Hello

 Members

MERRY CHRISTMAS

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

In abundance of caution and after careful consideration of the rising virus cases, along with new CDC guidelines, the OSTC Executive Board has decided to cancel the Holiday Party scheduled for December 3rd. It was a very difficult decision. The good news is that we were able to book the Ace Café and DJ for next year on December 16th.

During this time each year, our membership has helped to support and donate toys to the Marine Toys for Tots. With the financial struggles many families are facing, donations are needed even more. If you are interested in making a financial donation to the Toys for Tots campaign, please see click on this link:

Note at the bottom of the page, it provides donation details--96% of donations received goes to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation whose mission is to provide toys, books, and other gifts to less fortunate children. If you want to donate a toy, search for local toy donations locations, drop off sites are also accessible: at this link:

One of the best ways to get into the festive Christmas spirit is looking at sparkling Christmas light displays. Amy McClurg and Kathryn Hardage are planning a fun filled biking trip--Christmas Lights Bike Tour, on December 5th at 7:00pm, starting at Retro Cycles. For more information please visit the Local Events & Socials page at:

Orlando Ski and Travel Club - Home

You may be wondering when OSTC is planning our next get-together--keep an eye out for the details of a prospective January social. Robin Beckman has located a few open-air venues. We all look forward to slowly and safely bringing back this monthly event.

Our first ski trip of the season will leave soon, Steve Clark is leading the pre-holiday party trip to Sun Valley, Idaho, aka the “Celebrity Hotspot”, on December 9th. This is sure to be a notable trip, as the Sunrise Terrain expansion debuts this season, with 380 acres of new terrain.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself, I would like to wish you and your family a very safe and Happy Holiday! Think snow.

Rhonda Ulmer

President

VERY IMPORTANT NEWS

Over an abundance of care during COVID times the Executive Board has decided to cancel the Christmas Party scheduled at Ace Cafe, Orlando.

Christmas Party Canceled

BOARD FEATURE

KATHRYN HARDAGE

PAST PRESIDENT 

&

FSC DELEGATE

Greetings fellow lovers of ski & travel! I’m honored to be asked to write a bio for this month’s newsletter. I am an Orlando native, born and raised, never lived in snow or cold; yet my passion is snow skiing. Go figure!

I’ve been involved with the club since the early 90s. At first only as a trip participant, then later by getting involved with Trip Leadership, first leading domestic trips, later expanding to international trips. Although leading trips is work, I find it very gratifying taking a group on a successful adventure! I love travel; skiing, sightseeing and experiencing new places with 40 or so of my closest friends! The club has gifted me with many long-term close friendships. We are all one big family!

I was the VP of Trips of OSTC for 6 years, followed by President for 3 years. During my Presidency membership voted to amend our club name to add “and travel” to our official name to represent more accurately what the club has grown into. Currently we offer year-round travel. Personally, I love the variety!

In addition to my passion for snow skiing I love everything outdoors. Kayaking, hiking, biking, gardening/landscaping and growing orchids. I have a bit of a green thumb.

My other big passion in life is animals, my heart is fur lined. I volunteer at two pet rescue shelters, including being overly involved with animal rescue and placement in the NW Florida rural county where I have a cabin on the Suwannee River. This pic is my most recent rescue, which I successfully placed. (Please, ADOPT, don’t shop.) I split my time between “Kat’s Kabin” & downtown Orlando. It is a great mix!

***LOCAL EVENT***

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS BIKE RIDE

Saturday, Dec 5th, 2020

Retro Cycles, 1810 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL

Christmas light bicycle ride beginning at Retro Cycles on Orange Avenue in Ivanhoe Row. We will take a ride through Ivanhoe Village and College Park to take in the great light displays. Ride will be about 6 miles at a casual pace, all bikes welcome! Don't forget to decorate your bike!

 ***SKI TRIPS ***

RED HOT DEAL

1 Female spot opened up

Need to sign up immediately

December 9 thru 14 th (Wed – Mon), 2020 

Sun Valley “Celebrity Hotspot” - Welcome to the birthplace of destination skiing! More than 3,400 vertical feet and over 2,000 acres of varied terrain, Sun Valley offers skiers and boarders something special on not just one mountain, but two. Bald Mountain’s consistent pitch, lack of lift lines and variety of terrain have earned it a reputation as one of the world’s finest ski mountains. 13 chairlifts and 65 varied runs await skiers and boarders on both sides of Baldy. Dollar Mountain is the perfect place to get introduced to downhill sports and features two new high-speed quads

PARK CITY 2021

JOIN TEAM ORANGE

Park City Mountain and Canyons were connected, to create the largest ski resort in the United States. Canyons' staggering 4,000 acres were joined to Park City Mountain Resort via the Quicksilver Gondola, and together the two areas offer more than 7,300 acres of world-class ski and snowboard terrain.

PACKAGE PRICE WITH NON-STOP AIR

into Salt Lake City: $1,381

SOLD OUT

JOIN TEAM ORANGE NEXT YEAR

ZERMATT 2021

Orlando Ski & Travel Club is excited to announce we will be returning to Switzerland, March 8-20, 2021. The trip includes all the same Itinerary, except in reverse order. We will be flying into Zurich for two nights, moving onto Lucerne via private coach for two nights, then train to Zermatt for six nights, ending with a fabulous train ride around the top of Lake Geneva into Geneva for the final night of the trip.

The trip is first opened ONLY to the Returning 2020 registrants, who have Trip Credits from the incomplete 2020 trip. Returning registrants, ensure your space for use of credits by registering now!

After August 15th, the trip will be opened up to General Membership. Likely there will only be a few spaces which will become available, thus SIGN UP quickly after the 15th.

Seeking one INDIVIDUAL to share hotel room with another male traveling solo.

Sign up now!

Hope to see you on the “Swiss Dream Trip 2021”!

***ADVENTURE TRIPS**

PERU – 11 days!

Marvel at ancient wonders and modern culture during this once in a lifetime trip. Check Machu Picchu off your bucket list! Immerse yourself in Peru!

In Lima, we’ll discover some of the country’s best museums, churches, historic plazas and bustling shopping areas— including a private tour of the famously yellow Baroque Church of San Francisco. From there we fly to breathtaking Cuzco where we’ll discover Cuzco’s ancient sites, explore modern Andean culture with a visit to Chinchero, a weaving village high in the mountains, as well as take a rafting trip the Urubama River and a train ride through the Sacred Valley. From there, we head to Machu Picchu. Located on a mountaintop 8,000 feet above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, the city was built with residential, military, and religious areas. Our small group will visit the spectacular ruins twice, allowing us for a deeper exploration of the site after the crowds are gone. We’ll witness the Intihuatana (a sundial-like megalith), the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows in Machu Picchu’s Sacred District.

New Dates

Base Trip - 5/25/21 - 6/5/21

w/Extension - 5/25/21 - 6/9/21

2 Spots Available

2021 ARIZONA

ADVENTURE TRIP

This is your chance to experience the Grand Canyon from multiple vantage points and throughout the day – overhead by air, at the base on the river, rim-top sunset vistas, and trail hikes. Sedona is an Arizona desert town near Flagstaff that’s surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS ALONG THE DANUBE

Experience the spirit--with OSTC aboard the Grand Circle Cruise line 162-passenger ship, M/S River Adagio, through 2 European countries for a magical Christmas season you will never forget including *Austria: Linz, Melk, Vienna & *Germany:  Nuremburg, Regensburg, Passau. Walk their streets and experience all the old-world holiday traditions these regions offer—homemade toys, ornaments, & handicrafts, just in time for Christmas, to go with the smells of fresh baked cookies, warm mulled wine, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire

LIMITED SPOTS LEFT

BECOME A MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

MONTHLY EVENTS

Join your Orlando Ski & Travel Club friends at the following events.

Visit each link for more details. 

THIRSTY THURSDAY

Social Happy Hour

NOTHING PLANNED FOR DECEMBER

GREAT SKI RELATED READING MATERIAL

Chairlift Chat is the official blog of Skiessentials.com. In it, we give reviews of our favorite ski gear, provide information about the latest ski technology, discuss the latest news in the ski industry, and so much more. Check it out!

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