Members of Good Spirit Cross Country Ski Club have completed preparations for the 2012 – 2013 ski season at Good Spirit Provincial Park.  The club’s Annual General Meeting was held Friday, October 19 in the Recreation Hall at the park. New officers were installed.  Thom Carnahan of Canora replaced outgoing presidents Cindy Smith of Yorkton and Rob Wilson of Saltcoats. Darryl Stevenson, of Burgis Beach, remains as Vice-president and head groomer. Loralee Antonovitch of Canora replaces Merlin Toth of Yorkton as Treasurer.  Carla Bugera of Canora replaces Joan Popoff of Canora as secretary. In addition a number of committees have been established to ensure continued smooth operation of the club. Saturday, October 20 a dozen volunteers met at the park’s shelter, which is managed by the club.  In accordance with an agreement between the park and the ski club park employees had earlier taken some of the wood removed from the trails during the summer to the shelter. Four hours of cutting, splitting and stacking resulted in a wood shed mostly filled with seasoned wood as well as a generous stack of green wood which will season and provide good wood for skiers in the 2013 -2014 season. With full sun and temperatures in the teens the afternoon, while strenuous for the volunteers was also an afternoon of fellowship and new friendships. There was no shortage of teasing and joking as the group toiled under the direction of newly elected president, Thom Carnahan. The volunteers did not miss the opportunity to enjoy the day, the company, the park and the shelter. The working part was completed at approximately 4:00 p.m. The following hour was devoted to consumption of the many snacks that quickly appeared when project leader Darryl Stevenson announced that it was time for work to cease.

GSXCSC encourages everyone, especially those who intend to burn wood at the shelter this winter, to take out a membership.  These can be obtained by visiting the club’s website www.goodspiritski.blogspot.com and downloading a form or by contacting the club’s membership chairperson, Anne Stupak of Yorkton (annestu...@gmail.com or phone 783 – 6617). Membership forms and cheques should be mailed to club treasurer Loralee Antonovitch (Box 1474, Canora, S0A 0LO).  The Saskatchewan Ski Club Association provides provincial grants to our club, upon application. Memberships are important because grants are directly tied to the memberships that we provide to Sask. Ski. In the words of Roy Rogers and Jean Autry (for those of you over 50), “Happy Trails to You”.