Priya Jain, CRS Board of Directors Member

Priya Jain, current senior vice president of business development and strategy at Atkins, is the mother of two Camp Rising Sun alumni and serves as a member of the LAJF/CRS Board of Directors.   She leads and implements strategy and client-focused initiatives with an emphasis on account management, sales pipeline, and sales talent development. Over the course of her 23+ year career, she’s held a variety of leadership roles that have encompassed strategy, sales, operations, and project delivery. She holds multiple advanced degrees including Masters Degrees in environmental engineering and in physics.  

In addition, Ms. Jain currently serves as a leader in the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Ellevate, a global professional women’s leadership organization and is the founder of Prabhat, a nonprofit aimed at providing educational opportunities to the underprivileged.

We asked Ms. Jain about her daughters’ involvement with Camp as well as her current career endeavors.

1) What do you think is the biggest lesson or takeaway you (or in your case, your daughters) learned from Rising Sun?

Witnessing the emotional and intellectual growth of my two daughters who attended CRS over the last five years.   They both came back with an intense awareness of global issues and a highly developed ethical sense of responsibility towards addressing them. 

2) Can you tell us more about the work you do with your organization, Prabhat?

I am the founding member of Prabhat (prabhat.org) a non-profit dedicated to educating the underprivileged children in India and the US. Founded in 2010, Prabhat has created a network of partners and non-profit educational organizations and effectively connected donors with recipients. As a board member, I am actively involved in all aspects of strategy and planning, organizing fund raising events, vetting out partners and recipients, ensuring appropriate use of funds, and communications. 

3) If you had one piece of advice to offer young men and women who are still in high school, college, or the early stages of their career, what would it be?

Life is a marathon and not a sprint.  A bad grade, being passed over for a cherished job, or getting that coveted promotion does not define who you are now or what you will become in the future.  Take these bumps or successes in the journey as an opportunity to learn from and grow.  Celebrate your successes and dig down deep to find the strength to overcome setbacks.   

Be curious, discover what you value, work hard to achieve your goals, and learn to adapt. Above all, don't forget to enjoy the journey - you have only one life to live!

Update on the Executive Director Position at LAJF

Announcement of Christina Busso's departure in January

Second Solicitation of Interested Alumni/ae

1. The Search Committee, consisting of representative members of the broader LAJF community, convened in early September. After advertisement to the CRS community and non-profit philanthropic job sites, there were 24 applicants, of whom 10 were deemed potentially capable. The top 3 candidates were interviewed and evaluated using an evaluation metric of 20 valued skillsets. A rank order was presented to the Executive Committee, with a recommendation to hire the first choice, Christina Busso. Unfortunately, Christina has opted to take another position at the French International School in the DC area (click here or read below for a letter from Christina).
    
2. Losing Christina is a major loss to the LAJF. She has worked tirelessly throughout her tenure for the good of the organization, and in particular this past year. We will not speak for Christina, but are concerned that her reluctance to continue on with LAJF is related to the negativity within some sectors of the alumni community. If we hope to establish a stable and highly productive Foundation staff, it will be important for all of us to reflect on this, and how we can create an environment that is conducive to retention of first-class personnel.  
    
3. The Search Committee felt it would be prudent to consider expanding the search with a search firm. An option of hiring an interim alumnus/a was raised in order to afford time to do so. 
    
4. We are working on a transition plan and will communicate further thoughts with the CRS community in short order. In the meantime we will continue our search process with further interviewing of current candidates, and extending our search with a firm if necessary.
    
5. If you are interested in being considered for the LAJF Executive Director position, or if you would like to learn more, please contact the Search Committee. The staff liaison is Program Director Helene Mattera and you may also contact Board President Pat O'Malley at pgomalley@msn.com or Board President-Elect Damian Brennan at dfbrennan@gmail.com. 

Best wishes,

Pat O'Malley, '80

President, LAJF Board of Directors

---

December 30, 2015

Dear Friends of Rising Sun,

It is with both excitement and a bit of a heavy heart that I share with you my plans to embark on a new professional journey and opportunity. In February 2016 I will be joining the French International School, Lycée Rochambeau, in the Washington, DC area. I will be joining this pre-K to 12th grade independent school as the Director of Advancement, leading fundraising, alumni engagement, public relations and school enrollment. While I look forward to joining this school's diverse community of talented students and engaging faculty and staff, I am also eager to maintain my strong connections with the Rising Sun community, where I will remain an active member of the alumni community. 

My journey to and with Rising Sun began 23 years ago and I could never have imagined then how my path would evolve. Over the past 11 years as a Foundation staff member I have devoted my professional work and my personal passion to the Camp and Alumni community. Focused on Alumni Relations, Fundraising, Communications, Program support and Foundation Operations, I have been honored and humbled to serve the extraordinary Rising Sun community.

As the Foundation looks to the future, starting with 2016, there are a number of pressing challenges that have stirred passion throughout the community. At times like these it is so important that the community be thoughtful, cooperative, and above all, respectful. As we move forward as a community I hope we can all remember and exemplify the guiding values that CRS have given us:

• We strive to model the lessons initiated at Camp: In all that we do as a community, we seek to engage in respectful dialogue while seeking both to understand one another and be understood.
• We are courageous: We must be willing to make difficult decisions but also flexible to adjust our plans and our own ideas based on the facts as we learn them.
• We value the service of others: The CRS community is rich with talent and fortunate to be led by dozens of dedicated alumni volunteers, including those who serve on committees and the Board. Volunteers are the lifeblood of CRS and receive only our appreciation as compensation.
• We are respectful: High quality Camp and Alumni programming is made possible because of the work of dedicated, professional, year-round staff. These staff members tirelessly devote their talents to advancing the mission and ideals of Rising Sun. They deserve our respect and support.

A friend recently said to me that as campers, and then later as a community of alumni, Rising Sun offers us each an opportunity to bring out the best in one another. I sincerely hope we can do that. 

As I move on professionally, I will remember that while Camp seasons end, the CRS experience will always be a part of who I am wherever I go. I look forward to working with the community as we face the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Most Sincerely,

Christina Rose Busso, JD, CFRE

Executive Director

CRS '93, '94, '99, '05-'15

cbusso@lajf.org

Martha Mosco, Medical Director '15

Martha with the HAWC (Health and Wellness Center) sign

Martha Mosco '15 served as the Medical Director at CRS 2015. Her incredible positivity, optimism, sense of humor, and general joie de vivre buoyed camper and staff spirits through the entire season, making her an invaluable resource to every member of the community. 

Martha was born in a small town in Rhode Island. She attended Simmons College in Boston for nursing. During that time, she spent a year abroad in London, which ignited her passion for travel. Martha hasn't stopped working, traveling, and living abroad since. Most recently, she spent a year in southwestern Nicaragua working on public health projects. 

After her year in Nicaragua, Martha went looking for another opportunity to use her skills in a community health setting. She stumbled across Camp online and knew right away that she had found something special. After applying and being accepted as medical director, Martha found out that her uncle was an alumnus (Tod Lawrence '66)!

This summer at Camp, Martha proved herself a million times over. Tending to issues of the body, mind, and soul, she carefully and expertly guided campers through their days. In addition to dealing with issues as they arose, Martha was proactive about camper health, constantly reminding campers about ticks, water, and sunlight. She, alongside Mariam Ismail ('14, '15), kept Camp healthy and safe for everyone, staff members and campers alike.

Alongside her enormous responsibility as Medical Director, Martha went out of her way to help with the CRS program. She constantly pushed campers to question their assumptions and really think about decisions they made. She made herself available outside of the medical center, spending time with campers during their free time. She co-led an evening program on Safe Spaces, one of the earlier and more emotionally demanding evening programs. She participated in projects, swimming, sports, cooking, cleaning – it would probably be harder to name a program area Martha didn't participate in! (She even went on a three-day hike!) By constantly being present, actively listening to those around her, and setting an example for everyone, Martha greatly benefited the entire community at CRS 2015.

We asked Martha for her thoughts on this season and CRS. She had the following to say:

I think one of the most moving and impactful parts of Camp for me is that this program empowers the rising generations to live and learn an international, intercultural and community mentality. This is now, more than ever, essential for success, human kindness, learning, cooperation and peace, as individuals and for our greater society. Plus, it's a lot of fun! I was so humbled by the campers and staff that arrived on our campus and how much we all shared with and learned from each other. Learning together and practicing to consider the needs of others and the larger community before oneself was such a gift. And to see the growth and impact everyday of the community we all worked together to create was the greatest gift of all.

Martha is currently working as a nurse in a family clinic in Washington Heights, Manhattan, at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. After spending a year in Nicaragua, she found herself fluent in Spanish, which she uses every day at work, as well as to volunteer as a translator in a local free health center. Martha also continues to serve Camp on the Health and Safety committee. We're so happy that Martha is a member of our ever-expanding community, and we'd like to thank her for her stellar work and attitude this summer. 

Sarah Uttermann-Merritt '02, '03, '12 – '15

Sarah Uttermann-Merritt '02, '03, '12 - '15 has been a #GivingTuesday leader for CRS since 2013. She wrote the following message about #GivingTuesday 2015:

This Tuesday is Giving Tuesday, and you know what that means... I am trying to raise money for a charity I love.

I spent my sixth summer at Camp Rising Sun this year, and my fourth summer as a counselor. Camp is the best gift I've ever been given, and I'd like it if bright, caring teenagers from around the world could continue to spend a life-changing summer at CRS next year and for many years to come. So, I'm putting my money where my mouth is and using my entire salary from my four weeks at camp this summer-- $1,500-- to match your donations for the CRS 2016 season. This means if I raise $1,500 for camp, I will donate another $1,500.

UPDATE (at 10pm California time):

WOW! At midday today I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to meet my goal. However, thanks to Christina my little campaign has now been publicized to the whole alumni community! Thanks to your help, with my matching donation we have SMASHED through my goal! A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the donors I have never met-- please let me know when you're in San Francisco and we'll get tea! Thank you thank you thank you! 

P.S. Anyone want to match the rest?

We're honored by Sarah's generosity and so proud of her hard work. This year, she raised over $3,700 dollars (and counting!) for her campaign. For the past four years, she took time off from her job as a data analyst in San Francisco to work at Camp Rising Sun. She is also project leader of the CRS Alumni Forum, heads selection in California, and serves on the Alumni Relations Committee. Sarah contributes so much to the CRS community.

She has also inspired others to follow in her footsteps. Sandesh Shettar '06 has started a campaign to match $1,000 (and raise $2,000). 

Sarah's determination, hard work, expertise, and dedication have benefited us through the years, and we're so thankful for her time and effort.

Has Sarah inspired YOU to take action? Here's how to get involved:

• Donate to Sarah's fundraiser here!
• Donate to Sandesh's fundraiser here! Remember, he will match your gifts up to $1,000 this week. 
• Create your own fundraiser and make a meaningful impact on Rising Sun 2016!
• Shop with Amazon Smile for Cyber Week and support LAJF at checkout.

Jackie Ramos '91, '92 speaks about the lessons she learned from CRS

We asked Jackie Ramos '91, '92 to share with us some lessons she gained from her Camp experience, and what advice she might have for future campers. Here is what she had to say.

"There are so many lessons to learn at Camp Rising Sun, but one that stands out for me is that as young women, we leave behind imprints of our lives that follow us through to our future. This holds true for me as I would never have imagined that as a young lady 23+ years ago, the lasting legacy I left behind at Camp (both in spirit and material) would have a significant, lasting and profound impact when my daughter Sophie Rose became a legacy camper in 2014 and 2015. I have had the fortunate opportunity to see in my daughter’s eyes what Camp meant to me and has done for me. To hear her declare “Camp changed my life for the better,” the very words that I spoke 23 years ago… now, that’s a lasting legacy.  Sometimes, as young people, we go through life jumping from one thing to the next with little thought of the “tokens” we pick up and leave behind. My advice would be to take a moment to cherish all that camp offers, cherish the conversations you have with your fellow camp sisters/brothers, because it very well may be the last time you speak with them. Make sure to spend quality time with each and every person at camp and break the cliques that naturally tend to form. Your world will become smaller as you bring your sisters/brothers closer to your heart. In the meantime, your life gets bigger as you nurture friendships from near and far.

Not a day goes by that the spirit of Camp does not enter my world in one form or another. It appears on the checkout line when I turn to the person next to me and ask them how they are doing. It happens when I get an irate call from an employee who needs to know that I am listening to them. It appears when I walk down the street and look up and see the beauty in the big blue sky and the chirping birds. Camp gave me a sense of awareness of the tokens in life and of myself as a contributing human being on this great Earth. I use what I learned from Camp while raising my daughter to be open to all faiths, religions, races and orientations. I will echo what I said 23 years ago and my daughter repeated and that is... Camp changed my life for the better!"