Monthly Meeting And Events -

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1 December 2018 In this Issue: Saturday, Dec. 1st Holiday Party Tuesday, Dec. 11th Ski Waxing Clinic Saturday - Tuesday, Dec., 29 - Jan. 1 Keweenaw Peninsula Ski Trip Saturday - Monday, January Marquette Ski Trip Friday - Sunday, February 8-10 Minoqua Winter Park Ski Trip Friday - Sunday, March 1 3 Valley Spur Ski Trip Contact Us: For membership information, call Pat Doornek Nordic Officers President Carol Doebler A Year-Round Recreation Club Since 1971 Monthly Meeting And Events - Holiday Party Saturday, December 1, 5:30pm Social Hour, 6:30pm Dinner Start your Holiday Season with the Nordics on December 1 at South Shore Yacht Club. This year s Nordic Holiday Party is on Saturday, December 1 at South Shore Yacht Club. This was a popular location with a great turnout for our 2015 holiday party. Views of the city at night can t be beat from the second floor dining room. South Shore Yacht Club is located at 2300 East Nock Street, Bay View, WI This is a great event to socialize with other Nordics while enjoying one of four dinner choices. See our Holiday Party Flyer for details. Flyer is online at this link. The deadline for your reservation is Monday, November 26 so don t delay. Any questions, call Tierney or Sally To learn more about South Shore Yacht Club, go to Mark your calendar for Saturday December 1. Ski Waxing Clinic Tuesday, December 11, 6:30pm Tuesday, December 11th, the Nordic Ski Club of Milwaukee has been invited to join the Lapham Peak Ski Club at their Wax Clinic, to be held in the waxing barn (former ski rental barn) on the road toward Evergreen Warming Lodge, within Lapham Peak. Please arrive on time, at 6:30pm. Plans are to be finished by approximately 8pm. This event will benefit Peak Nordic Ski Club, a youth-based initiative. As such, a $10 donation is suggested, which will also defray the cost of the basic wax; you are welcome to supply your own wax. So plan to arrive on time for a demo of waxing skis, followed by the actual waxing. The clinic is intended as a learning experience, so dress accordingly for a bit of hands-on waxing and start the ski season with a fresh coat of wax on your skis, while you mingle with fellow XC ski enthusiasts. Should there be a large turnout, the Lapham Peak and Peak Vol. 47 Issue 12 Volunteers The Nordic Ski Club runs on volunteers. Please contact Renee Couture at acoutrr@att.net if you are interested in learning more. Club Membership Membership Renewals due Oct. 1. Renew online. Then pay through PayPal or mail check to Pat Doornek. Dues - Individual $25 Household $35 Must be a current member to book ski trips at member rate. Web Tips Adjust your profile settings so that fellow Nordic Members can see your name, address and phone numbers. Select Members Only to protect the information from the general public. Go to and login to your profile. The login is in the upper right-hand corner. From there, the Member Tab will appear on the menu. Full instructions are located on that page in a PDF file.

2 Vice Presidents Renee Couture and Cathy Ward Secretary Treasurer Dave Herrewig Board Members Renee Couture Carol Doebler Steven Fabina Crystal Hoecherl Dorothy Riesing Vicki Samolyk Cathy Ward Nancy Zoltowski Program Committee Members: Paul Keber, Chair (262) Ann Derse Chris Pantazon Barb Tremel Joanne Ziarek Public Relations Chair: (414) Clinics Chair: Carol Doebler Website Chair: Katie Bivens Historian: (414) Newsletter: Send Articles to: Membership Chair: Pat Doornek New memberships or renewal forms may be mailed to: Pat Doornek 3463 N. Newhall St. Nordic ski clubs may not be able to accommodate everyone. Remember, time and space is limited. The NSCM is not a part of how the clinic is run. There will be no other clinic offered this season by the NSCM. The NSCM is grateful to have this opportunity to see how our clubs might collaborate, as we all move forward. After attending, please give your feedback to tortoiseski@wi.rr.com about your experience. Directions: To get to Lapham Peak, go west on I-94 and take the Delafield, Cty Hwy C exit. Proceed south for one mile on Cty C, the park entrance is on the left (east) side of Hwy C. A state park sticker is needed for your vehicle to enter the park. A daily park sticker costs $8. Contact tortoiseski@wi.rr.com with questions and that you will attend. Keweenaw Peninsula Ski Trip December 29 - January 1 Ring in the New Year with your friends or make new ones and enjoy great skiing in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan. We will be skiing at Swedetown, Michigan Tech. and Maaston Hiito. Swedetown has 30 km of groomed trails, 5 ½ km of snowshoe trails, and a chalet with food for sale. Michigan Tech University has 35 km of superbly groomed, wide trails with a chalet and small warming hut. Maasto Hiito has 24 km of scenic, striding-only trails and chalet with homemade food. On the way up, we will ski in Wisconsin at Brown County Reforestation Camp (30 km) near Green Bay or Afterglow (18 km) near Phelps. Accommodations are at the Franklin Square Inn in downtown Houghton with swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, and a free 5 options restaurant breakfast. There is a microwave and refrigerator in each room. The Inn also has a Bar/lounge with live music and a daily free rail drink or domestic bottled beer. Contact trip leader Julie Amundson at or jpammo@sbcglobal.net for more information. Ski in Marquette, Mich. January 19-21, 2019 Since the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 2019 is Monday, Jan. 21., this weekend cross-country ski trip will go from Saturday morning Jan. 19 to Monday night, Jan. 21. Our motor coach will take us to several ski locations in the Marquette, Mich., area with a range from beginner to expert trails. The Lower Noquemanon Trail has 35 km of ski trails, including 15 km of loops around the Forestville heated shelter, with snowshoeing along the trails. From Forestville, you can ski west 14 km or east 7 km toward Marquette Add Photos To The Nordic Website As a member of the Nordics, you may upload photos to your personal photo album or to the public albums. Simply log-in so all member privileges are available. Then the upload and edit buttons are visible for you to add to the fun. Need help? katiebivens@ymail.com Next Month, Look For: NSCM Ski at Lapham Peak Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 Lapham Peak Winter Picnic and Lessons Jan. 13 Marquette Ski Trip Jan Local Ski Trip Jan. 26 If you are interested in leading a Nordic Event, or have a great idea for a member event, please contact a member of the Program Committee or Paul Keber, pkeber@milwpc.com

3 Milwaukee, WI along the Noquemanon Trail. Blueberry Ridge has 21 km of ski trails and a new heated shelter, with snowshoeing along the trails. On the way up, we hope to ski at Brown County Reforestation Camp near Green Bay (30 km of trails, chalet, and 3 km of snowshoe trails; no food available). If there is no snow at Green Bay, we will take a 30-minute lunch stop on the way up at fast food restaurants. Then we ll head either to Valley Spur near Munising (45 km of trails, cozy log cabin, and 3 km of snowshoe trails, no food) or to Marquette, depending on snow. We stay at the Ramada Inn in downtown Marquette with swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, restaurant, lounge, and microwave and refrigerator in each room. Breakfasts are not included, but the hotel has a restaurant and there are others nearby. You ll need to bring food for lunches at the trails. Dinners are on your own, but an optional group dinner will be offered one night. Contact trip leader at or pbrookmire@gmail.com for more details. Save $20 if you pay your deposit 30 days before the trip, by Dec. 18. Minocqua Winter Park Ski Trip February 8-10, 2019 Join us for some great skiing at Minocqua Winter Park, one of the premier cross-country ski areas in the Midwest. There is plenty of room on the trip, which leaves at 8:00 am on Friday, February 8 th from the Watertown Plank Road park and ride lot. Minocqua Winter Park has 90km of beautifully groomed and scenic ski trails as well as 17 km of snowshoe trails. The chalet serves food, beer, and homemade soups; and the topnotch ski shop rents skis and snowshoes. On the way up, we will likely ski at Nine Mile Forest near Wausau with 30 km of ski trails, 6 km of snowshoe trails, and chalet with ski rentals. Accommodations are at the AmericInn in downtown Minocqua with swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, free continental breakfast, and microwave and refrigerator in each room. Contact trip leader John McCarthy at or johnnymac1952@gmail.com for more information. Valley Spur Ski Trip March 1-3, 2019 Don t forget to sign up for our popular ski trip to Valley Spur near Munising, MI. In addition to great skiing, Saturday is the annual Taste and Glide event to benefit Valley Spur that features food and entertainment. Accommodations are at the Holiday Inn Express near Munising with swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, free continental breakfast, and microwave and refrigerator in each room. Contact trip leader Paul Keber at or pkeber@milwpc.com for more information or check out the ski trip flyer on the events page of the NSCM website Drive to Support Skiing

4 It s time for those fun mini-auctions again. Starting with our Jan. 13, 2019, winter picnic and meeting, we ll be holding small auctions at every meeting. Every two years the Nordic Ski Club of Milwaukee raises funds to support cross-country skiing. Starting two years ago we extended the fundraising period. Instead of one big auction in April or May, we re holding small auctions and also collecting cash donations on our four bus ski trips. Our goal is to raise $2,500 between January and May. The biggest beneficiary will be the snow making project at Lapham Peak State Park. We ll also consider funds to help Minocqua Winter Park, Friends of Valley Spur ski trails (near Munising, MI), the Keweenaw Ski Club and other areas we have donated to in the past for everything from new signs to new shelter toilets. If you have an item or service you d like to donate, we ll ask you to sign up at our holiday party (Dec. 1), on ski trips or at monthly meetings. Cathy Ward and again will be coordinating the fundraising. To donate an auction item, cward4@att.net. To donate direct funds, send a check, made to Nordic Ski Club of Milwaukee (and marked donation in the comments field), to treasurer Dave Herrewig, 9713 W. Debbie La., Milwaukee, WI Monthly Meetings in 2019 The Nordic Ski Club of Milwaukee will have four meetings this winter and spring: Jan. 13: Sunday, noon: Annual winter picnic and meeting at Lapham Peak, Trecker Lodge; free sandwiches if you R.S.V.P. Free cross-country ski lessons 10 a.m. to noon. Feb. 15: Fish fry dinner and brief meeting. Location TBA. March 15: Potluck dinner, annual meeting, exercise presentation Walk Like You Ski at Greenfield Park Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. April (no meeting due to the Easter holidays in 2019) May 10: Meeting, dinner, final auction and fundraising report, and talk on Lyme disease, Greenfield Park Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Join the Program Committee Our club s Program Committee is in need of additional, volunteer committee members and YOU are invited to consider joining the committee. Q: What s the committee s function? A: To plan most of the club events and secure event leaders, in four-month increments. Q: Why join?

5 A: Volunteering for the club is a great way to give back, plus it s fun. Program Committee members have priority sign-up status at the annual ski trip sign-up meeting, a voice in the type of events the club offers, knowledge of events before announcement to the general membership, and personal satisfaction in giving your time to the organization. Q: When are meetings? A: Typically the first Tuesday of most months from 7 to 9pm at committee members homes or public meeting rooms. It s helpful but not required to attend every meeting. Q: How can I find out more? A: Talk to Program Committee members for additional information. Check out the meeting minutes and job description in the members area of the club website. Contact the chair, Paul Keber, to attend the next committee meeting as a guest (pkeber@milwpc.com or ). Q: How else can I help? A: Share your ideas for new club events, or volunteer as an event leader please discuss with any Program Committee member. (If it s something you like to do, others probably will, too.) Please consider joining the Program Committee thank you! Mark Your Calendar Winter Picnic and Free Skiing Lessons Sunday, January 13. Labor Day Weekend Camping 2019 at Governor Dodge State Park (TRIP LEADER NEEDED) Ski Trips: Keweenaw Peninsula Saturday, December 29 (8:00am) to Tuesday, January 1. Marquette, Michigan SATURDAY, January 19 (8:00am) to MONDAY, January 21 (MLK Holiday). Minocqua Winter Park Friday, February 8 (8:00am) to Sunday, February 10. Valley Spur Friday, March 1 (8:00am) to Sunday, March 3. Snow Mountain Ranch, Colorado (YMCA of the Rockies) Saturday, March 16 to Saturday, March 23. Contact trip leader for availability for all ski trips. Member Profile: Katie Bivens By Paula Brookmine Katie Bivens has the distinction of being the longest serving president of the Nordic Ski Club of Milwaukee (Wis.). She served from 2007 to Her decade as president outdistanced the other two long term presidents by five years. Bob Bivens, Katie s husband, served for five consecutive years. Gary Hansen served five years, but over three decades. Katie took

6 the club into the digital age. She helped to expand the club s website and shepherded three revamps of the site, including a major redesign in 2017 that made it easier to navigate and allowed the site to rewrap text automatically to fit a computer, tablet or phone. To save money and time, she transitioned the club from a printed and mailed newsletter to one members receive via and also can find on the club s website. She streamlined many club functions, from the budget to the annual meeting. She created more of a party atmosphere, in the spirit of the original club members. At the same time, she encouraged fundraising to give back to trails and outdoor recreation venues. Katie is regional sales manager for KHL Americas-Power Division, which publishes industrial-equipment publications. Katie had never cross-country skied when she moved to Wisconsin from Florida for her job in One of her first activities that summer was a bicycle ride organized by the Nordic Ski Club, which has year-round events. She met Bob Bivens on that ride. I wasn t even unpacked, and I got a new club and a husband, too, she joked. They married in Theirs is one of maybe 15 marriages between club members over the years. Katie recalls going on a camping trip with the club over Labor Day weekend 2003 and rupturing her achilles tendon. That didn t stop her from signing up for the club s motor-coach ski trips up north that winter. So she learned to ski in her mid-40s, after just coming out of a cast on her heel. Chuck Utermohlen, who has been in the club since the late 1970s, gave me my first ski lesson, at Lapham Peak State Park. Paul Erspamer, who later became club vice president, gave me my second and third lessons on a club trip to Minocqua (Wis.). I still consider myself a beginner, Katie said. I like long and flat. I don t feel any desire to do VO2 Max [an expert trail at Minocqua Winter Park]. She noted that with the lack of snow in recent years, I can t ski enough in a year to get comfortable. She recalls her how much of a novice she was on first ski trip: I was skiing with Bob, and he was trying to get me to go down this humongous hill. And I asked, How? And he said, Snowplow! Looking around for a big machine, I said, Where? Join/Renew Online Besides bringing the club into the digital age, Katie feels one of her greatest accomplishments was guiding the club through a transition from the big-snow years to today s climate. That has meant encouraging more activities such as board-games nights, dinner outings and summer events. The club also has helped support snow making at Lapham Peak to make sure there is someplace to ski when many regular trails are mud. Nordic Ski Club of Milwaukee Inc. (NSCM) is a membership-based outing association active year-round since 1971.