Sierra Club
Redwood Chapter Newsletter
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Lodge Meets Fundraising Goal | |
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Clair Tappaan Lodge, the Sierra Club's much-beloved rustic lodge near Donner Summit, has achieved its goal of raising $100,000 and will be turning its attention to increasing occupancy levels. Last year the Club's Board of Directors issued the $100,000 challenge to the Lodge's Executive Committee, with a deadline of this Sep. 30. As of the end of September, the committee had raised over $120,000 from individuals, chapters, and fundraising events. The Board of Directors also challenged the Lodge to increase its occupancy to the breakeven point. Historically the Lodge has attracted 11,000 visitors per year, resulting in a loss of approximately $100,000. This year, occupancy is projected to reach 12,500 visitors. Breakeven is between 14,000 and 15,000. To attract the additional 3,000 visitors, the Executive Committee will continue to work with Miramar, the firm with day-to-day management responsibility for the Lodge, to explore new possibilities for filling beds during summer, autumn, and midweek winter. The committee is working to increase the number of activities at the Lodge, such as hikes, stargazing, wine-tasting, birdwatching, and botany, both on weekends and during the week. The Lodge has also upgraded its facilities to make it more attractive for meetings and retreats for Sierra Club entities, church groups, scouts, and school groups. |
The committee is also exploring the possibility of running an environmental-education program at the Lodge. Our ability to provide meals and classroom spaces makes the Lodge attractive, and it is an especially appropriate spot for studying several of the subjects in the California State Curriculum Standards, such as weather, history, and immigration. What you can do Come visit. If you've never been to Clair Tappaan, you don't know what you've been missing. Think about coming before the snow flies; autumn is a beautiful time at the Lodge. For winter weekends, make your reservations early; the Lodge tends to fill up. Consider visiting during the week in winter; you avoid the traffic, and you get a discount on your stay as well. For information about staying at the Lodge, see our web site at www.ctl.sierraclub.org or call (800) 679-6775. Volunteer to help keep the Lodge going. We are especially seeking activity leaders and enthusiasts who can make phone calls to groups that might like to stay at the Lodge. To volunteer, contact Kathy Wells at: wellsk2@aol.com or (415)479-7431. |