Kawaga Alumni Association |
 

    
  Alumnus of the Year - 2002

 Ricky Goldman


1968                               2002

Congratulations  to Rick "Ricky" Goldman - one of the best friends Kawaga has ever known. Without being asked, he has taken it upon himself to restore many of the icons of Kawaga which had lost their luster through the passing of the years. His efforts have been tireless and his love for camp could not be more evident. 

Dear Mom and Dad

One of the projects Ricky took on was the restoration of one of Kawaga's most enduring icons. Here is how Dear Mom and Dad looked before and after Ricky's handiwork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ricky had his son David bring this classic mailbox home with him on the bus at the end of the summer of 2001. He completely disassembled it and even fashioned new logs to replace rotted ones before refinishing it and adding new shingles.

Council Ring and Sachem Plaques

Ricky has also single-handedly revitalized the council ring and all of it's contents.
He brought up his own power-washer from Chicago and power-washed the inside and outside of the council ring. He reorganized all of the benches so the council ring could better handle the increased numbers of today's Kawaga Nation.

The most overwhelming improvement by far is what he has done to all of the many Sachem plaques that adorn the council ring. At the beginning of the summer of 2000, Rick was helping counselors hang the plaques that had been stored in Crow's Nest throughout the winter. He saw how filthy and damaged most of them were, and quietly resolved to do something about it. Over the course of several trips to camp (some in the winter), he proceeded to bring plaques home to Deerfield, IL where he used his skills in woodworking to restore and repair many of the plaques that had deteriorated over the years. Then, once he was back at camp, while the rest of the alumni were out running around like the aging idiots we are, Ricky worked away in the council ring hanging each plaque in chronological order. The council ring and it's contents have never looked better, and for his efforts Ricky was most appropriately awarded an  honorary Sachem. 
On behalf of all generations of Kawagians past, present and future, 
we thank SPIRITED BADGER for showing his continued love for Kawaga.

   
1949 plaque (with new arms)    1946 plaque (before restoration)

 

Kawaga Alumni Association