May 2020 – High Park Ski Club Blog

2020-05-19

A Unique Election Night

It really does take a village to run the club. Everything we do starts with volunteers to plan, negotiate, and run.

Thanks to all the members who logged into a unique electronic election night on April 30. And thank you to Adrian, Colin, and Stella for ensuring the night ran smoothly.

Congratulations to our new volunteer Board of Directors for the next two years:

President – Justin Graham

Director of Finance – Clark Seaton

Director of Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding – David Manning

Director of Nordic Skiing and Fitness – Heather Steel

Director of Long Trips – Bill Bates

Director of Downhill Daytrips – Erika Clark

Director of Social Activities – Amy Lam

Director of Communications – Nemanja Davidovic

Director of Marketing Jennifer Beatty

Director of Administration and Corporate Secretary – Vic Schroter

Director of Membership and Volunteers – Ruth Schefter

Director of Information Technology – Alex Radulescu

At our first meeting of the new Board, as per our club By-Laws, Heather Steel was selected and approved as club Vice President.

The board would like to thank the fantastic members who have who have chosen to step away as club directors . . .

Laura Headon – who was able to add a stabilizing influence as Financial Director after a bit of fluctuation in the role.

Colin Marsh – who did a fantastic job as Marketing Director and Vice President.

Iuliana Ilie – for stepping in last season in the role of Social Director – unfortunately your work on the 70^th Gala was not realized because of COVID-19.

Christine Bellerose – for handling both the snow school, as well as being liaison for the last season between the board and the alpine daytrips team. Enjoy your new role with ski school.

We would also like to congratulate and thank Stella Rossovskaia for her long-time dedication to the club as a trip leader, social director, and as President over the last two years.

Without our volunteers, the club would not be able to operate. Please consider volunteering some of your time. If you are interested please contact our Director of Membership and Volunteers at membership@hpsc.ca

2020-05-192020-06-10

Looking forward and planning ahead

First, I hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy in this unprecedented time. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in person at some point in the future. When that time will be is still up in the air, but your new board of directors is forging ahead putting together preliminary plans for next season.

I am personally honoured to have been elected as your next President of High Park Ski Club and look forward to working with all of the newly elected and returning Directors in order serve you, our fantastic members, over the next two years.

None of us has a crystal ball to see what the conditions we will be operating under in six months or even in two months, but we must move forward with planning for next season. However, with the understanding that we may need to adjust to the rules and regulations we are faced with. As we have, we will continue to follow the advice of public health officials and government to ensure that our members remain safe.

As a club, we will face numerous challenges over the next year to get back to what we have come to expect is normal or what we will come to see as the new normal. But it is through the community of fantastic members, volunteers, and board members that I believe we can achieve this.

Over the next couple of months, we will be soliciting members to better understand your feelings, plans, concerns, and suggestions for next season. Your responses will help to guide plans for the coming year.

I hope we will all be able to come together again, sooner rather than later, in person to celebrate our club and catch up with all of our HPSC friends and raise a pint or a glass or two!

Cheers!

Justin Graham

HPSC President

2020-05-14

Cross-country volunteer opportunity!

The HPSC cross-country team met recently to debrief last season and start planning for next season.

Clearly, next season will depend on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses through the summer. However, as of now, we are planning for a full 2020-2021 season. The club as a whole will discuss contingency plans as the summer progresses.

In the meantime, we are recruiting volunteers! We have a new opportunity perfect for those looking for a way to give back, but who are able to commit only a bit of time.

Next year, we’d like to offer 3-4 group ski opportunities for beginner new members. These would be held on select trips in January and early February in the afternoon. We are looking for members who would be willing to lead these group skis. The time commitment is approximately 2 hours in the afternoon on one ski day (or however many you want to lead). You would be leading a group of beginners on some of the easier trails at the resort. The goal is socializing and fun! No need to be a long time member, or a high level skier. The only requirement is a friendly attitude!

We hope these group skis will allow new members the opportunity to meet more skiers at their level outside of the lessons and feel more comfortable from the get go in the club.

If you’re interested, please email Heather at crosscountry@hpsc.ca.

Have a great summer!