April 2007 Newsletter Archive

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The FaGowee International, Sacramento Chapter

April 2007

May 4th @ 5:30 pm
Diane Wilson’s Home
9716 Elmira Circle, Sacramento
(near Folsom Blvd & Bradshaw)

BYOB (of course)
RSVP is a must because the club will be furnishing the food.
No RSVP. No Food

Contact:
Karen Fontaine @ 985-8523 or Diane @ 361-3140

BYOS — Bring Your Own Sombrero!

MAY ELECTIONS!!!
May 22, 2007

Would You Like To Run for; President? Vice President?
Secretary? Treasurer? ANYTHING?

Election Night will be held during the board meeting being hosted at Kati White’s house. (See page 4 for address)

Nominations MUST be in writing by April 24th.

Media Advisory: Contact: Drisha Leggitt
October 2006 (916) 206-2553

34th Annual Eppie’s Great Race
Saturday, July 21, 2007

WHAT: This year’s 34th annual Eppie’s Great Race—the World’s Oldest Triathlon—is scheduled for Saturday, July 21, 2007. Both teams and/or individuals can compete in divisions from “Junior,” to “Iron Person,” 70 years and older. Continuing in 2007 is the “Kids’ Duathlon, a 2.5 mile run, and a 6 mile bike ride; where children can train with their families, and compete in their own race. Great Race participants run, bike and paddle kayaks on a racecourse located on and alongside the American River Bike Trail. Race event volunteers, event sponsors and potential exhibitors, as well as race participants, are encouraged to check www.thegreatrace.org, to sign up for this year’s event or receive more information.

WHEN: Saturday, July 21, 2007

START TIMES:
7:58 a.m. - Adaptive Divisions.
8:00 a.m. - Ironpersons & all other teams.

WHERE: American River Parkway, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.

· Begins at William Pond Recreation Area: Directions to William Pond Recreation Area: From Hwy. 50 exit Watt Avenue North, turn right on Fair Oaks Blvd., and then right on Arden Way to the park. From Business 80 (Capital City Freeway), exit Arden Way East and stay on Arden Way to the park.

· Run to Bike transition: East end of the Guy West Bridge off University Ave., across from CSUS.

· Bike to Boat transition: Lower Sunrise Parking Lot and Footbridge. Hwy. 50 East; Exit Sunrise north (left over the freeway); Right on S. Bridge Dr. (toward American River Raft Rentals; if you cross Sunrise Bridge you’ve gone too far); Go past American River Raft Rentals; Left at intersection—about ½ mile to the parking lot.

WHY:              The Great Race has been implemented each year as a fundraising event benefiting programs for the Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services (SCTRS) that support
                        mentally- and physically-challenged people. One hundred percent of The Great Race entry fees are donated to support SCTRS. To date, The Great Race has raised more than
                        $707,800 for SCTRS and now accounts for over 20 percent of the program’s overall budget.

FURTHER INFO:
For more information check the web site at: www.thegreatrace.org or call (916) 381-0255.

DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US AT THE
SOCIAL MEETINGS!
See Page 4 for times and places!

Board Members

PRESIDENT
Jim Van Riper
721-0892

VICE-PRESIDENT
Richard Persons
977-0559

SECRETARY
Cynthia Barlow
722-1427

TREASURER
Norman Benedict
985-8523

MEMBERSHIP
Karen Fontaine-Benedict
985-8523

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR
Lauri Thompson
987-1817

RACE
Lee Johnson
457-7743

NEWSLETTER/ WEBMASTER
Tracee Carter
509-279-8454

HISTORIAN
Bob McDonald
817-4277

Discount Ski Tickets
Rob Rice
984-1567

Prez Says

     I’m sitting here thinking how blessed I’ve been to have met so many friends over the years as a result of being a member of this club. So thinking of what to say in the Prez Says article has been very difficult for me, because I see another side that really needs to be addressed.
    I’m not one that wants to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m saddened to say that I see the very possible demise of the Sacramento FaGowee Ski Club. This club has been in active existence for over 25 years and has served many members and their friends in many capacities by hosting innumerable events, most being very successful.
     However, over the past couple years; I’ve seen a major decline in membership. The attendance at the general meetings, trips and events we’ve held (with the exception of the annual Abalone Dive and Dine) has been dismal, and interest in general has gone down the drain.
     I’ve served as an Executive Board member in several different capacities over the past 8 years, and I’ve served with many dedicated and hard working people that have busted their butts to have this club offer something for everybody. I’ve talked to the members of the current Board and they cannot continue serving in their current capacities for one reason or another, so we need some new blood to take the helm and guide the club into another year.

The 2007/2008 Executive Board elections are scheduled to be held at the General Membership meeting on May 28^th. As of yet, there have been no nominations for any of the Executive Board positions.

Let’s face it folks – if we don’t have an Executive Board, we have NO club!!!

I’ve been asked what would happen to the club’s assets should dissolution happen. As a matter of record, if, in the unfortunate event that this club does dissolve, ARTICLE VI, Section 5 of the Sacramento FaGowee Constitution states as follows:

Upon dissolution or winding up of this organization, its assets remaining after the payment of, or provision for the payment of, all debts and liabilities of this organization, shall be distributed to another organization which is organized and operated exclusively for social and recreational purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 50(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. The Executive Board sitting at the time of dissolution shall execute the requirement of this section.

So please talk to your friends and seriously consider about serving yourself to the club that has always been there for you. Please submit your nominations to Bob McDonald at 916-817-4277 before April 20^th so we can get the names of the nominees published in the next issue of the Snow News newsletter prior to the elections next month. It would be a real shame if this club died due to a lack of interest.

Read Your Newsletter

Pictures Wanted!!!
Bob McDonald

Spring has arrived and so has the opportunity for pictures! Take pictures of any FaGowee's having fun so I can include them in our photo albums. The albums are brought to each and every FaGowee function with the photos of our past events, and I depend on you, the general membership,
to supply those photos for the albums. So...get those pictures taken so I can add them to our archives.

Currently I’m looking for pictures from Yosemite Trip & Family Picnic/Luau!

For the sake of ease in creating and displaying the photo pages, I’d prefer the prints to be 4”x 6” in size.
Also, I would like them in groups of 6 so that they will take up a whole page in the album.
If you have any questions, or photos you’d like to part with, please contact me at 817-4277.

See Photos Online!!!

Special Announcements

April Birthdays

7	Keith Price
8	Danielle Slipen
9	Amy Hibbit
10	Sandy Campbell
14	Jim Wright
27	Susan Mueller
29	Helene Mulligan

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL

I am having several emails returned as incorrect.
If you want email updates about club events
please send me YOUR email address.
Lauri Thompson

Goldpoint
Since the trip to Goldpoint started, there has been a steady dwindling of participants.
It seems once someone has gone (except for a few stalwarts) they choose not to do it again the following year.

This year, if I don’t have 12 people lined up by August 1st, I’m going to cancel the trip.
You can notify me of your intent by emailing me. Please do it before August 1st.

Don Girard ~ ph. 635-8159 ~ fax. 635-5479

Trip, Trips and more Trips

August 16-19, 2007	Annual Abalone Dive & Dine	Karen Fontaine or Norman Benedict 916-985-8523
September 14, 2007	FWSA 15 or 21 day trip to China/Tibet	Norm or Mary Azevedo 925-944-9816

Join us for our Social Meetings!!!
April 24 & May 22 @ 7:00 pm

Social Corner
Please mark your calendars now for the following dates. There is always room for more.

April 24

Board Meeting @ 7:00 pm ~ Round Table Pizza
Corner of Greenback & Sunrise, Citrus Heights

April 24

Social Meeting @ 7:00 pm ~ Round Table Pizza
Corner of Greenback & Sunrise, Citrus Heights

May 4

Cinco De Mayo @ 5:30 pm ~ Diane Wilson’s House MUST RSVP

9716 Elmira Circle, Sacramento ~ 361-3140 or Karen @ 985-8523 (SEE FRONT PAGE)

Cinco De Mayo @ 5:30 pm ~ Diane Wilson’s House MUST RSVP

9716 Elmira Circle, Sacramento ~ 361-3140 or Karen @ 985-8523 (SEE FRONT PAGE)

Cinco De Mayo @ 5:30 pm ~ Diane Wilson’s House MUST RSVP

9716 Elmira Circle, Sacramento ~ 361-3140 or Karen @ 985-8523 (SEE FRONT PAGE)

Cinco De Mayo @ 5:30 pm ~ Diane Wilson’s House MUST RSVP
9716 Elmira Circle, Sacramento ~ 361-3140 or Karen @ 985-8523

May 22

Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm ~ Kati White’s Residence
9449 Appalachian Circle, Sacramento ~ 363-9000

May 22

Social Meeting & Election Night @ 7:00 pm Kati White’s Residence
9449 Appalachian Circle, Sacramento ~ 363-9000

July 21

Eppie's Great Race ~ Rancho Cordova, Sacramento ~ 381-0255

FaGOWEE FUNCTION OR EVENT SIGN-UP LATE FEES
(Approved and Adopted at the Executive Board Meeting on July 11, 2006)

SIGN-UP LATE FEES: On each and every advertised FaGowee club event published in the Snow News newsletter, a sign-up due date will be listed as well as the member and non-member prices to attend that function or event. Any person who signs up and submits their payment for attendance after that published due date will be assessed a 50% late fee penalty. In addition, any person who does not sign up at all to attend a function or event and just shows up at the door will be assessed a 100% late fee penalty (payable in full at that time) before being allowed admittance to that function or event.

FaGOWEE EVENT / TRIP REFUND POLICY
Revised, Approved and Adopted at the Executive Board Meeting, October 8, 2003

The following Refund Policy applies to any Club event for which a fee is charged.
You will automatically receive a 100% refund fur any trip or event cancelled by the Club.
If you cancel and someone takes your place from the waiting list, you will receive a refund of the amount you paid, less a cancellation fee. The cancellation fee will be $10.00 or 10% of the event/trip fee- whichever is more, unless a specific cancellation fee is advertised for the event/trip.
If you cancel and there is no waiting list, or no one on the list takes your place, you will receive a refund of the amount you paid less a cancellation fee and less any expenses that the Club incurs due to your cancellation.
If you arrange for someone not on the waiting list to take your place, you will be responsible for full payment to the Club plus any transfer fees or costs the Club incurs because of the change. Other money transactions are between you and your replacement. You must provide that replacement with a note for the trip leader or you must confirm the replacement directly with the trip leader prior to the event/trip. The person who submits payment must request all refunds from the Executive Board in writing within 60 days after the completion of the event/trip. The Executive Board will review the final financial report from the event/trip and may approve refunds in accordance with this refund policy.
Any member may appeal to the Executive Board for refunds greater than provided by this policy if special circumstances warrant.
There will be no refund for events that are designated as "Fund Raisers" unless they are cancelled or rescheduled by the Club.

Lauri Thompson
916-987-1817

EMAIL UPDATES
Club emails is now the responsibly of the activity director. Please send all future requests for email distributions to the activity director. I am in the process of updating my email address for the club. To expedite this process, if you want to receive the updates please send me your email address to Lauri or Activity Director. Thank you Norm for going above and beyond for so long.

FUTURE EVENTS

BEACH BLANKET BABYLON in San Francisco in the spring. I may turn it into a weekend event by combining it with hiking the coast, Angel Island or seeing the Mountain Play at Mount Tam. Email me your thoughts. Details will be in later newsletters.

ANNUAL ABALONE DIVE & DINE

Get away from it all. Leave the 100+ summer degree heat of home behind and take the scenic route through the California Redwoods to the cooler weather on the coast north of Mendocino. Join us as we relax among the redwoods and sunbathe on one of the cleanest beaches in Northern California. Take a ride on the Skunk Train through some of the most pristine redwood forests you'll ever see. Explore the quaint town of Mendocino, test the libations at the brewpub in Ft. Bragg and join us for a great abalone feast on Saturday night (there will be BBQ chicken for those who have an aversion to abalone).

The club has reserved 14 R/V sites, and most have full hookup available. I will assign sites as I receive your reservation monies, so….. First paid, First Taken. Be forewarned, you snooze-you lose. We have tent sites reserved for those of us still able and would like to “rough it.”

WHERE:
Caspar Beach R/V Park & Campground
14441 Point Cabrillo Dr, Mendocino, CA 95460
www.casparbeachrvpark.com WHEN:
Arrive: Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
Depart: Sunday, Aug 19, 2007
Signup deadline August 1st

YOUR PARTICIPATION COSTS:

· R/V Camping Fees: $30 - $35 per night - most sites have full hookups available. Those staying in R/V sites will be responsible for paying their own camping fees to the R/V Park. The R/V campers will pay the club the "Saturday Night Dinner Only" fees for their attendance.

· Tent Camping Fees: Members: $40 ea. "Wildcard" Guests: $40 ea. Other guests: $50 ea.

· Saturday Dinner Only: Members: $25 ea. "Wildcard" Guests: $25 ea. Other guests: $35 ea.

· Divers: FREE (Please note: "Divers" are defined as those who actually physically go under the water and return with abalone for consumption by the attendees at the Saturday Night Dinner.)

Divers, sign up by July 1^st and your camping or RV site fees will be paid for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

· Children 15 & under: FREE (Children must be accompanied by an adult)

· Pets: The campground charges an additional $2 per night per pet. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to pay this fee

CONTACT: Karen Fontaine or Norman Benedict for more information @ 916-985-8523 or EMAIL To guarantee your reservations, send your check payable to "FaGowee Ski Club" and mail to:

FaGowee Ski Club
1021 Mallard Circle
Folsom, CA 95630
All reservations and payments must be in by August 1^st

PLEASE NOTE that any refunds for this trip will be made strictly in accordance with the current FaGowee Refund Policy as
published in each and every monthly issue of the Sacramento FaGowee Snow News newsletter at www.sacramentofagowees.org.

Discount Tickets

The deadline for returning Homewood & Sugar Bowl Tickets is May 5^th, 2007

Each year the club offers members the chance to purchase lift tickets to the most popular North Tahoe resorts at a discount of $2 to $13 off the normal ticket price. Tickets can be pre-ordered in November each year or they can be purchased throughout the season while supplies last. At the end of the season, unused tickets can be turned in for a credit towards the following season. TICKETS MAY NOT BE TURNED IN FOR CASH.
Members need to turn in Homewood and Sugar Bowl tickets by May 5^th. Tickets turned in late will not be accepted. You can turn in your Alpine, Northstar, and Squaw tickets any time before the end of October 2007. Northstar and Squaw tickets are normally good for discounts on summer activities such as golfing, mountain biking, and the spa at the top of the tram.

Please return unused discount tickets to:
Sacramento FaGowees
c/o Robert Rice
368 North Lexington Dr.
Folsom, CA 95630

Robert Rice
FaGowee Discount Ticket Coordinator
Phone: (916) 996-9842
Email
Web Site: www.ricero.com/fagowee

Race Corner

LAST CHANCE TO RACE THIS YEAR!

This has certainly been an interesting race season! Races were postponed and postponed so that to make them up, we had 4 races in two days during the weekend of March 24. Congratulations to the racers who won medals, especially Mark Hadley who won at least one gold!

The final make up race will be Saturday, April 7 at Mt. Rose. It’s time for YOU to try it. Be there at
registration between 7:30 and 8:30 in the main building. Good luck to all you racers!

Race Schedule
-------------------------------------------------------------

For last minute information on the race call Jo Simpson at (775) 787-7556 or call the hotline (John and Nancy Manter) at (775) 831-6667 in the early morning to make sure it hasn’t been cancelled because of weather or snow conditions.

-------------------------------------------------------------

SAVE MONEY
Go the Sacramento FaGowees Race Team page at www.sacramentofagowees.org/RaceTeam.htm for mailing address and release forms to download and mail. Then contact Andrea Woelfle or
call her at 487-9052 to arrange for a $25 FaGowee rebate.

You can also register online at:
http://www.sierraleague.com/home.jsp

WHERE TO REGISTER IN PERSON FOR THE RACES

Northstar
Register at Timbercreek restaurant at the entrance to the Village.

Homewood
Register in the bar at the South Lodge (formerly Tahoe Ski Bowl). This is about ½ mile down the road from the main parking lot.

Diamond Peak
Register in the bar upstairs in the main lodge.

Alpine Meadows
Register in the main cafeteria next to the stairs that go down to the special tickets office.

Heavenly
Registration is in the Cal Bar in the main California Lower Lodge, upstairs by the cafeteria. FWRA: from 7 to 9 AM

NON-RACERS SKI CHEAPER!

Racers get discount prices on lift tickets on race days – usually about $8-$12. Non-racers get the same price! Just show up where racers register between 7:30 and 8:30 (see schedules and registration locations in this issue) and you’ll get the same price!

Keep up with the Sierra League at their website
http://www.sierraleague.com/home.jsp
Check out their Travel Page that has been updated with new trips!!

NEED ADVERTISING SPACE? WANT TO SELL SOMETHING?

Several club members have recently made inquiries as to the possibility of placing personal advertisements in the Snow News. The Executive Board addressed that question at the January ’05 Executive Board Meeting. Effective immediately, we will be accepting personal advertisements for publication in your newsletters.

If you have something to sell or if you want to advertise your business, you can now place your personal advertisement in the Snow News, and your cost of placing each ad will be as follows:

AD SPACE SIZE:	MEMBER PRICE:	NON-MEMBER PRICE:
*Business Card Size* (2-1/8”H x 3-1/2"W)	$ 5.00 per month	$10.00 per month
*¼ Page Size* (4”H x 3-1/4”W)	$10.00 per month	$15.00 per month
*½ Page Size* (4”H x 6-1/2”W)	$15.00 per month	$20.00 per month

The Usual Small Print:

Personal ads will be published one-time per month for the above-indicated prices. Please include your payment along with your ad and mail it to the FaGowee post office box.

Your ad and payment must be received at the FaGowee post office box on or before the 10^th of the month to be included in the following month’s newsletter.

The Publications Editor has the right to refuse any advertisement that may be deemed inappropriate.

FWSA is offering a 15 or 21 day China/Tibet
Sept, 14^th, 2007
CLICK HERE for more info

Lhasa, Tibet & China - When we heard that the first passenger train from Beijing to Lhasa Tibet opened in July 2006, we wanted to be one of the first tour groups to take the trip. So we have arranged an adventure trip to China including the train trip to Tibet starting on September 14, 2007. The train ride from Beijing to Lhasa takes 48 hours and is 2,500 miles long with terrain over 13,000 feet above sea level. Oxygen supplies are provided in the railcar. What an experience this will be for FWSA adventurers. We have excursion options in Beijing and Shanghai for those who took the previous FWSA China trip with exciting alternative places to visit. See the flier for the sites and cities covered by the 15 and 21 day tours.

We take participants based on first deposit in, first signed up.
We will not take deposits for the Tibet/China trip until August 20, 2006.
Send a $200 deposit now if you’re interested in this trip.

Contact:
Norm or Mary Azevedo
V.P. International Travel
Far West Ski Association (FWSA)
925-944-9816

TAHOE SKI RESORTS: WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S CHEAP (ISH) 2006-2007

ALPINE MEADOWS:
Tickets: regular/holidays Adults; $46/$55; seniors 65-69 and teens 13-18: $39/$39seniors 70 and older 6 and under: FREE.
DEALS: stay and ski free as low as $59. www.skialpine.com
(530) 583-4232

BOREAL:
Tickets: Adults: $42/$44; Seniors 60-69: $25; seniors 70: $5
DEALS: iRide program: free lift ticket after 2 paid days. Students with ID ski for $10 on Fridays.
www.rideboreal.com
(530) 426-3666

DIAMOND PEAK:
Tickets: Adults: $46; seniors 60-79: $17; 80 and over and children 5 and under FREE
DEALS: two-pack ticket (transferable) available at Costco; $63.99.
www.diamondpeak.com
(775) 832-1177

DONNER SKI RANCH:
Tickets (weekend/midweek) Adults: $39/$38; seniors 62-69: $25/$20; over 70: $5/$5 and children 5 and under: FREE; children 6-12: $8/$10
DEALS: every other Thursday and Wednesday: Adults $10, children $6 (check website for dates)
www.donnerskiranch.com
(530) 426-3635

HEAVENLY:
New: Canyon Express chair at Sky Meadows: avoid the crowds.
Tickets: (checks with resort regarding peak and regular rates: Adults: $70, seniors 65 and over, 4 and under: FREE
DEALS: $62 vouchers available at Albertson’s, season passes: $349 until 12./18, over 65: $269 blackout dates apply
www.skiheavenly.com
(775) 586-7000

HOMEWOOD:
Tickets: Prices not available at press time;
but could be the same as last year: (M-Th/F-Su/holidays): Adults: $27/45/$48; seniors: $65-69: $15/$22/$22; 70 and over, 10 and under: FREE

KIRKWOOD:
New: high speed lift chair to top
Tickets (regular/holidays):: Adults: $67/$70 , Seniors 65-69: $37/$40, seniors 70 and over and children 6-12: $14/$17
DEALS: Tickets (weekends/weekdays $5/$10 less if purchased on-line. Two consecutive day lift tickets: $99;. Kids 12 & under ski free on Sundays. 3 consecutive days (weekends): $99
www.kirkwood.com
(209) 258-3000

MT. ROSE:
New: 3 day learner package (lessons, rentals, lift ticket: $99
Tickets: Adults: $58; Seniors 60-74: $38; 75 and over: free on weekdays; children and under: FREE. DEALS: Tuesdays: two ski for the price of one; Wednesdays: students with ID: $21; Thursdays: ladies ski for $19.
www.skirose.com
(800) 754-7673

NORTHSTAR:
New: 6-pack chair, Zephyr Express, from mid-lodge to backside, new lift from top of Zephyr chair to Lookout Mountain
Tickets (regular/holidays): Adults: $69/$71/; seniors 65-69: $59/$61;70 and over and children 5-12: $24/$27. teens:
DEALS: Double Whammy passes still available for as little as $399. Free ski improvement clinics at 1:30 and 3:00 every day but Saturday. Meet at the top of Comstock. 2 08t of 3 day lift ticket: %109 available at Safeway); Multi-day (minimum 2 days with one grace day) lift prices : $4 to $8 cheaper per day, 4 pack tickets (usable all season: save $11 to $14 per day.
www.northstarattahoe.com
(916) 562-1330

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE:
Tickets: Adults: $61 seniors 65-69: $36; 70 an over: $17, 4 and under: FREE
DEALS: Multi 2 or 3 days: save $12 to $18 per ticket. $99; season pass (except Saturdays): $199
www.sierratahoe.com
(530) 659-7453, snow report: (530) 659-7475

SQUAW VALLEY:
Tickets: Adults: $69, SENIORS 65-75: $42; 76 AND OLDER: FREE.
DEALS: Active military, college students with I.D.: $45 with on-line coupon. www.squaw.com
(530) 583-6955

SUGAR BOWL:
New: Expanded lodge on Mount Judah with a giant fireplace; new detachable quad chair on Christmas Tree.
Tickets: Adults $50, holidays $63 (over 60 pay $50 any day; seniors 70 and over: $5 and children 5 and under: FREE.
DEALS: Join Core Mountain Club ($49 on-line: get 1 free lift ticket + $10 all other tickets) + accrued points for goodies ala Vertical Plus at Northstar. www.sugarbowl.com
(530) 426-111

Check resort websites for deals on multi-day passes, family deals, season passes, prices on children lift tickets, stay and ski “free” deals, beginner lesson packages. Also for prices for children and teens.

Check www.snowbomb.com for information on $59 Tahoe card which offers a free lift ticket to either Sugar Bowl or Kirkwood + free rentals, tune-ups, etc.

Check back next month for updates!

April 2007

April Events

4/24 - Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm ~ Round Table Pizza
4/24 - Social Meeting @ 7:00 pm ~ Round Table Pizza

May 2007

May Events

5/4 - Cinco de Mayo Party @ 5:30 pm ~ Wilson's House
5/22 - Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm ~ White's House
5/22 - Social Meeting & ELECTIONS @ 7:00 pm ~ White's House