"I was born and raised in New York and moved to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands in 1968. My husband Norbert and I lived there and raised six children over a ten year period. We all enjoyed island living since my husband was a landscape designer. In 1978 we moved to Kauai and knew we would spend the rest of our life here. Our youngest child, Colleen was born on Kauai. We have been married 47 amazing loving years.
We love Kauai, its people and natural beauty and I love sharing my passion for Winners' Camp with the many teens on the island. I truly enjoy helping the youth of Kauai. Teens are very complicated, intense, loving, smart, funny, innocent, insecure, unsure and want affection and acknowledgement as much as everyone else. Winners' Camp just helps them on their journey down the proper path.

Our youngest son, Shannon, attended as a camper and we saw a profound positive change in his life. He attended twice and then signed up to volunteer as a Staff member. Later we sent our daughter Colleen as a camper and she eventually staffed many times. Colleen is now a full time teacher and I attribute her solid values and excellence in teaching to the foundation she gained from Winners Camp.

I have volunteered and staffed at Winners Camp over the past 15 years and will continue to as it gives me as much joy and satisfaction as I see the difference in the young people's lives. As long as I am able I want to be part of Winners' Camp. I am convinced that if every teen attended Winners' Camp we would see a remarkable, awesome change in this next generation."

(Rosemary Smith is the Neighbor Island Liaison (Kauai) for Hawai'i Leadership Academy.)