All racers must sign up by February 7 and some events also require signed waivers as part of the registration.  Discounted lift ticket prices must be purchased at Mt Snow during Carnival weekend.  For full details, schedules, prices, etc, click here.

Winter Carnival participants will be able to stay at our Lodge March 5/6 for only $25 per adult and $16.50 per child versus the regular weekend rates of $50 and $33.

If you’re interested in participating, contact our Carnival coordinator Jim Collard ASAP at springfieldchir@aol.com.

2010 CSC Trip to Chile flier (DOC)

When     Saturday, Nov 21 @ 8pm till Sunday, Nov 22, 1am
Where    Hartford Windsor Marriott, Windsor, CT  (map)

So, shine up your dancing shoes and reserve your seats in support of our CSC Ambassador, Beth Cross!

Call Gabe Cordova (203-878-4727) or Beth (203-894-4636) for tickets.

Holiday Party 2009 Flier (PDF) (11/2009)

The weather was typical Vermont October with highs of mid 70’s and cool overnights of 30’s with a light frost in the morning, sunny skies and colorful mountains. None of the bad stormy weather being experienced back in Fairfield County.

The painting crew got started right away Saturday morning with Gordon painting the third floor ladies bathroom, Jim Collard and Lisa Nau painted the main stairwell/hallway leading from second floor great room. Lisa also painted the game room and front entry way. Scott Brown touched up the bedroom doors.

Carpentry work was done by Scott Brown replacing some broken spindles on the outside deck that Bill Sherriff had cutout and painted at home prior to trip. Wisely Scott had brought up a bunch of power tools including several air-powered nail guns. The nail gun came in handy installing trim work on the dropped ceiling in the dining area. John Acurri and Robert Gottlieb had earlier in the day finished installing about 12 ceiling tiles that had not been finished in an earlier work weekend last year. John Acurri went thru all the bedrooms and other areas looking for and tightening many of the wooden fixtures mounted on the walls, including that notorious bedroom1. Robert Gottlieb did a terrific job resolving several plumbing issues. A leaky Fawcett in the new men’s bathroom as well as fixing/adjusting the sink drain stoppers in the same bathroom so that they now all work. Mort Witkin cleaned up the back basement, removing lots of all junk that had collected all season.

Big Thanks to Susan Byelick and Linda Gottlieb for running all the mattress pads thru the wash and dry process at the local laundry mat. Susan then helped with putting out lunch (sandwiches) on Saturday along with Marion, Faye, Marcia and Lisa. Susan and Bill also did the dinner planning with cooks Pat, Marion and Faye, Susan and Marcia. Dinner was Costco rotisserie chickens, summer squash and baked potatoes along with a great salad. Dessert was a fabulous chocolate cake. Everyone enjoyed dinner and an over the top chocolate cake for dessert.

Thorough cleaning of the common rooms was performed by Faye and Kim. Rafters, chandeliers, picture frames etc were all dusted. Upholstered chairs were gone over with vacuum deep down under the cushions. Everything not moving was super-cleaned. David worked tirelessly cleaning all the windows including all the bedrooms and hallways. Mike Coplan cleaned out the chimney ash bin, washed light fixture globes and hauled garbage. Julian cleaned and organized the basement areas including the food/supplies storage cribs.

Marion and Pat primarily with help from Susan, Marcia and Faye cleaned the kitchen areas especially the cabinets, refrigerators and counter tops. Lots of old food in the refrigerator was discarded.

Zach and Gabe went around the lodge, making note of future repairs and potential areas of trouble. Zack will be preparing a maintenance report to be used by the board and others for planning purposes. Zach is an electrician by trade and well versed in home maintenance. He also has some good ideas for heating system upgrades, electronic front door locks, storage expansion and in general, a good go-to guy.

Early Saturday morning the fallen leaves were too tempting for Jim, Mort and Scott who couldn’t resist the urge to use the power blowers to clean off the lawns. In no time, all the leaves were blown onto the woods, our lawn looking spotless. Pruning and chain saw work followed later in the day. Speaking of outside work, much to everyone’s surprise Susan and Linda singlehandedly moved all the firewood from the drop off point to the wood shed. Ok, at some point Faye joined in the fun. Mort’s curiosity got the best of him and several times he had to go out and remind the girls how to properly stack firewood. However always avoiding actually helping with the transport. Surprisingly, he survived those discussions without as much as a single piece of wood falling on his toes – good self-constraint ladies.

Several people had time to run out and visit the local Vermont attractions including Mendon orchards. Mike made some wonderful apple crisp/baked apples which everyone enjoyed at breakfast Sunday. Driving by Pico there were some early signs of snow at the top as well as snow covered trees indicating the snow guns had been running.

Lot’s of other stuff was completed in our effort to get the lodge ready for the coming ski season. I’m sure I’ve omitted someone’s significant contribution, excuse me now. Everyone had a great time, many commented on how great the lodge looked and all agreed that the work weekend coordinator was just fantastic.

Hurry up soon before the shine is tarnished to see your lodge at its best. Thanks to everyone for all their time and efforts for a job well done.

The membership survey results have been tabulated and a summary report is now available for all to review – Survey Results (10/2009) (ZIP). The board is working on developing action plans and committees to further explore and develop proposals on the issues identified. The board is in agreement that the following important issues have been identified by the survey and these are the areas that will be pursued:

• Our membership is declining. Membership indicated a commitment to bringing in new members this year to reach target levels.
• Membership overwhelming agrees with the club’s vision and cost structure. The majority prefer assessments as capital improvement projects are approved.
• Priority for major projects are the replacement of the heating system followed by the new mattresses.
• Boot drying racks and on site storage are priority lodge additions.
• Membership wants monthly meetings during season and to have these at “improved” venues.
• Electronic communication (website and skizette) is preferred.
• Membership is satisfied with club activities.

CSC Bulk Ticket Form (10/09) (PDF)

November 13 – 8pm show
Stamford Palace Theatre
61 Atlantic Avenue
Stamford, CT

Cost is $20 per person and payment must be received by Oct 16. Make your check out to “Lisa Nau” and either bring it to the Oct 6 meeting or mail it to:

Lisa Nau
829 Scofieldtown Rd
Stamford, CT 06903
203-329-1894

Please indicate the number of people in your party on your check.

Let’s get this ski season rolling !

Again I’d like to remind people to sign up for the CSC snowball as this is a great time to get together just before the season for some social interaction.  We already have quite a group of party people – it should be fun.  It’s also the major fund raiser for the CSC which of course among other things works to get us great lift ticket discounts. 

We had a very successful LRPC meeting on October 27 at Bill Hughes home.  Stephanie will be reporting on that but I want to thank Bill Hughes and Susan Anderson for hosting and providing wonderful refreshments.    

By now you’ve seen the results of the membership survey, your board has too although we haven’t met as a board to discuss but it’s coming up shortly.  We expect to develop plans as a result and continue to keep our club and lodge moving forward.   Expect to see more details of our action plan by next month.   It’s informative and sometimes amusing to read all the comments individuals provided under the ‘other’ category of responses.  If you get some time be sure to review them also.  I believe all of this stuff will be on the web.      

Speaking of things membership, we have this year a total of about 88 memberships, down slightly but with several new perspectives.   We must continue to recruit new members, bring in guests and  make plans to bring friends to the lodge this winter with the idea of having them join.  Talk it up every chance you get.

A big thank you to Frank Matsuda for being at the last general meeting at NBC with all the cool stuff he could transport from his store, Pedigree Sport Shop, to show and tell.  The program was “New gadgets and equipment for the skiing and boarding sports’.  Everyone enjoyed, thank you Frank. (and Susan Byelick for arranging).

Don’t forget the November 6 general meeting at NBC, especially if you want to be considered a ‘key holder’.  This is the night for lodge coordinator training, you must attend if you want to be lodge coordinator or otherwise go up to the lodge with the key.  The one night course covers everything you need to know and procedures you must follow for using the lodge as a key holder.  BTW, for those that like to read the book before the course, go to YouTube for the same material.    

Bring an extra dollar or two to the meeting, Susan Byelick is selling raffle tickets for a ‘skitube’ donated to the club by mfg. with all proceeds going to club.  The skitube can be used as a shipping container or as luggage to hold your skis.    Other prizes to be included as donated.

One immediate result of the survey is that we are now having just one general meeting a month during the ski season on the first Tuesday of the month.   Historically, we’ve had two meetings per month on the first and third Tuesday of the month.   Another reason for checking our web calendar before running out to a meeting.  

Maybe we’ll get lucky and have some early snow; Stratton Mountain is having CSC awareness days Thanksgiving weekend with tickets at $30.  That could be a day trip or on the way North trip skiing at Stratton the first day, stay at lodge and ski Killington the rest of the weekend.   Is anyone running the Thanksgiving Day feast at the lodge – why not???  Based on conditions this could be a last minute event, stay tuned. 

Check the web site and calendar for the latest news.  Please email the board with your ideas.    

Hope to see you all at the next general meeting.