Watching recent T.V. ads, I’ve been told to invest in gold. The reason gold is so valuable is because there is a limited amount of it. If rarity and a finite amount of something dictates it’s value, then I know of something more valuable than gold. It’s time.
Even after we’ve mined all of the gold on earth, it can be stored and traded forever, but not your time. The Bible says, “ Man can expect three score and 10 years.” That translates to 70 years. Anything more than that is a bonus. Seventy years works out to 25,550 days. When you subtract the days you had to attend school and later on, work, the days that are truly yours are few and precious.
Back in February of 2009, I approached the MSA at their Annual Ride In. Their Annual Convention was going to be held in October in Lansing. Normally it’s held in a northern locale, but every few years they bring it to the center of the lower to provide an opportunity for all to attend.
I proposed that as it was our 25th anniversary season, and the majority of our members live within a two hour or less drive of Lansing, that the Snomads act as the host club. The host club assists with the ticket taking at the meals and banquet, which frees up the MSA staff and Board for the more important business of the weekend. On Friday night of the convention, there is always a reception for the attendees, usually with some kind of entertainment. Saturday night is the formal banquet and donated prize give away.
Now back to the February Ride In. I presented the idea of the Snomads holding a Vegas style party on Friday night using fake money. The monies won would be used to bid on the donated prizes at an auction. Jim Duke, Karen Middendorp and Bill Manson vowed to get back to me after they returned to the MSA office and discussed it further.
After a couple of weeks, a few phone calls and emails, the wheels were set in motion. The MSA would print the money, as I am still on probation for the last time I did it. Bill Manson also informed me that for us hosting the event, we would be given the use of a hospitality suite to promote the Club and use as a base for our fundraising. I secured the gaming equipment and now all I needed were qualified bodies to assist with the work for the weekend
Fast forward to Friday October 24th. I had contacted everyone on the sign up sheet from the Trails End banquet, plus those that responded to my help wanted ad on the message board. Friday morning I arrived in Lansing with my trailer full of blackjack and Texas holdem tables, a wheel of fortune, tubs of poker chips, cards, decorations, a keg of beer, wine, pop, pretzels and more. There to meet me were Matt Baxter and Bill Green. We proceded to haul, carry and roll everything to it’s proper place. Then the three of us took on the task of decorating the hospitality suite.
Next we set up the gaming area in the huge atrium next to the pool. It looked like a tropical rain forest. Mainly because the roof leaked. By now, Snomads and convention attendees were filtering in. Each attendee was given a packet of $500 worth of MSA cash upon registration. The plan was for the gaming to begin at 7pm.
The dealers were all in place at the appropriate time and after a finger food meal, the fun began. Dealing Blackjack was Paul McShane. Paul drove from Flushing just to help out and did a great job. Even though he and Hilda are relatively new members, he earned his stripes that night.
Also dealing Blackjack were Chris and Denise Falzon. They had Penn State/Michigan tickets for Saturday and gave them up to work the weekend. The final Blackjack table was manned by our President, Bill Chatfield. If you know Bill’s personal and professional schedule, you’ll know he had to do some shuffling to attend and help.
Heath and Racheal Crow took care of the Texas Holdem’ duties. Heath hadn’t had a day off in over two months and turned down a weekend of O.T. to work. Racheal had to trust that the kids weren’t having one of the parties that she used to throw when her parents were gone.
My ironman, Bill Green spun the wheel of fortune. After being on his surgery needing feet all day, he still worked the wheel and made the women squeal. My lovely wife Marian strolled the floor and acted as relief for all as the pit boss. Acting as bankers, were Matt and a visibly seven months pregnant Jackie Baxter. Helping them were, “two job Merle” and Julie Fitch. Both had to take the weekend off of work to help.
After three hours of gaming, we switched to the auction. Now if you get bored with me auctioning off 4-5 prizes at our Kick off Party, try imagining 85 prizes. That’s right, 85 prizes paid for with MSA funny money. Actually, at the very end it got rather fun. People were pooling their money for the last few prizes left. Our own Merle Fitch paid a whopping $5000 for a SkiDoo hat.
Saturday mornings breakfast was all a buzz with talk of the Snomads providing the best Friday night reception ever! Several clubs even asked how they could become host clubs at future events. After breakfast, and the MSA/ISMA presentation by Ed Klim, we all scurried to the hospitality suite. Serving refreshments and selling Snomads gear were, Heidi Weisel, Racheal and Marian. Heidi drove in from St Clair Shores that morning after attending a friends wedding the night before.
Keith and Marlene Kish set up a two table display of winter items for sale to benefit the FWO riders. Jodie Coghill, Maria Williams, Mary Newman and Liz Gunst set up a baked goods/ice cream parlor in the atrium and sold assorted goodies as another FWO fundraiser.
Lunch was served on site, and afterward attendees pigged out on Snomad desserts and then spent the afternoon packed into hospitality suite. Everyone enjoyed refreshments, and snowmobile videos provided on the T.V. brought in by Heath. Promoting and representing the Club were John Newman, Ray Williams and Bill Sheldon as well as everyone else mentioned.
There was a lot of interaction between the MSA officers, Snomads and other clubs represented at the event. On a side note, this was for me the highlight of the weekend. This event provided the opportunity for our younger members to experience the work and dedication that the MSA Council members and groomer entities put in to make the Michigan trail system the best in the country. Check the national magazines and see where the number one riding destinations are by voters from across the country.
A couple of years ago, I asked the question, “When the current list of MSA members can no longer fulfill their duties, who will step up? Where will the next batch of volunteers come from?” I think I can say with pride that they will come from our ranks. Snomads like Heath Crow, Matt Baxter, John Newman and Merle Fitch. To see their eyes open and appreciate what goes on behind the scenes was worth all of the work to me.
Saturday nights banquet was filled with good food, prizes (two of the biggest were won by Snomads, Heath and Marian). After the banquet, we opened the hospitality suite back up and played cards, music and partied til 1am. Breakfast on Sunday came way to early. After breakfast, the election of officers was held with Jim Dickie as our new President, Bruce Woods as V.P., Al Green as Secretary and John Houk as Treasurer. With Bill Manson as Executive Director, we have a strong crew in place for the upcoming future. Oh yeah, Don Reed will still provide the entertainment as current past President.
As most of you know, Kevin and Jodie Coghill moved to Illinois. However, that didn’t stop them from packing stuff inside of stuff inside of the Mustang and driving to Lansing. As usual, Jodie planned and worked her butt off and Kevin quietly recorded the weekend in pictures as only he can do. These two epitomize what I started this story off with.
Twenty Three Snomads selflessly gave their time to promote their club. In spite of
traveling almost 300 miles, canceling plans, missing work in this uncertain economy, suffering through physical pain and many other sacrifices, all donated something valuable and precious. Their time. Time they’ll never get back, yet will undoubtedly never forget.
In closing, I’d like to quote one of the great philosophers of our time and say, “Thank you for your time.”
Ron Schroeder
XML Feeds