Deena Altman

   Thanksgiving: What is there to be thankful for? Each of us has his or her own set of special family and/or life experiences to appreciate, savor, and not take for granted. In addition, there is WASC. The original founders had the foresight to establish something that would last, providing easier access to the slopes in order to enjoy skiing with friends. We should be thankful for these men and women who loved skiing as much as we do today and put their efforts into establishing WASC. To show our appreciation to them, we should continue their legacy by actively doing our part in keeping the traditions alive.

   Christmas/Chanukah: This is the time of year we reflect on the goodness in the human spirit, and show appreciation to those people who are important in our lives. The search for finding the right gifts often causes much stress and tension. What is supposed to be a peaceful, loving time is often turbulent, obscuring the original purpose of the season. What should be of utmost importance is not the material process of gift giving but the expression of love and peace for family, friends, and all humanity on the planet.

   For WASC, "Mother Nature" provides the best of all gifts, the snow we need that enables us to ski. While skiing, we can give each other the gifts of friendship. This gift of snow is uplifting for each one of us personally and for the group as a whole. It allows us to experience our sense of internal peace which allows us to reach out to others.

   New Years: The past year is coming to an end and the new year is almost a reality. We reflect about how our actions can be improved in order to be better human beings in all aspects of our lives. And equally important, we think about how we can be in better shape physically and emotionally in order to be better able to confront all of life's demands.

   So how can this be achieved? Not by coming up with grandiose but unrealistic pronouncements. Take little steps with which you can succeed . Be alert to both physical and emotional issues. Reach out to help others. By doing so, you'll find the inner peace within yourself.

   This brings us back to the WASC Birthday Party. This December, WASC will be 64 years old. We will all mark the event by meeting to begin the new ski season with all the excitement of what the ski season will bring. We must be thankful for WASC and not take it for granted. But we must all celebrate each other. We are WASC and our efforts will keep the club healthy. This season has started off well due to the efforts of many individuals who should not be taken for granted either.

   Those people who have given their time and efforts to run events deserve a special thanks. The Oktoberfest, Jamboree, Open House, and cheese cake sale went over well because of the efforts of dedicated members. The Birthday Party, dinners, and trips are in good hands also. Now the task is to support the club by signing up for trips and events in a timely fashion so we can make 2002-2003 another great year. After seeing how well the earlier events went, I'm sure the rest will follow suit. Now we need to put our efforts into the business at hand: SKIING!