2016 - A YEAR IN REVIEW
DECEMBER
2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Greetings Members,
2016 is drawing to an end and we, the directors of the Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association, hope this
newsletter finds you all in good health and enjoying the company of family, friends and loved ones. We
want to thank all of our members for their hard work and dedication to the Eastern Slopes over the past year
through volunteering labor, equipment, donations and the purchase of your yearly family memberships. This
year we are 487 family memberships strong.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND BANQUET - FEBRUARY 20, 2016
At this year’s AGM we had 30 members present. 3
new directors were added being Tyler Hirsche, Mike
Lewis and Mitch Phillips. 4 directors stepped down,
Dale Marshall was at the end of his 4 year Presidential
term, Roger Bratrud, Tim Rienhart and Sean Connelly.
Thank-you to the new directors for stepping forward
and a big thanks to the 4 directors leaving for their
hard work over the years and we know that you will
not be far away when we need to call on you
for advise. The new executive was formed being Larry
Frischke - President, Tyler Holinski - Vice President,
Mandi Baier - Treasurer and Sue Comfort - Secretary.
The banquet went off without a hitch, seeing 250
people in attendance. Lots of great prizes were given
away and the silent auction raised over $9000. Tracy
Millar and her band kept the dance floor hopping til
well after midnight.
FAMILY ATV POKER RALLY - JULY 16, 2016
This year the Family ATV Poker Rally fell victim to
Mother Nature’s wrath. 4 inches of rain fell Friday
night and made the trails/ roads impassible. The
decision was made to cancel the rally in the best
interests of trail health.
The weather broke in time for us to do a steak dinner
for all the troopers who braved the conditions and
made it to the Hummingbird. 144 people were fed a
delicious steak dinner and we gave away some of the
major prizes.
$4400 was raised for the association of which 1/2
was donated to the Bighorn Heritage ATV Society for
continued trail maintenance at
the Hummingbird.
We would like to acknowledge the following sponsors of the 2016 Family ATV Rally:
Over $1000
Check Point Sponsors - over $250
Shell Canada - Caroline Gas Complex
KADTEK Automation - Calgary / Sundre
Parkland Sled and ATV - Polaris - Red Deer
Mud Creek Medics - Rocky Mountain House
Eldorado Pressure Services - Rocky Mountain House
Over $500
Medicine Valley Transport - Eckville
Frontline Compression - Rimbey
Mobil 1 Express Lube - Red Deer
Onsite Machining - Innisfail
UFA - Innisfail
Jackpot Casino - Red Deer
Turple Brothers - Red Deer
Cassell Vac Trucks - Rocky Mountain House
Hymark Energy Services - Rimbey
Rainy Creek Power Sports - Eckville
Glenn’s Sports Line - Rocky Mountain House
Pure Chem Services - Calgary
Skydive Big Sky - Innisfail/ Golden
Central Alberta CO-OP - Innisfail
Special Thanks
Door Prizes
Strachan Forest Products - Vance Graham For the cord of split wood
Bighorn Heritage ATV Society for trail maintenance and traffic control
Rocky CO-OP - donated bottled water
Nossack Meats - Red Deer For the good deal on the Strip loins for the BBQ
Shell Caroline Gas Complex - for the use of their BBQ
Baker Hughes - for the use of their BBQ
Comm Group -Red Deer - for the use of
4 Satellite phones for the event
Kal Tire -Rocky Mountain House
Caroline Supplies - Caroline
Safety Depot - Rocky Mountain House
Hitch ‘N Go - Rocky Mountain House
NAPA - Rocky Mountain House
NAPA - Innisfail
All Vac Sales - Innisfail
Canadian Tire - Rocky Mountain House
Innisfail Travel Services - Innisfail
All of the above sponsorships are greatly appreciated!!! We would not be able to maintain our campgrounds
without the support of these fine community businesses . THANK -YOU ALL!!!
ANNUAL HORSE TRAILRIDE AND POKER RALLY - AUGUST 6, 2016
This year we set a record for attendance with 161
registered riders!!!! It was a great gathering, we got
through the afternoon rain storm without a hiccup
and fed a bunch of hungry horse enthusiasts while
giving away some great prizes and fantastic buckles.
The day raked in over $10,000 for FOESA!! This was a
wonderful event and would not have been possible
without all the support of our members, volunteers
and sponsors.
FRIENDS OF THE EASTERN SLOPES ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE OUR SPONSORS:
MAJOR EVENT SPONSOR
Shell Canada
MEAL SPONSORS
Lacombe Light Horse Association
Sundre IGA
BUCKLE SPONSORS
Pappy’s Oilfield Services (Duane Papke, Suzanne
Comfort)
High Country Controls (Bill Dunn, Mandy Baier)
Dougan’s Farm and Feed Supplies, Sundre, AB
GMH Livestock Services (Glen Haggerty)
Fortis Alberta (Jason Manke)
The OCS Group Inc. (Marcel Huys, Dylan Cousineau,
Brent Nagy)
CHECK POINT SPONSORS
Central Alberta Co-op, Innisfail
Brisco Wood Preservers (Peter Mason)
Alberta Trail Riders Association
VARIOUS GIFT TABLE SPONSORS
HATS OFF TO OUR SPONSORS
THANKS A MILLION!!
CAMPGROUND CLEAN-UP‘S AND YEARLY MAINTENANCE
Work bee’s were held at the Hummingbird, Seven Mile Flats, Bighorn and Eagle Creek campgrounds this
spring. Gravel was moved, holes filled, trees trimmed, high lines cleaned and manure piles hauled. Thanks to
all who donated time and equipment!!
THE MANE EVENT - APRIL 2016
$2600 worth of memberships and donations were brought in. We had a high traffic location and talked to a lot
of people about who we are and what we do on the Eastern Slopes. We have booked again for next year so we
look forward to see you there!!
UPCOMING EVENTS
23RD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND BANQUET
Saturday February 25,2017
Tickets
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
INNISFAIL, ALBERTA
$25 = Adult Members
$35 = Adult Non Members
$10 = 12 & under
AGM AT 1 PM
COCKTAILS AT 5 PM
DINNER AT 6 PM
For tickets please contact one of
the following directors
SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLES AND DANCE TO FOLLOW
ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY
THE TRACY MILLAR BAND
Larry Frischke: 403 829 4395
Main Prizes
Linus Clark: 403 638 9608
Cabela’s Outfitter Tent - $1000
Jewelry Package - $500
Handmade Quilt by Babrabra Few - Priceless
Pack Stove - $550
Tyler Holinski: 403 848 2243
Murray Few: 780 434 2000
Keep in mind that this event fills up fast and ticket
numbers are limited. To ensure you get a spot we
suggest booking ahead.
FAMILY ATV POKER RALLY
We have decided to postpone the ATV Rally for 2017 due to trail condition and uncertain status of the trails in
the Hummingbird. We will look at a different location as an option for 2018. The prizes that were left over from
this years rally will be used in the silent auction at our banquet on Feb 25th.
HORSE POKER RALLY AND TRAIL RIDE
BIGHORN CAMPGROUND
AUGUST 12, 2017
Mark it on your calendar and bring all your friends!!!
2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM
Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association Membership Information
Cost of membership is $30 / family.
Donations above and beyond this are welcomed but not required.
The following membership form can be filled out and returned with a cheque or money order to the
address listed below. Please make cheques payable to Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association
Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association
Box 6093
Innisfail, AB T4G 1S7
A membership card will be returned to you by mail.
Year: ____________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
Postal Code: ______________________________________________________________
Telephone: _______________________________________________________________
E-mail: __________________________________________________________________
Membership Fee: $30.00
Donation: ________________________________________________________________
Email addresses are very much appreciated as the cost to print and mail newsletters is over
$5000 per year for the 200 or so that we do not have email addresses for.
2017 HORSE POKER RALLY
AND TRAIL RIDE PLEDGE FORM
ANNUAL TRAIL RIDE & POKER RALLY
AUGUST 12, 2017
BASE CAMP - BIGHORN CAMPGROUND
REGISTRATION - 9 AM TO 12 NOON
MINIMUM PLEDGE - $15.00 POKER HAND - $5.00
PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO: FRIENDS OF THE EASTERN SLOPES ASSOCIATION
BRING COMPLETED PLEDGE SHEETS AND PLEDGES TO THE BASE CAMP
RIDER NAME________________________________________________________ AGE________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ PHONE(____)______________
__________________________________________________________________ POSTAL CODE_____________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
SPONSOR__________________________________________________________ PHONE (____)_____________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ AMOUNT $________________
2016/2017 DIRECTORS LIST AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Name
Position
Larry Frischke
Tyler Holinski
Mandy Baier
Suzanne Comfort
Jeff Blish
Linus Clark
Bill Dunn
Leo Fagnan
Murray Few
Tyler Hirsche
Mike Lewis
Danny MacGonigill
Gerald Olson
Mitch Phillips
Hans VanVlaanderen
Dale Marshall
Location
President
Sundre
Vice President
Innisfail
Treasurer
Rocky Mountain House
Secretary
Sundre
Director
Rocky Mountain House
Director
Sundre
Director
Winfield
Director
James River Bridge
Director
Edmonton
Director
Penhold
Director
Red Deer County
Director
Bowden
Director
Innisfail
Director
Red Deer County
Director
Sundre
Past President
Red Deer
Phone #(cell) Phone # (Home)
403-829-4395 403-638-9346
403-848-2243
780-920-3104
403-556-5066 403-556-9989
403-357-9996
403-638-9608
780-621-9652
403-722-2383
780-289-0039 780-434-2000
403-391-0851 403-886-5227
780-219-1585 403-728-3991
403-505-2890
403-877-3567 403-227-3606
403-505-0673
403-638-6504
403-638-2077
403-304-0456
Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Another year is fast drawing to a close and looking back it has been another successful year
for FOESA! Although the weather this summer was not ideal, with more rain than most would
have liked, the campgrounds still stayed very busy!
Our annual spring cleanups went well and what was needed did get accomplished but we encourage more
members to come out annually and help get our campgrounds ready for the upcoming summer’s traffic.
Our first major summer event on July 16, the Family ATV Poker Rally at the Hummingbird, fell victim to the
summer rains and was canceled at the last minute! Thanks to our directors, Tyler Holinski, Jeff Blish and Danny
MacGonigill, who masterminded and have operated this event for the last three years, the event was salvaged
well and those hardy individuals that ventured out there and stayed around were well fed and had a good
time! Thanks to all the others who pitched in to help Tyler, Danny and Jeff pull off this event! Our Annual Trail
Ride and Poker Rally on August 6 went off well, and in spite of a mid-afternoon downpour, we set a record for
the number of registrants! A good time and a great meal was enjoyed by all! Thanks to Hans VanVlaanderen,
who helped me put the event together, to Suzanne Comfort, who took on organizing the meal and to the
many others that helped with registrations, presentations and the meal. A big thank you to all the sponsors of
these two events - without you these events could not take place!
Overall, it was a busy year for FOESA but we had anticipated an much busier one as our two big projects, that
being work on the James Lake Trail and the expansion of the Bighorn Campground, were deferred until next
year due to circumstances beyond our control. So, keep these projects in mind as we will be needing the help
of our members on these two big projects next summer!
In closing, I would like to thank our executive and directors for their hard work and support throughout the
past year. I would also like to again thank the many members that have volunteered time and/or equipment in
the past season and all the sponsors for our various events!
As Christmas Day is fast approaching, the Executive and Directors of the Friends of the Eastern Slopes
Association would like to pass Season Greetings on to all our members! May it bring you good health,
happiness and prosperity now and throughout the New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You, your Families and your Critters!!
Larry Frischke
FOESA President