THE SOLUTION STRATEGY
To better accomplish our mission of
transporting personnel to and from remote work projects, The Caravan
Connection has need for specialized aircraft – a Pilatus 12 and a Cessna
185, 206 or Caravan equipped with floats and skis. The Pilatus carries 11
passengers with baggage at 330 miles per hour, superior in range and
payload. It has de-ice capability. It burns jet fuel, which is available
everywhere in the world and provides turbine-powered reliability for safety
over water and land. Yet, it is a single engine aircraft and, therefore,
more affordable for a nonprofit organization. Each aircraft will require
hangar space and a perpetual endowment fund for ongoing operations providing
for shortfalls in annual revenue appeals.
To focus on assisting the youth of Alaska, we
are seeking to develop a nonprofit campground and retreat facility for year
round use. At this time a commercial wilderness hot springs resort complex
has become available, complete with lodge, cabins and everything needed for
a camp.
With a camp facility and specialized
aircraft, young people from remote villages can be transported to a program
focusing on wholesome decision making, spiritual principles, and suicide
prevention training. Also there will be an introduction to life and job
skills such as aviation, carpentry, mechanics, sewing, and cooking. We will
coordinate as needed with other agencies to inspire and empower young people
to prevent suicide and celebrate life.
We believe that among Alaska’s native
peoples, we can produce a role model for the nation in a well thought out,
funded, and executed year round program. There are other programs that are
not faith-based, which only scratch the surface of the problems of our young
people. We propose to help at-risk young people from remote villages to
develop Judeo-Christian values and beliefs and to teach them to apply these
values in community life.
THE BENEFICIARIES
The beneficiaries
are primarily the Native American youth of Alaska that live in remote areas.
We will be flying some adults as well to participate in an addictions
recovery program. Also we will assist other agencies involved in various
nonprofit humanitarian aid. Various nonprofit organizations and churches
working among these peoples would be benefited by the availability of
transportation services and a camp/retreat facility.
THE SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC COSTS TO BE AFFECTED.
“Suicide
contagion is the exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviors in family,
friends, peer group, or media – and all increase the risk for suicide,
particularly adolescents and young adults. National estimates are that for
every person who completes suicide, six individuals are directly affected.
In Alaska’s small villages, these numbers are much higher.” (The Statewide
Suicide Prevention Council, FY 2003 Annual Report, p. 5)
“The
Children’s Safety Network Economics and Insurance Resource Center estimates
the cost of alcohol-attributable youth suicide (ages 0-20) in Alaska to be
$10,144,300 per year. This includes $489,800 medical, $2,556,200 in lost
work, and $7,098,300 in quality of life. These figures do not include the
economic impact of Alaskan adult lives lost.” (Ibid.)
At this time our personnel
consists of several volunteers, but our vision of expansion necessitates
that we acquire the funding to hire specialized full time and part time
staff. We will always have a place for volunteers to help on all these
projects; however, qualified personnel will assist in the orderly growth and
outreach of our organization. Teaching job skills to the young people who
participate in the program will have economic impact.
THE PROJECTS:
The projects may be grouped
according to two categories--Transportation and Camp Facility.
Transportation—
Purchase two aircraft better suited to our
needs—Pilatus 12 and Cessna. Obtain property and build a hangar facility to
service each plane. Create an endowment fund for insurance, maintenance,
fuel, and various travel expenses.
Camp Facility –
Purchase Arctic Circle Hot Springs for use as
a youth camp, which includes an airstrip, lodge, cabins, and outbuildings
for a complete camp totally furnished and outfitted. This facility is
a rustic resort located 137 northeast of Fairbanks on
a scenic highway. The Resort is named for the large (nearly Olympic
size) pool which is fed by a natural hot springs. This project includes
funding needed for insurance, brochures, advertising, qualified personnel,
and camper scholarships as needed.
Current Needs/
Projects/Estimates (see PROJECT REQUESTS section)
Transportation
service needs-- $5,600,000 (2 aircraft, hangars, and endowment fund)
Youth
camp facility-- $10,447,000 (facility, equipment, salaries, supplies,
insurance, endowment) $16,047,000
THE PROJECT TEAM
The Caravan Connection provides
project coordination/ financial management by Les Zerbe, CEO.
Board Members – Officers
President-- Rev. A. Dale Reimer, aviation
mechanic & inspector for US Air, Charlotte, NC; formerly missionary pilot in
Central African Republic.
Vice President—Mr. R. Dale Wheeler,
owner–Dal-Bar Construction Co., Houston, TX.
Sec/Treasurer-- Mr. Paul Merrifield, Finance
Officer/Accountant --City of North Pole, Alaska; formerly comptroller &
accountant for Brooks Fuel, Inc. and Alaska Aerofuel; formerly with First
National Bank, Fairbanks, AK; private pilot; elected to office June, 2004,
term-perpetual. Paul Merrifield will come on staff as comptroller when
funding is in place.
Advisory Board
Rev. Earl Malpass, missionary-pilot-mechanic
residing in North Pole, Alaska; former shop supervisor at Allied Signal in
Greenville, SC, in the maintenance of turbine aircraft engines.
Mr. Thomas Murray, former Caravan Connection
board member and business owner -- Alaska Aerofuel, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska.
Rev. Warren Compton –resident
missionary, village of Selawik, Alaska, and formerly working as A&P mechanic
for Frontier Flying Service.
OTHER AGENCIES
INVOLVED
A church has proposed that they
would send work teams to assist in the building of a youth camp and send
funding to build a new camp. They will also send volunteer workers, staff
and counselors to assist in the day to day running of the camp. I will be
negotiating with them about assisting with the purchase and expense of
running the Arctic Circle Hot Springs Camp facility.
We will be drawing on the wisdom and
experience of Reformers Unanimous, a faith-based addictions program,
that is currently experiencing a success rate with its clients many times
higher than that of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will also be flying for a
number of ministries and organizations that need transportation for their
own projects and personnel. Each agency will participate in defraying the
costs of their flight.
NEEDED RESOURCES
AIRCRAFT –Pilatus 12 & Cessna
CARAVAN CONNECTION PERSONNEL –
Chief Executive Officer & chief pilot—Les
Paul Zerbe
Comptroller—Mr. Paul Merrifield
Administrative assistant—part time position
--
Associate pilot – A & P mechanic – part time
position, as needed -- Mr. Earl Malpass
Hangar –shop maintenance person
CAMP PERSONNEL –
The lodge operated with a paid staff of 21
for a guest capacity of 50. Although the campers will have daily
responsibilities not required of guests, providing adequate supervision of
minors will require a well-trained adult staff. While some may be
volunteers, we need to plan funding for a complete staff.
Camp Director
8-10 Camp counselors -- based on ratio of 5
to 6 campers per counselor.
2 Camp speakers and teachers
4 Camp maintenance persons and cleaning staff
4 Camp cooks and 4 dining hall staff
Camp nurse
FACILITIES
New hangars, includes an office in the main
hangar
Arctic Circle Hot Springs campground
EXISTING AS IN
KIND CONTRIBUTIONS IN FAIRBANKS
Facility --Guesthouse—duplex with 8 bedrooms
Equipment – 1976 Cessna T206 on wheels,
Bobcat model 863, 1958 Chevy dump truck, 1989 Ford Econoline 14 passenger
van, 1984 Ford 1 ton truck, 1989 Chevy Suburban, 1985 GMC school bus -- 66
passenger
