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Q: When/how/why did you get involved with Kismet?

A: Climbing Magazine published an article about Kismet in the spring of 2005, and I was impressed to hear about a program to help city kids learn about rock climbing.  During my career as an educator, I had raised money to make independent school education accessible to students who normally could not afford it, so I was immediately attracted to Kismet’s mission.  A few days after reading the article, serendipity was in play as I was finishing a route at Cathedral and met a man 30 feet away belaying his partner, also to the top of the cliff.  After chatting for a few minutes, he introduced himself as Mike Jewell, and recognizing his name from the magazine, I made the Kismet connection.  We had a great chat and a few weeks later, Mike agreed to hire me for some guiding that summer, and I have been with him every summer since.

Q: What makes Kismet unique?

A: Kismet is unique because of the amazing educational opportunity afforded our students over the four year program.  This is possible because of the generosity of our many supporters.  I am always amazed and inspired by the many folks in the Mount Washington Valley who donate to Kismet, as well as the many folks from further afield who support our program.  Whether it is goods, services, or money, the “Kismet Community” invests in the lives of our students.  The fruits of this investment can be readily perceived any time one speaks with a Kismet graduate.   They are confident, articulate, appreciative, and knowledgeable about rock climbing!

Q: Do you have a particular memory from a day out with the students you would like to share?

A: One of the pleasures of guiding for Kismet over many years is developing relationships with the students.  Because this is a four year program, we are in the privileged position of being able to watch our students develop as people and climbers from the ages of about 14-17.   Last summer I was with a group of third year students whom I had worked with since their first summer.  On our second day we went to Echo Crag, a placed we had climbed with this group the year before.  What a day this was!!!  The students showed their competence in setting up rappels from the top of the cliff (with direct supervision!), and they climbed with energy, skill, and delight for the entire day.  During our visit to the same crag a year before, they had struggled, were a bit intimidated by the crack climbing, and did not take in the lesson of the day all that well.  You can imagine my delight last summer of seeing the incredible progress from one summer to the next.

Q: What drew you to climbing and to teaching climbing?

A: The joy of movement, the beauty of the cliffs, and the partnering with friends drew me to climbing in 1973, and this attraction has never waivered.  As a young man, I was drawn to guiding more for what it offered me…time in the mountains and a little remuneration.  As I became older, teaching climbing was more and more about the person I was teaching.  To understand why I like teaching climbing now, one only need read the passage above.  Like all teachers, my payoff is in seeing the students learn, grow, and enjoy something that I also value.

Q: What do you like to do with your free time?

A: Anything that involves being in the mountains…hiking, biking, skiing, running, backpacking, doing trail work, climbing, even just looking at the mountains from my home in Plymouth is a joy.  I am incredibly fortunate to live in the White Mountains and to be able to be in them every day of the year.

Q: Any parting thoughts?

A: For those who support Kismet…thank you.  For those who have not yet supported Kismet…please consider doing so.

Meet the rest of the Kismet Team

Many thanks to Anne Skidmore for use of these images

Kismet Rock Foundation volunteers MIKE LACKMAN, PHIL THALHEIMER, NICKIE SEKERA and board member BRIAN POST worked the silent auction tables and were on hand to answer questions about the organization.

Quality climbing hardware and soft goods were donated to the silent auction, which raised more than $1,700  for the Kismet student scholarship fund.  Thank you to those sponsors: JULBO, ICEHOLDZ, LOWA, OUTDOOR RESEARCH, PRINCETON TEC, ASOLO, PETZL CHARLET, SCARPA, MAMMUT, MOUNTAIN  HARDWEAR, PATAGONIA, LA SPORTIVA, and BLACK DIAMOND.

Adding to an already memorable evening, Jim Shimberg, a longtime friend of Kismet, presented a check for $2,500 to establish a KISMET INTERN ENDOWMENT FUND, in memory of Jonny Copp, Micah Dash and Wade Johnson. Jim ‘passed the hat’ for nearly a year, collecting contributions from $1 up to $500 to create the fund. Kismet is honored to carry on the memories of those three men who were so loved and are so missed with this very special fund for Kismet graduates.

Contact Kismet to learn more about the fund.

Our gratitude and appreciation goes out to Ice Fest event directors Sarah Garlick and Anne Skidmore for a successful weekend, and of course to Rick Wilcox and Brad White of IME/IMCS for making the event possible.

Its simple: Now through April 15 simply visit their Mountain Hardwear Gives Back page and click on the Send a Kid to Camp button.

For every click to the Send a Kid to Camp button, Mountain Hardwear will donate $1 towards this program up to a total of $40,000. Help us spread the word. Between now and April 15th, you and your friends can click to Send a Kid to Camp. Don’t forget to return every day to click and show your support! Thanks so much to the folks at Mountain Hardwear for this great opportunity!

See photos from last year’s Ice Fest auction and slide show!

WHEN: Friday February 5, 7 pm WHERE: Cranmore Family Fitness Center (climbing wall) Thanks to International Mountain Equipment/Mountain Climbing School for making Kismet the silent auction beneficiary once again. Last year the auction raised more than $2,000 for Kismet’s education programs. Don’t miss this line up of events on Friday. Bid high and bid often! 7:00 PM: Doors open, silent auction begins. A climbing rope, ice climbing boots, backpack, jackets and more will be up for bidding from the Ice Fest sponsors. 100% of proceeds goes to the Kismet Rock Foundation scholarship fund. 7:30 PM: Steve House keynote slide show, followed by the 2nd Annual Indoor Dry-Tooling Face Off with MC Freddie Wilkinson. Also look for a special presentation to Kismet from long time friend of the organization, Jim Shimberg. Cost: $10 at the door Clinics are still open! Visit the IMCS website or the Ice Fest Blog to learn more.

]]> http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org/2010/02/01/feb-5-mwv-ice-fest-silent-auction-to-benefit-kismet/feed/ 0 http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org/2010/01/01/rock-ice-magazine-article-about-kismets-first-decade/ http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org/2010/01/01/rock-ice-magazine-article-about-kismets-first-decade/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:55:42 +0000 Janet http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org/?p=951 Check out this nice article by Alison Osius of Rock & Ice Magazine about Kismet’s first ten years. Many thanks to all who have made it possible, and Happy New Year!

Kismet students in front of the North Conway Factory Store, photo by Brian Post

But that is not all! Now through the holiday season, if you go to our Nike Factory Store in North Conway, you will see this great sign:

And, if you buy a Give Nike Give Change gift card while there, Nike will donate an additional $5 to Kismet! Everyone wins!

Store Manager Brian LaPlant and the rest of the crew at the North Conway Factory Store with Janet Bergman from Kismet.

Thanks Nike! And don’t forget to get to the North Conway Factory store to buy a gift card that supports Kismet!

And be sure to read about the Back Your Block recipients from around the rest of the country–225 organizations won grants for their work in improving the lives of young people through sports.

More than 160 Kismet Rock Foundation supporters turned out for Caliente! A Night of Salsa Dancing to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation, presented by Polartec LLC on Saturday, November 7 at Black Mountain Ski Resort in Jackson, New Hampshire.  “It was our most successful and fun event yet,” said Brian Irwin of the Kismet Rock Foundation Board of Directors. “The band, the wonderful food, a great mix of people, we had it all.”

Founding director Mike Jewell and several Kismet Rock Foundation students kicked off the night with presentations, following an auction preview reception and cocktail hour. Students spoke about their experiences in the four-year rock climbing program and how it has impacted their lives. Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to Ken Lydecker, Gabe Flanders, Jeannine Peterson and Marilyn Grant, in recognition of their countless hours of service in support of the organization. A lit birthday cake was presented to wrap up the presentations, in honor of Kismet’s 10^th year of service.

The Boston-based band Los Sugar Kings then taught a short dance lesson and played a mix of Salsa, Merengue and other styles for the remainder of the evening. The dance floor was full of smiling faces and moving bodies straight through to the last song.

The silent auction was quite popular, bringing in more than $6,000 for Kismet programs. Guests also enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts donated by Cafe Noche, Chef’s Market, Courtyard Café, Delaney’s, Flatbread Company, Frontside Grind, May Kelley’s, The Shovel Handle, Wildcat Inn & Tavern, Horsefeathers, White Mountain Cider Company, and As You Like It Bakery & Café, plus several individuals.

“Please relay our appreciation to everyone at Kismet,” said Mik Mersha of Los Sugar Kings, following Caliente!. “You are truly one of the best audiences we’ve had the pleasure of performing for.”

Many thanks to Caliente! A Night of Salsa Dancing to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation sponsors, including Presenting sponsor Polartec LLC; Gold Level sponsors Black Mountain Ski Resort, Dutch Bloemen Winkel, Nereledge Inn and Rovetti Design; and Silver Level sponsors Belray Asset Management, Café Noche, Doug Madara, Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital, Mountain Top Music Center, Mountain Yurt Yoga and Sky Ambitions. Thanks also to dozens of volunteers who made the event possible.

Based in North Conway, NH, Kismet Rock Foundation enhances the physical, intellectual and emotional development of well-functioning but economically disadvantaged children by providing access to the immense value of a comprehensive education in technical rock climbing. Kismet Rock Foundation currently offers programs to students from Boston, MA, Manchester, NH, Bartlett, NH and Portland, ME. To learn more about Kismet Rock Foundation, make a donation or get involved as a volunteer, email info@kismetrockfoundation.org, call 603-356-7738 or visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org.

The following photos courtesy of Bruce Raymond:

Caliente! Goers:

Here is the low-down on our best silent auction lineup ever. Have a look through and get ready to bid on November 7 at Caliente! A Night of Salsa Dancing to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation:

First for the feature items:

· Brian Post of 6288 Designs donated design of a website and one year of hosting services ($1,500+ value – our website is one of his designs!).

· SOLO has for the second year in a row generously donated a Wilderness First Responder course ($895 value).

· And have you read about a five-day stay in a beautiful cottage on the coast of Maine yet?

Maui Jim sunglasses will be available (value $350+), and might look really snazzy if you win a White Mountain air tour for two with Jim Siverts (value $200+).

Also up for bid will be a 10.4mm/60m bicolor dry treated Marathon series rope (value $275) from Sterling Rope Company, who has been supporting Kismet with donations like this for our events AND for use in our programs for years now. Thanks Sterling!

Cross an item off of your To Do list by bidding on a will with Kismet Board of Directors member Jess Soroka of Albrecht and Weeger PLLC (value $200+) or an eye exam with Tony Iorfino MD (value $150).

For the art lovers: photography from Anne Skidmore, Brian Post and Craig Davis, a framed Ansel Adams print, a Randy Rackliff woodcut print, jewelry from Karen Eisenberg, Chris Pastoriza and Elaine Brophy, sculptures from Jackson locals Stan Bodkins and Dick Devellian and a hand made quilt to round it out.

Maybe you would rather spoil your honey (or yourself!) this holiday season with massage and beauty services that have been donated by Susan Ainsworth (six massages!), Wendy Yager & Nicholas (massage and haircut!), Kate Brustin MacPhee, and Debony Salon (2.5 hour Dr Hauschka facial!).

If you would rather the makeover to be on your home’s interior, look to Phoebe Lovejoy for an interior design consultation. Go for it! And maybe you can start the design of one of your rooms out with a gorgeous Afghan Belouch Rug (value $250), donated again this year by Chris Noonan Oriental Rugs.

Do you like the idea of an auction item that is an experience? How about these: A sailing lobster bake day trip for two (value $200), or a team and/or individual entry to a 2010 Tri-Maine Triathlon Event. For something more local we have two non-resident season ski passes (value $175) from the MWV Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation and two tickets to their world famous Chocolate Festival, rounded out by six day passes to Cranmore Mountain Resort!

For a little something different, Kismet’s founder Mike Jewell will give up ‘his’ chair in the corner of Front Side Grind for a whole month as an auction item! Priceless! If you are not interested in his chair, but like coffee, how about a pound of coffee a month for a year from the Frontside Grind (can you say great gift idea?!). Or, if you would like to just hang around with Mike Jewell, a professional mountain guide for 30 years, for a couple days, you can also bid on a two-day rescue course with him.

If it is soft goods you are after, we will not disappoint. We will have jackets from our hometown outdoor clothing makers and long time Kismet supporters, Ragged Mountain Equipment and Wild Things.

And one final random sampling of items you’ll find: An MP3 playing beer cooler, Kismet Board Member Brian Irwin’s new book Recompense,  White Mountain Puzzles, Julbo sunglasses, Story Land passes, music lessons from Mountain Top Music Center, and a gift certificate to Zimmermans!

Warm up those checkbooks folks! (and yes, we’ll take your cards too!)

Endless thanks to our auction donors for this great lineup of items.

And our gratitude to the boundless Kismet Events Committee – Ruthann Brown, Sasha Eisele, Sarah Garlick, Heidi Lewis, Mike Jewell, Brian Post, Shaunna Richards, Nickie Sekera, Anne Skidmore, Jessica Soroka and Rob Vandegrift – this event and this awesome auction lineup is entirely theirs!