Words from the President:
Michael Messimore | Published on 5/5/2021
What does the Tulsa Ski Club mean to you? The answer is different no matter who you ask.
You have probably heard the phrase, “you get out what you put in”. This is true for me and the
Tulsa Ski Club. 22 years ago I met Anita Greiner who invited me to a Tulsa Ski Club meeting. I
had no idea Tulsa had a ski club. I had friends but I didn’t have any who liked to go skiing,
could get off work, or could budget their money and afford to go with me. I remember my first
trip to Breckenridge like it was yesterday starting with getting on the bus. Piper and I sat with
Lisa and Jon Hart who would also be our condo mates. A game of Spades started soon after
departure that lasted until bedtime making the trip pass in record time and Lisa Hart was
exposed as a Spades Ninja. Jon on the other hand was not. On that first trip Joann Huber got
on the bus with a box of social juice. I didn’t even know Wine came in a box. That was great
trip as Jon and I chased Joann all over the mountain as she schooled us on how we were
supposed to be skiing. This brings up the first couple of highlights about the Tulsa Ski Club.
You can always find someone at your level to ski with and even those who are better than you
are there to help you get better.
The next few years included more trips to cool places such as Whistler, Steamboat, and Wolf
Creek but it was a famous trip to Heavenly at Tahoe that things moved to a new level. The
Messimores attended our first Flatlands Ski Week where Tulsa won for the first time in many
years. New friends were made on that trip to include Shawn Martin, Josh Watts, Matt Moss,
Linda Stubbs, and Evan Elsbery. After the Tahoe trip Joann Huber called to convince me to be
on the Tulsa Ski Club Board which began a my transition from a member of the club to
someone who serves the club. Although serving on the board and running ski trips can be a
frustrating and often thankless job, the friends I have made not only in the Tulsa Ski Club but
also other clubs would not have happened if I had not said yes to Joann so many years ago. I
would list all the great people who have worked with me on the board over the years but I fear I
might leave someone out. I have been blessed to work with them all. So where do we go from
here? The Tulsa Ski Club is transitioning to a year round social club to include hiking, camping,
rafting, and monthly meetings people will look forward to joining. 2021 is going to be one of
the best years ever for the club. Don’t miss the fun. Next year you just be a year older.
Michael