THE SKI & SPORTS CLUB OF WASHINGTON, DCGREAT SPORTS FOR ALL SEASONS |
MEET YOUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE The 2025 Election and Awards Meeting was conducted on April 10, 2025. Ruth D'Alessandro was re-elected as President, and Bev Ashcraft and Larry Langer were re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors. Max Maxwell and Charmaine Morley-Wood were elected to fill the vacancies that occurred when Sylvia Harris and Joe Trincellito left the BOD. Ruth D'Alessandro, President, Serving a Fifth Year
I am honored to be nominated for President of SCWDC now DBA (doing business as) Ski and Sports Club of Washington DC for the fifth year. I have been a member of our Club for over 39 years. Throughout that time I have participated in many activities in the club, including tennis, softball, ski trips, pickleball, golf, and my latest venture, sailing (while on a Club Med trip). I also attended the OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) trip to Egypt in 2022. I have met many interesting people and made numerous lifelong friends while enjoying being active in our club. I have led two ski trips, a Club Med trip, several weekend and mid-week golf trips, including Front Royal, Shenvalee, Wintergreen in Virginia and Ocean City in Maryland. I also led two week-long golf trips to Hilton Head and one week-long golf trip to Kiawah Island. This fall, I will be leading the OAT trip to Thailand. Several years ago I was nominated and elected to the Cliub's Board of Directors (BoD). I learned about our operations and budget. I have been elected as the Club President for the past four years. For the past few years, our ski trips have done very well and our membership has increased by over 300 members. Every spring and fall since 2021 we have continued to schedule two Club Med trips a year. Also, our travel trips have expanded since Ying Prince became our Travel Chair. This year, we have included a new mid-week biking trip to the Eastern Shore and a second VBT (Vermont Biking tours) to Italy. Three years ago, our Club began hosting an indoor election, awards, and party meetings for the first time since Covid began. We will be holding our Annual Election, Awards Ceremony and Club Meeting at Auld Shebeen again this year on April 10, 2025. This summer we will schedule an annual picnic featuring future travel trips, biking excursions, golf trips and other activities as well as our ski trips for 2026. Our Back to the Slopes Party will be held in September 2025. In addition, the BoD will be planning a second annual Volunteer Party in 2025. During the past few years, we have recruited new volunteers for leadership positions on the BoD, Flights Committee, Travel, and Member ship &Communications programs. We also have a new leader for the weekly volleyball event. However, we have not had a Social Chair for several years. Last September, our Sports and Recreation Chair retired and moved out of the area and I have been acting in that position since she moved. Our Club is a volunteer organization and we need more volunteers to survive. I have been described by friends and colleagues as enthusiastic, dedicated and hardworking. I have ideas/incentives to entice new volunteers to our Club, new events and to continue to build our Club. Lastly, I worked for Fairfax County Public Schools for 32 years as a Social Worker and an Administrator. The organizational, human relations and leadership skills utilized in my career have benefited me as I have been a volunteer, trip leader, member of the BoD and I hope to be your President for a fifth term. Ruth will serve until April 2026. Board of Directors: Beverly Ashcraft
Financial Manager (5 years) SCWDC, like other organizations, is recovering from the financially tight years during Covid-19 and faces challenges of fewer volunteers and aging membership. I have been the club’s financial manager for the past five years and have learned a tremendous amount about the club’s finances and how we operate as a non-profit organization. In that time, we’ve implemented more streamlined accounting practices and are developing an automation process between our member database, Wild Apricot, and our financial accounting source Quick Books that we plan to implement in FY 25 -26. If I am re-elected to the SCWDC board, I plan to implement the modernization of SCWDC’s back-office so that the club is set for future years. Bev's term runs to April 2027. B J Barger
After two knee replacement surgeries, I’m back to skiing and loving it! I have SCWDC to thank for getting me back on slopes; I want to pay it back by continuing to serve on the Board. After one year on the Board I have a better appreciation for Club operations. This year we’ve struggled with the impacts of COVID, so my goal is to get the social and sports aspects of SWCDC back to normal. I’m a retired AF employee with experience in HR, training and development. I have Board experience with my homeowner’s association, LPGA Amateurs and American Singles Golf Association. With the Club, I’ve skied, biked and gone to baseball games. This year I’m going to add pickleball. I’m looking forward to another year of representing the members of SCWDC. BJ's term runs through April 2026. Larry Langer, 2024-2025 Vice President
I have been a SCWDC member since 1988. I have been on the Board of Directors for the last four years and Vice President for the last two years. As a member of both the Finance / Budget and Flight Committees, I created the SCWDC yearly budget, and I prepared the budgets for most ski trips last year. I have skied with the club for over 35 years and would go on several bus trips in addition to flight trips. In recent years I typically go on four ski flight trips per year. I've enjoyed meeting many interesting and friendly people through SCWDC over the years as well as going on white water, tubing, and canoeing summer trips. Many of you may know me or recognize me from the trips that I have been on. When not skiing with the SCWDC I ski at Whitetail and occasionally at Ski Liberty. I ran last year’s Blue Ridge Ski Council’s Lake Tahoe trip, and I am running the Winter Park and Telluride trips this year. I retired in 2020 from L3Harris as a Controller with a staff of seven. I am currently a licensed CPA in Virginia and a CMA (Certified Management Accountant). Now that I am retired, I want to give it back to the club. I realize how demanding work the volunteers do, and I want to help out. I think my club and work experience will be useful to the SCWDC. Larry's term runs to April 2027. William "Max" Maxwell
I have been a SCWDC member and skied with the club since I moved to the DMV in 1997. In recent years, I have led two ski enhancement trips in the area plus ski trips to Snowmass CO, Kitzbuhel Austria, and this year’s trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. As a trip leader, I have used cloud technology to share trip documents and manage RSVPs, as well as WhatsApp groups for pre-trip, travel and on-mountain communication. The WhatsApp group allowed one of our travelers to find another ride when his driver fell ill mid-trip on the way to Canaan Valley; it does truly take a village. Importantly, the driver returned to good health and is skiing again. As a Board member, I would look to attract new members and improve the participant user experience with the club’s website, such as providing simpler access to event invoices. I work in finance for the government contracting industry. My family includes an eighteen-year-old daughter who still skis with me, a husky mix and an adult cat that loves them both. I also play beach and indoor volleyball, mostly on the Washington Mall and in Arlington. Max's term runs to April 2027. Charmaine Mortley-Wood
Charmaine was transferred to the Centreville, Virginia area in 2001 while working for an IT company. Growing up in Alberta Canada for 5 years, her parents enrolled the family in ski classes to get out and enjoy the beautiful blue sky of the Rocky Mountains. That love of skiing and outdoor activities like golfing, hiking, and biking, continues to be a key part of her lifestyle 50 years later. And when a number of her ski buddies decided over the years to stop skiing and take up less adventurous activities, Charmaine was extremely fortunate to find a wonderful new array of friends and camaraderie when she joined the Washington Ski Club in 2022. As a person who has traveled and moved a lot over the years, Charmaine enjoys helping all new members feel welcomed. Looking forward to the future, Charmaine is excited to one day retire and be able to help lead a ski trip or two. As a person who strongly believes giving back is a key component of a healthy and purpose driven life, Charmaine was thrilled to be provided the opportunity to run for the Ski Club Board. Her previous board experience comes from working with a small dog rescue team, contributing her IT experience to enhance areas around general governance as well as enhancing IT capabilities, security and operational stability enabling the team to grow from a localized team into a national rescue group. Acting as the chair of the annual in person fund-raising event enabled her to grow a welcoming and inclusive community of dog lovers and friends. Charmaine's term runs to April 2027. Carol Caruso
I have been an active SCWDC member for more than 10 years; I have enjoyed many hikes, bike rides, ski trips, adventure trips, and social events. I would like to show my appreciation for the club by giving back and volunteering on the Board. The experiences that I have had, by participating in a wide range of club activities, will give me the background and basic knowledge needed as a first-time board member. In addition, I am now retired and have more time available to focus on contributing to the success and growth of the SCWDC. Skills developed throughout my professional career will enable me to help the club accomplish goals and carry out operational tasks and processes, ultimately benefitting the club and its members. Specifically, I have degrees in Computer Science, and Information Technology from Monmouth University and George Washington University. My work experience is from a career with the Federal Government where I performed problem solving, software coding, and project management (budgeting, personnel resource management, project planning, and scheduling). Carol's term runs through April 2026. Rita Togni
I am an SCWDC member since the early 1990's. I volunteered to lead many ski trips in the USA and in Europe, as well as some local hikes. I have served as a Director for the past 2 years, and then successfully ran for re-election in 2022. I enjoy skiing, hiking, tennis, pickleball and other sports with family and friends. The Club has evolved and expanded from being only a ski club to including other sports and social events. Volunteers work hard to make it successful. Pickle ball is my latest “passion” (it is the fastest growing sport in USA). and I would like to reinstate hiking events, at all levels. I worked as an Architect, as an Interior Decorator and currently in real estate. Rita's term runs through April 2026. Eliot Greenwald
I have been an active member of SCWDC since 1977 and have been on over 100 ski trips. Most noteworthy was a ski trip to Greek Peak, NY over Martin Luther King weekend in 1986, where I met my wife Anita. Although I was never a trip leader back then, I was friends with many of the trip leaders and offered to help out during the trips, often coordinating the NASTAR race. I continue to ski with the club and participated in two flight trips this past season. I also have been an active participant in the SCWDC sailing program for over 20 years, including volunteering as a trip leader and skipper on many of the Potomac sails. Having just retired at the end of 2023 from a 47-year career as a telecommunications attorney, I now have time to give back to SCWDC. I volunteered to chair the sailing program starting this past fall and agreed to be nominated to run for the Board of Directors. In addition to SCWDC, I have considerable experience with volunteer organizations. I have held numerous positions with the Cornell Club of Washington, including having been program chair, treasurer, first vice president, and president. I have also held various positions in the Cornell Class of ’73 class council, most recently as reunion registration chair. Eliot's term runs until April 2026. BOD Secretary: Carole Howe
Senior Staff:
JoAnn is well qualified for this job. She has a BS degree from Virginia Tech (VPI) in Business Administration, an MS degree from John Hopkins University in Real Estate Finance, Construction and Development and completed the Graduate School of Banking-University of Washington-Pacific Coast Banking School/Institutional Finance program. She worked for 22 years as a Real Estate Specialist/Professional Staff for a regional law firm and two international law firms. She also worked for 3 years as a Legal Advisor/Vice President at Allied Capital Corporation, and 16 years as Senior Vice President (US Bank).
Financial Manager: Bev Ashcraft SCWDC's annual budget is about $1 million and includes about 40 admission events. While all of our events are planned and run by volunteers, we need year-round financial services to manage our various financial relationships and transactions, and these services come from our Financial Manager. From 2006 to mid-2020, Brian Chollar, long-time SCWDC member and past president, served in this role. Now, Bev, who is a long-time member, former volunteer ski leader & Meetings Chair, and current member of the Activity Leader Evaluation Committee member, has become our Financial Manager and serves today. Her workload includes managing our bank accounts and 2,000+ annual credit card and check installment payment transactions, auditing Tour Operator invoices and leader financial reports, and providing the Board of Directors with timely advice. One major aspect of financial work is due to the complexity of SCWDC ski trip vacations , which have multiple pricing options including "Ground Only" (participant books his/her own airline travel), "Single Supplement" (participant pays to occupy their own bedroom), and multiple lift ticket options. We are lucky to have Bev serve because she knows how the club operates, backwards and forwards. Length of Service as Financial Manager: Since May 2020. 2nd Member of Activity Evaluation Leader Committee. Prior service as member of Flights Committee for multiple years, ski trip and activity leader, and service as Meetings Chair for 3 years.
Magazine Editor Emeritus: Leo Boelhouwer Leo served as editor from 2009-2023. While the club reduced the number of issues and number of pages, we owe the "life" of the SCWDC magazine to Leo's efforts, without his work, we would not have had this magazine for many years. Leo has composed 75 different issues of the SCWDC magazine. As the SCWDC website became the primary and current way to communicate with members, the Board of Directors reluctantly decided to end the publication of the magazine. Thank you, Leo, for so many years of service. The BOD decided in 2023 to end the publication of the SCWDC magazine.
General Counsel: Peter Hartogensis SCWDC Member since 1999. Board of Directors (BOD), 2013 to 2015 President, 2015-2017. Legal Counsel, 2009 to date. Ski Trip leader, tennis party host. Silver award, 2013. I managed the merger of The Tennis Group (TTG) into the Ski Club. For TTG, I served as President, Board member, newsletter editor, legal counsel, Team Tennis Coordinator, Team Tennis Captain, trip leader. Professional qualifications and experiences: City of Rockville, 1978-87. Elected to City Council, served 2 terms. Served on Board of Appeals as member and chairman, city Planning Commission. Profession, Attorney at Law in Maryland and District of Columbia, now retired. Practiced in areas of real estate, contracts, Bankruptcy, torts, criminal law, estates and trusts, domestic and other areas. Length of Service in this position: Since 2009, 17 years. Previously, President 2 years, BOD member 2 years.
Historian Emeritus: Kate Hayes Kate is a legend in SCWDC circles. She became our historian in 1983 and faithfully accumulated history artifacts, photos, and accounts of SCWDC members, officers, and all events. When the club began discussions of how to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 1986, she and others developed the concept of creating a "Yearbook" that would provide all members with an account how the club started, what every president accomplished in his/her year in office, and then gave an account of every program that the club had ever operated, who was started it, to whom was credit due. The 1936-1986 Yearbook runs to over 200 pages and nothing like it has been attempted again. A copy o the Yearbook can be obtained from the SCWDC office, just by asking. Kate has received every major award the club gives. Length of Service in this position: Since 1983, 40 years.
"Flights" Ski Trips Chair for Western, Eastern and International Trips, assisted Ski Flight Trips Committee members listed below. See short bio above for Gary as Membership Chair. Gary was a life-long skier for many years until knee replacement surgery was necessary, He has been a member of the Flights Committee several times and for many years. He reorganized and expanded the SCWDC Travel Program beginning in 2016 and continues to contribute advice to that program. Without Gary's contributions, the SCWDC would not be operating as successfully as it is today. The Committee is responsible for accomplishing this club's primary purpose, the enjoyment of skiing. FYI, the Committee works all year-round to plan and run ski trips, especially in winter months when the Committee is running this year’s ski trips while planning next ski year’s trips. The Flights Committee plans and manages about 15-18 ski trips a year which provide approximately 500 ski spots for members' winter vacations to US, Canadian and European ski destinations. Due to changes in Eastern ski resort ownership, our club's Eastern trips are limited to Canaan Valley, West Virginia. The value of annual ski trip contracts range from $700,000 - $850,000, so this is a huge responsibility! In the summer, the Committee also brings 100+ members and guests together for two picnics, the first in the spring or early summer is "Back From The Slopes" or "Meet Your Trip Leaders," to celebrating the past ski season and the second introduces the next ski season in a "Back To The Slopes" event. Both are popular events which require advance sign up. Other Flights Committee Members are the following: Mary-Jo Swinimer, Jim Suh, Ken Eng, Joe Gilbert, Charlie Lorenzetti, Larry Langer, David Lewis, Dean Shepard and Susan Miller.
Yingwen joined the club in 1997 to participate in ski trips, Saturday and Sunday tennis, Viking cruises, and Bike and Barge trips. She is a former Director, has served on the Elections Committee for many years. She is now the new Travel Chair, having participated in many SCWDC travel events, especially Viking cruise events.
Sailing Chair: Eliot Greenwald Social and Cultural Chair: President Ruth D'Alessandro (acting) Contact the SCWDC Office or President Ruth D'Alessandro to discuss this volunteer position.
Casey has been the Indoor Tennis Chair since 2005. This is meant that she has planned and run with considerable volunteer help, somewhere between 20 and 30 Saturday night tennis parties every year from September to May. Every party requires a leader and usually an assistant leader, splitting the duties of paperwork, collecting monies, and planning a light buffet for the participants. Recruiting and coaching 20 to 30 tennis party leaders and assistants a year is a big deal. Some years ago a second level of party management was created, "Party Supervisors" so Casey did not have to do all the work herself. Her helper in every respect is her husband Jack who cooperatively initiated some better practices in the tennis program, setting up a system of regular and fair ability ratings and creating/publishing a newsletter to members of the ski club community as well as to others who were guests at our parties. Every tennis party requires an advance plan for "Who will play in what ability group and when," and Jack has probably composed something like 350 to 400 individual party rotations that is the advance plan of four hours of play. Up to 80 persons attend any party and when a new person comes in, Jack often calls that person to learn how frequently they play tennis, in what ability group should they be initially placed in the available 10 courts? This means that the time to compose the rotation can be as little as two hours or as much as four, every Saturday afternoon that there's a party. Jack is a USPTR tennis professional (graduate of the Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Academy). When empty courts were available, he would give free lessons from 7-11. We give great credit to this team for the success of SCWDC tennis parties. In any one year, there have been as many as 700+ different players and 1,600 player spots. Casey was selected as an Honorary Lifetime Member and Jack has received the Gold Award. Length of Service for Casey and Jack: since 2005, 21 years.
Ying joined the club in 1997 to participate in ski trips, Saturday and Sunday tennis, Viking cruises, and Bike and Barge trip. She is the SCWDC Viking Cruises trip leader and has served on the Club Election Committee for many years. She and Janet Brown, have agreed to take over Sunday Instructional Tennis program beginning June 2021. More about Ying is further down as the Viking Cruise Coordinator. Length of Service for this position: since February 2021.
Sunday Instructional Tennis Co-Coordinator : Janet Brown Janet joined the club in 2014 to participate in ski trips, Saturday night tennis, the Sunday tennis instructional program, and Viking cruises. She is an avid tennis player and will co-coordinate the 2021-2022 instructional program with Ying. Length of Service for this position: since February 2021. Ying and Janet have managed the Sunday Instructional Tennis program since the 2021 fall season. They are passionate tennis players and long-time Sunday Tennis players. They will also plan and run a Christmas party and an End-Of-The-Season tennis party. The program has about 150 players. Committee Chairpersons:
Budget and Finance Chair: Larry Langer. Larry retired from local commercial company, L3 Harris, as a Controller. He is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Virginia and also a Certified Management Accountant (CMS). He was elected in 2021 to serve a 2-year term as an SCWDC Director and was re-elected in 2023 to serve another 2-year term.
Nominating Committee Co-Chairs 2025: Bonnie Piper and Sharon Godfrey.
Elections Chair, 2021-2025 Bill Johnston. Bill is a past president for 3 years, former Budget and Finance Chair for 5 years, and former Tennis Chair for 6 years.
Past Presidents Advisory Chair: Howard Fisher Howard has been a continuing major volunteer presence in SCWDC matters since joining the club. He served as president twice, 1987-1988 and again in 1995. He was not the founding member of the "Past Presidents Advisor" group but she has been the chair for several years. As Policy Chair, he has advised the Board of Directors and the president about various club matters, and when there is a proposal to change our Policy Manual, he does the analysis and formulates the wording. As best he can, remains neutral on issues although he will give us advice when asked. At the time he became president there was no "introduction guide" to the role, it was learn as you go, ask questions, and so on. To fill that gap he created the President's Manual and passes it on to every new president, then stays in touch to offer help and advice without being intrusive.
Policy: Howard Fisher Every club needs a foundation of policy guidance and operating rules. For many years, Howard and a few members have both initiated changes and responded to BOD & member change requests. Some chapters of the Policy Manual require 2/3 membership approval at the annual membership meeting, while other chapters are maintained and controlled by the Board of Directors. Howard and committee helpers are known for their balanced approach - listen carefully for the intent behind any proposal, evaluate the possible impact and give advice the Board of Directors about how to proceed. Previously, SCWDC President, 2 years.
Each winter, certain areas of West Virginia are blessed with a tremendous amount of snow. In 1950, members of the Ski Club of Washington DC were flying over Canaan Valley. They noticed an open meadow with huge snowdrifts in the late spring. In 1951, the Ski Club opened Dirftland near present-day Canaan Valley Resort bringing snowsports to the Southeast. After Driftland opened, other resorts were founded. A few resorts closed but several are thriving such as Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley Resort, Olegby Resort, Snowshoe, Winterplace, and White Grass. These resorts helped develop and continue to contribute to a thriving tourist industry. Snow sports enthusiasts work hard and play hard. This attitude has spawned a plethora of stories and legends. Longtime West Virginia snowsports enthusiasts believe in the importance of preserving and documenting these amazing stories. A group of these dedicated individuals founded the Snows Sports Museum of West Virginia in 2018. The current address of the museum is 6459 Appalachian Highway, 6459 Appalachian Highway, Davis, WV 26260. The museum is usually open during ski season Thursdays through Sundays and by appointment at other times. Call to see if it is open when you are there. Phone: 334.663.1172. Email: wvsnowsportsmuseum@gmail.com. They plan activities in the spring, summer and fall to bring skiers and friends together including social events, golf tournaments, and so on. Visit the web site to see the current plans. |
%20-%20Copy.jpg)
.jpg)
Carole is serving her fourth year as BOD secretary. She is a retired surgical nurse for local hospitals and a local ophthalmologist. She skies at least once a year with her husband and family. Editor's Comment: It's important for the SCWDC BOD to have accurate records of its discussions and votes. Carole is diligent and helpful in every respect. The SCWDC Board of Directors has an obligation to inform members of its deliberations and decisions. Please look under the Home Menu item to read current and past BOD minutes. 
Webmaster, Membership & Communications Chair, and Budget & Finance Committee member: Gary Rubens SCWDC member since 1968; Past SCWDC President (four separate terms); Past SCWDC Director; Past Committee Chair for Budget & Finance, Elections; Past Program Chair for Business, Meetings, Member Services, Public Relations, plus Tennis Program Chair for over 20 years!; Designer and Webmaster of the current SCWDC website;; Lifelong skier (over a dozen NASTAR ski racing medals). 
Ski School Director: Mike Cavallaro 
Travel Chair: Yingwen Prince
Tennis Parties Chair: Casey Tarr & Jack Tarr, USPTR Professional 
Sunday Instructional Tennis Co-Coordinator: Yingwen Prince
Activity Leader Evaluation (ALEC) Chair: Bernie Gilbert Bernie has been our credit card transaction manager since 2006. He is the current chair of our Activity Leader Evaluation Committee (ALEC) and has been a member of that group for years. ALEC helps the club evaluate all ski leaders so their performance is up to our standards. Bernie has also led ski trips. In 2020, he was recognized by the BOD as an Honorary Lifetime Member. Length of Service as member of ALEC: Since service on the committee since 2006 and chair since 2016.
President of Snow Sports Museum and SCWDC Member: Kim Williams