On Sunday, May 17, 2009 Onyx elected Willie Felton, Jr. to serve as the club’s 5th President. Please join me in welcoming Willie to this vital position and I encourage you to support him unconditionally as you supported me over the last 4 years. Also please welcome Deloris Hammond, Vice President, Barbara James, Secretary and Ray Campbell, Treasurer.

It has been an exciting 4 years as we have accomplished several milestones since I took office in September 2005.

We celebrated the club’s 10th Anniversary in June 2007 in grand fashion, the inaugural Ski Season Kickoff Party & Fashion Show was first held in December 2005, the club was accepted as the 17th member club of the Florida Ski Council in May 2008, we hosted our most successful golf tournament in October 2007, we staged our first Youth Ski Trip (see below) in March 2008 and you supported my successful campaign as Eastern Region Director in November 2006.

Additionally, the club significantly increased its visibility in the community by being featured in the Tampa Tribune in March 2005, the Florida Courier in January 2007, and the N-Touch News in June 2007 and January 2008.

All of this was a result of your undying commitment to insure that Onyx is a complete success. I cannot thank you enough for your support.

Moving forward, planning the 2009-10 ski season is well underway. I encourage you to support one or more of the wonderful trips that the club has planned. For you 1st timers, you don’t want to miss the Early Season Warm Up set for December 8-12, 2009 at the fabulous Snowbird Resort in Salt Lake City, Utah.

ONYX 2nd ANNUAL YOUTH SKI TRIP, Smuggler’s Notch Resort, Vermont

Onyx proudly sponsored six (6) youth at the Annual Eastern Region Winterfest held at Smuggler’s Notch Resort from March 4-8, 2009.

Joining the club on the trip were Kennedy Warren, Gianna Rhodes and Sierra Giffen from Hillsborough County along with Angelina Kinsey, Kaelin Sims and Ryan Williams from Pinellas County.

A special thanks to club youth chairperson Crystal Pruitt and better half Sam Pruitt who served as the brave chaperones.

The trip was financed in part by a grant from the NBS Eastern Region Winter Sports Grant Program, the Eastern Region Youth Outreach Fund and proceeds from the annual golf tournament.

Keep up the good work!

I remain,

Ray Campbell
Outgoing President