Our Governance
The Camp UniStar Foundation is a Minnesota non-profit corporation without members. The
Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit by the Internal Revenue Service.
As established in our Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, and subsequent Board actions, the
current organization of the Camp UniStar Foundation is shown below. The By-laws define the
Board, the Management Committee, and the Nominating Committee. The Board assumes
ultimate accountability for the camp and the organization, while the Management Committee is
responsible for the operation of the camp outside the camp season. A seasonal Camp Director is
responsible during the camp season. The Nominating Committee was created to field candidates
and develop future leadership.
Board of Directors
Consisting of eight members – seven voting Directors plus the Management Committee Chair –
the Board of Directors is expected to be ultimately accountable for the ongoing business affairs
of the Camp UniStar Foundation, and the overall health and success of Camp UniStar.
The By-laws also call out fiduciary oversight, strategic and long-term planning, and policy
development, especially with respect to the health and safety of campers, as Board expectations.
The Board is required to annually evaluate the Management Committee’s operation of the camp.
The Board commits to an inclusive approach, building a strong and collaborative working
relationship with the Management Committee, and connecting with all stakeholders to ensure
that the Foundation is achieving its mission.
Selection of Directors
The selection of the seven voting Directors is outlined in the By-Laws. Directors serve three-year
terms, so each year two or three positions become available. All Directors must be at least 18
years old, have a demonstrated commitment to the camp and its vision, and have attended,
worked at, or volunteered at Camp UniStar.
The voting Directors shall be chosen from a slate presented by the Nominating Committee. They
are approved by a majority of eligible voters. Eligible voters include any individual who has
attended, worked at, volunteered at, or made a financial donation to Camp UniStar in either the
current or previous four years at the time of the election. Eligible voters must be at least 16 years
old at time of attending, working at, volunteering at, or donating to Camp UniStar.
If you are interested in being considered for the Board of Directors, please reach out to one of the
Board members listed below.
Meet the Board
President, Term 2: 2024-2027 I first attended UniStar in 2013 to visit my then-girlfriend, Louise Livesay, and her kids, Sam and Lily Hamacher, and fell in love with camp. Louise and I were married in August 2014 at Unity Church Unitarian in Saint Paul, and have been coming up with Sam and Lily ever since. Relaxation sets in the moment…
I am a retired CPA with a 34-year career in accounting. I began my career in public accounting at Koechler & Brown where I performed audits of many nonprofit organizations and later as a tax accountant at Pannell Kerr Forster. I then worked in the tax department of Medtronic, Inc. for five years. In 1994, I made a career change…
I retired as a high-risk perinatal RN from Swedish hospital in Seattle in 2018. I was honored to help pregnant people and their families on their journeys. So many variations of how things can go, and in 25+ years in OB, I was lucky to find such a rich career where I could be helpful. I’m a long-time UniStar camper.…
After 40 years of teaching, Kelly retired in May, 2025. She began her career as a Preschool/Head Start teacher and later became a faculty member in Early Childhood Education at Saint Paul College, where she taught for over 26 years, teaching the teachers. She plans to continue focusing on her passions; gardening, outdoor education, spiritual development of children and stained…
I was born and raised in Saint Paul, MN and grew up attending camp Unistar with family and friends since I was a child. Since then, I’ve participated in just about every type of camp week (open, close, work, youth, etc.), have served as a volunteer many times over the years, and was a member of the Camp Unistar staff…
Holly’s connection to Camp Unistar began in childhood, when her mother served as the camp cook and she spent nine summers as a “camp kid” on Star Island. She continued returning as a camper for many years, carrying forward a deep love for the community, the land, and the spirit of Unistar. In 2023, Holly joined the Management Committee to…
Our family has attended Camp UniStar since 1985. Our first year, we stayed in cabin 5 with Susan and Fritz Franzen (sailing leader). For years, I was a regular 6:30 am walker with Helen Thompson, the camp Director. We migrated from cabins/lodge to tent city in 1991 at the suggestion of Mark and Brenda Wiger, whom we met at camp…
As a life long lover of Camp Unistar, I’m delighted to join the board of directors. I first attended camp as a kid with my family in the late 1980’s, in high school, I attended both Youth Week and Work Week, then served on staff when I was in college. Now, as an adult, I love bringing my own family…