Smugglers' Notch Vermont - Press Releases
Seniors on snow: 55 Plus Club for seniors kicks off 24th season of winter sports and camaraderie at Smugglers' Notch Resort
Smugglers' Notch, VT — Winter 2015-2016 will mark the 24th season for the 55 Plus Club at Smugglers' Notch Resort. For seniors 55 and older who enjoy winter sports and camaraderie with their peers, the club offers a weekly opportunity to get onto the snow, take in an interesting presentation, and share some socializing time with others.
Current club president Deborah Pomeroy says, "The club was started by Cambridge resident Jules Eberhard as a way for older skiers to have fun skiing together with some socializing and interesting programs added as well. We encourage people who are just getting started or people who haven't skied for many years. Our alpine skiers range from beginners to hard core double black diamond skiers. We also have a group of enthusiasts who head over to the Nordic Center to use the extensive trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. It is a very supportive group; a number of our members are former ski instructors and ski patrol members. The most important element is having fun." The club currently has 130 members.
Membership is $30 for the season. On the Wednesday meeting days, club members enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast; a 50 percent discount on lift tickets; a 20 percent discount on purchases in the Resort's sports shop; rental and group lesson discounts; and a discount on cross-country trail fees. They can also take advantage of special rates on ski maintenance at the Smugglers' rental and repair center Monday through Friday.
Meeting days kick off with breakfast at 9:00 am in the Smugglers' Village Lodge before members head out to enjoy their preferred snow sport or remain in the Lodge for indoor games and socializing. The afternoon program begins at 2:00 pm. Past presentations have included the topics of home fire extinguisher safety; genealogy research; travel to the Turks & Caicos and China; Smugglers' environmental stewardship programs; custom aerial photography; hearing loss; and more.
Smugglers' managing director Bill Stritzler notes that the dynamic club enhances the community at Smugglers'. "The club welcomes any of our out-of-state guests who might want to join the activities on Wednesdays; this invitation definitely helps extend the resort's sense of community to those new to Smugglers'," notes Stritzler. There are some 55 Plus Club members who volunteer with SNAP, the Smugglers' Notch Adaptive Program, and receive training to assist with special needs skiers enrolled in this program serving local as well as visiting skiers. The resort is very appreciative of club members' involvement in the busy adaptive program, according to Stritzler. He adds, "From the resort's perspective, we're delighted to have enjoyed this partnership for over two decades with the 55 Plus Club."
The club's season starts the Wednesday after Thanksgiving and runs through the last Wednesday of March.
