Of course I should have figured it all out over the summer if I wanted to do something about it.
Hey guys! Ripitz brought this thread to my attention.
I am actually a member of the club. It is a pretty cool place. The origin story is that a bunch of Norwegians in Brooklyn wanted to have a place in the Catskills to ski. As Rip noted, there were a bunch of really good ski jumpers in the club (there is some cool memorabilia in there, including letters signed by FDR to club members).
You guys can kind of tell my personality. I found out about it and kind of hunted them down, came to their posted meeting site on the wrong day, and just kept coming to meetings. My then three-year-old daughter charmed 'em, and then I became a probationary member and then a permanent member, which is a relatively easy process (probably takes about a year).
The vibe is low key, friendly, and welcoming. There is a little bit of a generational divide in that there are older members that really care about the club and its continuity, and in the past few years, there have been more 'younger' folks with families coming in, probably with kids from ages high single digits to teens. That is a positive thing, because it means the club will continue.
The club itself is pretty big, with a handful of larger common areas, and dorm style rooms. The rates are very reasonable; you need to be a member or a guest of a member, and the meetings are open to the public.
If anyone is interested in information you could PM me and I could put you in touch with the people are in charge of new membership.
I have kept my membership active, and pre Covid I would be one of the most frequent stay-over members for the camaraderie, proximity to Bell, vibe, and price. Last year, I did not stay at the club and really didn't go, largely for Covid-related reasons. I do know the club engaged in heightened cleaning etc. (To give context, while I usually average 17-20 days, last year I skied 6; I should be skiing in the 20-25 day range this year).
The Lodge itself needs some TLC, but it seems like the newer generation of members is putting in the effort to change things over time.
Anywho, feel free to PM me.
I think it is a great option to explore membership if you are interested in camaraderie, a rustic and somewhat rough setting, location, and good cost/flexibility.
