Instructors Needed!
We have many many new students this year. If you have the time, we have the students!
Don't hesitate to sign up for more hours. Contact our lovely and talented scheduler Jacque at
[email protected]
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Mailing Preference
You are receiving this newsletter based on your recent interaction with Ignite. We hope you'll stay, but if you wish to be removed from our newsletter, just update your preferences at the bottom of this email. Thank you!
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Shop Online and Donate to Ignite
The next time you find yourself online shopping, please consider making your purchases through AmazonSmile. It is a simple and automatic way for you to support Ignite every time you shop, at no cost to you. Just use the link below to get started. Happy shopping!
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-0798064
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Stay Connected
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Ignite Leadership
Board of Directors
David Levin
Vice President
Art Heimbach
Secretary
Mary Chokran
Treasurer
Michael Roseberry
Member At Large
Emeritus Member
Paula Galloway
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Snowsports Director
John Humbrecht
Finance Director
Becci Seuberling
Equipment Manager
Stacey Lunn
Client Services Leads
Becci Seuberling
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| Snow is Falling and Ignite is Ready! |
SAVE THE DATE: December 8, 2015
Support Ignite Adaptive Sports on Colorado Gives Day!
Colorado's largest one-day online giving event, presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, is coming up and we need your support.
On Tuesday, December 8, 2015
, thousands of donors will come together to support Colorado nonprofits like ours. Last year, a record-breaking $26.2 million was raised for Colorado nonprofits. Last year, because of you, we raised $11,200. This year, our goal is to raise $15,000
Check out our donation page on ColoradoGives.org
. Give where you live on Colorado Gives Day. Your support helps us continue to providing Snowsports to people with disabilities.
Beginning November 1, 2015, donations can be scheduled ahead of time.
$1 Million Incentive Fund
Thanks to Community First Foundation and First Bank, Colorado Gives Day features a $1 Million Incentive Fund, one of the largest gives-day incentive funds in the country. Every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the Incentive Fund, which increases the value of every dollar donated.
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Let's Break Last Year's Records This Year!
Did you know that during the 20014-2015 season nearly 200 volunteers provided 13169 hours of service? Thank you all so much for your time and support, we couldn't do it without you!
Returning Volunteers:
Welcome Back! Winter is almost here and the snow is beginning to fall, and in a few short weeks our Snow Sports programs will be starting up. Make sure to update your online profile go to
http://igniteadaptivesports.org/
and Login.
New Volunteers:
If you recently join us as a new volunteer, Welcome! A reminder: You need to log on to your account and sign up for your clinics and trainings, they are up on the website now.
Seeking volunteers:
We are actively recruiting for the 2015-2016 season:
If you know of anyone interested in volunteering for the coming season, it's not too late. For Instructors have them contact Michelle Willix at
[email protected]
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Adaptive Tips
Patty Sharp, Volunteer Instructor at Ignite
One of my last students of the season was from Somalia and had been with Colorado Center for the Blind for only a few months. He had a tough morning trying to first snowboard then cross country ski, in the icy, spring snow conditions. In the afternoon we tried out snowshoeing and headed up to the trails. He was still learning how to speak English and it became difficult to guide him through the narrow trails. Finally, I asked him to teach me how to say left (bidix) and right (midig) in Somali. That did the trick, we were able to navigate through the trees with no problem, and he had a fun experience enjoying the snow.
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A Day of a Junior Ignite Instructor
As a Junior Ignite Instructor, my days are always full of surprises. One day I might be working with a girl or boy on the autism spectrum, and another day with a war veteran who has to ski with one leg. All I know is that I need to be adaptive.
"Are the straps and pin in place?" my lead instructor asks.
"Yup, got' em," I reply.
"Alright, let's have a good last run!"
I push forward and rotate my skis 180 degrees so that I drift backwards down the slope. I
grin at the smiling faces of my lead instructor at the helm of a sit ski and our student, Abby,
snuggled inside. Abby is twelve years old and has a developmental disability, but that doesn't
prevent her from enjoying the ski day. She lets out a shriek of joy and waves a pink flag in her
petite hands as the two of them, captain and passenger, chase after me down the mountain.
The ride is over before we know it, and we congratulate each other for a great day with a
round of high fives. I go down on one knee and to unstrap Abby from the sit ski when, out of
nowhere, we hear an ecstatic "Woo-hoo!" from up the mountain. A parade of four sit-ski,
captain-passenger pairs decked out in the signature Ignite blue and fluorescent yellow jackets
carve down the mountain.
My grin gets wider. Every Ignite volunteer has enthusiasm, but the combined energy of
all the Junior Instructors in one sit-ski training is nothing short of exhilarating. The Junior
Instructors--my friends--pull up next to us, and they tell me about the day's highlights and
mishaps. I laugh, and I tell them about how much fun Abby had skiing and singing with us on
the lift rides.
I take off my ski goggles, and, as always, the world seems a little bit brighter.
*Note: The student's name was changed to Abby, as this article was not shown to her family for
approval.
Drew Pinster
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Ooops!
Sorry to everyone who received a "former" volunteer survey while you are still active with Ignite. While I would like to say it was a
computer glitch, it was human error the wrong list was used. Yes, Ignite values you, your time, your expertise and your service to our students and we want you back this season.
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Snowsports Program Updates
Colorado Center for the Blind has signed on for 10 weeks with a full complement of students and Eldora is again hosting Special Olympics this year!
John is returning as Snowsport Director, as is Stacey in Equipment, Jacque as Scheduler, and Becci in Finance. Michelle Willix has taken on the role of Volunteer Coordinator. Thank you, Michelle! We're looking for someone to head up Client Services (formerly Admin) and some help with Marketing/Outreach. Don't be shy.
Thanks Everyone!
Finn Murphy
Program Director
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Clinics and Other Events
:
On mountain lessons start December 31st. Are you ready wrap this year up and start the New Year out right with a lesson with Ignite at Eldora?
PSIA offers many opportunities for certifications this fall. Take a look at the schedule on our website to find a date that works for you.
Reminder: Ignite will reimburse you when you pass your AASI/PSIA exam! You can find the details on our website.
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New and Returning Groups
Ignites Welcomes back the following groups for the 2015-2016 Season:
Thursday: Colorado Center for the Blind and Nederland Elementary
Friday: Denver Veterans, Wyoming Veterans, Joshua School,
New on Saturdays: Special Olympics Race group
The Golden Veterans (This is a group of active and discharged vets) is new to Ignite and will cover several days.
Special onetime groups: ASL! on Sunday and the Center for Independent Living.
Nederland Elementary will return for 4 days of lessons this year!
Thanks to all of you who have updated
your availability for this season and a little nudge for those who still haven't.
From Jacque Carbone
Scheduler
Scheduling your lessons, Fulfilling our Passion! Igniting Our Slopes!
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Eldora Mountain Resort News
Eldora Mountain Resort has announced Brent Tregaskis as the new general manager for the resort's 2015-2016 winter season.
Tregaskis has spent the last 17 years as general manager of Bear Mountain Resort, in the San Bernardino Mountains outside Los Angeles. With Mammoth Mountain's purchase of Big Bear Mountain Resorts (Bear Mountain and Snow Summit) this past season, Tregaskis became the vice president/general manager of both resorts.
U.S. Forest Service approved expansion plans for
Eldora Mountain Resort - but for now, only within its existing boundaries.
Highlights of approved Eldora expansion
- Terrain: 188 new acres, including 163 tree-and-gladed
- Lifts: Upgrades to the Corona and Challenge chairlifts
- Snowmaking: 25 acres of additional snowmaking coverage
- Facilities: New 16,000-to-20,000-square foot Challenge Mountain guest lodge and adding 300 seats to existing Lookout facility
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Board Update
Dear Ignite Family,
As we approach winter, I'm very excited about the upcoming ski season. Two ski areas opened on October 29 and I was happy to have my first ever October ski day when I was joined by Ignite board members Art Heimbach and Paula Galloway and Snowsports Director John Humbrecht for a few hours of fun and exercise up at Loveland ski area. The early start made me well aware of the importance of pre-season training as my legs were a bit sore the next day. I encourage all of you to get to the gym or hiking trails and get those legs in shape for another fun filled winter of adaptive snow sports.
I'm also very excited about our staff this year with our new Executive Director, Carol Nickell at the helm and Finn Murphy in the new position of Program Director. Carol has an impressive background in non-profit management and her experience will help us move Ignite forward. Finn will return with his many years experience at Ignite and manage our great program. The rest of the staff from last year will be returning and I'm particularly happy that Jacque Carbone will be returning as scheduler. Jacque's many years experience at Ignite make her invaluable as scheduler and instructor.
Finally, I want to thank Michael Travis, our former Board President, for his many years of service to Ignite (& ESRP). Michael reached his term limit as a board member after over tweny years on the board and many of those years as board president. Michael was instrumental in building ESRP to what it has become today. Michael has been an Ignite (ESRP) volunteer since 1982. Thanks Michael!!!!
I hope to see you all soon up at beautiful Eldora Mountain Resort.
David
David N. Levin, President
Ignite Adaptive Sports, Board of Directors
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Admin is now Client Services
We have changed the title but not the fun! To help describe what it is that our wonderful volunteers do to help our students get ready for their day on the snow we have changed the title of the position Admin to "Client Services". We are still looking for a "few" good people to fill these roles for the 2015-2016 season. If you are interested in this position please contact Finn Murphy, program director at
[email protected]
or Michelle Willix at
[email protected]
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Ignite Wish List
Ignite's Wish list
All our programs are made possible through the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations who donate gifts of time, money and services.
Please help us obtain the following items:
- *S*N*O*W*!!
- Cups for hot drinks
- Coffee/Tea/Hot chocolate
- A 2 drawer and a four drawer locking file cabinet with functioning locks and keys
- A small desktop sized copier
- Healthy snacks for volunteer and students
- Copy paper
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Thank You Donors!
 We thank all our donors for their generous support. The donors provide Ignite Adaptive Sports with the financial foundation needed to keep the program running and both our students and volunteers coming back happy!
Please go to the website to see a full list of donors.
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