Here is Your Monthly Newsletter from Seabeck

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September 2023

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A Message from the Director

Hello and Happy September.

We made it through Seabeck’s 109th summer. I wrote this article a little early this month, so I am guessing if this newsletter went out, we made it until the end. I am in Skalica, Slovakia today for the marriage of my exchange son Matej and his bride Nicola. I am very honored to be a part of the event. I will get to see another son, Aron, in Hungary and when I return home, Ata from Turkey will be visiting. It looks like this early September will be a huge Rotary Exchange reunion time for me. It just goes to prove that these kids become part of your family.

Thanks for all of the suggestions about solar companies. I chose a company out of Port Townsend. They have recommended that we start at Firs instead of Huckleberry because of shading. Firs would handle 20 panels (vs. 14 at Huckleberry) and will produce around 8300 kWHours a year. That will translate into over $950 savings a year. The Board and I are going to make a final location decision later this month. I am looking for partners to help lessen the installation costs of this project. We have decided to do an early version of our end of the year letter and will include ways to contribute to the solar project or to other things we hope to complete this winter. Keep an eye out next month for your chance to help. I already have a donation for first panel!

One of the projects we will tackle is the replacement of the swim dock. I am again going to ask our loyal readers for input. Please let me know how your group uses the dock down there. I know almost every summer group uses it for some sort of early morning plunge. How do you use it during the afternoon? Just a jumping in point? To sunbathe? Some groups have stopped using it and have moved to Salmon Bake Beach. Is that because of the condition of the dock? The lagoon water? Or is the grassy beach better? Please let me know your thoughts at chuck@seabeck.org. We hope to design a replacement that will better fit the needs of our guests.

We also hope to remodel a few rooms and reroof at least one building. It feels great to see a projection that forecasts a little extra money at year end. That will allow us to do a few major projects again. That was one of the most frustrating parts of the recent financial uncertainty. I was really afraid we would lose all the momentum we had going pre-covid. These projects will help us keep the campus up to our new higher standards. Somehow survival seemed more important than a roof. We will see if I still feel that way when it starts raining.

The article about our Redwoods will appear in the October 29^th edition of the New York Times magazine. I will be out of town during the photoshoot, but look for our coverboy Monte to be featured.

Have a great month. Enjoy the cooler weather and the return of football. We have more groups in September than in August. In many ways, September and October are our busiest months. Isn’t that great?!?

Chuck

Snapshots from Seabeck

Photo & Comment by Jim Fowler, Seabeck Maintenance Department

So I was on the trails today and this monster tried to take me out, but after a few angry stares we came to an understanding and all was good. I'm jealous of his hairdo.

Photo & Comment by Candace Ladwig Kolbas

Seabeck Cemetery Restoration Project

Now that was fun!! What a great group. There’s so much to talk about in the cemetery, but there’s just not enough time. We had a great time though. The Lighthouse for the DeafBlind, Inc. in Seattle puts together this conference for folks to come from all over the country and even Canada to the Seabeck Conference Center each year, and this year they wanted to tour the cemetery. They had awesome questions, and I think they really enjoyed themselves. This project is reaching so many people!

(Permission granted to take and post photo).

Center for Spiritual Living Retreat

Center for Spiritual Living was our last big group of Summer 2023. By the looks of the pictures posted on their Facebook page, I think they had a good time.

Ways to Donate to Seabeck

WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT

SEABECK CONFERENCE CENTER

Want to help us lay the foundation for the next decade of Seabeck Conference Center? There are many ways, not all of them involving huge disbursements of cash.

Here are some creative ideas you might not have thought about:

Cash Donation Today

Tax-deductible gifts via check, credit card, in person, or online. Please consider

upping your regular gift by another 10 percent.

Automatic Monthly Payments

Gifts can be deducted periodically from your bank account, making larger donations

easier by spreading them over time.

Low-Cost Appreciated Stock

Avoid paying the capital gains by giving full-market value to Seabeck Conference Center.

In-Kind Donation

We are always in need of furniture, lighting, rugs, and much more - the market value is tax-deductible.

Multi-Year Pledges

A great way to ensure support will be there when we need it year after year.

Designated Gifts

Donate to a targeted project or capital campaign.

Commemorative Gifts

Donate a bench or rocking chair in honor of someone or something important to you.

A Bequest in Your Will

Your gift can be a specific sum or a percentage of an estate after other bequests.

Just add an addendum to your existing will.

Life Insurance and Savings Accounts

Same as retirement plans, except those payments made to Seabeck Conference Center

are exempt only from estate taxes.

IRA's and Retirement Plans

Your estate receives a charitable deduction for the full gift amount on estate and income

taxes, while we receive full donation value. Non-charitable heirs receive only a part of

the value (since inherited assets are subject to estate and income taxes).

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity. QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year, as long as certain rules are met. You must be 70 1/2 or older to be eligible to make a QCD.

All gifts are welcome. Seabeck Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your contribution may be tax-deductible. If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Chuck Kraining at (360) 830-5010 or email him at chuck@seabeck.org.

Seabeck Conference Center

13395 Lagoon Dr NW

Seabeck, Washington 98380

360.830.5010 Email | Websi te