Ski for Light, Inc.® 1455 West Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55408–2648 Phone: 612-827-3232 Web Site: www.sfl.org General Information: Info@sfl.org Ski for Light Bulletin Fall 2004 News and Information about the People and Programs of SFL International A program of cross country skiing benefiting blind, visually impaired and mobility impaired individuals and their guides FROM THE PRESIDENT by Larry Showalter Welcome to the Ski for Light Bulletin for Fall 2004. In this issue, you will hear about plans for our 30th anniversary event this coming January/February in Colorado, about the many winter activities being offered by the various SFL regional programs, about how you can attend the Ridderrenn next April in Norway, and much more. Please read on, and then pass this issue on to a friend whom you think might be interested in what we do. Word-of- mouth and your testimonials are our strongest recruiting tools to attract new people to the program. The 30th anniversary of an organization does not have the same ring of celebration as a 25th or 50th anniversary. Yet for many people it is truly a landmark, marking the delineation between youth and the start of middle age. People start to think about the future, perhaps for the first time, while reflecting on the past and the present. I like to think about the 30th for SFL in that same way, a time to both reflect back and to look forward. In thinking about our first 30 years I am struck by how many lives this organization of ours has effected and changed. Countless blind and mobility-impaired participants have discovered over these years that the only true limitations to what they can accomplish in life are the ones that they place on themselves. Ski for Light has given them new self- confidence and the desire to control where their life is going. At the same time, our volunteer instructor guides have learned that in the process of giving of themselves they often get even more back in return. What a wonderful partnership this has proven to be. I wonder if Erling Stordahl, Olav Pedersen and Bjarne Eikevik, the men who created the concept of Ski for Light in Norway, brought it to the U.S. and put it on its path to the future, could have envisioned what their work would lead to over the years. They are all gone now, but I know that they would be most pleased about how it has all turned out. Our challenge for the future is to keep SFL going in the right direction so that it will still be as meaningful and relevant in 2025 as it is today. This will require the continued strong commitment of the countless volunteers who keep SFL functioning, the continued growth of our Endowment Fund so that we don't get more expensive than guides and participants can afford, and the continued willingness to challenge our old ways of doing things to make sure that we are still offering what attendees want and expect from the Ski for Light experience. Thanks to each of you, the people who care most about SFL, for what you are doing and will continue to do into the future to make sure that each of these challenges is met. As for me, I plan on attending our 50th anniversary in 2025 to hear about the successes of SFL over its first 50 years. I hope that you all feel the same. Shorter term, I look forward to seeing many of you in Colorado this winter. SKI FOR LIGHT TURNS 30 by Judy Dixon, Event Chair Planning for the Ski for Light 30th anniversary event is well underway. Along with the traditional activities of lots of beautiful skiing, our newly-named Olav Pedersen Race and Rally, the talent showcase, and Norway night, we will also have a silent auction, a concert from Ski for Light's own Jim Salestrom, and a few surprises. And, oh, by the way, the event t-shirt will be blue. Don't miss the event that everyone will be talking about for years to come. Apply now for the 30th annual Ski for Light in Granby, Colorado, January 30-February 6, 2005. ANNOUNCING THE SFL 2005 SILENT AUCTION EXTRAVAGANZA! by Jean and Gordon Larsen But first, some information regarding Colorado that you may or may not want to know: State Animal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, adopted 1961 State Bird: Lark bunting, designated 1931 State Fish: Greenback Cutthroat Trout, adopted 1994 State Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine, adopted 1899 State Fossil: Stegosaurus, proclaimed by the Governor, 1982 State Gemstone: Aquamarine, adopted 1971 State Insect: Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly, adopted 1996 State Mineral: Rhodochrosite, adopted 2002 State Song: "Where the Columbines Grow", by A.J. Fynn, adopted 1915 State Tree: Colorado Blue Spruce, adopted 1939 Size: The 8th largest state Statehood: 38th state. Admitted August 1, 1876 Average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,073 m) And, Most important auction to be held in Colorado since statehood, the 2005 Ski for Light Silent Auction!! We are looking for lots of donations this year. Craft items and art works are popular donations. Think about the use of a vacation home or a special trip. Perhaps your grandmother has an antique lying around that she will never miss! The items and services will be displayed on Tuesday afternoon and evening during the week of Ski for Light. The exciting countdown and final bidding takes place Tuesday night. So, donate those items to support the silent auction!! If you would like to ship your items to Granby, please do so after January 1st, 2005 to: The Inn at SilverCreek 62927 U.S. Highway 40 Granby, CO 80446 Please mark all items: Attention: Dawn Hold for Ski for Light -- Silent Auction If you have any questions you may contact Jean and Gordon Larson: Phone: (509) 448-2631 or Email: thelarsons@yahoo.com A NEW WAY TO SUPPORT SKI FOR LIGHT SFL is now able to accept donations of shares of common stock or similar financial securities. Some people prefer this method of supporting a favorite organization because it can have significant tax advantages to the donor. The receiving organization sells the stock for full value, the donor gets a tax write-off, and the donor is usually exempt from paying capital gains tax on the appreciated value of the security, over and above the original purchase price. If this is something that would be of interest to you contact the Ski for Light office for details about how to make your donation. Gifts can be earmarked for the Endowment Fund or for the general operating fund. SFL FAMILY NEWS In Memoriam: Another SFL Founder Is Gone By Bud Keith Not many people in SFL today remember Erik Bye, but he was quite influential in getting Ski for Light off the ground. Using his talent and contacts, Erik gathered support from all over Norway to start such a program in the United States. He attended three of the first four events, and returned for our tenth anniversary. In Norway, Bye is considered a cultural giant, and is best- known as an award-winning radio and television personality. Here, he is remembered for his humanity and warmth. He was comfortable dealing with kings and common people. He knew how to have fun and he loved helping others to do the same. He loved the American culture and worked hard to share it with his Norwegian countrymen. Congratulations go to SFL skier, Annemarie Cook, whose sense of adventure paid off twofold this fall. Fueled by five bananas, a slab of cherry pie, lots of fig newtons and water, she completed her first century ride on the Delmarva Peninsula. The Seagull Century drew 6,250 single and tandem bikes from35 states and is sponsored annually by Salisbury State University. She says her butt bones were a little tender, but her two replacement hips worked just fine. And shortly before that, on September 26, 2004, Annemarie was married to Douglas Wilder McCray. The two met on-line, and quickly discovered they had many common interests, including a love of language and weird factoids, conservation of resources, cycling, and yes, punning. Congratulations; we wish you both many years of love and happiness together. A BOOK ABOUT SKI FOR LIGHT IS NOW AVAILABLE ON TAPE! If I Can Do This ... The Saga of Ski for Light Barbara Rostad, Editor CBA07515 has been recorded on cassette by the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library in Seattle. Registered users of the Library of Congress talking-book program can request this book on interlibrary loan by contacting their cooperating network library. This book was compiled and edited by Barbara Rostad to celebrate Ski for Light's 10th anniversary. It contains many articles, poems, and other writings by notable SFL leaders and participants from the early years. SFL REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT by Vicki Post In each issue of the Bulletin, we will turn the spotlight on one of our nine Regional programs. These regional groups were established by people who were inspired to recreate their own SFL experiences in a more local and intimate setting. It is our hope that you will enjoy their stories, and that you will support them in their efforts. In this issue, we travel northwest to the Puget Sound Regional Ski for Light. Puget Sound, a really good regional by Nancy McKinney Rain? Wind? Wet Snow? Klister? Well, maybe all of those things! But, it doesn't really matter, because we have so much fun that we ski in all kinds of weather! The Puget Sound Regional Ski for Light Program is a wonderful example of a regional program that works well. In fact, many of its attendees often refer to it as "the best regional!" The program began in 1976 after Svea Karlsen went to the first Ski for Light event in Colorado. Svea, along with many others, worked very hard over a number of years to make the program we have today. >From early January until the end of March, buses roll out from Seattle every other Saturday morning in order to take up to 20 visually and mobility impaired skiers, along with 20 guides, to the Cascade Mountains. The Sons of Norway District 2 has kindly allowed us to store our ski equipment, and ski on the trails around Trollhaugen Lodge. Trollhaugen has had ski trails of varying degrees over the years. Thanks to local Ski for Light members, the Parks Service and Trollhaugen there is now a system of trails named the “Erling Stordahl” Snow Park. These trails are open to the public for cross country skiing. The partnership that made these trails possible is amazing in that it includes skiers, the state and the lodge members. The gain that was made by creating this wonderful trail system is that we are able to share the sport of cross country skiing all winter long in an interesting terrain. The regional model of taking day trips all winter long works really well for us. We are able to teach many people how to ski and are also able to form long lasting relationships. So many people have spent hours organizing, guiding, trail blazing, fundraising and of course skiing! If you have any questions about the program, you may contact Co- Presidents, Maida & Rudy Pojtinger at: Phone: (253) 631-7904. And if you find yourself in the area on the right days, we'll make sure there's room on the bus for you! REGIONAL ROUND-UP The nine regional programs offer many different opportunities to enhance your SFL experience, and we encourage you to take advantage of them. Here is a complete listing of the many upcoming winter activities, including all the relevant contact information. Happy planning, and think snow! Black Hills Regional Ski for Light Dates: January 23 - 27, 2005 Deer Mountain Ranch, Deadwood, South Dakota P.O. Box 3707 Rapid City, South Dakota 57709-3707 Phone: (605) 341-3626 Colorado Regional Ski for Light dates: March 11 - 13, 2005 Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, Colorado Contact: Brenda Bertrand 12284 West Tennessee Avenue Lakewood, Colorado 80228 Phone: (303) 986-6714 E-mail: bertrand@denveronline.net Michigan Regional Ski for Light Dates: January 21 - 23, 2005 Higgins Lake, Ralph A. MacMulllen Conference Center Roscommon, Michigan Cost: $135 includes meals and lodging Web site: www.msfl.org Contact: Jim Ellickson 810 West Park Street St. Johns, Michigan 48879 Phone: (989) 224-8288 E-mail: msfl@msfl.org Montana Regional Ski for Light Dates: February 27 - March 3, 2005 West Yellowstone, Montana Cost: $332 per person, double occupancy; $480 for single occupancy, meals included Contact: Ed Durbin Phone: (406) 538-7151 E-mail: tedurbin@midrivers.com New England Regional Ski for Light Dates: January 7 - 10, 2005 Craftsbury Outdoor Center Craftsbury Common, Vermont and March 4 - 6, 2005 Royalty Inn/Great Glen Trails Gorham, New Hampshire Web site: www.nersfl.org General Information: P.O. Box 2170 West Brattleboro, Vermont 05303 Phone: (781) 667-9270 E-mail: info@nersfl.org Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Ski for Light Dates: January 16 - 23, 2005 Land of the Vikings, Sherman, Pennsylvania Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, hiking and other activities Cost: $370 per person double occupancy Single and triple rooms are also available Contact for guides: Bjorg M. Dunlop Phone: (518) 731-8741 E-mail: bjorgmd@aol.com Contact for blind participants: Barry and Louise Wood Phone: (201) 868-3336 Puget Sound Regional Ski for Light Dates: January 8 & 22; February 12 & 26; March 12 & 26, 2005 Trollhaugen Sons of Norway Lodge, Erling Stordahl Snow Park Stampede Pass, Washington Cost: $60 for the season Contact: Maida Pojtinger Phone: (253) 631-7904 E-mail: rmpoj@aol.com Sierra Regional Ski for Light Tahoe Donner Cross Country, Truckee, California Dates for three-day event: March 12 - 14, 2005 Cost for a double occupancy room: $180 if you have skis; $220 if you need skis. Add $117 for a single room. Out-of-town participants should plan on arriving in Sacramento on Friday, March 11. Cost for Sacramento lodging: $34 double occupancy; $68 single occupancy Dates for Saturday Day Trips: January 8, February 5 & 19, 2005 Cost: $12 if you have skis; $25 if you need skis Contact: Betsy Rowell Phone: (916) 362-5557 E-mail: montbets@pacbell.net Wisconsin Regional Ski for Light Dates: January 21 - 23, 2005 Wisconsin Lions Camp, Rosholt, Wisconsin Contact: Bev Helland 10168 Amber Trail Edgerton, Wisconsin 53534 Phone: (608) 884-4955 E-mail: bhelland@madison.k12.wi.us International Programs Ski for Light Canada February 7 - 13, 2005 William Watson Lodge Kananaskis, Alberta Application Deadline: December 15, 2004 Web site: http://members.shaw.ca/sflcanada Contact: Annar Jacobsen, President Phone: (250) 523-2403 E-mail: annarj@telus.net Ski for Light Japan January 8 - 10, 2005 Urabandai, Fukushima, Japan Cost: 30,000 Yen includes meals, two nights' lodging (triple occupancy) and ski equipment (if necessary) Additional cost: 10,000 Yen for round-trip chartered bus from Tokyo Web site: www.sflj.org Contact: Toshiaki Aomatsu E-mail: info@sflj.org RIDDERRENN 2005 The Ridderrenn is the Norwegian event on which Ski for Light is modeled. It is a larger event than SFL, attracting up to 1,000 skiers and guides for a week of fabulous skiing at Beitostolen, Norway. Each year Ski for Light sends a team of skiers and guides to represent our organization, and many others from the SFL program attend on their own. The dates for the 2005 Ridderrenn are April 3-10, 2005. If you are interested in attending, or wish more information, please contact Marion Elmquist, SFL Vice President: E-mail: marion@sfl.org or Phone: (515) 279-3681. The SFL Bulletin is published three times a year. It is available in ink-print, on audio cassette, or via e-mail. Remember that your contributions and feedback are always most welcome. You may submit articles as e-mail or as a word attachment; if you do not have e-mail, you may send a typed article through the mail. Send all items to: Vicki Post E-mail: vickip@sfl.org Address: 1849 Clay St. #2, San Francisco, CA 94109. The deadline for the spring Bulletin is March 15, 2005. We look forward to hearing from you. Ski for Light, Inc. is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Editor: Vicki Post E-mail: vickip@sfl.org Layout and graphics: Bjorg Dunlop E-mail: bjorg@sfl.org Electronic version: Duane Farrar E-mail: duane@sfl.org Special thanks to: Judy Dixon E-mail: judy@sfl.org and Larry Showalter E-mail: larry@sfl.org. CORPORATE SPONSORS Our thanks to the following companies that provide products or other support to Ski for Light. Please remember to support them whenever you can. Jansport, Atomic Ski, Bison Designs, Bula, Canine Hardware, Cascade Designs, Chuck Roast, Col d’Lizárd, Crazy Creek, Dahlgren, Devold, DreamSacks, Extreme Optiks, Freestyle, Grabber, Granite Gear, Gregory, Hog Wild, Hot Chillys, InSport, Isis, Jytte Mau, Kelty, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, National Geographic Maps, Native Eyewear, New Hall's Wheels, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Research, Pantropic, Patagonia, Planet Dog, Princeton Tec, Royal Robbins, Ruffwear, Salomon, Sierra Designs and Thor-lo. WHAT IS SKI FOR LIGHT? Ski for Light, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1975 to promote the physical fitness of visually- and mobility-impaired adults, in an environment where "we can't" is replaced with "we can." Disabled and able-bodied people join together in a one-on-one partnership to learn from each other through physically-demanding activities. To this end, Ski for Light conducts an annual, week-long cross country ski program, held in a different US location each year. During the Event, each visually and mobility impaired skier is matched with an instructor/guide for the entire week; this one-on-one partnership approach allows participants to learn in a relaxed and positive atmosphere. New participants are encouraged to move past self-imposed limitations, and to embrace the SFL motto, "If I can do this, I can do anything," in all aspects of their lives. The week concludes with a thrilling race/rally, in which everyone can experience success in a sport once thought impossible for disabled people. Beyond daily cross-country ski instruction and outings for both the novice and experienced athlete, SFL also offers a wide variety of workshops and cultural activities designed to promote education and interaction among all its participants. These might include fitness workshops, cultural programs by local residents, and an introduction to the Norwegian culture and heritage that are integral to skiing at SFL. Ski for Light has also inspired the creation of nine independent state and regional organizations. Located in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, these offshoots offer ongoing weekend and week-long programs to teach disabled individuals to cross country ski. In addition, many of these regional affiliates now offer a variety of other sports as well. As part of its mission, SFL places an emphasis on exposing new people to the sport of skiing, thus making the idea of physical fitness available to people who have not previously had the opportunity to participate in sports. As skills and confidence are developed, many SFL participants then go on to take part in more "mainstream" community recreational activities. Through Ski for Light, many people discover new friendships, increased energy, boosted morale, rewarding careers and fuller lives. Run entirely by volunteers, SFL has positively affected thousands of visually and mobility-impaired people and the guides who ski with them. For more information about Ski for Light, including how you can help, you may visit our website at www.sfl.org.