January’s Icebreaker fundraising event is again cancelled

The Icebreaker will not occur this year. Despite repeated requests, we have not received any information about the availability of the American Family Center. That uncertainty alone at this date makes planning the event impractical. With the ongoing pandemic, we don’t expect any large venue to grant us the space we’d need at very low or no cost.

This cancellation means SWTU will again miss its key source of revenue and the opportunity for members and trout anglers from across the region to gather for a day of friendship, fun and learning.

The Board is discussing whether we can offer an outdoor event in April (or more probably May) with many of the Icebreaker’s best features: fun, prizes, camaraderie, instruction, tasty food and revenue for the chapter. Ben Lubchansky, our Icebreaker Chair, has graciously provided some preliminary plans for such an event.

However, we can only undertake this initiative if we have plenty of volunteers to assist Ben and the Board in planning and executing the event. It’s all new and from scratch – fresh ideas and perspectives will be greatly valued.

The time to start planning it is now, at least for purposes of setting a date and scouting outdoor locations while they aren’t covered in snow and ice. With enough helpers, it won’t be much work for any one volunteer, and this could be a great activity to stay active and make new friends over the winter.

If you are interested in being part of an ad hoc committee to plan this event, please contact Ben Lubchansky at  608csk@gmail.com. Meetings will be conducted via Zoom except when gathering outside to look at venues. And of course, please reach out if you have any ideas or connections that could help create the great gathering we all want … and need!