Ski Club Named Volunteer of the Year for Trail Grooming

The Mackinac Island Ski Club members accepting the 2008 Volunteer of the Year award Sunday, February 3, are (from left) Steve Cotton, Matt Myers, Tim Leeper, Anneke Myers, Pete McCreary, Mark Chambers, Frank Bloswick, Jr, Al Arbib, Laura McLaurin, and Eric McLaurin. Mayor Margaret Doud presented the club with a plaque of recognition. (Photograph by Jennifer Bloswick)

The Mackinac Island Recreation Department has named the Mackinac Island Ski Club the 2008 Volunteer of the Year. The group maintains approximately 40 miles of cross-country ski trails on the Island.

The announcement was made Sunday, February 3, during Winter Festival with Mayor Margaret Doud presenting the club with a plaque of recognition.

The Ski Club, which was formed in 1999, has been grooming the Island's interior trials on a volunteer basis, said Leanne Brodeur, city recreation director. They also have printed a map of the trails and publish a flyer about skiing on the Island for winter visitors.

In past years, the club has written grants and received support from the Mackinac Island Community Foundation and sought private donations. With the funds, they purchased a snowmobile and trail groomer.

The volunteers prepare the trails before winter sets in, they groom the tails during the ski season, and members remove fallen trees and branches from the paths.

"It is nice to see such dedication to cross-county skiing on the Island," said Ms. Brodeur. "The group grooms the trails and keeps them open from downed trees for everyone to enjoy."

A dinner is planned for the club, which also received a plaque in recognition for its contribution to Island recreation.

Past volunteer of the year recipients include Dennis Bradley, the first winner of the award in 2002, and Dan Wightman (2003), Candy Smith (2004), Brenda Bunker (2005), and Sylvia Perault (2006).