December 2017 Newsletter
~ December 2017 ~
If you have already renewed for 2018, thank you.
If not, we hope you will renew your membership by going to 
www.cvoutdoors.com/join-us.
seasons-greetings-header.jpg

Hello
 
On behalf of the Officers and Board Members of CVOA I wish all our CVOA Members and their families a peaceful and happy Holiday Season.
 
December is an intentionally slow month for CVOA activities. December is a time to spend with family and close friends and to celebrate the holidays in ways that are meaningful to each individual. Hopefully each CVOA Member has special traditions that bring back fond memories of people, past and present, who have made their holiday celebrations memorable.
 
Unfortunately not all CVOA'ers will be able to enjoy these holidays to their fullest. Whether loss of a family member, battling a serious disease or facing unexpected financial problems, some of our members will be challenged to feel the joy of the season. I would encourage all our CVOA Members who might know of folks in any of these or other difficult life situations to reach out and make sure no one feels forgotten or left "out of the loop" they so recently shared.
 
One way to make the holiday season more of a positive time for our life challenged members is to let them know what you and your family members are doing. Keep them in the loop as to your activities and events. Share your good times or just your average daily activities whenever you can. While you may be concerned that sharing your happiness with someone going through tough times may make them feel badly, my experiences lend me to believe the opposite is true for most people. The feeling of no longer being "involved" or worse, being forgotten, is far scarier to a person so used to the active recreational and social life we are accustomed to in CVOA. Cards, e-mails, telephone calls or quick visits are so important and can help their recovery process.
 
So I leave you with this thought: Whenever we choose to take the time and make that extra effort to brighten the day of another person....we have actually given ourselves the finest kind of gift in this very special holiday season.
 
Have a joyous holiday season and a "Merry Christmas to All",
 
Joe Loughran
President, CVOA
Calendar of Events
December 1 - Ski Museum Grand Re-opening
December 9 - Annual Cookie Swap

2018

January TBD - Board/Member Meeting
January 21-28 - Copper Mountain Ski Trip
February 6-13 - Banff/Lake Louise Ski Trip
February 18-21 - Quebec City Ski Trip
March 1 - Full Moon at 7:51pm; Walk or hike?
March 3 - Winter Dance Social w/Delta Knights
March 18 - Annual Meeting & Lunch
June 9 - Coastal Bike Trip - Brunswick
June 14-17 - Sky Lodge of Moose River
June 21-24 - Quebec City Bike Trip
Future Events & Adventures
Ski Museum of Maine Grand Reopening Tonight!
December 1, 5 pm - 8 pm

The Ski Museum of Maine, located in Kingfield over the Sugarloaf Outlet Store on Main St, has been completely renovated.  The room has been redone and the exhibits are all new and professionally prepared.  If you have visited the Museum before, you won't recognize the place.  And if you have never stopped in, you definitely need to come on by.

This Friday, December 1st, is the grand re-opening as part of the Kingfield Art Walk.  So stop in, share a beverage and appetizer and see the exhibits.  I guarantee you will be impressed. 

There are exhibits on skiing equipment made in Maine, a children's corner, a replica of a 1930s ski shop work area, an exhibit of the 10th Mountain Division, classic skis, Sugarloaf through the years, and the lost ski areas of Maine. 

Sugarloafers, most of them members of CVOA, started the Ski Museum of Maine over 20 years ago, and most of those who are making the updated museum a possibility are CVOA members.

If you can't make it Friday, the museum is open any time the Sugarloaf Outlet Store is open.  Please support our efforts by visiting the museum and become a member of the SMOM. 
 
~ Peter Weston
Annual Cookie Swap
Saturday, December 9, 
4:00 - 5:30, AOEC Yurt

Perhaps this is the year for just a fun social time. Our annual Holiday Cookie Swap will be held on Saturday, December 9, from 4:00 - 5:30 at the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center yurt.

Bring:
  • 3 dozen or more holiday cookies,
  • OR a $5 donation to AOEC,
  • AND a container to take cookies home in.
  • If you are inclined to bring extra cookies, they will benefit the AOEC.
Take a Walk! If it is a take-a-walk kind of a day, meet at the yurt at 3:00 for a walk.

Questions? Call or email Betsy Chapman, 207-944-3264 or cvoa.adventures@gmail.com. 
Quebec Ski Trip
February 18 - 21
 
We have 16 people signed up for a quick trip to Quebec 18-21 February.  We will ski at Mont Sainte Anne one day, and le Massif the second day. The trip includes 3 nights lodging at the Hotel Manor Victoria in downtown Quebec City. 
 
Unfortunately, if you haven't signed up already, you are too late.  The reservations had to be in by 28 November.
 
~ Pete and Judy Weston, trip leaders
Ski Trips in 2018
Copper and Banff/Lake Louise
 
Both trips are full, but if you would like to be on a list to possibly fill in a cancellation, contact the trip leader.
 
Copper: Cindy Foster, Trip Leader, cvoa.secretary@gmail.com
Banff/Lake Louise: Gail Miller, Trip Leader, treasurer.cvoa@gmail.com
Annual Meeting
Sunday noon, March 18
 
Although we have traditionally held our Annual Meeting with a Saturday night dinner, on March 18 we will try something different - an Annual Meeting with a Sunday lunch. As in the past two years, the event will be held at the Sugarloaf Inn.
 
More details will be available in the January newsletter, at which time you can be sure to mark the event on your 2018 calendar.
 
~ Bonnie Farrar and Cindy Foster
Member News
From Cindy Foster,

On a personal note -

Thank you for all the support, love and friendship bestowed upon me during the three weeks since Greg's passing on November 10th. I am truly blessed. It would please Greg to know that I am not alone on this journey into the next chapter of my life.

In September, Greg crossed skydiving off his Bucket List; lesson: take the time and make the effort to do something you have always wanted to do. Perhaps it isn't as exciting as a first skydive experience, but it can be equally satisfying.

Give those you love an extra hug today.

With love and appreciation, 
Cindy

p.s. - my daughter created a lovely program for the Celebration of Greg's Life; go to my Facebook page if you would like to read it.
Photo of the Month
Photo by Rick Young.
Do you have a photo suitable for "Photo of the Month"? Are you a CVOA member? If so, send your photo to: Cindy Foster, Newsletter Editor -  cvoa.secretary@gmail.com.
Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association
Valley Crossing #6
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
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