Our History
55+Ski Club was founded in 1979, under the leadership of David (Chick) Foster, by a small group of eleven senior skiers at Roundtop Mountain Resort (known then as Ski Roundtop). Chick and several others were members of the ski patrol. As president, Chick began building a ski club to attract qualified skiers to join. Early brochures were published with membership applications and distributed.
One of the big attractions he instigated was senior race day. He convinced Peter Nailor, the president and owner of Roundtop that giving free lift tickets to the newly formed club members, who came to race that day, would increase business. As a result, Race Day got its start. This event grew over the years and helped attract new members to the club and is still doing so today. Surely Mr. Nailor would agree that Race Day has enhanced Roundtops’ business overall. We all enjoy putting on the racing bib and sliding down through the gates, even if it is on Fanny Hill. Over the years the Club has added meetings in July and December and two trips each year usually to New York and Vermont.
Founder's David (Chick) Foster
Founder’s credits By Dave Werner In August 2020, I received a nice email from Heather Eberly, the granddaughter of David “Chick” Foster, one of the founders of our club. Heather was using some extra time she had on her hands, due to the COVID virus shutdowns, to delve deeper into her family tree. Through her google search for information on her family, she was led to our club’s website where she found that her grandfather, Chick Foster, was one of eleven senior skiers who founded our club. Chick was our club’s first president. He passed away in 1995 but Heather says she still has his wooden skis with leather strap bindings that must be from the 1930’s. They remind her of his love for the soft shushing over fresh snow. Heather mentioned that, God willing, she will join our club in 15 years and that her grandfather’s legacy will then have come full circle. I sent Heather a couple of old pictures from a race day that I found in a box of club archived materials. The pictures were not dated nor did they identify the skiers in the picture. Heather was able to identify two people in the one picture I sent her, which I have attached. Chick Foster is the un-numbered tall fellow in the top row, farthest right, with hat and glasses. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas “Frank” Joerg II is in the front row, farthest right, crouched with the #1 vaguely visible on his jacket. Frank passed away in 2000. Based on the outfits, Heather guesses the picture may have been taken around 1988. Thank you, Heather, for your email and for identifying your grandfathers in the photo. Heather, we look forward to welcoming you in fifteen years to the Club that your grandfather Chick helped establish.
Membership and Mission
The Club currently has approximately 140 members and is open to all skiers who have achieved the age of at least 55 and may include their significant others whether or not they also ski. Our mission is to encourage fellowship, companionship, and a fun ski environment for seniors who ski at Roundtop Mountain Resort. Members frequently arrive at the basement of the main lodge early on weekdays to join others for a morning of skiing in small groups. The Senior Development Program, which includes a season pass, offers all persons who are 55+ an opportunity to make new skiing friends while improving their skiing skills. In addition to skiing frequently at Roundtop Mountain Resort, members are highly encouraged to participate in the Club sponsored activities listed below. Finally, it is important to inform the membership chairperson of any changes in your mailing or e-mail address. 55+ Ski Club remains a local club and has not attempted to become associated with a national organization.
Membership Records
The Treasurer of the Club also serves as the membership person responsible to maintain and share with other officers an Excel membership spreadsheet with:
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends the following calendar year on March 31. For example, the 2024 year began on April 1, 2023 and will end on March 31, 2024.
Luncheon Meetings
Three noon meetings are held annually that include lunches catered by Altland House. The current fee for each luncheon (July, December, and Race Day in Feburary) is $15.50 subject to increase in the future. This fee must be paid with a check payable to “55+ Ski Club” written and mailed to the treasurer no less than 10 days prior to the date of the event.
Dues
Dues are currently $10/single, $15/couple per year and are normally paid by check by all members, including Club officers, before the first event (including ski trips) attended during the current fiscal year. The check must be payable to “55+ Ski Club” and mailed to the treasurer (usually along with the luncheon fee for the first luncheon event attended). Dues will increase only when the balance in the treasury is insufficient to pay Club expenses. However, dues have just increased for the first time since the Club was founded in 1979.
Newsletters
Newsletters are currently published at least twice yearly in the spring and in the fall. They are mailed to all members using the US Postal Service or emailed if preferred. Information is included with photos about past and future meetings including Race Day and Ski Trips. General information of interest to senior skiers is included. Articles submitted by Club members are especially welcome.
Other Publications
An Information Brochure is published annually in November that provides information for prospective new members. This includes a brief history of the Club, lists all activities with dates, all Club officers with contact information and a Membership Application. This is made available to Club members for distribution to non-member skiing friends and is available from the Club bulletin board display (basement of main lodge).
This Website
http://55plusskiclub.weebly.com
Club Sponsored Activities (dates subject to change)
Club Officers:
President
Vice President
Secretary (Minutes, Publicity, archives)
Treasurer (Membership)
Webmaster
Responsible for creating and maintaining the Club’s web site.
55+Ski Club was founded in 1979, under the leadership of David (Chick) Foster, by a small group of eleven senior skiers at Roundtop Mountain Resort (known then as Ski Roundtop). Chick and several others were members of the ski patrol. As president, Chick began building a ski club to attract qualified skiers to join. Early brochures were published with membership applications and distributed.
One of the big attractions he instigated was senior race day. He convinced Peter Nailor, the president and owner of Roundtop that giving free lift tickets to the newly formed club members, who came to race that day, would increase business. As a result, Race Day got its start. This event grew over the years and helped attract new members to the club and is still doing so today. Surely Mr. Nailor would agree that Race Day has enhanced Roundtops’ business overall. We all enjoy putting on the racing bib and sliding down through the gates, even if it is on Fanny Hill. Over the years the Club has added meetings in July and December and two trips each year usually to New York and Vermont.
Founder's David (Chick) Foster
Founder’s credits By Dave Werner In August 2020, I received a nice email from Heather Eberly, the granddaughter of David “Chick” Foster, one of the founders of our club. Heather was using some extra time she had on her hands, due to the COVID virus shutdowns, to delve deeper into her family tree. Through her google search for information on her family, she was led to our club’s website where she found that her grandfather, Chick Foster, was one of eleven senior skiers who founded our club. Chick was our club’s first president. He passed away in 1995 but Heather says she still has his wooden skis with leather strap bindings that must be from the 1930’s. They remind her of his love for the soft shushing over fresh snow. Heather mentioned that, God willing, she will join our club in 15 years and that her grandfather’s legacy will then have come full circle. I sent Heather a couple of old pictures from a race day that I found in a box of club archived materials. The pictures were not dated nor did they identify the skiers in the picture. Heather was able to identify two people in the one picture I sent her, which I have attached. Chick Foster is the un-numbered tall fellow in the top row, farthest right, with hat and glasses. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas “Frank” Joerg II is in the front row, farthest right, crouched with the #1 vaguely visible on his jacket. Frank passed away in 2000. Based on the outfits, Heather guesses the picture may have been taken around 1988. Thank you, Heather, for your email and for identifying your grandfathers in the photo. Heather, we look forward to welcoming you in fifteen years to the Club that your grandfather Chick helped establish.
Membership and Mission
The Club currently has approximately 140 members and is open to all skiers who have achieved the age of at least 55 and may include their significant others whether or not they also ski. Our mission is to encourage fellowship, companionship, and a fun ski environment for seniors who ski at Roundtop Mountain Resort. Members frequently arrive at the basement of the main lodge early on weekdays to join others for a morning of skiing in small groups. The Senior Development Program, which includes a season pass, offers all persons who are 55+ an opportunity to make new skiing friends while improving their skiing skills. In addition to skiing frequently at Roundtop Mountain Resort, members are highly encouraged to participate in the Club sponsored activities listed below. Finally, it is important to inform the membership chairperson of any changes in your mailing or e-mail address. 55+ Ski Club remains a local club and has not attempted to become associated with a national organization.
Membership Records
The Treasurer of the Club also serves as the membership person responsible to maintain and share with other officers an Excel membership spreadsheet with:
- Sheet 1: All active members: names, addresses, phone, e-mail, year member joined, attendance at all meetings and ski trips, dues payment.
- Sheet 2: Names and e-mail. This is used to prepare an e-mail distribution list that will always be available for use by officers to contact members who have e-mail.
- Sheet 3: Names of persons (family units), addresses, and phone numbers. This is used to prepare mailing labels for the spring & fall Newsletters. All other correspondence is by e-mail only.
- Sheet 4: List of inactive members (two consecutive years without meeting attendance or dues payment)
- Sheet 1: All active members: names, addresses, phone, e-mail, year member joined, attendance at all meetings and ski trips, dues payment.
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends the following calendar year on March 31. For example, the 2024 year began on April 1, 2023 and will end on March 31, 2024.
Luncheon Meetings
Three noon meetings are held annually that include lunches catered by Altland House. The current fee for each luncheon (July, December, and Race Day in Feburary) is $15.50 subject to increase in the future. This fee must be paid with a check payable to “55+ Ski Club” written and mailed to the treasurer no less than 10 days prior to the date of the event.
Dues
Dues are currently $10/single, $15/couple per year and are normally paid by check by all members, including Club officers, before the first event (including ski trips) attended during the current fiscal year. The check must be payable to “55+ Ski Club” and mailed to the treasurer (usually along with the luncheon fee for the first luncheon event attended). Dues will increase only when the balance in the treasury is insufficient to pay Club expenses. However, dues have just increased for the first time since the Club was founded in 1979.
Newsletters
Newsletters are currently published at least twice yearly in the spring and in the fall. They are mailed to all members using the US Postal Service or emailed if preferred. Information is included with photos about past and future meetings including Race Day and Ski Trips. General information of interest to senior skiers is included. Articles submitted by Club members are especially welcome.
Other Publications
An Information Brochure is published annually in November that provides information for prospective new members. This includes a brief history of the Club, lists all activities with dates, all Club officers with contact information and a Membership Application. This is made available to Club members for distribution to non-member skiing friends and is available from the Club bulletin board display (basement of main lodge).
This Website
http://55plusskiclub.weebly.com
Club Sponsored Activities (dates subject to change)
Club Officers:
President
- Lead in the planning and coordination of all Club activities.
- Ensure that the Club complies with all rules and expectations.
- Propose dates and locations for all Club meetings and activities and get approval from other officers and Roundtop Mountain Resort managers.
- Inform Officers of pertinent policies/information.
- Assume responsibility for materials posted on the Club website.
- Keep Club members informed about Club activities by e-mail and/or the Club website.
- Prepare agenda and preside at meetings.
- Work with the treasurer to prepare an annual budget.
- Delegate authority to other officers.
- Ensure that all deadlines are met.
- Prepare a brief year-end report to be included in spring newsletter.
- Train the president-elect to be the next president.
Vice President
- Be prepared to assume duties of president if necessary
- Responsible for Ski Trips
- Receive input from Club members on possible destinations
- Lead discussion regarding future Trips during the July luncheon meeting
- Contact selected destinations to make final arrangements
- Prepare trip descriptions suitable for inclusion in the fall newsletter.
- Present the chosen trips at the December meeting and strongly encourage members to go.
- Serve as contact person to help members as needed with room and carpooling arrangements,
- Prepare and send to the treasurer a list of the names of persons who went on each trip.
- Receive input from Club members on possible destinations
- Responsible for menu at each of the three luncheon meetings
Secretary (Minutes, Publicity, archives)
- Record and publish (in Newsletters) minutes for the July, December, and Race Day meetings.
- Prepare nametags for the July meeting, the December Meeting, and Race Day (treasurer or president could also do this)
- Publish and distribute newsletter.
- Publish and distribute brochures
- Membership Directory (treasurer or president could also do this)
- Information Directory (treasurer or president could also do this)
- Membership Directory (treasurer or president could also do this)
- Prepare 55+ Ski Club bulletin board display (basement of main lodge)
- Maintain and update as needed Club archives (remove irrelevant materials).
Treasurer (Membership)
- Create a (personal) 55+ Club checking account at a local bank.
- Handle all cash transactions. (No other officer may accept cash)
- Maintain all appropriate records of financial activity.
- Collect and keep all receipts.
- Pay bills and deposit funds collected
- Work with president to prepare an annual budget to be presented at the July meeting.
- Determine if and when a dues increase is in order.
- Determine if and when a dues increase is in order.
- Prepare a year-end financial report (as of March 31) to be presented at the July meeting.
- Prepare and give a very brief “bottom line” report at the December and Race Day meetings.
- No less than 10 days prior to each of the three luncheon meetings (July, December, and Race Day), receive by US mail (or at a previous meeting) checks for the meal from members who wish to attend.
- Notify the caterer (Altland House) and the vice president regarding the count for each meal 10 days before luncheon events.
- Prepare a list of persons who have paid to attend each luncheon and share with the other officers a few days before the event.
- Collect unpaid annual dues (currently $5) either received in cash at our meetings or by check sent along with the meal payment.
- Maintain Excel membership spreadsheets: (one file)
Webmaster
Responsible for creating and maintaining the Club’s web site.