The position of "Opportunity Catcher" is available.  Like all posts at CVOA, money is not part of the reward.  Guiding the future of our club is.  Sharing the pleasure of success is.  Creating something that isn't, is.  Leading the way along a new path is.  Working with an energetic bunch of people is.

Opportunities come to CVOA in the form of interviews and newsletter articles and probably many ways we miss.  We need someone to help us be better at taking full advantage.  One example is WSKI's offers of interviews.  Generally, when a request is made we hustle to find a trip leader and have them share that experience with the community.  It works, but we could do better if a bit of planning were built into the system.  Our newsletter editor does a wonderful job getting a newsletter out each month, but I'm sure she would appreciate a little help gathering articles.  We talk about developing a system of communicating "Show & Go", but the current group is busy without this additional task.

It's time to focus on ways to distribute thoughts and actions around membership and the community.  The "Opportunity Catcher" will be the person to direct this effort.  We'll develop tasks together based on current priorities and the time you have available for this volunteer effort.  Combining our mission with community outreach should open new doors and lead down new paths.  Next year, maybe, we'll need a committee to handle all the opportunities you guide our way.  And we'll have fun doing it.

Let me know of your interest.

 

~ John Morey, CVOA President

email: [email protected]

As you read this, we are still at Telluride tearing up the slopes. Telluride is a mountain beyond belief, and 68 CVOA members are having a great time.

Yes, yes, yes? Please join us!

Dessert will be provided by CVOA

BYOB

 

~ Cindy Foster, Leader; Lee Souweine, Photographer; Pete Weston, Researcher

Join CVOA for a St. Patrick's Day Bowling Party on Friday, March 17th (St Patrick's Day) at the Sugarbowl for CVOA members.

This is an RSVP event with a limited number of spaces, so get your name(s) on the list early!

We will be bowling from 5:30-6:30 and then enjoying a pizza dinner. Various bowling awards will be given out to lucky winners. The cost is $12/ person which includes bowling, shoes and pizza.

For those who wish to join us early, there will be Happy Hour specials from 3-5 for all CVOA members with $5 apps and $3 beer/wine/well drinks (no RSVP needed for this part of the event - just come out to celebrate St Patrick's Day!).

You can RSVP by email to Bonnie at [email protected]. Deadline is March 10 or when the slots fill up - so get your names on the list now!

~ Bonnie Farrar, Bowling Coordinator

Last year's Annual Meeting and Dinner at the Sugarloaf Inn was so popular, we are repeating it. For $23 per person, members will enjoy a dinner buffet, including salads, entrees, dessert, and coffee/tea. The fixed price of $23 includes the meal, taxes, and gratuities. A cash bar will be available for those that would like to have wine, beer, or cocktails. (Per state law, it is not allowed to bring your own beverages to the event.)

 

Social time will be from 5:00 - 6pm, dinner at 6:00. Following the dinner, we will have a short business meeting, which will include annual reports, elections of officers and board members, and volunteer recognitions. The Range Raffle Ticket winners will be drawn, and a guest speaker will entertain us.

 

Reservations will be taken beginning on February 15, when you will receive a news email with complete details.

 

~ Cindy Foster, Dinner Manager and Joe Loughran, Meeting Manager

Luxury in the Rough & A Place to Remember with CVOA on June 2-4, 2017 at Sky Lodge, 748 Main Street, Moose River, ME 04945. We have exclusive use of Sky Lodge for the weekend. www.skylodgemaine.com

The magnificent nature-based Sky Lodge was first built as a hunting and fishing lodge for the wealthy. There is a beautiful games room with its own pool table, an outdoor swimming pool, shuffleboard & horseshoe games, hiking trails, fishing on 3 local ponds, a private antique auto museum and a model railroad museum.   There is a golf course, biking, canoeing, and kayaking, and white water rafting is nearby.

Cost: $125 per person for 2 nights and 3 days - including dinner Friday & Saturday nights, lunches and breakfasts Saturday & Sunday. Tipping for the excellent staff is encouraged but not required, and is not included in our rate.

The lodge has 9 rooms: 4 rooms have 1 Queen bed, 3 rooms have 2 double  beds, 1 room has 1 double bed and there is 1 suite with 3 double beds. Rooms have their own bathrooms. All rooms are the same per person rate, and room requests will be filled in the order the reservations are received.

Reserve early as space is limited to 25 CVOA guests.

Send a $50 deposit with your reservation, requesting specific rooms, to be filled in order of receipt.

The $75 balance is due no later than May 2, 2017

Please make checks payable to: Mary Berger and mail them with your room request to:

Mary Berger, 163 Fogler Road, Bremen, ME 04551

Questions? Contact Mary Berger: [email protected]

Home: 207.529.2093   Mobile: 781.248.0152

~ Mary Berger, Trip Leader

 

Thank you for your continued support of the CVOA Range. It is not too late to buy raffle tickets for a chance at one (or more) or our excellent prizes:

The drawing will be held at the CVOA Annual Dinner and Meeting, and you do not need to be present to win.

We at the range thank you all for your continued support.

~ Diane Stone, Range Secretary

CVOA is looking for opportunities to make charitable donations. We have a budget set aside for giving to Maine organizations and families. Our guidelines require that the organization is established in Maine with activities focused in the Western Maine area. It must support our mission statement: To foster and promote the conservation of our natural resources and the creation of recreational opportunities in our region.

An application needs to be submitted to the CVOA treasurer and reviewed by the newly formed Finance Committee for approval. Anyone can submit the application. It does not have to come from the organization itself.

If you know of or belong to a nonprofit group that fits our guidelines for donations, please contact our treasurer Gail Miller at [email protected].

~ Gail Miller, CVOA Treasurer

 

The board meeting included a tour of the new Bill & Joan Alfond Competition Center at the mountain, and a potluck lunch. The meeting began with a presentation by Larry Warren, who invited CVOA to partner with him and the Longfellows Mountain Heritage Trail, a sixty mile long, historical and non-motorized, recreational trail that will span from Kingfield to Coburn Gore.

Gail Miller, Treasurer, reported on the budget and excellent financial health of CVOA. A Finance Committee was formed to set policies and discuss issues regarding such items as appropriate reserves, charitable spending, long-range goals, and how expenses are approved. As CVOA grows, it will be beneficial to have the committee discuss our finances and make recommendations to the board and membership.

The Range has been given the "go-ahead" by the Dept of Wildlife and Inland Fisheries for their Five-Stand project. They have also applied for a grant for Berm Improvement.

The Adventure Committee, chaired by Betsy Chapman, is working on the calendar of events, and hoping to have more volunteers to manage events. We could use some new events that would draw more people.

 

Our president John Morey suggested we look to our membership to take charge of marketing our events and promoting activities. Is this something that would interest you? Reply to this newsletter!

We have an open officer position for the coming year for a vice president. Suggestions or volunteers are welcome.

To view and read the minutes from the meeting, CLICK HERE.

~ Cindy Foster, Secretary, with thanks to Peg Bickford for representing Cindy at the meeting.