~ October 2024 ~

Hello CVOA,

Greetings CVOA members,

There are many good reasons to be in Carrabassett Valley in the Fall. While some think of spring as a season of renewal, I would add fall as well. Summer and winter seem to go on until they wear out. But the other two, by comparison, are more dramatic. Spring has its muddy way until it’s suddenly green, but Fall owns the color and adds the texture of fine weather. Fall cleanses the air and clears the water, and I like adding a layer of clothing when going out.

For CVOA we gear up in the spring and again in the fall. Sugarloaf Homecoming is a part of the ritual. This year it’s during the long weekend of October 12-14 and you can view the Mountain’s schedule of events at https://www.sugarloaf.com/events-calendar/homecoming. For our part, CVOA will greet members and newcomers at our table Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 9am-4pm in the Base Lodge across from Guest Services. You’ll find some of your favorite people staffing our table, so drop by and say “hello”. It’s an excellent time to renew membership for 2025, and if you do it before the end of 2024, you’ll pay at current membership rates.

Then there’s the CVOA member Cookout at the Range Sunday 11-2, drive north on Rte. 27 – that means turn “left “at the end of the Access Road. After enjoying the cookout, you can stick around for the Board of Directors and member meeting from 3-5pm.

So, turn the page, start anew, sweep out the old, greet the day, play the last round, shoo out the flies and come to Homecoming!

This month’s profile of those who make CVOA a great organization is Jeanette Parker. She is our Social Chair who exudes high energy and hard work. If you attend any of our social events, it is because Jeannette has come up with the idea, scheduled and planned the affair, negotiated with vendors, recruited volunteers to help, managed the set up and clean-up of the event and has begun work on the next one. These events include Potluck Suppers, Third Thursday socials, the Ugly Sweater Party, Cookie Swap, the Annual Meeting, Homecoming picnic, Soup Social and CVOA Dances. Along with husband Mike Parker who is one of our deans of CVOA trip leading, she works her magic on trip gatherings. A toast to you Jeanette, from a grateful Association for all you have done to bring members together, where we meet old and new friends and have good times. 

Important Reminder - Board Meeting 10/13/24

There will be a CVOA Board of Directors and member Meeting 3-5pm, Sunday October 13, 2024 at the Neal Trask Shooting Range. Among the Board’s agenda items is the proposal to raise membership dues and range fees beginning in January 2025. Members are welcome to attend this or any other Board meeting.

Thom Johnson

October 2024

October 5 - 5 Stand Shoot canceled

October 6 - Trap Shoot canceled

October 12- 5 Stand Shoot 9am-noon

October 12-13 Homecoming Weekend

October 12 - Driveway Meet n' Greet Parkers

October 13- NO TRAP SHOOT

October 13 - CVOA Range Cookout 11:00-2:00

October 13 - CVOA Board and Member Meeting at Range...3:00-5:00

October 19- 5 Stand Shoot 9am-noon

October 20 - Trap Shoot 9am-noon

October 26- 5 Stand Shoot 9am-noon

October 27- Trap Shoot 9am-noon

Check out the CVOA 2024 EVENTS CALENDAR

Click here: CVOA Calendar

What a great year for membership 2024 was! CVOA had 133 new memberships, 218 people, join the fun and activities of CVOA and the Neal Trask Range. We welcome you and hope you have enjoyed the events in which you participated. You can renew your membership at the CVOA table at Sugarloaf Homecoming weekend. If you are not able to renew at Homecoming you can do so online. The online application and the printable pdf for mail in applications are now available at the CVOA website https://www.cvoutdoors.com/.Everyone who joins now is a member through December 31, 2025. We will soon launch into our winter events. Don’t miss out!

2025 HOMECOMING TABLE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

CVOA will again be hosting a table at Sugarloaf Homecoming Weekend to welcome new members and greet our current members. This is a great opportunity to connect with the membership! The location will be the same as past few years, on the lower level of the Base Lodge across from the guest services desk. Thank you to the volunteers who have committed to a time already. We need an additional volunteer for Saturday, 9-11am, and a team of volunteers for Sunday, 9-11am and 1-3pm. If you are an active Range member that would be a plus as there are always inquiries about the Range. There was a misprint of Thom’s email in the last Newsletter, and some email volunteer offers sent to him bounced back. If that happened to you and you did not hear from him or me, please email me, Patti Johnston johnston.patti63@gmail.com to offer your time to CVOA. Many thanks in advance. See you there!

Patti Johnston, Membership Secretary

Homecoming Weekend

Meet 'n Greet

Saturday October 12th at 4:00 p.m.

Meet ‘n Greet Garage/Driveway Party at Mike and Jeannette Parker’s

Saturday, October 12th at 4:00

BYO

A - Appetizer 

B - Beverage

C - Chair

Address: 1022 Poplar Stream Road

Due to the kindness of our neighbors, you can pretty much park anywhere, however, carpooling is encouraged.

To help with set up or volunteer to cook

Contact Diane Stone cvoa.range@gmail.com or 207-240-4752

To contribute a side dish, dessert or to help clean up

Contact Jeannette Parker 

jparker16seabreeze@gmail.com or 207-462-2647

View the VBT itinerary here: https://www.vbt.com/tours/germany-france-alsace-black-forest-guided-bike-tour/ This is an all inclusive package of air fare, ground transportation, hotels, most meals, bikes, helmets, two guides, sag wagon, and side trips. Ray and I have taken other VBT trips and they have all be excellent. After July 8th, this trip will be opened to non-CVOA guests which will not count toward a group discount. So if you are thinking about joining us, put your deposit in now!

We have 11 people currently signed up for the trip. That has earned us a discount equivalent to one free trip. That discount will be split among our travelers. There are 9 spaces still available. Contact Leslie to reserve a spot! ~ Diane Stone dpstone32@gmail.com

Doubles Trap Day with some of our prize winners

Our Doubles Trap Day was a huge success! We had shooters come from several different ranges. They all got to enjoy the amazing views, win some prizes, and have a lot of fun. Top shooters for the day were Tom Hartraft of Norway-Paris Fish and Game, and our very own Scott Nichols, Jr. Both scored 42 out of 50 shots.

Five Stand and Trap shoots continue through October but with a few changes. Due to coverage issues, there will be no shoots the weekend of October 5th and 6th. 5 Stand shoot will resume on October 12th from 9am-noon. Trap will resume October 20th, 9am to noon. These shoots are non-competitive and designed for all shooting levels. Also, open to the public. $6/round for the clays. Come meet your fellow range members and have some fun! Range Safety Officers are present and can help you navigate the games if it is your first time.

As a range member, your guests are welcome. Shooting guests should sign the green Day Use waiver form and pay $10/day. Non shooting guests need not sign in, but it is the responsibility of the member to ensure all posted rules are followed. Any questions, please contact me.

Enjoy your Fall and our beautiful Range and be safe!

Diane Stone

Range Secretary

CVOA.range@gmail.com

207-240-4752

NEOC OUTING

September 10 and 11 2024 

A great time was had by all! The weather was great and everyone participated in the activities available at NEOC and in Baxter State Park. The Pot Luck meal was outstanding and sumptuous, and there was a multitude of eating opportunities enjoyed by all.

To foster and promote the conservation of our natural resources

and the creation of recreational opportunities in our region.