Celebrating nearly 80 Years of Skiing and Lifelong Friendships
March 17, 2020 Vol. XIII, #21
While the season ended earlier then we would have preferred. It certainly went out on a high note. Bright sunshine, lovely temperatures, and great food. When the bull wheels rolled to a stop at the end of the day on Sunday, another successfully chapter of the Caberfae Ski Club came to a close. A huge ski club thank you to Sue and her Galley Crew for another wonderful season. Great job ladies.
Inside this Issue:
NO BAD NEWS
DATES TO REMEMBER
1. NO BAD NEWS by Sam Hogg (2019-20, Volume III)
The title says it all. Before reading any further please play The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”. If you need some help with that, here you go: https://bit.ly/2U4L71i. I'm serious.
OK, spring skiing was snatched out from underneath us. So, it appears, is our happy-go-lucky way of life for a bit. I’m going to be a cautious optimist about the whole ordeal. Cautious because we all really need to heed the warnings – the only way to beat this bug is to not let it spread. Optimist – the world is long overdue for some social distancing. Don’t get me wrong, I yearn for my ski club Saturdays full of friendly gatherings. It does, however, seem wild that there is such uproar about mandatory together time at home with our families, sans sports.
I believe our club is uniquely suited to ride this out for a singular reason: we love to play outside! As far as I can tell that is not and will never be on the naughty list. While I would have probably targeted September for a month to be quarantined in the Manistee National Forest, I can make April work. Maybe the DNR will enact an emergency early trout fishing opener. Truly, this is a once in a generation opportunity to entertain yourself in a way that doesn’t involve a bunch of people or any sort of internet affirmation. You can go for a walk in the woods knowing you are the only one who has to “like” it.
Yes, there’s some downside. Folks are scared of the lifestyle changes ahead. Businesses are scrambling. But there is something about an adversary that doesn’t discriminate in bringing people together. The out-of-work employee can sympathize with the defeated business owner and their nervous banker. Turns out Republicans and Democrats both like toilet paper. All kidding aside, solutions are found when you can get to common ground, even if that is fear of a microscopic organism. I’m hopeful we’ll come out of this with a better respect for each other and maybe even some empathy for places where these types of crises are commonplace.
I love history. 75 years ago today a million (yes, literally) guys like me were gearing up to cross the Rhine River in the final Allied offensive of World War II. They were facing down the last stronghold of German troops and their winters started with D-Day. I’m facing down my warm fireplace and my winter started with crummy skiing conditions. Big difference. We will all get through this, and hopefully shine in the process. In that spirit, I leave you with a quote from the great Winston Churchill:
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Thanks for listening this winter, and stay healthy in the offseason.
2. DATES TO REMEMBER
Spring Work Bee & Kentucky Derby Party, Saturday, May 2, 2020
Annual Bike Ride and Picnic, Saturday, July 4, 2020
Fall Work Bee & Golf Outing, Saturday, October 3, 2020
COMMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS & SUGGESTIONS
This is your club and we’d like to hear your ideas to continually improve the Caberfae Ski Club for the enjoyment of you and your family. Let us hear your suggestions. Email us at: caberfaeskiclub@caberfaeskiclub.org If you have a story or an article you’ve written that you’d like to share with club members in the eNewsletter, please email or call the eNewsletter editor.
CLUB CONTACT INFORMATION
Caberfae Ski Club web page: www.caberfaeskiclub.org
Send your favorite photo-moments from the club or the slopes to neffzone@yahoo.com
Club Wi-Fi Password: Check the bulletin board in the hall near the dining room
Caberfae Ticket Agent available Fri, Sat., & Sun. until 11:15 a.m.
Calendar of Events: www.caberfaeskiclub.org/calendar
Dinner Reservation Hotline: dinnerreservations@caberfaeskiclub.org
I Forgot to Make Dinner Reservation Phone Line: (231) 920-6769 (Sue’s personal cell phone)
General Caberfae Ski Club email address: caberfaeskiclub@caberfaeskiclub.org
Caberfae Peaks Resort: www.caberfaepeaks.com
Board Members
Pat Bourassa, President
Ron Kimball, Immediate Past President
Mary Jane Canfield, First Vice President
Paul Waug, Second Vice President, Social Chairman
Tac Lee, board member
Cathy Maher, board member
Brian Nyland, board member
Lauren Rule, board member
Club Secretary/Treasurer Norma Roelfsema
Assistant Club Treasurer David Reiser
Club Manager Sue Egelus
Club Webmaster Jim Neff
Historical Committee Bernie Bovee Paul Williams
eNewsletter Pat Goggin, editor, enewsletter@caberfaeskiclub.org