Welcome to a number of new GDHL participants who we've added to the distribution list for this newsletter. It's our main communication tool, but visit our website for much more information.

Hopefully everyone has already grasped the key information concerning our opening social event, the Calcutta - it's Saturday at 5 pm in the South Lodge. Here are a few more things to remember:

We have three pairs of skis and bindings and three Pratte training camps on auction. All of the other things shown below are included in the draw prizes.

Full details of these great items and much more can be found here.

A big highlight of the night will be the auctions of the teams. Presiding over all of the auctions will be our long-time supporters Rip and Mary Riopelle, who are pictured below, Mary in a temporary capacity as member of the team under auction.

Bidding consortia must explain themselves to Trent Winstone before the end of the evening, including filling out details on the form he will provide. Tom D, consider arriving a bit ahead of time to attend to this. Team members, remember you can buy a 5% interest in your team for 5% of the auction price for your team. It will be very helpful if you tell a member of Trent's finance team whether or not you want to do so before leaving the area. All transactions are through member accounts, so please have your number ready.

Finally, for $20 a ticket, you can buy a ticket for our draw. It gives you a chance to win the prizes shown above (not the skis and bindings) or bib 10 or 20 for one of the GDHL races. Since our schedule isn't final, we will simply draw for races 1 to 7. Winners may use their bibs themselves or give them to friends or teammates, but no one may use a preferred bib more than once during the season. The bibs won't actually be circulated, but the race crew will be aware that people wearing other bibs will start in slots 10 and 20.

See you at the Calcutta!

James Mathers