The "Rooster" -- An Introduction

For the past several years I have been creating the
master for the H.V.S.C. membership directory and
always wondered why it was called the "Rooster"--
the true meaning may be lost in antiquity, but the
following history may give us some hint.

The first "H.V.S.C Directory" was published in 1966
(that's what is was called back then and into the
mid 70's). The early directories were little book-
lets (4 x 5 1/2 inches). They contained not only
member listings, officers and committee chairs,
instuctors just as the current as the recent ones
have; but also a variety of additional information.

The directory included the HVSC Basic Ski Test
Requirements (no longer used), the National Skier's
Courtesy Code (now called the Skier Responsibility
Code), a copy of Committee chairman's annual report
and a copy of the HVSC Constitution. (The Consti-
tution and Responsibility Code are available now to
any member as a separate booklet).

They were sprinkled, not only with the ever present
advertising (including ski areas and ski shops long
gone), but also some ski cartoons.

Just as a reminder of the "good old days", in 1968
the Club dues were only $8.00 per year.

In 1975 the membership list appeared as a single
white fold-out card bearing the title "Hudson Val-
ley Ski Club Official Membership Rooster". Whether
the original double-O spelling was on purpose or
accidental is a mystery, but it has appeared that
way every year since then (except for the 1978-79
"Roster" and the "1987-88 50th Anniversary Roster").

I think I will evade the question completely this
year by emulating the earliest directories with
only the Club name, logo and date on the cover and
avoid any name for the booklet itself. ...And let
future Club historians worry about it.

Mike Harelick
Editor