100^th Life Member Introduced as Ski Museum Launches Member Drive

New England Ski Museum President Bo Adams announced the kickoff of an intensive campaign for new members at the Museum’s annual Holiday Party, and introduced Ralph Lewis of Sugar Hill, the group’s 100^th Life Member. Lewis, a lifelong skier, raced for the University of New Hampshire in college, and has spent his career in the ski industry at Attitash, Ragged Mountain, and now Loon Mountain, where he is Skiing Operations Director.

As the incoming president of the organization, Adams became aware in mid-December of the statewide $25,000 challenge grant offered by the Robert and Karin Finlay Foundation to the New Hampshire museum that records the largest increase in membership over a one-year period ending on October 31, 2008. At a press conference in Concord, NH on December 13, 2007, Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, applauded the award offered by the Finlay Foundation and emphasized that her independent US government agency is keenly following the contest and has hopes that similar private sector initiatives may develop in other states as a result.

By addressing membership of museums, libraries and historical societies, Robert J. Finlay of the Foundation remarked that he sees membership as the key avenue through which these culturally vital yet often underfunded non-profits can increase their reach and stability. Adams noted that it is the membership of the New England Ski Museum that has allowed it to thrive in its first 30 years. The 100 Life Members of the Ski Museum, who make a one-time $1,000 dues payment, are among the approximately 1,600 members from 37 states and 12 countries who support the ski history mission of the non-profit group. Individual membership dues in the Museum are $35 per year.

“We hear a lot of people say they have always meant to join the Ski Museum,” Adams said. “With the Finlay challenge clock running, there is no better time than now.”

Stein Eriksen at the November 2007 Museum Annual Meeting, Sugarbush Vermont. Outgoing President Glenn Parkinson who served in that role for 10 years, in the red tie, and new President Bo Adams, to his left, applaud Eriksen, recepient of the Museum's Spirit of Skiing award.

Members of the Ski Museum enjoy benefits such as three original Journals with ski history articles each year, as well as invitations to member events like the recent annual meeting at which legendary ski stylist and Olympian Stein Eriksen was the speaker. Access to the Museum’s collection, housed in the Paumgarten Family Archival Center, is another privilege of Museum members. An overview of the Paumgarten collections, as well as a taste of the ski history articles produced by the Museum can be seen at www.skimuseum.org.