Announcements
Alan Walker, Bike Ride Committee Chair, reminded everyone that there is a Bike Ride Committee meeting on Tues., Jan. 19th at 5:30 pm. Zoom connection details forthcoming. All club members are invited to this important meeting.
Earl reminded the club of the Board of Directors' meeting on Monday, Jan. 11th at 7 am.
Earl also announced that Ron Griffith's wife Marilyn passed away on Monday, Jan. 4th. A separate email will be sent out with Ron's address if you would like to send him a sympathy card. PJ and Wayne are in contact with Ron to determine if the club can help out with any assistance. Check your email.
Rotary Moment
Wayne relayed information about a Zoom call/meeting with John Hewko, Rotary International's General Secretary and CEO about "The Future of Rotary" on Wed., Jan. 6th, 2021 at 8:30 am PST. This Zoom call is open to all Rotary members and guests, but you must register first at: - Register for "Future of Rotary" .
Thought provoking topics include:
- CoVid's impact on Rotary
- Maneuvering the challenges while realizing the opportunities
- Learn what's new in the 7 Rotary International focus areas.
John manages a combined budget of over $450 million and assets of more than $1 billion on behalf of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. He is a leader in managing Rotary's relationships with strategic partners and governments.
Brags and Confessions
Jill confessed to missing several meeting because she was in the hospital with a burst appendix. She was "washed out" and released on Christmas Day. Welcome back, Jill!
Chris said his sons are now back to school and that he and Holly are now "empty nesters" again!
John McD. bragged about recovering from CoVid-19 and sustaining 14 days of quarantine. Welcome back, John!
Sam said that he and his wife have recovered from having CoVid-19 and are feeling better. He now has a new job with ESD. Welcome back, Sam.
Alan bragged about his daughter being back to work after having her new baby.
Kathleen announced her birthday today! She will be sending a check to the Salisbury Fund for something "north" of 24 years! She also touted her being part of one of two Toastmasters Clubs in the valley and invited anyone interested to check them out.
Jim "Chuck Norris" Huffman bragged of getting a new toaster!
PJ bragged of being in the "early to bed" club on New Year's Eve.
Program
PJ Jones introduced Tony Hickok, Marketing Manager at Mission Ridge Ski and Board Resort (MRSBR). He is also a member of the Wenatchee Confluence Rotary Club. Originally from Bozeman, Montana, he and his wife moved to Wenatchee when she got a job at Costco. He is also a member of the Central Mountain Bike Alliance. Tony shared with us changes that have been made at Mission Ridge, which included:
- New chairlift for run #2 , which has a bubble-covered seat
- Open 7 days a week from Christmas to end of February
- Wed. thru Sat. night skiing from 4-9 pm
- CoVid prevention precautions that include wearing of masks in the base area and on lifts, and social distancing
- Online ordering for tickets and food, with food to be eaten outdoors
- Childcare has been closed because of CoVid-19.
Tony showed some pictures for the web cameras on the mountain top which were breath-taking.
More information about the new lift can be seen in a YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/24sQSCyZpI0The new lift has a total length of 1 mile, and although some of the original lift towers were reused, some newer, lower ones were installed. This lessens the wind the riders experience.
Tony took questions after the presentation:
Robin Q: Were the towers on the new lift replaced?
Tony A: Yes, but there are less towers.
Robin Q: How is the expansion of MRSBR going?
Tony A: It is in the approval process.
Jim Huffman offered words of praise for MRSBR for employing locally and helping our local economy.
Jim Adamson Q: Will there ever be summer use of the chairs to get to the top for picnics?
Tony A: MRSBR has been granted a Special Use permit for the lifts which does not include transport of picnickers.
Milt Q: Did MRSBR get any overseas help with the purchase of the European lift?
Tony A: No, local expertise was used for technical and engineering support.
Rebecca Q: What percentage of the Mission Ridge skiers are from Wenatchee vs. Seattle?
Tony A: About 50% are from Wenatchee, 45% from Seattle area, and 5% from elsewhere. This has been pretty constant over the years.
Wayne showed a long-neck Pepsi Cola bottle, full of soda, from the 25th Anniversary of Mission Ridge in 1990, when he last skied there. He said he knows of only 3 bottles (his, PJ has one, and the Wenatchee Museum has one). Tony showed his 25th Anniversary bottle, but without soda, and then showed the 50th Anniversary Pepsi in a commemorative can.
Q: Will twilight snowshoe walks come back to Mission Ridge?
Tony A: They will probably return mid-January until the end of February. Sign up for tickets on-line.
President Earl thanked Tony for his enjoyable program, and presented him with a children's library book dedicated in his name, which will be donated to the Regional Libraries.
President Earl ended the meeting with a quote from Willie Nelson:
"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts, you get positive results!"
The meeting ended at 8 am.
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