by Solly Kane, Assistant Director

The signs of spring are everywhere this week: calendars have turned to April, baseball season starts, and Passover begins on Friday. However, for all of us in the camp office the most exciting part of spring is that summer is just around the corner!

But, before we get to Summer 2012, we are celebrating the last 60 years of camp with a gala dinner, Saturday, April 28 at the River East Art Center! The event promises to be great; we will be joined by incoming Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Dr. Gary Zola, an OSRUI alumnus, and the Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives. The evening will feature the music of Rabbi Joe Black (another OSRUI alum!) and other great surprises. It will certainly be a memorable event. For more information visit our website or contact Jill Silver Topolski, who we are excited to welcome as our new Development Director!

Our preparations for this summer are of course in full-swing! The first sessions of camp begin in 75 days and we have lots of great things in store all summer for the almost 1100 campers who are registered. There are still a few spaces available, visit our website or contact us at the camp office if you are still considering camp for this summer.

In addition to the campers, who we are so excited to welcome to camp, our staff is going to be a great group (as always!) this summer. Most of our Rashei Eidot (unit heads) are back after doing a fantastic job last summer and we have a strong group of over 20 Israelis who will be joining us in Oconomowoc.  There are still a few staff spots available as well. If you, or someone you know, would be great working at camp please contact Susan Alexander or me.

Chag Pesach Sameach, Happy Passover, from all of us in the office to our entire OSRUI extended-family!