On September 27, 2024, the Birchleggings Club (BLC) held its 2024 Annual Meeting at the Johnson Family Outdoor Center at the OO Birkie Trailhead.
Along with the BLC board members, approximately 20 additional persons attended.
Special guests for the day included John and Nina Kotar. John is a co-founder of the BLC. Louise Droessler, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) Development Director and the BLC’s liaison with the ABSF represented the Birkie Foundation.
A pre-meeting picnic lunch was prepared by Tom Rowley, Grillmeister, and other board members. Because of the very-unseasonably warm conditions in the sun, the pre-meeting festivities were moved from the patio to inside the Johnson Center.
The BLC Strummers, consisting of Dave Balsiger, Tim Burke, Edward Eroe, and Jim Tenorio (JT) performed several songs, including Birkie Fever, two songs written by Tim Burke—Double O and Born in the Jackpine, and one song with lyrics by JT—Let Me Go Home Klister. Dave Balsiger ushered in the formal opening of the annual meeting by performing his Birkebeiner Morning song.
The meeting itself began with President Paul Thompson giving a warm welcome to all attendees and to Kortelopet 20+ Skiløpers and Birke+Korte 20-year-combination race finishers who are now eligible to join the Birchleggings Club (BLC).
A report was given on each of the 2024 BLC summer events that had taken place. The organizer of each event gave a summary of their event. Slides provided by Paul Thompson & Mindy Ahler illustrated each of the events.
One of the regular agenda items at the annual meeting is the election of our board of directors. Two members, Dave Balsiger and Kim Ruud, were stepping down from the board.
Formal nominations were made for the following persons to join or continue on the BLC Board of Directors. A slate of candidates was recommended by the board as follows:
- To renew their three-year terms on the board were Paul Thompson, Connie Meek, and Jim Tenorio (JT)
- To join the board as treasurer: Tom Rowley
- To join the board: Nona Goertz
The candidates above were elected by the members present to the board of directors.
Dave reminisced for the audience some of his experiences skiing, forming the club, and serving as treasurer and membership manager over the years. John Kotar, the co-founder of the BLC with Dave, expressed his appreciation and shared some of his memories of their involvement. He stressed several times that one of the most important benefits of the BLC is to develop and nurture the many friendships developed among skiers and club members over the years.
Paul Thompson presented Dave with gifts of appreciation for his service—a restaurant gift card and a gift certificate to Farm & Fleet, one of Dave’s favorite stores.
The tribute to Dave concluded with JT and the audience singing, With a Lot of Help from Our Dave. Sung to the melody of the Beatles’ With a Little Help from My Friends, JT wrote the lyrics, which were displayed on the screen, so folks could join along in the singing. See lyrics below.
With a Lot of Help from Our Dave Sung to the tune of, With a Little Help from My Friends September 27, 2024 Lyrics by Jim Tenorio, with apologies to Paul McCartney & John Lennon
1) What will we do in the Birchleggings Club
Since our treasurer has “turned in his keys?”
For 32 years Dave has managed the books,
And kept the membership records for free.
Chorus 1:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
No, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
No, we thrived with a lot of help from our Dave.
2) Dave paid the bills, and he took in the cash
At our breakfast with Tom at his side.
He’d maintain the lists from the ABSF
So you knew at what rank you reside.
Chorus 2:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we would fly with a lot of help from our Dave.
Bridge 1:
(Do you need anybody?)
We need a new treasur-er.
(Could it be anybody?)
Tom has stepped in to serve.
3) Dave did big mailings and set up our booth,
Linda helped him with all the work!
He could tell you just when your membership will expire
And sold all of our hats and T-shirts.
Chorus 3:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we would fly with a lot of help from our Dave.
Bridge 2:
(Will we miss anybody?)
We’ll miss Dave after he goes.
(Will we miss anybody?)
We thank him more than he knows.
Final Chorus:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we would fly with a lot of help from our Dave.
Yes we would fly… with a lot of help from our Dave…
With a lot of help from our Daa-aav
In spite of formal adjournment, socializing continued well after the meeting ended. The conversations and fellowship are a common theme of Birchleggings Club get-togethers, and they are one of the joys and benefits of membership.
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