Announcement

A message from the Board of Directors

Posted by Whistler Mountain Ski Club on Jul 06 2020 at 01:20PM PDT in 2020-2021 Season
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July 6, 2020

On behalf of the Club’s Board of Directors, I am writing to provide an update to members as we enter Phase 3 of British Columbia’s COVID19 Restart Plan.

Under the leadership of Bob Armstrong, the Club is gradually returning to limited operations with dryland training sessions planned through the summer months. We are optimistic that we will continue on this path and resume full operations with away camps in November. We encourage all athletes to take advantage of the “no charge” training programs the Club is offering this summer.

We have also compiled our year-end financial results and I am pleased to report that the actions taken by the Club in March and early April to mitigate losses (in particular with respect to Whistler Cup), together with the Canadian Government’s emergency support programs, has left the Club’s net working capital position substantially unchanged from previous years. The Board has now approved the Club’s Operating Plans and Budget for the 2020-2021 Season and I am pleased to advise that there will be no increases in program fees.

The Board has also determined, given the past season’s operating loss and the significant uncertainties that we face in the coming year due to the COVID19 crisis, not to offer refunds for sessions lost at the end of last season. WMSC is a non-profit organization which designs and implements exceptional ski racing programs for the total number of athletes registered each season, at cost and without provision for an expense reserve for unforeseen events like COVID19. A refund of program fees for the 2019/20 season would further increase the Club’s operating loss for the past season, which ultimately would need to be recovered in future years, and potentially impact the long-term financial viability of the Club.

The Board has however authorized the Executive Director to make provision for a one-time discretionary fund targeted for our families that are experiencing financial hardship in these challenging times, allowing some measure of financial relief through a credit for next season. Please contact Bob directly to access this program. All applications will be treated confidentially.

The Board is very grateful to Bob Armstrong for stepping in as the Club’s Interim Executive Director providing us with this experience and wisdom during a period of great uncertainty. Bob has worked tirelessly with his team to stabilize the Club’s finances and prepare the 2020-2021 Operating Plan and Budget, and Bob has the unanimous support from the Board of Directors as we move forward together.

Finally, you will be receiving the Club’s annual member survey in the coming days. This year your feedback is needed more than ever, particularly regarding your family’s intentions for participation in our programs for the 2020-2021 season. This feedback is critical to the Club’s planning and our being able to continue to deliver outstanding world class ski racing programs.

“Hope for the best, plan for the worst” is an apt axiom as we move forward. We are all reorienting ourselves to the new patterns of life post-COVID, but I believe that prudent optimism is now called for, and I am hopeful that our athletes will be back on snow as soon as possible.

On Behalf of the Board
WHISTLER MOUNTAIN SKI CLUB

John Legg
Chair

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