CONVENTIONS
 
The Spring Convention (April 24 -27) is less than a month away, and Michelle Shuford and Bryan Bobo, as well as others who have volunteered to help, are feverishly working to make it another top notch convention.  Saturday night's theme party is "Come as your favorite advertisement!"  Don't forget about the web site and scrapbook competitions, golf, tennis, deep sea fishing, mini-golf, and Beach Olympics, as well as the trade show and parties.  Check Crescent's web site for details.  I hope your members have taken advantage of the great rates offered by Kingston Plantation.  If anyone still needs to register, please contact your club's coordinator for this trip immediately;  coordinators can contact Michelle at skibumlong@aol.com.  She may be able to still arrange lodging or get you signed up for activities.

 RACING
 
Crescent's race season is officially over.  Due to warm weather, the Appalachian, NC and Timberline, WV races were cancelled.  High winds caused cancellation of Sunday's Hawksnest race.

 Crescent Cup races were held at Silver Creek, WV in early March.  The results are as follows:

Memorial Awards    

RALPH TATE MEMORIAL AWARD (male skier with the fastest 2-day combined time)
First — Jake LaRoe, GBORO, 191.23 seconds
Second — Daniel Shurkus, RSOC, 194.74 seconds
Third — Raymond Berggreen, GBORO, 195.62 seconds            

SHELLY LASSITER MEMORIAL AWARD (female skier with fastest 2-day combined time)
First — Cathie Mulgrew, WSSOC, 223.21 seconds
Second — Wendy Krause, GBORO, 227.09 seconds
Third — Camille Sluder, ASHE, 228.87 seconds            

TOM BROUGHTON MEMORIAL AWARD—MALE (highest individual season points)
First — Dan Hudson, PAL, 118 points
Second — Parker Brown, ETMM, 111 points
Third — Ron Scott, RSOC, 106 points            

TOM BROUGHTON MEMORIAL AWARD—FEMALE (highest individual season points)
First — McKenna Loges, KNOX, 117 points
Second — Lisa Beregi, ETMM, 99 points
Third — Caitlin Penry, WSSOC, 96 points

Crescent Cup Team Standings
First - Winston-Salem with 70 points
Second - Asheville with 69 points
Third - East Tennessee Mogul Mashers with 69 points
(Crescent Racing Rules broke the tie for second and third place.)

 
MEMBER SERVICES
 
I can't stress enough how important it is to keep club information current in Crescent's database.  The President's Updates frequently have undeliverable addresses.  If your club doesn't get those, I'm sure it doesn't get other important information issued by EXCOMM.  Bruce McMurray, Augusta, has responsibility for the database.  Be sure to send him any updates to your positions at snowdawgasoc@bellsouth.net.
 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE
 
Crescent officers will be elected at the Spring Convention BOD meeting.  To date, no one new has stepped up and volunteered to run for office.  That means you'll be stuck with the current officeholders for another year.  Although I like to think we do a wonderful job, we all get in a rut and do things "the same old way" when there may be a better, more successful means.  The only way that the council will continue to grow and remain successful is to attract new leaders with new ideas.  It's not too late to volunteer;  nominations can be accepted up to the time BOD votes.  If anyone in your club might be interested,  please contact Margaret Jordan, Past President, at magjordan@msn.com.  Many of us have been on EXCOMM for a long time (7 - 8 years), and we are getting tired.  Even if others aren't interested in running this year, please start thinking NOW about next year.  Some current EXCOMM members really need a rest! Robyn Bilfet (Raleigh) and Kyle Carroll (Winston-Salem) have been working on a new Crescent logo.  Combined, I think they sent me over a dozen ideas.  I narrowed that group to three and submitted them to EXCOMM for final selection.  We're still discussing two of the three, but you can expect to see the new logo soon. It has been a tough decision because they created some really great designs!  I can't begin to adequately thank them for their efforts. 
 
As everyone should know by now, the airlines are instituting new baggage policies.  On March 20th, I sent some links to preprinted letters (email) that can be sent to the airlines to voice our dismay and opposition to these changes.  Please distribute these to all of your members.  The airlines need to hear from everyone that this is a totally unacceptable practice.  Letters should be sent from individuals and from club presidents.  Suggested signature is member's name, club name, Member of Crescent Ski Council, Member of National Ski Council Federation.  I'm sending them from the council.  I'm also going to forward another email from NSCF that contains another link.   Please distribute that one also.  Bombarding the airlines is a good thing! There are new tax regulations for non-profit organizations.  The NSCF, in its Winter Update, reported on those regulations.  That recap is attached.  Please make sure your club's treasurer is aware of these new tax regulations. That's it for March.  I hope to see you at the convention! 

Alice Taylor
President
Crescent Ski Council
402 Woodbridge Drive
Charleston, WV  25311
luvs2ski@verizon.net