The Birchleggings Club Golf Outing is Thursday, July 17, 2025, but the auction bidding is open NOW!

 

Birchleggings Club Golf Classic Sign Up Donate

The Birchleggings Club Golf Outing is Thursday,  but the auction bidding is open NOW! There is still time to participate. Only four days before we tee off at the second annual BLC Golf Tournament at Creeks Bend Golf Club in New Prague, MN. You can still register and take part if you have not already signed up to play. Here is the link: Sign up for golf here

The auction is live right now! Bidding opens on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 9:00 am CDT. Bidding closes on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 3:30 pm CDT. The auction is now taking place online using a bidding website called Givebutter. Anyone (you, family, friends) can bid on the nearly 50 items if they sign up for a Givebutter auction account. We highly recommend that you register for your personal auction account and have it bookmarked on your phone well before you arrive at the golf course on Thursday. You can browse the auction items and bid early and often! If you still need to register for an auction account, the instructions are repeated for you in the last section of this message: How to Register for a Givebutter Auction Account. Have you already registered for the auction? Here are Some tips to make signing in to your auction account easier. Once you are registered for the auction, and each time you login to bid, the auction site sends you a code in your email that you must use to verify that the login is you. This is called Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). It is a good way to keep your account safe. Although it is more secure, some folks find it a bother to have to go to their email, get the code, and enter it on their phone every time. Here is the way to disable the extra step of requiring the 2FA code if you so desire. How to disable the need for 2FA. Note: This disabling process may work better if you use your computer or a tablet. Some folks told us they had difficulty doing it on their phone.       1)    Complete your registration for a Givebutter auction account. Instructions were in our previous email that was sent on Thursday morning, 7/10/25. They are also reprinted for you in the last section of this message. Sign in to your Givebutter personal profile page using this link/button: https://givebutter.com/profile       2)    Enter your email address and Givebutter password.       3)    Go to your email and find the six-digit 2FA code.       4)    Go back to the Givebutter website and enter the six-digit code.       5)    Click on the green 2FA Enabled button.        6)    Get another six-digit code from your email. Again?? Yup. It is required whenever you make changes to your profile.       7)    Enter the code.       8)    When you are given a choice of using your phone or email address, check the phone number. You can then choose to receive six-digit codes via text message, which is often easier than going into your email to retrieve the code.       9)     Click on the green 2FA Enabled button.       10)    Get another six-digit code from your email (or phone if you checked above).      11)  Enter the code.      12)  Select the red Disable 2FA button. Note: If you login from a new location or device or across multiple locations/IP addresses, 2FA will still be required.      13)  Log out of your profile page by clicking on the round profile button containing your initials in the upper right of the screen and select Sign out.   How to login for bidding.       1)    Go to the Birchleggings Club Givebutter auction page by any of these three methods: a.    Scan the QR Code in the instructions at the end of this message. Or... b.    Enter this link into your web browser:    https://givebutter.com/c/5plUAY   Or... c.    Use the Auction Registration Link below. Birchleggings Club Auction Link       2)    Select Auction (It is to the right of the small Birchleggings Club Logo at the top of page).       3)    Select Register to Bid.       4)    Select Sign In.       5)    Enter your email and Givebutter account password.       6)    If you have not disabled 2FA, retrieve the six-digit code and enter the code.       7)    Happy bidding!

How to Register for a Givebutter Auction Account 1)    Scan the QR Code below (use the camera function on your phone/tablet) or use the Auction Registration Linkbelow the QR Code. Auction Registration Link 2)    Select Auction – (It is to the right of the small Birchleggings Club Logo at the top of page). 3)    Select Register to Bid (blue button). 4)    Select Sign up (if you are new to Givebutter) and follow the prompts: a.    First Name & Last Name b.    Email & Phone Number c.     Create a Password for your Givebutter account d.    Select Sign up 5)    Verify your email address by entering the verification code that was sent to your email address. 6)    Set Up Bidder Profile:  7)    Select Credit/Debit Card or Pay Pal. 8)    Enter your payment information. 9)    Select Cover processing fee. 10)     May Select – Appear Anonymous. 11)     Select Allow Birchleggings Club to contact me. 12)     Select Complete Registration. Check your email for the link to use the bidding site. You can preview the auction items now and begin bidding on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Bookmark the link in your browser for quick access when the bidding opens. Golf Team Captains – Email this information to your team members and have them register as bidding starts on Sunday, July 13, 2025. See you on Thursday, July 17, 2025 – Good luck on your auction bids!

Birchleggings Club Golf Classic

Birchleggings Club 2025 Awards Breakfast Wrap-Up

Approximately 150 Birchleggers, spouses and family members attended the 2025 Birchleggings Club (BLC) Awards Breakfast on the Sunday of Birkie-51 week at the Steakhouse/Lodge in Hayward, WI. The purpose of the breakfast was to honor the new 20, 30 and 40-year Birkie finishers and acknowledge their long-standing commitment to the Birkie and to build awareness of and membership in the BLC. The breakfast itself was delayed 30 minutes (kitchen breakdowns), so there was abundant time for attendees to meet each other and share their current “Birkie Stories.”

To kick off the program, Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) gave his reflections on this year’s race.

New this year was welcoming to our club 20-year Kortelopet finishers and the new “Combi” category (a combination of 20 or more Birkies plus Kortes).  Only one 20-year Korte finisher attended, and many Birkie skiers realized they were also “combi” skiers, including ABSF Executive Director Ben Popp. In the coming year, the BLC board will formulate how to recognize and engage these new “club eligible” skiers.

Another new effort this year is the “Birch Legacy” podcast by spirit of 35 skier John Peterson. John did not attend, but skiers were invited to participate in an easy and effective way to have their Birkie story told. So far, nine of our BLC stories have been recorded. Listen to the podcasts and add your legacy at: https://birchlegacies.buzzsprout.com/2450262

The program continued with each BLC board member introducing themselves and sharing their role with the BLC and for some, their non-snow-season BLC event on our 2025 activities calendar.

Following the board intro, Diane Berry gave a moving testimony on the impact that the Birkie had on her husband Terry Berry, a 41-year finisher, who passed away last year after battling many health challenges. The Birkie was a touchstone for Terry and his family and pointed to the powerful impact of “Birkie Fever.” Terry’s son, Ryan, completed his 14th Birkie the day before the breakfast to carry on the family tradition. The BLC will always welcome the Berry family back to the Birkie.

Steve Carmazon presented the Tony Wise Spirit Award to Jane Bidwell and Marcia Engebretson for their long-standing work supporting Birkie Volunteers by starting the Tusen Taak foundation. Jane gave an emotional response after receiving the award.  Steve Carmazon recommends to the BLC board deserving award winners every year with his vast knowledge of Birkie history and the inside stories behind the visible.

The breakfast gathering culminated with the presentation of the awards plaques to skiers. There were one 20-year Kortelopet “Skiløper,” approximately six 40-year Birkie finishers, about ten 30-year Birkie skiers and nearly twenty brand new Birchleggers. Hearing the voices of the award winners was a powerful way to complete the decade chapters for these courageous skiers of 20, 30, and 40 years.

We gathered after the awards for a group photo with board members and key volunteers. People then quickly dispersed back into their post-Birkie lives, and we will see many of them before Birkie 52, hopefully.

 

As our club approaches 375 active members, we are aware of the aging level of the current board of directors. We are actively seeking new board members and volunteers to help in the areas of Membership, Communication, Fundraising, Grants, Birkie Green, Birkie One, to work on sustainability projects, and engage area youth in American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation priorities.

If you are interested in helping our BLC club reach our goals for 2025 (you don’t even need to be Birchlegger) please contact me, Paul Thompson, at paul@coolplanetmn.org or 612-810-4664.

Birchleggings Club S’mores-N-More Birke Week Social - Wrap Up

 

The inaugural Birchleggings Club Birkie Week Social, called S'Mores and More, was held at the Birchleggings Club Mosquito Brook Warming Hut on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Over thirty people showed up during the course of the event from 01:00-05:00pm. Hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows, chocolate bars and s'mores took the chill off the air.

Birchleggings Club Founder, John Kotar showed up and regaled us with many great stories. A good time was had by all. Let’s do it again next year! Gus and Julie Virkus planned this new fun event for the club during Birkie Week.

 

 

Tony Wise Birkie Spirt Award 2025 presented to Jane Bidwell and Marcia Engebretson

 

At the Birchleggings Annual Awards Breakfast on February 23, 2025, Jane Bidwell and Macia Engebretson were presented with the Tony Wise Birkie Spirit Award for 2025 for all their work in supporting volunteers at the American Birkebeiner. The award was presented by Steve Carmazon, Birchleggings Club Board Member.

Jane and Marcia started the Bidwell Engebretson Tusen Takk Legacy Volunteer Fund several years ago. This is some information from the Birkie website:

In Norwegian, Tusen Takk means “a thousand thanks,” and if there was ever a group for whom we should all give thanks, it is our dedicated Birkie volunteers. Without their energy and commitment, there simply couldn’t be the year-round slate of Birkie events for all to enjoy. Last year, 3894 Birkie volunteers worked to make our events successful. Tusen Takk!

This is an opportunity for all Birkie participants to celebrate the ABSF’s volunteers by supporting the Bidwell Engebretson Tusen Takk Volunteer Fund. Managed by the Foundation for the Endowment of the American Birkebeiner, the income from this fund will endow the future of the ABSF’s volunteer program for years to come. From bibs, jackets, and volunteer participant gifts, to appreciation celebrations, recruitment & retention programs, as well as communication tools and training, the goal is to endow all volunteer related expenses in the future by means of the Bidwell Engebretson Tusen Takk Volunteer Fund.

Jane Bidwell and Marcia Engebretson, long-time Birkie participants and volunteers themselves, graciously donated funds to seed and create the Tusen Takk Volunteer Fund. Bidwell and Engebretson believe volunteers are the most important element in the Birkie’s success. We couldn’t agree more.

Donors who want to support a well-recognized and long-standing need are encouraged to donate to the Tusen Takk Volunteer Fund and support Birkie volunteers both now and in the future.

Donors making a gift of $1,000 or more will also become de facto members of the Birkie Legacy Circle of the Endowment. All Birkie Legacy Circle members wear race day bibs with the distinctive gold Birkie Legacy Circle shield logo.

Birch Legacies - Stories From Years On The Birkie Trail by Jon Peterson

 

Birch Legacies - Stories From Years On The Birkie Trail. Listen to new episodes from Jon Peterson who is sharing stories celebrating the motivation, the perseverance, and the lifestyle choices necessary to reach the status of Birchlegger - that is, skiers who have completed 20 or more American Birkebeiner ski races. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and other podcast sites. We will also be posting up new episodes on our Birchleggings Club Social Media. Jon's website is below.

  https://birchlegacies.buzzsprout.com/2450262

Birchleggings Club Birkie Week Social at Mosquito Brook Hut - February 18, 2025

 

Birchleggings Club Birkie Week Social at the Mosquito Brook Hut. Come join us on Tuesday afternoon, February 18, 2025, between 1 PM and 5 PM for a social gathering at the Birchlegger's warming hut. You can find us just off of Mosquito Brook Road and the Birkie Trail. See the GPS coordinates below.

S’mores-N-More will be our theme. We will have a nice fire going at our new fire pit as we roast treats, share stories and renew friendships. This is the day before the open track events, and it may also serve as an opportunity to test your wax. A nice flat stretch of trail is nearby. Treats and beverages will be provided. This activity is free and open to everyone. Please bring your friends and family. We would appreciate you signing up on this site at the link below so that we have a better idea of what supplies are needed. Hope to see you there. Ski on!

GPS: 46.049948, -91.404207

 https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/BirkieTrail/BirchleggingsClubBirkieWeekSocialatMosquitoBrookHut

Skiers that have finished 20 or more Birkie, Korte, or combination of both Races are now eligible for Birchleggings Club Membership!

 

Skiers that have finished 20 or more Birkie, Korte, or combination of both Races are now eligible for Birchleggings Club Membership!

Members of the Birchleggings Board gathered on November 21, 2024 to send out over 350 letters to newly eligible skiers, which includes all those who have completed any combination of Birkie and Korte races that equal 20 or more!

The group included from left to right, Paul Thompson, Bill Hamilton, Edward Eroe, Julie Virkus, Gus Virkus, and Steve Carmazon. Thanks to Julie and Gus for hosting!

The Birchleggings Club is now posting on Instagram!

 

The Birchleggings Club is now posting on Instagram and continues our posts on Facebook and LinkedIn. We are no longer posting on X as there were limited followers. See our Social Media page for links.

Follow the Birchleggings Club to keep up with news and information about the club, the American Birkebeiner Ski Race, and Nordic Skiing.

Please Note: Instagram does not allow live links so you will have to copy and past them to get to articles. Facebook and LinkedIn have live links.

Birchleggings Club 2024 Annual Meeting a Celebration and a Milestone

On September 27, 2024, the Birchleggings Club (BLC) held its 2024 Annual Meeting at the Johnson Family Outdoor Center at the OO Birkie Trailhead.

Along with the BLC board members, approximately 20 additional persons attended.

Special guests for the day included John and Nina Kotar. John is a co-founder of the BLC. Louise Droessler, American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) Development Director and the BLC’s liaison with the ABSF represented the Birkie Foundation.

A pre-meeting picnic lunch was prepared by Tom Rowley, Grillmeister, and other board members. Because of the very-unseasonably warm conditions in the sun, the pre-meeting festivities were moved from the patio to inside the Johnson Center. 

 

The BLC Strummers, consisting of Dave Balsiger, Tim Burke, Edward Eroe, and Jim Tenorio (JT) performed several songs, including Birkie Fever, two songs written by Tim Burke—Double O and Born in the Jackpine, and one song with lyrics by JT—Let Me Go Home Klister. Dave Balsiger ushered in the formal opening of the annual meeting by performing his Birkebeiner Morning song.

 

The meeting itself began with President Paul Thompson giving a warm welcome to all attendees and to Kortelopet 20+ Skiløpers and Birke+Korte 20-year-combination race finishers who are now eligible to join the Birchleggings Club (BLC).

A report was given on each of the 2024 BLC summer events that had taken place. The organizer of each event gave a summary of their event. Slides provided by Paul Thompson & Mindy Ahler illustrated each of the events.

 

Gus Virkus encouraged persons to attend our final summer event, the Fall Foliage Hike and Cornhole Tournament, to be held on October 10, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

Louise Droessler gave an overview of the Birkie One Initiative and the different events/programs that are ongoing and planned. Birkie One is the ABSF’s effort, along with the support of the BLC to encourage and help persons of traditionally underrepresented persons/groups to become involved in Birkie-sponsored events and in outdoor-active physical activities in general here in the Northwoods. Louise also gave an update on the progress and the grand opening of Telemark Village and the Telemark Basecamp Building.

One of the regular agenda items at the annual meeting is the election of our board of directors. Two members, Dave Balsiger and Kim Ruud, were stepping down from the board.

Formal nominations were made for the following persons to join or continue on the BLC Board of Directors. A slate of candidates was recommended by the board as follows:

-       To renew their three-year terms on the board were Paul Thompson, Connie Meek, and Jim Tenorio (JT)

-       To join the board as treasurer: Tom Rowley

-       To join the board: Nona Goertz

The candidates above were elected by the members present to the board of directors.

 

The highlight of the day was a celebration to recognize Dave Balsiger for his many years of service to the BLC. Dave has been instrumental in founding and running the club since its inception 32 years ago, although he himself places his years of service at 26. Dave’s wife Linda was also recognized for the help she provided during all those years. Dave’s “retirement” from the board sets a milestone for the club as Tom Rowley steps in to assume the responsibilities as club treasurer.

Dave reminisced for the audience some of his experiences skiing, forming the club, and serving as treasurer and membership manager over the years. John Kotar, the co-founder of the BLC with Dave, expressed his appreciation and shared some of his memories of their involvement. He stressed several times that one of the most important benefits of the BLC is to develop and nurture the many friendships developed among skiers and club members over the years.

Paul Thompson presented Dave with gifts of appreciation for his service—a restaurant gift card and a gift certificate to Farm & Fleet, one of Dave’s favorite stores.

The tribute to Dave concluded with JT and the audience singing, With a Lot of Help from Our Dave. Sung to the melody of the Beatles’ With a Little Help from My Friends, JT wrote the lyrics, which were displayed on the screen, so folks could join along in the singing. See lyrics below.

 

With a Lot of Help from Our Dave Sung to the tune of, With a Little Help from My Friends September 27, 2024 Lyrics by Jim Tenorio, with apologies to Paul McCartney & John Lennon
 

1) What will we do in the Birchleggings Club
Since our treasurer has “turned in his keys?”
For 32 years Dave has managed the books,
And kept the membership records for free.
 

Chorus 1:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
No, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
No, we thrived with a lot of help from our Dave.
 

2) Dave paid the bills, and he took in the cash
At our breakfast with Tom at his side.
He’d maintain the lists from the ABSF
So you knew at what rank you reside.
 

Chorus 2:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we would fly with a lot of help from our Dave.
 

Bridge 1:
(Do you need anybody?)
We need a new treasur-er.
(Could it be anybody?)
Tom has stepped in to serve.
 

3) Dave did big mailings and set up our booth,
Linda helped him with all the work!
He could tell you just when your membership will expire
And sold all of our hats and T-shirts.
 

Chorus 3:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we would fly with a lot of help from our Dave.
 

Bridge 2:
(Will we miss anybody?)
We’ll miss Dave after he goes.
(Will we miss anybody?)
We thank him more than he knows.
 

Final Chorus:
Oh, we got by with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we thrived with a little help from our Dave.
Mmm, we would fly with a lot of help from our Dave.
Yes we would fly… with a lot of help from our Dave…
With a lot of help from our Daa-aav

 

In spite of formal adjournment, socializing continued well after the meeting ended. The conversations and fellowship are a common theme of Birchleggings Club get-togethers, and they are one of the joys and benefits of membership.