The story behind the creation of the Lake Orion Lions Club’s Bear Lake Blind Camp isn’t so much about one man working tirelessly to achieve his dream, as it is about the entire community pulling together to help him do it.
At least that’s the way long-time Lake Orion Lions Club member and Bear Lake Camp founder ‘Big Al? Kassin sees it.
‘I call the Lake Orion Lions Club my benefactor, my mentor,? Kassin said. ‘The Lions Club and the Lioness Club…and individuals in the community did it. I just believed in what I was doing.?
Kassin and his wife Elsie will be honored on Oct. 9 at the Lake Orion Lions Club’s Oktoberfest, held in conjunction with Opa’s Restaurant, a fundraiser for the camp. All proceeds from the event will go towards Bear Lake.
Kassin’s history with the Lions Club is a long one, beginning in the 1950s when he worked in concessions and met a Lions Club member there who needed some help.
‘One day we went to lunch and he said maybe you could help me, Al,? Kassin said. ‘He was having a picnic for blind and crippled kids.?
Kassin began donating concessions for the picnic every year, and in 1960 the Redford Lions Club presented him with a plaque.
‘I thought I’d love to be involved (as a club member), but half the time I was on the road working,? he said. ‘Then I moved to Boyne City and got my chance.?
Kassin joined the Boyne Valley Lions Club in 1967 after he moved to Boyne City. Then, he joined the LO Lions Club 31 years ago after moving here to work at the former Franklin Camp on Long Lake.
It was while he was working at Franklin Camp that Kassin got the idea to create a camp for children who were visually impaired.
‘In the summer, I worked with handicapped and underprivileged kids,? Kassin said. ‘I had a feeling in the late 1970s that it would be nice to have a camp for blind children.?
In 1981, Kassin approached the Lake Orion Lions to see if they would be interested in such a camp.
‘They told me to come up with a budget,? Kassin said.
‘I waited until I became Lions Club president…I figured I’d have more power,? he joked. ‘That was 1981 through 1982. (The club) OK’d it real fast.?
The Lions Club held its first camp for the blind in 1982 for about 30 children at Camp Franklin. Kassin said the idea ‘mushroomed right from there.?
‘Lake Orion is one of the best clubs in the country,? he said. ‘They got right behind me. I’m so proud of my club, and I hope the people of the community are proud of what they do.?
Kassin said every Lions Club in Wayne and Oakland Counties were able to help the Lake Orion club finance the blind camp, which went from a one-week camp to a two-week camp.
‘But I need more financing support from other clubs in my district,? said Kassin. ‘With Camp Franklin, I knew the writing was on the wall.?
Camp Franklin was eventually sold and turned into the subdivision that is there today. Kassin served as district governor of the Lions Club from 1989 through 1990, the same time he decided to take an early retirement so he could focus his energy on the camp.
‘We went to Camp Oakland for a year, and Camp Skyline for five years,? said Kassin. ‘I decided we had to form a board of directors and look for property of our own.?
The camp went back to Camp Oakland while the Lake Orion Lions Club began the search for property.
‘I was putting on programs in different districts throughout the state,? Kassin said. ‘I told the Holly Lions Club we were looking for property…Camp Franklin wanted $2 million.?
Shortly after, Kassin got a call from the Presbyterian of Lake Huron church in Saginaw.
‘They said there was property for sale…one of the Holly club members was a retired reverend,? Kassin said.
The property was 120 acres, including a 5-acre lake, in Mayfield Township in Lapeer County.
‘I thought ‘Oh boy, this is great, we’re out in the woods,?? said Kassin. ‘But they had had a fire there, and we’d have to start from scratch.?
The Lions Club offered $150,000 for the property, and were told the property would be sold for $175,000. They accepted.
‘I had set aside money on the district level…I went before them with 20 questions and 20 answers I had written down,? Kassin said. ‘They voted to release the money.?
Another Lions Club held a golf outing to raise $50,000, and the Lions Club National Foundation sent another $50,000. Bear Lake Camp was established in 1992.
‘We paid off the property in two years, but we needed more money for cabins and such,? Kassin said. ‘We raised the money for 10 cabins and an infirmary.?
The club started to build, building a director’s cabin and a pole barn. They ran into a problem though, because there was a large hill on the property that would have to be scaled down before cabins for the children could be built.
‘We cleaned up the place,? Kassin said, adding that a strange turn of events eventually led to the completion of the project.
Kassin received a call from a copier company regarding a copier he had purchased and a recall that had been placed on it. They company wanted to send a repairman to his home.
‘I’ll never forget his name, Tom Hawks,? Kassin said. ‘I told him about the camp and I asked if he knew of anyone in the Army Corps of Engineers (to help take down the hill). He said ‘You don’t need them, I’m a Marine.??
The Marines came to Bear Lake Camp and worked for two weeks. They brought their own bunk beds and Kassin’s only obligation was to provide them with food and a place to shower.
‘Then their excavator broke down,? Kassin said. ‘But a guy I knew from the Shelby Township Lions Club was a sand and gravel guy.?
This man, who Kassin said would probably prefer to remain anonymous, brought in his own equipment to work on the camp after the Marines had to leave.
‘He worked for three weeks,? Kassin said. ‘This man is something else.?
After the work was finished, Kassin and the man were both at a Leader Dog kickoff dinner.
‘He said, ‘Big Al, I need to see you after the meeting, I have something for you….? He said ‘I have a bill for you for the camp,?? said Kassin. ‘My heart’s jumping around, he must have spent a quarter of a million dollars doing all that work.?
But when Kassin opened the envelope, he found only a letter from the man saying he enjoyed working with Kassin and believed in his dream.
‘He said ‘There’s no charge.? God bless him,? Kassin said.
The Lions Club was able to construct 10 cabins, holding 16 children each, for total capacity of 160 campers. A communication system, fire alarm system, health center, arts and crafts building and nature building soon followed.
‘We needed a main lodge…we were still paying rent at Camp Oakland,? Kassin said. ‘So we moved the kids to Bear Lake while we were building the main lodge, and brought in food.?
A charity foundation gave the Lions Club $300,000 to start building the lodge. Kassin also learned that the camp qualified for a bond issue through the Lions Club’s bank.
‘We’re paying low interest, thank God,? said Kassin. ‘It’s $1.2 million. The property and the way it stands now is appraised for over $3 million.?
Bear Lake Camp, under the direction of Dennis Tomkins of Lapeer, has added summer programs including: Heartland Hospice (Youth Grief Camp), Lapeer Hospice (Youth Grief Camp), Muscular Dystrophy Association Youth Camp, Lions Hearing Impaired Youth Camp, Lions Visually Impaired Youth Camp, Arthritis Foundation-Juvenile Arthritis Camp, Braille Beats-Visually Impaired Music and Fine Arts Camp, and Macomb County Autism Family Camp, all held in 2004.
‘We still have to raise money for the operation of the camp, and we have a debt there,? Kassin said.
Fundraisers, like Oktoberfest, support the camp. Kassin thanks Debbie Smith, Kristin Grannis, Charlotte Patton, Betty Ford, Kim Newbeck, Bill Siver and Opa’s Restaurant for their help in organizing the event.
‘They are going out of their way…so many people deserve credit,? he said. ‘I’m just one man. I have a lot of respect for people like that.?
Kassin is also grateful for the support of his wife, Elsie and their children.
‘She’s my greatest supporter in the world,? he said. ‘She stuck by me all these years.?
Kassin and Elsie have both received Founder’s Awards from the Lions Club for Bear Lake Camp, as well as Melvin Jones Fellow Awards. Kassin has received the Ambassador of Good Will award, the Lions? highest award.
Kassin and Elsie have two daughters and a son, and two grandchildren.
In May 2003, Bear Lake Camp became a state Multiple 11 project, allowing the club to raise more money across the state. Kassin said they still need people to help.
‘I don’t think there’s enough people doing enough for handicapped children that need it,? he said. ‘I think the honor belongs to the people out there doing it.?
One day, Kassin hopes to be able to sit down and write the story of Bear Lake Camp.
‘I might need a ghostwriter or something,? he said.
Bear Lake had 406 campers attend in 2004 from every Lions Club district in the state of Michigan. Visually impaired children attend for two weeks, free of charge. Hearing impaired children attend for a week, at a cost of only $50.
For more information about the camp, visit www.bearlakecamp.org, call (810) 245-0726, or email bearlakecmp@tir.com.
The Lions Club Oktoberfest is Oct. 9, next to Opa’s Restaurant at 600 S. Lapeer Road. Events for children run 12-4 p.m., at a cost of $10 which includes hot dog, chips and drink.
Adult tickets are $30, and include a bratwurst buffet beginning at 6 p.m., 50/50 drawing, and dancing to live entertainment by Resque.
For ticket information, call Debbie at 693-7312, Bill at (248) 421-4526, Charlotte at 693-3268, or Opa’s at 693-0077.