Pictured (l to r) are Bob and Mary Keely. Karen Mundy, Jaime Smith, Jacquelin Chaney, Cathy Stark (YMCA Director), Tom Midkiff, Joe Haynes (Putnam County Commission), Lana Newhouse-Taylor, Mike Howard, and Rotary President Don Broyles.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." So says an ancient Chinese proverb.

And Putnam Rotarians took the first step today in a community service project at the Tri-County YMCA's Camp High-Tor on North Poplar Fork.

At high noon, the club mustered at the site and turned the first shovelfulls of earth for a new much-needed bathhouse.

Putnam Rotary has supported the summer camp and recreation center for several years in a number of projects including a major cleanup and renovation at the time the YMCA took over operation of the camp.

Most recently, the club donated $8,500 toward construction of the new facility.

Total cost of the project has been estimated at $20,000, but contributions in planning and site preparation by Parkline, among other community businesses and service groups, has enabled the bathhouse project to move ahead.

Cathy Stark, Executive Driector of the Tri-County Y, expects the showers and toilet facilities to be ready for use by opening of camp this summer. "It will be convenient to the swimming pool," she said, "and help avoid the heavy traffic in the main lodge."

Breaking ground at Camp High-Tor are shown (l to r) Karen Mundy, Joe Haynes, Don Broyles, Peter Faulkner, Jackie Chaney, Lana Newhouse-Taylor, Sam Sentelle, David Plessinger, Tom Midkiff, Mary Keely, Cathy Stark, Lisa Mitchell, Jaime Smith, and Mike Howard.