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News
June 15, 20200

KBIA Waterfront Registration Requests begin today!

Today, I am thrilled to share details on our waterfront offerings for the summer. We will be offering all these activities to single household sign up only and are accepting registration requests as of TODAY!

  • Stand Up Paddleboard (ages 9+)
  • Kayaking (ages 7+; at least one parent must attend)
  • Private Sail lessons (ages 7+)
  • Supervised Sail (ages 10+ or younger if an older “crew” member attends)

Private sail includes individual instruction both on land (including rigging & derigging) and on the water. Private sail participations will have the option of leaving the cove to sail along the Kennebunk beaches. The supervised sails are in the cove only; participants should be comfortable rigging and sailing independently.

Qualifications for Supervised Sail

  • For youth: must be age 10 or older in summer 2020 & must have completed Topsails course or higher in summer 2019. Must feel comfortable rigging & sailing independently.
  • For adults: must be comfortable rigging & sailing independently.

IMPORTANT

For ALL waterfront classes – if KBIA cancels a session due to weather then you will be refunded your class fee or offered the option to make it up at another time, as available. Similarly, if you are ill then you will not be charged – no participant should show up feeling sick. If you or any member of your household is ill, let the office know and we will work to reschedule your time for when you are well and your slot will be filled with someone from the waitlist.

For ALL waterfront activities participants will be required to:

  1. Wear a face covering on land. You will be required to bring your own face covering (mask, bandana, buff, face shield, etc)
  2. Complete a digital waiver on the day you will take programming – waiver found here: https://forms.gle/aXriB1WvewU3Cj7t6
  3. Sign up with members of your household ONLY
  4. Provide your own personal PFD. There will not be any on site for participants to use.
  5. Clean and sanitize your equipment after using and before the next session goes out.

To request to register for a time, you must fill out this request form: https://forms.gle/mXoDrkDRDSGUmpBT6

Schedule of listed times are available:

– On this Google Calendar (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=kbia.net_nvmuhqdcgh4cs902rtg8mbkg78%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York);

– And also in a PDF attached to this email.

Upon completion of this form, the Office will be in touch to schedule you. Requests are completed on a first come, first served and limited to TWO classes per week for initial sign ups. If you would like to be on a waitlist for additional sessions, as they become available, we will contact you starting Wednesday the week prior to the session starting the following week (i.e., July 1 for sessions beginning July 6).

For EVERY class that you sign up for this summer, we are requiring participants to fill out this waiver form. It must be completed EVERY MORNING to participate. If you do not fill it out, you will not be able to participate in any activity at KBIA.

Link to KBIA COVID-19 Daily Waiver: https://forms.gle/aXriB1WvewU3Cj7t6

We continue to work with our partners at Edgcomb and Webhannet to develop programming for tennis and golf. We look forward to sharing more details on that soon!

Thank you so much for all your support! Summer lifts our spirits and with our virtual classes set to begin and our limited on-site offerings gearing up it finally feels like summer has arrived. I look forward to welcoming members to our programming this summer in a safe and responsible manner. Thank you for being a part of KBIA!

Best,

Mimi Fox
Executive Director
Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association

KBIA Virtual Road Race 5K

Weekend of July 11th

Please don’t forget to sign up for the KBIA Virtual Road Race 5K. We are asking all registrants to walk/run a 5K on the weekend of July 11th. This year’s race is in memory of Annie McNamara Evans, a longtime supporter of KBIA and former counselor, who recently lost her courageous battle with cancer. Proceeds from the race will be donated to the Dempsey Center in her name.

The Bauman Family Foundation will be matching our contributions to the Dempsey Center in Annie’s name. The Dempsey Center provides services that can help cancer patients manage the emotional, mental and physical impact of cancer.

We hope you will join us in this great cause. I’m not normally a runner, but I intend to participate as well! Be sure to share your race photo with us by using the hashtags #run4annie and/or #dayatthebeach5k, and we will share on our social media all weekend!

REGISTER HERE!  http://www.lightboxreg.com/kbia-2020?func=&mobile=1

2020 Membership – Join TODAY!

If you haven’t joined as a member yet – there is still time! Virtual classes begin next Monday and we will be sending out details on our first week of nighttime experiences, complete with curbside pick-up partnerships with local businesses. To join as a member click on the link below:

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/KennebunkBeachImprovementAs/membership.html

If you wish to send a general donation to help us through this time, you can also do that online through the following link: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/KennebunkBeachImprovementAs/annualfund.html

News
June 11, 20200

You’re invited to a KBIA Q&A!

There have been a lot of updates and information coming your way recently and I recognize that you may still have questions. To address these, I am hosting a Q&A through Zoom this Sunday for anyone in our KBIA community who would like join! Details can be found below!

Best,

Mimi Fox
Executive Director
Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/95838795575?pwd=NzI5M3RmdUVMd1pZOFlVejRBRENPdz09

Meeting ID: 958 3879 5575
Password: 313159

News
June 11, 20200

We Remember David McConnell

Dear Members of KBIA,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Dave “Doc” McConnell passed away last Sunday at the age of 83. Dave was a fixture at KBIA for 34 years. First, he was our tennis instructor and then took over the role of Executive Director in 1973 until he retired in 2006. Dave was also the Headmaster of Kennebunk High School from 1990 to 2001. After his long tenure at KBIA, Dave worked for the Portland Sea Dogs and could always be seen in the crowd talking with friends and fans alike.

I have known Dave all my life and he will be remembered as a man with tremendous kindness, dedication, and never-ending enthusiasm for everything he did and the countless people he touched over his life span.

He was one of the foremost reasons that our beloved KBIA continues to thrive in its 110th year, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Please join me in sending our deepest sympathy and prayers to the entire McConnell family.

Sincerely,

John Bauman
President of the KBIA Board of Directors

News
June 5, 20200

KBIA’s 2020 Summer is just around the corner!

While I welcome the opportunity to write to you once again about this summer, I would remiss if I did not share that this week has been challenging. I know I am not the only one who feels this way. While it has been a struggle for many of us to find new and safer ways of operating amid a pandemic, it is even MORE heartbreaking to see injustices ripping through communities across America, highlighting racial divides. I do not claim to be an authority on how to address these issues, but I do know that it will take people of all races and backgrounds to stand in support of marginalized groups in order to make progress against injustice and racism.

At KBIA, it is part of our mission to be inclusive and to provide a safe and supportive environment for all children and families. You have my word that we will continue to do this. We are also here to listen – we don’t have all the answers and we shouldn’t. We need voices from our community to give feedback on how we can continue to do better so we can continue to live our mission and serve everyone. It is work and I am ready to work alongside all of you.

Today, I am proud to share our revised on-site programming with all of you – these classes will begin on July 1st – and registration for these classes starts TODAY (June 5)! They will all be socially distant and you will need to bring your own face covering to participate in them. Additionally, there is a handy graphic on how to go about registering for these classes – if at any time you have questions, just reach out to our Program Administrator Lorraine at [email protected]. She is AMAZING and will be able to help you with all your registration needs. I have been receiving a lot of emails with similar questions, so we even created a FAQ sheet for you. If you still have questions that aren’t answered there then please reach out! I’m more than happy to talk with you. You can find these documents in the Membership & Registration page of our website.  

We have done an enormous amount of work to make this 2020 summer a reality, as shown in this graphic:

 

This reflects the work of our staff and Board and it is incredible to be part of such an amazing team, ready to create responsive programming to help our community come together.

As a reminder – everyone who joins as a member BEFORE June 22 will get early access to registration next year. Registration will open on April 15, 2021 but if you sign up this year before June 22 then you will receive access to registration a full TWO WEEKS EARLY for next year. That happens to be April 1, 2021, but I assure you (as I did before) this is NO joke. Here is the link to join (if you haven’t already):

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/KennebunkBeachImprovementAs/membership.html

Speaking of community – our digital community, complete with nighttime “events” and daytime classes (synchronous and asynchronous) will launch on June 22. To gain access to this for NO ADDITIONAL COST all you have to do is become a member. We will pilot the daytime classes from June 22-July 10 and if you love it then we will continue it. The nighttime experiences will continue all summer long! The programming for our first week of “nights” will be shared on June 15th. The schedule – by age band – for our digital classes can be found below.

 

 

 I want to thank you for being so supportive of KBIA. I have received so many emails from members – offering ideas, words of support, and kindness. I am lucky to be a part of this organization and I am grateful for all the good will that we will continue to put into the world.

 Best,

 Mimi Fox

Executive Director

News
May 27, 20200

In Memory of Tony Viehmann

It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you all that Tony Viehmann passed away on Friday afternoon, May 22, at his home in Cape Porpoise. His passing was peaceful and Nancy and his family were by his side.

Tony has been a cornerstone of KBIA and our local community for decades. Many generations of students have benefitted from his kindness, humor, knowledge, patience, and passion for the seaside. Tony’s impact is deeply felt – for some, he was the reason they stayed in school while for others, he was an inspiration to become a teacher in their own right.

Nancy shared with me that at a KBIA staff orientation Tony remarked that he had been involved with KBIA for so long that when he started, some of the new staff had not yet been born! Growing up in Kennebunk, my earliest memory of Tony is from one of his leathercraft classes that I took when I was in fourth grade. Years later, as a teacher myself, he welcomed me to the KBIA faculty as a colleague without a second thought. He was the type of person who could lift your day with a simple smile; his generosity of spirit was one-of-a-kind.

Tony’s impact in life will be felt for many years to come, particularly for those within the KBIA community. It is often said that as long as we hold the memory of a loved one in our heart that they are never truly gone; in this way, I know Tony will always be with us.

A live virtual service will be held at www.churchonthecape.org at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 5, 2020. A celebration of Tony’s life will be celebrated in Cape Porpoise by the water in the summer of 2021.

Simply put, KBIA is a better place because of Tony. The entire KBIA family offers our love, support, and deepest sympathies to Nancy and their entire family.

 
Mimi Fox

Executive Director
Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association
 
News
May 23, 20200

2020 Summer Update Outline

The 110th season at KBIA may look different, but we are still here. To start the summer, KBIA will offer an abbreviated amount of classes both virtual (starting June 22) and on-site (starting July 6) to members only. 

Summer Update Highlights 

KBIA digital community network:

  • Free to all members
  • Details and registration for virtual classes/event schedule available on June 5
  • Online classes from June 22 to July 10
    • For two age groups: Ages 4-6 and Ages 7+
    • KBIA instructors to provide live classes, classes will also be recorded and available to view at a later time
    • Parent/student feedback requested – let us know how we are doing and we may extend further into the summer! 
  • Weekly themed virtual events
    • Movie nights
    • Combined tween and teen night
    • Family game night
    • Happy hour for parents 

Limited on-site classes:

  • Open to members only
  • Limited spots will be given to registrations already submitted
  • Priced a la carte
  • Details and registration for classes will be available on June 5
  • Classes expected to start July 6
    • Surfing
    • Yoga
    • Marine Biology
    • Family Cove Walks
    • Sand Castle Building
  • Potential waterfront activities may be available on a household sign-up basis
    • Details and fees will be shared June 15 

Become a 2020 Member and help us see the summer of 2021

  • With this membership you get:
    • Free access to 2020 Season programming
    • If you sign up by June 22, you get EARLY ACCESS to registration for 2021 Season. Registration will begin April 15, 2021 but join us this summer as a member and receive access on April 1, 2021!
  • Sign up ONLINE
  • Alternatively, print and mail the MEMBERSHIP FORM  

We hope you join our 2020 KBIA summer!

News
May 23, 20200

2020 Summer Details from KBIA

Firstly, I cannot thank you enough for all your patience. These last few months have been a whirlwind of activity and knowing that our member families are there to support us has been incredibly comforting.
 
Based on discussions, data, and guidance from the American Camp Association, the CDC, the State of Maine, and the Town of Kennebunk, the KBIA Board of Directors and I regret to share that KBIA does not feel it can safely open operations as we have in past summers. This is very sad news and I, in my first year as Executive Director, do not relish sharing it.
 
That said, KBIA is resilient. We are working very hard to come up with ways for our members to access our community – no matter where you may be this summer. The landscape of operating may be different in one or two months’ time, and if we can safely open up more physical access to our families then, rest assured, we will be exploring every possible avenue!
 
The first step we are taking is designing a digital community network for KBIA. This will be accessible to all of our members – at no additional cost – so that families can connect with one another and experience some of the places and people that keep our KBIA spirit alive year after year. The proposed schedule for these classes will be shared on June 5.
  • In the first three weeks of KBIA’s intended programming (June 22 – July 10) we will be piloting a wide range of interactive, creative programming offered for two age groups (ages 4-6 and 7+). These will be online, short classes from teachers and classes you love. Everything will be available in real time and also accessible in a recorded fashion. We are taking the most creative approach possible and do not intend these classes to relegate kids to computer only based learning. We want you to bring outdoor excursions to the lessons and create and engage with one another! If we receive positive feedback after the first two weeks then we will continue these classes throughout the summer!
  • We will be holding virtual movie nights, a combined virtual tween and teen night, a virtual family night of games, and even a virtual happy hour for parents. Nights will be themed and there will be challenges with prizes for winners!
  • Importantly, these offerings will be emailed out ONLY to active members so that we can prioritize the digital safely of our children and families.
  • Any member who joins this year will have free access to this programming AND will receive EARLY ACCESS TO REGISTRATION FOR 2021. Registration will be available to the general public on April 15, 2021 but for anyone who joins this year BEFORE JUNE 22, registration access will be given on APRIL 1, 2021! *This is NOT an April Fool’s joke! 🙂
Additionally, we hope to be able to offer a limited series of classes on site beginning on July 6. Some classes that we offer will be able to operate in a paired back fashion, but relatively unchanged. These classes are:
  • Surfing
  • Yoga
  • Marine Biology
  • Family Cove Walks
  • Sand Castle Building
*Priority registration for these limited spots will be given to registrations that have already been submitted. Full details on these classes will be shared on June 5 at which time, registration for these classes will formally begin.
 
We hope to be able to offer a few more waterfront activities on a household sign-up basis (parents are encouraged to participate). All these on-site classes will be priced a la carte for members. Details on all these classes and the fees associated with them will be available on June 15 – so be on the lookout!
 
One thing is for certain. Without the contribution of our community – our members – we will not make it through this uncertain time. The financial impact of not opening our doors creates a huge hole in our ability to function in the future. Now, more than ever, your membership will make a lasting difference to the future of KBIA. We will continue to offer ways to engage with the place and the people you hold dear throughout this summer but we simply cannot do it without you. I encourage you to consider becoming a member to help us see the summer of 2021, access the digital community we will build and grow together, and get the opportunity to experience a more intimate and personal connection to our campus through the small group and household specific experiences we will curate as offerings.
 
To sign up for a membership or make a donation online, please visit: HERE
 
On the site you can choose your level or customize the amount you wish to give. Any amount is gladly accepted and will help us work through this challenging time.
 
Alternatively, you can print out and mail the membership form available on the KBIA website: HERE
 
Thank you for being a part of KBIA’s incredible history. I sincerely hope that you will join me in participating in our offerings this summer so that we can continue to share KBIA in the future. 
 
Best,
 
Mimi Fox
Executive Director
 
News
May 23, 20200

KBIA 2020 Summer Season Update from President

It is hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and it sure doesn’t feel like it with the incredibly difficult times we have all been through the last couple of months. I am hoping that everyone is safe and healthy and that you can all enjoy the holiday weekend as best as possible given the circumstances.
 
As promised, Mimi, the Board of Directors and I wanted to update you on the status of KBIA for this summer. As most of you are aware, Maine’s Governor Janet Mills has set very restrictive guidelines for the state. We must adhere to these guidelines as well as abide by the CDC, ACA (American Camp Association) and local rules and restrictions. With this being said, I am sure you can imagine that this summer at KBIA will not be anywhere near the experience that we have all loved and cherished over the last 110 years.
 
We are going to try to manage this by continuing to communicate with everyone on a regular basis throughout the weeks leading up to the season as well as all summer long. As of today, I can announce the following:
  • KBIA will NOT open as scheduled on June 22nd and remain closed until after July 4th
  • The playground will remain closed until further notice
  • Smith House and Strong Cottage will not open and remain closed indefinitely
Obviously, this is very sobering news, but unfortunately, we have no choice here. 
 
On a positive note, Mimi has been working very hard on KBIA programming that will be acceptable to offer our membership as we move through the re-opening phases this summer. This will initially be virtual, but Mimi and the Programming Committee is planning some great ideas for these programs and she will be sharing all the details tomorrow. Once Maine moves to Phase III in July, we will be looking to add live programs on site that meet all the safety criteria across the board. Programs such as Family Cove Walks, Marine Biology, Yoga, Surfing, Sand Castle Building, and select waterfront classes are amongst consideration assuming there are no setbacks. Naturally, these will be paired back enrollments to align with gathering restrictions.
 
We are also in discussions with our partners at Edgcomb and Webhannet about tennis and golf instruction that meets all the criteria necessary. At the moment we cannot offer these two programs, but we are monitoring all the guidelines and if things shift, and we can offer these programs within the State’s guidance then we will.
 
In closing, I can’t emphasize enough how lucky we are to have such a wonderful and caring community in Kennebunk Beach. Without your generosity and support over the years, we would never have made it to our 110th season! Realizing that there is no avoiding a shortfall this year, I am graciously asking that you continue to support our beloved KBIA by renewing your membership this season. We will be doing everything we can to make this summer as normal as possible and with your help we will get through this tumultuous time and rise out of it stronger than ever. 
 
I look forward to seeing you all this summer. Be safe and stay well! 
 
Warm Regards,
 
John Bauman
President KBIA Board of Directors
 
Important Links:
News
April 15, 20200

KBIA COVID-19 Progress Report

News from the Beach
April 14, 2020
KBIA-COVID-19 Progress Report

 
Article Image
I am hoping that all of you are safe and healthy amidst this unprecedented time in history. I wanted to write and update you all where we stand to date with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as it relates to KBIA.

I am sure most of you are aware that Maine has closed all schools for the remainder of the year. The beaches in Kennebunk also remain closed and the area is only accessible to residents. The federal and international restrictions are also in place which all adds up to huge unknowns as to when life will start to get back to normal.

Mimi, the Board of Directors and I have stayed in close touch since Mimi’s e-blast/video update late last month, and we are trying to remain cautiously optimistic that we are heading in the right direction with the COVID-19 crisis. That being said, we are going to continue to plan with the hopes that KBIA will be able to open for the 2020 season.

This whole pandemic has moved at lightning pace and the recovery from it will be determined by many factors including:

– ongoing testing for the infection
– the antibody test to determine just how many people really had the virus
– lifting of stay at home restrictions, and reopening of state and national borders
– reopening of the economy federally and locally
– social distancing and interaction going forward

Unfortunately, at this stage it is impossible for us to answer or predict any of these factors that will help us determine whether or not it is safe and prudent to open KBIA this summer. Therefore, Mimi, myself and the BOD will be corresponding with the membership on a regular basis to discuss every option as we move forward and ensure that we are making the best decisions for KBIA and everyone involved.

As mentioned in her last video, which I might add was terrific, Mimi is going to be sending out another video tomorrow, April 15th, that will discuss more details on the proposed registration process, timelines, and several options being explored for operation this summer.

We are all truly facing extraordinary circumstances here, but let’s remain united in overcoming these hurdles and getting through this even stronger!

Looking forward to seeing everyone this summer. Be safe and well!

Warm Regards

JB
President KBIA Board of Directors

 
 
Important Links:
 
 
 
 
(207) 967-2180