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Kismet Rock Foundation E-News
Issue 2, 2010
Dear Friend:

We have plenty to share with you this spring as we prepare for the program season and unveil our newest 'Power of Three' campaign.

If you have considered donating before but have not ever gotten around to it, now is the time, when each dollar contributed by first time donors is actually worth $3! Read below to learn more. (If you have contributed previously, you can still help us with this amazing opportunity by using the forward button at the bottom of this email to pass it on to others!)

As always, we are grateful beyond words for your continued support of our students and programs.

Happy climbing,
The Kismet Crew
Power of Three Campaign:
First Time Donations Being Matched 200%


For every dollar donated by a first time donor to Kismet Rock Foundation, an additional two dollars will be contributed by friends of the organization. The Great Circle Foundation and Nelson Charitable Foundation, both long time Kismet supporters, have teamed up to offer this special 'Power of Three' matching campaign. Each foundation has pledged to match all new donations 100% for up to $10,000, for a possible total of $30,000, between now and October 1, 2010.

"Charities must be creative with fundraising in this economy," said Jeannine Weinberg, Executive Director of the Great Circle Foundation, "so the Great Circle Foundation is glad to team with the Nelson Charitable Foundation to provide additional incentive for people to make that final step to becoming a Kismet donor."

Visit the Kismet website to make a contribution.

Or send a check to:
Kismet Rock Foundation
P.O. Box 1744, North Conway, NH 03860

Kismet Rock Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 and all donations are fully tax deductible.

This Tuesday, May 18: Flatbread Co. Benefit Night
Blue Ribbon All-Star Band to Play

Flatbread Company, North Conway is hosting a benefit night for Kismet Rock Foundation on Tuesday May 18. The Blue Ribbon All-Star Band will play from 6:30-8:30 pm. A portion of pizza sales from 4-9pm will benefit Kismet. Flatbread Co. is in downtown North Conway. Take out orders count towards the benefit too - call 603-356-4470 to order. Hope to see you there!

Janet Bergman Becomes Executive Director

The board of directors voted unanimously to make long time Kismet team member Janet Bergman the organization's executive director. As part of this leadership transition, founder Mike Jewell will serve alongside Janet as Kismet's President and Program Director.

Janet has been working in the background of Kismet for many years already, helping implement administrative policies and
Janet with Kismet students
procedures, develop a personnel structure and to conduct outreach and fund raising. She is also an avid climber who understands from personal experience the value of a climbing education.

"We feel this creative leadership structure will..." (read more)

Meet the rest of the Kismet staff team

Contact Janet                 Contact Mike

Program Season News

The program season will get underway July 11, with seven program weeks operating through August 29. We will welcome 64 students this year from Bartlett, Gorham and Manchester, NH, Boston, MA and Portland, ME. The Gorham Middle High School is our newest sending school, and first from the northern part of the state. We will welcome four
Program season underway July 11. See you out there!
children from that school as first-year students.
Selected Kismet graduates will once again be hired as interns during all first and second year program weeks, and SOLO is once again donating two nights per week of wilderness first aid instruction for all returning students.
Program sponsorship opportunities are still available.
We hope to see you out there this summer!
Kismet graduate Patrick Lord being interviewed for the IncredibleMAINE show.
Patrick
 

IncredibleMAINE, featuring Kismet!

Tune in to MPBN (Maine Public Boadcasting Network) on Saturday May 22 at 10:30 am to watch IncredibleMAINE, featuring Kismet!

Patrick2

IncredibleMAINE tells stories about the people and places of the state of Maine. IncredibleMAINE filmed Kismet for three full days last summer, focusing on our new relationship with the Portland, ME public school system.

Special thanks to Dave Wilkinson and Marilyn Taylor and all of the Kismet program volunteers who made the show possible.

Q&A with Climbing Instructor Bayard Russell


Photo by Jim Surette
bayard2
Bayard Russell, 33, is a mountain guide who lives in Madison NH with his fiance Anne.  He has been guiding for seven years and runs his own guide service, Cathedral Mountain Guides. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, where he began climbing in 1996. Bayard is a AMGA certified rock instructor and Mountain Rescue service team leader and board member.

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

A: I got involved with the Kismet in 2008 as a newly independent guide. I had worked with groups of kids guiding in the summer for years and Kismet offered an opportunity for me to continue doing so, but with the added satisfaction of reaching kids who would otherwise not have access to climbing.
 
Q: Is there a memorable story from a day out with the Kismet students that you wish to share?

A: I was walking out of Sundown Cliff's Lost Horizon area...read more

Jack Tracy Joins the Board of Directors

Jack has over 30 years of business experience. Most recently, he has been a Managing Director with Morgan Stanley based in London, since 1996. Now, semi-retired, he has just permanently relocated to NH. Jack has four daughters.  It was through his Jack Tracydaughters that he discovered the joy and benefits of rock climbing. Three daughters have been British Champions.  He was an active contributor to "Youth Climbing" under the auspices of the British Mountaineering Council. He believes passionately that climbing empowers kids with an enormous range of skill sets, a sense of achievement, responsibility, and trust.

Meet the rest of the board

Please Join Us

We need the support of our community of friends as we prepare for the program season. There are many way to do so:
 
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
May 18 Flatbread Benefit
New Executive Director
Program Season News
IncredibleMAINE May 22
Q&A with Bayard Russell
Jack Tracy Joins Board
How to Help
Calendar
2010 Program Sponsors
Applause!

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Kismet kids


Quick Links

Calendar of Events

May 18
Flatbread Co. North Conway Benefit Night

May 22, 10:30 am
MPBN IncredibleMAINE features Kismet

July 11-August 29

Program Season

September 18
2nd Annual Kismet Cliff Run

October 23
2nd Annual Caliente! A Night of Salsa Dancing to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation


 'Send a Kid to Camp'
A Big Success



Thank you, 2010 Program Season Sponsors









































Program Season Sponsorship opportunities still available. Contact us to learn more

Applause!

Thank you Matt McCormick, Rodney Eckstrom and the Plymouth State University Outing Club for a fun and fruitful slide show benefit event on April 14.
Matt and Rodney with Mike Jewell












Thank you to Patrick Haine and Scott Bubnis for volunteering to translate student forms for families of Kismet students whose primary language spoken at home is Spanish.