Mountain Matters • Homecoming Reflections • |
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Homecoming was an extraordinary time at The Mountain May 28-31. There were 50 Mountain members and friends re-connecting with one another and The Mountain. We enjoyed conversations, tours of upgraded facilities, meals provided in the dining hall with a new acoustic ceiling, Farm tour which included the new shiitake logs and microgreens in the greenhouse. This was in addition to the Annual Meeting, which reported successfully moving through COVID and a constructive path forward. It was a time of celebration and anticipation. Click to View The 2020 Annual Report Click to read a Message from KC Boyce, Chair of The Mountain Board Homecoming Weekend achieved a remarkable feat of being both extremely busy while being simultaneously restorative. As I noted in my remarks during the Annual Meeting, I am grateful for all of the scientists and public health professionals who worked so hard over the last year developing COVID vaccines so that we could gather safely in person. If you have not gotten your vaccination yet, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible! Among the highlights of the weekend for me were the talent show hosted by Friction Farm (we have some extremely talented members and staff!), the dialogue about the future of The Mountain which featured frank and productive discussions about how to bridge generational gaps, and the discussion about possible new buildings to support The Mountain's mission. The staff and numerous volunteers have been working hard on catching up on deferred maintenance and facilities upgrades, and it was great to see their efforts firsthand. Homecoming also hosted the last meeting of the 2020-21 Board of Trustees and the first meeting of the 2021-22 Board of Trustees. I'm extremely grateful to serve alongside my fellow Trustees. To a person, they are deeply committed to The Mountain and its mission, and have been working hard to set the stage for The Mountain to have a bigger imprint on the world in its next 40 years. If you have any dreams, ideas, or even concerns, I encourage you to reach out to the Trustees so that we can better understand what The Mountain means to you. |
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A special treat during the Annual Meeting was the folk duo, Friction Farm, introducing a song they wrote about The Mountain. |
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The chorus of this song represents the current attitude and direction at The Mountain. We can, we can, make a difference if we try… We can, we can, change the world you and I… Lyrics for the song, We Can – The Mountain |
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Mountain Matching Initiative Success! |
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In the Spring, a $50,000 fund match was announced and you, our generous supporters, have exceeded this goal. We are continuing to receive pledges made to this match, and expect the contributions to be about $60,000. The initial donor has agreed to add another $10,000 to match your contributions. This means that support of our work toward our Mountain Mission will be $120,000. We are genuinely grateful for your belief in the future of The Mountain in making a difference in the world. Please join us soon, to be nurtured by this special place and to see the work your contribution supports. |
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The Endowment Board hosted a dessert reception to honor current Endowment Members, and to inform others about the potential of the Endowment for making a difference at The Mountain. With the intention of growing the Endowment, now at $550,000, a minimal annual distribution is made to The Mountain, $13,784 this year. These funds helped with new sound reduction ceiling panels in the dining hall. Check it out next time you visit! |
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Anna and Langdon, with kids Eliza and Lucille on top of The Mountain's Tower | | |
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My name is Anna Martin and I am the newest member of the Endowment Board for The Mountain. I was impressed to learn of the healthy growth that the endowment has seen over the past few years. Since the annual gift from the endowment is a percent of the total account, as the total endowment grows the annual gift to The Mountain grows with it. So please contribute to the endowment if you can. There are so many ways you can donate: cash, check, transfer stocks, just to name a few! You could also include The Mountain in your estate plan, e.g. in your will or as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Your gift will strengthen The Mountain for generations to come! As a parent of young kids in the middle of my career I don’t currently have the ability to make huge gifts but in addition to a recent modest gift I am going to name The Mountain as a beneficiary on a life insurance plan that I have through my work. Upon my death The Mountain would receive a certain percent of the policy, with plenty left over for my husband and kids. While I hope that my death is still decades in the future, it brings me peace knowing that I have arranged my affairs so that the people and places I love will be financially taken care of. Join me! |
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Farm Events & Workshops Ongoing Event Dates |
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We're excited to announce our lineup of farm workshops and events for the summer. Our wild mushroom season is about to kick off, and chanterelles will definitely be on the menu for our Forest to Table Dinners. Joey is a trained wild mushroom picker and will show you edible plants and mushrooms on The Mountain Property while Jenn and a crew fix a gourmet meal featuring some of those wild foods. You can find out more and rsvp below. Our events are kid-friendly and pay is sliding scale. | | |
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Intergenerational Camp July 25 - 30 Open to the Public |
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A Summer Camp experience for all ages! In this program The Mountain welcomes everyone to join in the fun of a MountainCamp experience. Adults and families come together for workshops, crafts, hiking, campfires, music and singing, storytelling, time for relaxation and reflection. Individual adults, parents, children, grandparents… all are welcome! Summer Camp makes memories that last a lifetime. |
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The Mountain staff and gathering spaces are ready for you – we welcome you to The Mountain. | | |
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John McCutcheon's Songwriting Camp July 18 - 22 & Aug 8 - 12, 2021 Open to the Public |
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Join Grammy-nominated folk musician and songwriter, John McCutcheon, for an intense, intimate songwriting Master Class at The Mountain. | | |
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NOW, NOW Camp August 12 - 15, 2021 Open to the Public |
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You ever feel tired? tired of the pressure to always be moving forward? tired of the fight? you ever just want to go home? to return to yourself?
yeah, us too. | | |
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Visual Arts Week August 19 - 25, 2021 Open to the Public |
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Painting and Sculpture Workshops led by internationally recognized artist/instructors Matt Toole & Melinda Borysevicz Join fellow visual artists for our first annual gathering to retreat and explore. Early Bird Special Ends on or before June 25th | | |
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Music Week August 22 - 27 Open to the Public |
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Come to Music Week. Each day you will enjoy opportunities for group and individual participation and instruction in songwriting, guitar, voice, ukulele and more. You can venture in lightly, explore something new, or dig in deeper and hone your craft. There will be plenty of music appreciation sessions: history through the lens of song, discovering fun, unexpected musical connections across genres, song circles and concerts. We will also incorporate music into morning reflections and make musical connections to nature and art. EARLY BIRD ADULT: $570 per person, double occupancy. *Register before June 26th the receive a $25 discount on full program. |
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Volunteers Make a Difference Rose (volunteer) and Daniel (staff) worked together to build a new deck and a safe step to the deck area. We love our volunteers – working together to get more done, learning from one another, sharing Mountain stories, having fun, and often engaging in creative problem-solving along the way. | | |
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Old Growth Oak Forest The old-growth forest surrounding The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center was formally inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network as its 130th forest in the network. The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center is the second forest dedicated in North Carolina and the first in Macon County. Dr. Sarah Horsley, Network Manager of the Old-Growth Forest Network, presented a plaque to The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center Board and Community, recognizing the value of this protected old-growth area during The Mountain’s Annual Homecoming Weekend. The ceremony followed a workshop led by Dr. Horsley, held in the oak forest, detailing the ecology and value of old-growth forests. | | |
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Looking Forward at The Mountain The final workshop of the Homecoming program was about the future of The Mountain and our intentions to achieve the Mission: The Mountain enriches lives, fosters an appreciation of the natural world, honors the interconnectedness of all things, and inspires people to build inclusive, meaningful, sustainable communities throughout their lives. This conversation was informative and inspiring. Action steps for moving forward include: bridge societal gaps related to race, age and wealth; listen to understand others; encourage and empower younger leaders; extend the use of technology and social media; invest in the potential of The Mountain; and demonstrate meaningful change. |
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Soaking up the Sun We are celebrating the fully functioning solar panels on the lodge as well as the Cliff Haven and office building. This has been an almost two-year project, initiated by The Mountain Energy Efficiency Committee. Energy consumption has been reduced through outlet insulation, water heater blankets, window replacement, insulation, and now solar panels. | | |
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Singing in the Rain The Mountain is honored to be the recipient of a baby grand piano. This donation upgrades the quality of our meeting spaces – we now have this baby grand piano in the Tree House, in addition to the grand piano in the Great Room of the Lodge. Come enjoy these spaces as we make music together. |
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Mountain Family Connections The Tessier Family -- Jackson, Brice, Dave and Jen The story of our family starts in the summer of 1999. Jen and Dave met as camp counselors. We had both attended MountainCamp as campers but didn't meet until this fateful summer. We made many lifelong friends as counselors, including three other couples who have also built lives together. Over the past two decades we have attended family camps and sent our boys to camp. We also choose to support The Mountain financially as members. Each time we small the Mountain air, memories flood back. We feel lucky to be part of The Mountain's important legacy. |
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Media Resources There is so much happening at The Mountain, and we want everyone to be informed. The best way to do that is to spend time at The Mountain in programs, getting to know the staff, and be nurtured by this special place. We look forward to having time with you at The Mountain. In the meantime, our archive of Mountain Matters newsletters provides a variety of information |
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Chat with the Director Please sign up for a ZOOM conference call with Beverly Cree, Acting Executive Director, and other Mountain friends to share your thoughts, hopes and dreams for The Mountain. There is great potential for this special place to continue making a difference in the world, we want to hear from you to discuss the possibilities. |
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Thank you for being a part of The Mountain |
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If The Mountain has enriched your life, please consider a financial contribution. During this time of reduced programming about 70% of our budget has come from your contributions. This enables us to continue fulfilling the mission of The Mountain. In addition to supporting the annual campaign through a direct donation you may also consider planned giving, stock transfers, or IRA contributions. Your support makes a difference. Donate to The Mountain's Annual Fund or become a Mountain Member. We look forward to seeing you on The Mountain. |
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