Very strange day today. My mother passed away yesterday, so I was looking at the Obituaries today. What do I see right next to my mother, but a big article about Val Udells and his life. I couldn't help think about my child hood. Eric

We attended Val Udell's Celebration of Life today. SGF was represented by (oldest to youngest) Gil Besser and wife, Moishe Shor and wife, Aaron Newberg, me, Barry Brait and Myles Kauffman. The hall was packed to the walls. Val left a huge footprint throughout his life and at SGF.

Pictures at...

http://picasaweb.google.com/mblass/ValUdellCelebrationOfLife#

Wish SGF had a larger contingent, commensurate with the Val's importance to our camp.
--

Gentleman, I'm confused...and somewhat saddened.Why havn't I heard more fro you regarding our coin can fundraising campaign? we have 100 cans available for distribution. We are trying to raise money to sent some deserving kid to an SGF weekend this summer. All I'm asking for is for you to contact me and ask for a coin can. Your loose change goes a long way towards helping to change a kids life.Click on the top banner on the homepage and do what somebody else did for you.
Uncle Herman

Hey I heard a rumor that the WFIL Boss Bus was gonna be at the Chinese Buffet on Feb 28th...The Boss Chicks will be giving out prizes! You'll have to come to find out.

Evites are out for the Chinese Buffet on Sunday Feb 28. Please RSVP as soon as possible so I can let the buffet staff know how many tables we need. The last dinner was a big success, lets make this one bigger.

I never cry when people die, so why am I crying now?





VALENTINE ( "VAL") UDELL

UDELL VALENTINE ("VAL"), Jan. 20, 2010 of Perkiomenville, PA, a teacher, graphic arts expert, lifelong naturalist, and beloved director of camps SGF and Maribel. Pre-deceased by his twin brother, Gene Udell, his sister Naomi Burr, and his brother Irwin Udell. Brother-in-law of Anita Udell. Uncle of Linda Bosniak, Richard Burr, Jon Udell, and Ruth Kunstadter. Great-uncle of Marc and Sam Speiser, and many other great and great-great nieces and nephews. A gathering of friends and family will be held at Fellowship Farm, in Pottstown, PA, on Fri., Feb. 20, 2010, at 11:30 A.M.

Hello Everyone,

How WONDERFUL to find this website. While I dont remember too many details of being at SGF those last couple of years before it closed, and I went to Camp Council, SGF, and ALL the people, made such a memory that I still think back to all the good times. From Uncle Murray's campfire stories, to getting lost in the woods on nature hikes, to can dy drops, to ... All such GREAT times.

Thank you all.

Miles Rinis

I spoke with my Aunt Shirley today to tell her about Val's passing. My Aunt was Uncle Dempsey's - Emanuel Ettinger (late) wife. She is in her 80's and grew up on SGF - I'd say it was her home away from home. Her comment was one of sadness but with an insightful twist. She said to me "you know, those Udell boys we so kind and caring - they were "SGF" - I smiled!

I first met Uncle Val in the summer of 1947 or 1948. I was a first time camper at SGF. There was no pool then. We swam in a pond. At that time I lived in North Phila. I had never seen a swimming pool or a pond. Only in pictures. When I got to the camp I did not know how to swim. If you wanted to swim in the pond at SGF you needed to pass a swimming test. So Uncle Val volunteered to teach me to swim. His method was simple but effective. He placed his hand on my chest and I floated on his hand. He then had me kick and paddle. Within a half hour he had me swimming.

I grew up in a row house near Shibe Park. It was a house somewhat short on affection. But that was never the case with Uncle Val. I will never forget his kindness and generosity.

Val Udell died peacefully this morning at 9:10 AM at age 93. Val and his late fraternal twin Gene were the souls of SGF from the mid-1930s onward.

Val's family are tentatively scheduling the Celebration of Life gathering at Fellowship Farms (http://www.fellowshipfarm.org/) on Saturday February 20th. Likely start time will be around 11:00 AM. Once confirmed, the details will follow.

I was blessed to have known Val since 2006. He was a gentle man and a gentleman, in tune with nature. I'll really miss him.
--

Okay guys,
We are rescheduling the Chinese Buffet Reunion for Sunday February 28 from 4PM until 6PM. Evites to be going out shortly. That's 6 weeks away, enough time to be able to get this into your schedule. We would love to have a really big turn out. Try to join us and be a part of something really great. See old friends and make new ones. You will even see some of our Hall of Famers there. Please RSVP as soon as possible. Also, again, thanks to Alan Saionz for helping with the Evites.

Val Udell is back at Pottstown Hospital. Will post more when we know more.
--

Your help is needed. I am seeking a few good men to join me as members of the official SGF Fundraising team.I have taken on the task of leading this team. I'm asking for 4 or 5 men to contact me.We'll not ask you to attend too many meetings and we'll do most of our work via teleconference.I don't forsee more that 1-2 hous per month of your time.Remember the men that made your trips to SGF possible. We need to continue that work.
Pleae contact me if interested and committed to our mission at:
htannenbaum@komar.com
215-518-6325(Cell)
215-752-2081(Home)
215-441-9300X8915(Work)
Doing it for the kids,
Uncle Herman

Just wanted to wish all of my SGF brethren a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

I attended SGF from 1959-1963 ( I think- 1963 for sure). Boxed twice and knocked out someone named Perry with those big gloves. I'm a Fishtown kid.

Okay guys, buffet reunion is being postponed until after the holidays. Announcements will be made. So Solly!

Attended SGF from 64 to 67 was in Eire 4th trip, Hopi 2nd trip, #2 1st trip and #5 1st trip. Hated my 1st year. Went to the winter reunion where Uncle Lemmon convinced me to try it 1 more time. Glad he did. Went 3 more years. Great memories

Okay my friends, only one week until the buffet. We want a nice turnout. Come see old friends, or make some new ones. We had a great time at the last one. Please RSVP asap. Hope to see a lot of you there.............Cap

Report on Moran Land Preservation Project

Thank you to those who were able to take the time to attend yesterday's Open Space Board meeting in support of the Moran Land Preservation Project. 

Although our agenda item came up just 15 minutes before the meeting was adjourned, we were able to show the Open Space Board that this project has broad-based community support from neighbors, nonprofit organizations (including FOW), and the Board of Supervisors. No other project, of almost 20 projects that were up for review today, brought that kind of support to the table (in addition to $1 million in matching funds). We filled half the chairs in the audience, which was impressive.

We believe that the board got the message that this project is very important to Worcester, and that it cannot wait for a future funding cycle. The board made no decision at today's meeting. They indicated that they might vote on their priority projects at their January or February meeting. The January meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, at 3:00 p.m. in the meeting room on the 2nd floor of One Montgomery Plaza. 

Thanks again for your support today.

If you can make it on short notice tomorrow, please go to the meeting of the Montgomery County Open Spaces Board (see address below).

Please respond to Herman with questions or intention to attend.

Tomorrow the Open Space Board will be reviewing the Moran project along with others. From the information I get the staff has recommended to defer the project.  MCLT has sent a letter to the open space board members asking that they consider this as a high priority. I think it is imperative that there is a show of supporters at the meeting.  Anything you can do would be beneficial.

I know it isn’t much notice, but I think this is our moment to get the troops together and make that show of strength that we have talked about. Not necessarily just the alums, but wives, etc. The O/S Board is being asked to prioritize these projects and we need to show them that a lot of people really care. Please let me know if we can make this happen. The meeting is tomorrow at 3:00 in the second floor meeting room of One Montgomery Plaza (Norristown), the same place where you came to the meeting before.

Herman Tannenbaum
800-220-1529
215-441-9300, ext 8915
htannenbaum@komar.com

Just a little over 2 weeks until the hinese Buffet reunion. The more, the merrier. We has a great turnout at the last one. Lets make this one even bigger. Please respond to the evite asap. Thanks and I hope to see you all there..........Karl

Attended twice, between 1951-56??
My brother Robert also attended with me

Yo Brothers,
I'm looking for a few good Men to join me on the official SGF Fundraising team. At the last Board meeting, Scott Kleiman stepped up to join...are you the next one.We're looking to form a group of men dedicated to raisinf money to futrther fund our mission of sending deserving boys to camp.
Please respond to me directly at :
htannenbaum@komar to join our effort. We won't be asking you for money, only some of your time.
Thanks,
Uncle Herman Tannenbaum

Yo Brothers,
I'm looking for a few good Men to join me on the official SGF Fundraising team. At the last Board meeting, Scott Kleiman stepped up to join...are you the next one.We're looking to form a group of men dedicated to raisinf money to futrther fund our mission of sending deserving boys to camp.
Please respond to me directly at :
htannenbaum@komar to join our effort. We won't be asking you for money, only some of your time.
Thanks,
Uncle Herman Tannenbaum

Okay, about 3 weeks until the reunion. Please respond to the evite as soon as possible, I've got to notify the facility with a final number as soon as possible. I hope to see a lot of you there...............k

With the help of Alan Saionz, the Evites for our Chinese Buffet reunion have been sent out. Thank you Alan. If you didn't receive one, please let us know and send in your e-mail address. We look forward to a large turnout. Please RSVP as soon as possible so I can let the restaurant know how many tables we will need.
Sheer for our camp boyz

Hello again:

Looks like the November 15th trip to NYC with your CC sisters has to be postponed for awhile, but I'd like to propose this:

We're thinking of delaying 'til the spring, and then maybe pooling some vans and have the CC women attend the matinee of "The Marvelous Wonderettes" since it centers around a reunion, while the brothers go to a sporting event. (Is it too early to suggest a Yankees game?)

Then..to generate the camaraderie...

We can all go to the inexpensive and wonderful chinese buffet located a block from Chicago City Limits, where we can all see affordable improvisational comedy for $15.00 each(plus the two drink minimum you find in most comedy clubs) If there are enough of us, they'd probably still have a summer camp theme and/or a reunion/ and/or a taste of Philly show..

Is this something that would interest any of you? The numbers aren't as important because they don't have to reserve the theater for a matinee..it's already reserved for the regular Saturday night shows.

Let me know. I think it's a pricy but really fun way to get the groups together.

Thanks
Karen

Okay guys, reservations are made. Our next Chinese Buffet reunion will be held at Hong Kong King Buffet at Bustleton Pike and Street Road in Feasterville / Trevose. Same place as before. It will be from 4:00 PM to about 6:00 PM. The date is Sunday December 20, 2009. Evites will be sent out soon. Please respond ASAP so I know if I reserved enough tables. Hope to see at least as big a turnout as our last one.

Hey Guys:

I was wondering if you SGF brothers want to join your CC sisters for a special event to take place on Sunday afternoon, November 15th in NYC.

We need at least fifty people to make this fly and we're half-way there with the gals.

Chicago City Limits, an AMAZING Improv comedy club in the Broadway district, is renting out the theater for us to tailor-make a show with a summer camp reunion theme. If we get fifty people, we can charge $30.00 a pop..very, very reasonable for the city.

It's family friendly so bring the kids but the humor is sophisictaed enough for adults to enjoy. This is a real treat.

We're planning to have lunch at the chinese buffet beforehand and then maybe dessert with the singing waiters after the show.

Is anyone interested? Post here or at the CC site. Thanks! Karen

Hey guys,

We had a great meeting yesterday and we're off and planning Overnighter 2010 for this July 23 - 25th.

For all of you alums we have another Chinese dinner planned for December. Keep checking in for more details.

Spencer

We attended a smaller but still fun 27th Annual Reunion at Val Udell's house in Perkiomenville. Gene was not there for the first time, but certainly in spirit.

Pictures by Uncle Aaron Newberg and me are on page...

http://sgfvc.com/gallery_udell27/index2.html

Hi Herb...

I re-read your 'guest book words' again tonight. (Everyone please read Herb's guest book a couple entries below) I was going to email you directly, but decided to share this with everyone. You see Herb, I am only 47 (geeze, did I say 'only') and your words at 72 put a smile on my face. I live right here in Collegeville and pass by there all the time. Sometimes, I guess that I take that for granted. There was a meeting of the SGF board this morning...it doesn't quite matter what was discussed, that will be shared with everyone later. What does matter is that there is a group of guys out there that are pouring their hearts out to do what they can to put more smiles on more faces. Many years ago SGF left an imprint on you...many years later that same magic was left with my brothers, a generation of SGF'ers and me. And many years from now this will be passed on. I hope to meet you someday Herb...maybe at a reunion...maybe at next year's SGF overnighter...or maybe by accident we will meet at some unsuspecting place,,,who knows. Amazing how your simple drive down Rt 422 could mean so much to someone you have never met before.

Take Care

MICHAEL
"R" "I" "D" "G" "E"

40th anniv. of Woodstock, and I just found my 3rd trip 1969 Bunky News, including the lyrics to the song that Skins wrote. How cool is that!!

Today I was returning from a trip to Limerick and on my way down Ridge Pike my thoughts turned to SGF.

I had been a camper there 1948-1950.
( I think ).

I was also a counselor 1954-1955.

I haven't often thought about the time I spent there, but today the memories came back with a rush.

I remember Uncle Val and Aunt Lanie.

I remember the night we captured a "wombat"

I remember the night an uncle "hung himself" over a dear john letter.

Now I am 72 years old. And today I spent most of the day with a smile on my face.

Miss the days at SGFVC as a camper and kitchen boy in the '60's.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!

27TH ANNUAL SGF REUNION AT VAL UDELL'S HOUSE - OCTOBER 18TH.

[note, I will take e-mail reservations since Val refuses to own a computer - otherwise, here is his message]

Last year about this time, word went forth of the 26th “mini-reunion” of the SGF Vacation Camp. Now we announce the 27th Reunion, scheduled for Sunday, October 18th, beginning about 2:00 p.m., continuing until dark. As always, it shapes up as an Open House. Drop in at any time and stay as long as you choose.

For parking, follow the signs to our next door neighbors, Bill and Kathleen Hutt. Modest refreshments will be available, which you or may not care to augment. If you do, “finger foods” are easiest to deal with.

We need to know how many to expect, so please notify me [ yes ] or [ no ]. You may either send a snail mail to me at...

Val Udell
2746 Yost Road
Perkiomenville, PA 18074

...or send an e-mail to Mark Blass at mblass@gmail.com.

Spread the word to anyone connected to SGF, including SGFVC in its new form in Bucks County.

Hope to see you soon!

As ever,

Val Udell

Thanks to Chief Jay Axelrod for his donation! You can look at the Overnighter 2009 pictures and see your dollars are going to a great cause. Do you see yourself in any of those photos that bring back memories?

Camper from 63-67? I remember Lemon Walt Did walt get shot on the rifle range.greatest childhood memories.I remember o'neil fight night i boxed at one. swimming a mile for who knows what

Received this message from Uncle David Gluck who was an SGF counselor during the 1940s. Does anyone go back that far (it's even before my time)?

first_name: DAVID
last_name: GLUCK
city_address: MANASSAS
state_address: VA
camper_years:
counselor_years: 1940-1950 ?
message: I HAVE BEEN THROUGH WWII AND KOREA, AND MY MIND IS FUZZY ON THE DATES. ARE THERE CAMP RECORDS WITH OUR NAMES. I DO REMEMBER THE YEAR I WAS A COUSELOR, WE HAD A FLOOD THAT MESSED US UP THAT WEEK.
HOW FAR A DRIVE WOULD IT BE TO GET THERE FROM MANASSAS VA? REGARDS, UNCLE DAVID

To All, An update on the SGF Open Space Project....
The Moran Project was postponed from yesterday's Commissioners meeting . They had other pressing budetary issues to deal with. It will be put back on to the docket in the fall.....and the beat goes on.Politics???
I'll keep all posted as I hear more.
Uncle Herman

Hey guys...had the day off and went to see the old place...when i got to Methacton the tears started rolling..i made the left turn through the sign and decided to go in..wow..memories came rushing back..saw all the bunks on the ridge..drove by the pool and looked at the farm house..decided then and there that if you need my help to renovate ill do what i can..wow..never realized the rush i would get once i saw the old girl..Jay

Here's a big Thank You to Mark Blass for posting those 2009 SGFVC Pictures. Thanks to Mark for all he does keeping the whole world aware of SGF.

On another note w/all this 40yr. Woodstock stuff going on this wkend. it brings me back to that 3rd trip 1969 when I was a 9yr. old Apache watching the coolest bunch of counselors and staff getting groooovy to that Woodstock feeling. So once again thanks to all those grooovy 1969 SGFers.

I am now, officially, The Z-Man!!!!!!!

UPDATE ON VAL UDELL FROM HIS NIECE:

Val is back to his old self.  He saw the doctor yesterday and was given the okay to resume driving and doing his volunteer work at the hospital.  He'll start on Monday.  He's planning the SGF reunion for mid October.

Thanks to Michael Glass and Mike Wolf for providing pictures. One of Michael's sets - the one with the Indian Ceremonial - has been lost by K-Mart, but Michael believes that it will turn up. When they do, I'll add another page.

Otherwise, there are five pages of pics starting on

<http://sgfvc.com/gallery_overnighter2009/index.html#top>http://sgfvc.com/gallery_overnighter2009/index.html#top

Note that all five pages are indexed at the bottom of each page.

Once you open one enlargement, you may navigate from picture-to-picture using the arrows at the top of each image.

Wow! What a wkend. it was. SGF 2009 was just great. Thanks to all the campers that made it such a success.Especially Mr. Hugh Heffner Weitzman who caugt the biggest lunker bass ever taken out of those enchanted waters and Mike Linsalata for catching his first fish ever. Thanks to the counselors especially the Briarwood boys who now are officially SGFers.

Hi SGF Brothers:
What a fabulous weekend! Words simply cannot express the intensity of our individual and collective experiences, however, the photos(thanks Mark) will help a lot. To Spencer I offer my thanks for your vision and great passion as well as for your administrative skill sets. To every senior and every junior counselor, I offer my gratitude for every ounce of effort that you put into this event. To our host, Briarwood Day Camp, I share my appreciation for your superb accommodations. I keep reviewing every activity, every game, every campfire, every detail and I can't get enough!
I almost lost it at our closing ceremony. To every brother wherever you are, I offer you my respect for your connection to the SGF Family.
Herman, you were felt throughout the weekend. Thank you again for allowing me the privilege of playing Camp Director and Chief at the Indian Ceremonial. What more could an SGFer possibly want? Wishing all of you good health, great fortune and the joys of
the ongoing pleasure of the SGF spirit.
Cheer for our camp, boys!

Came across your website reminiscing about visits to SGF and time spent with my father and his BSA Troop 95 colleagues, years ago. My father: Louis Dubin. Deceased 2002 and dearly missed. Happy to see Val Udell's name and picture on this site and hope he will receive my good wishes. Probably have fair number of old event photographs from that era.

Hello all,
I spent my summers from 1969-1972 at SGF. Bunks Delaware,Hopi on Indian Ridge and Bunk 1 and 4 on Cassett Hill. Remember it like it was yesterday. Cary Aronson turned me onto this site after we re-connected after all these years on Facebook. And once and for all, I did not crap in the pool. I had a swim mask and unfortunately found crap that soneone else had done.