent student. After the first year, every student who attends Kismet belongs with us and has become an important member of the Kismet community.        

     This process requires considerable effort and time  (we are in the midst of that process now).  However, it creates a foundation for a fabulous and highly successful program.

Q&A with the Staff: Richard Parker, Climbing Instructor
Richard is married with 2 daughters. He holds an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College, a Master's degree from Dartmouth, and a Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Richard has climbed for 36 years and has been a part time guide for 33 years; working both in the eastern and western United States and in the Alps. He currently is a rock and ice climbing guide for Mooney Mountain Guides. Richard taught at Proctor Academy, Chestnut Hill Academy, and the Holderness School. He held the position of headmaster at Chestnut Hill, and while at Holderness he taught English and ran the climbing program. He holds AMGA Rock Instructor, TR and Single Pitch Instructor certifications. He is also a Wilderness First Responder. 

Q:
Wh
en/how/why did you get involved with Kismet?

A: Climbing Magazine published an article about Kismet in the spring of 2005, and I was impressed to hear about a program to help city kids learn about rock climbing.  During my career as an educator, I had raised money to make independent school education accessible to students who normally could not afford it, so I was immediately attracted to Kismet's mission.  A few days after reading the article, serendipity was in play as I was finishing a route at Cathedral and met a man 30 feet away belaying his partner, also to the top of the cliff.  After chatting for a few minutes, he introduced himself as Mike Jewel, and recognizing his name from the magazine, I made the Kismet connection.  We had a great chat and a few weeks later, Mike agreed to hire me for some guiding that summer, and I have been with him every summer since.

 

Q: What makes Kismet unique?

A: Kismet is unique because of the amazing educational opportunity afforded our students over the four year program.  This is possible because of the generosity of our many supporters.  I am always amazed and inspired by the many folks in the Mount Washington Valley who donate to Kismet, as well as the many folks from further afield who support our program.  Whether it is goods, services, or money, the "Kismet Community" invests in the lives of our students.  The fruits of this investment can be readily perceived any time one speaks with a Kismet graduate.   They are confident, articulate, appreciative, and knowledgeable about rock climbing!

 

Q: Do you have a particular memory from a day out with the students you would like to share?

A: One of the pleasures of guiding for Kismet over many years is developing relationships with the students.  Because this is a four year program, we are in the privileged position of being able to watch our students develop as people and climbers from the ages of about 14-17.   Last summer I was with a group of third year students whom I had worked with since their first summer.  On our second day we went to Echo Crag, a placed we had climbed with this group the year before...(read more)


Meet the rest of the Kismet Team
Do you know someone who might want to read about Kismet? Please use the 'forward email' button below to send this along to them!
In This Issue
Mike Jewell Receives Governor's Citation
MicahJonnyWade Memorial Fund
Program Director Report
Q&A with Richard Parker
Calendar
Send a Kid to Camp!
Kismet kids

Quick Links
Get Involved!
If you have not yet joined the 2010 Annual Fund, please consider making a contribution today! Every donation makes a difference in our ability to provide unique educational opportunities to deserving New England youth. Please join us today!

Now scheduling program season volunteers! Available positions for photographers, cliff-side assistance (women especially!), hosting student cookouts, driving students to and from the program and more! 

We are looking to expand our reach in Portland ME and Manchester NH. Will you consider hosting a small event to help us?

We are also looking for new members on the fund-raising committee and the events committee.

Please contact us to discuss how to get involved. 

As always, THANK YOU for your support!
 



Calendar of Events

July 11-August 29
Program Season

September 18
2nd Annual Kismet Cliff Run

November 13
2nd Annual Caliente! A Night of Salsa Dancing to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation



Recent Blog Articles

Rock & Ice Magazine Writes About Kismet

Read this nice article by Rock & Ice's Executive Editor Alison Osius about Kismet's 10 year anniversary.


Now through April 15 - 'Send a Kid to Camp'
mhw promoFor the second year in a row, Kismet was selected for Mountain Hardwear's 'Send a Kid to Camp' promotion.
Simply go to their website and click the yellow "Click here to help" button. Mountain Hardwear will donate $1 for every click through April 15 to Kismet and nine other youth serving organizations. Be sure to visit every day!
Our thanks to Mountain Hardwear for their continued support of Kismet and many other great programs.