About

Everywhere we go,
People want to know who we are
So we tell them we’re the YLC
The mighty, mighty YLC!

YLCAF Chant by Jesse Jones III, ‘99

WHO ARE WE?

Transcript: YLC is one of our lifetime experiences. We have many great memories.

The total number of alumni including campers, staff and guests has been steadily increasing. These alumni are presently community, state, and national leaders.

You might want to reflect on how you could give back to YLC. We have founded YLC Alumni Foundation for two purposes:

  1. Supporting YLC programs needs
  2. Set up an endowment toward 1 million dollars.
Once we reach 1 million dollars, we will be able to reap dividends for scholarships to send Deaf youth to YLC.

Deaf Youth Leadership Training is now past 50 years, going back to 1969. We now plan to have YLCAF reunion every five years, next one in May 2024.

Come on, GIVE BACK, donate, make annual or monthly pledges to our endowment so that more deaf youth can have YLC experiences like ours.
Transcript: YLC is one of our lifetime experiences. We have many great memories.

The total number of alumni including campers, staff and guests has been steadily increasing. These alumni are presently community, state, and national leaders.

You might want to reflect on how you could give back to YLC. We have founded YLC Alumni Foundation for two purposes:
  1. Supporting YLC programs needs
  2. Set up an endowment toward 1 million dollars.
Once we reach 1 million dollars, we will be able to reap dividends for scholarships to send Deaf youth to YLC.

Deaf Youth Leadership Training is now past 50 years, going back to 1969. We now plan to have YLCAF reunion every five years, next one in May 2024.

Come on, GIVE BACK, donate, make annual or monthly pledges to our endowment so that more deaf youth can have YLC experiences like ours.

About Our Board

Say Hello to Our Board Members

Marla Hatrak,
President

Camper ’69 and Staff ’71-’75

Researcher
University of California San Diego

S. Kay Hatrak Vincent,
Secretary

Camper ’69 and Staff ‘70

Adjunct Faculty
San Diego Community College District

Raymond Conrad,
Treasurer

Camper ’74-’75

Budget Officer
Social Security Administration

Dwight Benedict

Camper ’72-’73 and Staff ’75, ’80-’81

Retired

Roger Dale Claussen

Staff ’69-’73; ’75; ’77-’87

Retired

Michael Finneran

Speaker ’71-’72; ‘83

Retired

Wilton McMillan

Staff ’75-’79

Retired

Matthew Scott Moore

Camper ’76 and Speaker ’89-’99

President/Publisher
MSM Productions

Timothy Rarus

Camper ’77 and Staff ’85; ’87;
’89; ‘90

Vice President of Sales
ZVRS/CSDVRS, LLC

Frank R. Turk

Staff & Volunteer 1969 - 2019

Consultant & Motivational Speaker

Stephen F. Weiner

Camper ’69 and Staff ’70;
’76-’78; ’80

Principal, SW Consultants

Stephen C. N. Hlibok

Camper ’78 and Fireside
speaker ’07

Vice President of Merrill Lynch, Senior Financial Advisor

About Our Board

YLCAF Founders Club

Through their cumulative donations totaling $10,000, these YLCAF founders jumpstarted the endowment fundraising. Special thanks to the following individuals for their investment in Deaf Youth of America:

Dwight Benedict

Roger Dale Claussen

Linda Cundy

Marla Hatrak

Wilton McMillan

Matthew Scott Moore

Frank R. Turk

S. Kay Hatrak Vincent

About Our Board

Co-Founders of YLC

Gary W. Olsen, 69

Co-Founder

First Camp Director

Agnes and Don Padden, 69

Co-Partners

May 3, 1925 -
October 3, 2019
June 26, 1921 -
February 19, 2020
VIEW OBITUARIES

Frank Turk, 69

Co-Founder

About Our Directors

Past and Current YLC Directors

YearCamp DirectorLocation
1969Gary W. OlsenPine Lake Lodge (Stroudsburg, PA)
1970Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1971Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1972Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1973Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1974Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1975Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1976Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1977Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1978Nancy RarusSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1979Gary W. OlsenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1980Joanne Hamblin WilliamsSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1981Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1982Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1983Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1984Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1985Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1986Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1987Roger ClaussenSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1988Jerry MabashovSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1989Jerry MabashovSwan Lake Lodge (Pengilly, MN)
1990Tim RarusCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1991Debbie CallCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1992Debbie CallCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1993Debbie CallCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1994Debbie CallCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
YearCamp DirectorLocation
1995Robert LewisCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1996Robert LewisCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1997Robert LewisCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1998Frank R. Turk, St. Camp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
1999Maureen YatesCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2000Maureen YatesCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2001Maureen YatesCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2002Maureen YatesCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2003Adele Ann EberweinCamp Lakodia (Madison, SD)
2004Shana GibbsCamp Endeavor (Dundee, FL)
2005Jennifer Yost OrtizCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2006Jennifer Yost OrtizCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2007Jennifer Yost OrtizCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2008Melissa KonoenkoCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2009Travis ClevengerCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2010Travis ClevengerCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2011Jonathan KesselCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2012Jonathan KesselCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2013Jonathan KesselCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2014Jonathan KesselCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2015Mark RamirezCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2016Jonathan ScherlingCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2017Jonathan ScherlingCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2018Jimel WrightCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2019Tory SampsonCamp Taloali (Stayton, OR)
2020Jimel Wright

Our Sponsors 2019-2024