Birchleggings Club Annual Awards Breakfast 2023

The Annual Awards Breakfast is Back for 2023!

We cordially invite you to join us at the Birchleggers Club Breakfast on Sunday, Feburary 26, 2023. The event will be held from 09:00 -11:00 AM at the Steakhouse and Lodge, off of Highway 27 in Hayward. 

New 20, 30, and 40 year Birkie skiers will be recognized and presented with their Birchleggers awards. New 20 year Birchleggers will receive a free breakfast, compliments of the Birchleggings Club!

Note: If you cannot make the breakfast, awards can be picked up at the Birkie Store in the Celebration Zone after the Birkie Race on February 25, 2023.

Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, will be providing an update on the Birkie. This year's recipients of the Tony Wise Spirit of the Birkie Award will be honored, and we will be having a Live Auction for an autographed Jessie Diggins World Cup Bib!

Guests are welcome! No reservations are required. Breakfast tickets are sold at the door and the cost is $16. Come hang out with fellow skiers. Skiers are encouraged to wear their Birchleggers bib! You can also donate your bib to our Birkie Bib Bags Fundraising Project.

The address, telephone number, GPS Coordinates, and website of The Steakhouse & Lodge are:

Steakhouse and Lodge

15860 T Bone Lane

Hayward, WI 54843

715-934-4411

GPS:46.002568, -91.486723

Website: https://www.steakhouseandlodge.com

 

What we do: The Birchleggings Club Inc. supports the American Birkebeiner in various ways. We recognize and present awards to the 20, 30 and 40 year skiers at our annual Birchlegger Sunday breakfast. The Tony Wise Award, which is given in recognition of significant contribution to the growth and success of the Birkebeiner, is presented annually by the Birchleggings Club. In our most major effort, the club funded the Birchleggings warming hut at Mosquito Brook on the Birkie trail. The Birchleggings Club played a significant role in the funding of the Tony Wise Museum of the American Birkebeiner.

More recently, the club contributed to the funding of the Becker Law Link and installed the Birchleggings Bell on the Birkebeiner trail. The Birchleggings Club has contributed to the Capital Campaign for Mt. Telemark Conservancy and Telemark Village by purchasing one acre of conservancy land. In preparation for the 50^th Anniversary of the Birkie in 2024, the BLC is raising funds to purchase a Taiga “Nomad” Electric Snowmobile to donate to ABSF for trail use and filming the lead groups during the women’s and men’s Birkie without filling the trail with fuel emissions

What else we do:  To promote participation by youth in skiing and healthy lifestyle activities, the Birchleggings Club helps to provide Korteloppet entry-fee scholarships for high school skier athletes through the Wisconsin Nordic Network. The club also contributes to the “Nordic Rocks for Schools” program of the Central Cross-Country Ski Association (CXC). This program assists schools in obtaining Nordic ski equipment for their physical education classes.

Birchleggings Hut: The Birchleggings Club is the sponsor of the Mosquito Brook hut.  Stop by the Mosquito Brook Hut to be warmed by the fire and view the vintage ski pictures, Birkie posters, and old skis.  

The Birchleggings Club ® Membership: Birchleggers Member Dues -  Now is the time to pay your annual Birchleggers dues. Dues are $35. Dues-paying members are eligible for gear discounts at several ski retailers, and are also eligible to run as or vote for the Birchleggers Board of Directors.  For convenience (and some savings), dues can be paid for multiple years:   See more info at our Membership Page on the Bichleggings Website.

Good luck in this year's 2023 Birkie!

The Birchleggings Club  

Jessie Diggins Autographed Bibs To Be Auctioned During Birkie Week

Birkie Green

The Birchleggings Club (BLC) is embarking on a major effort to support the Birkie Green initiative to reduce waste and carbon emissions for American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) operations.

 

In preparation for the 50^th Anniversary of the Birkie in 2024, the BLC is raising funds to purchase a Taiga “Nomad” Electric Snowmobile to donate to ABSF for trail use and filming the lead groups during the women’s and men’s Birkie without filling the trail with fuel emissions. See photo below.

 

Testimonial from Jessie Diggins, Olympic X-C Skiing Top Medalist for the USA

“As an athlete, following a gas-powered vehicle filming the lead pack is harmful to both my lungs and to the planet. I highly encourage EV snow machines to be used at race venues whenever possible to reduce the breathing issues for the athletes and to cut down emissions.”

 
Jessie Diggins, X-C Ski Legend

 

Jessie Diggins is the USA’s most-decorated world-class cross-country skier of all time. She is the first US Nordic racer ever to win an Olympic gold medal, obtained in the team sprint with Kikkan Randall, at PyeongChang in 2018. She won individual silver and bronze medals at Beijing in 2022. Her FIS Nordic World Ski Championship record includes four medals from 2013 to 2017. Jessie was the first American to take the top spot in the women’s overall standings of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup for the 2020-21 season. She took top honors in the 2008 and 2009 Kortelopet skate races. The Kortelopet wins and coming from her home in Afton, Minnesota make her accomplishments even more heartwarming for Birkie enthusiasts.

 

One (or more) of Jessie’s Race Bibs Could Be Yours

Jessie Diggins has autographed and donated a few of her World Cup bibs and a Birkie Bib to the BLC to help raise funds for the electric snowmobile. These one-of-a-kind, and frankly, historic, bibs will be auctioned for sale during Birkie Week #49. Proceeds will be used toward purchase of the Taiga Nomad Electric Snowmobile by the BLC to be given to ABSF.

 

 

 

 

Auction Schedule

Live auction:

Birkie Bash

Thursday, February 23, 2023, 5:30 pm

Steakhouse & Lodge, Hayward, WI

Silent Auction:

Birchleggings Club Booth at the Birkie Expo - Hayward High School

Birkie Green Booth at the Birkie Expo

Thursday, February 23 & Friday, February 24, 2023

 

Birchleggings Club Annual Breakfast

Sunday, February 26, 2023, 9:00 am

Steakhouse & Lodge, Hayward, WI

 

 

If you prefer just making a monetary donation in support of the Taiga Nomad Electric Snowmobile project, please go to the Birchleggings Club, Inc. Donation Page.

Birchleggings Club - Birkie Bib Bag Project

Birkie Green

The Birchleggings Club (BLC) is embarking on a major effort to support the Birkie Green initiative to reduce waste and carbon emissions for American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) operations.

 

In preparation for the 50^th Anniversary of the Birkie in 2024, the BLC is raising funds to purchase a Taiga “Nomad” Electric Snowmobile to donate to ABSF for trail use and filming the lead groups during the women’s and men’s Birkie without filling the trail with fuel emissions.

 

Testimonial from Jessie Diggins, Olympic X-C Skiing Top Medalist for the USA

 "As an athlete, following a gas-powered vehicle filming the lead pack is harmful to both my lungs and to the planet. I highly encourage EV snow machines to be used at race venues whenever possible to reduce the breathing issues for the athletes and to cut down emissions."

 

Birkie Bib Bag Project

A simple way that nearly anyone can support Birkie Green and the electric snowmobile purchase is through the Birkie Bib Bag (BBB) project. Used Birkie race bibs from 2013 or later are being collected and converted into re-usable shopping bags.

These bags are strong, lightweight, and much more compact than traditional re-useable bags. Proceeds from the sales of these BBB’s will support Birkie Green initiatives, promote the Birkebeiner all year long while you are shopping, and… used bibs will be kept out of the landfill!

 

How to Participate

Purchase a Birkie Bib Bag:

Bib Bags will be available for purchase at the Birchleggings Club booth and the Birkie Green booth during the Birkie Expo on Thursday and Friday of race week.

 

Bags will also be available at the BLC Annual Awards Breakfast on Sunday morning after the Birkie.

 

You can also purchase bibs right now for $20, (shipping included) by contacting:

 

Jim Tenorio at tenorioj@uwstout.edu or Paul Thompson at paul@coolplanetmn.org

 

Donate your used bib(s) for us to re-sell:

Bibs (from Birkie/Korte races 2013 or later) can be dropped off at the Birkie office in Hayward, WI, or can be sent to:

 

Paul Thompson, President

Birchleggings Club

4244 Crocker Ave.

Edina, MN 55416

 

If you prefer just making a monetary donation in support of the Taiga Nomad Electric Snowmobile project, please go to the Birchleggings Club, Inc. Donation Page.

Have your own bib(s) made into a bag(s) for you to keep: If you would like your used bib(s) to be made into a BBB and returned to you, send your bib(s) to Paul Thompson at the address above along with a check, payable to Birchleggings Club, for $20 for each bib and your return address. No charge for return postage to you!

Birchleggings Club Annual Meeting and Fall Board Meeting Wrap-Up

The Birchleggings Club Annual Meeting and Fall Board Meeting was held on September 23, 2022, from 03:00-06:00pm at the Mosquito Brook Hut on the American Birkebeiner Trail. See link to YouTube Video below. 

 

In attendance were six of the nine board members, Andrew Wall the Development Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) and ABSF Board member Sue Scheer our grill master for our picnic, and seven new Birchleggers and spouses. 

 

Reports were made from our three working groups: Membership, Fundraising and Birkie Green, along with our Treasures report and plans for our activities at the Birkie Trail Run the next day and the upcoming American Birkebeiner 49^th Ski Race in February 2023.

 

Highlights from the meeting include Birchleggings Club Vice President, Bob Britz explaining the benefits of the “Birkie Bucks” Discount card that will be distributed to paid members and others at the price of $20, a real steal for a card worth upwards of $500.

 

Steve Carmazon, our Membership Chair and a 46-year Birkie finisher, encouraged all Birchleggers to consider being an active member and visit our website using the handy QR code shown here. 

 

Birkie Green continues to be a core principle of the ABSF and the Birchleggings Club is supporting the efforts to drive sustainability in four areas:

 

1.   Waste Reduction and the introduction of composting.

2.   Electrifying tools and machinery.

3.   Offsetting the Birkie’s carbon production using local offsets when possible.

4.   Committing to sustainably sourced swag whenever possible.

 

The Birchleggings Club supports these efforts with a unique project called Birkie Bib Bags (BBB). The collection of used and unused Birkie Bibs to be sewn into re-usable shopping bags. These bags will spread the Birkie Brand while serving a practical purpose. Bags will be sold for $10 with proceeds going to the Birkie Green Fund to help purchase an electric snowmobile for the American Birkebeiner filming of the lead male and female skiers. 

Also discussed were the upcoming events including the Birkie Trail Run, our annual participation in the Birkie Expo, and the Birchleggings Club post Birkie Breakfast the Sunday after Birkie Number 49.

After the meeting, we enjoyed a zero-waste picnic and some time to socialize with ourselves and the new members who joined our gathering with an interest in getting involved. Andrew Wall spoke to the group about the upcoming Telemark Village, the new roller ski trails, a possible World Cup race in 2024 for the 50^th Anniversary of the American Birkebeiner Ski Race. See YouTube Video below. 

 

The Birchleggings Club has big plans for the future, and we need new members and younger members to keep this rich “more than a purple bib” tradition alive and well.

 

 

Video of Annual Meeting:  https://youtu.be/8aEHJairUl0

 

Video of Andrew Wall Talk:  https://youtu.be/ID06JzoHQco

Birchleggings Club Summer 2022 Newsletter & Annual Meeting Update

Summer 2022 Newsletter 

 The Birchleggings Club Summer 2022 Newsletter is now available on our Birchleggers News Page on this website and at this link: Summer 2022 Newsletter.

 

Annual Meeting Update & Registration

 

The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Birchleggings Club will be held at the Mosquito Brook Hut on Friday, September 23, 2022, from 3:00-6:00pm. The agenda is as follows:

 

3:00-4:30pm Board Meeting - Meet the Board Members and welcome new board members. Bring your ideas and passion for what the BLC can accomplish. 

 4:30- 5:00pm Program - guest speaker Andrew Wall, Development Director for the ABSF “The Progress of Telemark Village and How the BLC Can Influence the Future of the Birkie” 

 

5:00-6:00pm Picnic - Brats, burgers, veggie burgers, salads, and beverages. We’ll also provide the music - Ed, JT and Dave, the jamming BLer musicians. Bring your own instrument and join in. 

 

End the picnic with a flying disc playshop with former Legends (70+) Frisbee World Champion, Paul, for some non-competitive flying fun at our favorite trail rest stop. RSVP for the Annual Meeting at this link: RSVP Birchleggings Club Annual Meeting. 

 

The annual meeting coincides with the Birkie Trail Run to encourage Birchleggers to spend the weekend running, hiking, or volunteering at the second largest ABSF event of the year. Please RSVP, so we know how many people to expect!

The Birchleggings Club Inc Annual Meeting and Election of Officers - September 23, 2022

The Birchleggings Club Inc annual meeting with election of Board of Directors is scheduled for Friday, Sep 23, 2022. Time: 3:00pm, Location: Mosquito Brook Hut.  All members are invited to attend.

 

Timetable for Annual Board of Directors Election

    Aug 19, 2022 Non-incumbent nominations for Board of Directors due (to Dave Balsiger)

    Aug 26, 2022 Ballots will be mailed / emailed to all members

    Sep 13, 2022 Deadline for returning ballots by mail / email

    Sep 23, 2022 Birchleggings Club Inc annual meeting

 

The Birchleggings Club has been incorporated as a 501(3)(c) since 2013.  The club holds an annual election of Board of Directors.  As per our Bylaws, Board members are elected to three-year terms, with one-third of the nine Board positions up for election each year. The Board terms of current Directors Steve Carmazon, Bob Britz, and Dave Balsiger will end this year. All three incumbent Board members are running for re-election. However, nominations of other Birchlegger members to run for our Board are welcome. We encourage nominations of other Birchlegger members. Or if you know a Birchlegger member whom you think would be an asset to our organization, encourage them to be nominated. 

 

Nomination process for non-incumbent members to be elected to the Board of Directors

 

Non-incumbent nominations for the Board of Directors can be e-mailed or mailed, but must be received by the Nominating Committee by Aug 19, 2020.  The nomination must include the names of the nominee and the nominator, both must be a member, and five (5) other club members. The 5 supporting members should e-mail a note of their support to Dave Balsiger. The current list of Birchleggings Club members is posted on our website – birchleggings.com.  

 

Send or call any questions to Dave Balsiger.  dbalsiger@aol.com

 

E-Mail the nominations to: Dave Balsiger   dbalsiger@aol.com

Or Mail to: Dave Balsiger   5703 Lincoln Rd, Oregon WI 53575   608-835-8410

 

Ballots will be mailed / emailed to all members on Aug 26. Ballots must be returned by Sep 13. 

 

============================

 

Note from Birchleggings Club President Paul Thompson:

 

We hope all of you are having a great summer and preparing for Birkie 49. Our club is doing a lot of projects, fund-raising and planning for the upcoming Annual Meeting on Sept. 23, 3-6 pm at our Mosquito Brook Hut, and we’d like to see you there. Whether you are wanting to be a BL Board member, pay your dues or just come because you’re going to the Trail Run the following day (Sept 24), we need more engaged members. Participation is what makes the Birkie great, and our club is the heart and soul of the Birkie. You will be receiving our Summer Newsletter in August with many more details, but for now consider these 2 actions:

 

1. Attend our annual meeting 9/23 (business, program and picnic) and volunteer for the Trail Run the next day.

2. Consider volunteering at Birkie Week 2023. For example, you might ski the Open Track event on Wednesday and then help out at the Expo and other events on your non-race day, or vice versa. Or volunteer at Wednesday’s Open Track and take a turn on your non-race day ringing our Birchlegger Bell at the trail split.

 

Thanks for considering being an ACTIVE Birchlegger and congratulations on reaching that lofty status.

 

Paul

All Birchlegger Lists Have Been Updated!

 

All the Birchlegger Lists have been updated, including Member List, 20-30-40 Award Skiers, Alpha Roster, Rank Roster, and Demographics!

Go to the Birchlegger Lists Menu Option for all the lists.

American Birkebeiner 2022 - Another Great Year!

 

Birchleggings Booth - Friday, February 25, 2022

Another American Birkebeiner is in the books! What a great year with sunny days and excellent conditions for the new Open Track option on Wednesday, the Kortelopet on Friday, and the Birkie on Saturday. Our Birchleggings Booth was well attended, and we were able to raise lots of money and have Birchleggers sign up for committees. Thanks to all that worked shifts at the booth!

Steve Carmazon & Edward Eroe at the Birchleggings Booth

Cheryl Hiltibran's quilt with the bibs from her 41 Birkie Races was the big hit and attracted a number of visitors.

Paul Thompson, Birchleggings President

Paul Thompson & Edward Eroe

Paul Thompson, Mindy Ahler, and Edward Eroe went to the start on Saturday to ring the Birchleggings Club Bell, which is located where the Classic and Skate Trails split. It was very well received and a wonderful experience for skiers. We were only able to stay through Wave 2 Skate and Classic, so next year we will need to look at some shifts to cover all the waves, although getting to the bell is a bit challenging. Paul gave a nice speech about the bell, and you can watch it on the YouTube Video below. A special thanks to Dick Enz and Jim Tenorio from concept to reality on the Birchleggings Bell!

Dick Enz & Jim Tenorio

 For additional photographs from Birkie 2022, go to the Photographs Menu on this website.

We hope to be back to normal next year and have our Awards Breakfast where we can all connect again!

December 2022 Update Letter from the President!

Download the Letter in PDF Format with Active Links: December 2022 Update Letter from the President!

Birchleggings Club Supports Birkie Green!

 

The Birchleggings Club is committed to the Birkie Green initiative. The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation community, the care for the Birkie trail and the health of winter itself are all essential elements of that commitment. See our Birkie Green Page on the menu or at this link:

https://www.birchleggings.com/p/birkie-green.html