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Daphne Emmack, national president of Camping4Girls and a member of Iowa AJ, Prairie City, was a guest of local members of Camping4Girls, this week, and she explained the rationale for the legal change in name of what was formerly known as "the National T.T.T. Society" to "Camping4Girls."
She noted that the philanthropic organization of women was founded in 1911 as T.T.T., and although it has grown to national scope, only members understood what T.T.T. meant and the name did not identify the mission or the values of the organization. The primary mission is to identify local 10-year-old girls who hopefully will benefit from a week of summer camp, be it socially, emotionally, physically or in terms of leadership opportunities, creativity, confidence-building or maturity. As a result, a new logo for "Camping4Girls" includes symbols for a mentoring adult and a child, as well as a heart and the words "connect," "discover" and "belong," which are goals for camp as well as the organization.
Emmack, who has served on the Iowa Board or as an Iowa officer, or on the National Board or as a national officer for the past 18 years, spoke candidly about problems with declining membership and thus declining revenues. She challenged members to "think outside the box" to resolve these issues, so "Camping4Girls" can continue to impact the lives of girls who need a "boost" of some sort.
Also a special guest at the meeting was Kim Langley, Cedar Rapids, who is the National Project Administrator for Camping4Girls - which means she coordinates the organization, registration, programming and operation of camping arrangements for campers sponsored by chapters nationwide. To do so, she works with six Project Board members who coordinate camp functions in six multi-state regions of the United States.
Ironically, one of the six Project Board members is her daughter, Hanna, who has recently moved to Marshalltown and as a prospective transfer member, was also a guest at the meeting.
The chapter held a brief business meeting after Emmack's presentation, with Karen Colwell, president, presiding. Besides monthly reports, Sue Cope and Margaret Johnson, who audited the '25-26 treasurer's books, reported that "all was in order" for the transfer Nov. 1 to the '26-27 program year. Katie Lundberg, spokesperson for the new Campers Club, noted that campers and their families from the past three years had all been contacted and an early November activity is planned for the club's first event.
Both the '26-27 budget presentation and the formal installation of new officers are on the agenda for the Nov. 17 meeting at the First Presbyterian Church. The membership and four prospective new members were all invited to the chapter's Christmas gathering, which will be at "Perk," the coffee shop/community room at The Embers.