Club president's note: OSC Fall 2024 Newsletter.
- Shura K
- Oct 20, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 24, 2024
Contents
Summer Update
We have wrapped up a productive summer of maintenance and lodge improvements! Thanks to the contributions of approximately 60 members, we were able to host three regular work parties and five painting-project-focused weekends! Thank you to everyone who made it up! This club is what you, the members, make of it! We are proud of all the hard work that we put into the building. It all contributes to the club's character, helps develop a sense of belonging, and results in some pretty great stories to tell during the wintertime.
Some of the key projects completed this summer include:
A new drip edge and heat tape were installed along the north roof edge. This will improve the sliding of snow and ice from the roof and protect the roof edge from damage related to ice and snow buildup.
Deck waterproofing to prevent leakage into the rec room. We have successfully stopped water from intruding into the rec room through the screw holes in the corrugated metal layer beneath the deck boards. We also were able to make drywall repairs to the water-damaged wall.
Tree thinning and brush clearance. Fire safety is a major priority both inside and around the lodge. We conducted major thinning projects around the lodge and also removed tree limbs that were facing the building up to 30ft.
Exterior painting on beams and roof edge using a JLG lift around the entire building. We power washed, scraped, sanded, primed, and applied two coats of new paint to the vertical beams and roof all the way around the building. This was a major project that was completed over six separate work weekends.
View of the south side during painting.
New members Grant Kamin and Aspen Pastore are getting ready to prep and prime the work area.
Members Julian Ludewigt and Alaina Welsh going up to complete painting on the south side. Julian and Alaina at work at the highest point!
Special Thanks
Special thanks are to the following people who volunteered a significant amount of extra time or led a work weekend this summer…I wish I could name everyone.
Ken Howard, Sylvan Ludewigt, Joe Fischer, Matt Andrew, Julian Ludewigt, Alaina Welsh, Tracy Ickes, Andrew Ickes
Getting Ready for Winter 2024-2025: Change to the Reservation System
Perhaps the single biggest change for the 2024-2025 winter season is the implementation of a new reservation software system.
We have decided to purchase the software CBD Web, an Australian company that has designed and deployed this software to over 70 ski clubs in Australia and a few in North America. After a month of prototype testing, we decided to move forward with having CBD web configure a customized reservation system that can accommodate all of the quirks of our reservation rules and processes. The OSC board was very impressed by the program's functionality and is very confident in its ability to enhance the reservation experience, reduce confusion, and simplify the duties of the Reservation Coordinator, Treasurer, Finance Secretary, and Winter Vice
President.
This new, user-friendly system will allow you to select and reserve specific bunks/beds in each room. You will be able to manually cancel your reservation (following existing rules) and receive a credit to be applied to a later stay. Similarly to our system now, you will only be able to reserve for a specific time window. The new system will be accessible through the OSC website.
We will be hosting a live tutorial in November and will publish an instructional document to the OSC website to make it as easy as possible for members to adjust to the new website.
Please note that all of the same reservation rules will apply to this system and the upcoming winter season.
Change in the Caretaker’s Quarters
As many of you know, our Caretaker, Aaron, is stepping away from the job after three great seasons. During his time, Aaron continuously went above and beyond in his duties, always prepared delicious meals, and kept the Lodge warm with his conversation and stories. We wish him the best and offer a heartfelt thank you.
This winter, we will be welcoming a familiar face to the caretaker apartment! Adam Ruscitto will be returning to the OSC as caretaker after previously being in the role from 2004 to 2007. He will be joined by his wife, Ashley.
Ashely and Adam met while both were living in Tahoe fifteen years ago. They moved to the French Alps for Adam's job as a Global Product Manager for Salomon Skis and Ashley attended graduate school in nearby Geneva, Switzerland and then worked at the United Nations. They relocated to Seattle, WA where Adam was the Head of Product Management for K2 and Line skis. Ashley works in international development with a focus on food security and is on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Avalanche Center. Adam and Ashley are currently based on their sailboat in Seattle and are preparing to take off sailing about the world next summer. They are both excited to return to their skiing roots in Tahoe and reconnect with the OSC community. Please join the Board and me in welcoming Adam and Ashley (back) to the OSC!
Adam and Ashley enjoying a backcountry tour!
New Member Weekends September 2024
Thanks to the efforts of Carole and Tim Herpin (our membership and reservation coordinators), we hosted two new and prospective member weekends during the month of September. These weekends were a blast and really highlighted what the club is all about: connecting with the community and the mountains. Both weekends were booked full as we hosted many new and interested families, introducing many of them to Donner Summit and Sugar Bowl for the first time. Some activities and highlights included: hiking to and swimming in Long Lake outside of Serene Lakes, exploring the abandoned train tunnels at night, strolling through the Sugar Bowl village trail system, hiking Donner Peak and taking in the view of the Summit, and stacking the winter supply of firewood.
Enjoying the sunshine, the view of Devils Tooth peak, and the warm water at Long Lake.
Hanging out by Disney Express during a walk through the village.
The wonderful Village Lodge in summer.
It’s time to wax those skis and re-calibrate your bindings; winter is right around the corner.
See you at the lodge,
Sylvan Ludewigt
OSC President
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