Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

A wish list would include a farm tractor. “Our very old machine we inherited with the property is on its last leg and apparently not repairable,” he said. Maintenance of more than a mile of gravel road demands a 45-50 horsepower serviceable machine.

Bill Waldrop, a board member, is spearheading the effort to resolve this immediate need. He may be reached by e-mail at WRWaldrop@aol.com.

In addition, “we need shop tools of all kinds – hand and power,” Lewis said. “Everything we now use belongs to individuals. We need to equip our own shop” and adds that an essential office tool is a copier. “The one we have is about 15 years old. We could use a newer model that’s easy to operate.”

He thanks the generous people who have donated 10 canoes and kayaks for use on beautiful Watts Bar Lake, but adds, “we can use a few more canoes and lake kayaks. With the waterfront as a major aspect of our camping program, we fill them very quickly!”

A few other items are on the ‘wish list.’ “Our screened porches are everyone’s favorite hangout,” he said. “More rocking chairs are requested by almost every group that visits.”

The five bedrooms in the Retreat House would be more comfortable with better lighting. “Floor lamps of any description would be a great help,” Lewis said, as he thought of one more item to increase comfort levels: “and an ice maker.”

He asks anyone who may be able to provide any of these items to contact him directly at 865-567-1159 or camp@etdiocese.net.

Lewis also wanted to remind area Episcopalians: “Capital funds to retire our debt and to begin building more adequate housing continues to require our attention.” He urges anyone with fresh ideas on how to achieve this goal to contact:

• Bishop vonRosenberg, 865-966-2110 or cgvonr@etdiocese.net
• The Rev. Hugh Jones, director of the camp’s board of managers, bamhsdad@aol.com.
• Butch Mills, Grow in Mission capital campaign steering committee chairwoman, normamills@aol.com.