Joseph Pawlak

Woodloch Honors Local Fallen Hero in Folds of Honor Golf Classic | Woodloch Resort

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Woodloch Honors Local Fallen Hero with “Folds of Honor”

~shared by Chase Borden

“Freedom does not come without a price. We may sometimes take for granted the many liberties we enjoy in America, but they have all been earned through the ultimate sacrifice paid by so many of the members of our armed forces.” –Charlie Dent

For the past two years Woodloch Springs has had the honor to host the Folds of Honor Golf Classic. This tournament brings a holiday feel to the golf course, as players come out to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Humvees were placed on the golf course and local troops came to tend the flags for each group as they entered the 9^th and 18^th green. The event is a miniature Memorial Day celebrated at our Pocono resort.

Each year Woodloch honors a local hero. This year that hero was Lance CPL Jacob W. Beisel of Lackawaxen. Jacob graduated from Wallenpaupack Area High School and joined the Marines in September of 2003. He was assigned USMC 3^rd Battalion, 8^th Marine regiment, 2^nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He had just started his second tour in Iraq when he was killed while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on March 31, 2006. He was just 21 years old, although he did not have any children an Honorary Scholarship will be awarded in his name and will honor his legacy for years to come.

The Folds of Honor provides annual educational scholarships to the military families of those who have been killed or disabled while in active duty. Since its establishment the Folds of Honor has given 7,500 scholarships. Woodloch has since been working to add to that number each year by hosting its Folds of Honor Golf Classic.

I was given the privilege of spending the day on the course with the PGA Honorary President Allen Wronowski. Mr. Wronowski is a member of the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame and was named Director of Golf Development and Relations in 2014 for the Folds of Honor Foundation. We made our way around the course taking pictures with each group of golfers, Mr. Wronowski personally thanked each of the 120 players for being there to support the Folds of Honor organization and our local fallen hero Lance CPL Jacob W. Beisel.

Last year the tournament raised just under $10,000 to help fund a scholarship which went to Sean & Ryan Sweeny, son of SSG Paul Sweeny. This year we are proud to announce that we have exceeded our $10,000 mark in fundraising.

If you are looking for an excuse to get out on the golf course in the future, there is no better excuse than signing up for next year’s Folds of Honor Tournament; you will have a great time while supporting the family of a local hero.

Filed Under: community, golf

The Woodloch EDGE- Insider Tips on How to Win BIG!

Woodloch’s Blog

Keep up-to-date with all things Woodloch on our blog featuring exclusive recipes, heartwarming stories, lifestyle content, contests and more.

The Woodloch EDGE- Insider Tips on How to Win BIG!

The great American football coach George Allen once said, “Winning is the science of being totally prepared.” Though every once in a while we’re brushed with a stroke of good luck, more often than not, champions are crowned through hard work, persistence and mental preparation. (I feel inclined to make a joke about the Cleveland Browns… but that city has been through enough.)

I’ve had the pleasure of working in activities with guests for the past 20 years and I feel like I’ve gotten to know many of them on a personal level. And while we all know that the real joy in competing in Woodloch events is simply forgetting life’s troubles and enjoying some smiles with your family and best friends, we all know that winning sometimes just feels really GOOD.

So be glad that you took the time to read this article. Whether you’re a “Woodloch veteran” or new to the game, we thought we’d give you guys just a little heads-up on ways to get an “edge” on your competition this summer. While I can’t ensure that this will get a medal on your neck, I can promise you that it will be worth your time to heed our advice!

SCAVENGER HUNT

This one always takes the “newbies” by surprise. Forget any conventional hunts that you may have done in the past- there’s nothing quite like Woodloch’s Traditional Scavenger Hunt. Every year, we make it a point to make our hunts bigger, more challenging and ultimately better by adding new puzzles and mixing things up.

At its core, though, the same principles will always give teams a competitive advantage. Research our social staff’s website, WoodlochEdge.com, thoroughly just before you leave for your stay. There are several puzzles and games that offer list items as a reward, but we also give quite a few FREEBIES. Boom!

Additionally, it can’t hurt to look at our Photo Gallery for additional clues. After all, you might just end up needing to dress up as a certain character!

BIG TEAM ATHLETIC EVENTS

You know. The stuff that ONLY happens at Woodloch!

Whether you are competing in our new Them Games or our famous Summer Olympics, one thing remains constant: you are going to need to hustle. You don’t necessarily need the biggest and fastest team, but there needs to be some heart and motivation as your driving force! Those are the factors that make the biggest difference between being THE BEST instead of one of the rest.

Speaking of size, it’s actually a strategic advantage to have some smaller teammates in many of our games! Nimble, agile and more compact friends on your team come in handy during many of the events in Family Double Dare and Pool Games! Small… but mighty!

Before heading out in that hot summer sun, be ready. Eat a good meal for energy before gametime (we feed you guys plenty here) and don’t be afraid to stretch out a bit beforehand.

There’s a better than good chance that many of us haven’t ran in a while… and you’ll know this because you haven’t ran in a while.

TRIVIA & MORE

So… maybe athletics aren’t your forte- which I understand completely. I was, and still am, the kid that would get hit in the face with a basketball every week in phys ed. Some of the more scholarly individuals find our greatest joys in flexing our intelligence for the gold. Woodloch offers an abundance of great trivia contests to showcase our smarts. As the old saying goes… “10 heads are better than one.“

“Name That Tune” and “Woodloch Goes to the Movies,” how I love thee! As much of a pop culture aficionado that I may be, I simply cannot tackle this all alone. To win big in these very competitive events, you have to properly recruit. Can’t tell Taylor Swift from Katy Perry? Recruit some young blood to help you out. Know that Grandma is a huge film noir fan? She’s going to come in handy. Some of the most successful teams we’ve seen here were the most eclectic groups of individuals you could think of!

Our Dessert Wars are a true fan favorite! And there a lot of elements to a successful team. Someone needs to be artsy, neat and clean for a stellar presentation. RECRUIT THEM. You need someone with a vivid imagination (young kids are CLUTCH here). RECRUIT THEM. You need someone who is wise with a budget and can make good decision in a bind. RECRUIT THEM. All of these factors collectively make the best Dessert Wars teams!

O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN…

Last but not least, I will say that teams that earn medals always have a good leader. All of these games require a Team Captain. That captain is a coach, cheerleader and judge all at once, and good leadership brings in medals. Your captain must be an adult and somewhat responsible (which should, in theory, limit it to just about one person on your team. Easy decision)

THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED

Of course, you can follow all of this advice and simply be beaten. Hey, it happens- we have a lot of guests craving that same Woodloch gold that you are. A long time ago, someone once told me that they never “lose”- either you win big or learn something. Take that knowledge back, grow from the experience and keep trying.

Because if one thing’s for sure, quitters never win and winners NEVER quit!

Good luck to everyone out there this summer- may the odds be ever in your favor.

Woodloch's 20th "Chuck Russell" Reunion… one for the ages! | Woodloch Resort

pocono resorts reunions

~shared by J. Ranner

I think George S Patton, one of our nation’s greatest military leaders, said it best: “Americans love a winner… Americans play to win all the time.” Which is certainly true if you really think about it. Why do we go nuts when our team wins the Super Bowl? Why does it feel so good to finally land that big promotion you’ve been working towards? Or mustering the courage to ask that cute girl out… and getting her to say yes? Yup, tackling challenges and emerging out the other side victorious feels really, REALLY good.

Needless to say, “winning” takes on all sorts of forms. It’s not necessarily always about getting that trophy or leaving everyone else behind in the dust. Sometimes, “winning” in life simply means putting your best foot forward, becoming (or at least trying to become) the best person you can be, and leaving the world off as a better place than you did when you got here. Based on my life experiences, the people I’ve met and the way things have unfolded, that’s what “winning” has come to mean to me.

Many years ago, a man named Chuck Russell visited our resort every year on his family vacation from long distances- much like many of you fine folks continue to do to this day. And, in short, Chuck was a special kind of man. “He was EVERYWHERE,” says Joey Ranner, Activities Director. “Chuck quickly developed a reputation for being ‘that guy’- you know, the one that everybody seemed to flock to because he was the life of the party. He whistled, he cheered and had a great time no matter what.” Though he loved to win (again, who DOESN’T?), regardless of the outcome Chuck was quick to shake hands in the true spirit of Woodloch sportsmanship. Chuck made a lot of new friends and created countless memories with every vacation he took.

Sadly, Chuck lost a very rough battle with cancer in 1995. The entire Woodloch Family was devestated by the loss of Chuck. “He was just a great guy,” says Joey Ranner. “We realized fairly quickly that we wanted to find a way to not only remember Chuck but also the wonderful spirit of the Woodloch games that he embodied.” Thus, we established “The Chuck Russell Award.” During each of our 9 weeks of summer, we would select one individual who seemed to carry the torch that Chuck ignited and recognize them at our weekly “Awards Ceremony” in the Nightclub. “It was a bittersweet kind of thing,” says Ranner. “We all truly missed Chuck, but it was rather warming to see so many of our guests keep that fire alive.”

20 years have passed since our first Chuck Russell Award winners were recognized… so we thought we’d do what we at Woodloch do best: reunite everyone for some FUN.

From April 24th-26th, Woodloch invited all of our past Chuck Russell winners up for a little reunion. After a weekend filled with all of our favorite events including “Name That Tune,” Horse Races and Family Olympics, our crowds migrated to the Nightclub for a celebration. “Not only was Woodloch holding their 57th Anniversary, but we were celebrating 20 years of Chuck Russell recipients,” says John Kiesendahl, owner. “We’re blessed and have a lot to celebrate.”

Following a video tribute to Chuck and 180 past Chuck Russell winners, everyone raised their champagne glasses in memory of Chuck, in celebration of friends that we have, and all the memories to come. In total, 65 past winners joined us on stage for a group shot. We also inducted an “honorary” member into the Chuck Russell class. Mr. Bill Wolf has visited Woodloch over 204 times (more than ANY other guest!) and always follows the action. “Bill was a police officer working the beat and would visit my dad’s luncheonette before my family bought Woodloch,” says John. “Right from the beginning, Bill was there visiting us.”

Honored by this award, Bill simply replied, “I wish I had more money at the time. I could have been a partner!”

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Bill & Mary Wolf

The weekend couldn’t have been more picture perfect for both guests and staff alike. “So many smiles and laughs,” says Joey Ranner. “I know that right now, Chuck sees all that this has become and is smiling right back at us.”

“We are so blessed with loyal guests that come back year after year, and create a culture that you just can’t beat,” says John. “They make a spirit of Woodloch Pines where people come for the first time, and they make it cotagious. Our guests and their wonderful spirits truly make Woodloch what it is.”

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Eddie Russell & Family

JDRF poconos family vacations

“Individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds.”
– U.S. Navy SEALS motto

Football fans out there have hit a lull. It’s the offseason- eyes are glued to the NFL network watching free agency tickers and prospects working out at the combine. This is what I’ve come to perceive as “desperation.” Anything to get our “fix.”

Me? I like to reminisce and stroll down memory lane. Hot off the heels of their 4th Super Bowl win, my mind goes back to the day when the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl. The year was 2002, and prior to that, players were introduced one by one as they took center stage in the year’s biggest sporting event. In an act of originality (some might say, “defiance”), the Pats chose to be introduced as “a team” as they stormed the field. At the time, my brother said, “Game over, man.” And he was right. The team went on to claim a HUGE underdog victory and thus, a dynasty was born.

I never cease to be amazed by what true teamwork can accomplish. Pick an objective, dedicate yourselves, never give up and anything is possible. Even tackling diseases. For the second straight year, Woodloch is very pleased to announce that it once again partnering with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to work to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes. We will be hosting our second “Carnival for a Cause” weekend May 1st – 3rd, 2015.

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, policy influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D.

We created a connection with JDRF through Joey Ranner, our Social and Activities Director. His granddaughter, Jillian, was diagnosed with T1D when she was younger. “Speaking with guests and friends about her condition, I realized how widespread it was and wanted to find a way to help,” says Ranner. “Working together with JDRF and so many friends, we were able to bring a fundraising effort to fruition last year, and the response was incredible.”

JDRF Woodloch
In 2014, a collaboration of Woodloch guests, friends, local business partners and staff were able to raise over $15,000 for JDRF- roughly, triple our original expectations! Perhaps it is a result of our unconventional fundraising tactics- many of which we are giving another go in 2015. Planned events include:

A “Polar Plunge” into the still ice laden Lake Teedyuskung by the Kiesendahl Family, who own the resort. We are hoping to raise $2,000 by April 15th for this to happen… what better way to spend some of your tax refund?
A guest-staff “Dance-A-Thon” for Woodloch prizes
A Rivalry Olympics between local high schools
A Karate “Break-A-Board-A-Thon” featuring local students from Elite Martial Arts Institute
Our famous “Midway Carnival” featuring games, snacks, balloon animals, magicians, inflatable bounce houses and more (in other words, “THE BEST DAY EVER”).

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great family vacations

A portion of the proceeds from this weekend- as well as ALL of the proceeds from our fundraising events, will be donated to JDRF. This year, we have upped our expectations to raise $25,000- but we need your help.

Book a stay with us and catch ALL of the weekend’s excitement
Local friends can enjoy our famous Cookout & Carnival on May 2nd – proceeds from your lunch benefit JDRF
Sponsor friends, family, or staff for our “Dance-A-Thon”– they’re going to need positive reinforcement to keep up!
For friends that can’t be here- or businesses that would like to help: you can be FEATURED on our event t-shirts for a donation as little as $25. That’s your opportunity to take your place on a piece of Woodloch history!

“We have lofty goals,” says Ranner, “but certainly not unattainable. I know what we’re capable of when we work together. The Woodloch family, our guests and all of our friends LOVE a good challenge and are ready to make things happen.”

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