January 30, 2025
Dear Members and Friends of Rowe:
Last weekend, the Board of Trustees gathered for a strategic planning retreat weekend at Rowe. We engaged the support of a professional facilitator for several days of meetings in the Farmhouse, where we spent more than 48 hours engaging in robust data analysis and discussion that resulted in a new strategic operating plan for Rowe. This was not an isolated meeting. The retreat was the culmination of more than a year of data gathering and analysis, discussion among ourselves and with volunteers and members, and dreaming up new models that will see Rowe into its second century.
Our work included a careful examination of Rowe’s seasonal demand, revenues and expenses. The months of November through March are uniquely challenging for Rowe. Increasing costs of utility bills during a period when we have no active programming or revenue creates an unnecessary expenditure of tens of thousands of dollars per year, dollars which do little to support our mission during these five months of the year.
In light of this, the Board agreed to adopt a new operating model that concentrates Rowe’s in-person programs in the spring, summer and fall months. The key details are these:
- The new model will center primarily on “Camp Season” (mid-June through late August), when we will continue Rowe’s hundred-year tradition of providing transformative summer camps for children, teenagers and adults.
- We will offer two “Shoulder Seasons” in April through mid-June, and early September through late October. Adult camps that are traditionally offered during these months, e.g., Rowe Labor Day Men, Spring Thaw, and Kindred Spirits reunion weekend, will take place during these shoulder seasons, as well as other Rowe-developed programs, conferences, private group and individual rentals, and other mission-related offerings.
- We will continue to host online workshops and events throughout the year.
The Board voted last weekend to implement changes that will better align resources with this new model. Most notably, starting next year we will winterize and close unneeded facilities between the shoulder seasons, and reconfigure Rowe’s operating budgets and year-round staffing levels to support the new structure.
While these changes are necessary to ensure that Rowe is healthy, thriving, and sustainable, they necessitate painful budget and staffing reductions that we have begun to implement. On behalf of the Board, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the staff who have served Rowe with great spirit, dedication, and love. With Executive Director Clay Connor, we are committed to supporting our staff through the transition in every and all ways we can.
This course of action was not taken lightly, and there is no doubt in my mind that it creates a wise and necessary path forward. We’re doing the right thing for Rowe. We’ll be able to steward financial and human resources with more focus, intention and efficiency so Rowe can continue to make the greatest impact on the people and communities we are so privileged to serve.
The Board of Trustees and Clay welcome your questions about this new way forward. Please reach out to any one of us at our Rowe email addresses listed on the website at any time.
With Love and in the Spirit of Rowe,
Holly Thompson
President
Board of Trustees
president@rowecenter.org