LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Camp Good
Days and Special Times

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 30th Anniversary of Camp Good Days and Special Times on Satur-
day, June 27, 2009; and
WHEREAS, This event will include an up-close and personal show with
music legend, Ronnie Milsap, at Kodak's Theater on the Ridge; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, Gary Mervis' youngest of three children, Teddi, was
diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor; he spent months searching for
the best possible medical care for his daughter, traveling all over the
country, and despite all of this, he returned home unable to find the
answers he had so desperately been searching for; and
WHEREAS, It became very evident that the cruelest part of Teddi's
battle was not the craniotomy, chemotherapy or radiation that she had to
undergo, but it was the loneliness and the fact that the disease was
robbing her of her childhood; therefore, in late 1979, with the help of
many caring and generous individuals in the Rochester community, Gary
Mervis founded Camp Good Days and Special Times to give children suffer-
ing from cancer, the opportunity to regain some of their lost childhood;
and
WHEREAS, What was started to provide a residential camping experience
for Teddi and 62 other children with cancer has grown to become one of
the largest organizations of its kind in the country; many of the
programs and services, started at Camp Good Days have been used as
models for childhood cancer treatment centers and organizations all
across the United States and Canada; and
WHEREAS, Camp Good Days has expanded over the years and now provides
residential camping experiences and year-round support and recreational
programs and services for children, adults and their families whose
lives have been touched by cancer and other life threatening challenges;
programs that are now offered, include: children with cancer from 23
foreign countries who have participated in the Doing A World of Good
Program; children who have or have lost a parent or sibling to cancer;
men and women dealing with cancer; children with sickle cell anemia; and
children who have lost a family member to violence; and
WHEREAS, Camp Good Days maintains its own Recreational Facility,
located on the shores of Keuka Lake, where the residential camping
programs take place; The Camp Good Days' Headquarters & Volunteer Train-
ing Center is located in Mendon and it also has offices in Buffalo,
Syracuse, and Ithaca; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned our
recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Camp Good Days and Special Times;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Gary Mervis, Founder, Camp Good Days and Special Times.