Bohr Bequest, 2021 Fundraising Kick-Off

Dick and Georgette Bohr Bequest

Dick Bohr (above, left), founder of the Ski Haus in Cleveland, CFO of the original Vail Associates and a FIS Nordic official, died in 2018 at age 97. With his wife, Georgette (above, right), Dick was a long-time member and promoter of ISHA. Georgette died in 2019. The couple left a generous unrestricted bequest to ISHA via the Richard and Georgette Bohr Trust. The Bohr fund and the revenue it produces will support ISHA’s mission: publishing Skiing History magazine and skiinghistory.org, the annual ISHA Awards, and future archiving, research and outreach initiatives.

On a personal note, Dick hired me at the Ski Haus in 1970. It was my first job in skiing. I learned to fit boots, adjust bindings, repair skis, write advertising copy and sell, sell, sell. Dick was a generous mentor, and I treasure his memory. –Seth Masia

Fundraiser kickoff

On behalf of the staff and board, I want to thank ISHA’s members for your generous support through this difficult past year. At this time a year ago, we had no idea how the Covid-19 pandemic would affect our lives, let alone the 2020-21 ski season. We did know that many of our sponsors and donors had not yet recovered from the shutdowns of March 2020. When we asked for support to continue publishing the magazine, you responded wholeheartedly. Individual donations from readers like you kept ISHA solvent. We were able to operate on our normal schedule, aside from live events.

We were forced to cancel the springtime Skiing History Weeks in 2020 and 2021. In both years, we presented the annual ISHA Awards with online ceremonies. Skiing History Week will resume in Sun Valley, with the Awards Banquet to be held March 24, 2022.

As we embark on the 2021 year-end fundraising campaign, please remember that ISHA runs on the passion and commitment of its members, but also on this community’s willingness to offer financial support. In 2020, membership dues covered just 23 percent of ISHA’s costs of publishing the magazine, maintaining the website and conducting the Awards Program. Corporate sponsors contributed 16 percent of operating funds. By far the largest contribution—59 percent—was made by Skiing History readers. Without those generous individual donations, we could not publish six issues of the magazine each year, nor maintain the vast website—which now includes an archive of the magazine’s past issues—nor produce in-person Skiing History events.

During the coming year, ISHA plans more improvements to the website, including online multimedia projects and new outreach programs to diverse audiences around the world. And, of course, we’ll continue to publish our colorful, authoritative and entertaining magazine, Skiing History. With your support, we are looking forward to a grand winter, with many more to come.

Your tax-deductible donation to the International Skiing History Association makes all the difference. Please help us to keep the work going! To give, please use the envelope bound into this magazine or visit
skiinghistory.org/donate. 

Take Your Tax Deduction!

U.S. taxpayers should be aware of a federal law providing tax benefits when you support the causes you care about, including ISHA. Under the CARES Act, all taxpayers are eligible to deduct up to $300 of charitable giving ($600 for a married couple filing jointly), whether you itemize deductions or take the standard deduction. This is $300 you won’t have to pay taxes on, even if you don’t itemize. For those who do itemize deductions, the new law allows for cash contributions to qualified charities such as ISHA to be deducted up to 100 percent of your adjusted gross income for the 2021 calendar year.

For our Canadian members, friends and donors, taxation advantages may be available, and we urge you to consult with your personal tax advisor in that regard. You may also wish to refer to the following Canadian government website: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/giving-charity-information-donors.html.