Summer 2005
News and Information about the People and Programs of SFL International
Skiing. Sharing. Learning
The mission of Ski for Light is to enhance the quality of life and independence of visually or mobility-impaired adults through a program of cross country skiing.
Welcome to the Summer Ski for Light Bulletin. I hope that each of you is enjoying summer and taking advantage of the recreational opportunities in your area. If you feel that those opportunities are lacking, why not organize an outing yourself of fellow Ski for Light alumni who live nearby, or check out the SFL Regional affiliates who have summer programs.
I hope also that those of you who attended SFL 2005 in Colorado this past winter are still full of the good thoughts and remembrances from that Event. What a spectacular week that was. Rarely in our thirty years have we had such an incredible combination of snow, ski-tracks, weather, evening programs, hotel facilities and camaraderie. Just about everything was perfect.
It should not come as a surprise given the success of that event that our 2006 event will be held in the same location, the Inn at Silver Creek and Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado. This marks only the second time in our history that we have held the event in the same location in consecutive years. The other time was in 1994 and 1995 and the location then, like now, was Granby. This speaks volumes I think about the suitability of the location for Ski for Light. Elsewhere in this issue of the Bulletin you will hear from Marion Elmquist, the 2006 Event Chair, as she describes the details of the event, including how you may apply. I encourage all of you to seriously consider joining us in Granby next winter for what is sure to be another unforgettable week.
Each year when we begin to plan for the following year I marvel at how many people in the Ski for Light community are willing to help. When you include the members of all of the various committees within Ski for Light and add to this total all of the people who help out as guide trainers or in other capacities, there are nearly 100 people directly involved. This is both gratifying and essential; gratifying, as it says to me that a lot of people agree with the goals of our program and how it is run, and essential, because we are an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff or employees. It is in the many committees that most SFL work gets done. In this issue you will find the list of committee chairs for this year and contact information for each person. If you would like to join the roster of SFL volunteers pick out a committee that might be of interest to you and contact the chair. We can use, and need, all of the help we can get.
Even if you are not interested in a committee assignment, you might be able to help us in the process of selecting sites for future SFL events. In these days of expanding interest by the general public in both downhill and cross-country skiing, it is getting more and more difficult to find new locations that are both suitable and affordable. In this issue of the Bulletin, you will find the updated version of an article written ten years ago by Jeanne MacKenzie; this article outlines all the specific requirements for a suitable site. There is no directory or website where such sites are located, and Nancy McKinney, the chair of the Site Selection committee, can use your input on possible sites in your area. We are quite happy with both Granby, Colorado and Green Bay, Wisconsin as sites, and might also consider Anchorage again in a few years, but we don't want to rotate between just these locations. We would like to add both an eastern and a western site to these three. If you live in either of those areas or know of site possibilities there, let Nancy know.
Finally, have you ever considered Running for Election to the Ski for Light Board of Directors?
Ski for Light is governed and managed by an elected Board of Directors of up to 30 guides, participants and others. The Board is a working Board, with each member expected to take an active role in some aspect of the work we do. About half of the seats on the Board will be up for election next January. If you are interested in knowing more about the duties and responsibilities of Board membership, and more about the process for applying, please contact Nancy McKinney, chair of the SFL Board Development and Elections committee, by December.
E-mail: nancy@sfl.org or Phone: (206) 789-2173
Please enjoy the rest of your summer, and I will look forward to seeing many of you next year in Granby.
Enjoy some of the World’s best skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! Join us again at Snow Mountain Ranch and the Inn at Silver Creek for the 2006 International Ski for Light week, January 29 to February 5. At last year’s event, each day was better than the last: Bright blue sky, near-perfect tracks, great snow and the usual camaraderie and fun of an SFL week.
It will be our 7th time at Snow Mountain Ranch, and each time seems to be better and better.
The venue is near Granby, Colorado, close to Winter Park and just about two and a half hours from Denver. Some folks take the opportunity to come early or stay a few extra days to take advantage of downhill skiing at Winter Park.
It’s just a short ride between the Inn at Silver Creek and Snow Mountain Ranch and the YMCA of the Rockies, and SMR is a world-class cross-country ski area where many competitions are held throughout the winter. There are nearly 90 kilometers of tracked trails, with levels of difficulty to suit any skier, from novice to expert.
The Inn at Silver Creek boasts in-and-outdoor hot tubs, a swimming pool and other recreational activities, plus a bar and restaurant and lots of areas where you can just sit and chat and mingle.
Get your application in early and get set to enjoy great skiing and loads of fun. Come and make new life-long friends and see your old pals.
Get the Rocky Mountain High!
You can apply on-line at the SFL website: www.sfl.org, where you will find applications for VIPs, MIPs and Guides. Or, contact one of the three applications coordinators and request more information and an application.
Lynda Boose Visually-impaired Participant Applications Coordinator
Phone: 906-370-7541 E-mail: Lynda@sfl.org
Jeff Pagels Mobility-impaired Participant Applications Coordinator Phone : 920-494-5572 E-mail : jeff@sfl.org
Brenda Seeger Guide Applications Coordinator Phone: 507-274-5502 E-mail: brenda@sfl.org
Hi Ski for Light! Do you remember when you first heard of Ski for Light? Can you recall the feelings of anticipation and nervousness you felt when you arrived at your first event? Do you still smile when you recollect the person who first turned you on to SFL?
Well, my friends, there are people out there in the world right now who are awaiting YOUR phone calls and e-mails so that in a year they, too, can answer each of the above questions. As you can imagine, most people who attend Ski for Light do so after hearing someone relay their remarkable SFL experiences to them. So I want each of you to take a few moments to think of people you have met or know well who would enjoy the SFL experience and get them jazzed up to come to the 2006 event in Colorado. Great skiing, fresh air, warm sunshine, delicious food, dancing, and most of all nearly 300 of the most wonderful people in the world are what is in store for prospective participants. I just need you to spread the word.
Note: You may refer people to the recruitment committee with questions (see contact information below), or simply refer people to the Ski for Light web site: www.sfl.org. Event information and applications are now available on-line.
More than 80 guides, participants and others serve on one of the various Ski for Light committees each year. These groups do most of the work necessary to keep our all-volunteer organization healthy and vibrant. The chairs and members of these committees all have one thing in common, a passion for the Ski for Light program and its goals. If you have this same kind of passion, why not volunteer your services in an area that interests you or in an area where you have some specific skills. The name and contact information for the chair of each Ski for Light committee is listed below. The various recruiting and fund-raising committees are where most people first get involved, but any of our committee chairs would love to hear from you.
Ski for Light International Week - Marion Elmquist, chair E-mail: marion@sfl.org Phone: (515) 279-3681
Guide Recruitment - Ted Ellickson, chair E-mail: ted@sfl.org Phone: (517) 204-1901
Mobility-Impaired Participant Recruitment - Jeff Pagels, chair E-mail: jeff@sfl.org Phone: (920) 494-5572
Visually-Impaired Participant Recruitment - Dave Thomas, chair E-mail: davet@sfl.org Phone: (303) 298-0672
Corporate sponsors - Wendy David, chair E-mail: wendy@sfl.org Phone: (425) 643-0734
Endowment - Suzanne Brown, chair E-mail: suzanne@sfl.org Phone: (770) 438-0101
Foundations - Kathy Strahan, chair E-mail: kathys@sfl.org Phone: (714) 524-7439
Friends of Ski for Light - Chris Leghorn, chair E-mail: chris@sfl.org Phone: (978) 927-5519
Publicity & Public Relations - Duane Farrar, chair E-mail: duane@sfl.org Phone: (617) 926-3358
Ski for Light Bulletin - Vicki Post, chair E-mail: vickip@sfl.org Phone: (415) 928-2711
Ski for Light Annual Report - Laura Oftedahl, chair E-mail: laura@sfl.org Phone: (510) 848-0008
Site Selection - Nancy McKinney, chair E-mail: nancy@sfl.org Phone: (206) 789-2173
Long-Range Planning - Marion Elmquist, chair E-mail: marion@sfl.org Phone: (515) 279-3681
Risk Management - David Fisichella, chair E-mail: david@sfl.org Phone: (508) 457-4725
Regional Liaison - Scott Bertrand, chair E-mail: scott@sfl.org Phone: (303) 986-6714
Sons of Norway & Norwegian Community Relations - Larry Showalter, chair E-mail: larry@sfl.org Phone: (425) 644-5663
Board Development and Elections* - Nancy McKinney, chair E-mail: nancy@sfl.org Phone: (206) 789-2173
Budget & Finance* - John Klemaseski, chair E-mail: john@sfl.org Phone: (651) 786-7215
Constitution & Bylaws* - Judith Dixon, chair E-mail: judy@sfl.org Phone: (703) 276-9191
Please note: Membership in committees marked with an asterisk (*) is limited to members of the SFL Board of Directors.
I've long believed that a place is made wonderful by the people who reside in it. So having met and become friends with some Norwegians, both as an undergraduate at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and more recently at Ski for Light, I knew I was going to really love my visit to Norway this April.
Sure enough, the 12-day trip to Oslo and to the Ridderrenn was a holiday I'll always cherish. I accurately expected the skiing to be sensational, the food to be delicious, and the sight-seeing intriguing. But the hospitality of the Norwegian people was even more genuine and embracing than I had anticipated.
It all started shortly after arriving in Oslo when my friends Andreas and Kari Janne volunteered to give members of the U.S. contingent a tour of Frogner Park, a lovely park in Oslo featuring the famous statues crafted by the great Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Once my guide, Glenn Beachy, and I had enjoyed our first day on the trails, we made a point to stop by a trailhead where Ine, a world-class Norwegian skier, was offering tips on skiing technique. Amazingly, Ine was able to watch me ski roughly 200 meters and offer suggestions for me that almost immediately improved my stride. On the day of the 10K race, Glenn was ill and remained in bed nursing himself back to health. In his place a delightful Norwegian physiotherapy student named Anamate volunteered to be my guide. Although the fresh snow and the klister on our skis made the skiing slow, the conversation we had about her travels through the world made the time enjoyable and memorable. Anamate joined me to watch the elite races on Friday, and escorted me to a tour of the Sports and Fitness center where Norwegians with disabilities learn to pursue more active lifestyles.
Back in Oslo a woman with a strong knowledge of Norwegian history, a professional tour guide named Lisen, took the American group to the Viking ship museum, the ski museum, the museum honoring the Norwegian resistance to Nazi occupation and several additional places in the capitol city. And believe it or not, Dave Thomas actually had a couple dates with a delightful Norwegian VIP named Marianne during the trip! At the 2005 SFL week I had the honor of interviewing Knut Vollebaek, Norway's Ambassador to the U.S. He told me during our conversation that Norway prides itself on having friendship as its chief export. Make no mistake – my 12 days, the experiences described above, and so many more with such wonderful people make it clear to me that friendship is one commodity of which Norway has plenty to share.
Skier Judy Dixon has received a prestigious award from the American Library Association for her "outstanding contribution to the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped. According to Barbara Mates, one of the Francis Joseph Campbell award committee members, "Judith Dixon has been an advocate for access to printed information through the widest possible use of special formats-tape, Braille, large print adaptive technology, the Internet, e-books digital audio and emerging technologies. She truly exemplifies the mission of access, empowerment, and advocacy." Dixon is Consumer Relations Officer with the Library of Congress; congratulations, Judy!
Guide JoAnne Jorud is being honored for her many years of hard work and dedication to Ski for Light. She is receiving US Bank's Five Star volunteer Award, recognizing her as one of their exceptional employee volunteers. As part of the award, Ski for Light will also receive a donation from US Bank of $1,000. Congratulations and thank you, JoAnne.
Skiers Linda Medleau and James Mumford tied the knot this past June. The two met and fell in love during SFL Canada in 2004, and are now happily married. James lives in Toronto, so, according to Linda: "What do you do when one lives in Toronto, Canada while the other is in Athens, Georgia? You become snowbirds, that's what….spending summer and fall in Toronto and winter and spring in Georgia. Congratulations to James and Linda Mumford!
This past May, Kathy Strahan and Jeff Pagels, (members of the Ski for Light Board of Directors) participated in the “Right to Risk” filming of a National Public Television documentary on the adventures of 7 disabled individuals rafting down 226 miles of the mighty Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The 15 day trip tested the mettle of all because of many 100+ degree days, more than 85 large rapids, very cold river water temps, (less than 50 degrees) and other issues of living in a very beautiful but harsh environment.
The challenge resulted in everyone increasing their knowledge of how to positively deal with their own and other’s disabilities. And, perhaps even more importantly, the adventure showed the immense power of the Great Outdoors to improve everyone’s physical, mental and social skills.
Look for Kathy and Jeff to share details of their adventures in a special interest session at Ski for Light, 2006 in Granby, Colorado. And, when the show dates are known, look for an email about that too.
Note: This article was first run in the SFL Bulletin some ten years ago, and has remained on our web site ever since. We have decided to update it and run it again in this issue because, once again, we need your help. As Ski for Light grows, it is becoming more difficult to find an appropriate venue for our weeklong event. Our site selection committee is hard at work exploring some new possible locations; however, we would welcome any and all ideas from you. This article will help you better understand what we need; and if you do have some suggestions, please let us know. You will find contact information at the end of this article. Thank you.
Summer is well on the way and the thought of slipping into a nice pool of water takes precedence over slipping down a snow-covered ski track. Even though skiing seems far from our minds there is much work being done at this time, preparing for the 2006 Ski for Light International. As soon as one year's ski week is complete, plans are being laid out for the following year's event. This brings into focus how far in advance we must look when putting together the International event. The first and foremost question is "Where?" That shouldn't be too difficult a question. We all know that you need:
1) a place to stay
2) a place to ski and
3) lots of fun people to hold the event.
That's not so hard. But, let's look at some of the issues that go into choosing an ideal Ski for Light event location.
There are many beautiful ski areas in this country. Where do you start looking? A good portion of them are down-hill ski areas and do not really cater to the cross country skier. Many of the lovely New England cross country trail systems are hooked up with small country inns that hold only 50-75 people. Some hotels can hold large numbers of guests but accommodations are spread out (i.e., condos) and you must trudge through the snow for every meal or event. Wheelchair users may have difficulty navigating between buildings.
Let's assume that we are checking out Pedersen's Palace to hold our 300-strong event. Do they have a minimum of 140-150 rooms under one roof? Do they have conference facilities where we can have meetings with 100 people, banquets up to 300 people, space for the Sales room, Information room and Special Interest meetings? Is there room for a morning exercise class, ski repair shop and storage, and after-hours gathering areas? Is all of this wheelchair accessible? Now, the big question is can they meet our target price? We have found many lovely resorts that would just fit the bill, but would cost as much as 50%+ more than the past events.
OK, Pedersen's Palace seems to work out for our event. Now we need a place to ski. Of course, our main consideration would be something to ski on. Winter means snow, and snow means skiing. Right? Not always. With the idiosyncrasies of the weather over the years, places that may have had wonderful snow could all of a sudden have a bad year. We checked out one beautiful hotel with a great golf course. It was raining on top of 2 feet of snow in January. We could go higher up in elevation there but we were not allowed to double track or make new tracks because it was a backcountry Wilderness Forest. Unfortunately, this nice hotel was dropped off the list.
There is often abundant snow in states with high altitudes. Because the problems with altitude sickness keep many of our group from attending those years, we must also hold events at lower elevations. The ski area ideally would be right outside the hotel door. This is not always possible if the hotel does not have a large golf course or is not out in the country. Therefore, you must look at how long it would take to drive to a suitable ski area. Is 1/2 hour OK, an hour too long? Is there a lunch facility for 200 people? Are there restroom facilities? Are they wheelchair accessible? How much would buses cost to transport the whole group back and forth? What do the trail fees cost per person? Where do you store skis securely for the week? It looks like “Oh,No!” Ski Trails near Pedersen's Palace might work out for us so the package seems closer.
Now we need lots of fun folks to put the event together. The U.S. is filled with cross-country skiers all anxious to be guides and participants at the upcoming event. Everyone must provide their own transportation to get to Ski for Light. It is nice, sometimes, when the location is closer to you some years. We are always looking for new areas to host the event, trying to move it around. When looking at a location, we take into consideration how far it is from a major airport. Is it within a 2-3 hour drive? How much would buses cost? To fly in to an area are there many airline transfers incurring extra costs? Can a smaller airport with limited flights accommodate 100-150 people leaving all at once on the last Sunday? We have many international guests. Is the location feasible for their visit? Fly-by-the-Seat of Your Pants Airport seems just the ticket to bring our folks into Pedersen's Palace.
Negotiations are underway.
We look several years into the future for suitable sites as many convention areas are now booking for 2008. There is a Site Selection Committee, but we also like to think that all of the Ski for Lighters are on that committee. We've given you a little taste of the criteria that we look for in choosing an event location. Perhaps you are familiar with one in your area.
We strive to get just the right resort, the perfect snow, and the ideal location. None of this works, though, without the dedicated participation of all of those guides, participants and worker bee's that help to make it a real event. We could all probably have just as great a time staying in tents and eating K-rations. Say.... maybe we'll look into that.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact the Site Selection committee:
Nancy McKinney, chair E-mail: nancy@sfl.org Phone: (206) 789-2173.
Summer is now in full swing, but many of the Ski for Light Regional groups are beginning to plan their upcoming winter programs. As always, a complete listing of those activities will appear in the fall/winter SFL Bulletin; however, if you are thinking of planning a ski tour, taking in several of the regional events, we encourage you to check on the various web sites for updated information. You can access these sites through the main SFL site at: www.sfl.org
The SFL regional groups are always eager to welcome new people and ideas; we encourage you to support them in their ongoing work.
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