It's September and two geese are chatting in a farmyard One says to the other, 'What do you do now that summer is over and you begin to feel lonely?' The other one replied, 'Oh, I’ll just have a gander around.' A special Welcome to our new members. Please do take advantage of what this club has to offer. If I can give you one suggestion it would be this….  Sign up for SOMETHING. Meetings and Happy Hours are great. But nothing breaks the ice like spending a day, a weekend, or a week with your other members. This is a vibrant, dynamic club. There are day trips, week long trips and weekend trips all in the works. The September 5 General meeting was awesome. We recorded 47 non-member guests signed in and there were probably more. MANY new members signed up. It was thrilling, if not a little frightening.  I was particularly heartened by the enthusiasm of many of the guests. Those I spoke to were genuinely excited to be joining this wonderful club. One even hunted me out to Thank us for giving her the opportunity. And that success was 100% because of you, the members. Your excitement and enthusiasm was infectious. You made them feel welcome. You made BVSA an exciting group to be with. Your positive attitude and good humor made BVSA a fun group to be with.  A special thanks to Tim Noonan for spearheading the article in the Community Courier.  And to the Community Courier for putting us in the spotlight. It was a resounding success. And Thank You also to the Brickside Grill for hosting us and understanding the surprising,  unusual circumstances of last nights meeting. Presidents Party As I write this there is still room for more at our second Presidents Party on October 13. Last years party was a huge success. Kathy and I (and Winchester and Sherman) are expecting a repeat. We hope for a sell-out. Please register in the Events section of our Web Site (bvsa.wildapricot.org). Having trouble registering? Email (kayakor@gmail.com) or call (516-902-4371).

John Schroeder

President, BVSA

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Prez Sez …. Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer….

What did the pig say on a hot summer day?  I’m bacon.

Pool Party

A huge Thank You again to Carol and John Pucella for hosting another awesome Pool Party. They even got the weather perfect this year…. No rain. 

And I don’t say it often enough… Thank You to Jeff Lucas and our Activities Committee for organizing the party.

When do you go at red and stop at green? When eating watermelon.

Vacation Edition

I write this month from the shores of picturesque Fourth Lake in upstate New York. It is already mid August and it has been a very busy summer for Kathy and I. We regret that we have not made any of the Eagleview concerts. And the weather has essentially eliminated kayaking for us. I was very relieved though to see Pat Jones’ paddle at Stone Harbor was a success even though we could not participate. Thank you Pat for organizing that great outing.  

I love my barbeque, she is the grill of my dreams!

Trips

What an enthusiastic response to our trips this year. They are selling out fast. You can read more about them elsewhere in this newsletter. Again, this is thanks to the awesome work of your Activities Committee.

I mustn’t be a very good driver. On the way to the lake this year my GPS said “Pull over and let me out.”

September Meeting

By now you have seen the announcement. Regular meetings resume in September (Sept. 5 to be exact.) And that meeting will be a special Open House to welcome potential new members. You know this is a great club. Please invite your friends to join the fun and meet your fellow club members.

I went to a ball game. I wondered why the ball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me…..

Please enjoy the rest of summer and I look forward to restarting another great year in September..

John Schroeder

President, BVSA

 

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A message from the President

I am happy to report that we have completed the election for your 2018-19 Board and Activities Committee. Board positions filled: President - myself, John Schroeder (returning) Vice President - Phil Shiner Recording Secretary - Barb Cropper Activities Committee, 1st year Jeff Lucas (returning) Tim Noonan Kathy Schroeder (returning) Sheila Williamson They join the current 1st year members returning for the 2nd year of their term: Mo Collins, Jeff Klein, Linda Peduto and Emily Warner. The term of the incoming Board and Activities Committee begins with the May General Meeting. To our outgoing members Tom Ward (Treasurer), Carol Puccela(Corresponding/Newsletter), Lara Lamparski(Activities) and Jim Wilson(Activities) I extend a hearty THANK YOU on behalf of myself, the Board, and the Club at large. We all understand the commitment required to run a club as great as this one and we appreciate your participation. Of course that leaves two Board positions for which there were no volunteers. Communicating with our membership is vitally important and the Corresponding Secretary is a critical to that function. Of the two vacant positions this one is of paramount importance to fill. Tom Ward has graciously volunteered to continue as Acting Treasurer until a permanent person can be appointed. Tom’s help is clearly needed and appreciated. But we must honor his desire to step down and find a candidate soon. As president it will be my responsibility to appoint someone to these roles until next year’s elections. Know that I will try very hard to find a qualified person but I need your help. Watch for further communications from me on this topic. As I begin my third term as President I am optimistic. We are financially sound. We have a modest but active membership base. The board members are experienced. Our Activities Committee is full of renewed enthusiasm. They are well along on running some great trips in the next year or two. Our summer activities are also being planned now. Please take a moment the next time you see any Board or Activities member, past or present, to thank them personally. After all, they gave of themselves so that you can have the great Club that we have.  I will be back with more in the coming weeks. John Schroeder, President, BVSA

The story of Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. 

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. 

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. 

Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. 

Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. 

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

Nuff said… Elections are coming

•       If you can contribute, please volunteer
•       If nominated, please accept.

No experience necessary… Will train.

John Schroeder, President

Officers responsibilities in plain English.

The President presides over meetings and enforces the by-laws. The President does not vote on club business except in the case of a tie. Skills: a sense of humor.

The Vice-President is the Chairperson of the Membership Committee and maintains the membership database. They perform the duties of the President in their absence. Skills: Open envelopes and browse the Internet

The Treasurer receives and disburses money and maintains the financial ‘books’ of the Association. Skills: Think checkbook?

The Recording Secretary keeps a record of the proceedings of the Association. Skills: Spelling and a laptop helps.

The Corresponding secretary assembles the newsletter from contributions by others. Skills: a little artistic aptitude a plus.

The Activities Committee plans Association activities. The eight members serve a two-year term of which four are elected each year. Skills: Year one… Listen good, and often: Year two… what you listened to in year one. 

Well, it is here again! We are in the full throws of Ski Season and believe it or not, that is also the slow season for your Board. The winter activities are planned. And the spring/summer/fall activities are…. well… to be honest most people are thinking about SKIING. 

Trust though that we will have spring/summer/fall activities. All the usual ones and maybe a few surprises.

There is one very important activity coming up real soon that can ensure those activities.

ELECTIONS. Need I say more?   We Need You.  Please step up and lend your time and talent. This is a great club and we need all of you to keep it that way. Elections are in April. Nominations start in March

Top Ten reasons to Volunteer

#10 the Board doubled the salary of the volunteers this year.

#9 Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.

#8 Meetings… we LOVE to have meetings.

#7 A perfect place for those who believe in ‘all work, no pay’

#6 Advanced notice of upcoming activities   (if you go to Meetings. See #9)

#5 When you stay at home you get too many Telemarketing calls.

#4 You get your own pretty yellow name tag.

#3 Attend the fabulous Board Appreciation Party.

#2 Your family could use a break from you.

And the #1 reason to volunteer… if you don’t go out each day you get old!

And remember, Noah’s Ark was built by Volunteers, the Titanic by Professionals.

Prez Sez

Another great big Thank You to our Kathy Schroeder for organizing a great Holiday Party (again). We had an excellent turn-out despite the snow. All-in-all it was a great evening with good food, drink and LIVE MUSIC. As good as it was we learned a few things to make it even better next year.

Just how does someone make the naughty list? FINGERPRINTS!. They lift them off those letters to Santa and run them through the FBI, CIA, NSA, Interpol, MI6 and Mossad. A match goes straight to the naughty list.

We are entering the peak ski season. Plans are set for Steamboat and Jackson Hole out west, Sugarbush and the Walt Meuser trip in the east. To all those participating, have a GREAT time.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: “Crimes against Who-manity”

I want to hear from YOU. For the upcoming year we need…

• ·         Ideas for Activities (day trips, activities, entertainment, sporting events)
• ·         Speakers and/or topics for General Meetings
• ·         And even ideas for the 2018-19 Ski Season (it’s not too early to start thinking about it)

Most of all, we need YOU to be involved in YOUR club, even in a small way.

My Grandson wrote Santa with his Christmas list. “Dear Santa, I want http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032HF60M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410271945&sr=8-1”

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John Schroeder

President, BVSA

Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been an awesome Autumn so far.

First, there was the one-of-a-kind Presidents Party. We had a perfect fall evening; a terrific crowd; and great food provided by A Taste of Puebla. Kathy and I were thrilled to be able to open our home to such a wonderful crowd. Truth be told, we had only met some of you once or twice but it was so gratifying to us to see all the old friendships reconnecting again. We had a blast. Even Sherman and Winchester had a great evening. Maybe we can convince next year’s President to repeat it?

Then there was the resurrection of the Bon Fire Party hosted by Emily and Dave Warner. It was another huge success. Emily and Dave somehow convinced the weather Gods to stop the rain just in time. There were warm and friendly fires burning. Chef Jeff (Lucas) worked the grill (another warm and friendly fire). The bon fire itself was HUGE, meeting every expectation of what a real bon fire should look like. It was a perfect venue inside and out.

We are not done with 2017. Please look elsewhere in this newsletter for information on the upcoming Holiday Party. There is a new venue at a great price and LIVE music. I expect this to make a Hat Trick of parties for 2017.

2017 will be hard to beat. 

As for the regular club stuff… Your Activities Committee has a full slate of ski trips lined up, both East and West. Look further in this Newsletter for details. And they are already thinking about 2018. 

And while we are speaking of 2018, I want to hear from YOU. For the upcoming year we need…

• ·         Ideas for Activities (day trips, activities, entertainment, sporting events)
• ·         Speakers and/or topics for General Meetings
• ·         And even ideas for the 2018-19 Ski Season (it’s not too early to start thinking about it)

Most of all, we need YOU to be involved in YOUR club, even in a small way.

John Schroeder

President, BVSA