FRANCONIA, New Hampshire — The New England Ski Museum will award a total of $2,500 to three organizations via its 2007 Cal Conniff Grant Program. The recipients of the awards were recognized at the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race at Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, NH on March 10.

Now in its seventh year, the Cal Conniff Grant Program makes monetary awards to individuals and organizations for projects relating to alpine and nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding. In past years applicants have included public and private school programs, ski history researchers, municipal ski areas, ski clubs and snowboard programs. Projects intended to increase awareness of the history of winter sports or encourage participation in these activities are eligible.

The grant program is named for Cal Conniff, a former president of the Ski Museum and a long-time ski industry figure. He began his career as a second cook at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Camp so he could ski in nearby Tuckerman Ravine in his time off. After a stretch as general manager of Mt. Tom, MA he spent seventeen years as chief executive of the National Ski areas Association, the nationwide trade group. Conniff is the founder of the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race, and recently published his first book, Skiing in Massachusetts, with co-author E. John B. Allen.

The Nansen Ski Club of Berlin NH, recognized as the oldest existing ski club in the country, will receive $500 in grant money to develop a website to draw skiers to its recently relocated touring center. The club, in a partnership with New Hampshire Division of Parks, developed a ski touring trail network in Milan Hill State Park after its former location was earmarked as a site for a new federal prison.

A second grant was also directed to the Berlin area. The Berlin High School physical education program is the recipient of $1,500 to purchase snowshoes to begin a winter sports outdoor program. The snowshoes will also be available to the high school Outing Club on weekends.

The Ware (MA) High School Ski and Snowboard Club will utilize $500 in grant money that, combined with other fund-raising sources, will allow club members to participate in trips to Wachusett and Sunday River. Students will be asked to contribute an essay on a ski history topic.