President's Annual Message
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Hello SCSC Members,
This upcoming year will be our 54th year as a Club and 9th year on Meet-up.
Clubs, as always, are run and maintained by volunteers. WE are no different. These past few years have continued to be very difficult for our Club and many other Clubs throughout the City and beyond. Since March 2020, and even before Covid -19, many social organizations have struggled, many no longer exist. As you may know, a Club by definition is a social organization, an association of persons for some common interest, usually jointly supported and meeting periodically. These organizations are dependent on the participation of its members in its activities and the general running of the Club. I came to join the Club almost 9 years ago; I joined for my love of skiing and the greater enjoyment of being outdoors in the mountains. I have stayed because of the people I have met throughout the years, the fun times I have had skiing with many of you who are here tonight, as well to honour all those who have come before us and who have helped maintain the Club an entity.
I’d like to thank the 2022-2023 Executive Team and Board. Many of us have served the Club from 1 to up to 8 years as Executives. Many have put in countless hours ensuring the events and activities are as well planned out so that the members can enjoy their alpine activities to the utmost. Many thanks to Diane K., Derrick B., and Kam N. As well, I’d like to thank our Board members- Pippa W., Jeff D., and Pauline S. From an Executive perspective, they have been a very supportive Board over the past year and the Club is fortunate to have all three return once again in their roles as Directors on our Board.
Last season was one of hope… a season without COVID and restrictions, and please lots of snow. The season started out in good form. Our first day bus trip was off to Sunshine with 36 keeners onboard. Thanks to Gregg and Pat S. for coordinating this visit to this mountain. Sunshine delivered and we all got to ski/board in a variety of terrain on that day, finishing up at the base in the nice warm bar with a few drinks in hand, not having to worry about the ride home. Next was the day bus trip to LL in early January … not such a great snow day but once again the keeners came out to play in the mountains. Thanks Kam for hosting this event.
SCSC then moved into the overnight trip part of the season. In total, SCSC hosted 5 overnight trips … first to Fernie, then to Kicking Horse, Family Weekend at Revy, our Taynton stay at Panorama, with the final overnight Club Trip to Marmot Basin in Jasper. Thanks to the Hosts – Diane, Mary and Pippa, Rowena, myself, and Kim and Julie for stepping up to the plate to ensure all members had a great experience. Although the Club considered engaging bus transportation for two of the scheduled overnight trips, due to either lack of availability in accommodation or lower participation for a particular trip, the Executive decided to offer $50 Gas cards instead to those who participated on the two overnight trips which were a longer drive. Overall, the gas cards were well received by the attendees. Please note each trip takes a lot of planning and extra thought from morning gatherings to lunchtime meet-ups and onto après ski, to hot tub excursions to dinners extraordinaire. Please ensure you thank your Event hosts this coming season. We welcome anyone who is interested in heading up an Event as a Host as we even have some Events without hosts yet. Please note if we are unable to find a Host for an upcoming event that event may be cancelled, and any accommodations will be released back to the resort provider.
What to look forward to in the coming year? Over this past spring and summer, the Executive has been busy pulling together some great new experiences, along with a mix-in of some ol’time favourites. Some of you even assisted indirectly by participating in our past springs Monkey Survey … thanks to all whom filled these out. More to come regarding the Monkey Survey and its results… As well this past spring we collaborated with the Calgary Ski Club and the Seniors Alpine Club in offering our members a significant discount (Savings of $75) to the Mountain Collective Pass. This was our second year in providing this valued benefit to our members and look to go ahead once again next year if the membership supports this initiative.
We also hope to welcome back the “Almost Free” bus to Sunshine Village in mid-December, and perhaps introduce one for Castle Mountain later in the season, perhaps coordinating with their famous Demo Days … however, we are looking for Event hosts for these early morning Day trips. We are also looking at collaborating and helping other ski and snowboard likeminded communities with events we can all benefit from. There are many other events we would like to be part of that support the upcoming ski and board season. If you would like to host any of these types of events and invite your fellow SCSC members, please see me or Derrick so that we can provide support and promote it on our website. The greater the number to attend, the greater the event will be.
Finally, I would like to thank our sponsors who helped us out last year and in advance, thank those who will be continuing their support. Last year one of those with notable mention is Streamside Property Restoration, who provided us with delicious appetizers for the December Social. Other include Castle Mountain Resort with Wow cards as door prizes and Paradise Skis with some great swag. Techno Sport also provided us with some great prizes for our Pre-Stampede BBQ this past June with almost everyone going home with something memorable.
For the past few years, I have personally participated in many of the overnight and day trips to the mountains, as well as many other social events. I have taken great enjoyment in getting to experience new resorts and have met many new great people who have a genuine passion to ski/board.
And finally, it’s a new year and I’m really excited about the upcoming SCSC season. As the returning President, I can vouch that the Executive continues to work really hard to provide its members value, along with a great experience as we venture into the mountains to ski and board. We hope you will tell your friends about this terrific Club and that you join us in carving memories into friendships out on the slopes of the marvellous mountains that are so nearby.
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Cheers to enjoying great snow and great people for the months to come!
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Andrea Svenningson
President, SCSC
2023-2024 Season