ach celebration - picnic at Far Horizons, staff alumni weekend, summer "camp meeting" and birthday event - was unique, fun and entertaining.

ur July 19 summer celebration was splendid. Board families gathered with staff and conference guests on Robert E. Lee Hall's lawn to take part in turn-of-the-century games. There were sack races, three-legged races, egg-spoon races, egg toss and tug-of-war. Green rockers were available on Lee Hall porch for supporters and spectators. It was wonderful to see the intergenerational activities.

  At 5:00 p.m., board members and guests gathered near the Weatherford gravesite to bury a time capsule. A delicious barbeque picnic with hand-churned ice cream on the front lawn of Lee Hall brought together the High School Christian Values Conference and board families. The afternoon concluded with an old-fashioned camp meeting. We had it all-contemporary Christian praise and worship music, hymns of long ago, testimonial, message and invitation.

The evening was an overwhelming success as today's youth combined past traditions with excitement for the present and future.

ur centennial birthday celebration was a grand evening. Blue Ridge's impact over the past 100 years was most apparent in the excitement and enthusiasm guests expressed to be a part of such a momentous occasion. With over three hundred present, we were a diverse crowd - board members, conference leaders, families, friends from the local community, current staff, staff alumni, trustees, YMCA professionals, political representatives and volunteers.

Thanks for your enthusiasm, generosity and support during this memorable year. Our archives are filled with distinctive articles, and we welcome additions to what has become a significant repository for a place we love.