Recently I was digging in the freshly plowed garden area that we use to supply our kitchen with fresh summer vegetables. As I busily planted tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and watermelons, this quote came to my mind over and over again. My hands were full of rich soil as I tenderly dug and planted an assortment of these small seeds. I reflected on the relationship of our own human well-being with the well-being of the earth. What an awesome privilege God has given us to care for this amazing creation. From the beginning, it is clear that we are of the earth and to this day, our very life depends upon it.Just as a small seed depends on the soil, the rain, and the care of human hands in order to grow and bear fruit, our human lives depend on the health of the earth in order for us to live healthy lives.

One of our continuing and always important responsibilities here is to be good stewards of this wonderful piece of creation known as the Valle Crucis Conference Center. As many of you know, we are not just an assortment of buildings and barns. We are very much a place. The beautiful acres of land that surround us here are important because of their ecological value to this and the larger community. This place is also important because of its historical value to the Episcopal Church and to this region.

Our Board and Long Range Planning Committee are currently exploring what goals we need to set and accomplish to be the responsible stewards God has called us to be. We do this planning discerning what is unique to our mission and what is really important and valuable about the Valle Crucis Conference Center. We do not want to forget ourselves by forgetting what it means to dig in this sacred earth that has nourished so many people in our 159 year history in this very special place. Our ancestors knew the importance of this earth and this place. We are looking to the future but keeping our feet firmly planted in the rich soil of the past.It is our belief that our roots will help us grow and thrive in ways that are in true harmony with creation.

- Tom Eshelman, Executive Director

There are always many opportunities for giving around the Conference Center. Of course you can always give to our regular fund, Apple Barn fund, rocking chair fund but how about trying one of the following opportunities: purchase 2 new benches for our pond at $150 each or 2 benches for our outdoor labyrinth at $150 each or a willow tree for our pond at $150 each or buy a new double bed for room 101 in the Inn at $800 or you could sponsor one of the two first floor bedrooms in the Farm House for only $2,000 which would completely redecorate those rooms with new beds, couches, lamps, drapes, ceiling fans and end tables or maybe you would like to help us purchase some trees for the area in front of the Inn (to hide the Church parking lot) or some trees for the hillside behind the Inn. As you can see, we can think up many ways for you to help us out with your donations. Large or small we appreciate them all.

Keep up to date on all of the happenings at the Valle Crucis Conference Center with our Schedule of Events.

Over the past few months I have been going through the many boxes of old records and papers we have and putting them all in sheet protectors and then trying to file them in some kind of order. I now have most of them catalogued by year and where there is a mention of a particular student’s last name they are catalogued by alphabet and year. If you are interested in finding records of a particular student, please let me know and I will see what I can find. My goal is to have this project finished by the end of 2001.

It's never too early to start thinking snow and skiing. Book early to be assured of a spot. While the Martin Luther King weekend is already sold out at this time, we do have some space available for President’s Weekend, February 15-18, 2002 and other openings throughout the ski season. Keep in mind that the few weeks before Christmas and the month of March offer the best values at VCCC and at the slopes.

To help our guests better find their way to our outdoor labyrinth, cross country walking/running trail and Hunt Hill trail we have added signs in the hayfield.

We would like to thank the EYC of our Diocese for the wonderful gift of a red maple tree which they planted in our front yard during their Spring Conference in March. The theme for this years conference under the leadership of David McNair and the Youth Council was "When I grow up, I want to be a tree ..."

This summer the North American Academy of Piping and Drumming under the leadership of Sandy Jones returned to the mountains for their 30th year. The pipe school started at Crossnore School in 1971 and then, about 5 years later, moved to the Conference Center where it has been ever since. Instructors for the school come from all over America and Canada and are known to be the finest in piping. We welcome these wonderful men, women and youth who have done so much for VCCC.

Our sincere thanks go to the Episcopal Foundation of Western North Carolina for their truly generous grant which, along with funds that we have collected, will help us to re-roof the Inn and the Apple Barn in August. We are truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful Diocese which shares its resources so generously with those of us in need.

Our special thanks to these individuals and organizations for their generosity in giving to the Center in recent months:

The mission of the Valle Crucis Conference Center is to inspire, by loving example and service, those who break bread with us and share in the quest for spiritual renewal, Christian community, and stewardship of the sacred place.

The Right Reverend Robert H. Johnson
Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina

David Yates, President
Diana White, Vice President
Ann Holtz, Treasurer
Billy DuBose, Secretary

The Rev. Brian Cole
The Rev. Jim Dannals
Tom Eshelman (ex officio)
Jaan Ferree
John Huie
The Rev. Tim McRee
Nina-Jo Moore
Judy Teele
Ralph Tilden