by Armand Gutierrez, President

July is coming in on a hot note, but nothing really drastic compared to last year. However, it seems like our drought season this year is expected to impact us for the summer. Last year’s celebration of our country’s founding was a return to the old days (pre-pandemic) and I suspect this year celebrations will be even greater. So do your part over the 4^th of July weekend by raising Old Glory high above and into the field of blue.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic are scheduled for Saturday, 23 July so mark your calendars. An Evite will be sent out later this month so you can designate if you’re attending and what scrumptious dish you’ll be bringing to share. We will also be saying goodbye (temporarily?) for Karen Soo, as she will be moving to New York in August. Look for the flyer and Evite.

Board Movement

How’s that for a catchy title? What does it mean? Well, Karen Soo, a long-time NSC member and Trip Director, is moving to New York to take care of her mom. Is this a permanent move? Possibly not, because she mentioned that she is leaving some of her cherished belongings here in storage. Her move isn’t scheduled until August and she will be at the NSC Luau Picnic on Saturday, 23 July. She’ll remain on the board and conduct business as usual since we’ve been having our board meetings via Zoom. So, make sure you attend the Luau Picnic and give Karen a glorious sendoff to New York.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO

Plans are moving along with the Breckenridge ski week trip for 2023 and the date is from 28 January – 4 February 2023. People have signed up and there are plenty of spaces available, so act now and get your favorite roommates together. See the attached Breckenridge Flyer for details on the trip and signup forms.

Breckenridge is an Epic Pass destination so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. Once again, Sports America will be offering the Epic/Ikon Pass promotion-trip rebate for anyone that goes on the trip and purchases a pass through Sports America.

For 2022-23 Breckenridge will be on the Epic Pass, and is also good for Northstar, Heavenly Valley and Kirkwood. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Breckenridge trip:

• Purchase an Ikon Pass (Palisades/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Pass.
  • Go to this link to purchase: : www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei.
  • The Ikon Pass or Ikon Base Pass cannot be used at Breckenridge.

• Purchase an Epic Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $40 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, unlimited at Vail Resorts
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Tahoe Local, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Unrestricted Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $20 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Holiday Excluded Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge. This pass is recommended if you only want to ski 5 days at Breckenridge
  • Our trip will not be during any of the Holiday Exclusion dates.
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.

• Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination trip discount based on the type of passes you purchase.

If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

QotM:  Loneliness is something to be shared with someone – “Coach” Ernie Pantusso

–A Reflection on Leaving the Bay Area

By Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Many of you may or may not know that I will be moving to New York for family obligations. My mother is 90 years old. She’s very alert, but I can see her slowing down like most parents moving towards those golden years. Her only surviving older brother is 101 years old.

The goal is to give her the best quality of life with comfort care. I will be
taking care of her. Preparing meals in a kitchen with limited cookware and the utensils that she owns. The challenge here is to prepare something yummy and healthy. I’ve been told that I’m a good daughter to take care of my mother. “She’s lucky to have you there”. My reply is that I’m lucky to have my mother with me.

With an aide present during the day time, I will look for full time employment in New York City, Fashion Capital of the world. My friends are all happy to have me back in the hood. My Spidey senses will be turned on as I ride the subways to and from the city. You hear so many stories about people being pushed into the tracks or random attacks on Asians. All I have to say is you don’t want to mess with me. I will turn into Psycho Rambo mode.

I developed a lot of long-lasting friendships during the years. I will miss many of you who had crossed my path. The adventures we shared, the phone conversations, dinners and most importantly, the laughs we had. My Nisei Ski Club members will always be my 2^nd family.

Being NSC Trip Director was a fulfilling role. Arranging roommate assignments for those weeklong trips. Planning the weekend trip and meals with Amy Tsuhako was always a challenge. What hot meal can we serve on the bus ride up to Tahoe?  The challenges we faced–driving on I-80 during the snowstorm and getting into Reno at 3:00am in the morning, and then getting up at 6:00am to make the coffee and boil the water. Remember those trips? The long-weekends to Kirkwood, Mammoth and back to Northstar. At the end we all returned home safely and had so much fun.

I loved the Bay Area adventures like backpacking in Kalalau, Kauai, mini-vacations along the Western coastline, NSC weeklong trips to Jackson Hole, Aspen and Steamboat, running the Nike half marathons, Fishing for largemouth bass in the Delta, and picking up golf and trying to break a 100.

Although it’s not the end of a chapter as NSC Trip Director but a new journey as the NSC Newsletter Editor. Following the footsteps of Judy Hom and Judy Bracken–I bow to you!

This is a learning process for me so bear with me I learn how to create the NSC website.

Please give me a call if you’re ever visiting New York. I would love to meet up with you and give you insights on where to go and do.

I will leave my heart in San Francisco but I continue to be a San Francisco Giants fan and hoping the Golden Gate Warriors wins another NBA Championship next year.

See you on July 23, NSC Picnic – Come out and say Hi…… XOXO KAREN 

By Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

They say good meals leads to the great outdoors. I totally agreed there’s nothing like cooking in the open fire under the clear blue skies and the starry nights. Check out these articles telling how a Chinese cook helped established Yosemite National Park Service.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/how-chinese-cook-helped-establish-yosemite-national-park-service-n890221

I hiked to the top of Half Dome about three times and I never knew this building existed. The Yosemite Chinese Laundry building is finally getting its recognition.

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/welcome-yosemite-s-chinese-laundry-building?utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter