Your membership is valid through December 31, 2019.
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Does your newsletter appear shorter than usual? Often times the newsletter is truncated in your email, and there will be an indicator of more to read. If you haven’t arrived at the CVOA footer, you haven’t read it all.
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Greetings!
Did you know that historically CVOA has donated over $7000 to various organizations through our charitable giving program, many of them with local matching funds? Some of the recipients include:
Scholarships for Tanglewood/Blueberry Cove programs
Boy Scout Troop Sponsorships
NEMBA trail construction
Scholarships for the Stratton Summer Recreation Program
Stocking the fishpond at the Outdoor Center
Campership to Camp North Woods
Scholarships and sporting equipment at the Maine Outdoor Adaptive Center
In May of 2011, the idea of CVOA contributing financially to organizations that support our love of the outdoors was first discussed at a meeting. Using our mission statement as a guiding principle, it became the intention of CVOA to support local organizations that reflect our mission statement. In 2015 the newly formed Finance Committee, under the leadership of CVOA’s late treasurer Gail Miller, presented the first donation policy for CVOA, and it was wholeheartedly approved by the membership.
Just this past month, the renewed Finance Committee with treasurer Mary Frank has fine-tuned this policy,
which will be on the agenda for discussion and consideration at the June meeting.
Here is the draft version of that donation policy:
It is the intention of the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association (CVOA) to support local organizations and individuals that reflect the CVOA mission statement: “
To foster and promote the conservation of our natural resources and the creation of recreational opportunities in our region.”
CVOA may donate up to 20% of the previous year’s net income to local groups or individuals that help to support our mission. Donations can include cash amounts, as well as expenses incurred for activities for the benefit of the local community.
Additional donations may be approved by the Board for requests for funds for emergency needs. Donations of up to $100 can be approved by the Finance Committee. Donations in excess of $100 must be approved by the Board of Directors.
Organizations/individuals must meet several criteria to qualify, particularly the following:
They must be established in the state of Maine with activities focused in the Western Mountains area.
They must complete an application form for a project that meets the CVOA mission.
They must submit an “after action report” detailing how the money was spent and who benefitted. A report form will be provided for guidance.
Requests for donations from CVOA may be brought to the officers of the Board at any time by local organizations/individuals or requests may be submitted by a member of CVOA. The Board of Directors may also choose to identify organizations/individuals that should receive a donation from CVOA on an annual basis. All donations must be reviewed annually by the Board. A report of all donations will be included in the CVOA annual report.
Draft 5/1/19
Through the hard work of Mary Frank, additional documents have been created to help in our charitable giving work including a revised application, an after-action reporting form and a list of criteria for consideration of all donation requests.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this important aspect of CVOA over the years. If you know of worthy applicants, please contact a board member or direct them to our website for further information - cvoutdoors.com.
All the best,
Bonnie
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- Board/Member meeting, recreation, lunch
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- Paddle Big Jim Pond, BBQ
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- Milan and Val Gardena Ski Trip
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- Park City, Utah Ski Trip
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- Jackson Hole, WY Ski Trip
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Future Events & Adventures
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Recreation, Cookout, Board/Member Meeting
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Saturday, June 23 in Belgrade
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Val and Sam Hudspath have generously offered to be our hosts for the June 23 Board/Member meeting. They can be found at 40 Abena Shores Drive, Belgrade 04917, on the shores of Great Pond. There are many opportunities for activities in the Belgrade Lakes area. Plan to meet at their home around 10 am, and engage in whatever adventure you wish. We’ll plan to enjoy a meal together at 1pm with the Board Meeting following at 2pm.
Likely activities include:
- Paddling – The lawn at the Hudspath’s is flat with a sandy beach from which you can launch canoes or kayaks. They have 3 single kayaks and 1 tandem kayak (or you can bring your own). You can paddle Great Pond and its islands or paddle to the Post Office in Belgrade Lakes, pull up and enjoy a walk around town.
- Motor boating – You can launch your own craft from a nearby public boat launch. The Hudspaths also have a pontoon boat.
- Biking – Rt. 27 has a wide shoulder in the area and many locals bike on it.
- Hiking – There are some easy to moderate trails in the area. Check out www.7lakesalliance.org for descriptions of hikes and maps. Click on “Land” at the top menu bar. The hikes are 2-5 miles from the Hudspath’s house.
Cookout at 1pm
– CVOA will provide foods for the grill, burgers and more. Please plan to bring sides, desserts, and BYOB.
Board/Member meeting at 2pm
, we hope you will stay for the meeting.
Directions to Val’s:
If coming from Augusta take Rt. 27 North. At Carter Marine in Belgrade take a sharp right onto Sahagian Road, a paved road. After about 1/3 of a mile turn left at Abena Shores Drive. They are the 3rd house on the left. Park in the driveway or on the lawn.
If you are coming from Rt. 2, take Rt. 27 south to Belgrade Lakes. About 1.5 miles south of the town, Sahagian will be on your left at Carter Marine.
Please contact Val at pvsam1@twc.com to let her know if you are coming,
what you will be bringing to share, and in what activity you might be participating. That will help us plan for the grilling and activities.
Hope you can join us!!
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Paddle Big Jim Pond and BBQ at Bickfords
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Join us for a fun and leisurely paddle on remote and beautiful Big Jim Pond, followed by a cookout up on scenic Eustis Ridge, at the Bickford’s, on Woodcock Lane.
The plan is to meet at Natanis parking lot (on left, just past Pines Market on Rt. 27 In Eustis) at 10:00 AM. We will caravan to The King & Bartlett Road and the put in at Jim Pond, about a five mile drive.
We will spend a couple hours exploring the pond by kayaks and/or canoes. There are also beaching and swimming opportunities if you wish. Then, we will pack up and trek back to Eustis, and up the Eustis Ridge road to the Bickford’s at 12 Woodcock Lane, for a cookout and get together.
RSVP to let us know the head count and grill preferences (burger, veggie burger, hot dogs). Please bring a side to share (appetizer, side, or dessert). BYOB. Let us know what category you plan to bring for a side, so we get a good mix of offerings for the table! Email:
pegbic150@gmail.com
)
This was a fun event last August, and we hope you will join us for a good time with fellow CVOA members on the water, and hanging out together up on “The Ridge”.
If anyone chooses/needs to rent a kayak from Pines Market, and needs transport to the Pond, let us know.
~ Glenn & Peggy Bickford
~ Alan & Susan Fraser
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Down East Magazine Scavenger Hunt
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And other ideas for recreation
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If anyone is inspired by these opportunities, please contact me at
cvoa.adventures@gmail.com
or 207-745-5815 with your ideas for adventures.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
~ Patti Johnston, Adventure Coordinator
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Maine Huts & Trails wrote to us:
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Hello CVOA!
We noticed that your calendar of events is missing adventure options for July and August. What about a paddle/hike to Grand Falls? We are currently scheduling summer adventures and thought you might be interested in booking a summer trip with us! We currently have plenty of availability so give us a call if you’re interested or have any questions.
Not ready to book an overnight stay? How about a one of a kind dining experience. We brought back dinner-only reservations to our Stratton Brook and Poplar huts this summer.
Click here
for details.
Best regards, Janice Tandy
Please contact me if you are interested in leading or participating in a paddle or hike to Grand Falls, or in a dining experience at Stratton Brook or Poplar Stream
~ Patti Johnston, Adventure Coordinator
cvoa.adventures@gmail.com
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So many options, so easy to plan....
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It is not too late to add an event to the summer calendar; perhaps you can share your area of Maine (check out the Down East Scavenger Hunt) with other members, introduce us to something special nearby, plan a hike or paddle, for instance.
For a mealtime gathering, CVOA offers funds to reimburse some of the costs, to the tune of $5 per member attendee, and it is also appropriate to ask folks to bring a side dish, and BYOB. Also, CVOA maintains a large inventory of paper goods for such events; they are located in the storage unit at the range.
For short notice trips, Cindy, will send out an email for you. If you can plan ahead, we will put it in the monthly newsletter.
New to leading events? We can offer you guidance.
~ Patti Johnston, Adventure Coordinator
cvoa.adventures@gmail.com
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Val Gardena, Italy
– the first CVOA ski trip to fill up in the first two days, and Mike Parker is maintaining a waiting list. He will be in touch before long with everyone who sent reservations. Perhaps we will do a Europe ski trip again, in 2021.
Park City, Utah and Jackson Hole, Wyoming
– Complete information, payment information and reservation forms will be sent out on June 8
th
to all CVOA members. Reservation forms with payment can be postmarked no sooner than Monday, June 10
th
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Quebec City stay and ski, February 2020
, contact Pete Weston if interested.
Austrian Nordic Ski Trip
– this will not, after all, be a CVOA sponsored trip. If you are interested in Pam Twaddel’s trip, contact her at twaddle@gwi.net.
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Saturday five stand shoots -- 9 to noon
Sunday trap shoots -- 9 to noon
Wednesday trap shoots with Al Poudrier -- 9:30 to noon
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Are you interested in Pistol Shooting Games?
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We are looking to add another weekly shooting venue. If you might be interested in participating on a Saturday morning or afternoon, send me a quick email and let me know
CVOA.range@gmail.com
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A very successful Cleanup and Cookout
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Thank you to these volunteers who pitched in on May 11:
Jim and Jane Heichel -- Ray Craemer -- Edie and Dale Dunlap -- Dianne and Bruce Wyman -- Tom O’Donnell -- Todd Slagg (Rangeley Border Patrol) -- Phil Hunter -- Bob Teeri -- Steve Duren -- Paul Dugas -- Harvey and Sherie Packard -- Dave and Trish Keane -- Darrell Sleight and Annie Tuell -- Dave Harrison -- Terry and Bill O’Brien -- Jeff Longfellow -- Dick Storch -- Hylie West -- Coburn Gore Customs officers Paul Feeney, Colby Shreave and David Wence -- Cindy Foster -- Diane and Ray Stone -- Bob and Bonnie Farrar -- John McCatherin and Barb Kovach -- 8 Coburn Gore officers came earlier in the week -- With apologies to anyone we missed
And look at what we accomplished:
- Build and Stain: Build new deck entrance on club house at floor level, and a ramp to the ground.
- Cleaning: Inside 5-Stand – vacuum walls, window sills, ceiling, floor; wash windows; Outside: Pick and dig rocks in front of 5-Stand; Rake shell casings on pistol and rifle ranges; Rake plastic wads on 5-stand and trap fields; Rake around sign at top of driveway; Pick-up-sticks (spacers between stacked lumber)
- Other tasks: Move out picnic tables; Take trash to Transfer Station; Set up 5-Stand; Inventory the clays; Test trap machines
- BBQ: Set up, help cooking
And speaking of the BBQ, we had burgers and dogs by grill master John McCatherin, and more side dishes and desserts than we could possibly consume.
Thanks once again for every one’s help.
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The Adaptive Outdoor Education Center
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Thanks to CVOA for our $500 donation
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Dear CVOA,
On behalf of the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, we would like to sincerely thank you for awarding us with a $500 grant to support our local adaptive programs. Donations like yours allow us to continue our mission to enhance the quality of life for all people with disabilities through adaptive outdoor recreation and education.
Funds will benefit many of the awesome outdoor recreation programs we offer, such as biking, gardening and hiking. Funds will also benefit our programs put on through partnerships, such as adaptive climbing at the Anti-Gravity Complex, yoga led by local instructors, skiing at Sugarloaf and more!
Thank you for supporting our programs, our mission and our vision! We are truly thankful for your donation and how it will help further our adaptive offerings for the population we passionately serve!
With sincere appreciation and thanks,
Bruce and Annemarie Albiston, Kayla Minor
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Bring your checkbook to the June 23 Cookout and Meeting to place your order with Val. Or contact Val at 207-495-9199 or pvcsam1@twc.com.
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Past Events and Adventures
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Thank you Volunteers for May 18 Cleanup
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On the Sugarloaf Marathon Route
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We had over 40 people participate in the town clean up, including many CVOA members. Many hands made light work. Collectively we hauled four long trailers full and one pickup truck load of trash to the Carrabassett Valley transfer station. Route 27 looked great for the marathon. Thanks again for all the help.
~ Al Sleight
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Patti Johnston - our Adventure Coordinator
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Thank you to Patti for stepping into this position. Find out more about Patti next month!
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Sue Strommer has been a Sugarloafer since 2001 when she put her career on the shelf to learn to ski. Her love of mountains began in 1972 when she clapped eyes on the Rockies. Since then she has worked in Glacier Park for two summers and for four winters at Sugarloaf. In between, Sue worked in politics, practiced international trade law and led a venture capital fund network.
Sue is married to Bob Bergman (Sugarloafer since 2014) and has six step-kids and four grandsons. Sue and Bob live at Village on the Green in the winter. When the skiing is poor you’ll find them in Old Orchard Beach, Bethesda, Maryland, or on the road. Sue’s favorite trails are Wedge, the Narrow Gauge x-country ski trail, any hiking trail in western Maine, and Gunsight Pass in Glacier Park.
We are pleased to have Sue on the CVOA board for the coming year.
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Val writes: I grew up in Gardiner, Maine and learned to ski at Lost Valley. This was when cotton long johns, jeans and Army jackets were the cool kid’s winter ski wear. Oh, and I had the cool rubber ski lace up boots, in blue! I loved being outside in all seasons. We were fortunate to have a strong summer rec program and I learned how to competitive swim between two floats in a stream with a strong current that constantly moved the floats. PRETTY tough learning turns.
I went to UMO and full disclosure here, that is where I met Bonnie Stone, now Farrar. [And, yes I have stories!!!!) Three years after graduation I joined the United States Air Force and for the next 20 years took advantage of everything the service had to offer (including my wonderful spouse Sam). Thanks to the USAF I became a Physician Assistant working in Family Practice where I took care of active duty service members, retirees, and their families. I retired from the USAF and continued taking care of these fine people as a federal servant.
After 35 years of being away, I convinced my better half to move to Maine. We found a fantastic lake home on Great Pond in Belgrade, and in August of 2018, I retired from the VA Hospital in Augusta. I have been on several outings with CVOA and am very excited to be a board member. And as I tell Bonnie, “It is great to be home in this awesome place we call MAINE.”
Welcome, Val, to our CVOA Board of Directors.
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Do you have a photo suitable for "Photo of the Month"? Are you a CVOA member? If so, send your photo to: Cindy Foster, Newsletter Editor -
cvoa.secretary@gmail.com
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Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association
Valley Crossing #6
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
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