San Diego Ski Council celebrated its 40th Anniversary at the annual Winter Gala on November 8, 2003 at the Hilton on Harbor Island. The evening started early with a reception for the club's Men & Women of the Year. The doors opened at 6 PM when the real party started. A member of the band, The Cat•illacs, was in place to play some cocktail music while we all partied, caught up on the latest gossip and found just the right table to sit at.

The cocktail hour was followed by a delicious dinner of either salmon or chicken. Judy Schulthesis, Council President, took advantage of the quiet as we were served our salad to introduce the Men and Women of the Year along with the judges. Nick & Candy Cowell, North Island, were up next to publicly thank Bob March, North Island, for joining the famous 40 on Eucalyptus Hill to save homes from the recent fires. The meal was topped off with a killer chocolate cheese cake. The hotel did a fabulous job with the meals and service.

Gene Fulkerson, Pacific Rim, moderated the evening and got things moving right along. Bobbie Owen, Don Diego, and Ken Zuorro, North Island, were called upon to bring the Men and Women up to the stage and put them in the spot light. Each candidate was asked the question as to how their club would increase membership in their club. The contestants were as follows:

Darlene Stein, North Island	Rick Bonnet, North Island
Cathleen Tinner, Action	Robb Kirschenmann, Action
Helen Harris, Don Diego	Gene Fulkerson, Pacific Rim
Rusty Etzel, Torrey Pines

Next up was Michael German, North Island, and Helen Harris, Don Diego, to present a new award, the Joe Harris Award. Joe founded San Diego Ski Council in 1963 and started the Winter Gala (then called the Sno-Ball), the Race League and the Swap way back then. You can read all about it in the evening's program. The first annual Joe Harris award was presented to Jim Ortiz, Don Diego.

The Joe Harris Award is given for distinguished Accomplishment and Long-Term Contribution to Skiing within the San Diego Council. This award is given to an individual who has contributed significantly to organized skiing through club, council, racing, the Far West Ski Association and national activities. The individual should be actively involved at the council level but not necessarily a current member of the board. This award reflects a long-term contribution to the sport of skiing over a five year period or more.

The awards were over by 8:30 PM (ahead of schedule) and it was time for dancing. We found the band in the bar helping us make a good impression on the Hilton by adding to the Council's bar tab. These guys, the Cat•illacs, were absolutely the best! They filled the dance floor with their very first number and didn't quit until the midnight witching hour. And we still had a full dance floor. They played all the great vintage rock 'n roll numbers we remember so very well.

The 2003-04 San Diego Ski Council's Man and Woman were announced at the first break. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, all candidates received a lift ticket for Mammoth and a special bottle of wine. The winners received two lift tickets for Mammoth and a $100 gift certificate at Ranch Craft. It was a close competition. The winners, representing San Diego at the FWSA convention June 10-13, 2004 in Sparks, NV, are

Robb Kirschenmann, Action

Helen Harris, Don Diego

Congratulations everyone for another successful party!