Appalachia

Dear Applicant for the 2008 Capuchin Appalachian Mission,

Greetings from Garrison! We pray that this letter finds you well. CAM Application time
has arrived again! Please read this entire letter carefully, as we are writing to share with you
important details about this year’s program as well as information about the application
process.

The dates of the program are:
Saturday, July 12 through Sunday, July 20, 2008.

The interest in our Appalachian Mission continues to grow. Lots of generous people are looking for an experience of service in Christian community. We are looking to have people join our mission community who are willing to give themselves to all aspects of the experience: the preparation, the fundraising, the prayer, the work, the reflection, and the community life. Please read this letter carefully and consider everything as you discern whether or not you will apply.

Applications: All completed Applications, (see checklist for all elements of a completed application) and the correct non-refundable deposit (once accepted for the mission) of $75.00 per application must be received in our office by the deadline of Monday, April 28, 2008. Only fully complete applications will be accepted. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant for another chance at completion. If the applicant has time to resubmit the completed application before the deadline, we will be happy to put him/her in the running.
Selection will be made with an eye toward forming the best community experience for all. We will select a mix of first timers, and those who have participated previously. We will select returning applicants, considering in some measure the quality of their participation in the past.
Work Group: We cannot guarantee your being assigned to your first or even second preference for your ministry choice. Participants will be selected for the mission, and then we will assign ministry placements, as much as we can by the preference listed. The four ministries will be: Manual Labor, Outreach, Vacation Bible School, and Kitchen and Home Base Care.
Numbers: There are approximately 50 spaces available for High School and College aged participants, 25 for adult participants and staff. If the number of applications exceeds the number of spaces available, a waiting list will be drawn up. (Last year more than 20 people were on the waiting list.)
Orientation: ALL participants in the 2008 Capuchin Appalachian Mission MUST attend the MANDATORY orientation session on Saturday, May 31, 2008 regardless of the number of times they have participated in the past. This is an important component of the program and is to be taken very seriously. The orientation session will begin at 10:00 AM sharp and ends at 3:00 PM.
Accommodations and Travel: While in Kentucky, we will live at the Franciscan Parish of Holy Trinity in Harlan. We sleep on the floors in the classrooms. The dining room and church are available to us all week. We will travel in 12 passenger vans, taking two days to make the trip in each direction, sleeping overnight at a Church in Virginia.
Finances: For the sixth year in a row, the cost of the program is NOT increasing, remaining at $235.00 per participant. The actual cost of last year’s program was $435.65 per person (counting only direct expenses, accounting nothing for overhead). Because of rising costs, this year’s program is estimated at close to $460.00 per person.

How do we make up the difference of more than $220.00 per person?
We do it through various fundraising efforts.
Fundraising: All participants are required to participate in our Companions in Service program by sending a minimum of 10 sponsor letters to family, friends, or organizations. These letters invite people to join us as Companions in Service by praying for us and making a financial contribution. A sample letter will be provided in the acceptance package. Part of the application package is a list of ten people to whom you will send the letters.

We expect all participants to assist in fund raising efforts for this program. In the past parishes have helped as well by taking an extra collection for this mission. Participants have approached their pastor, made the request, and spoken at the masses. They have frequently been astounded and encouraged by the support and contributions they have received. Others have solicited donations directly for our tool needs, held bake sales, or car washes. Again, all are required to make an effort to assist with our fund raising efforts.

Please call us at the center if you have any questions or if you need financial assistance.

If you receive this letter via e-mail the application is attached. You may also download the application and all forms from our website or contact our office and we will send an application to you via the US Postal Service.

May God’s Blessings and Peace be with you,

Tom Brinkmann
Executive Director

C.A.M. - 2008

If you would like to help support our Outreach Ministry Please become a Companion in Service and make a donation so you can Go By Giving!