SFL Bulletin Fall 1997 Ski for Light 1455 W. Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 From the President by Nancy Rowan The 17th of May is a special day in Norway. It is a day to celebrate independence. This last May 17th was the original day scheduled to unveil a statue to Olav Pedersen in Frisco, Summit County, Colorado. How fitting to celebrate another sort of independence on a day that would be so special to a Norwegian-born man! That was just the beginning of the saga of what would become the statue presentation story. The unveiling would not happen on May 17th. There was too much snow! Some time in July an invitation arrived, the statue would be presented on Saturday, August 2nd. I shuffled plans and got the kids to a friend's house. I would arrive late on Friday evening in Denver, spend the night with Scott and Brenda Bertrand, then drive with them to Frisco in the morning. I was eager to surprise Olav. Well, most things went okay on Friday. I arrived at the airport in time to see that the airline I had chosen was in complete chaos. Finally we are under way, just as I am relaxing, the captain comes on and states that he will now dim the lights to enhance the appearance of the flight attendants. Wow, I thought, this is one crazy airline, but Olav is worth whatever else happens on the way to the ceremony! By now you have figured out that the flight was quite late, and Scott and Brenda were waiting. Matters became worse when I mistakenly went to the wrong "ground transportation" area. After waiting forever, I figured out that this must be the wrong place! Finally, I was directed to the right terminal, and found a very tired Scott and Brenda. The next morning we are on our way. It is exciting to think of being in Frisco and taking part in a ceremony to honor Olav Pedersen for his work with SFL. Off we go in to a beautiful day with plenty of time to spare. The sky is blue and the hills are covered with grass. Surrounded by friends, the music of Jim Saelstrom on the radio and the sunshine it seemed like a dreamy day. All of the sudden we are in the middle of a Seattle like traffic jam. There's a bad accident ahead, and we end up taking a lengthy detour. Let me just say that we barely made it in time to the ceremony. Jim Saelstrom had already sung one song and the sculptor was speaking about his work. I spoke after the mayor, then Scott Bertrand, then Olav. All of the hectic plans were worth getting to see Olav with tears in his eyes. As he approached the microphone, he did not immediately speak. He walked over to the statue mounted on a large block. It is tactile and stands up quite tall. Olav approached the statue and lovingly touched the skiing figures and nodded his head to the work. What a lovely tribute. Olav brought to us the idea of guiding blind skiers from Erling Stordahl in Norway. Olav has taught many people to ski, sighted and otherwise. He has made a mark on the sport of cross country skiing in America. For this not only was Olav honored with the statue but he will also be inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame this October. Olav, thanks for all you have given to us and for allowing the many volunteers to work with you to ensure the continuation of Ski for Light. Calling All Guides! Have you put the 1998 Ski for Light application aside, or vowed to send for one some other day? Well, procrastinate no longer! SFL will be happening before you know it--February 8-15 in New Hampshire. As we go to press with this Bulletin, there are twice as many visually and mobility impaired skiers signed up as there are guides. So, hurry and make plans now. Ski for Light and New England are calling! Your Articles and Photos Needed! As Ski for Light draws nearer, I have started collecting materials for this years program journal. I hope you will look around, or get those writing juices flowing, and contribute to this Ski for Light tradition. The Journal will have hundreds more readers this year, as it will be mailed in place of the January issue of this SFL Bulletin. Typical material for the Journal includes stories, or information about spring, winter, or regional activities. The deadline for articles and photos to be considered for inclusion is December 1, 1997. Articles on computer disk or via electronic mail would be greatly appreciated. Photos should be from last years event and you should write your name and address on the back if you want them returned. Mail to: Vicki O'Brien P.O. Box 7618 Jackson, WY 83002 E-Mail: vicki.obrien@juno.com 1999 Ski for Light Event in Anchorage, Alaska Planning is under way for the SFL 1999 event in Anchorage, Alaska. The dates are February 21-28. Negotiations are underway now with the Captain Cook Hotel. Here are some Alaska facts that you should know: - Alaska is beautiful and the skiing is great - During February, temperatures are warmer than in Minnesota - In February, sunrise is around 7:30 and sunset approximately 5:00 - With advanced planning, airline tickets should be as reasonable as to other SFL destinations So, don't let this chance of visiting Alaska pass you by. Start planning now for a wonderful Ski for Light in Anchorage! If you have any questions SFL's own Lisa Wangberg lives just outside of Anchorage and can fill you in. Call For Nominations Nominees to the Ski for Light Board of Directors are being sought. Ski for Light is governed by an elected Board that is comprised of guides, VIPs, MIPs and others. The term of office for Board members is four years, with half of the Board positions up for election every two years. The SFL Board is a working Board, and each Board member is expected to serve on at least one standing committee and/or to be involved in either the annual SFL International event or in the financial development efforts of the organization. This year's election of ten Board members will take place at the Annual Meeting on Friday, February 6, 1998. Nominations are due to the chair of the Elections Committee, Larry Showalter, no later than Monday, December 29, 1997. Anyone may nominate one or more people, including him/her self, to the Board. Nominations must include the person's name, address and phone number, and a short biographical sketch that describes the candidate's involvement with SFL. Send your nominations, in writing, to: Larry Showalter 206 Vista Drive Gahanna, Ohio 43230 If you have questions about how the SFL Board operates, or about the responsibilities of Board members, talk to any current Board member, or to a member of the Elections Committee (Larry Showalter, Kari Heistad or JoAnne Jorud). If you have specific questions about any aspect of the nomination or election process, call Larry at (614) 478-7898, or contact him via e-mail at larry@sfl.org SFL Regional Round-Up Colhrado Ski for Light January 23-25 Frisco Nordic Center, Frisco Colorado Cost: $65 for weekend Contact for Guides: Ron & Eyvonne Barton 7068 S. Lafayette Littleton, CO 80122 Phone: (303)798-2755 Contact for Skiers: Carolyn Haas 5182 E. Asbury Ave. Denver, CO 80222 Phone: (303)757-7434 Puget Sound Ski for Light Day Trips from Seattle to Stampede Pass January 10 January 24 February 14 February 28 March 14 March 28 Contact: Nancy Rowan 2220 N.W. 61st Street Seattle, WA 98017 Phone: (206) 789-2173 E-Mail: pbopnr@televar.com N. E. Pennsylvania Ski for Light January 7-11 Land of the Vikings,Sherman, PA Contact: Bjorg M. Dunlop RR 1, Box 218 E Earlton NY 12058 518-731-8741 E-mail: $cbi bjorgm@juno.com New England Ski for Light January 16-18 Steele Hill Resort, Sanbornton, NH March 6-8 Mountain Meadows Lodge, Killington, VT Contact: Claire Morrissette 16 Cedar Lane Foxboro, MA 02035 (508) 543-6157 E-Mail: clairem@ici.net Sierra Ski for Light February 28-March 2 Best Western Tahoe Truckee Inn Truckee, CA Tahoe Donner Cross Country ski area Cost is $125 (if you have your own skis) Contact: Julie Lisenby 3510 Gold Creek Lane Sacramento, CA 95827 (916) 362-5759 Michigan Ski for Light January 23-25 Contact: Bill Richards 201 1/2 N. Clinton Ave. St. Johns, MI 48879 (517) 224-8285 Montana Ski for Light Jan 28-February 2 Cost is $250 Contact: Ed Durbin R.R. 1, Box 1610 Lewistown, MT 59457-9711 (406) 538-7151 Black Hills Ski for Light January 25-29 Contact: John Gould Black Hills SFL P.O. Box 3707 Rapid City, SD 57709 (605) 341-3626 Wisconsin Ski for Light January 23-25 Contact: Beverley Helland 10168 Amber Trail Edgerton, WI 53534 (608) 884-4955 Silent Auction 1998 Last year, the Sales Room with its Silent Auction was the most successful in history. With your help, the unflappable Pat Gabriel will repeat this success in 1998. The sales room will again feature items donated by our corporate sponsors such as Crazy Creek Chairs and Grabber warmers plus new surprises. The Silent Auction will feature crafts and one-of-a-kind items donated by the Ski for Light family. This year we are adding a new section featuring jewelry. The special jewelry table will provide better display of these smaller items. We need your help. Donations of crafts and specialty items make the Silent Auction and jewelry table successful. Your contributions can be brought with you to North Conway or shipped to: Ski for Light 1455 West Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 Attention Pat Gabriel Please include your name and address, donor's name and address if different, and value with each item. Also include any special comments such as minimum bid or background information. We need this information to provide appropriate receipts for these tax deductible donations, to set prices, and for our records. Remember every penny raised from donated items goes directly to support Ski for Light and to cover the many expenses necessary to run the organization. So please gather those items now and get ready to bid! Welcome To The North Country by Doug Wakefield One of the most interesting features of SFL is the opportunity to visit new places in different parts of the country and sample the local climate, food, and culture. In a few months, many of us will be heading north to venture into a very special area known as the "north country". Radio stations, stores, and hotels in this area often refer to themselves as "the voice of the north country" or "the north country's finest car dealer". What does this mean? How far north is north? What's so special about this area? When you look up a city, state, or any other region in a dictionary, the description is generally broken into categories such as the people, the climate, the politics, the geography, and the culture. Because I grew up in the north country, and anyone who did is very proud of that fact, I'd like to give you just a short briefing on northern New England. Geography--Most people probably think that Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are in the north--well, they are--sort of--but only the northern third of Vermont and New Hampshire are called "the north country". So if someone in a local store or at our hotel in North Conway tells you they went down south for the weekend, that doesn't mean they went to Florida. It means they went south of Concord, New Hampshire--maybe to Reeds Ferry. It also means they probably went to a small town. If they'd gone to a big place like Boston, then they'd say "I went to Boston". So any place in Vermont or New Hampshire south of a line from Montpelier, Vermont to Concord is down south. We'll be in the White Mountains which includes the Presidential Range, Mount Washington being the tallest at a mere 6,200 feet--small but mighty. The highest wind speed recorded by man, according to my mother who knows these things, was recorded on Mount Washington, the speed was clocked at 230 mph. We'll spend most of our time in valleys between these mountains and, for the most part, be totally unaware of the blizzards on Mount Washington. It might be cold, but 40 below zero is common in January not February. And it really can snow in those valleys. There's a rivalry over who has the worst winters, New Hampshire or Vermont. It was settled, at least once, when, after a bad spring of flooding, the Connecticut River, which separates the two states, experienced flooding so bad it changed its course. In doing so, the river went around a New Hampshire farm. Since the river marks the border, the farmer found himself in Vermont. After a few years, another serious flood sent the river back to its original course. When interviewed by a local reporter, the farmer said he was very glad to be back in New Hampshire because he didn't think he could stand one more Vermont winter. Politics--You can't put a label on this area. Vermont was the first state to elect a Socialist government. New Hampshire now has a woman Governor. For years the governors of both states competed in an annual ski race. "Don't know who won". On the other hand, some past ultraconservatives have come from the north country. So, if you're into political debates you may get some real surprises from the folks up north. The People--Friendly and to the point with a very dry sense of humor is how some authors have described folks from the north country. If you ask a gentleman "how's your wife"? He's likely to say "as compared to what". He's not being rude, He's being friendly, that was a joke. Northerners believe in as few words as possible, sometimes, so you'll hear "don't know" for "I don't know", "bit chilly" for, "it's way below freezing and the wind is blowing like crazy". But remember, New Hampshire survives on the dollars of tourism. They have no state income tax. The state runs most of the ski facilities, parks and beaches. So we will be welcome and they'll try to make our visit so pleasant we'll want to run home, earn more money and come back again. SFL Family By the time you receive this Bulletin, Olav Pedersen, "the father of Ski for Light", will have been inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame. SFL began in Colorado in 1975, and Olav started it all. So it is certainly fitting that Olav be honored on October 24th, and SFL President Nancy Rowan will be on hand to join in the festivities with the Colorado ski community. Congratulations Olav, and thank you for all you have done! Dale Severson, 61 year old Ski for Light guide from St. Paul, MN, won three medals at the International Master Ski Jumping Championships in Sundsvall, Sweden. Prior to the International competition, Dale won the gold in the U.S. Masters competition at Steamboat Springs, CO. Way to go, Dale! Lisa Wangberg, guide who now lives near Anchorage, AK, had a 6 lb. 8 oz. baby girl in September. Despite a rough start, Lisa and daughter McKenzie are now doing okay. Dave Wilkinson, first-time skier at the '97 event in Brainard, is engaged to Crys (who also attended SFL '97). Tentative wedding date is in July 1998. Condolences to Dick Peterson, Trekk and ski guide from Greeley, CO, whose wife died of cancer on August 31. Dick has been a Trekk guide for two years and has guided at SFL international. His address is: 23249 Highway 392, Greeley, CO 80631 Sad news also for the Oftedahl family. Laura's 23-year old brother, Mike, was killed in a car crash July 25th. New York City--Gateway to New Hampshire by Ken Stewart Anyone making plans to come to Ski for Light 1998 from afar should consider a stop in New York on their way to or from New Hampshire. The "big apple" is now more than ever a tourist's delight. And it is linked very efficiently with Boston by all transportation modes--air, rail, and highway. Best of all, there are many New Yorkers just waiting to make a visit especially pleasant. Contrary to popular myth, New Yorkers are friendly and love to offer assistance to out-of-towners. One example is the Big Apple Greeter Organization which has trained hundreds of locals to show the city off. By contacting the Big Apple Greeter ahead of time, a visitor can have a completely complimentary volunteer guidance of one of them for three or four hours around the cities many wonders. The organization reaches out particularly to people with disabilities. Call in advance: 212-669-3602. TTY is 212-669-8273 or Fax 212-669-3685, or write: One Center Street, New York, NY 10007 Additional information is available from its web site at www.bigapplegreeter.org. Their e-mail address for the Access Program Coordinator is awood@bigapplegreeter.org Ski for Light Home Page has Moved The SFL home page now has a new home. Its new address is http://www.sfl.org Please stop by and visit and have your name added to the SFL online e-mail directory. If you have any questions, contact Judy Dixon, e-mail: jdix@loc.gov SFL Bulletin Published in print and on cassette by Ski for Light, Inc. Deadline: April 1, July 1, October 1. Editor: Laura Oftedahl Echo Communications 104 Coolidge Hill Rd., Unit 7 Watertown, MA 02172-5025 Telephone: 617-923-7768 E-Mail: Laura_Oftedahl@wgbh.org Layout: Kari Heistad 182 Calivornia Street Newton, MA 02158 617-928-1549 E-Mail: unagb@gis.net SFL Home Page on the Web: http://www.sfl.org SFL is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Tax Deductible Organization, (ID#51-0175938) SFL is a member of "ORCA", the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America, and very grateful for support from our Corporate Sponsors, JanSport, Exel/Garmont USA, Grabber Int, Gargoyle, Granite Gear, Crazy Creek, Nordic Track and Royal Robbins. Please check out our INTERNET WEB site for more information on SFL at http://www.sfl.org