There needs to be no mention of the value of Camp Gustin or the need to save it. That is established and agreed upon.

Many wish to fight the Pine Tree Council and use public pressure to embarrass it into not selling. I think that would be a grave mistake. It appears members of the council do not share other people’s values or priorities. In a few years, they could decide again to sell, with no notice to prevent an outcry. Camp Gustin needs to be taken out of the council’s hands; secure for now and into the future.

Raising $350,000 or more would involve sacrifice and hard work, and even though that money could be spent in other areas, nothing is more worthy than saving Camp Gustin.

I propose and advocate for a committee to form a nonprofit organization to solicit tax-deductible funds to purchase Camp Gustin to preserve it in perpetuity, and to establish deed restrictions to strip development value from the camp.

Perhaps,ownership of the land might mean that no deed restrictions would be needed. If Charles Gustin had imposed restrictions when he donated the place, this letter would not have been written. No organization stays the same through time.

Ray Frechette, Lewiston