SRSFL President's Page

President's Page

With Summer behind us, the all-volunteer staff of Sierra Regional Ski for Light (Sierra Regional SFL) is busy making preparations for our tenth year of cross-country ski trips for those with visual impairments and those sighted guides who enjoy skiing with them.

In 2002, Sierra Regional SFL will sponsor several day-trips for blind and visually impaired adults and children, as well as its 10th annual three-day event in March for blind and visually impaired adults. Tahoe Donner Cross Country, our skiing venue, provides trails for all levels of skiers. We are equally thrilled to work with those who have never had an opportunity to ski before and those who can conquer the most difficult trails. During the last nine years, we have enabled scores of Californians, as well as persons from throughout the country, to enjoy the pleasure of cross-country skiing. We assign a sighted ski guide to each blind or visually impaired skier. Our ski guides are rewarded not only by the pleasure of assisting blind and visually impaired skiers to enjoy the cross-country ski experience, but also by the friendships that develop between them and the blind and visually impaired skiers. Almost without exception, guides develop new insight into how able, rather than disabled, their blind companions really are.

If you are a blind or visually impaired adult or child who might be interested in our program, or a friend or family member of such a person, I urge you to contact either myself, Jeff Thom, or our vice president, Betsy Rowell. My phone number is (916) 429- 8201, and my E-mail is lathom@earthlink.net. Betsy Rowell's phone number is (916) 362-5557, and her E-mail is montbets@pacbell.net. Also, if you are interested in becoming a cross-country ski guide for our program, I urge you to contact our secretary and Director of Guide Recruitment, Barbara Beddow at (916) 444-7774 or E-mail BarbaraBeddow@aol.com

Finally, in order to keep down costs to all program participants, and to provide scholarship assistance to those on fixed incomes, Sierra Regional SFL relies on, among other things, monetary and in- kind donations. If you would like to help us by making a tax- deductible donation, please contact Betsy Rowell, or send your donation to Sierra Regional Ski for Light, P.O. Box 276371, Sacramento, CA 95827. We at Sierra Regional SFL, blind and visually impaired skiers, guides, and volunteers, consider ourselves a family. We would love for you to join us.

Jeff Thom President

Sierra Regional Ski for Light