Much accomplished on 11/2 Trailday
Able bodies Wally, Bill, Kevin, Kinley, Rick, Kailey and Liz- Sat 11/2 on Sunrise Trail
Cutbacks, corduroy, snow fence adjustments were all knocked off on Saturday. Thanks everyone for your hard work and great ideas! Can you feel skiing in the air?!
$1,450 Raised for Equipment Repairs and Replacements!
Many thanks to the generous donors who put $1,450 into our equipment fund bringing the total up to over $2,000. The future of XC on the Chautauqua Ridge is more secure because of the generosity of these individuals:
Richard Kendall
Steve Cobb
Katie Finch
Timothy Frerichs
Lisa Waite
Mike Weaver
John Taylor
Chris Rammacher
Peter Radka
Anonymous
Andrew W. Dorn, Jr.
Rick Johnson
Rebecca Vankeuren
Rick & Susan Ketcham
Ruth Lundin & Paul Hedberg
Jeff Brockelbank
Larry Scherer
Liz Dorman
Mike Swensen
Joe Bender
Bill Scherman
Kevin Kind
Teresa Bretl
Andy Dickson
Thank you to our 2018-19 operating support donors.
Andrew & Matt Dorn
Richard Johnson
Stephen Cobb*
James Wilmoth
Marcia De La Cerda*
Chris Rammacher & Rebecca VanKeuren*
Richard & Marjorie Weist*
Steve Abdella
Larry Scherer
Chris Smith
Mike Swensen & Nancy Feenstra
Maureen Anderson
Mike Matthews
Cynthia Flaherty*
Brad & Wendy Schottin*
Richard & Susan Ketcham
Richard Kendall
John & Shelly Taylor
Mary & Bill Hopple
*4-year legacy donors!
Please forward your BHSC contribution today!
Recent in-kind contributions:
Dave Higgs – Slab wood
Kevin Kind – ATV
Mark Alessi- Electrical wizzardry
Jordan Forest Product Services, Inc.- ATV Grooming
BHSC survives on volunteerism and contributions. Please step up!
Save the date: Planning Meeting 4/4 6pm
You’re invited: donors, skiers and those with an interest in helping BHSC to thrive are invited to a planning meeting to set our course as a newly charitable enterprise. Fundraising, equipment needs, grooming operations, ski tours, communications- it will all prioritized and divided to conquer. What do we need to do better? What are our highest priorities? What are the first-steps to assure long term success? What lessons have we learned?
Location TBD.
December 5, 2018
Boutwell Hill Ski Club Granted Tax-Exempt Status
Cherry Creek NY The Boutwell Hill Ski Club is excited to announce it has been awarded it tax exempt status by the IRS. The determination letter arrived November 30th as the group is preparing for its fourth season of promoting cross-country skiing. The group celebrated the milestone at its open house at the Trillium Lodge on December 1.
Tax-exempt status will allow donors of BHSC to deduct their contributions. It will also allow the organization to seek grant funding.
BHSC holds a volunteer stewardship agreement with the DEC to develop and groom cross-country ski trails in the Boutwell Hill State Forest. The 5-mile trail system it maintains is free and open to the public. BHSC relies entirely on volunteers to maintain its trail system.
“This is a mountaintop for BHSC,” said Bill Scherman, co-founder. “The financial pieces of the puzzle are coming together.”
The group was formed in the Fall of 2015 by a few cross-country enthusiasts from north and south-county. As it enters it’s fourth ski season of grooming, it has about 50 donors and volunteers.
“There are many generous cross-country skiing enthusiasts and volunteers who have made this all possible,” said Andy Dickson, co-founder. “We have local donors, as well as from Erie PA, Buffalo and Ontario Canada. Our largest donor is a Buffalo resident working in Poland who has never seen our trails!”
The Boutwell Hill trail system is located on the Chautauqua Ridge in the Town of Charlotte and receives tremendous amounts of “lake-effect” snow. This makes the Boutwell Hill State Forest an ideal location for the ski trail system.
For the second year in a row, the group held an informal ski swap and open house. At this year’s event at the Trillium Lodge in Cherry Creek the group was able to outfit new skiers with skis, bindings and poles with equipment at little or no cost.
“We are more interested in growing the number of people on our trails than making money selling the equipment,” said Scherman. “We tell the new skiers to send us a donation if they enjoy the sport.”
Volunteers are needed for grooming operations, trail development, ski patrol, events & social functions and communications. Visit http://www.BoutwellXC.wordpress.com for more BHSC information, maps and trail conditions.
Ski Swap Success!
We netted over $250 and got some new skiers into the sport! At the end of the day we were rewarded when a mother with three kids in tow outfitted the whole family in XC!
Thanks to all the skiers who supported the event with donations and consignments. Unfortunately, our paper trail didn’t capture donor names, just those who consigned equipment- our apologies. Thanks especially to those who donated equipment.
We have lots of donated skis left over for our next ski swap that we have place in storage.
Gorgeous Corduroy!
Bottom of Sunrise Loop
We’ve laid a lot of corduroy around the trail system. Pictured are Maggie the trail hound, Tina Nelson, Bill Scherman and Kevin Kind. Wet spots are an endangered species! Thanks to all who have helped on recent workdays.
Ski Swap- Saturday, November 18!
The Boutwell Hill Ski Club will hold a ski swap Saturday, November 18 at Hollyloft Ski & Bike at 600 Fairmount Ave in Jamestown. The event will take place from 10AM to 4PM.
The ski swap will be an opportunity for owners of used equipment to sell their gear and for aspiring new skiers and young families to purchase equipment at very reasonable prices.
Proceeds of the event will benefit the Boutwell Hill Ski Club.
Individuals wishing to sell equipment may drop it off the week before the swap at Hollyloft. Only cross-country skiing equipment will be accepted. 20% of the proceeds from each sale will benefit BHSC.
“We’re grateful to Les Johnson for offering his retail location for this fundraiser,” said Bill Scherman,” VP of BHSC. “He is a long-time supporter of cross-country skiing. And his store is an ideal location to make this a successful event.”
In addition to buying and selling equipment, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about BHSC, view trail maps, consult with knowledgeable skiers and learn about this healthy, family-friendly recreational opportunity. A wax clinic will be held at 2pm. Refreshments will be served.
“Besides raising money, we hope to recruit new skiers to the sport,” said Andy Dickson, President of BHSC. “This is a great opportunity to get good, used equipment into the hands of new skiers at very reasonable prices.”
Please help promote the trails and swap by downloading and distributing these PDFs to friends and co-workers:
Also consider collecting unused equipment from friends and family and delivering it to Hollyloft for the sale. Ask that the equipment be donated so BHSC can keep all sale proceeds!
12/2/16
Homestead Loop ribbon Cutting and dedication was held 12/2. The new trail is .9 miles long and was made possible, in part, due to generous grant support from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
We couldn’t have made this trail without the support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Department of Environmental Conservation. We are a new organization and the confidence of CRCF to invest in our adventure not only made it financially possible, but it lifted our spirits and brought credibility to our work.
BHSC gratefully acknowledges the many supporters and collaborators who have made the trail possible including neighbors –LaBarons, Morris’ and Gambinos- Higgs Lumber, Rogers & Sons, Chautauqua County Parks Department and Parks Commission, Greg Yaw, the Cherry Creek Sno-Goers, donors and Chautauqua Rails To Trails, which sponsored BHSC’s grant application.
Grant proceeds from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation also paid for the fabrication of a trail roller for packing the abundant snow that falls in the BHSF.
10/25/16
New trail names adopted and updated trail maps showing the new Homestead Loop are posted.
Boutwell Hill Ski Club 