P A L M B E A C H G A T O R S N O W S K I C L U B. President s Message

Transcription

1 GATOR TALES T H E O F F I C I A L M O N T H L Y P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E F E B R U A R Y P A L M B E A C H G A T O R S N O W S K I C L U B B O A R D M E M B E R S PRESIDENT Evie Houston sgjewelers2@aol.com VP SKI TRIPS Walter Marussich gsscmem@comcast.net VP SPECIAL ACTIVI- TIES Connie Flow vpgatorconnie@yahoo.com VP SOCIALS Betty Williams TREASURER Orchid Rodriguez SECRETARY Sharon Long wmarussich@comcast.net PAST PRESIDENT Richard Wennet rwennet@gmail.com MEMBER AT LARGE Pam Strickland pamilou254@aol.com COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Estela Basso MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Nikki Tessler natess68@aol.com EVENT COORDINA- TOR DIRECTOR Wendy Angelastro wangel400@aim.com President s Message Hello Gators, The Gators brought in 2015 with a bang with horns blowing, dancing, and lots of champagne. Everybody was making their New Year s resolutions. Most popular was dieting. The New Year s resolutions didn t last long since they were quickly broken by drinking too much champagne and sampling all of the mouth-watering desserts. The party was hosted by Betty Williams, who deserves a standing ovation for this well-planned event. Thank you to Betty and the Social Committee. Did you miss your birthday celebration? At our January 8th general meeting, I wished everyone a Very Happy Birthday for the next year. That was followed by a delicious chocolate cake with raspberry filling. And a red velvet cake for the non-chocolate lovers. Both were yummy, yummy! Forty other Gators returned from a fabulous trip to Lake Louise and Banff with a million great ski stories. It was chilly, but perfect skiing conditions enticed most people to ski all six days. That trip was made even better by the great food and accommodation. Most importantly, everyone got home safe. Every Friday is T.G.I.F. Join us and meet new Gator friends at our Happy Hours. Waterway Café and Carmine s were both so picturesque with breathtaking views and perfect weather. Some free appetizers and a couple of drinks relaxed everyone after a stressful week. See you on Fridays at Happy Hour. The FSC (Florida Ski Council) trip to Telluride left on January 24th with Cheryl Barnes and Chris McArdle leading 60 Gators for an exciting week of skiing, dinners, parties and the Skiing Competition. There was nervous excitement galore watching the racers speed downhill and around poles to the finish line. We are all so proud of our Gator racers, who are defending our FSC Championship and Trophy. Telluride is such a quaint little western town with smiling faces, cowboy hats, and a friendly howdy welcome everywhere. It s delightful skiing and sharing this week with all the Florida Ski Clubs. I m proud to be a {Palm Beach Gator. I m also enjoying this week in Telluride, so I will soon let everyone know who wins the FSC Championship Trophy. Thank you again, Evie Houston President Next General Membership Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 12th at North Palm Beach Country Club 6:30pm Social Hour 7:30 pm Business Next Board of Directors Meeting: Thursday, February 5th at Double Tree Hotel,Palm Beach Gardens, 6:30 pm

2 P A G E 2 F E B R U A R Y Formal Election Advisory If you would like to be a board member of the P. B. G. S. S. C. for the next year starting June 1st, our elections will be held in April. Nominations will begin at the February General Meeting. You may run for any position. Some positions will have incumbent candidates running for reelection. We are looking especially hard to fill the following positions because they will be totally open seats. 1. Vice President / Special Activities 2. Vice President / Socials 3. Secretary 4. Member at Large If you are interested, please Past President Rich Wennet at rwennet@gmail.com. Thank You, Evie Houston, President Membership Reaches 486!!! The Palm Beach Gator Snow Ski Club has reached 486 members. We are continuing to grow and we appreciate your support. Please encourage your friends to join. Your Club Needs Volunteers! Your Club Needs Volunteers! We are looking for volunteers in several categories to help our Club succeed: Social and Special Activities Planning Committee We need more members to help with our events and activities. Please Contact Betty Williams at Trip Leaders and Assistant Trip Leaders For Ski Trips, contact Walter Marussich at or gsscmem@comcast.net; for other trips, contact Connie Flow at or vpgatorconnie@yahoo.com. Event Leaders If you are interested in leading one of our events, please contact Betty or Connie. Directors If you are interested serving in the position of Event Coordinator Director, please contact your new officers. Officer Assistants Volunteers are needed to be assistants to the VP/Ski Trips, VP/Special Activities, VP/Socials and Treasurer. Must be members in good standing and comfortable with computers, with experience using , Excel and Word.

3 P A G E 3 F E B R U A R Y Check us out on Facebook Create your own free Facebook account, then search for Gator Snow Ski Club. You can join the group or just "like us". Events Planning Committee: Meets the SECOND MONDAY of each month FROM NOW ON Join Betty and Connie the SECOND Monday of each month at 7 PM at Tall Tales at Gander Mountain in Palm Beach Gardens. Join Us at Our Events Happy hour organizer Jeff Saxton and member Antonieta Adams enjoy the happy hour at the Waterway Cafe on November 21st. Look for our Mascot at Happy Hour Look for our Gator sign and the alligator head full of candy, seen here at the December 26th happy hour at New York Bar and Grill in Juno Beach. Volunteer for Club Activities Evie Houston and Pam Strickland hang lights for the Holiday Party on December 3rd.

4 P A G E 4 F E B R U A R Y Visit Our Website Take a tour of our new website. We hope you like it! It features: Event Information: on ski trips and all social activities. Blogs: each of your Board Members can keep you up-to-date on the news from their area of responsibility. Event Registration: register online and pay with credit card (or checks). Join/Renew: your membership online. Members Only Area*: a password protected area with a searchable Directory and other content. Forums: where members can discuss topics of interest with other members. Surveys: where members can vote on preferences. Customizable Member Profile: You can add a head shot of yourself, and set your privacy settings (what information would you like to share and what to keep private). Photo Albums: pictures taken at our events...are you there? *In order to access the Members Only area, your membership for the current fiscal year (June 1, May 31, 2015) must be current, or the system will not let you in. If you need to join or renew your membership, you can do so online. Your login is your . Each member needs a unique . If you are logging in for the first time, click "Forgot Password" and a password will be ed to you, from webmaster@gatorsnowskiclub.com. If you do not see the shortly, check your spam/junk folder. If you have joined/renewed recently via check, and you cannot log in, your check may be being processed. Otherwise, we may be missing your or there may be a typo in it. Please contact Estela Basso webmaster@gatorsnowskiclub.com for help.

5 P A G E 5 1) Steamboat, CO; Welcome back!!! 2) Lake Louise/Banff, Canada; Welcome Back!!! 3) Telluride, CO (FSC Council); 01/24/15-01/31/15 **: $1,805 Sold out. 4) Taos, NM; 01/31/15-02/07/15: $1,575 Openings but low price cannot be guaranteed. 5) Zell am See, Austria; 02/07/15-02/15/15: $1,800 Openings but low price cannot be guaranteed. 6) Winter Park, CO; 02/23/15-02/38/15: $990 Open but price guarantee will disappear soon. 7) Vail, CO; 02/28/15-03/07/15**: $1,995 Closed. 8) Lake Tahoe/ Heavenly, CA; 3/14/15-3/21/14: $1,699 Land packages Air price will increase. Lake Tahoe is the spotlight destination this month. Estela Basso is leading this trip. This is our traditional spring break trip and it will be last opportunity to ski with the Gators this year. We will be staying at the Forest Suites Resort, only 100 yards from the Heavenly gondola, right in the center of town. This trip features a hot breakfast daily, a welcome reception, happy hours every day and a club dinner. You can also ski Northstar and Kirkwood with our lift tickets. What more could you ask? Please join Estela on this fantastic trip. It is not a good idea for you to try to negotiate additional discounts on your own. Please help us maintain our reputation and goodwill with the industry vendors and reps so that we can continue to obtain excellent prices. Please be courteous and considerate to your fellow travelers, trip leaders and resort personnel. For more information that is continuously updated, visit our Club s website at I am looking forward to spending time with you on the ski trails. Walter Marussich VP Ski Trips, F E B R U A R Y Ski Trips From Your VP of Ski Trips, Walter Marussich Green Circles, Blue Squares, Black Diamonds Dear Gators, Welcome back, Lake Louise!!! Thanks to all of you that pitched in to help our ailing trip leader; Abe. It is nice to see how many took up the challenge and helped this trip be a success!! Our trip to Winter Park, Colorado, has grown to a sizable number. The trip is priced to sell for under $1,000 dollars including air and lift tickets or $662 as a ground package. Ray Collie, ray.collie@gmail.com, has done an incredible job turning around a trip I almost cancelled for lack of interest. Great job, Ray!! Within 10 days our exciting ski trips to Telluride, Taos, and Zell am See will depart. There have been some last minute cancellations and we are in desperate need to fill these in order to avoid fellow Gator members taking a huge financial loss by cancelling. If you are still interested in Taos and Zell am See, please contact the trip leaders ASAP and be ready for a price above our quoted rates. Because we are within a few days of travel, there will be substantial penalties (up to the total price of the trip) if you cancel. If you have medical emergencies, you have hopefully purchased trip insurance. Even if we can find someone to replace you, we will still incur expenses which are beyond our control. These expenses will be passed on to you. Remember, we are not a travel agency. The Club makes these ski trips available as a service to our members. We search for the best values and try to use our numbers as a bargaining chip. That means GROUP travel. Group travel is not a concierge service; we get assigned a block of air seats, group lodging, etc. The trip leader seldom has any control over your seat assignment, frequent traveler miles, and all the other services you would expect from a professional and costly travel agent. It is up to you to make the necessary adjustments. Group Travel also involves an incredible amount of logistics. When you cancel your personal reservation to a hotel, that hotel is usually able to absorb your cancellation. When you cancel one of our trip spots, we are still committed for that spot, specially if you were supposed to share accommodations and your roommates are still on the trip. Among the good news, the Spring Break trip to South Lake Tahoe / Heavenly is still selling well. Surprise, surprise, at a price of $1,699, how could it possibly not sell? Estela Basso, has agreed to take the helm and guide the rest of us on the last trip of our season. If you waited too long to sign up, you are facing a very certain wait on the wait list of eternity plus one day. At this time, I would suggest that you find another trip Lake Tahoe. Please review our world class website to learn more about these exciting trips and trip leaders. Please review the super low prices for the trips listed below: (561) ; gsscmem@comcast.net

6 P A G E 6 F E B R U A R Y Palm Beach Gator Snow Ski Club Ski Season Early Season Trip, Steamboat, Colorado: Dec. 6-13, 2014 ($1,534) 7 nights at the luxurious Sheraton Steamboat (3br/3ba, 2br/2ba & Hotel Rooms). 5 day lift with optional 6th Day and Night Skiing! Round Trip Air Ft. Lauderdale/ Eagle & Transfers with grocery stop Welcome Reception, Club Dinner, Après Ski Lake Louise / Banff, Canada: Jan , 2015 ($1,655) 3 Nights at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise / 4 Nights at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Rooms 5 Day Lift good at Banff, Lake Louise & Sunshine Village Round Trip Air Ft. Lauderdale / Calgary & Transfers with grocery stop Welcome Reception, Club Dinner, Après Ski FSC Telluride, Colorado - FSC Trip: Jan , 2015 ($1,805) 7 nights at the Bear Creek Lodge 2/3/4 bedroom condos ski-in, ski-out 5 day lift with optional 6 th day Round Trip Air PBI / Montrose & Transfers with grocery stop Ski races, Dinner Parties, FSC Events, Après Ski Taos, New Mexico: Jan. 31-Feb. 7, 2015 ($1,575) 7 Nights at Snakedance Inn (2br/2ba Condos) 5 day lift with optional 6th day, Discounted Learn to Ski Week for only $130. Round Trip Air Ft. Lauderdale/ Albuquerque & Transfers with grocery stop - no baggage fees Welcome Reception, Private Dinner, Après Ski Zell am See, Austria: Feb. 6-15, 2015 ($1,800) 1 Night in Salzburg and 7 Nights in Zell am See (Hotel Rooms) Round Trip Air from Miami to Salzburg & Transfers Lift Ticket Extra approx. $300 Dinner Party, Breakfast & Dinner Daily in Hotel Winter Park, Colorado: Feb , 2015 ($990) 5 Nights at the Vintage Studios 4 day lift ticket! Round Trip Air Ft. Lauderdale/ Denver & Transfer to Resort- no baggage fees Welcome Reception, Club Dinner, Après Ski Vail, Colorado: Feb. 28-Mar. 7, 2015 ($1,995) 7 Nights at the new luxurious Landmark West (3br/3ba Condos) 5 Day Lift good at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge & Keystone Round Trip Air PBI / Denver & Transfers with grocery stop Plan a Day to Beaver Trip if Leader wants to Welcome Reception, Club Dinner, Après Ski Lake Tahoe, California - Spring Break: Mar , 2015 ($1,699) 7 Nights at the Forest Suites Resorts (2br/2ba Condos) 5 Day Lift good at Heavenly, Northwood & Kirkwood Round Trip Air PBI / Sacramento & Transfers Daily Hot Breakfast, Welcome Reception, Wine & Cheese HH (Daily Mon---Fri) Club Dinner & Après Ski.

7 P A G E 7 F E B R U A R Y Lake Louise - Banff Ski Trip Lake Louise-Banff Ski Trip January 10-17, 2015 The Lake Louise - Banff trip has returned. Even though the trip leader could not go due to illness, several Gators pitched in to help lead. Thank you all! Everyone had a wonderful time! Our hotels were magnificent and we enjoyed mingling with one another. We only had a couple of inches of fresh snow, but we enjoyed the skiing anyway. Thank you to everyone for a great trip!

8 P A G E 8 F E B R U A R Y Telluride, Colorado - Ski Trip TELLURIDE A Florida Ski Council Trip: Jan , 2015 FSC TELLURIDE SKI TRIP: What makes TELLURIDE unique? It is a small ski town in the SW corner of Colorado. Tucked away in a box canyon surrounded by mighty peaks of the San Juan s. WHEN: JANUARY 24 TO JANUARY 31, 2015 BEAR CREEK LODGE: Nestled in the core of Mountain Village, Bear Creek Lodge is unique among other lodges and villas. It offers the best of both worlds- wilderness and luxury. It is the place to play hard and rest easy. With services to accommodate any visitor, this mountain hideaway offers convenient access to shopping promenade and five star restaurants, mountain views, plush robes, washer and dryer, wireless internet, DVD/ VCR entertainment center, in room safe, hair dryers, ironing board/iron, Aveda Salon products and video library. Fire Pit and Barbeque Patio to enjoy in all sea- Taos, New Mexico Ski Trip sons plus a Pool, Sauna and Hot Tub and Ski in/ Ski out convenience. FSC ACTIVITIES: Monday Night Dinner Dance Tuesday: Crazy Hat and Boxer Day / NASTAR Race/ Gators Defending Cup / Lunch Provided by FSC / Club Pictures Wednesday Night: Gator s Dinner Thursday Night: Theme Dinner Dance and Costume Party (Gold Rush) GATOR S FULL PACKAGE: $1,805, 7 Nights lodging at Bear Creek Lodge Ski in / Ski out, Airfare, Transfers, 5 DAY Lift and lots of FSC and Gator Parties. CHERYL BARNES, TRIP LEADER: cherylb2108@aol.com CHRIS MCARDLE, ASSISTANT TRIP LEADER: cmcardle0152@gmail.com JAN 31-FEB 7, 2015: Hey Gators: 21 lucky Gators are going to have a fabulous week of skiing, dining, wining and sightseeing in Taos Ski Valley, NM. Lodging is at the renowned Snakedance Condos, a ski-in/ski-out resort. On the mountain, half of the group will be participating in the Learn to Ski Better week of lessons provided by the Ernie Blake Snowsports School, while the other half explores the mountain for that perfect run. Après ski on Monday, the Snakedance property manager is preparing dinner for the his Hacienda, and along the way to dinner, there is a sightseeing the Gorge Bridge for sunset. We ll also be watching the Big Game on Sunday, taking a day trip into the Town of Taos on Wednesday, & snow tubing on Friday, for a fun end to a fabulous week. Trip Leader: Patti Bochniak PattiBochniak@Tropical.com Cell Phone/Text:

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10 P A G E 10 F E B R U A R Y Zell am See, Austria - Ski Trip February 6-15, 2015 Hi Gators: The spots are going fast so this is your best opportunity to ski and sightsee in Austria at a great price. For only $1,800 you get Air, 8 nights lodging, meals and transportation. The last day & night we will be in Salzburg. The skiing is great there with one area 5 minutes away and the other a glacier. We are going to having big parties on the mountain and at the hotel. The town has a lot of places to party after skiing and a great night life. The Winter Park, CO - Ski Trip February 23-28, 2015 hotel is family run and will be happy help make your trip a great one. There will be many things to do if you don't ski and I will help you set up all side trips. Please contact trip leader Bill Lobb at or billgolf2020@yahoo.com or assistant trip leader Lee Chitty at lchitty@comcast.net or Hey Gators! You asked for an inexpensive trip, and now you ve got it! This is a high season value trip to Winter Park that you can also combine with Vail. The standard package including air is only $990. If you want to have a pre-trip extension before Vail or just want to do air on your own, the ground package is a bargain at $662. The standard package includes: 5 Nights at the Vintage Studios (studio style room with 2 Queen beds, kitchenette and fireplace) 4 Day Lift Tickets Round Trip Air Tickets - Direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to Denver on Southwest (no baggage fees!) Ground Transfers from airport to resort Welcome reception, club dinner and après ski happy hours Sign ups are in progress now so don't delay or you might miss out on a great trip. For more information or to sign up, please contact trip leader Ray Collie at ray.collie@gmail.com or

11 F E B R U A R Y P A G E 11 SKI AUSTRIA Zell Am See February 6-15, 2015 Only $1,800* Join the Palm Beach Gator Snow Ski Club in beautiful Zell Am See, Austria. This fabulous trip can be offered at an unbelievably low price partly because neither the trip leader nor the assistant is receiving a comp. This amazing trip includes: Round Trip Airfare from Miami to Munich 8 Nights Hotel all rooms double occupancy 7 Nights at the Gasthof Tauernstuberl, a family-run hotel in Zell Am See 1 night in Salzburg near the Old Town District Neutor Hotel Breakfast and dinner every day at the Gasthof Tauerstuberl All Bus Transfers Après Ski Hours Dinner Party in Zell Am See For more information, contact trip leader Bill Lobb at billgolf2020@yahoo.com or (561) or assistant trip leader Lee Chitty at lchitty@comcast.net or (561) * Lift tickets not included (estimated cost $300 for 6 days) * Prices subject to change due to foreign currency fluctuations, airline surcharges, etc.

12 F E B R U A R Y P A G E 12 Ray Collie ray.collie@gmail.com Ground Package Price: $662 Prolong your Vail experience and take this great trip as a pre-trip extension!

13 P A G E 13 F E B R U A R Y Vail, Colorado Ski Trip February 28 to March 07, 2015 having a spectacular time in Vail Feb 28 - March 07th. Trip Leader Kathy Salata (561) or (kathymsalata@gmail.com). Vail, nothing like it, best skiing in North America. We have a full trip and looking forward to Heavenly Lake Tahoe, CA - Ski Trip March 14-21, 2015 Spring Break There's special, and then there's a whole different category of special - reserved exclusively for Lake Tahoe. The view of the lake from the top of the Heavenly gondola is simply spectacularperhaps the most awesome view from a ski area summit anywhere. From here the Lake looks like a brilliant blue sapphire, encased in a rugged ring of snowy granite. This is worth the trip by itself. But there is so much more! Heavenly mountain has varied terrain, with 97 trails ranging from wide-open cruisers to plunging 1,600 foot chutes. It boasts 4,800 skiable acres and 3,500 vertical feet. There are 3 terrain parks and no shortage of backcountry terrain. Enjoy the convenience of 29 chairlift around the mountain, including nine high-speed lifts. Lift tickets are good also at Northstar and Kirkwood. Another plus: Heavenly offers deep discounts for lift tickets for children and for seniors. We will be staying at the Forest Suites Resort, 100 yards from the Heavenly gondola, right on the center of town. Hot breakfast daily, welcome reception, happy hours every day, club dinner we are going to have a blast! On top of that, the Nevada casinos are a short 5 minute walk from our hotel, with their endless opportunities for entertainment and fine dining at super low prices. St Patrick s day will be celebrated while we are there, so make sure to pack something fun and green! We have currently 2 spots open for the Standard Package, in a 2b/2ba condo, that include air, for $1699 (they may be gone at the time of publication), and several Ground Packages for only $1015 per person. There is air available for $781 that will allow you to catch up with the group in Sacramento and ride the bus to Lake Tahoe (and you will return with the group all the way) so if you are interested, contact our Tour Operator, Mike Agnew, very shortly at mike.agnew@sportsamerica.com. Deadlines to sign up are coming up fast! Please contact me (trip leader Estela Basso) with any questions.at (561) or webmaster@gatorsnowskiclub.com.

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15 F E B R U A R Y P A G E 15 Estela Basso Phone: (561) webmaster@gatorsnowskiclub.com

16 F E B R U A R Y Special Activities From VP of Special Activities, Connie Flow HI GATORS! YES I AM STILL ALIVE AND WELL. IT'S SKI SEASON SO... YOU MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME CATCHING ME, EVEN IF I'M NOT GOING FOR A GOLD THIS YEAR. We have a lot of new adventures coming up soon - but - until they're board approved it's a secret. If you want to get an insight into this, come to our "NEW" SOCIAL AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES MEETING WITH A NEW DAY AND DATE. IT IS NOW ON THE FIRST TUES- DAY OF THE MONTH (NOTE THE DAY CHANGE) AND IT NOW AT DUFFY'S (IN OAK- BROOK SQUARE AT PGA AND US1). WE ARE NOW THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH IN THAT WE CAN GET THINGS AP- PROVED BY THE BOARD MEETING BEFORE THE GENERAL MEETING! LEISURE BIKE RIDE & CAMPING - Feb , 2015 The weekend Lake Okeechobee Bike Ride will be held at 10 AM on Sat., Feb. 21. Optional camping is available at the KOA at 4278 S US 441 in Okeechobee City. They have 17 cabins and numerous RV and tent sites (tent camping should not be windy like Pahokee)...tent area # hole golf course, tennis, bocce, pentaque, adult only pool, hot tub, campfires and the Shanty Lounge with live music and dancing. There is a $4 per day use fee if not staying there... Reservations: call to reserve or visit for KOA Camping Cabins & Deluxe Cabins Rentals at KOA Campgrounds. Please book now as every time Ben talks to Come to our Social and Special Activities Planning Meeting NEW NIGHT and LOCATION: Tuesday, February 3rd at 7 pm at Duffy s at Oakbrook Square (US 1 and PGA) P A G E 16 them they have less cabins available!!! Also there are some motels on Hwy 441 near the campground. FLORIDA PANTHERS HOCKEY GAME - March 7, 2015 The Gator Snow Ski Club has chartered a bus to the Panthers vs. New York Islanders Hockey Game. Departs from the Double Tree Hotel (PGA and 95) Parking Lot At 4:00 PM. An additional stop in Lantana may be added if required. For more information, please contact Bill at billgolf2020@yahoo.com or Please see the flyer in this newsletter. BIKE & BARGE TRIP - May 15-24, 2015 Want to enjoy a fabulous cycling and sailing trip crossing different landscapes in both Belgium and Holland? For the low price of only $3,150 visit the green Dutch polder landscapes and quiet roads and villages. See the picturesque countryside between the Flemish cities and the rich history of the old city-centers of Amsterdam, Gouda, and Bruges. The trip is full, but contact Connie Flow to get on the waiting list (of course there always is a possibility of an opening - keep your fingers crossed!) Contact Connie at (vpgatorconnie@yahoo.com or Please see the flyer in this newsletter for more information about the trip. Connie VP Special Activities

17 F E B R U A R Y P A G E 17 Florida Panthers Hockey Game vs. New York Islanders Saturday, March 7, 2015 Join the Gator Snow Ski Club on our chartered a bus to the Panthers vs. Blue Jackets Hockey Game. The bus departs at the Double Tree Hotel at 4 pm. Our tickets are in the Florida Panther s Sky Box and include: Bus Ride, Free Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks and Food throughout the game. The price is only $75 per person. There are a limited number of tickets, so be sure to purchase them early. For more information, please contact the Event Organizer: Bill Lobb at billgolf2020@yahoo.com

18 F E B R U A R Y P A G E 18 Bruges to Amsterdam Bike and Barge Trip May 15 24, 2015 Amazing Price: Only $3,150 (Approx.)!!! Join the Palm Beach Gator Snow Ski Club for a fabulous cycling and sailing trip crossing different landscapes in both Holland and Belgium. Visit the green Dutch polder landscapes and the quiet roads and villages. See the picturesque windmills of Kinderdijk and travel thru the cities of the Dutch 17th century Golden Age. Cycle between the richly historic old citycenters of Gouda, Dordrecht, and Gent ending in the wonderful ancient city of Bruges. This spectacular trip includes: Round Trip Airfare from West Palm Beach to Amsterdam Holland 7 Nights on the barge May (bed clothes and towels included) All meals (breakfast, 3 course dinner on board and packed lunch) Coffee and tea on board 24-speed bicycle (with handbrakes, pannier bags, lock, water bottle) Multi-lingual tour guide Bicycle Insurance 1 Night in Amsterdam May 16 at Ibis Amsterdam Center Stopera Hotel Gator Pre-trip party Not included: - Bicycle helmet at $14 per week - Travel risk/cancellation insurance - Admission tickets to museums - E-bike additional amount +$142 per person per week including bike insurance For more information, contact : Connie Flow (561) vpgatorconnie@yahoo.com Payment Schedule: $500 Deposit $1,000 due in August & November Remainder due in February Note: Prices and itinerary subject to change depending on exchange rates, fuel charges and air taxes at time of final payment.

19 P A G E 19 F E B R U A R Y Social Activities From VP of Socials, Betty Williams Hello Fellow Gators, At our next General Meeting, we will celebrate Valentine s Day. We will have decorations and dancing. Social and Special Activities Committee Member Liz Loeffler is coordinating this event. Thank you, Liz! The Social and Special Activities Committee meeting has moved to Duffy s in Oakbrook Square located at PGA Blvd. and US Hwy. 1 It will be held on the first Tuesday of every month in a private room. The next one will be on Tuesday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM. Duffy s has a better menu and lower drink prices than Tall Tales, which is a big improvement. Please join me (VP / Socials Betty Williams) and VP / Special Activities Connie Flow to help plan and run events for the Club. We need volunteers to make our events succeed. We are looking for your input and ideas. If you have an event you are interested in setting up, please bring it forward at our meetings. Please don t hesitate to come forward. We need you! UPCOMING HAPPY HOURS Majestic Princess at Riviera Bch Marina - Happy Hour 6 February for 1 Drinks, Discounted Appetizers 200 E 13th St.. Riviera Beach, FL Cantina Laredo - Happy Hour 13 February 2015 You are the Club and with so much help, we will be a wonderful, caring, sharing and loving organization. Thank you all! Enjoy your Club! Betty Williams VP Social Activities I need volunteers! If you would like to help, please contact me. Photos from Social Events Happy Hour drink specials until 7 pm 4635 PGA Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens Two Drunken Goats - Happy Hour 20 February 2015 Discounted drinks and half price appetizers 4-8pm 2509 N Ocean Drive Singer Island Holy Smokes - Happy Hour Margie Hanratty, Santa Tim Fernan and Mike Hanratty enjoy the brate at the Gator Holiday Party at Margaret and George McNeill cele- Gator Holiday Party at the North the North Palm Beach Country Club NPB Country Club on Dec. 3rd. on December 3rd. Come to our Social and Special Activities Planning Meeting: 27 February 2014 Happy Hour drink specials all night, free pizza bites 2650 PGA Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens Tuesday, Feb. 3rd at 7 pm at Duffy s at Oakbrook Sq. (PGA & US1)

20 P A G E 20 F E B R U A R Y January Meeting Recap Jan. 8, 2015 Gators members gathered for our January general membership meeting at the North Palm Beach Country Club. The theme of the meeting was celebrating our birthdays during President Evie Houston introduced our new members., and each gave there name and a brief introduction. Next each of the ski trip leaders spoke about their trips. After a brief recap of our upcoming Special Activity and Social Events, the meeting was adjourned. Then the birthday cakes were cut and we enjoyed a delicious treat. The dance music with our new sound system and music collection started, and our members stepped out on the dance floor.

21 F E B R U A R Y Recent Special Activities Event P A G E 21 Leisure Bike Ride - Jupiter Farms January 10th Ben Smith organizes leisure bike rides that are held during the cooler months. Guest leader Tim Kuhn led the fourth Leisure Bike Ride of the season at Jupiter Farms on Saturday, Jan. 4th. Everyone met up at Tim s house and went for an 8-10 mile ride. Afterwards, Tim grilled hamburgers and chicken, and everyone brought a side dish to share. Many thanks to Tim for leading and opening his home to the Gators, and to Ben for the overall coordination. Please watch for them on our website and in the newsletter. Contact Ben Smith at bbsdob525@aol.com or or if you would like further information. Upcoming Leisure Bike Rides this season include: Gator Snow Ski Club Leisure Bike Ride at Jupiter Farms, Saturday January 10, 2015 Gator Snow Ski Club Leisure Bike Ride & Optional Camping at Lake Okeechobee, Saturday, February 21, 2015 Gator Snow Ski Club Leisure Bike Ride at Riverbend Park, Saturday March 7, 2015 Gator Snow Ski Club Leisure Bike Ride at Palm Beach, Saturday April 18, 2015

22 F E B R U A R Y Recent Happy Hours Garden City Cafe Happy Hour December 5th P A G E 22 The Gators enjoyed a happy hour at the Garden City Café, a new restaurant in PGA Commons in Palm Beach Gardens, a first time destination. The Gators had a great time at this bar, and expect to be back. Hokkaido Happy Hour December 12th The Gators enjoyed a great happy hour on December 12th at the Hokkaido Restaurant in Abacoa in Jupiter, a Japanese restaurant and bar. This was our first time at this establishment. Some of us stayed in the bar to enjoy the ambience, while others went in the next room to be entertained by the hibachi chefs for dinner.

23 F E B R U A R Y Recent Happy Hours Holy Smokes Happy Hour Dec. 19th P A G E 23 The Gators enjoyed a recent happy hour at Holy Smokes, a newly renovated bar in Palm Beach Gardens.. The Gators had a wonderful time mingling in the friendly atmosphere. New York Bar and Grill Happy Hour December 26th The Gators experienced a fun happy hour on December 26th at the New York Bar and Gill in Juno Beach, our second time at this destination. We enjoyed getting together and socializing during the holidays.

24 P A G E 2 4 February 2015 Calendar

25 F E B R U A R Y P A G E 25 Ski Trip - Winter Park, CO Feb , 2015; Package price: $990 Package includes: 5 nights at The Vintage Hotel Studio Units with 2 Queens Plus a Fireplace Non-Stop Air from FLL to Denver No Baggage Fees! Transfers from Airport to Resort 4 Day Lift Ticket Onsite Restaurant Welcome Reception & Après Ski For more information, please contact trip leader Ray Collie at or ray.collie@gmail.com Winter Park Trail Map Palm Beach Gator Snow Ski Club 1001 Jupiter Park Dr. Ste. 112 Jupiter FL Here is your copy of GATOR TALES