Laura Paine Beebe – Boston, MA – It’s been many years since I was a first-year ALCer in Tent #19 in 1977, yet the memories are so vivid that it feels like just yesterday. I returned to Alford Lake for a total of 7 summers (1977-81, ’85′, ’88) and then took a hiatus during which I taught English for ten years, got married, and had two children. Once the children were old enough, I trotted them off to Family Camp for three years so they too fell in love with Alford Lake. Last summer my daughter (now 11) earned her first pine tree as a Ranger and now she, like me, dreams of Alford Lake, of the familiar sights, smells, and sounds that transcend time. Helping her pack her trunk last summer and dropping her off at camp in June was a thrilling time for me; I’m so grateful that she will have much the same experience I had 30 years ago. When not dreaming about Alford Lake, I spend my time in Boston volunteering in the children’s schools and teaching two days a week at a school for economically disadvantaged kids in grades 5-8.
Phoebe Chase – Co-Chair - Brookline, MA – (1991-1998, 2000, 2002) Currently, I work as a social worker in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital Boston, where I regularly practice my ALC “flexing” skills and have even been known to sing ALC songs (both silly and sweet) to the patients on my slower days (if only my employers knew they were paying me to be singing about loons and yodeling Austrians and stolen BVDs!). The enduring friendships with women of all ages, unconditional support, leadership opportunities, days filled with side-splitting laughter, and the ability to shower from head-to-toe in three minutes are just some of the many aspects of camp that have had a lasting impression on me. I hope that the ALC Alumnae/i Network will give fellow alums increased opportunities to reconnect and stay connected with each other, and to continue to maintain and spread ALC spirit both among alums and out in the world.
Kathleen Frekko – I am currently living in Maryland, outside of Washington, DC with my husband, Chris, and our two sons Christopher(3) and John(2). After living in Georgetown, Boston, Rochester MN, Manhattan and New Jersey, we are happy to finally call a place home. It has been a true blessing to be nearby my parents, my brother and my two sisters(and fellow ALCers) Ann and Mary. Ann, Mary, my Father and I have been so fortunate to all work together in our Primary Care Practice. My husband, Chris, practices Orthopedics in the area with my brother-in-law (Ann’s husband). Nothing like keeping it all in the family… My son, Christopher, is in nursery school at St. Raphael’s and John will be going there this Fall. They grow so fast. It felt like yesterday that I was singing “Swinging Along The Open Road” to get them to fall asleep in their crib.
Jane Hadden Geisse - I was a camper, CT, and counselor and was in camp somewhere between 10-15 years. (I also did Family Camp and pre camp) I taught riding then headed Out of Camp Trips. Highlights include “serving” Sue McMullan a bat on a paper plate at Horseshow Weekend with all the parents around at lunch and hanging her bra from the flag pole (same weekend!) I am currently retired from being a professional horseman, but still compete in horseshows. I also bike race, attempt to play the violin in our local orchestra, foster kittens for our shelter, and volunteer for the therapeutic riding center nearby.
Elizabeth (Hope) Issacs Mihailovich - My camp experience began on ranger row in tent 5 in 1981. I was an explorer in 1982, a blazer in 1983 and finally a guide in 1984 before heading off for AMT in 1985. 1986 found me with the Junior CT’s and in 1987 I was part of a trip called ALC West. I returned to camp in 1988 as a Senior CT working in drama and campcraft. 1990 found me as a counselor of tent 20 and in the campcraft department. My final year was in 1991 when I led out of camp trips. I am currently living in Stamford, Connecticut. My husband and I have three children, Ben 6, Alex and Jillian 3.
Marnie Thompson Miller- Co-Chair - My name is Marnie Thompson Miller (’81-’85, ’87,’89) and I now live in New Canaan Connecticut (after a life-time of New York City living) with my husband, Matt, and three girls, Lindsay (10 years), Katie (8 yrs) and Isabelle (6 years). Alford Lake Camp has been such an important part of my life that when each of our perspective ALCers where born, the old Alford Lake Camp song book was the first thing I packed in my hospital bag, and much to Matt’s embarrassment the one thing I used, to belt out every line of “Moose Mister” to the “Wood fires in the Camphouse!” Even my preschool students at The New Canaan Nature Center proudly sing “I know someone you don’t know, Yogi–Yogi…” I am over-overjoyed to serve on the Alumnae/i Board to help reconnect people to the spirit of ALC as WE grow as adults. It is amazing to me that in this fast-paced world, Alford Lake’s campus still looks the same, upholds the values of fostering self-esteem in young girls while teaching them life-skills in a beautiful setting, while constantly extending the ALC community to towns all-over the world. Oh to be in tent #11 again…..
Lisa Hamblin Naylor - I am living in Hull, Massachusetts with my husband Adam and daughter Grace (she is 1 1/2). I teach technology/engineering part time at a middle school and spend the rest of my time playing with Grace! I spent 13 summers in camp and my favorite activity was always sailing. I joined this committee to reconnect with camp and hopefully help others to reconnect and stay connected with the camp community.
Elisabeth Snell – (picured far right) My name is Elisabeth Snell (1991-1999, 2004). I currently live in Brooklyn, NY with two amiable Maine Coon Cats (who earned their first year Pine Tree in 2004). By day I work for WebMD, and by night I pursue a Masters in Public Health, and in between there my phone bill is filled with “minutes used” on ALCers past and present. There are too many highlights of my time in camp to pick just one favorite memory, but a few that stand out are playing a stoic yet exuberant Daddy Warbucks in the full session musical, and canoeing down Chesuncook Lake, Mt. Katahdin in the distance, on the 2004 Jr Ct Trip. I joined the Alumnae/i Committee because “always remember who you are and what you represent” rings in my ears on a daily basis. And I firmly believe that I grew into my best self because of the experiences I had and people I met at Alford Lake. I want to strengthen the connections we continue to share, even if we’re not always on the tentline, in the dining room, or on the docks. Oh Alford Lake Camp spirit!
Holly Williams
Maggie Williams – Brooklyn, NY – (I987-1993, 1996-1997, 1999-2002) I live in Brooklyn but my position as Judiciary Counsel in the New York State Senate means I make frequent trips to Albany. When not working on legislation, I enjoy growing vegetables at the Hollenback Community Garden, cooking dinner with friends, and riding my bike. My 13 summers in Maine included character building of the best and, sometimes most humorous, kind– from falling out of a canoe on our JR CT trip, to learning how to extract 15 passenger vans from ditches, to performing countless embarrassing skits in the dining hall. I’m hopeful that the ALC Alumnae network will help us all stay better connected with Alford Lakers past, present, and future.
