BBSC Summer Monthly Socials by Kimberly DeWit (Photos by Steve Strickland)

The ongoing restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic with stipulations for social distancing and avoidance of any events with larger groups of people certainly has taken its toll on BBSC activities since February of this year. The following BBSC monthly socials in our local city parks show how we were able to be sociable while still physically distancing and remaining safe.

On June 8th almost 30 ski club Elm Grove Park in North Boise members and some of their four legged canine friends descended upon Elm Grove Park in the North End of Boise. It sure seemed like a lot of people had quarantine-cabin-fever! After almost three months of COVID-19 in Idaho, and keeping our eyes on the news and latest developments around the pandemic, it was super nice to visit with our ski friends! Many members brought their own full-on picnic meals including chicken, quinoa salad, cheeses and crackers, sandwiches, fruit, chips and guacamole, to name just

Lynda (L) & Mary (R) & their canine friends. a few. It made me wish — just a little bit — that we were pot lucking! (To insure safety we did not share.) Collectively, we did our best to physically distance ourselves, but we were certainly sociable. It was our first meet up since February! And some of our friends had stories to share from their recent adventure in Switzerland & England.

July's Monthly Social on Monday, July 13th brought a smaller crowd than June. We gathered at the Kristen Armstrong Municipal Park in East Boise. The heat may have kept some members at bay, but in the shade it was very nice to sit and relax. Sandra shared details about her upcoming bike ride on the Weiser River Trail. It seems she may have gotten some more interest from members present. Also, Kimberly led a little semi-guided tour of the MK Nature Center grounds. One can spy sturgeon, large trout, a cascading waterfall, petroglyphs on river-smoothed basalt, and a gorgeous colorful mosaic at one of the stream displays, and more! We found a big nest, too!

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Kimberly & Terri in the “eagle’s nest” at the MK Nature Center.

The cooler temperatures were absolutely perfect when we met August 10th. We enjoyed the shade of the tall majestic trees at Boise’s own Julia Davis Park. Everyone brought their own everything, ranging from canned beverages to pizza slices to appetizers and dips from Trader Joe’s. Members shared opinions about COVID-19, last year’s favorite ski memories, summer plans — including those cancelled as well as those that actually took place, and we collectively wondered what this coming ski season will bring. Additionally, attendees enjoyed a few rounds of “socially distant” Jenga! Masks were worn upon arrival, but those pictured removed theirs while maintaining their physical distance.

Steve & Zac getting serious about their strategy on this precarious Jenga tower.

We look forward to more BBSC monthly socials in the future, especially when this COVID-19 pandemic is brought under more control, and it is safer for us to meet in larger groups without the current restrictions. But until then, we will continue to meet in smaller groups in open venues and be sociable while maintaining physical distancing and wearing our masks.

BBSC flag at Julia Davis Park.

Notice About the BBSC Champagne Brunch and Annual Meeting by Craig O. Olsen

The annual BBSC meeting, typically held in April, was postponed this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to be held in conjunction with the annual Champagne Brunch scheduled for mid September. Due to the ongoing sustained increase in COVID-19 cases in Ada County, the BBSC board of directors did not feel that we could safely meet as a large group in person for either the Champagne Brunch or the annual meeting, so these have also been cancelled. In place of an in person meeting, BBSC will hold a virtual annual meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2020 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM via a Zoom Meeting. Your link to this meeting is found here.

BBSC Training Bike Rides by Barbara Bryant (Photos by Barbara Bryant)

In preparation for the BBSC Weiser River Trail Bike Ride on August 29th some training bike rides on the Boise Greenbelt were organized. The purpose of these training rides was to check out our bikes to make sure they were in proper riding function and to get ourselves in shape for the longer and more demanding Weiser River Trail Bike Ride.

On June 15th three BBSC cyclists met at the Bryant house for a 10-12 mile ride out to Eagle and back. Our July 13th ride was cancelled due to heavy rain.

On July 27th four BBSC cyclists met at the Bryant house for a 15 mile ride on the Boise Greenbelt, readying for the Weiser Bike Ride on the 29th of August. Following the outing John Adams, Barbara Bryant, Betty Hawkins, and Ken Snider enjoyed Donn John, Donn, Barbara & Betty on July 27th. Bryant’s BBQ chicken/apple sausages, potato salad, and cookies. Of course a beer or two was served.

We hope to see more BBSC cyclists on August 29th at the Weiser River Trail Bike Ride. This ride will be led by Sandra Huffsmith and will start at 8:00 AM in Council where the Weiser River Trail crosses Hornet Creek Road (GPS coordinates: 44.730937, -116.442216). There is a parking lot at these coordinates for Weiser River Trail users where you can leave your vehicle.

This year's Weiser River Trail Bike Ride will start in Council traveling north for 10-15 miles and returning to Council.  Previous plans to have lunch at the Huckleberry Cafe have been cancelled due to COVID-19 conditions. Bring your own

BBSC Cyclists from the 2019 Weiser River Trail Bike Ride. lunch, and we will eat at a picnic table in Council.  Plan to arrive early since we will be leaving from Council at 8:00 AM sharp!

BBSC’s History of Giving Back by Craig O. Olsen

Founded in February 15, 1938, the BBSC is now in its 82nd year. During that time period, BBSC has sponsored over a thousand events and trips for its members including local, national and international venues that span not only winter sports, but include a wide variety of year-round activities.

But BBSC is much more than just a social club. BBSC has a long history of giving back to the community by contributing financially to help support several non-profit organizations related to skiing, numerous club members volunteering thousands of hours of service to various (Left) Articles of Association for Boise Ski Club (later changed to organizations and worthwhile causes, and Bogus Basin Ski Club) and signed by John W. Hearne, Ray supporting youth ski racing activities (both Archibald, Jack H. Nichols, Tim Regan & Kenneth O’Leary on financial and volunteer labor). You might even January 22, 1938. (Right) Certificate of Incorporation issued by say that giving back to the community is in the the State of Idaho on February 15, 1938. very DNA of our club.

Following are some examples of BBSC giving back to the community. Our ski club operated the first rope tow when Bogus Basin opened to skiing in December 1942 and operated the rope tow at no charge to non-members of the club for the first year. Our club helped keep Bogus Basin open its first year by volunteering thousands of hours of free service. Beginning in 1944 the club organized crews of volunteer members to remove brush and rocks from the five ski runs at Bogus

Early embroidered BBSC Patch. Basin. This activity continued periodically over several decades until concerns over potential liability issues precluded further participation.

Since 1884 BBSC has voluntarily cleaned the upper 8 miles of Bogus Basin Road to the ski resort resulting in approximately 2,800 hours of volunteer service, an activity that usually takes place in May or June each year. This the annual road clean up was postponed due to concerns about COVID-19. It will tentatively be rescheduled this October or November.

BBSC has presented the Warren Miller Film Festival to the Treasure Valley every year since 1964, making BBSC sign half way it 55 consecutive years of the 70 up Bogus Basin Road.years that Warren Miller Entertainment has presented a feature-length ski film. This annual festival has become a very popular event among Treasure Valley skiers that unofficially kicks off the ski season each year. The Warren Miller Film Festival has also become a significant source of revenue for BBSC over the years. From these revenues BBSC has funded the vast majority of its philanthropic efforts.

Egyptian marquee for the 2019 Warren Miller Film Festival.

Just over the past decade, BBSC has donated approximately $20,000 to help support Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation, Bogus Basin Ski Patrol and Boise Adaptive Snowsport Education from proceeds of the annual Warren Miller Film Festival. During this

same time period, about 14,000 hours of volunteer service was rendered by club members.

Since 2015 BBSC has sponsored the Premiere Party in conjunction with the Warren Miller Film Festival to recognize the College of Idaho Yotes Ski Team, one of the nation’s top-10 rated collegiate ski teams. Over the past five years BBSC has donated about $4,500 to College of Idaho Yotes Ski Team through proceeds generated from the Premiere Party.

As of June 30, 2020, Pocket Outdoor Media has acquired Warren Miller Entertainment. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about the risk of exposure to and spread of the disease in venues with large crowds, the Warren Miller Film 2019 College of Idaho Yotes Ski Race Team. Festival has been cancelled for 2020 and will hopefully resume again next year.

From 2006 through 2015 the BBSC supported the Scholar Dollar Program and the Dotty Clark Ski Race Championships, donating approximately $40,000 to young skiers. More recently, from 2018 to the present, BBSC has been sponsoring the Bob Greenwood Athletic Scholarship for deserving young ski racers. So far this scholarship has raised about $6,000 for youth ski racers in the McCall Snowsports Club and BBSEF at Bogus Basin.

Participant in the 2017 Dotty Clark Ski Race Championship.

The above activities represent only about 70% of BBSC’s charitable contributions in giving back to the community.

In 2018 the Far West Ski Association recognized BBSC with a Diamond Level Award in their 12th Annual Charity and Community Service Recognition at their annual convention in Reno, Nevada. This year FWSA recognized BBSC with a Double Diamond Level Award. This award would have been officially presented at their 88th annual convention held in Portland, Oregon, but this convention was cancelled due to concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.We thank and congratulate every BBSC member who gives of their time as well as financially to support our various causes. BBSC members celebrating their 2018 FWSA Diamond Category win.

With every club event and trip planned and carried out there is an opportunity for you to serve. We invite you to step forward and make a contribution — financial and / or volunteer service. Your help does make a difference. It helps give back to the community, and it makes our club stronger and more resilient. It even helps “prevent mutations in our club’s DNA!”

BBSC wins the 2020 FWSA Double Diamond Category.