The
history of Camp Sertoma started with
Jon C. Haapajoki who had the vision of a wilderness experience camp for deaf and hard of
hearing youth. Jon was affectionately known as
"Hopper". He loved people and was very much loved in
return.
Jon was a member of almost every civic, fraternal, and trade
organization in Brainerd but his true passion was Sertoma. He joined in 1983 and
served in several club, district and regional positions before being elected to
the International Board and eventually serving as International President in
1997-98 thus making the Brainerd Area Sertoma Club a
ho usehold word among the
20,000+ members.
His legacies include the Swinging Sertomans, the Little Moran
Club (the first non-traditional club dedicated to hunters), and project LEAD (an
on-going training for Sertoma leaders). The Jon C. Haapajoki Camp Confidence
Sertoma Memorial Fund got an amazing start in the hands of hundreds of
people who were and still are committed to creating a perpetual legacy to Jon's
vision, persistence and enthusiasm to serve mankind.
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