Dean and Guy Bonano are brothers, I believe.

Here’s the Mt. Bachelor page - http://www.mtba.com/index.html

Maybe somebody can write ‘em and ask. Guy Bonano worked as principal of Rim of the World H.S. till 2007 or so:
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Bonanno_Guy_322568204.aspx
http://www.mountain-news.com/articles/2004/04/26/news/news2.txt
http://www.mountain-news.com/articles/2004/05/06/news/news2.txt

I remember some references around Cedu about these Bonannos.

Don’t know if there’s any relation.

* Ian, *

working on it! Send me an email for details.

I was there when you were. (87-89) First off, I want to say that the kids who went to RMA instead of CEDU definitely lucked out, cause the food was pretty darn good. (Chicken curry was my favorite.) I don’t understand how you guys managed to make enough for 150-200 kids on a wood burning stove in just a few hours. Especially since all bread was made from scratch. I even remember the mixer. Even with seconds available, food ran out, and that was no fault of the kitchen staff, that was the ridiculous school administration which required that everything be as close to grizzly adams chic as possible.

I also don’t understand why so many of the kids complained about the food. I always liked it.

I worked in the woodshop when I was in challenge, instead of the kitchen, (88) but I think I remember you. Greg went on a wilderness trip for a week, so all of the woodshop kids moved over to the kitchen for that time. I was all grumbly about working in the kitchen, because I hated cooking and dishes. (Still do, you should see my house.) But I think you were the one who taught me how to crack an egg with one hand. (I’m pretty sure the person’s name started with a C or K.) I don’t remember what you look like, but I *do* remember that I was really jazzed at learning how to do that. (it’s the little things, sometimes.) I always jokingly answer if someone asks me “Did you learn ANYTHING beneficial at RMA?” I say “Yah. I learned how to crack an egg with one hand.” I can’t even crack one with two hands any more. I mess it up. :D

One of the many things I really disliked about RMA was how the kitchen staff were regarded by the student body and faculty. There were several kids who preferred hanging out in the kitchen and talking to you guys, instead of hanging out with their “peers” or with staff. (and could you blame them?) These were the kids who were always looked down upon as losers, and would get yelled at in raps. And the criticism was SO transparent it was actually TRUE! They would say “You just want to be around people who don’t know you the way we do so they won’t judge you.” Well, uh… DUH! Who the heck wants to hang out with people who are going to be judgmental and critical and hurtful, huh? If everyone in the school looks at you as a loser, why on earth would you want to give them the time of day, anyway?

But, really, my issue with this is how unbelievably classist it is. They are literally saying “Don’t socialize with the help.” It was disgusting. I bet there were kids there who would have loved to spend more time with people further removed from the program, just because these individuals acted like, oh, I dunno, normal people, but they didn’t, because they didn’t want to be looked down upon by everyone else in the school.

I always really hated that.

One kitchen staff who I remember fondly is Wendy. She could out arm-wrestle anyone in the school, and her and Lou were the only two staff I knew of who went through the propheet workshop program and it didn’t seem to affect them at all. I remember being shocked when someone told me while I was there. I remember thinking “She doesn’t act like she has experienced that at all.”

I always wondered what her opinion was about all of that nonsense. She always seemed to me to be one of those uber still-waters type folks who have nothing to prove to anyone, and are just really secure with themselves. I don’t know how right I am on that, though, because it was a long time ago.

However I wonder if they are still “doing all the stuff” they did??? Like I said if I knew then what I know now.

When I worked there I worked hard, very hard, cooking meals on a huge set of wood cook stoves which is easy to say but very hard to do. Long after I was told… “you do not have a job” 1990 I learned the reason I was “fired?” was due to a student who was up-set over how another staff member was treating me, seems the student was yelling about it in a rap. I have also learned that many of the students who have been there in the years from 1990 on ended up way more broken or wounded then they would have been had they just been kicked out of the parents home. It seems to me we cannot trust some “school” to fix someone it is not like anyone is really broken we all have a hard time with the “growing up”.. I know I am having a hard time being an adult..

And…..

Someday when I grow up….

In my world will it will be one where everyone can feel the real love that is all around each of us and never will a child be feeling bad or be beaten down.

I have my own issues from the RMA thing. The people Mel and his wife had left in “charge” up in Bonners Ferry, did me wrong… Back then,

Then when my kid just had turned 18 a student who was going to get out of RMA in a matter of weeks who was only 17 Called the cops and said he had touched her!!!! “The charge was Sexual with a 25 year jail time.”
WE had to prove he was telling the truth sent him to all kinds of testing with Dr.’s and even a FBI lie detector test with a trip to Spokane for that. Well when the court saw the Dr. and report from the lie detector the charge was dropped to “simple assult”… So my issues are what they are.. I just have to remember that what comes around goes around in the world how it is today. I never wished a bad thing on another person. I really did care deeply for the well being of each student. I had no clue what all the things were that were going on. The Raps. The (I&Me) here forever all those things were just a list of more food needs in my edge of the school… I am so very sorry to each person who was hurt. Like I said I did not know…

Now that I do know I feel terrible for each one..

Larry - your story is terrible and hopeful and moving; I think everyone I’ve spoken with, who was captive in one of these schools for the long program, has waking dreams and nightmares of being made captive again, and of having to fight the cultish insanity of the place in order to try to get out. I’ll send you an email and perhaps we can talk sometime.

Von - Yes, it’s a Michelle from your group, I’ll pass on your email, if you’d like.

I am in a slight state of shock currently, so this post may be a bit rambling. Apologies in advance. I can’t tell you how strange it is to see the scripts. I can still here the words, the tones of voice, whispers in your ear, trying to personify how horrible you were/are because of your actions, the pillow pounding…good god.

I have tried very hard since I left NWA (I was there from 02-03) to forget and move on. It has been impossible certainly - my parents still believe that program is the only reason I’m still alive. Of course, I can’t seem to make it to that realm of catostrophic thinking. I happen to believe that it is a miracle I didn’t commit suicide while/because I was there.

I would love to talk further with you. If possible, please contact me via email. I would like to know about the documentary you are conducting as well as what other information you’ve recovered from the programs.

Thanks in advance,

Jessica

I notice that many of the staff members remained for decades after I left. Little wonder that. For years I have struggled to maintain in a world that requires things I left in Idaho. And, despite the impairment, I have managed some successes; all the while the ambiguous shame in my heart and the distracting noise in my head. I am exhausted from the effort. The names I read on the sites that led me here, the staff that stayed for decades… they never even tried.

I have a wife who accepts everything I am. I have an infant daughter who has already melted my heart and changed me. And hearing some of your stories and reading that God forsaken transcript has, even now, helped. Write your books and film your movies. You will have at least one customer.