message From the board
President
Mary Beth Braun
July Fourth is our special day to celebrate our great country, to celebrate our freedom and to be grateful for all that we have. Take a minute to really appreciate your life, your blessings, your loves – all those who add to your life. July is a happy month – it’s summer, and our club has so many activities going on.
Page through this Life issue and you’ll see sports to participate in and some to be a spectator. Join a Supper Club night. Come to the Over the Hump at Curly's. The next one will be July 16 at Matty’s (see page 7). Attend a baseball game. Play tennis. Walk in the park. Find your fun!
This year, our aim is to have a new membership “push.” Every time you are with friends (non-members), talk up the club and its activities. Use words like awesome, friendly, fun. We would love to have more people. We want old and new members to get involved. You’ll find that it is such fun to get to know new people. And a good place to meet new people is at our monthly general meetings. We need all of you to care about the club!
We’ll see you at the next general meeting, Tuesday, July 8, at the New Berlin Banquet Center. Mark your calendars because this is different than our typical meeting date. We needed to change it because of booking conflicts at the banquet center.
God bless America – in July and all year!
Mary Beth
Recognition Dinner
On May 17, the Vagabond Ski and Social Club hosted a Recognition Dinner to thank members who have volunteered many hours to support the club and make events happen. We extended our thanks to people in all aspects of the club: membership, social activities, racquet sports, skiing and sporting activities. As a club, we honored some members with awards because they have consistently worked for the club for the past three years or more as event planners, coordinators and overall leaders.
Outstanding Service Awards
Gary Kovach has been a leader for hiking and bike rides for many years. He strives to know the best routes in the best parks. In the past, he was the bike leader on the Door County getaway, and he helped introduce pickleball when the club added that sport to our lineup of activities.
Betty Riley has often volunteered to lead Sunday hikes, and more often she has stepped up to lead on Sundays when no one else does. She is so dependable, and we thank her for being so active in the club.
Sherry Dobson has planned and led our midweek walks from March through October for the past three years. She scouts out new walks in various locations and strives to create interest in the walks every week.
Carol Thomson was sporting director on the board for four years, and most recently she has been the board secretary for the past four years. We thank her for the many hours she has given to the club in these positions.
Outstanding Achievement Award
Sue Cummings has given many hours to the club, serving on the board beginning in 2012 as Finance & Bylaws Director. She was instrumental in doing a major rewrite of the club’s bylaws, articles of incorporation, and policies. Most recently, Sue has planned our winter getaways. She is an exceptional trip leader, being accessible to everyone and being helpful throughout the trip.
Bob Spindell, a past president, served on the board from 1993 to 1998; he helped plan ski trips and also hire bands. He is better known to us as the planner of foreign trips, arranger of airline schedules and bus transportation, hotels rooms and cruise ship cabins. Bob is outstanding in serving our club with fabulous international trips.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Linda Horn has been president, vice president, secretary and director of tennis. She has planned many events, not the least of which is working with Bob Spindell on coordinating international trips. She worked tediously on the tennis schedules and tennis parties over the years. Linda has been the key instrumental person to bring Wild Apricot to us. She has worked patiently and persistently to bring the club into the digital world. She has been a teacher as well, as she taught so many of us how to use Wild Apricot.
We thank Linda for all she has done for this club!
Ways to Pay for Vagabond Events
- The best and preferred way to register for any Vagabond event or to renew your membership is through the club management system Wild Apricot. By signing up online and paying with your credit card, you will receive an email confirmation of your registration, you will receive your credit card points or rewards and you don’t have to fill out a paper event coupon. Plus, no stamps, no envelopes and no trip to the post office.
- If you wish to register at a monthly meeting, we strongly encourage you to pay with your credit card to earn your points, but you will need to fill out a registration form, and confirmation of your registration is delayed until the event leader makes sure there is space for you.
- The club does accept checks. Please make your check out to VSSC or Vagabond Ski & Social Club. Do not make the check payable to the event leader or to a board member. Please double-check the amount on the check and be sure to sign it. You might be surprised to learn how many checks are made out for the incorrect amount and/or are not signed. You will need to fill out an event coupon.
- Finally, the club will accept cash at a meeting. But this is the least desirable method of payment due to security risks, lack of traceability and the chance of it being lost. An event coupon is required.
from membership
Jan Breitbach
renew membership
October is the month for many Vagabonds to renew their membership. You can renew online or at the
November 6 meeting.
Credit card, please
The retailer Target recently announced it will no longer accept personal checks, and it’s no wonder. Check-writing has been declining for the past 30 years. Consumers now use checks for only 3 percent of transactions, according to Bankrate. “Adoption of mobile and electronic payments, which was accelerated by the pandemic, continues to grow and has driven a sharp decline in check usage,” says Sarah Grano of the American Bankers Association. “With check fraud on the rise, we recommend consumers use electronic payments, rather than a paper check, whenever possible.”
The Vagabond preferred method of payment for all transactions is credit card, using our club management software, Wild Apricot. Any board member or event leader can help you through the process. It is simple, easy and less prone to errors.
Take a look at your profile
Have you reviewed your Profile in the Vagabond database recently? Have you moved, changed your phone number or email address? Is your emergency contact information correct? This might be a good time to review the information we have and update it if needed. Be sure to save it before you log out.
If you need help, contact Membership Director Jan Breitbach at (414) 732-9749 or Jan.Breitbach@gmail.com.
WELCOME NEW OR RETURNING MEMBERS: (Up-to-date information is available in the online directory.)
The club is looking for friendly and smiling faces to assist at the Welcome Desk on meeting nights.
Call (414) 732-9749 or email Jan.Breitbach@gmail.com.
Why You Should Volunteer
Since its inception, our club has been run by its member volunteers, and that continues today. Here is why you should volunteer:
• Are you a newer member? What better way to meet others and to start friendships than to lead an event. Do you have an idea for an outing that you think others would enjoy? Contact a board member for guidance on how you can learn to run a Vagabond event.
• Are you a member who has enjoyed what the club offers? Maybe it’s time for you to step up and volunteer to help organize some of your favorite activities: hikes, bike rides, walks, supper clubs, fish fries, theatre, golf, tennis, pickleball, trips.
• Learning modern technology keeps the brain young. By running club events, you will have the opportunity to stretch your mind and become skilled at the club management software (Wild Apricot).
• It will make you feel good! Volunteering is a way to give back to the club, and that is guaranteed to keep the club moving forward and to make you happy inside.
Every member has something to offer. So, if you haven’t taken your turn yet, think about how you can contribute to the Vagabond Ski and Social Club.
Tech TipLinda Horn
Want to help the club and receive "the Life" via email?
Here’s how: Using the Vagabond website (from a computer or tablet)
• Go to VagabondSkiClub.com and click Members Only Access in the Popular Links box on the righthand side.
• Click the icon at the upper right and log in to your account.
• Click View Profile
• Click Edit Profile
• Scroll down to Vagabond Life Newsletter and check the box next to Electronic. (When the box is checked, you are receiving the Life via email.)
• Click SAVE
Using the Wild Apricot app on a smartphone or tablet:
• Open the Wild Apricot app
• Tap My Profile
• Tap the More icon (3 dots side by side near the top)
• Click Edit Profile
• Scroll down and tap Vagabond Life Newsletter
• Tap Electronic. (When the box is checked, you are receiving the Life via email.)
• Click SAVE at the top of the screen.
It’s a good idea to check your profile page and update any information that has changed. Be sure your emergency contact information is current also.
Looking for archived Tech Tips?
Follow this link to our Vice President's helpful tools. >>