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News and Information about the People and Programs of Ski for Light, Inc.
Skiing. Sharing. LearningThe 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.
Autumn has barreled into the Pacific Northwest with a series of atmospheric rivers that have washed away memories of our record- breaking hot and dry summer. Along with the recent wind and rain have come reports of snow falling on Snoqualmie Pass, not far from where we ski during a Ski for Light Puget Sound day-trip. The prospect of skiing within a few short months conjures up memories of the squeaky scrunch of ski boots on packed snow, of the satisfying click of ski bindings latching onto my boots, and the exhilaration of striding or poling through the forests of the Cascades or high up in the Rocky Mountains. My imagination turns toward anticipating the camaraderie of gathering with my Ski for Light friends, to sharing stories of the offseason, and to learning new techniques, both for skiing and for living. My anticipation is heightened this fall as the offseason has extended far longer than expected. Thankfully, the end of the long hiatus is not far off.
A sure and welcome sign of this is that planning for our Ski for Light International Week is charging full steam ahead. Members of the event planning committee, ably led by Mike Evelo, recently gathered in Granby, Colorado to meet with staff at Snow Mountain Ranch to lay the groundwork for our 47th annual event. We are collaborating closely with the staff of Snow Mountain Ranch and volunteers from within the medical profession to build a framework to host an in-person group gathering that is as safe as possible under the continuing uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read Mike's article below for more information about the upcoming event.
As many of you know, Ski for Light is managed by an all- volunteer Board of Directors, and 2022 is an election year. Elsewhere in this bulletin you will read more about the election process from Amy Brannan, Chair of the Board Development and Elections Committee. If you are interested in becoming more involved in the management of SFL, I encourage you to consider running for a board position. It is a fantastic opportunity to share your skills and passion with fellow SFL enthusiasts and help ensure that Ski for Light remains a vibrant and positive force in the lives of the people it touches.
I look forward to meeting many of you when we return to Snow Mountain Ranch next January and to sharing the exhilarating sounds and sensations of skiing, and celebrating being together again.
Long range dream forecast: Temperatures in the upper 20s during the afternoon with lows in the single digits at night with two feet of snow on the ground, gliding on trails groomed up with perfect firm tracks to cross country ski on, with the sun warming your face and sharing great times with friends, new and old!
The excitement is building for the 47th Ski for Light International Week as it keeps getting closer. A flurry of planning is happening to assure a great and fun week, January 30 through February 6, 2022. YMCA of the Rockies at Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, Colorado is again hosting the event. When at the planning meeting held recently at Snow Mountain Ranch, I walked down to the Nordic Center area and wow, a lot of great memories came back of past Ski for Light week events. The great snow, skiing with new friends and of course who can forget the thrill of crossing the finish line on race/rally day!
A lot of volunteers are working hard to make sure the memories continue. Most of the evening entertainment has been scheduled and the lineup is fantastic. Have your dancing shoes ready for two evenings of showing off your best dance moves. Get your thinking caps on and keep a suspicious eye on your friends around you at the dinner table when The Murder Mystery group comes to Snow Mountain Ranch. Be ready to laugh and sing along as the Brenn 'N' Andy make a return performance. Get your poker face ready for the Friday Fun Day Poker Run. More activities are being planned to make this a fun and exciting week for all!
Many questions about COVID-19 and our COVID-19 plan are being asked. There have been many hours of discussion, input and planning between all involved. Snow Mountain Ranch has been hosting groups all summer and they have been working with us.
Applications continue to come in and the number of participants continues to grow. If you haven't sent in your application yet, do so soon, at www.sfl.org. Time is running out to secure your spot as we get together in person, the first time in two years, for the Ski for Light International Week 2022. I especially encourage guides to get your applications in soon, so we can invite more skiers who are eager to make plans.
Thinking of all the smiles on the faces of skiers experiencing the freedom of gliding across the snow and of all the great times had by all as this awesome group comes together, gives me mountains of motivation to work hard to make this a special event. Granby has been getting some snow; start doing a snow dance to keep the snow coming! I am really looking forward to seeing everyone again!
As we prepare for what we hope will be a fun, exciting, and safe Ski for Light event the first week of February 2022 I want to update folks on the state of the COVID pandemic. The SFL leadership and the planning committee have held numerous conversations on ways to make sure this event will be as safe as possible for attendees. The single most important action was to mandate that all attendees are vaccinated. Even without getting the booster shots the vaccines are the single most effective way to protect yourself. The vaccines are not perfect, but they are very good, and I want to explain what being vaccinated means for individuals and the public at large. In terms of public health and the state of the pandemic we will need to have enough people with immunity to stop effective spread of the illness to say the pandemic is over, a concept known as herd immunity. It is entirely possible that we will not get all the way there and COVID-19 could transition from a pandemic to an endemic state. What that means is that the virus will stay with us causing some illness but not wide spread disease. This is the state we are in with influenza and many other common infectious diseases.
It is important to recognize that the public health decision-making system is different from individual health choices. COVID is currently still very much a public health problem, with many health care systems overwhelmed, and it is important that we do all we can to stop or slow the spread of infections.
On the individual level COVID is now almost two different diseases with the difference being vaccine status. Unvaccinated individuals are still highly effective at spreading the disease, especially those with the delta variant; they are being hospitalized at high rates with many patients in the ICU, and roughly 2% of infected patients dying from the illness. Vaccinated individuals can still get COVID, they can still spread COVID, but at much lower rates than unvaccinated individuals. They are still occasionally requiring hospital care but at about 10% of the levels of unvaccinated individuals. Most importantly, vaccinated individuals are very rarely requiring ICU level of care and are dying more than an order of magnitude less frequently than unvaccinated individuals. The current chance of dying from COVID for vaccinated Americans is roughly the same or lower than the risk of dying from influenza during a typical flu season. This chance is not zero, but it is low enough that it doesn't have a big influence on society's behavior. Very importantly these statistics are for vaccinated people with a normal immune system. Immunocompromised people are still at high risk of significant illness, and I would continue to recommend those folks avoid any significant public gatherings, such as SFL. This list includes anyone with an organ transplant on anti- rejection medications, people being actively treated for cancer, or people with auto-immune disease on strong immunosuppressive medications.
As I write this at the end of October, the delta variant is still causing many cases, and hospitalizations, but the trend of infections is going down and the predictive models produced by epidemiologists show encouraging continued downward infection rates. I am hoping that by the end of January we might not be in the high spread category of the pandemic. What I am worried about is the return of a normal flu season, which can cause significant illness and has almost the same symptoms as COVID-19. The other important recent development is there are now several medications with clinical trials data that show they work treating COVID infections, including several that are just pills. These medications are working their way through the FDA approval process, and I do expect some of them to be available this winter. Having effective treatments for the illness will be a significant game changer.
Having made all the above comments I want to still say that there will be protocols regarding our behavior at Snow Mountain Ranch that will also help keep us all safe. Anyone with any symptoms of illness at the end of January should not even begin their trip to SFL. Anyone who develops symptoms at the event should quarantine and get tested for COVID with two negative tests before rejoining any group activities. The planning committee is discussing the most effective way to screen participants as they arrive and during the event. Wearing masks is another very significant tool at stopping the spread of COVID, and influenza, and all participants at SFL should wear a mask whenever indoors and not actively eating and drinking. It is also very important that you wear a mask during your entire trip to SFL. While airplanes have a very high rate of HEPA filtered air exchange, airports and buses do not. Being vaccinated, quarantining when showing any symptoms, and widespread mask wearing, will make our event as safe as possible.
Have you ever considered offering a Special Interest Session to your fellow SFL participants? During the SFL week, these sessions are offered from 4:15 to 5:15 Tuesday through Friday afternoons. Anyone can present a session. All you have to do is to share (for only an hour of one day) information about your job, hobby, interest, a trip that you have taken, or anything else that you think our group would be interested in learning about.
Past sessions have been about tandem cycling trips, rowing, poetry, meditation, mountain trekking, living off the grid, and working with a guide dog. If you have a passion for something and you would like to share that topic with others, this is your opportunity. Audio/visual equipment is available, as well as the support of the Special Interest Session Coordinator.
Please consider adding your presence and ideas to our repertoire of Special Interest Sessions this year. Go to the SFL.org website and fill out your Special Interest Session form today. It can be found near the bottom of the event page at www.sfl.org/events/next.
Questions? Please call Karen Wood at 317-506-8837. Thank you for considering adding to the Ski for Light experience!
During SFL week, we will once again hold the ever-popular silent auction. This is your chance to bid on more than 150 items, usually including jackets, gloves, and useful dog gear products donated by our generous corporate sponsors. Lots of other unique and fun items are donated by SFL attendees. Many of us especially look forward to bidding on those great locally sourced edible goodies such as wild rice from Minnesota, almond roca from Seattle, and delicious cherry products from Michigan. Sometimes, there is even a nice bottle of wine or two!
So, if you have a one-of-a-kind something from your corner of the world, please consider donating it to the silent auction. You will be amazed at how much money such items raise for Ski for Light! Here are just a few guidelines to keep in mind:
If you have any questions about the silent auction, please contact Judy Dixon via e-mail at judy@judydixon.net.
If you would like to donate something to the auction you may bring it with you to SFL or send it to Snow Mountain Ranch at least two weeks before the event via U.S. Mail, FedEx or UPS. Please be aware that there are separate addresses for U.S. mail and UPS/FedEx, as shown below. Snow Mountain Ranch recommends that you ship via UPS or FedEx for faster delivery. Be sure to list your name, along with Ski for Light Silent Auction, prominently on the address label.
When I arrived at my first Ski for Light event in Colorado in January, 2015, I thought I was there to learn how to ski. Little did I know that I was in store for so much more than that. I was very nervous and uncertain about how this new adventure would work out. The first night after I was told who my guide would be she approached me. She had a big smile on her face and a warm, reassuring voice. She took me aside and we began to share information about ourselves. The next day I attended the introductory lessons for first time skiers. My guide, Marita, was right by my side the entire time. She was encouraging me and praising me when I gave it my all.
As the week went along, we began to have so much fun together. Some of the fun was from my learning how to ski, but a lot of it was our becoming good friends. I think we laughed even more than we skied. By the time we hugged and said goodbye at the end of the week, we had exchanged contact information and promises to keep in touch.
Since that week, Marita and I have done just that. In 2016, we went to the Ridderrenn in Norway together, and we get together at the New England Ski for Light event every year. Sometimes my partner and I visit Marita and her husband in New Hampshire. They have taken us to see Dartmouth College, a farm that produces maple syrup and cheeses, and an old historic mill. Marita comes to visit me in Maryland too. The last time she was here, we went to Brookside Gardens near Washington D.C. to see the autumn blooming flowers. My guide dog, Dolly, loves Marita and Marita loves her. One time I told Marita that she takes such good care of me that she is a mother figure for me. She quickly told me that she is not old enough for that but that she would be happy to be my older sister.
SFL has given me so much in so many ways, and one of those treasures is my first guide, my good friend, my big sister, Marita. Thank you Ski for Light!
Space Camp hosts a multi-level educational program year 'round at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The center dedicates one week each fall to creating a fully accessible camp for 90 to 150 schoolchildren who are visually impaired by providing Braille, large print materials and adaptive software, plus requiring each child to be accompanied by a sighted adult from their community.
In 2016, a group of adults with visual impairment and their friends, led by Larry Povinelli, successfully utilized the accessible materials in place from the kid's week to create the first fully accessible Space Camp experience for adults with visual impairment. This October 2021 Larry did it again! Twelve participants from six states, eight of whom are visually impaired, joined for a fun-filled learning experience with exciting moments of space exploration.
All participants ran two simulated Space Shuttle missions, including the launch, flight and landing. Team members played such roles as mission and communication specialists, shuttle pilot and captain, International Space Station (ISS) scientists, and the mission control team. Several folks in space suits simulated walking outside the ISS and conducting real experiments. Everyone had exciting hands-on experiences such as building rockets, participating in a heat shield experiment, and training with simulators, which recreated a moonwalk and a shuttle reentry spin. In addition to space exploration, our team participated in team building activities outdoors and learned of past and future space exploration at the enormous Space and Rocket Center.
Now that we have some momentum, Larry Povinelli states, "Our goal is to continue with an annual opportunity for adults with visual impairment throughout the United States and abroad. Please feel free to inquire either as a sighted supporter or VI participant at LPovinelli@aol.com."
When asked to choose what was most fun at Space Camp Geri Feigelson said, "It's very hard to pick because everything was fun and quite an experience, like trying to do the missions, especially spacewalk in zero gravity, and standing on less than solid ground, wild!" Cindy LeBon notes on all her discoveries like "climbing into the Mercury space capsule. I found out how uncomfortable it was going to space back in the day."
Frederick Hill exclaimed, "that crazy chair that rotated in all directions, what a hoot!" Larry Povinelli wholeheartedly agrees, "spinning on the Multi-Axis trainer! It was a feeling like no other." Abiola Heyliger, another enthusiastic sighted pal shares, "Well, for me, one of the most interesting and hilarious activities at Space Camp, for participants like me--who barely even likes to get behind the wheel of a car-was to sit at the controls of a spacecraft and simulate the landing of that spacecraft. Oh my gosh, many codes, confirmations, and so many ways to get myself and my fellow flight crew members killed!"
Space camp is educational and the experiences can be felt deeply. Cindy LeBon states, "I was already interested in space missions, and gained knowledge of how many hundreds of people it takes to operate a shuttle over a 24 hour day and the fact that the mission is timed down to the hour." Frederick Hill ponders the magnitude of space exploration, reflecting, "I came away from space camp thinking about how long ago it was that men walked on the moon - and what an incredible effort it was." Abiola Heyliger shares, "I really enjoyed the spacecraft landing experience because the exercise gave each participant a chance to understand the importance of communication, teamwork, and expert knowledge." Laura Hahn expresses enthusiasm for sharing the experience of Space Camp and is now a new guide recruit for New England Ski for Light. Echoing the experiences of many, Sue Povinelli concludes that "[Space Camp] gives the attendee a real appreciation for the amount of teamwork and dedication put in by astronauts. I would recommend it for anyone who has dreamed of traveling to outer space."
Have you ever considered running for election to the Ski for Light (SFL) Board of Directors? Do you enjoy being a part of our annual International event? Are you interested in further contributing to the organization's success? Now is your chance to get involved by submitting your nomination!
Made up of approximately 25 skiers, guides, and other participants, the Board of Directors is SFL's governing/managing body. It is a "working" Board, with each officer and director expected to mobilize her/his time and talents in the leadership of the organization.
We're looking for folks with great ideas about how to enhance SFL or who want to lend their skills to help ensure our longevity and success. Nominate yourself or someone else (just be sure to ask the other person first!). Approximately half of the seats on the board will be up for election in January 2022; directors serve terms of four years and may then stand for re-election at the end of those terms.
Nominations should include:
All nominations will be considered and the election results will be announced on Friday, January 28, 2022 at the annual board Meeting. The deadline for receipt of nominations is December 15, 2021.
Please e-mail all nominations to Amy Brannan, Board Development and Elections Committee Chair, at acbrannan1@gmail.com by December 15, 2021.
Ski for Light (SFL) has been around for 46 years, affecting the lives of thousands of visually and mobility impaired participants, as well as those of our sighted guides and a growing number of volunteers. If you have ever been involved, I suspect you'd like to see SFL around for many years to come.
With an eye toward this longevity, the SFL Board established the Endowment Fund in the late 1990s and we're at $670,000 and growing. Gifts made to the Endowment Fund are added to a pool of money that is invested, and only a portion of the interest generated by the investment may be spent, with original donations preserved to earn income for use in subsequent years. This ensures that the organization will have funds with which to operate over the long term.
There are several ways you can help to grow the Ski for Light Endowment Fund:
For more information, a brochure about both the Tracksetter Society and the endowment fund is on the SFL website: www.sfl.org, click on "Donate," then "SFL Endowment and Gift Planning Brochure." The brochure is also available in print. For the brochure and more information, contact Laura Oftedahl at lauraofte52@gmail.com or (224) 864-2979.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) tax-deductible organization (ID #51-0175938), and supports full disclosure and accountability for nonprofit corporations. As such, SFL has been qualified as a gold level participant under the Guidestar reporting system for non-profit organizations.
As most of you know, Ski for Light is based on the Norwegian program started by blind Norwegian entertainer, Erling Stordahl, for blind cross-country skiers. Like the Ski for Light International event, Ridderweek is a week-long event, held in Beitostolen, Norway, that includes many similar features as SFL. But, wait! There's more! During the week there is also a biathlon and a 5 and 10 K race for women and men. On Friday, there's an Alpine slalom race and picnic at the downhill ski area across from the main hotel. There are awards ceremonies accompanied by the King's drum and bugle corps to add to the festivities. There's a talent show and their ever-popular auction, held on Friday afternoon. Race day is a 20 kilometer event on Saturday; however, there are shorter routes available, too. And, like SFL, Saturday night features a closing banquet and awards ceremony, followed by dancing.
Ski for Light sends two guides and two skiers each year to the Ridderweek, and many others also attend to enjoy the wonderful skiing and Norwegian culture. After the week, we spend a couple of days in Oslo, sightseeing. The hotel where we stay is centrally located near the parliament building, the King's castle, and the harbor, which is lined with shops and restaurants.
The dates for the 2022 Ridderweek are March 13 to March 20. For more information or to express interest in joining the group, contact me at 515-279-3681 or at MLElmquist@aol.com.
It's a great trip!
Editor's Note: The following explanation about how Ski for Light was named was written in 2007 by SFL pioneer and long-time SFL president Raymond "Bud" Keith. You can read more of Bud's memories of the first 33 SFL events at www.sfl.org/about/history.
The name "Ski for Light" came from Erling Stordahl, founder of the Norwegian Ridderrenn. Erling was full of metaphors. Instead of focusing on blindness and the absence of light, he focused on the unknown and enlightenment. So, in looking at the Norwegian culture, he used or created a metaphor from Peer Gynt. In the legend, a Norwegian knight, the ridder part of ridderrenn, needed to escape some bad guys. He came to an abyss and not having any idea of whether he could safely make it, leaped with faith and succeeded.
Erling equated this with the human struggle and pushed the need for us to try things where success was doubtful, and discover some previously unknown strength or ability within ourselves that help us succeed. It is the metaphorical struggle from ignorance to enlightenment. So in cross-country skiing, blind folks are enabled to ski from the ignorance of not knowing anything about the limits of our abilities to the enlightenment of learning that we can succeed at much more than we had ever imagined.
The first event using an English name, in 1975, was called "Race for Light." Oral Miller and I were the first two blind folks who insinuated ourselves into leadership for the second event. We both insisted that racing and hard training for a race might fit in the Norwegian culture, but it wouldn't fit in our culture for many reasons. We insisted on something more appropriate, so we switched to Ski for Light, keeping the idea of enlightening oneself regarding possibilities and deemphasizing the racing aspects.
The Ski for Light community mourns the passing of the following five people. They were each important in the evolution and growth of SFL and will be missed.
Live Markle, a Ski for Light guide for 23 years, passed away at her home in Michigan City, Indiana on July 31 at the age of 81. She first attended Ski for Light in 1980, and most recently in 2015. Growing up in Norway, Liv was familiar with Ridderrennet, and learned of Ski for Light after moving to the United States. She was a strong supporter of SFL. For many years she hosted get-togethers in her home to raise money for SFL. Over that time, she raised more than $25,000, which earned her the SFL Brit Peterson Award.
Art Bunn, a guide at 11 SFL events between 1994 and 2009, passed away on October 23 at his home in Miami, Oklahoma at the age of 91. He was a member of the SFL Board of Directors and President of Colorado Regional SFL. In addition, along with his friend Chuck Bell and others, he started a wilderness llama trek for visually impaired persons called Trek for Light, in 1995. The program offered one-week guided trips in Colorado's Rawah Wilderness using llamas to carry all the gear. Art was active in numerous outreach and support programs and organizations throughout his entire life, no matter where he lived. He made a true difference to the lives of many, many people over those years.
Asbjorn Rostad, a guide at more than 10 SFL events between 1977 and 1999, died on October 14 in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, at the age of 90. Born in Norway, he provided strong linkage in those early years to the Sons of Norway, in which he was heavily involved throughout his life. He is survived by his three children and his wife of 41 years, Barbara, a former SFL Board member and guide and the editor of the tenth anniversary hard cover book about Ski for Light titled "If I Can Do This."
Susan Hooker, a guide at several SFL events, most recently in 2014, died in September, 2020 in Houghton, Michigan at the age of 71. Susan was a telecommunications specialist, and lived in several countries. In addition she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel US Army National Guard Reservist. She had many passions in her life, including Ski for Light. She made a substantial bequest to SFL in her estate plan, which will be used to further the work of the organization.
Billie Jean Keith, 83, died September 27 in The Villages, Florida. Billie Jean attended seven SFL events over the years, most recently in 2015. For many years she worked for the Blinded Veterans Association. She was the widow of SFL pioneer Raymond "Bud" Keith.
Ski for Light, Inc. is loosely affiliated with eight regional organizations around the United States that share our name, but are independent organizations. They are located in New England, Northeast Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Northern California and Washington. Every winter, each group holds one or more local events that include teaching and guiding visually- and mobility-impaired adults in cross-country skiing. Several of them also offer other activities such as snowshoeing and downhill skiing. The events range from a full week to day trips. Like Ski for Light, each of the regional programs was forced into inactivity during the COVID pandemic, but most of them are returning to programming this winter. To learn more about what each program is offering this year, visit the Regionals page on the SFL website at www.sfl.org/events/region als.
Our thanks go to the following companies that have provided products or services to help support Ski for Light. Many of these companies have stood behind us for years - and we're grateful. Be sure to think of our friends when you're gearing up for your next adventure.
JanSport * Beyond Coastal/Chums Sun Care * Big Agnes * Black Diamond * Borton Overseas Travel * Clif Bar * Columbia * Crazy Creek * Dansko * Darn Tough Socks * Energizer * Fjallraven * Fox River Mills * Glerups * Haiku * Kavu * Leki * Lodge Cast Iron * MountainSmith * Peet Shoe Dryers * Ruffwear * Spyderco * Wallaroo Hat Company * Wigwam
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The current as well as past issues of the Bulletin are also available online at www.sfl.org/bulletin. In addition to an online edition that may be read in your browser, you will find a downloadable pdf version of the current issue.
For future Bulletins, remember that your contributions and feedback are always most welcome. You may submit articles as e-mail or as a word or text attachment. Send all items to:
Andrea GoddardThe deadline for the Spring 2022 Bulletin is March 1, 2022. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.