Drum roll please...

[Emily Schaapveld]

Alright skiers, the moment has come that we have all been anxiously
waiting for…West Des Moines has committed to grooming cross country
ski trails at Raccoon River Park. After much talk and planning with
the City of West Des Moines Parks and Rec, we look forward to having
an amazing nordic ski center consisting of about 20k of groomed
trail! The land at Raccoon River Park will allow for beautiful trails
rolling through the trees and around the scenic lake. I can’t think
of a better way to spend the day on a chilly Sunday afternoon than
gliding through fresh snow, breathing the crisp air, and then going
home to a warm cup of cider.

We will have this winter wonderland right in our backyard, but there
is one more step that we as a cohort of skiers, and potential skiers,
need to do…raise some money! Here is the situation: West Des Moines
will provide the manpower to groom, provide the land, put up signage,
and maintain the trails. They will also secure a portion of funding
for equipment from their budget. However, due to the time of the
year in their budget cycle, they are unable to allot funds to purchase
all grooming equipment and a snowmobile for this year. Therefore, the
Des Moines Cross Country Ski Club has made an agreement with the City
of West Des Moines to do our part by raising the funds to purchase the
equipment.

There were nearly 250 names on the petition, so I know that many of
you want to utilize and support groomed trails. With a little support
from everyone, we could put a large dent in the needed funds. In
order for this project to come to fruition, we need to raise $10,000.
This will cover the cost of a snowmobile and the grooming equipment.

With Des Moines Cross Country Ski Club taking the lead, we can make
this happen. Let’s make winter fun like our neighbors up north.
Let’s make Greater Des Moines an attraction for outdoor recreation all
year round. We are a strong community, so let’s pull together to make
this vision a reality.

Please show your support by making a contribution to the equipment
fund. Checks can be made payable to Des Moines Cross Country Ski Club
and sent to the following address:

Des Moines Cross Country Ski Club
3031 Grand Ave #318
Des Moines, IA 50312

If you would like to make other arrangements to contribute, please
contact Emily at sch...@hotmail.com.

The Des Moines Cross Country Ski Club website is currently under
construction, so please stay tuned for its highly anticipated release
in the upcoming weeks.

Thanks and Happy Skiing,
Emily and Nathan

[Ken Sherman]

Emily,

I'm not sure what's included in your $10,000 worth of equipment. Ebay motors
(http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Powersports_Snowmobiles__W0QQ_catrefZ1QQ_
flnZ1?_fspt=1&_lsbx=0&_lsot=1&_sop=7&_sadis=100&_fpos=50310) has half a
dozen or so snowmobiles listed within 100 miles of DSM. One was a classified
asking $3200. Might be one way of saving some bucks on the equipment.

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: desmoinescross...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:desmoinescross...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Emily
Schaapveld
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 9:39 PM
To: Des Moines Cross Country Ski Club
Subject: Drum roll please...


Alright skiers, the moment has come that we have all been anxiously waiting

for.West Des Moines has committed to grooming cross country ski trails at

Raccoon River Park. After much talk and planning with the City of West Des
Moines Parks and Rec, we look forward to having an amazing nordic ski center
consisting of about 20k of groomed trail! The land at Raccoon River Park
will allow for beautiful trails rolling through the trees and around the
scenic lake. I can't think of a better way to spend the day on a chilly
Sunday afternoon than gliding through fresh snow, breathing the crisp air,
and then going home to a warm cup of cider.

We will have this winter wonderland right in our backyard, but there is one
more step that we as a cohort of skiers, and potential skiers, need to

do.raise some money! Here is the situation: West Des Moines will provide

[Emily Schaapveld]

Thanks for the info Ken.  We are considering a used snowmobile.  The grooming equipment alone, not including a snowmobile, will run us just shy of $5000, so add the cost of a snowmobile, even if it is used, to that and we are right at our mark.  We need to be cautious when choosing a used snowmobile because if it fails, then we are out a snowmobile, which means no grooming at Raccoon River.  We are considering all options, but regardless, we need funding.
 
I will look a little closer at the snowmobiles on Ebay.
 
Thanks again,
 
Emily  

When you were born, everyone was smiling and you were crying.  Live your life so that when you die, everyone is crying and you are smiling.

 

Be the change you wish to see in the world.  --Gandhi