Wow! All I can initially say about CampSavage January 2007 is WOW! I am still somewhat overwhelmed by the PHE_NOMINAL women I met this weekend. It’s not everyday that you encounter such an inspirational group but I am lucky enough to say that I have a bunch of new friends.
Friday started out with a Pre-campSOS seminar. The SOS athletes were treated to some good conversation, a kick butt workout and some nutritional awareness and assessments! It was great for Jodi and I to work directly with you all-in person! VERY COOL!
After the seminar, my staff prepared the studio for the official start of CAMPSAVAGE. This year, we started camp on Friday night to really kick things off~ We covered many things that night including the all-important Savage Shake! Wow, it didn’t take long for you ladies to loosen up! We all were treated to some comedic relief on the FITNESS DONTS of stage presentation by me and Ms Alicia Marie-Hey, if you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh with? It was great to see the girl’s reactions when they saw Alicia for the first time. Yes, folks, she is THAT gorgeous! NO airbrushing there!
Saturday morning came fast and the campers were beginning their rotations-It was a great way for the girls to stay in small groups and capture the essence of the topics! Team Phenomenon was led by Dawn Butterfield, Toneka Pires and Nikki Bongiovani. Team Incredible was led by Jodie Cohen, Allison Sigler and Janelle Nicolo and Team Fantastics were led by Dottie O’Connor, Amy Nigrelli and Amy Kasden! The teams had time to visit all three suit designers (MaggieFit, Passionfruit Designs and Tremblay Designs) as well as cover every topic that a competitor needs to know about! It was wonderful to have Bikini World Champion Danielle Mc Glynn at camp as well!
What impressed me the most was the quick grasp of learning from the girls!! Posing and stage presentation (the savage strut) was a highlight for me! To see girls strut their stuff (some of them-for the first time) is truly a moment in time!
The girls were treated to many speakers in addition to Alicia Marie. Jodi Jones talked about nutrition and training, Pumping Iron star and national NPC fitness and figure judge Mike Katz talked to us about what he looks for when he judges, and Paula (Lil-P) Harvey talked about Make-up, yoga and ah yes, DANCING! Mandy and the girls talked about tanning and hair and Jodi and I treated you all to some cool training techniques! Are you still sore?
A treat for me was to give Dawn Butterfield a lifetime achievement award for being such a role model in the industry. She is clearly the most humble, and warm champion I have ever seen.
We also awarded the annual SOS model search winners! Finalists were Dustina Ally and Jackie Fontaine. The champion was Cindy Newman, who was presented with a cash check, a portrait of herself, free SOS services for a year, a CSF bag filled with goodies and a sponsored suit from MaggieFit! Congratulations to all three ladies! You are all, a joy to work with and you deserve all the praise in the world!
On Saturday Night, a beautiful shiny white bus pulled up to the host hotel and took us into historic Boston (I think that’s what our tour guide called it (historic) on the microphone-hehehe). We went to an awesome new restaurant named RED SKY, followed by an evening of dancing at Club Venu-it was cool to be on “the list of fitness models” and to get in for free-thanks for the hook-up Janelle and Mandy!Wow, can you girls dance or what? It’s amazing to see what happens when girls get away for a weekend! LOL.
Sunday came far too early-and many of us took part in Paula’s yoga class-I am sure it was wonderful as usual but for me, the pillow was a better choice! An hour later, everyone congregated again to complete the day-I enjoyed the team spirit contest and congratulations to Team Fantastic for winning! You will all receive your extra-special one of a kind shirt in the mail shortly!
What always amazes me is the transformation that takes place in the last few hours of camp. I witness timid girls arriving on a Friday and then I am saying goodbye and hugging girls who have a new sense of power and conviction. It’s magical to me.
When someone comes to me with tears in her eyes and says, “you have changed me and the way I feel about myself”. It affects me so deeply. I have heard this from many girls but each time, it’s different and even more special. To help someone feel good, and to believe in themselves, is what I am most proud of when I think of what goes on, at CAMP SAVAGE.
Thanks to my entire staff-you are all my sisters in every sense of the word. I especially want to thank Jayme for your assistance, Jodi and Paula, Amy and Amy, and the rest of the crew including my Hot Body Partner in crime, Alicia Marie for making things so fun! I want to thank Mike Katz, the Marriot, Dave Follansbee, Todd, and the local girls for baking healthy snacks for the out of town girls! If I forgot you, its due to lack of sleep so please know that I am simply so thankful to you all. I also want to thank my husband John. There would be none of this, without him. From helping me at the new facility, with his “McGiver” like abilities to taking care of the kids so well so I can be with all of you, there are no words to express the gratitude and love.
As for you fabulous ladies, you are driven, powerful and are all beautiful from the inside out, and you will all stay in my heart as a lifelong friend. I can not say enough about this camp except that I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I am looking forward to seeing you all onstage someday-but as we told you at camp, YOU HAVE ALREADY WON !!