Meredith Rotary Club
General Membership Meeting
October 5, 2022
Minutes
Guests: Karen Thorndike
Jordan Murray
President Heidi opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a reflection.
Heidi welcomed everyone to the Chili Cook-off. Contributors included Craig Wiggin, Bob Kennelly and Heidi. Everyone was invited to sample all three chili offerings and eat hearty. Voting on the BEST took place later
Chuck Thorndike was the evening presenter. No one needed to be reminded that Chuck is well known locally in competitive skiing circles but we found out there was a lot more to his story. Chuck talked about the early days of skiing in NH dating back to the 1880’s when the state had an 80 – 90 meter ski jump. His parents introduced him to the sport when he was but 8 years old. His mother used him as a model for what became her best ski doll. Pictured in baggy pants, which he hated, his ski was call “dope”. In the 1960’s skiing became “BIG” in the state. Karen became a big ski supporter of not only Chuck but their boys when they came along. In all the Winter years that followed Chuck never missed taking at least one run. While serving in Vietnam, Japan and several other ‘hot spots’, Chuck never failed to find a ski slope
As years past, Chuck’s interest in the sport and particularly in racing led to the challenge of making skies and ski boards go faster. He found that one “key” to a winning run was a finely tuned ‘edge’ and just the right ‘bevel’. In his basement, he opened his own ski shop and went about designing and building his own machinery that would fine tune to one tenth of a degree. It was all about matching the ‘bevel’ to the skier’s pleasure. Pleasure aside, for Chuck it was all about speed! He now has a patent on this advanced tuning machine.
Chuck’s own thrills on the slopes were only slightly interrupted by his inventiveness in his shop. He continued to ski locally and enter competitions throughout New England, Canada, Sun Valley (Idaho) and other venues in our western states. Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super G races became his challenge. He became a champion and as recently as last winter won the Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super G at the US Eastern Masters Championships. He proudly displayed the medals for all to see.
Chuck looks forward to the first snowfall with Bretton Woods on his mind. There he will ski with member Harry as they test out the latter’s skies that Chuck has been working on all summer long and is now polishing with 1000 grit paper!
Good Luck Chuck! Your countless friends wish you well in 2023 and beyond.
Announcements:
- The winner of the Chili Cook-off was Heidi
- Gary (for Interact) urged record-breaking support for SOCKTOBER.
- Dean reported that our present exchange student at Inter-Lakes is doing well particularly on the soccer field where Dean has seen his excellent play.
Happy Dollars:
- Jim McFarlin was happy with the birth of his first grand-child… Sophia.
- Dean was pleased that he just closed on a condo in New York
- Fred welcomed Jordan Murray, a perspective member (present)
- Craig was pleased to be celebrating 33 years……?????
Meeting concluded at approximately 7:30.
