One of America's most exciting Christian Camps. Last week's investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole is just such an example. The camp is veering from its traditional model this summer, insteadfocusing on "Family Camp Weekends" in July and August, according to information shared on its website on Monday. Year Lots in the Association Lots paying full assessment . Being a 15 year old girl, newly diagnosed with leukemia, your entire world is crazy. In school, our teachers told us to "show our math," or how we worked out a problem. Your support allows us to continue to produce quality journalism, week in and week out. Water exercise is for everyone! The Circle C Child Development Center is a private, not-for-profit company with a volunteer board of directors. hbbd```b``"Idjd2d f;0>[Ha`bd` Ig[ '3 Furthermore, Taddeo and Silvarole included what could be learned about how camp leaders dealt with complaints made about Aarum: "Circle C Ranch wouldultimately determinethe initial allegationswere false through its own internal investigation. 7008 Cusseta SOLD in 14 days! All rights reserved. Although he considered this womans accusation to be criminal in nature, Mr. Camardo did not make a report to any law enforcement authority or encourage the woman to do so. The Double H Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Some things have changed but these three things will never change! Laura Snell, 22, of Alexandria, Virginia, previously spoke about her allegations against Aarum as part of a USA TODAY Network New York investigation in June, which detailed claims of sexual and emotional abuse against Aarum from 16 women over two decades. It is a credit to Taddeo's and Silvarole's reporting that they did everything humanly possible to find out more about what has occurred over the years at Circle C. Ranch. A few months later Wes realized he needed $10,000 more. The Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Community Center. To make a donation,click here. He said no one at the present and George said he would bring his crew up every weekend and do the job as a gift to the Lord. Throughout this entire time we have done our best in trying to resolve the issues they have put forth. If you are not a subscriber, or if you want a friend or loved one to enjoy the D&C like you do, please share this link with them featuring special subscription offers:https://bit.ly/3zlqulC. Agendas will be posted in the Board Meeting Agenda folder under the Resource tab on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. Investigation: 16 women say this pastor and camp president abused them. Judge Rules That Michigan Public University Violated the Rights of Christian Student Group, Citygate Network Seeks Greater Diversity in National Rescue Mission Leadership. After Bible School, University and Seminary Wes went full time into the Lords work. Nothing happened. In a letter to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Norris outlined dozens of alleged incidents connected with the youth group and the camp, including Aarum touching girls intimately, saying intimate things to them, and entering cabins while girls were changing clothes. Litigator Kimberlee Norris, the co-founder of Ministry Safe, a Christian sexual misconduct investigative and prevention service, said 21 women told her in interviews Aarum had touched them inappropriately, with incidents dating back to when he was a youth minister at The Chapel at Crosspoint, a megachurch in the Buffalo area. The Board of Directors meeting date and time is on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It makes a difference to people of all backgrounds and life experiences. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. information shared on its website on Monday. "So much so, we are changing our traditional schedule to give your family the chance to experience everything we are offering this year.". The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. At least 21 women have come forward to lawyers hired by The Chapel at Crosspoint where Aarum once served as a pastor to accuse him of inappropriate conduct decades ago when they were teens. The leadership of New York Christian camp Circle C Ranch defended operations director Wayne Aarum against claims that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple girls beginning decades ago, saying an internal investigation showed there was no substantial credible evidence of misconduct. They travelled over 100 miles one way every weekend until the job as done and then they donated all the fixtures as well. Bill wanted to make sure that every building was winterized so the camp could operate year round. For an overview of the site and a few ideas as to how it can help save you time and get you connected with your community, click About Our Website. The camp was going to be a western town called Circle 'C' Ranch (Circle 'C' standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the . Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Little did he realize that 23 years later God would let him have the desire of his heart. 0 This is the Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Circle C Homeowners Association. Now God would go to work and make this camp a reality. Attorney Steven Long of Williamsvillelaw firm Long & Paulo-Lee, PLLC, who represents Aarum, did not immediately return requests for comment. 2021 5622 5612 2022 5622 5612 Circle C Governing Documents All of the Circle C HOA's defining documents can be found on the HOA website at . Pine brook was a great soul-winning camp and that summer hundreds of teens accepted Christ. The lawsuit alleges The Chapel's executive pastor, John Camardo, used the abuse allegations against Aarum as a way to damage Aarum'sreputation and ability to conduct business, according to the filings. The 315 acres of land owned by Plaintiff Living Waters Ministries Inc. lies astride the most direct route for the windmill projects essential transmission line. by Webmaster | Oct 20, 2014 | Board of Directors Meeting. Shortly after her graduation they were married. Member will be given 3 minutes to address the board. 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A USA TODAY Network Investigation found thatAarum, 55,touchedat least 16teenage girls inappropriately, according to their firsthand accounts. It finally became a reality when in 1968 he found the property where God wanted him to start that camp. Percy, as they wanted to call him, was considered by many to be the founder of the Christian Camp Ministry. Prior to 2020, when COVID-19 preventedthe camp from operating in the summer, Circle C Ranch would host grade and high school-agedchildren without their parents, according to former camp staff. Wes had been a youth pastor, pastor, evangelist, leader in Youth for Christ and director of a Bible Conference. It's particularly true, though, when enterprising reporters receivea good story tip and stay with it until they get to the heart of an important story that otherwise would never have been told. If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site, as well as be added to our email list. On each occasion, Wayne Aarum, as spokesperson for the board of directors, refused to sell or lease any portion of the land used by the Circle C Ranch for such purposes recognizing that the corporation was giving up hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next decade, the lawsuit says. In the interests of fairness, the two reporters pursued interviews with supporters of Aarum. . This testy relationship allegedly led one of Camardos staffers to recommend that he take up the cause of a woman who claimed Wayne Aarum had sexually harassed her while she was employed as a counselor at the Circle C Ranch camp in 2006, 13 years earlier.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. %PDF-1.6 % Jerry Gillis was appointed as lead pastor of the church in 2002 and Camardo joined the staff as executive pastor in 2010. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the HOA office at 512-288-8663. https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. Circle C is the best summer camp Program Director, Counselor, Maintenance (Former Employee) - Delevan, NY - September 12, 2018 Circle C ranch is the best summer camp for young kids to work at. You learn and grow so much by working and camping there. The family camp experience includes activities likechapel services, all-you-can-eat meals, horseback riding, laser tag androck wall climbing, according to the website, andfamilies will stay overnight together in the camp's on-site lodging. Minutes are generally posted a month following the meeting once they have been accepted. Reporters also tried to contactRonald Snell,a longtime friend of Wes Aarum Sr. andCircle C board member for a short period, whowas also present at the meeting. "The camp programs, which ran primarily in the summer, complemented [T]he Chapels youth programs, which ran primarily during the school year. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. It isan investigative journalist's role to examine possible abuses of power or allegations of misfeasance or malfeasancethoroughly,keeping fairness and accuracy front and center in their work. "I'm just completely. We have repeatedly requested to know who the anonymous accusations are coming from and again, with the exception of one instance, they have refused. The conduct was at times private and at other times out in the open when other camp staffers would be able to witness it, according to Snells lawsuit. In investigative journalism, it's vital reporters show their efforts to confirm facts and to reach people. All fourdid not respond. Aarum has denied the allegations and continues to serve on staff at the camp. He later died in March 2020. God knew that Wes would need a man that would be a confidant, a prayer partner, on who could give wise counsel and one who had the same soul-winning burden and vision for the camp that he had. Aarum, in recent sermons, has compared the accusations to Jesus being crucified by people he helped, as reported by The Roys Report. It's vital people describing trauma or harm be listened to with sensitivity and patience; coming forward is often an act of courage. When he gave Bob a call, he said I suppose the same terms as before and then he wrote out a check fo the amount. . Ross had been a board member of Canadian Youth for Christ when Wes had been the President and was such a blessing to that ministry. The 2022-2023 CDC Board of Directors are: Warren Faulkner, President Melinda McKenna, Board Member David Wagner, Board Member Aaron Sotak, Board Member Randy Glenn, Board Member Sign-up for our newsletter! Snell could not be reachedafterrepeated attempts, including a letter to his home, phone calls and an email to his wife.". READ THE FULL INVESTIGATION:These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Lasting trauma:He was my identity: How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma. To honor, Glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow heronTwitter @Sjtaddeo. Sarah Taddeo is an enterprisereporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. 1179 0 obj <>stream That was of the Lord. According to information shared on its website, Circle C Ranch said state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the sudden change in programming to include now the parents of children. Name* Email* CAPTCHA Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The work poses many challenges. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how this . A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. Earlier this week, Circle C Ranch staff members said the camp is open to house Afghan refugees arriving on U.S. soil after fleeing the Talibans takeover in the country, according to the story from WIVB in Buffalo. The accounts of the women, describing incidents involving Wayne Aarum that took place when they were Circle C Ranch campers, are troubling and concerning. Kens wife Joann was an R.N and she worked in a local hospital to help support them while the camp was being built. Little id any of us realize what a blessing that would be, as the Winter Snow Camps have brought in thousands of campers with hundreds of them accepting Christ.. More:Christian camp Circle C announces changes to summer program after abuse allegations surface. Main Office: 518-696-5676 Development Office: 518-696-5921. Specifically, in a portion of the story about Circle C's legal counsel having recommended at a meeting that Aarum resign, they took these steps: "The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. Through all this, Aarum remains as the Circle C camp president today. Aarum filed a lawsuit against The Chapel on June 2, 2021, accusing the churchs executive pastor, John Camardo, of defamation, saying statements related to the allegations against him were used to damage his reputation and his ability to do business, according to Aarums filing. It was decided that he should be contacted and asked for a loan of $30,000. Aarum has repeatedly denied any allegations of inappropriate conduct. It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. In her lawsuit, Snell accused Circle C Ranch and its parent organization, Living Waters Ministries, of negligently retaining Aarum on staff and thus allowing him unfettered and unsupervised access to minors on the campgrounds and during other activities, according to the court filing. Whether you are a loyal D&C reader or a new one, please know that stories like this are possible because of subscribers like you. Aarum and the Living Waters Ministries Inc., according to the lawsuit, had maintained a peaceful, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationship with The Chapel for more than 30 years due to the founding of the two organizations by two close friends, James Andrews at The Chapel in 1961 and Wesley Aarum Sr. at the Circle C Ranch in 1968. Families can register online to attend camp overnightwith their children at Circle C Ranch on either July 9-11 or August 6-8. Instead, he used the allegation to begin a campaign to remove Wayne Aarum from his leadership at the Circle C Ranch, because he opposed the sale of camp land to a large wind project developer from Chicago. ", "The USA TODAY NETWORK asked for comment from five individuals whosupport the Ranch and the Aarums. He also currently serves as pastor of theFirst Baptist Church of Arcade, New York. , NY 12846. Read the original investigation:These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Aarum sues The Chapel:Pastor accused of abusing teens sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". Wayne Aarum, a pastor and operator of theCircle C RanchChristian camp in Delevan, who has been accused ofinappropriately touchingat least 21 teenage girls in the past, is now suingThe Chapelmegachurch over what he says are manufactured allegations against him to gain control of the camps land. Email:[emailprotected] It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. Aarum also said in a video posted to the Circle C Ranch website this summer that he never received complaints at the time the alleged abuse occurred about his behavior in either positions he's held at The Chapel or at Circle C Ranch. circlecranch.com under the "Resource" tab. How easy is it to make anonymous declarations?. Miracle after Miracle, God has provided for Circle C Ranch and as long as God continues to provide, we will continue to serve Him! The Circle C board claims The Chapel at Crosspoint wants to take over the ranch and says it is spreading falsehoods about Aarum so members of The Chapel can take over the Circle C board., In documents on Circle Cs website, the board writes the campaign against Aarum was designed for the purpose of acquiring the camps property and business.. Prior to becoming director of Circle C Ranch, Aarum worked as a youth pastor atBuffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. Aarum served at The Chapel, located in the suburb of Getzville in New York, from 1991 to 2000 before becoming director of Circle C Ranch. The one thing they do not have is a childrens ministry like that, said Dekalb. These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, He was my identity: How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma. ContactSarahat STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. A former camper and staff member at Circle C Ranch,a Christian camp in Cattaraugus County, has filed a lawsuit against the camp and its president, Wayne Aarum, accusing Aarum of grooming and sexually victimizing her between the ages of 9 and 16. Besides doing the cooking, she became the office manager, the accountant, head of the medical dept, and a mother to their 2 sons, Wes & Wayne. The Circle C HOA Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, January 27, at 6:30pm via ZOOM. The lawsuit stated that the Chapels leadership was aware of the increasing value of the property and embarked on a campaign to remove Aarum from the board of Living Waters Ministries Inc., to create a more favorable board of directors to control the Circle C Ranch Camp and the use and disposition of its land.. The Ranch owed (Snell) a heightened, fiduciary duty of care because they held themselves out as being able to provide a safe and secure environment for children, the lawsuit read. Simply select the past meetings minutes you wish to view or you can view the DRAFT minutes which will be approved at the next board meeting. Theyspoke to 19 other individuals including persons who worked at the camp, relatives and local pastors. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, according to the court filing. Footer 2018 Community Report Contact Info In late 2019, allegations of abuse began picking up momentum when Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer who worked there in 2006, shared her story with leadership at The Chapel. hb```, x ` 0rBJCYXCZZ})4 kaH@s@#@fg,@,c%C}Ip*6pkZGWGh94Hv `BPa6 2ut@2:2> B;X &s&6faffyLffIW'6 ``g`[pq!wMm|7Bu5fd``47%'X?BT1z ]_] More history on Circle C Ranch can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_C_Ranch. Wes said none its for the Lord. Now there was a need for the total of $40,000 to get things moving. 1154 0 obj <> endobj When Andrew died in 1999, however, the new management at The Chapel became more expansionist and financially oriented, the suit argues. In late 2019, allegations of abuse against Aarum began picking up momentum when Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer who worked there in 2006, shared her story with leadership at The Chapel. 1.) Holding a crusade in a town nearby Wes was introduced to a man named Bill Daily who worked construction and was also a master stone worker. When told it was for a youth camp, Bob wrote out a check for the amount needed. Homeowners are encourage to host their individual garage sales on For an overview of the site and a few ideas as to how it can help save you time and get you connected with your community, click About Our Website under the Home button. For months, The Chapel facilitated conversations between women like McDonald, who say they were abused by Aarum, and the Circle C Ranch board of directors. endstream endobj startxref I found each of the women to be credible; patterns of predatory behavior emerged and grew more egregious as time passed. They know Mr. Aarum personally, often for decades, and they know he would never intentionally harm anyone.. Circle C Ranch, the Christian children's camp in western New York facing allegations that its director has inappropriately touched teenage girls, announced drastic changes to its summer. For months, The Chapel facilitated conversations between women like McDonald, who say they were abused by Aarum,and the Circle C Ranch board of directors. Wes held a crusade in Montana and there God gave him 2 men, Ken Strait & Russ Alexander who were great with horses and hammers and they came east to help build the camp. Circle C board defends accused camp director Weeks after a Delevan minister and local camp director Wayne Aarum was accused of sexual misconduct by 21 former campers and staffers, the Circle. That man was Mr. Ross Barker a businessman from Toronto. Keller Williams Realty, Three Barton Skyway, 1221 S Mopac, Ste.120, Austin TX 78746 Read their stories. You can also join via video conferencing (Zoom), the Zoom link can be found under the Resource tab and meetings are open to the community. What else might develop? CirCleC ranCh Krysten MeijaJaymes Willoughby 6013 York Bridge Circle SOLD in 7 days! Missed chances:Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. Without a transmission line to transport the electricity generated by the windmills in an economically feasible fashion, the windmill projects economic value diminishes substantially, the lawsuit said. An email to Wayne Aurum, and a call to attorney's in Williamsville who are representing Aurum in the defamation lawsuit were not returned Monday. He met Margaret Stevenson who had been born on a farm in Pennsylvania (which would prepare her for life at the Ranch). Aarum, whose late father, Wes Aarum Sr., founded Circle C Ranch in 1968, previously worked as a youth pastor at Buffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Time and again, even as the local news industry has been buffeted for a quarter-century by change, reporting by trained professionals continues tobe a catalyst for positive change in our communities. While this is not the path we had ever hoped for, we simply refuse to allow this unjust activity to continue any longer for the sake of the camp, our families, and the lives of so many we pray are yet to be impacted for good by the ministry God birthed over 53 years ago in the heart of Mr. Wes.. Homeowners must be logged onto the site to view agendas and find the link to the ZOOM meetings. Call Jaymes today for a Free Market Analysis! The church continued to contribute financially to the camp each year and recommended it to families. It would have board-walks, hitching rails, a Sheriffs office with two cells, an old country store, a dining hall, a chapel, cabins that could accommodate 192 campers plus 32 counselors, a swimming hole (pond) and a corral that contained a herd of horses. Mr. Petereson was willing to sell the land for the price of the mortgage - $14,800. In the civil lawsuit filed on June 2, Aarum, 55, who leads the First Baptist Church of Arcade, and sits on the board of the Living Waters Ministries Inc., which runs the Christian camp, is seeking a collective $3.125 million in damages from The Chapel for "harm to reputation, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional injury," as well as financial damages. In an exclusive interview with 7 Eyewitness News last month, Aarum and board member Daryl Dekalb made that same suggestion while strongly denying the allegations against him.
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