message From the board
President
Mary Beth Braun
An Attitude of Gratitude
The Gift of TIME While November is a month dedicated to gratitude for blessings, December is for giving. Our giving doesn’t have to be gifts of monetary importance (although those are wonderful); our gift of time may be the most generous and important.
We give of ourselves often with our families, neighbors, and Vagabond friends in conversation and helping out. It means so much to parents (of all ages) when children come home to talk, just to “catch up.” Why is it that we never feel it’s a waste of time to go to a party for hours with friends – But it’s so difficult to give time, to make time to visit an infirmed neighbor, or a veteran, or grocery shop for a homebound senior, or join a service group.
Our club offers many opportunities all year to have fun. You should take advantage of having fun; life is too short. Yet, we don’t need to focus only on ourselves. Vagabonds, it’s the Christmas season, we are in the prevailing spirit of Giving. So, let’s reach out to other Vagabonds and beyond to anyone in need.
Make time to give of yourself with an effort to serve your club however you can ... maybe it’s as an event leader or board member in 2025. You all know by now that our club is facing a deficit in leadership positions on the board come next May. If you are a good candidate, please come forward and be willing to join us and donate your time generously for the Vagabond Ski and Social Club. Contact any officer or director in the club.
I wish each of you a wonderful Christmas filled with blessed and caring days through the Season!!
Mary Beth
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.
Responsibilities of Officers on the Board
President
The President is to preside at meetings of the Board and membership; assign Directors to the director positions and other duties as deemed necessary; represent the Club in associations in which the Club has a membership; and the President shall be an ex-officio of all committees.
Vice President
The Vice President will succeed to the office of President should the president cease to be a member, resign or be unable to serve; shall preside at Board and membership meetings in the absence of the president; shall coordinate certain events and perform other duties as assigned by the president.
Secretary
The Secretary shall record the minutes at the Board and Membership meetings; the Secretary shall have custody of all books, historical records and papers of the Club except those in the charge of the Treasurer; shall maintain a calendar of Club events and activities.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep a current accounting of records, make disbursements approved by the Board, and secure complete paper vouchers/receipts of deposits made in the Club’s bank account; shall present a monthly financial report at the Board meetings; shall present to the Board a financial year-end report of all Club matters for the fiscal year; prepare and file any and all required Club tax returns or forms; and arrange for necessary bonding and insurance.
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. >>