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Minutes of the Fall 2010 Blue Ridge Ski Council Meeting
Date:
Location:
Host Club:
Attendees:
October 17, 2010
Maggiano’s, McLean, VA
Capital Golden Skiers (CGS)
The Attendance List is available on this link.
Call to Order
Peter Porton (VP) called the meeting to order at 8:30 am as required by BRSC by-laws
because President Pat Crowley had stated she would be absent due to illness.
38 representatives from 14 member clubs introduced themselves plus the following tour
operators: Dan Ellis, Winter Ski and Sport; Judy Miller, Group Trips Unlimited; Effie
Rubinstein, Sportours of New Jersey, and Dorothea Rasser, Ski Europe, [Andre Gupta,
Ski Alpine Experience had to cancel].
Date & Host for Spring 2011 BRSC Meeting
The BRSC Spring meeting will be hosted by the Columbia Ski Club. Location and date
to be determined (see end of Minutes for date amendment).
Executive Committee Reports
Spring 2010 Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes from the Spring BRSC meeting
was made by Frank Peñaranda and passed unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report: Steve Peirce presented the balance sheet of income and expenses.
The current total BRSC checking plus savings amount balance is ~$17,000. Ted Dietz,
Columbia Ski Club, questioned the loss on the Bormio, Italy trip, which incurred due to
additional transportation costs. The Treasurer's Report is available on this link.
BRSC Membership Dues are $ .15 per member; $5 minimum/$35 maximum per club,
payable at the Spring meeting each year or NLT the Fall meeting.
Race Report: Dave Olsen, BRSC Race Coordinator, presented Race Rules and
Registration Procedures (available on this link) for the February 2011 Western Carnival
at Park City, Utah. There is no change to the rules. The welcome party has been
scheduled for Monday, and the race will be on Wednesday instead of Tuesday this time.
Dave will request racer’s information from each club by January 21st and will distribute
bibs at the welcome party.
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Standing Committee Reports
Website: Dave Olsen gave an update on the BRSC website project. Laura Harley
agreed to do the redesign based on the guidance she received so far from Pat, Dave, and
Frank. She hopes to show her draft later this month. The project is planned to be
completed next year. (This project was approved and funded two years ago.)
Frank Peñaranda gave his Webmasters Report reporting that 18 clubs have sanctioned
their club trips for a total of 57 trips so far. The two BRSC Trips – Western Carnival and
Eurofest are automatically added to the site and club contacts are listed for no additional
charge.
Trip Sanctioning: Peter Porton announced that the Executive Committee has delegated
the task of receiving and approving all trip sanctioning requests to Frank Penaranda as the
BRSC Webmaster. Frank will review, approve and post all sanctioned trips after
receiving the required fees. This approach should expedite the sanctioning process. Frank
announced that the Sanctioning Procedures will be updated in the website.
Frank emphasized again that trip sanctioning is a win-win opportunity for the BRSC and
individual clubs: a wide variety of winter trips and more and more summer trips are
offered on the BRSC website. For only $10 per sanctioned trip, clubs increase their
chance to fill their trips. SCWDC announced that their Performance Ski Enhancement
Trips will also be added to the website for the upcoming ski season. Asked about
specific restrictions for trip sanctioning, Peter Porten replied that certain requirements
must be met. For example, each club must vet their trip leaders. Also, all overseas trips
must include medical insurance.
Old Business
2011 BRSC Trips Status
Western Carnival – Park City, Utah, February 5/6 – 12/13, 2011
Noble McClellan, BRSC Trip Coordinator, reported participation of 9 clubs so far with
over 300 guests. Accommodations are at the Park City Peaks hotel, Park Station Condos
and the Yarrow Resort Hotel. All rooms at the Park City Peaks are sold out; some are
left at the Yarrow. Judy Miller, GTU, explained the itinerary of the week and ensured
ground transportation is available to accommodate all travelers even though ¼ of the
group is arranging their own air travel. She also let everybody know that there will be a
drawing at the Farewell Dinner Dance at Park City for a huge prize: 5 nights stay and 4
days of skiing for two at Big Sky!
Eurofest – Aosta Valley, Italy, February 25 – March 5, 2011
Jerry Poley, BRSC Trip Coordinator, reported the trip is 83% sold. So far 7 clubs have
signed up with 153 participants. He strives to improve communications with club
contacts to reach all the BRSC members and invite them to participate in this trip.
Dorothea Rasser, Ski Europe, presented the itinerary of the week and announced the post
trip extensions to Rome, Zermatt (SSS for 1 week), London, and Paris. She promoted the
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trip to be an excellent choice for non-skiers who may enjoy the daily excursions and trip
extension choices.
Hot Topics
One unnamed topic was submitted for discussion by Email. The BRSC committee
members voted unanimously not to address this item. The issue was internal to The
Columbia Ski Club and should not be addressed at this meeting.
Old Issue proposed by Frank Peñaranda, BRSC webmaster: How much to charge for
sanctioning non-ski trips. Mikes Jones, President, Baltimore Ski Club, explained how
successful Summer trips have been advertised on the BRSC website and members agreed
to ask the same price for all sanctioned trips is fair. Sonny Short, Peninsula Ski Club
moved to charge $10 for all Non-ski trips. Seconded by Connie Wiley, Fredericksburg
Ski Club, the motion passed unanimously.
New Business
Vendor Presentation of Bids for 2012 Western Carnival – Vail and Snowmass
In September, Gary Prestiani, BRSC Trip Coordinator recommended that the Council
drop the Vail option for several reasons: dates, cost, banquet space tied to 100 room
minimum. Pat Crowley, President agreed to go with Snowmass, the lower risk
alternative. “There is no way Blue Ridge clubs can guarantee that 200 participants would
choose to stay outside of Lionshead and Vail Village and stay at the hotel (Vail
Cascades) just so we can reserve their banquet room.”
The three selected tour operators - Judy Miller, GTU; Effie Rubinstein – Sportours; and
Dan Ellis - Winter Ski and Sport - presented their bids for Snowmass, for 10 minutes
each.
After a short discussion, the voting process started. In addition to the regular votes
allowed (per representative at the meeting, up to a total of three votes), each club
could cast up to three extra votes, depending on the number of BRSC trips taken
(separately for Western Carnival and for Eurofest) in the past three years. If three trips
were taken, three additional votes could be added; (two trips – two votes; one trip - one
vote.) These extra votes are for trips from 2008 through 2010. Lists showing the extra
votes for each club were made available.
Vendor Presentation of Bids for 2012 Eurofest – Andorra and La Plagne, France
Judy Burlbaugh, BRSC coordinator, distributed the confidential bids for Eurofest. GTU
and Ski Europe did not provide bids for La Plagne. They didn’t think the location would
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be suitable for a Council trip. GTU ’s bid for France was for Trois Vallee. Ski Alpine
Experience provided a bid for La Plagne. All three tour operators offered proposals for
Andorra.
The Council decided to vote for location first and then for vendor. A show of hands
resulted in 7 votes for France and 16 for Andorra.
After a short discussion, the voting process started. All paper votes were counted by
committee members Steve Peirce and Inge Lesjak for both vendor selections.
The winners are:
Sportours for 2012 Western Carnival – Snowmass, February 11 - 18
GTU for 2012 Eurofest – Andorra, March 2 – 10
Victor deLeo from Big Sky, Montana, a valued sponsor of this meeting, made a
presentation informing us about the new attractions at the resort: a new lift from the
village center, the Mountain Grill restaurant, a huge zip line and improved connections to
Moonlight Basin and Yellowstone Park. He donated “Spankies” (goggle lens cloths) to
all representatives.
Future Year Trip Destinations
Dan Ellis spoke briefly, recommending establishing two future destinations of interest
and then considering one for the bid process. It will help coordinators to plan ahead,
especially for air space.
Peter Porton led the discussion about future destination for the Western Carnival. The
group decided on Big Sky and Steamboat to be considered for 2013.
Judy Burlbaugh solicited future destinations for Eurofest. Suggestions from the council
are: France - Chamonix and Trois Vallee; Switzerland – Interlaken/Grindelwald; Japan;
and Austria – Zell am See.
The Council decided on Trois Vallee, France to be considered for 2013 and Chamonix,
France for 2014.
2011 Elections
The positions of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are up for election at the Spring
2011 meeting. Frank Peñaranda volunteered and was selected to chair the Election
Committee. Interested candidates should contact him.
Breakout Sessions convened at 3:20 pm
During the break out sessions for Park City, Utah and Aosta Valley, Italy, tour operators
explained weekly itineraries and trip leader admin responsibilities. Especially for the
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European trip it is important to collect correct personal information based on current TSA
regulations.
For Aosta, Dorothea will email required forms, admin instructions and planned tour
programs to each trip leader.
For Park City, Judy will request ground transportation requirements for travelers making
their own airline reservations. Kitty Imdahl (now a resident at Park City) gave an
update on the three ski areas: Park City, Deer Valley, and the Canyons. She plans to
email more information to all trip leaders about ski and non-ski activities at Park City
Adjournment
Peter thanked everybody for attending the meeting. The formal meeting ended when
members gathered for the breakout sessions, which finished at 4:15 pm.
Decision Summary
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Spring Meeting set for April 30, 2011 hosted by the Columbia Ski Club
Approved Spring 2010 meeting minutes
Approved Treasurer’s report
Acknowledged race rules for Park City, Utah
BRSC website project to be completed next year
Trip Sanctioning procedures to be added to website
Selected Andorra for 2012 Eurofest: March 2-10 with Judy Miller, GTU, as tour
operator
Selected Snowmass, Colorado for 2012 Western Carnival: February 11-18 with
Effie Rubinstein, Sportours, as tour operator
Selected 2013 Eurofest destination – Trois Vallee, France
Selected 2014 Eurofest destination – Chamonix, France
Selected 2013 Western Carnival destinations – Big Sky and Steamboat
Amended: all clubs who voted on the e-mailed motion regarding the date of the next
meeting concurred to have the Spring BRSC meeting date on Saturday, April 30; this is
the day after the Paul Webber Ski Show, as was agreed upon at the meeting.
Inge Lesjak, Secretary
skislovenia@aol.com
October 22, 2010
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