Addition To November Presidents Message

[Geoffrey Harvey]

Addition to the Earlier November President’s Message: At the time of my last message the program for Panhandle Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Club’s initial meeting of the year, Tuesday, November 13th was not set.  Those plans have firmed up, but first some reminders and updates.  Just as a reminder--the last two external ski swaps are scheduled for this Saturday, November 3rd.  The Lookout Mountain Ski Patrol has its ski swap at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.  Fitness Fanatics will hold a swap at its store on Trent Avenue in the Spokane Valley.  Fitness Fanatics is on the right just after you cross the first bridge over the Spokane River proceeding west on Trent. Both sales begin at 9 AM. The club has purchased the new groomer for the Fourth of July Area.  It is carefully stored with the Forest Service awaiting sufficient snow to accumulate up on the ski area.  About everybody in the group contributed to this milestone.  Some made direct cash contributions that lifted us over the financial hurdle.  For five years many worked the station at the Coeur d’Alene Marathon and stayed around to clean up the race route to build our savings account towards this goal. Many more contributed through their membership dues.  The club gives its thanks to all of you who helped out.  Now it is time, snow permitting, to enjoy the groomed trails this machine and its kin will create. The other benefit is that we can send out two machines on the long run to Rose Creek Saddle with very good assurance both will return without incident.  The older groomer is still a useful machine but in my opinion,  it has earned the grooming assignments closer to the storage shed. The program for our first meeting is now confirmed.  Phil Hough, Executive Director of Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will present a program on the Scotchman Peaks (West Cabinets) Area and the fascinating work his organization is leading to document the rare forest carnivores (wolverine, fisher and martin) in the West Cabinet Mountains.  I heard an earlier version of this program, found it fascinating , and am looking forward to an update.  If you have friends interested in the inhabitants of our northwest forests you might let them know about this program and invite them along.  The meeting begins at 7 PM at the Forest Service’s Fernan Ranger Station at 2502 E. Sherman Avenue in Fernan Village.  Drive around to the rear parking lot and take the steps down to the downstairs meeting room.  One other note, the Board has voted to curtail business at our membership meetings to a minimum.  We will start after a welcoming with a treasurer’s report, a report on facilities and grooming at the ski area, and announcements.  We’ll have a quick tip designed to facilitate your winter outdoor activity and then we’ll go right into the program.  Our goal is to maximize our members enjoyment of the meetings by minimizing the business which the Board will handle at its meetings.  All members are invited to attend Board meeting typically held at 6 PM at the same location as the general membership meeting.  If important business requires a vote of the membership, that business will be brought before the entire group at a general membership meeting.