Camp Fire River Bend will hold our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, December 12 at 7pm EST. The Annual Meeting is a public meeting, and we invite you to join us (virtually). During the meeting, we will provide a Year-in-Review for Camp Fire and our programs, and elect new board members, officers and committee members. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 12 at 7pm EST. Please pre-register below to attend this meeting.
When: Dec 12, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
You must register in advance to attend this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
To serve a 3-year term:
Tara Grove (1st term). Tara Grove is the Assistant Head of School and Director of Middle School at The Stanley Clark School in South Bend, Indiana. She holds a Masters in Education from The Ohio State University, and earned her Bachelors in Education from Indiana University. Tara and her husband Lee, and their two daughters have a cottage at Birch Lake, and love spending their summers at the lake. Her daughters have attended Camp T for the past three summers, and Tara looks forward to serving on the board of directors to ensure that many more youth have the same wonderful experiences at Camp Fire and Camp T.
Marti Strain (1st term). Marti Strain is a 3rd generation Camp T camper and staff member. Her grandmother and mother both attended Camp, and now her nephew is the 4th generation in their family to attend. Marti is an RN, and has volunteered at Camp T for a week each summer since 2016 as the Camp nurse. She is currently employed at Becton Dickinson as the Clinical Solutions Director. Marti is passionate about Camp Fire and says that she loves everything it stands for - especially the ability to give kids the opportunity to "be kids" in our ever-changing world. She hopes to help shape Camp Fire and Camp T for many years to come.
To serve a 2-year term:
Mike Chapple, Chair (1st term). Mike Chapple joined the Board of Directors for Camp Fire River Bend in December 2019. He currently serves in the role of Vice Chair. Mike is the Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics in the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame. Mike earned both his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from Notre Dame in computer science & engineering. He also holds a MS in computer science from the University of Idaho and an MBA from Auburn University. Mike, his wife Renee, and their three sons live in Granger, IN.
Melissa Diglio, Vice Chair (1st term). Melissa Diglio is the Senior Vice President for Belonging and Participation at Leo Burnett in Chicago, IL. She has previously served as a creative director and marketing strategy director at marketing agencies including Leo Burnett, Digitas, and Bennett Adelson. Melissa holds a degree in graphic design from Ohio University. She is passionate about DEI and positive culture in the workplace. Melissa's daughter, Cora, was a first-time camper at Camp Tannadoonah in 2022. Originally from New Jersey, Melissa attended Camp Nyoda as a child.
Bob Bender, Executive Committee At Large (1st term). Bob Bender joined the Board of Directors in December 2020 and serves on the Board Development Committee and is co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. His wife Layna and their three children have had a summer home on Birch Lake since 2008. Each of their kids spent many summers at Camp Tannadoonah when they were younger, with great memories for the whole family. He has an engineering degree from the University of Illinois, an MBA from the University of Rochester, and has served on boards related to the housing market.
To serve a 2-year term:
Maria Carlson (1st term). Maria Carlson is an elementary teacher at Cornerstone Christian Montessori School in Elkhart, Indiana. Maria is an Elkhart native, and holds a degree in English from Kalamazoo College. Her 14-year-old, Ava, has attended Camp Tannadoonah for the past four summers. Maria was a member of the Camp staff in 2020, as a co-kitchen manager. She is active in the community, as a member of the Board of Directors for Swanson Community Pool and Irish Aquatics Swim Club. She enjoys reading, music, theater, and spending time with friends and family.
Tom Kuhn, Committee Chair (2nd term). Tom Kuhn was elected to the Board of Directors for Camp Tannadoonah River Bend in February 2022. Tom has been a member of the Finance Committee since 2014 and previously served on the Board from 2014-2016. He retired as a Senior Vice President at The Northern Trust Company in Chicago after a 34 year career in investment management. Tom is a graduate of Northwestern University. He and his wife Jan, a former camper at Camp Tannadoonah, live at Birch Lake.
Young people want to shape the world.
Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are.
In Camp Fire, it begins now.
