I seem to recall that I may have been tapped for FTF in the last session of 1975. I'd love to know if records exist as I believe that this was the last "official" tapping ceremony. To my disappointment, when I showed up for the last month of the last year of Miller-Hagan in '76, I heard that FTF had been turned into a coed club, and there wouldn't be any new tappings. It really let the air out of such a sacred experience from the year/s before.
I have wonderful memories of the tapping ceremonies, mine and the others previous to mine. It was fascinating, dark, mysterious, and scary on those nights. I never knew who or when someone would be tapped. I attended the last two years of Miller as well of all of Miller-Hagan and I believe it was the last session and last year of Miller, in 1970, when it finally got really close. My cabin mate, Charlie Reinhart, was tapped (I believe by Don Remmey) and wow, was it close. I can't remember whether I was standing right next to Charlie or not, but the tension rose to a new level that night.
A few years later, when I was tapped, there were three of us - myself, and I think Mike Mario and Chip (can't recall the last name, was it Brucker?). I was nominated by Don Loesch and I may be wrong, but I believe Joe Stein (Speedy) may have done the tapping. We were in the Pioneer Unit at the time (with one of our leaders Dave Veil). After being chased to the main road, the FTF members welcomed us very sincerely in our nomination. We were given instructions as to how the night and next day would go. At that point, we were escorted down the road a bit to the north side of Miller Hagan in the dark. I believe a lean to or some type of hut had been built by members of FTF in the woods and we all spent the night there, each with a blanket. We had to go through the entire next day without saying a word (or more punishment would be added to our initiation). I remember my friend Dan telling me how much I chattered when I briefly broke my silence once during the day. We had to collect several items (initialled birch bark, heart shaped stone, three types of leaves from sassafras) and bring them to an initiation campfire that evening. I survived the day and still have a warm feeling and memory to this day of being welcomed into FTF by the members at the time. I had always looked up to FTF members over the years, perhaps because of how seriously the organization had presented itself and my respect for it. It felt great to finally become part of such a well looked up to group.
I learned during that time that my father (Frank Hall) had also been a member of FTF and my Dad and I shared with each other our stories of our nomination and initiation.
Somehow my beads and bear claws disappeared over the years. I wish I still had them. They'd be hanging in a place of prominence in my house.
Hi Rod, I was 16 years old in 1973, my last year as a Camper, residing in the Miller Pioneer Unit, obviously, but don't remember specifically what session it was, when I was tapped, but it might have been the 1st session in August. In 1974, I was a J.C. under Jane Kunkle's regime and was a cabin counselor for Miller 5 (not positive about actually cabin assignment), Miller 5 might have been Chuck Weber. Anyway, that was my last year(1975), I tried for 1976, but they wouldn't have Me, never heard a response, that's life. Rod, I vaguely remember your Brother Tad, after reading about you mentioning Him somewhere else, at Face Book or here. Never forget those experiences, thinking of taking a trip up there between now & Fall, only 20-25 miles from the Old Sites. Kind Regards, Brad
Rod Goodwin said:
Hi there, Brad – Not sure we knew each other but we may have been tapped into the FTF at the same time, or at least during the same season. My initiation was in the last two weeks of the 1973 season, I believe. (Were tappings conducted during the earlier season sessions too?) Sounds like you were a few years ahead of me as a camper as I was only 13 in 1973, the year prior to my being a Unit camper.
I wonder when the last FTF tapping was and who were the last chosen? Has anyone been tapped -after- the close of the final season at Miller-Hagan? What records have survived? Ha! Who's in charge of this organization anyway???
Rod Goodwin
Bradley A. Mathews said:
Hi Rich, I became a Member of the FTF in 1973. Mike Kaufman selected Me, it was My last year as a Camper. Mike was My Counselor for Four straight years; Senior 5 & Miller Pioneer Unit for Three years. You might expect that He had enough of Me. He also selected Me for All Around Camper in 1973 for the Miller Unit, Bob Springman won Best All Around. I don't particularly recall My exact FTF name, it was some sort of Bear. Kind Regards, Brad.
Hi there, Brad – Not sure we knew each other but we may have been tapped into the FTF at the same time, or at least during the same season. My initiation was in the last two weeks of the 1973 season, I believe. (Were tappings conducted during the earlier season sessions too?) Sounds like you were a few years ahead of me as a camper as I was only 13 in 1973, the year prior to my being a Unit camper.
I wonder when the last FTF tapping was and who were the last chosen? Has anyone been tapped -after- the close of the final season at Miller-Hagan? What records have survived? Ha! Who's in charge of this organization anyway???
Rod Goodwin
Bradley A. Mathews said:
Hi Rich, I became a Member of the FTF in 1973. Mike Kaufman selected Me, it was My last year as a Camper. Mike was My Counselor for Four straight years; Senior 5 & Miller Pioneer Unit for Three years. You might expect that He had enough of Me. He also selected Me for All Around Camper in 1973 for the Miller Unit, Bob Springman won Best All Around. I don't particularly recall My exact FTF name, it was some sort of Bear. Kind Regards, Brad.
I was in the FTF but don't remember what years. The night I had to go up to Dutch Hill,I walked down near the road . A car saw me and stopped, asked me how far Shawnee was, I couldn't speak and skittered back up into the woods, a naked and mute boy with a blanket, a wooden Indian around his neck in the middle of the night on a dark side road in the Poconos.
A sadder story: My brother Charlie Sherman was also in the FTF. Charlie was an aeronautical engineer at a near genius level but he was reclusive and lived all over the world but lived in Mississippi when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My angel of a daughter went down there (we live in Philly) and took care of him until he died. I would talk to Anne at night to get Charlie to remenice about his life. He told her all about Camp Miller but pretty much on his death bed would not give up what FTFstood for.
My, what a take back to some fond memories... I became an FTF member in 1971 and remember it well. All the mystery, anticipation and privilege of being tapped. Can't recall who nominated me or what my name was but still have the bear tooth necklace for each year I was a member. Also received the M-H all-around camper award (along with my sister) in ''74 or '75 thanks to Ed Lambert--my counselor at the time and on of my all-time favorites...
Replies
Frank a.k.a. "Jody" Hall.
I seem to recall that I may have been tapped for FTF in the last session of 1975. I'd love to know if records exist as I believe that this was the last "official" tapping ceremony. To my disappointment, when I showed up for the last month of the last year of Miller-Hagan in '76, I heard that FTF had been turned into a coed club, and there wouldn't be any new tappings. It really let the air out of such a sacred experience from the year/s before.
I have wonderful memories of the tapping ceremonies, mine and the others previous to mine. It was fascinating, dark, mysterious, and scary on those nights. I never knew who or when someone would be tapped. I attended the last two years of Miller as well of all of Miller-Hagan and I believe it was the last session and last year of Miller, in 1970, when it finally got really close. My cabin mate, Charlie Reinhart, was tapped (I believe by Don Remmey) and wow, was it close. I can't remember whether I was standing right next to Charlie or not, but the tension rose to a new level that night.
A few years later, when I was tapped, there were three of us - myself, and I think Mike Mario and Chip (can't recall the last name, was it Brucker?). I was nominated by Don Loesch and I may be wrong, but I believe Joe Stein (Speedy) may have done the tapping. We were in the Pioneer Unit at the time (with one of our leaders Dave Veil). After being chased to the main road, the FTF members welcomed us very sincerely in our nomination. We were given instructions as to how the night and next day would go. At that point, we were escorted down the road a bit to the north side of Miller Hagan in the dark. I believe a lean to or some type of hut had been built by members of FTF in the woods and we all spent the night there, each with a blanket. We had to go through the entire next day without saying a word (or more punishment would be added to our initiation). I remember my friend Dan telling me how much I chattered when I briefly broke my silence once during the day. We had to collect several items (initialled birch bark, heart shaped stone, three types of leaves from sassafras) and bring them to an initiation campfire that evening. I survived the day and still have a warm feeling and memory to this day of being welcomed into FTF by the members at the time. I had always looked up to FTF members over the years, perhaps because of how seriously the organization had presented itself and my respect for it. It felt great to finally become part of such a well looked up to group.
I learned during that time that my father (Frank Hall) had also been a member of FTF and my Dad and I shared with each other our stories of our nomination and initiation.
Somehow my beads and bear claws disappeared over the years. I wish I still had them. They'd be hanging in a place of prominence in my house.
I was a proud member of the FTF!
Hi Rod, I was 16 years old in 1973, my last year as a Camper, residing in the Miller Pioneer Unit, obviously, but don't remember specifically what session it was, when I was tapped, but it might have been the 1st session in August. In 1974, I was a J.C. under Jane Kunkle's regime and was a cabin counselor for Miller 5 (not positive about actually cabin assignment), Miller 5 might have been Chuck Weber. Anyway, that was my last year(1975), I tried for 1976, but they wouldn't have Me, never heard a response, that's life. Rod, I vaguely remember your Brother Tad, after reading about you mentioning Him somewhere else, at Face Book or here. Never forget those experiences, thinking of taking a trip up there between now & Fall, only 20-25 miles from the Old Sites. Kind Regards, Brad
Rod Goodwin said:
Hi there, Brad – Not sure we knew each other but we may have been tapped into the FTF at the same time, or at least during the same season. My initiation was in the last two weeks of the 1973 season, I believe. (Were tappings conducted during the earlier season sessions too?) Sounds like you were a few years ahead of me as a camper as I was only 13 in 1973, the year prior to my being a Unit camper.
I wonder when the last FTF tapping was and who were the last chosen? Has anyone been tapped -after- the close of the final season at Miller-Hagan? What records have survived? Ha! Who's in charge of this organization anyway???
Rod Goodwin
Bradley A. Mathews said:
For the record;
I'm pretty sure my Dad was FTF - Francis Goodwin, Jr. ("Frank," 1932-2011, RIP).
My brother, Francis Goodwin, III ("Tad") is FTF
I am as well - Rodman Goodwin (Rod).
I was in the FTF, not sure of the year. Think it was 1962 or 63. Bob Edge
I was inducted in 1961. Jeff "Pinky" Thielen.
Hi Rich,
I was in the FTF but don't remember what years. The night I had to go up to Dutch Hill,I walked down near the road . A car saw me and stopped, asked me how far Shawnee was, I couldn't speak and skittered back up into the woods, a naked and mute boy with a blanket, a wooden Indian around his neck in the middle of the night on a dark side road in the Poconos.
A sadder story: My brother Charlie Sherman was also in the FTF. Charlie was an aeronautical engineer at a near genius level but he was reclusive and lived all over the world but lived in Mississippi when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My angel of a daughter went down there (we live in Philly) and took care of him until he died. I would talk to Anne at night to get Charlie to remenice about his life. He told her all about Camp Miller but pretty much on his death bed would not give up what FTFstood for.
Jim Sherman (Still Water)
I was a proud member of the FTF!
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