Lake Junaluska

A place of sanctuaryin 2022, Lake Junaluska Assembly continued to live into its mission to be a place of christian hospitality where lives are transformed through the renewal of soul, mind, and body. Future projections during the pandemic in 2020 were that 2023 would be the first year organizations like Lake Junaluska would see the "new normal." That was indeed the case at Lake junaluska.large group gatherings returned in 2022, with all six large groups back for the first time since 2019. Financial reviewlake Junaluska ended 2022 with a balanced budget. This is in part because of a $500,000 pandemic recovery grant from the state of n.c. and significant charitable support to our ministry.charitable giving and capital improvementscharitable giving remains strong and, in 2022, we exceeded our fundraising goal to the annual fund for the fourth straight year. The annual fund is a budget-relieving initiative that is a line item in Lake Junaluska's annual operating budget. Since generous charitable giving provides opportunities for Lake Junaluska to reinvest into its facilities and grounds, great strides have been made toward improving our infrastructure that will enable the conference center to continue to meet the needs of all guests. Capital improvement projects continue, focusing on code compliance/safety as first priority and guest/revenue production areas as the secondary. Bandwidth across the grounds has seen a 150% increase, and work is underway to double the number of wi-fi access points and replace network switches with new managed network switches in 10 buildings. Media services has purchased new lightweight tables and chairs, upgraded stuart auditorium video production to 4k digital and expanded live-streaming services to include all locations on the grounds. In addition, there have been $212,500 in utility improvements and $140,000 in road improvements invested throughout the grounds in 2022.work on the warren center multi-function event space (the former methodist museum building) is currently underway. A walkway to make it easier to access susanna wesley garden from the terrace hotel is expected to be finished by summer 2023. Architectural plans for the interior were sent out for bid. The renovation is expected to take 6-10 months to complete, and we are hopeful that the interior work will begin as early as june 2023. We anticipate being able to book events in this space by 2025.lake Junaluska dredging and dam preservationin 2022, haywood county received a $1.5m provision in the n.c. state budget that is available to be used to pay dredging expenses at Lake Junaluska. Approximately 500-800 truckloads of sediment that results from runoff from richland creek and factory branch must be removed each year. The total amount spent on the dredge completed in the winter of 2022-2023 is $214,103. This provision will expire in 2025.fresh expressions of ministry and a bright futureseven theologians participated in the inaugural theologian in residence program in the summer of 2022. Summer worship attendance nearly doubled in 2022, and summer activity programs returned with offerings such as yoga, bonfires, devotions and special events. These, along with over 100 hosted events, brought over 50,000 people to experience the ministry of Lake junaluska.continued commitment to our visionlooking toward the future, Lake Junaluska continues to focus on the following guiding aspirations, which were adopted by the board of trustees in 2020: aspiration 1: to preserve and enhance the Lake and grounds so that more people will recognize the natural beauty of god's creation. Aspiration 2: to be a conference center that rivals hospitality industry leaders by exceeding guests' expectations through excellence in staff and facilities. Aspiration 3: to be the place that connects more youth to christ through meaningful ministry, recreation, and education programs. Aspiration 4: to identify, uphold, and strengthen the Lake Junaluska tradition of implementing innovative, shared experiences for both individuals and families that celebrate faith, recreation, the arts, and education. Aspiration 5: to be an involved, inclusive community that provides the highest quality of life for residents and guests.