About SoCA

What is SOCA?

Supporters of Camp Archbald is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Our mission is an association of Girl Scouts that seeks to support and preserve Camp Archbald for Girl Scouting.

Update: As of July 29th, 2020, Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA, owners of Camp Archbald, have announced that Camp Archbald is no longer under review and camp has been saved from being sold! Read the official decision announcement here. Read SoCA’s press release regarding the decision here.

Supporters of Camp Archbald (SoCA) is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that future Girl Scouts, along with alumni, supporters, families and the surrounding community, have access to the amazing opportunities and resources that camp has to offer. We exist to ensure that Camp Archbald remains the beautiful and historic property it is today.

When news spread in January 2018 that there was a possible sale of Camp Archbald, 10,000 alumni signed a petition in a few weeks. Some of those alumni are now members of SoCA and help with tasks to ensure continued usage and function of the camp.

Read our 2022 Annual Report here!

Our goals are:

To promote clear, open, and honest communication between Girl Scout membership, the board and administration of GSHPA.
To encourage, promote, and provide increased quality programming at the camp.
To prevent the sale of camp land. (Check! Effective 7/29/20)
To preserve Camp Archbald acreage for Girl Scout use for the safety of all concerned.
To protect and repair historic camp properties.
To reach out to alumni and scouts for assistance in supporting and protecting Camp Archbald.
To plan for the 100th Anniversary celebration of Camp Archbald in 2020. (Check! Completed 9/18/21)

To meet these goals, we need:

Clear, open, and honest communication with the board and administration of GSHPA.
Accurate accounting of the costs to operate Camp Archbald, including deferred maintenance costs. This will help us plan to meet those needs.
Accurate statistics of camp usage. This will help us to determine how to increase usage of camp to meet GSHPA usage goals.
To raise funds, both directly and with council support, to support Camp Archbald.

We are concerned about:

Over $3 million in gas lease royalties have been collected by GSHPA from Camp Archbald, but no specific funds have been set aside for the camp.
The impact of the closure of camp on the local community.
We believe that many girls would not be able to attend camp without Camp Archbald. We want every girl to have the best outdoor opportunities possible.
Our committees are always looking for help. Check out our list of committees listed below and contact the person in charge to see how you can help!

Leaders of SoCA

President
Nicole Morristell

Vice President
Eileen Head

Treasurer
Gail Rees

Secretary
Laura O’Malley

SoCA Contacts

Finance – Vacant – financeforsoca@gmail.com

MarComm – Emily Loder – mediaforsoca@gmail.com

Research and History – Noah Penny – researchforsoca@gmail.com

Property – Pat Acker – propertyforsoca@gmail.com

Membership – April Caruso – membershipforsoca@gmail.com

Program/Events – Holly Legate – programforsoca@gmail.com

Fundraising – Vacant – fundraisingforsoca@gmail.com

Legal – Eileen Head – legalforsoca@gmail.com

Resident Camp – Jamie Puchalski – residentcampforsoca@gmail.com

Organizational Structure

Board of Directors

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held regularly and, at least, four (4) times per year. Special meetings may be called and held at any time by the Board of Directors, upon written or electronic request
Provides the overall direction/structure/responsibility for SOCA
Makes final decisions
Appoints committees
Appoints new board members
Amends or repeal bylaws or adopt new bylaws
Approves any transaction

Executive Officers

Consists of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and a committee chair
The executive committee may convene as needed to respond to current operational requests and corporate functions. These decisions are binding on behalf of the board
Provides guidance with tax reporting, annual strategic plan/calendar, meeting, agendas, etc.

Committee Chairs

Provides the direction and leadership for their committee
Meets or communicates monthly with their respective committees
Gives status of monthly activities to the board
Should demonstrate interconnectivity between and among the other committees
Meets every other month with the executive officers
Not necessarily a board member

Committees

Oversaw by a chair, who reports back to the SoCA Board of Directors
Meets or communicates monthly or more as needed
Committee meetings are where work gets discussed/planned/connected
Members are not necessarily board members

General Meetings

Meets a few times a year
Purpose is to connect new members/awareness for committees/events
Each committee gives an update and report – share 2 months of events coming/annual calendar updates, be transparent about our efforts (funds, how we work)

SoCA Committees

Email: socamparchbald@gmail.com

Nicole Morristell – President – (preferred method of contact: Facebook Messenger or email at nikkibarber@hotmail.com)

Eileen Head – Vice President – (head@epix.net)

Laura O’Malley – Secretary – (ljomal@msn.com)

Gail Rees – Treasurer – (risuppose@aol.com)

Committee Chair Criteria

Properly represent SoCA and adhere to the purpose and mission
Must be a currently registered Girl Scout, with appropriate clearances with Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA (GSHPA). They are required for camping and being around girls
Understand the scope and work of their respective committee and agree to work with and understand all of the other committees and how they can support each other
Have strong organization and communication skills. Fellow committee members must understand their involvement and not interfere over other committees
Must communicate ideas/concepts/fundraisers of their respective committee to SoCA officers and fellow committee chairs BEFORE implementing and sharing with the SoCA general membership
Must attend committee meetings or appoint a representative to attend on a regular basis

Committee Member Criteria

Properly represent SoCA and adhere to the purpose and mission
Consider registering as a Girl Scout, with the appropriate clearances from GSHPA
Should understand the scope and work of your respective committee and must agree to work with and understand all of the other committees and how they can support each other
Understand the work needed within your respective committee without interfering in the work of other committees
Must communicate ideas/concepts/fundraisers to their respective committee chair, BEFORE implementing or sharing with the SoCA general membership
Attend committee meetings as needed

Finance Chair – OPEN

Email: financeforsoca@gmail.com

Works directly with the Treasurer
Serves as a double-check for the finance record keeping
Promotes financial transparency
Serves as the first step in the reimbursement/finance approval process; receives the finance forms, records them, signs off, passes them along to the Treasurer
Writes/updates the ‘Finance and Fundraising Policies and Procedures’

Marketing and Communications – Emily Loder
Email: mediaforsoca@gmail.com
(Preferred method of contact: mediaforsoca@gmail.com)

Manage and maintain all social media outlets including but not limited to the website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
To monitor, record and share important news features about Camp Archbald and SoCA
To create promotional materials for distribution
Responsible for drafting communications, official correspondences, and public statements on behalf of SoCA for distribution to the public
Responsible for the SoCA logo and use of branded materials

Research and History – Noah Penny
Email: researchforsoca@gmail.com
(Preferred method of contact: researchforsoca@gmail.com)

To obtain historical information about Camp Archbald, the camp’s connections to the purpose and growth of Girl Scouting, and the overall place of Camp Archbald in the broader history of the Girl Scout camping movement
Provide support to other committees in obtaining documents that demonstrate the reasons the camp was founded, the aims of the original council, Scranton Pocono Council, in growing and maintaining the property, and the value of preserving that property for future generations of girls
Create a digital archive preserving copies of documents and photographs that relate to Camp Archbald

Property – Pat Acker
Email: propertyforsoca@gmail.com
(Preferred method of contact: packer@echoes.net)

In conjunction with GSHPA, volunteers and contractors, develop a multiyear maintenance plan based on conservation and sustainability principles
Pursue future conservation easement alternatives
Work towards the creation of a an adopt a unit maintenance plan
Work towards the creation of a camp welcoming committee for those who rent camp

Events/Program – Holly Legate
Email: programforsoca@gmail.com
(Preferred method of contact: heritagetrailsulholly@gmail.com)

To maintain the partnership with GSHPA to increase programming held at Camp Archbald
To create/implement/support any and all programs that will benefit Camp Archbald, including camporees, events, overnights, summer camps, etc.
To find and manage volunteers for SoCA led programs and events

Membership – April Caruso
Email: membershipforsoca@gmail.com
(Preferred method of contact: Facebook messenger)

To maintain the membership directory of SoCA
To assist SoCA by attending events for enrolling new members
To complete data entry of information gathered at in person events
Research and secure alumni and former campers
Help maintain the Facebook group membership list

Fundraising – OPEN
Email: fundraisingforsoca@gmail.com

To create and execute fundraising plans for the long- and short-term financial goals of SoCA
To organize and oversee campaigns and solicitations
To create and maintain fundraising forms and policies
Help to designate and oversee funds brought in from fundraising events

Resident Camp – Jamie Puchalski
Email: residentcampforsoca@gmail.com
(Preferred method of contact: residentcampforsoca@gmail.com)

To create and execute all aspects of a two-week resident camp

Final Approved 2/23/2023 NM