CAMP AIRY Since 1924 order of the leaf Since 1934

CAMP AIRy - thurmont, maryland

46TH

annual camp airyorder of the leaf

alumni reunion

FRIENDSHIP • LOYALTY • SERVICE

ORDER OF THE LEAFLIFETIME “PASSION”

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDSEPTEMBER 9, 2017

93 Years

Camp Airy 1959 Staff Photo

83 Years

2 camp airy • 0rder of the leaf • september 9, 2017

camp airy Order of the leaf

“celebration of passion”46th annual alumni reunion

Evening ProgramMaster of Ceremonies: Larry Polen

Hamotzi & Invocation Rabbi Bruce Kahn

Greetings Art Drager President, Order of the Leaf Alumni, Inc.

Review of the Summer of 2017 Marty Rochlin, Director, Camp Airy

Dinner

Presentation: Introduction By: Art Drager “Continuing the Tradition” Don Kirson (Member, Board of Directors, The Camp Airy & Camp Louise Foundation, Inc.)

Campus Chapter - News Dr. Steve Thompson

Reading of the Leaf Charter Burt Hochberg

1997 CIT Presentation Josh Lessner, Ryan Perlin

“Camp in the ‘60s” Larry Block

Presentation: Introduction By: “Order of the Leaf Lifetime Eddie Besner Passion Achievement Award”

Acceptance Speech Artie Besner “Let’s Stay Together”

Benediction Rabbi Bruce Kahn

Please join us at 9 p.m. in the Dining Hall for Jason’s Ice Cream Social.

Thank you for being at the Leaf ’s 46th Annual Reunion!Mark your calendar for next year!

September 21-23, 2018!

Keep Coming Back!

3camp airy • 0rder of the leaf • september 9, 2017

There was something special about the connection between Artie Besner and Camp Airy from

the very beginning.Camp Airy meant quite a bit to Artie

and his twin brother, Eddie, two latchkey inner city kids who developed much of their social and athletic skills and intellectual curiosity through their summers on the mountain. Beginning at age eight, the boys summered in Thurmont, bonding and experiencing life alongside other Jewish boys and staff members. This contrasted sharply with their neighborhood and majority minority high school following the desegregation of the Washington, D.C. public schools when the Supreme Court in 1954 declared “separate but

equal” public schools unconstitutional. While they value their high school experience and early exposure to diversity, they now recognize and grateful for Airy’s major impact on their lives.

In Artie’s camper days, Airy focused largely on athletics and swimming, while gradually offering more activities in

arts and crafts, nature, hiking, photography and dramatics.

Artie especially enjoyed the weekly and highly

competitive track and swimming meets. He is still an avid runner and represented Maryland in his age group in the 800 meter race at the 2013 Senior

Olympics. Artie was also known for his

underwater swimming, which he demonstrated

during family visiting days at the old Airy pool.

The Order of the Leaf Lifetime “Passion” Achievement Award was established in 2004 as we celebrated Camp Airy’s 80th birthday. This award honors individuals who demonstrate their Airy passion

by embracing the guiding principles of the Order of the Leaf – friendship, loyalty and service – during and following their

active participation on the Camp Airy staff.

Tonight, on the 46th Alumni Reunion Weekend, we honor Artie Besner as the 2017 recipient of the “Passion” Achievement Award.

camp airy - order of the leaf lifetime “passion” achievement award recipient for 2017:

artie besner

“Let’s Stay Connected”

lifetime “passion” achievement award

Artie & Carol Besner

4 camp airy • 0rder of the leaf • september 9, 2017

lifetime “PASSION” Artie feels

that loyalty to Airy may have been stronger in his day for several reasons. There were few Jewish camps in the mid-Atlantic region and the Airy camp season was nine weeks. It was not unusual for guys like Artie to be connected

to Airy for 15 summers.

Today, young people have more options like computer, football, lacrosse and music camps to name a few. Also, more are choosing to enroll in summer college sessions to advance in their undergraduate programs and passing up opportunities to join the Airy staff. As a result, Artie says, “You tended to develop lifelong friends with the longer camp season and longer years spent at Airy. Today, a number of my closest friends are those that I grew up with at Airy.”

A camper from 1948-1957, Artie progressed along the normal continuum from camper to Counselor Assistant (CA) to Counselor in Training (CIT) to counselor. His CIT summer (1957) marked the start of Airy’s formal training program under the tutelage of Leon Lerner. Artie was among the first to complete the program and assumed a counselor role midway through the summer to fill a vacancy.

For his first full Airy employment in 1958, he was pleased to accept a “great” $75 contract, with transportation to and from camp. After graduating college, his salary increased to $325. Except for one year, Artie served on the athletics staff and led the archery program with his best friend, Arthur Sagotsky. He also led some of the Friday night Sabbath services.

As a counselor, Artie’s main goal was to develop camaraderie among all 12 bunkmates under his charge. He realized that campers came from different social and economic backgrounds with different abilities and interests. On the first night after campers arrived, Artie would call for a special meeting and explain that getting along was paramount in his bunk. “To accomplish this,” Artie says, “I recommended that even if there are wide differences you can often identify at least one quality about a fellow camper that can lead to mutual respect.” Artie still remains in contact with some of his campers, a number who went on to distinguished careers. His devotion to campers was recognized with two Director’s awards. In 1962, he was elected president of the Order of the Leaf.

Without any apologies, Artie admits that he is a lifelong nostalgia addict guided by a belief there must be a reason why certain people are brought together as we travel along life’s diverse pathways. And his feelings are not confined to Airy. He tries to attend reunions at his

high school, college, workplace, his old neighborhood, and was the only male to attend the 50th anniversary of his Hebrew confirmation class.

Retaining documents that many of us would readily discard as clutter is another Artie trait. In his “Airy folder” he stores the

Artie Besner. 1980s

Artie Besner. 1959

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Red Cross swimming cards and merit certificates earned as a camper; the Airy Camper Song Book; his signed counselor contracts; newsletters and articles on Camp Airy and Thurmont; extensive materials relating to the planning of the reunions; and the sarcastic ditties and caricatures at the counselor banquets at Peter Pan in Urbana. Over the years, these documents would prove helpful in responding to questions and Artie is acknowledged with several others in compiling “The Camp Airy Story.”

All these developments eventually led Artie to join in establishing the Order of the Leaf Alumni and organizing a reunion enabling former counselors and staff members to return to camp each fall. With the assistance of Sheldon S. Cohen, who served as the U.S. Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service under President Lyndon Johnson, the committee set up the Order of the Leaf ’s Alumni Inc.’s 501(c)(3) status. Artie and Art Drager, current president of the Order of the Leaf Alumni, Inc., spent many weeks tracing the whereabouts of Leaf members. The first reunion was held in 1972 and for several years was restricted to Leaf members. Later the reunions welcomed anyone with an Airy connection. Tonight we celebrate our 46th consecutive reunion. This is testament that the Airy experience does not have to end when our active camper and counselor days are over.

His warmth and kindness allowed Artie to connect with

all Airy age groups at the reunions. However, he

is unable to conceal his fierce loyalty to his own vintage – the guys from the 1950s and early 1960s. They are his lifetime friends and he

acts as the point guard keeping them updated on

the reunions and the status of their buddies. For those

who cannot attend, Artie often mails the program

bulletin and tries to make personal contact to remind members of the “precious years and those who contributed and influenced our development.” With Carol, his beautiful and talented wife at his side, the Besner’s have often opened their home to facilitate the travel of out-of-town guests attending our reunions.

Stan Mazer, of blessed memory, and Artie recommended honoring those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the principles of the Order of the Leaf – friendship, loyalty, and service – during and following their active participation on the Camp Airy staff. Leo Platt and

Jerome Cohen, 1934 Leaf charter members, received the first Lifetime “Passion” Achievement Award in 2004. The names of the recipients are inscribed on a plaque that hangs in the dining room. A take home award lists the recipient’s accomplishments on an enlarged Leaf logo mounted on a log retrieved from one of the trails surrounding camp. Tonight we honor Artie as the 17th recipient of the “Passion” Achievement Award.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Artie and Eddie. 1960

The Besner Family

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order of the leaf charter - 1934

charter members:

Grand Patron: Aaron Straus Grand Councilor: William Pargman

High Councilor: David LovettHigh Council:

Jerome Cohen, Jerome Feldman, Donald Frankel, Julius Halpern, Morton Kramer, Hy Lichtenstein, Leo Platt, Ben B. Rosenberg

Our heritage will never be forgotten through all who have passed before us; their spirit remains with us at Camp Airy, Forever.

Morris BohrerJoseph Cahn

Jerome CohenJerome FeldmanDonald Frankel

Herbert FriedbergCharles FriedmanNathan Goldman

Richard Hahn

Julius HalpernMorton KramerHy Lichtenstein

Aaron LevinDavid Lovett

William PargmanLeo Platt

Ben B. RosenbergLeonard Sackerman

Herb SchmidtMilton Seidman

Jack ShapiroAaron Straus

George WeinsteinHugo WeisgalSamuel Woal

Be it known to all on this 29th day of August in the year 1934, the Brotherhood of the Order of the Leaf has been duly organized

by the senior members of the counselor staff of Camp Airy for the purpose of promoting the spirit of friendship among each other and of loyalty to the institution of which they are a part.

our history... The Order of the Leaf was founded in 1934 by the counselors of Camp Airy for the purpose of promoting the spirit of friendship among each other and of loyalty to the institution of which they are a part.

The Order of the Leaf is the Camp Airy organization that all staff members are welcomed into after three years of service. The activities of this non-profit organization include providing campership assistance to children, who because of economic need, cannot pay all or part of camp fees. Additionally, Order of the Leaf contributes toward the enhancement of camp facilities for the benefit of campers and counselors.

Learn the history of Camp Airy by visiting www.orderoftheleaf.org/history.html Uncle Airy and Aunt Lillie, 1920s

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2004-2017 passion achievement award recipients

2004 “First Camper, 1924”JERRY COHEN*

2004 “The Airy Spirit”LEO PLATT*

2005 “Dr. Who Gave Back”DR. PHIL BAND*

2005 “Swim Staff”NORMAN LAND*

2006 “LeChiam”DR. DANNY FRAMM

2007 “Dr. Who Gave Back”DR. ARNOLD MICHAEL*

2007 “Airy, My Family”SHELDON S. COHEN

2008 “My Cherished Roots”HAROLD J. FALCHICK

2009 “Airy Was In Our Blood”MOLLIE*, BEN* & JERRY GORAN

2010 “Friendships Grow Here”MARV AND SANDEE ROSENSTEIN

2011 “Helping Kids Grow”LARRY “COACH” CANTOR

2012 “You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Gone to Camp Airy” DR. IRA TUBLIN

2013 “Building Better Campers”RICK AND PAM FRANKLE

2014 “A Life Altering Experience”IRV B. DENT

2015 “At Home at Camp Airy”ART DRAGER

2016 “Camper for Life”DR. STEVE THOMPSON

2017 “Let’s Stay Connected”ARTIE BESNER

* Deceased

in memoriam

order of the leaf campus chapter officers:

2017 order of the leaf alumni officers:

President: Dr. Steve Thompson • Vice President: Justin Goldberg Secretary: Jeff Lasser • Treasurer: Marilyn Riffkin

Executive Secretary: Eric Bloom Alumni Liaisons: Linda Esterson, Caryn Lasser

President: Arthur L. DragerVice President: Harold Falchick • Secretary-Treasurer: Sheldon S. Cohen

order of the leaf

Camp Airy and the Order of the Leaf lost a good friend this summer. Andy Bursten was a counselor, scheduler, Music Department Head,

long-time volunteer, and Treasurer of the Order of the Leaf.

Every aspect of Andy’s all-too-short life was executed with his unique combination of intellect, technical skill, compassion and humor.

We are all better people today for the time we had together. Rest in peace, Andy.

Join us at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow as we celebrate Andy’s life and remember his 34 summers at Airy.

At his family’s request, memorial contributions may be made to Grinnell College or the charity of your choice.

Andy Bursten