Winter Scenes
February 2009
News from the UC Santa Barbara Family Vacation Center
Staff News – pg. 2
FVC News – pg. 3
FVC Birthday Recipe – pg. 4
Vol. 40 No. 1
Family Bingo is Back!!
In the spirit of celebrating 40 years of family
tradition at the Family Vacation Center, the
staff is excited to announce the reinvention of
family bingo. A VC tradition that unfortunately
disappeared -we can’t imagine why- is now coming
back to the summer program for your enjoyment.
Get ready for a new and improved family event.
Dig out your disco gear from the back of your
closet and practice your bingo winning dance
moves, you will want to be prepared for the event
of the week. John Lofthus, former VC director,
has said “This is the most exciting news that I have
heard since the introduction of build your own
bear in crafts!”
Did You Know?
• The UCSB lagoon was called
“Tiptip” by the local Chumash Indians.
• Week 7 sold out for the summer of 2009
by the first week of December.
• The FVC offers a $100 discount to
all UC faculty and staff.
• UCSB’s Storke Tower is the tallest
building in Santa Barbara County.
• In the summer 2008, 35% of
vacationers over the age of 18 were UC
Alumni. Out of that group of vacationers,
UCSB Alumni ranked first with 40%,
followed by UC Berkley Alumni (20%) and
UCLA Alumni (18%).
• The UCSB custodial staff won
the prestigious Grand Award in 2008 for
their green cleaning habits. Go Gaucho
custodians!
• Over 50% of new vacationers in 2008
were referred to the program by a friend.
Refer a friend for summer 2009 and receive
a $50 discount.
Giuliani for Judge
A Vacationer Turned
Family Court Judge
2008 was a big year for the Giuliani
Family. After spending their 6th
summer at the FVC, the Giuliani
family continued working on an
11 month campaign that ended
in a victory for the loving mother
of three, Cindy Giuliani. This well
known Las Vegas Attorney has held
the position of Family Court Judge
since the beginning of January and is excited to protect children and families in Clark
County, Las Vegas, for the next 6 years of her term.
Cindy is a proud Gaucho Alumni! She received her undergraduate degree from UCSB
in 1989. After her memorable stay in Santa Barbara, Cindy moved to the East Coast
to study law at the City University of New York Law School. After receiving her law
degree, Cindy has practiced family law in Las Vegas. With her husband Roger, she is
busy raising her children, Alex, Blake and Jenna. Cindy enjoyed watching her oldest
son become politically involved throughout her campaign. “Alex knew so much about
all the candidates, from senators to judges.”
Cindy is focused on family and her campaign slogan “Families First” ties into the ideals
of the Family Vacation Center. Out of the Vegas heat and onto the coast of Santa Barbara, the Giuliani’s are fans of their yearly vacation and we enjoy having them as our
campers. Congratulations Judge Giuliani!
Staff News
Staff Scoop
Miles Price (2007) ranked second on the UCSB water polo
team with an impressive record of 38 goals. Miles is off to
Australia in January to play professional water polo.
Tim Ritter (2006-2008) is recovering from back surgery. Tim
can’t wait to get back in the water and surf during his final
quarter at UCSB.
Lara Chavdarian (2007-2008) has stayed in Santa Barbara
to work for the registrar office at Westmont College. Lara is
looking forward to becoming a first time aunt.
Tiffany Sellars (2005-2007) is hoping to join the Coastguard
next fall. Although she skipped a year at the VC, she is
planning to return to camp this summer.
Staffer Spotlight
Adam Whiteley (1998-2008) has moved to the frosty state
of Montana. He is working in the back of an ambulance as an
EMT and preparing for law school in the fall.
Michelle Cleary
The FVC Sweetheart
In the summer of 2007, Michelle began her stay at the
FVC as an enthusiastic kindergarten counselor. She
enjoyed her kids group so much that she came back
this past summer to be the first grade counselor. This
kindhearted staffer was born in Riverside, California and
spent her childhood creating adventures on her family’s 2
1/2 acre ranch. Michelle has always had an attraction to
outdoor games and activities. She is known around camp
for her big ideas and wild imagination. No wonder she is a
favorite kids group counselor.
Jesse McCandless (2008) is working for an industrial fuse
company in Thousand Oaks, California. He will be visiting
friends in Australia for a month this winter.
Drew Gendotti (2005,
2007-2008) is driving an
ambulance in Alameda
County, California. Drew
misses playing games and
singing songs with the VC
campers.
Michelle is no stranger to UCSB. She will be finishing
up her junior year this spring as a Psychology major and
an English minor, and is excited about spending time in
the salty breeze during her open water sailing course.
After interning and studying in Washington D.C. in the
fall, Michelle is happy to be back on the beautiful Santa
Barbara campus. City jumping is a sport for this welltraveled staffer. Michelle plans on visiting the Netherlands
this spring while participating in the Model UN World
Conference. Although having to skip some travel time,
Michelle is excited to spend her third summer at the
VC. When asked what her favorite memory of the VC
is, she replied, “I like everything about the VC. I love
making new friends and getting to know the vacationers.”
Michelle can’t help but sing the penguin song, her
favorite camp “repeat after me song,” at random times
during the day. Although people might not understand
her excitement regarding arctic animals, Michelle knows
exactly where her heart is… at the VC.
Monique Ledesma
(2008) and Stephanie
Sanchez (2008) have
taken leadership positions in the upcoming All Gaucho
Reunion and are enjoying living together during their
sophomore year at UCSB.
Love is in the Air ❤
John Lofthus (1997-2008) is engaged! John, our former VC
Director, proposed to fiancé Jennifer Davies on New Years Eve
while vacationing in Belize and Guatemala. Beck Roghar
(2006-2007) our former Tennis Supervisor proposed to Laura
Mei Roberts (2004-2007) our former Programs Supervisor
during the 2008 holiday season. Laura Mei and Beck met
and started dating at the VC during the summer of 2006.
Congratulations to the happy couples!
2
FVC News
Vacationer Spotlight
Walt Thomas
A Golden Vacationer
In 1975, Walt Thomas spent his first summer at the VC. This
week 5 veteran returns summer after summer for the tennis, great
food, the popular bike rides and most important the great family
tradition that he has created. Walt’s favorite camp memory is
when he was able to introduce both of his grandchildren to the
FVC in 1988. Darnell and Layla Brisco have both followed in
their grandfather’s footsteps and continuously make appearances
as VC staff members or vacationers each summer.
Walt Thomas was born in 1931 in Berkley, California. He
continues to live an active and social life in the Bay area. During
this past year alone, Walt covered over 3,900 miles of open road
on his bike. Walt, a former US Marine, is a compassionate man
with plenty of friends and family to keep him company during
his spare time, which is a rare occasion. He stays busy frequently
roaming the tennis courts for a game of doubles and participating
in local biking groups. This avid fan of Jazz music also enjoys a
good concert downtown with friends.
Walt is excited to be a part of the FVC 40th Birthday
Bash, where he will be honored for his continuous
support, commitment and love for the VC. Visit Walt
and friends during the FVC 40th Birthday Bash on
Saturday, April 25th at 2:30 PM at the UCSB Carrillo
Pool during the 3rd Annual All Gaucho Reunion.
What Up? Warm Up!
Loma Pelona
Co-hosted by Layla Brisco
A New Addition to the FVC
The VC’s very
own staffer and
former vacationer,
Layla Brisco, has
impressed us with
a KidTribe workout
video performance.
KidTribe is an
organization focused
on promoting
health for children,
elevating selfesteem and
creating an active
community.
When asked about the filming process, Layla replied, “I love filming. I feel so
glamorous. You get to perform all day and sometimes all night and I love that.
It can be very tiring but at the end it is always worth it.” Layla is passionate
about performance and dance; she has worn ballet shoes since she was a little
girl. She also enjoys a great workout; when she is not dancing she can be
found doing downward facing dog in Yoga or visiting the gym for a Pilate’s
class. This summer at the VC, Layla is excited to teach a kid’s dance class
for the talent show and will provide private lessons for anyone interested in
working on their dance moves. Check out a short clip from What up? Warm
up? and purchase this newly released workout video at www.kidstribe.com.
3
Remember the unpleasant views of a construction zone
last summer? This yellow taped, restricted area has turned
into a beautiful student recreation center and board
room facility. Loma Pelona is the brand new building on
campus, scheduled to officially open in January of 2009,
located caddy corner to the VC lawn, behind the Ocean
Clusters. We will be using this high tech facility for a few
of our weekly events. Get excited for this architecturally
impressive addition to the VC.
Elevators in Motion
No need to fret. Both elevators will be
working and in use in the San Rafael
Tower this summer! Due to construction during this past summer, one of
the two elevators was out of use the
entire summer. The VC is excited to
announce that both elevators will be
up and running during the summer of 2009. No more
lugging personal belongings up seven flights of stairs.
The elevators are back.
FVC Birthday Recipe
Ice Cream Cone Birthday Cakes
Happy Birthday Family Vacation Center!
Ingredients:
1 box favorite cake mix or homemade cake batter
(water, vegetable oil, and eggs)
1 can vanilla flavored frosting
24 wafer ice cream cones
2 handfuls of colorful sprinkles and candy
Did you like this recipe? Send us pictures of your
masterpiece at [email protected]..
Printed on Recycled Fibers
Return Service Requested
UCSB Alumni Affairs, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-1120
phone: (805) 893-3123 fax: (805) 893-2927
UC Santa Barbara
Family Vacation Center
bettycrocker.com
Directions:
Mix cake batter according to box directions. Fill ice cream
cones 2/3 full with delicious cake batter. Place cones on a flat
cookie sheet. Bake cones according to box directions. Let cakes
cool before icing the top of the cakes with vanilla frosting. Add
a dash of decorations on each and enjoy a VC birthday treat!