“Sy of the FBI” was a campfire ritual. Whenever I told it, I would begin the story with a phone ring, which I would answer: “Hi! This is Sy of the FBI.” From that intro on, I’d continue with a story I would make up as I went along. Sometimes, the kids would want the same story I told a few nights ago, but I never told the same story twice. Of course, there were always the same titles, such as “The Black Mamba.” Regardless, it was a different story every time since no two adventures can be the same, especially when I told them!
I loved our campfires, the songs, the participation, and the creativity the staff and kids brought to those evenings. Even the dogs and cats came—perhaps not to contribute, but to enjoy. Over the years, we spent many memorable evenings together.
“Pa,” my father, loved Campfire and never missed an evening. He participated in singing the camp songs and enjoying the pure laughter from the goofy comedies brought by staff and kids. He passed the following winter after experiencing an entire summer of Camp. He was proudly in love with it all, and so were the campers and staff. It is what we hear even to this day.
“Sy of the FBI” remains a symbol of the great times and the “one-of-a-kind” adventures.
Author: Sy Ogulnick
Sy Ogulnick received a BA from UCLA, Teacher’s Credential from Los Angeles Board of Education and completed phase I (Master’s portion) in a Doctor of Behavioral Science program at California Coast University. Sy leased and operated a summer day camp in LA. He and his wife then purchased virgin wilderness land in Northern CA, where they built and operated a coed summer camp. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, and purchased, built and operated a community children’s program for families staying in a major resort casino in Las Vegas. They have created programs for children nationwide that employed many people and in the process developed successful training programs for personnel. This led Sy to lecture on how to train staff and the creating of community within the workplace. Sy was then invited to speak at professional conferences on how best to hire and train employees, which led to his becoming a consultant in the art of improving relationships in a work environment and eventually to his epiphany that “Leaders are the primary problem and the answer to the personnel issues that arise in the workplace.” Sy has written numerous papers on the subject of interpersonal relationships, leadership and power. He has lectured throughout the United States, has been interviewed by the media and has appeared on many radio and TV talk shows
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