Grand Mesa Nordic Council P.O. Box 266, Cory, CO 81414 Phone: (970) 874-8318 http://outdoors.at/gmnc

November 28, 2002

Friendly Big2Medium Company

8437 Trailblazer Blvd

Grand Junction, CO 81503

The Grand Mesa Nordic Council seeks a partnership with a corporate sponsor to provide tax-deductible funds on an ongoing basis to insure the viability of the Nordic Council’s public service. The Grand Mesa Nordic Council (GMNC) is an IRS 170(b) charity that develops and grooms cross-country ski trails on the Grand Mesa in western Colorado for public use.

Benefits to a sponsor would be recognition by the public as a community-minded company that contributes to the quality of life in western Colorado. The Grand Mesa is one of the best cross-country skiing sites in North America. Its elevation at 10,000 feet ensures the longest ski season in Colorado from October to May. The terrain is free of avalanche danger and is highly scenic with trails through forest and meadows punctuated with panoramic viewpoints. The Nordic Council maintains and grooms over 60 kilometers of trails with trailheads at Skyway, County Line, and Ward Lake. The trail system is used by skiers from all over Colorado and Utah, especially during the early and late season. The trail system is used heavily by local skiers all season.

The Nordic Council has been financing its operations through memberships, donations, and volunteer labor. Biggest costs are labor and equipment for grooming. The popularity of the groomed ski trails has been growing annually which has increased the value of the Nordic Council’s public service. The Nordic Council has been making ends meet but has been unable to move to a higher level of viability that would not be so dependent on volunteer labor and luck with grooming equipment and maintenance. In recent years income has increased from memberships and donations but it would not be enough to offset the potential loss of volunteer grooming labor or possible bad luck with grooming equipment.

GMNC volunteers work hard and have always sought grants on a matching fund basis. In 1999 the Nordic Council received at grant for $3000 in matching funds to purchase a new snowmobile for grooming. In 2001 a GOCO grant for $15,000 in matching funds was used to build a bridge over Ward Creek at the Ward Lake Trail System trailhead. (It should b noted that the matching $15,000 was gained through “in kind” service and materials from local companies toward construction of the bridge.) In order for the GMNC to move up to what it perceives to be the next level of viability, the Nordic Council needs a corporate sponsor that could provide funds matching those raised from the public through memberships and donations. The next level of viability for the Nordic Council is the purchase or lease of a snowcat and a paid Director of Operations. This might be possible with a corporate sponsor.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jerry Nolan

President, GMNC