Nobody Does it Better! SCWDC Board of Directors
Transcription
Nobody Does it Better! SCWDC Board of Directors
SCWDC T Ski Club of Washington, DC l www.SCWDC.org l March / April 2015 l Volume 82, Number 2 Nobody Does it Better! SCWDC Board of Directors (2013-2014) www.SCWDC.org Table of Contents President’s Message For the past three years I have had the privilege of serving as your president. It has been a heart-warming experience to have interacted with so many of our wonderful volunteers. Some of those (without whom I would not have been able to successfully accomplish many of the tasks assigned to the presidency), are as follows: 1. Members of the Board of Directors who have faithfully participated andhave given their support to me. 2. My recording secretary for the entire three years ,Jeanne Gardner 3. Our magazine editor and Vice President, Leo Boelhouwer 4. The budget and finance chair and web coordinator, Bill Johnston 5. Our new member services chair, Gary Rubens 6. All of the program chairs who are the backbone of this organization 7. Our Western and ALEC committees 8. And finally our wonderful office staff, Pete and Brian President’s Message ………………………… 2 Meetings ………………………………………… 3 Elections 2015………………………………… 4 Annual Elections…………………………5-7 Sailing …………………………………………7-9 Skiing ……………………………………………10 Recreation…………………………………… 11 Tennis ……………………………………… 12, 13 Social …………………………………………… 14 Team Sports……………………………………14 Hikes ……………………………………… 15, 16 All of these people contribute so very much to make the club what it has become today. In the past three years we have tried to modernize and update our club initiating the use of social media and encouraging new member participation. One of our goals was to establish a new web site which incorporated our membership database with all of our other functions and activities. After much investigation, Memberize became the web site of choice and although we are still constantly upgrading, our membership deems it to be very successful. We have also expanded our recreational trips with several unique adventures and hope to have many more in the future. We are always open to new ideas and encourage our members to come forward with suggestions. I have a policy which is to never say NO! I might say “maybe” or “perhaps” or”I’ll think about it”, but never NO! Keeping an open mind and always being receptive to new ideas and suggestions from our members is of utmost importance. I sincerely hope all of our future leaders will keep this in mind when making key decisions. We have been fortunate to have “happy hour” leaders who provide a wonderful opportunity for our members to gather together for enjoyment. Our office meeting room has been upgraded with new lighting, thanks to Bob our resident electrician. He somehow created a small miracle. I know there are so many others to thank but I would surely run out of space. To those who are reluctant to volunteer, let me say that you are missing a wonderful experience. During World War II we had large posters which stated “Uncle Sam Wants You”; well, the SCWDC wants YOU! Don’t wait for someone to call upon you, just let us know you are willing and we will find a spot for you to participate. We want the club to become bigger and better, and with your help, we will get there. To all of you who say YES instead of NO, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. See you all there! Our election meeting will be held at the Elks club on Thursday, April 9 2015. Sincerely, Madeline Page 2 - www.SCWDC.org Meetings President: Madeline Metcalfe Vice President: Leo Boelhouwer Board of Directors: Leo Boelhouwer, Peter Hartogensis, Mary Kay Hrivnak, Chris Klocek, Bill Johnston, Normandie Lee, Alicia McCarthy, Margaret Schwartz Recording Secretary: Jeanne Gardner Treasurer: Brian Camp General Counsel: Peter Hartogensis, Scott Sexauer Member Services Chair: Gary Rubens Administrative Officer: Pete Campbell Financial Manager: Brian Chollar Web Administrator: Bill Johnston Web Master: Ken Eng Web Editor: Frank Peñaranda Magazine Editor: Leo Boelhouwer Ski-O-Gram: Pete Campbell Capital Ski and Ride, Meetup.com: Chris Klocek SCWDC Facebook: Jeremy Diamond Program Chairpersons: Eastern Ski Trips: Charles Lorenzetti Western/International Ski Trips: Sue Miller Ski School Director: Mike Cavallaro Recreation: Judy Burlbaugh Hiking: Amelia Lancellotti Sailing: Pam Burdick and Patty Hagan (Co-Chairs) Sports: Geoffrey Pennoyer Cultural: Joan Zawacki and Ann Webster (co-chairs) Social: Vacant Tennis: Casey Tarr and Peggy Comerford (Co-Chairs) Young Professionals: Jeremy Diamond Committee Chairpersons: Activity Leader Evaluation (ALEC): Bernie Gilbert Budget and Finance: Bill Johnston Historian: Kate Hayes Meetings: Pete Campbell Membership: Vacant Past Presidents Advisory: Howard Fisher Policy: Howard Fisher March Social Meeting Date & Time: March 3, 6 p.m. Happy Hour; 7 p.m. Meeting The Evening’s Schedule: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Happy Hour and visit with Summer Activity Leaders and Exhibits 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Opening remarks followed by our speaker. Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel National Airport (Crystal City) 1480 Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202 703-416-1600 For detailed directions go to their website www.cpnationalairport.com and click on Directions. Free parking is available below the hotel. The Crowne Plaza is also metro accessible. Take the blue/yellow line to the Crystal City Metro stop and use the Crystal City Underground to reach the hotel. We will meet in the Veranda Café on the second floor where we will have the restaurant to ourselves along with wait staff to serve us before and throughout the meeting. We will start out with a 6 p.m.happy hour/social. Our meeting will start at 7 p.m. with the evening’s speaker coming on at approx. 7:30. We feel this site offers us a prime location with metro accessibility, at an unbeatable cost. You may check out the Club Meetings Section of our website, www.scwdc.org for more details. April ELECTIONS & AWARDS Meeting Date & Time: Thursday, April 9, 7 p.m. Event Location: Elks Lodge Address: 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax Happy Hour between 6 and 7 p.m. Obtain your ballot between 6:45 to 7 p.m. Food will be provided, light snacks and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner may also be ordered. Standing for election are as follows: One candidate for the office of president; Five candidates for Board of Directors. Nominations may also be made from the floor. Schedule: Meeting will start at 7 p.m. Speeches will run from approximately 7:15 to 7:35 p.m. Awards will be made from 7:35 to 8:00 p.m. Election results will be made available shortly after 8 p.m. SCWDC (ISSN 0883-6817) is published bi-monthly, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/ October, November/December, January/February, and is published at the SCWDC office, 5309 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22207 (Periodicals postage paid at Arlington, VA and at additional post offices). Subscription is limited to members of Ski Club of Washington, DC, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the SCWDC office, 5309 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22207. Ski Club phone number: 703-532-7776. © 2015 SCWDC www.scwdc.org SKI CLUB OFFICE: 703-532-7776 [email protected] Directions: There are several routes to Elks Lodge. (1) From the Beltway take Arlington Blvd. Rte 50 west exit, pass under the Gallows Rd overpass and turn left at the first stoplight intersection, Javier Drive, turn right going west on the service road. Lodge is about 100 yards from the last turn. (2) When Rt 50 is backed up and you are taking the Rt 50 exit, bear right to the top of Gallows Rd overpass, turn left and go south on Gallows. At the first cross street, Willows Oaks Corporate Drive, turn right and follow to Williams Dr, then turn right to connect with the Rt 50 service road. Make a left and go 100 yards to Elks. THIS CAN SAVE YOU MUCH TIME when Rt 50 is backed up! (3) If coming from Arlington, suggest using Rt 29 Lee Hwy west, turn left at Prosperity, then left at Rt 50, then right into the Elks parking lot. (4) If coming from Fairfax Circle along Rt 50, follow Rt 50 past Prosperity until you reach Elks. (5) If coming from Annandale or Fairfax along Little River, turn north on Prosperity and then turn right at Rt 50 to Elks. Yes, coming from Annandale you can get on the Beltway, but Rt 50 may back up in the evening. Prosperity going north usually isn’t backed up. Page 3 - www.SCWDC.org Elections 2015 Elections 2015 Here are the biographies of current candidates for the Board of Directors. Others may still be nominated via a petition, or from the floor at the election meeting on Thursday, April 9. We encourage all our members to attend the election meeting, listen to the candidates’ speeches, and vote. If you are unable to attend the election meeting, you can vote for these candidates and on the proposed rule changes via an absentee ballot, shown below. You can also request an absentee ballot from the club office...Mail.to.be.received.in.the.office.by.April.6..Mark.envelope,."Ballot." 2015 Official SCWDC Main Election Ballot Member number (can be obtained from My Profile on website): __________________________________________________________ SCWDC Member ID For President, vote for one: q Peter Hartogensis q Write in________________________________________ q Carol Finley q Mike Favole q Write in_________________________________________________________ q Jeremy Diamond q Write in_________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Director, vote for no more than 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- q Charlie Lorenzetti q Leo Boelhouwer q Write in_________________________________________________________ q Write in_________________________________________________________ q Write in_________________________________________________________ q Floor Nominee________________________________________________________________ q Floor Nominee________________________________________________________________ Page 4 - www.SCWDC.org Annual Elections Nominated for President Major Contributions to SCWDC Member since 1999. Board of Directors (BOD), 2013 to date. Legal Counsel, 2009 to date. Ski Trip leader, tennis party host. Silver award, 2013. As a BOD member, I have been liaison to the Ski Club tennis program and worked to strengthen that very fine program. Also as a Board member, I have been working on the merger of the Ski Club with The Tennis Group. Peter Hartogensis Candidate for President, SCWDC Other Qualifications The Tennis Group since 1999, which we are trying to merge with the Ski Club. Served as President, Board member, newsletter editor, legal counsel, Team Tennis Coordinator, Team Tennis Captain, trip leader. City of Rockville, 1978-87. Elected to City Council, served 2 terms. Served on Board of Appeals as member and chairman, city Planning Commission. Profession, Attorney at Law in Maryland and District of Columbia, now retired. Practiced in areas of real estate, contracts, Bankruptcy, torts, criminal law, estates and trusts, domestic and other areas. Policy Statement The Ski Club does many things very well, and other things are not going so well. As President, I will continue and encourage those things that are going well, and try to make changes in areas where we need to do better. Among those areas where we excel, volunteerism ranks very high. We have many dedicated volunteers who lead ski trips, host tennis parties and other events, and chair sections and committees. We must always recognize our volunteers and give them the support they need. The other very strong area of our club is its finances. We have an excellent budgeting system and we monitor the handling of club funds and assets very closely. Our club has greatly prospered due to its tight financial controls. The area where we need to improve is membership recruiting and retaining. Year after year our numbers get smaller. Our outgoing President has agreed to chair the membership committee, and I intend to work closely with her to find ways to turn this trend around. Finally, our goal as an organization must be the pleasure and enjoyment of our members and participants. We exist not to make money or create statistics but to have fun. If we can continue to be an organization that provides that, we will more than have justified our existence. I ask for your vote and seek your support for my candidacy so we may achieve these goals. Nominated for Board of Directors SCWDC is at a crossroads where vigorous moves need to be made to maintain our membership and bring in new members with new ideas while appreciating the interests and needs of our faithful long term members. Making use of social media and internet communications has become more important every year and our outreach needs to be concentrated in those areas. New energy brings new ideas and activities that build on what we already have and benefit all members—existing and new. Carol Finley I have been a club member for about fifteen years. I joined to play tennis, which I still do and enjoy, and then rekindled my love of skiing. I‘ve have made over twenty ski and tennis trips with the club. I’ve also participated in and helped lead tennis, social and cultural activities. The Ski Club is a wonderful way to meet friends and improve athletic skills and serving on the BOD is a great way to become knowledgeable of all the activities the club has to offer. (Consider running for a BOD Seat next year!) There has been much discussion about ways to rejuvenate club membership and what financial investments are in the best interest of the membership. I have had several different careers; including government service, Senior Staff positions at a trade association and running my own company. These positions helped me learn how to be patient, persistent, and understand the time demands others have. They taught me about making business decisions, budgeting, planning for the future, marketing and how to work with diverse people. That background is also helpful in evaluating financial and planning decisions. In these various capacities I learned the importance of listening to find out what members want from their organization and Page 5 - www.SCWDC.org the essential need to constantly innovate and bring in fresh ideas. I learned to appreciate the incredible diversity of people and abilities that we have in this area. I had practice in asking people to volunteer, to participate, and to contribute to the activities and goals of a larger organization. I hope to continue to use these skills as a director for SCWDC. I have previously had the privilege of serving on the SCWDC Board of Directors and would appreciate the opportunity to serve again. Hello, I’m Mike Favole. I’ve been a member of the ski club for around 11 years. I currently work as an engineer at Northrop Grumman (32 years), have 2 adult kids, and am awaiting my first grandchild (yeah!). My son is a fireman with Prince William County (and expecting their first child) and my daughter works for an Army support contract and is recently engaged. As an active member of the ski club, I have enjoyed participating in many activities, including Saturday night tennis parties (committee member, party leader, supervisor), tennis trips to Wintergreen and to Pine Island. Have also sailed on the Chesapeake, went whitewater rafting in PA, played softball at Roundtree, and had a blast on a couple of Virginia Beach trips. Mike Favole Besides having an amazingly large variety of events to choose from, the hallmark of the Ski Club has always been the consistent quality across all activities. Events are well planned and in my experience typically turn out better than expected. The many volunteers that step up to lead our events and trips are a true blessing and the “secret sauce” to making it all work so smoothly. I’ve made many good friends over the years and am grateful for the all the ways that the Ski Club has touched my life. Going to a Saturday evening tennis party is like getting together with family that you actually like! As a potential board member my main goal would be to work with the other board members and the president to ensure that the traditions that make our club so special continue, encourage new activities, and work to extend the use of social media to help foster more volunteers and increase membership. Thanks! Mike My commitment to volunteerism did not begin with me but with my mother and father who taught me the importance of volunteering for organizations and causes that are important to me and to the community. While I appreciate my late father’s service as my little league baseball coach, I was even more impressed by my mother who served on her parish’s F.I.S.H Program and was honored as Arlington’s Citizen of the Year by the local chapter of B’nai B’rith International. Charlie Lorenzetti Following their example, I was a youth coach for numerous sports for my two sons and commissioner of little league baseball in Greenbelt, Maryland for twenty years. More on point, I was honored to begin service as Chair of SCWDC’s Eastern Program soon after I joined the Club in the summer of 2008. Since then, the Program has served the membership well by offering trips to local Mid-Atlantic resorts while also acting as a training ground for many of the Club’s finest western trip leaders. My other volunteer service for this Club include leading recent ski trips to Killington, Aspen, and Lake Tahoe and a very successful sailing trip to Belize in 2014. In addition, I am an active member for the Pentagon Sailing Club and the Parklawn Sailing Association. For the latter Club, I serve as its recently appointed membership coordinator. I look forward to serving the membership of the Club in a broader leadership capacity and would appreciate your support for my candidacy. Jeremy Diamond I have chaired the SCWDC Young Professionals since the summer of 2013. Before that, I was an active member, attending day trips, eastern trips, and western trips. I have organized happy hours for the Young Professionals all over D.C. and Maryland. Since taking over as YP chair, I have focused on attracting new members through experiential events (such as an afternoon at the Go Ape! rope and zipline course in Rockville). I have also led trips to Elk Mountain and Park City. In February, I organized a screening of the all-female ski film Pretty Faces. Going forward, I want to help the club improve its profile online while streamlining and unifying disparate segments of the club. I want to increase the number of events co-hosted with other organizations. I also want to improve the club’s appeal to young professionals and women. Page 6 - www.SCWDC.org I joined the ski club in 2000. I served as the cultural chair for five years, became president for 2 years, and have been vice president for four years since then. I also served as the club’s magazine editor during the most recent six years. I started the electronic version of the Ski-O-Gram. It was plain text only. More lately, others have expanded it to include color, pictures, and links to the website. During my time as president, the club renovated its headquarters, painting and re-carpeting it for the first time in 25 years. I also made sure that we preserved the pictures of board members going back some 37 years. Leo Boelhouwer A popular event is the annual pool party around the Fourth of July. I started that tradition about six years ago because the apartment house where I lived had an Olympic-size swimming pool and a large outdoor area as well. I helped organize the first bike-and-barge. We went to the Netherlands and I made sure we saw all the highlights between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, such as the wholesale flower market and the Keukenhof, a huge formal garden with adjoining tulip fields. My outdoor activities include skiing, biking, and swimming. The ski trips I have been on with the club have all been excellent, including the most recent one to Park City during the Sundance Film Festival. I also benefited from ski instruction included in the trips to West Virginia. Another favorite trip is the one to Virginia Beach with the music festival. I go almost every year, about ten times so far. On most of those trips I offer a complimentary yoga class on the beach. Usually about a dozen people participate. I believe the key to keeping the club going is to offer a wide range of recreational opportunities. We have had a couple of successful parties recently, giving us a basis for attracting more people in the future. Sailing SAILING PROGRAM Although the weather is really frosty as I write this, spring will be here soon, I hope! And that means it’s time to go sailing again! We’ll be sailing on the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay from May 2 to October 31 and offering lessons also. If you’ve never sailed before, that’s no problem; we’ll teach you through formal lessons at various levels and informal instruction while sailing! Sailing Lessons Sailing lessons from novice to expert will be offered by our talented, American Sailing Association (ASA) certified, SCWDC sailing instructors. Our instructors adhere to the SCWDC tradition of having fun while learning. Space is limited so sign up early! Sailing Lessons For beginners, or those who want to brush up on their skills, we offer a Basic Centerboard Class on 19’ Flying Scots out of Belle Haven Marina on the Potomac River in Alexandria. It is designed primarily for people who have sailed a few times and want to learn more, understand the basics of sailing, or be confident to sail on their own. Through six classes, including four on the water, you will learn how to steer and handle the boat, jibe, tack, adjust the sails for changing winds, dock, and perform man-overboard drills. You also will learn nautical language, knots, and parts of the boat. Graduates will qualify and feel confident to take out centerboard boats in sheltered water. Those who have taken our class before are welcome to attend the classroom sessions at no cost. Students who successfully complete the course and test will receive the American Sailing Association certification. We need at least 4 students for this class. Dates: Ground classes: May 11 and May 26, from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at 2300 Malraux Drive, Vienna, VA 22182; (transportation will be provided from the Dunn Loring Metro upon request) On-the-water classes: May 16, 17, 30, and 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at Belle Haven Marina. Back up dates for bad weather or lack or wind are June 6 and 7. Cost: $140 members, $155 guests, (includes text book, exam, instruction, and boat rental) Leader: Send checks payable to SCWDC to David Hastie, 8418 Blakiston Lane, Alexandria, VA, 22308. David can be reached at 703-799-4967/[email protected]. For those ready to take a small cruising boat out on the Chesapeake Bay for an overnight sail, we will also offer the Basic Coastal Cruising Course. The objective of this third- level class is to make the student ready to cruise in local and regional waters. It is taught on the Chesapeake Bay in boats about 30 feet long. Subjects taught are maneuvering in and out of a marina, boat preparation and inspection, safety, weather analysis, anchoring, and emergency procedures. Students will improve on Page 7 - www.SCWDC.org Sailing previously learned skills to feel comfortable chartering. Students who successfully complete the course may take the ASA test for certification. Contact the trip leader to let him know you’re interested. We need at least 4 students for this class. Dates: Dates will be arranged based on students’ availability. Cost: $300 members, $325 guests (includes text book, exam, instruction, and boat rental) Leader: Pete Stogis, 301-680-0864 or [email protected] Planning to Charter? Most Mediterranean countries and Belize now require that the captain be licensed when chartering a boat. Contact Pete Stogis ([email protected] or 301-680-0864) for options available to obtain the necessary license. Potomac Sails We sail on the Potomac every Tuesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. (earlier beginning in late August) and every other Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon from Belle Haven Marina (www.saildc.com). Belle Haven is located on the George Washington Parkway just south of the Wilson Bridge. [Note: This is NOT the marina next to National Airport.] Turn off the Parkway at the Belle Haven Marina sign and follow the road until you see the boats and water, then park. The group meets outdoors, at or near the picnic tables by the marina’s office trailer. Sails begin on Saturday, May 2. No experience is necessary. We sail very stable, 19’ Flying Scots, each of which has an experienced skipper and often experienced crew. You can go along for the ride or enhance your sailing instruction by participating in boat handling. Our skippers are also excellent teachers and will provide guidance to all interested in learning. After the sails, all hungry sailors adjourn to a local Greek/American restaurant, Primo’s, where we enjoy lunch or dinner in the back room (separate cost). Dress is casual. Until the temperatures warm up, long pants and a jacket are good choices, as is layering. Occasionally you may get splashed, and the water in the spring can be cool. There is a restroom if you need to change clothes after work. Sun block, water, hats, and croakies to keep your glasses on your head are also recommended. Reservations are strongly encouraged – and the only way to guarantee a place on a boat. We reserve the number of boats and confirm our skippers based on the number of people who have signed up 3 days in advance. To reserve, call the trip leader listed below, on the web site, or in the Ski-o-Gram; the latter options will have updated information in case there are changes. If you get a machine, leave your name, phone number, number of people in your group, and the date of the sail; please repeat your name and number slowly so we’re sure we have it correct. Unless you hear otherwise, you have a reservation for that date. Plan to be at the marina at least 15 minutes before the sailing time. The marina is very busy on Saturday mornings and you may have to walk from a distant parking lot so allow sufficient time. The trip leader will collect money, assign people to boats, and get everyone on the water. Exact change, or checks made payable to Belle Haven Marina, are appreciated. If you can’t make it at the last minute, please call the trip leader, leaving a message if necessary. That way we can check our messages if you don’t show up and give your space to someone who did. If you have a last-minute chance to sail, call the trip leader or come by to see if there’s room. We can’t guarantee it, but we’ll try to accommodate you if possible. If the weather is questionable, call the marina at 703-768-0018 an hour before the scheduled sailing time to see if they’re allowing boats to go out. The wind can be very different on the river than in other areas, so don’t assume there’s too much or too little wind to sail. Sometimes we can’t make a decision until we get to the marina. If you come and we can’t sail, we’ll head to Primo’s early. If you have experience as a small boat sailor and would like to possibly be a skipper, please contact Bernie Joiner at 703-560-2203 or [email protected] to arrange a check- out. He will schedule it during one of our regular sails. The schedule for the first 2 months of Potomac sails is listed below. The remainder of the schedule and updates on trip leaders will be in the magazine, website, and Ski-o-Gram as trip leaders are confirmed. Page 8 - www.SCWDC.org Sailing Potomac Sails: Every Tuesday Evening from 6:00 – 8:00; please arrive by 5:45. May 5 – Leader: Linda Joy Wilson, 202-213-3600 May 12 - Leader: Bill Barrick, 703-549-9072 May 19 - Leader: Eileen Farrell, 703-379-6509 May 26 - Leader: Mary Thibault, 703-864-1251 June 2 - Leader: Janice Windau, 703-960-3339 June 9 – Leader: Elizabeth Lonoff, 703-765-2634 June 16 - Leader: Mary Macaluso, 703-276-0953 June 23 - Leader: Millie Mateu, 703-683-1774 (reservations), 703-598-8144 (after 3 p.m. on day of sail) June 30 – Leader: Irene Stefanski, 703-887-2847 Cost: $13 members, $18 guests Every other Saturday morning from 10 – noon. Please arrive by 9:45. May 2 – Leader: Pamela Burdick, 301-509-4218 May 16 – Leader: Sally Shafor, 703-960-3380 May 30 – Leader: Irene Stefanski, 703-887-2847 June 13 – Leader: Alice Carlson, 703-569-0623 June 27 - Leader: Bonnie Piper, 703-965-3923 Cost: $16 members, $21 guests Chesapeake Bay Sails We have several Bay sails planned this year aboard Caribbean Magic, a 44-foot C&C based out of Pasadena, MD. We’ll still be sailing with Captain Larry (www.atlanticsailingexp.com) but we’ll be on a different boat. This boat is 4’ larger than the previous boat and some of us have sailed her before. This boat is gorgeous and, unlike our previous boat, it has a bimini to provide shade when it’s hot. It’s at a marina just down the road from where we sailed before. Bring your lunch and sun block and you’re ready for a great day, or some snacks for the evening sails. No experience is necessary! Captain Larry will gladly share his extensive knowledge. You can take the helm and help trim the sails, or just sunbathe on the bow if that’s your preference. Enjoy taking pictures or peering through the binoculars to see the beautiful osprey diving with their sharp talons to grab a fish to take back to the nest to quiet the peeping chicks. And as you sail out of the Patapsco River onto the Chesapeake Bay, you can see the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the buoy marking the location of where Key penned the Star Spangled Banner. After a great day of sailing, the fun continues with dinner at a local restaurant (separate cost). BAY SAILS DATE LEADER PHONE NO. and EMAIL ADDRESS PAYMENT DEADLINE Sunday, June 14 Pamela Burdick 301-509-4218 [email protected] 15300 Pine Orchard Dr. #2G Silver Spring, MD. 20906 May 29 Sunday, July 12, Half-Day Sails TBD Saturday, August 1, Full-Moon Sail Sally Shafor 703-960-3380 [email protected] 6483 Brick Hearth Ct. Alexandria, VA. 22306 July 16 Saturday, Sept. 26 Irene Stefanski 703-887-2847 or [email protected] 35 East Walnut St. Alexandria, VA. 22301 Sept 10 TBD Constellation Cup Race on the Bay EJ Ashbourne 202-468-3640 [email protected] 1007 Moss Haven Court Annapolis, MD 21403 16 days prior to race June 26 Times: Full-day sails are 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The half-day sail is from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., or 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.; or you can sail the entire day. The full-moon cruise is from 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.; the Bay looks very different at night with lots fewer boats – and no worry about getting sunburned! Costs: Full-day and full-moon sails cost $71 for members and $78 for guests. Half-day sails cost $36 for members and $41 for guests. You can also sign up for the entire day at the full day price. We MUST have payments from at least 4 people at least 16 days prior to each Bay sail or it WILL be cancelled. Checks should be made payable to SCWDC. Please include your phone number, including a cell phone if available for the day of the sail, and your email address. Information about paying via Event Brite is available on the Club website for each sail. Approximately a week before the sail, the trip leader will email directions and information you need for the trip. For more information on the SCWDC sailing program, please contact Patty Hagan, 703-742-8137/[email protected]. Page 9 - www.SCWDC.org Skiing Looking for Trip Leaders for 2016 Yes, it’s time to start planning for next year’s ski trips, in particular, who are the trip leaders going to be? Anyone who wants to lead a western or international trip next year needs to complete an SCWDC Activity Leader Application Form and return it to the Activity Leader Evaluation Committee (ALEC) no later than April 18, 2015. The form is available in MS Word and .PDF format on our website. You can complete the Word version on your PC/laptop/iPad/smartphone/Smith-Corona typewriter and email it back to ALEC by April 18, 2015, or print the .PDF version, complete it by hand, and get it to the club office by April 18, 2015. Application forms received after April 18, 2015 automatically go to the bottom of the selection list, so don’t miss out on the chance to lead the trip you want just because you absolutely had to catch that next episode of Downton Abbey. Never led a trip before? Want to find out how you can do it, and not have to pay for it (hint: start small)? Did we mention the deadline date for the ALEC form is April 18, 2015? 2014-15 Ski Season – Lessons Learned SCWDC had a great ski season this year, with most of our trips filled, and few trip disruptions, emergencies, or serious injuries. We are already hard at work planning the 2015-16 ski trips schedule. As always, we strive to select world-class ski resorts, convenient air transportation, quality accommodations, and value pricing for our ski trips. Based on our experiences this year, here are a few “lessons learned” that will influence our future plans. The airfare landscape continues to evolve, especially considering the ongoing merger of American Airlines and U.S. Airways. Overall, group reservations continue to shrink as a percentage of total air traffic, and terms & conditions are becoming much less favorable for ski clubs such as SCWDC. We now must finalize our air reservations 90 days prior to trip departure, which means that early trips are paramount! Even though we had to cancel one ski trip this year because of slow signups, interested members were still calling trip leaders about possible openings as late as mid-February, long after the air reservation deadlines. That late in the game, it is too late to secure air or ground reservations. Lesson Learned is: SIGN UP AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! This year (like most years) we have had several late ski trip cancellations due to persona, medical or emergency issues. When our members have to cancel, they are still liable for costs, and finding a replacement can be difficult. These risks can be greatly reduced through trip insurance. For the past several years we have included low-cost trip insurance on our European ski trips, and strongly recommend it for all our ski trips. Lesson Learned is: do your homework, & ask your trip leader about the costs and benefits of trip insurance. Page 10 - www.SCWDC.org Recreation Lunch in Shirlington Ride Date & Time: Sundays, 10 a.m. year-round Location: Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington Leader: C. Ronald Trueworthy, [email protected] 703-525-5197 We meet year-round on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. (for a 10 a.m. departure) on the brick plaza in front of the Shirlington Library / Signature Theater to select a restaurant, then bike a 16-mile loop on the bike trails of Arlington (the Arlington Loop: traveling first on a portion of the W&OD Trail, then the Custis Trail, the Mount Vernon Trail, and the Four Mile Run Trail) with a rest stop at Starbuck’s in Lyon Village, and brief pauses for regrouping as needed. The 3-4 miles on the Custis Trail are hilly; the rest of the ride is pretty flat (average speed on ride is about 10-12 miles per hour; cue sheet available). We should be back by noon for lunch. This is a friendly, social ride; new people are welcome and will soon be part of the regular group. It would be wise to bring a helmet, water, bike lock, money for lunch, and a bicycle in good repair with properly inflated tires. If raining, icy, or temperatures below 40 degrees this ride is a no go. Please email the leader before 9 a.m. if the weather is in doubt, or if you just want confirmation of the ride status. If you only want to eat lunch and skip the ride, we’ll be glad to have you join us. SCWDC presents a great DUDE RANCH adventure: (Pending approval by the SCWDC Board of Directors) Dates: September 6 – 12, 2015 Leader: Nancy Shimp 703-476-5663/[email protected], 11143 Lake Chapel Lane, Reston, VA 20191 Location: Majestic Dude Ranch, Mancos, CO (www.majesticduderanch.com) Member Cost: $2,000; payments: $ 500 Deposit + 3 payments of $500 by: 5/5, 6/5, and 7/5. Guests add $60, waitlisted until July 5, 2015. Cancellation Date: July 5, 2015 ($50 cancellation fee, plus all unrecoverable expenses for cancellations after July 5.) Trip Includes: • Always-available drinks, snacks, bottomless cookie jar • Round-trip air on United — Dulles to Durango via (fresh baked daily) Denver and transfers to/from ranch • Outdoor movies (with fresh made popcorn), karaoke, • Six nights in cabin, all meals (5-star chef), daily maid cowboy singing/dancing, cookouts service, free wi-fi, excellent cell service, in-room • Scheduled trips to Durango (35 min drive) refrigerator, and • Heated outdoor swimming pool, large Jacuzzi, steam • snacks upon arrival room, gym • Daily 1 to 6-hour trail rides (all levels) with guides with • MLB baseball-sized field and 1st class batting cage over two million acres of Colorado National Forest to • Roping lessons, archery, hay rides, ping pong, explore basketball • Assigned horse and full-suspension mountain bike • Clay pigeon shooting • Fly-fishing tying lessons and guided fly-fishing • Tours to Mesa Verde national landmark excursions • Amazing views of La Plata Mountains in San Juan Mt • Hike12,800 ft mountain summit with owner range 2015 Bike trip in the Loire Valley of France Date: May 22 to 31 Trip Cost: Approximately $3,000. A $500 deposit will hold your place on this great trip. Includes round-trip air, lodging, bike rental, and most meals. Leader: Judy Burlbaugh, 703-772-1733, [email protected] Trip Highlights A couple of hours south of Paris, the Loire Valley is a cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments, and cultivated lands formed by many centuries of interaction between the population and the physical environment. • Cycle the quiet back roads of the Loire Valley, the “Garden of France” • Visit majestic châteaux, superb vineyards, and quaint medieval villages • Ride around 60 km (37 to 40 mi) a day along trails and quiet back roads • Sample regional wine and freshly-prepared cuisine We will stay 2 nights in Blois, 2 nights in Amboise, and 2 nights in either Chitney or Cheveny. We ride 16 to 31 miles each day, mostly on quiet back roads that wind through pastoral scenes. Pass traditional communities with fresh flower markets, produce stands, and fine chocolate, while sampling the region’s exceptional wines and authentic, freshly-prepared French cuisine. Page 11 - www.SCWDC.org Tennis Ski Club Indoor Tennis parties are held almost every Saturday night at tennis clubs in Virginia or Maryland from September through March, and then one party each in April, May, and June. Tennis parties are social events where participants from intermediates to advanced players have a chance to play and mingle while enjoying a light buffet and beverages. Ski Club members who reserve in advance with a check mailed to the leader of that week’s party, pay $20 for a Virginia or Maryland party. Non-members who make an advance reservation only pay $5 more. “Phone” reservations pay the “at-the-door” prices, $5 more. All prices are listed on the Tennis Party Application available on the SCWDC web site. Walk-ins (no reservation) are welcome but a playing spot cannot be guaranteed. 2015 winter parties have been mostly filling up in advance. The Tennis Party Application in this magazine (and also as a downloadable document from the web site) can be filled in, saved, and sent or emailed to the tennis party leader. The application asks for an email address and phone number from every new player, allowing the tennis professional who is setting up the party’s rotation, to talk/correspond to place players in the appropriate ability-level group. We request that you send the application with a check, or email the application after making an advance PayPal payment via the SCWDC Meetup Group or Eventbrite. An advance reservation is necessary to be assured a playing spot. Currently, Paypal payments are available via Meetup.com or Eventbrite.com. The application is available below. Each tennis event posted on the SCWDC web site has links to Meetup and Eventbrite. Plan to arrive between 6:15 - 6:45 p.m. to check in and we suggest you allow ample travel time because of possible traffic delays along the way. If you arrive after 7:30 p.m., you may be replaced by a standby and forfeit the entire cost of the party. All but one party are at the Fairfax Racquet Club from 7 – 11 p.m. with almost an additional free hour from 11 – 11:45 p.m. Everyone is assigned two hours of mixed and same-sex doubles. Free tennis lessons are sometimes provided when courts are available. These parties are for adults 21 or older. Party attendance is a mix of very active singles and couples from their late 20s to 60’s. Parties average 64 players each week but some have up to 80 in attendance. Male/female split is close to half and half each party. The SCWDC rating system is based on U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) standards. If you don’t know about this scale or are not sure of your rating, or have questions about the tennis parties, contact Jack Tarr (Tennis Professional) at [email protected]. A minimum USTA 2.5 (Basic..Intermediate) skill level is required. You must be able to keep the ball in play, serve effectively, and know basic tennis tactics. Beginners are encouraged to try their local county government recreation programs or tennis clubs for lessons. You may also attend a party without playing tennis. Just pay $10 at the door and you can eat, drink, and socialize. Bring your racket and wear or bring tennis clothes and you can play from 11 - 11:45 p.m. at no charge. You might also play if someone drops out of the matches. If there is an opening on the court later, you can play at no extra charge. Refunds: If you have an advance reservation and learn that you can’t attend, call the leader as soon possible. The refund schedule is at the bottom of the Tennis Party Application on the website. Page 12 - www.SCWDC.org Tennis Sat, March 14 Fairfax Racquet Club Leaders: Pat Greason & Rebecca Sekse 4133 Maple Ave Fairfax, VA 22032 703-343-6460, [email protected] Sat, May 2 Fairfax Racquet Club Leader: Cyndy Lavoie and Rany Simms 12138 Brantleigh Place Fairfax Station, VA 22039 703-222-9830 [email protected] Sat, March 21 Fairfax Racquet Club Leaders: Julia Zachary & Bobi Normyle 4242 East West Hwy. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-652-2373 [email protected] Tuesday Night Tennis at Wakefield Date and Time: Every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Leader: Gene Lee, [email protected] Location: Wakefield Park, Annandale VA Cost: Actual costs for court rentals as determined by leader This is a “weather permitting” event - if it is at least 50° and the courts are dry. Play begins at 5 p.m., but might start earlier. During the summer we start as early as 4 p.m. and often play until 8 p.m. This event is organized by email. If you are writing on the day of the event, please write before 10 a.m. If your email is not acknowledged, you can still come - and take any space available. It’s best if you write the night before. That way, if there are special arrangements (like cancellation) you will be notified via email. To get on the email list, email Gene. We reserve courts to accommodate the number who sign up in advance, but drop-ins are OK. Costs are shared among participants, based on court rental fees paid to Fairfax County Park Authority. This is a selfrated social doubles format open to all levels - starting with players who can serve and return serve. We try to place everyone at their correct level; however this cannot be guaranteed. Time to socialize after tennis continues at a local pub at individual cost. When this issue went to press, the start date for TNT had not been decided. Check the SCWDC web site calendar for March and April to see when it will start. Sat, March 28 Fairfax Racquet Club Leaders: Buck Redman/asst. Megan O’Connor 6007 Conway Rd Bethesda MD 20817 301-530-1861 [email protected] Sat, April 4 Fairfax Racquet Club Leaders: Janet Sabo/asst. Alice Burin 5418 Rumsey Place Fairfax, VA 22032 703-916-8481 sabosquared@aol,com * * * Application for SCWDC Tennis Party * * * Date of Party __________ Location (Club) ___________________________________________ Name _______________________________________________________ Sex (Circle) M F Phone (H) ______________ (Off/Cell) ______________ Email ____________________________ Advance Reservation (circle) Cost Pay at Door (circle) Member* Guest No Tennis Member* Guest $20 $18 $25 $23 $10 $25 $21 $30 $26 No Tennis $10 *Must be be aa current current2013-14 SCWDCSCWDC membermember or haveormailed application to SCWDC officeoffice have mailed application to SCWDC Amount Enclosed $__________. (Send check to party leader, payable to SCWDC) I volunteer to bring food or drinks which will be reimbursed ____ To help clean up ____ I could bring: __________________________________________________________________ TENNIS RATING: Circle type of rating below. O = Official USTA League; Circle Level of Team: 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 N = NTRP Rating by Certified Pro: Rating ____ Name of Pro _________________ Year ______ S = Self Rating (Circle One): Expert: Hits hard, places serve, very consistent; Excellent: Moderate hitter & server Intermediate: Consistent with all shots & serves; Basic: Light hitter, weak serve, not steady Page 13 - www.SCWDC.org Social Happy Hours Lucky 7 Happy Hours March Happy Hour @ McKeevers Pub March Lucky 7 HH Date & Time: Thursday, March 19, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Leader: Bob Sobun, 703-503-3294 Location: McKeevers Pub in McLean, 6625 Old Dominion Dr., McLean, VA 22101 703-790-9453 http://mckeevers.webs.com/ April Happy Hour @ Rock Bottom in the Ballston Mall Date and Time: Thursday, April 16, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Leader: Bob Sobun, 703-503-3294 Location: Rock Bottom Brewery 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203 703-516-7688, http://www.rockbottom.com/ Team Sports Monday Night Volleyball Advance reservation not required. Beginners and newcomers always welcome. Two levels of play, social and advanced. Meet afterward for refreshments. We meet every Monday night throughout the year. Questions: John Henrehan, [email protected], cell: 202-438-5640 or Ira Silvergleit, [email protected], cell: 240-263-8217. Event Pricing Member Cost $5 Guest Cost $8 Date & Time: Every Monday night, 6:30 - 9 p.m., September – May (except Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Labor Day) Location: Jelleff ’s Recreation Center, 3265 S Street NW, Washington, just off Wisconsin Ave. Friday Night Bowling Date & Time: Every Friday night, 7:30 p.m. Location: Bowl America, 140 South Maple Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046, 703-534-1370 Cost: Pro-rated cost for lane rentals + shoes Leader: Pete Campbell [email protected] 703-532-5862 We offer casual, non-stressful, group bowling for those who wish to participate. Each week we will send out an email to see who is interested in bowling that Friday (from prior attendance) and will reserve the necessary lanes to accommodate. This of course will be dependent on lanes available. That’s right, you will not need to commit to bowl every Friday; only those Fridays you want to. If this is your first time, please email Pete at [email protected] Date & Time: Saturday March 7, 5:30 p.m. Leader: Jane Wiegand, 703-606-5233 April Lucky 7 HH Date & Time: Tuesday April 7, 5:30 p.m. Leader: Jane Wiegand, 703-606-5233 Location: Maplewood Grill 132 Branch Ave. SE Vienna, VA 22180 703-281-0070 Down Maple Ave. from Tyson’s Corner near Giant Food Store Wednesday Night Golf at Jefferson District Park Date and Time: Weekly, starting on Wednesday, March 18. Tee times will be approximately 5:30 to 6 p.m. See our website for details. Leader: Geoffrey Pennoyer, 202-702-6044, televue.35@ verizon.net Location: Jefferson District Park, 7900 Lee Highway, Falls Church VA 22042, 703-573-0443. Cost: $18 for nine holes. Pay at the course. Tuesday Evening Spring and Summer Softball Date and Time: Softball will be starting Tuesday, April 14. Leader: Bill Wilkinson, 703-861-1171, [email protected] Location: Roundtree Park in Annandale, Virginia Cost: $2.00 for field plus softballs and whatever you pay for beer and pizza. Email Bill so he can put you on the softball email list. Page 14 - www.SCWDC.org Hikes March 2015 Glover-Archbold Park - Washington, DC Date and Time: Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. – about noon Leader: Bob Brambilla, 703-379-4520 (H) & 703- 475-7138 (c)/[email protected] Distance and Difficulty: 4 miles, moderate (elevation change & creek crossings) Directions: 4405 Edmunds St NW, Washington, DC 20007. Meet in NW DC at the corner of Foxhall Rd. and Edmunds St. NW DC. Call Leader if further direction is needed. Information: We will explore this wonderful section of woods in the heart of Northwest DC! If you’ve never been there, you will find it hard to believe you’re in the city. One of this leader’s favorites! SNP Timber Hollow Natural-History Bushwhack Date and Time: Saturday, March 14, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (all-day hike) Join Bob Pickett on an adventurous 5-6 mile bushwhack along a former mountain road 1,500’ down into the Timber Hollow watershed to find former home sites and artifacts of the mountain residents who lived here just 80 years ago. Being a natural-history hike, this moderately difficult hike will find us looking for signs of wildlife and learning about how nature survives during this winter time of scarcity. We’ll also talk about the life of the mountaineers during the golden age of this Blue Ridge area. Dinner will be at the Corner Cafe in Little Washington after the hike. For meeting at the trail head, please contact the leader. INFO: Bob Pickett, [email protected]/ 240-457-0352. Sligo Creek Park - Silver Spring, MD Date and Time: Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. – about noon Leader: Pam Burdick, 301-509-4218 Distance and Difficulty: 5 miles, easy Directions: 9701 Sligo Creek Parkway Silver Spring, Maryland. Park at the parking lot across the street from the golf course clubhouse. Information: Come and take a relaxing walk around Sligo Creek Park in suburban Maryland. After the walk, enjoy a nice lunch at a Mexican Restaurant in Silver Spring, MD. There are NO restrooms onsite. Cabin John Regional Park - Bethesda, MD Date and Time: Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. – about noon Leader: Amelia Lancellotti, 301-237-6755/amelia_ [email protected] Distance and Difficulty: 4 miles, easy Directions: 10610 Westlake Dr. Bethesda, MD 20817. Westlake Drive has to be accessed from Democracy Blvd off of I-270 or Tuckerman Lane off Old Georgetown Road. Park near the entrance of the lot for the ice rink. Information: Cabin John Regional Park features a nature center and walking trails primarily of natural surfaces. April 2015 Great Falls Park - Great Falls, VA Date and Time: Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (longer than normal hike) Leader: Rick Goulet, 703-606-0706/[email protected] Distance & Difficulty: 6 miles, moderate (some flat, some rocks, some hills) Directions: 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 221021019.Take I-495 to Georgetown Pike West (Rt. 193) toward Great Falls. At the intersection of Georgetown Pike (193) and Old Dominion Dr., turn right into Great Falls entrance (there is a sign). Entrance fee is $5 per car. Follow the road to the parking lot on your right. The traffic often backs up at the entrance so arrive at park 15 minutes early. Information: We will meet outside under the Visitor’s Center. This scenic hike is like 3 different hikes rolled up into one.The hike starts out with stops at two overlooks to view the falls close-up and from a distance. Part 1 of the hike follows the Potomac River. Part 2 follows the mid-size stream called Difficult Run. Part 3 we hike through the forested interior of the park. Restrooms and food can be found at the Visitor’s Center. We will not be taking a lunch break, but we will be taking a 5 minute snack break near the 1/2 way point. Rock Creek Park and Upper NW - Washington, DC Date and Time: Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. – about noon. Leader: Bob Brambilla, 703-379-4520, c 703-475-7138/ [email protected] Distance and Difficulty: 4 miles, easy Directions: 3520 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington DC at Cleveland Park Metro Station. Information: Join us on this lovely walk which cuts through the National Zoo to the Western Ridge Trail in the Rock Creek Regional Park. Cherry Blossom’s/Tidal Basin - Washington, DC Date and Time: Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. – about noon. Leader: Amelia Lancellotti, 301-237-6755/amelia_ [email protected] Distance & Difficulty: 4+ miles, easy Directions: We will meet on the Mall exit of the Smithsonian Metro Station on the Orange/Blue Line. 1200 Jefferson Dr SW is at the intersection of Jefferson Dr SW & 12th St SW Information: The cherry blossoms should be at their peak. Come and enjoy this scenic walk in DC Brookside Gardens - Wheaton, MD Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. – about noon. Leader: Amelia Lancellotti, 301-237-6755, amelia_ [email protected] Distance and Difficulty: 4 miles, easy Directions: 2000 Shorefield Rd Wheaton, MD 20902. Meet in parking lot in Wheaton Regional Park. Due to construction of parking lot at Visitor Center in Brookside Gardens, we will be Page 15 - www.SCWDC.org SKI CLUB OF WASHINGTON, D.C. 5309 LEE HIGHWAY ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22207 Hikes meeting in Wheaton Regional Park & walking into Brookside Gardens from there. Information: Come and enjoy this beautiful park! Hike includes the greenhouse and gazebo with pond and fish. In the springtime, there are azaleas, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, and more blooming. You are welcome to join us for an optional meal at the Stained Glass Pub, 12510 Layhill Rd Silver Spring, MD 20906. Page 16 - www.SCWDC.org