All of the people connected to Camp Sertoma were personally acquainted with the guy with the vision of a wilderness experience camp for deaf and hard of hearing youth--Jon C. Haapajoki. Jon was affectionately known as "Hopper" and he was a nickname kind of guy who 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 household 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 last year 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. 

The goal was to raise $250,000 by May of 2001--please join all the individuals and organizations who have already contributed.