The first arrivals walking up the street to the Nature Friends lodge. Jeff Johnson.
Our holiday party this year was at Nature Friends in Sierra Madre, a new place for us. Nature Friends is a social club with a lodge in a canyon in upper Sierra Madre. In October, a couple GLSers at a first aid class happened to meet Jim Angus, who is the current head of Nature Friends. Recognizing that GLS and Nature Friends have common interests, he invited us to use their lodge for our party. Since COVID, we have had the holiday party outdoors in a park but had not decided where to have the party in 2023. So we were happy to accept the offer.
Partiers parked near the Mt. Wilson Trailhead Park in Sierra Madre and made the short walk from there up the hill to the lodge. We had the use of the full kitchen, the dining room, the outdoor terrace, and the lodge’s real dishes and cutlery. Quite a change from the last few years meeting on picnic tables under trees. We had a good potluck spread, as usual, and Jim even fired up the grill to make sliders.
As in other years, we had a slide show of photos submitted for the photo contest. This year, we got to view the photos indoors on the lodge’s big screen TV before voting for our favorites. You can view all the submitted photos here. Here are the favorites, as voted at the party:
All-Around Favorites: #10 Nancy Beverly; #17 Alan Schimpff; #67 Tan Nguyen Landscape & Scenery: #17 Alan Schimpff Flora: #46 Susan Campo Fauna: #39 Nancy Beverly Humor: #48 Alan Schimpff On the Trail with GLS: #51 Asep Setiawan Look Where I Went (non-GLS activities): #1 Nancy Beverly
During lunch, Jen collected money for the half and half raffle, collecting $128. A newcomer to GLS (whose name I did not catch) had to winning ticket, to win $64. The other $64 was donated to Nature Friends in appreciation of their generous hospitality.
After lunch, Jim and Zak, the Nature Friends on-site administrator, described the history and purpose of club. You can read about the club at their website. The we made a few announcements and gave out some awards.
Anna, after receiving a “Lead On!!!” award, describing the some of the difficulties she and other leaders had managing the Table Mountain car camp last summer, during which the campers endured torrents of rain and stream water. Mike Brostoff.
Four GLS leaders received “Lead On!!!” awards. These leaders’ leadership credentials had lapsed during COVID (or earlier) and they had done what was required to become certified leaders again. These leaders are Jim Angus, Jeff Bates, Anna Baum, and Gina Masequesmay. They are back leading outings, including some big, difficult outings last summer.
Carlos Clemente received a “Biker Extraordinaire” award. If you know Carlos, you know he arrives at many GLS outings near and far on his bicycle.
Jeff J. presenting a “Bionic Woman” award for Gail. Mike Brostoff.
Gail Wise received a “Bionic Woman” award. Gail recently got brand new hips and is already back hiking and is already on the outing schedule again.
Nancy presenting the “GLS Sierran of the Year” award. Mike Brostoff.
Jeff Johnson (that’s me) received the “GLS Sierran of the Year” award, presented by Nancy. Nancy went through some of the events of my years with GLS, with some focus on the difficulties during the COVID years. GLS made it through that and we seem to be getting back on our feet. I have sometimes said that GLS is like family, that’s one of the rewards of being involved. Many of my friends and people I have hiked with for years are people I know through GLS. I am grateful for those connections and look forward to the years of GLS ahead.
A subject neglected during the party was the results of the recent election for GLS Management Committee. All votes received were for the nominated incumbent candidates: Tom Molloy, Jennifer Dooley, and Jeff Johnson. So the Management Committee for 2024 will be those three and Tammie Barta and Jeff Bates, the same five committee members as in 2023.
On the terrace at Nature Friends. Mike Brostoff.
Everyone at the party seemed pleased with the venue. Zak and Jim of Nature Friends said they would be happy to offer us the use of the place next year as well, schedule permitting. So we are looking forward to that. Maybe next year we can also plan a local hike before or after the party.
