Curious about the "Rocker" DNA? How and when we were "born"? Who were the leading instigators? What stories and adventures are part of our history? It's a fascinating history of this now 32-year-old organization, with roots older than that.
 
EARLY YEARS - LATE 1980’S TO 2004
A group who remembered happenings back 30 or more years sat down recently. They recalled, reminisced, laughed and joked about those early years. And now we are putting those recollections to paper for all to enjoy and so our history is not lost forever.

Our "birth" evolved from an earlier ski club called Over the Hill.  Made up of avid skiers, it was a large organization, but with requirements and rules too restrictive for a group wanting to expand the club’s interests (and not wanting to pay national dues).

So in 1992, a group of about 100 pulled away from that ski club and named their new "offspring" Off Your Rockers. The first newsletter came out. Sally Rothfus wrote it, having the only computer in the club at the time. In a month, they changed the name to Get Off Your Rockers (GOYR) (didn’t like the double meaning, I guess). You hopefully know some of these early "pioneers":  Sally Billig, Betty Brown, June and Fred Kubli, Bob and Nony Milmoe, Charlotte and Art Gumbrell, Edie Roach (Akita), Sally and Dick Rothfus, and Myrna and Terry Hickey.

The big sports then were SKIING, TENNIS, GOLF and SAILING, which involved TRAVEL. They sailed 13 times all over the world: the Virgin Islands, Greek islands, and the Caribbean to name a few. They skied many places, even Argentina, in our summer of course. Ski caravanning for 2 months was popular, hitting Utah, Idaho, Mammoth, Taos, then Colorado! Even local tennis "traveled" around the city, using a different location each week, all scheduled ahead. The golfers traveled outside the area too, to Nevada and even Maui.
 
June K. had the idea to have one or two ALL CLUB events each year, bringing into being the Spring Brunch and Holiday Gala. With a club bank account boasting $3000, these events started out totally funded (at classy venues too: Torrey Pines Inn and Lomas Santa Fe Country Club)! For a number of years, these events took place in downtown San Diego on the top floor of the Imperial House. Then we used the Admiral Baker Golf Club for many years.

Statistically, by 1997, the club had 174 members and the beginnings of a website. Potluck attendance was 25 to 40, mostly in private homes. Skiing numbered more than 40. Sailing had nearly that many. Tennis had at least 20. The club was indeed going strong!  According to newsletters from that time and a nice article in the L.A. Times, activities included skiing, tennis, hiking, sailing, camping, golf, potlucks, dancing, bridge and cultural.  Wow!

In the late 90’s, a decision was made to concentrate on ACTIVE activities. Although, over the years, activities included bridge and a book club, the emphasis has been on active!

Stories About Those Earlier Trips
The group recalled a sailing/snorkeling trip to Tonga and Fiji that landed them in the middle of a revolution between the Indians and Fijians struggling for power. Our group stayed out of trouble. They remembered a beach BBQ and ladies going to church in huge, colorful hats.

While canoeing in Guatemala, one of the canoes overturned, and the young guide nearly had heart failure worrying about those "old ladies" dumped in the water on his first trip as guide! Needless to say, they all survived quite well. 

EVOLUTION: 2004 - 2014
The next EVOLUTION came in about 2004 when a group from yet another ski club, Top of the Hill Gang (a singles group losing members because of marriages!), joined GOYR.  Wanting a few more social opportunities, Dolores Buller started social hours and Sharon Pearsley established the now-popular Wexers (Wednesday Evening Exercisers). Sometime in there, Charlotte G. started a biking group that Betty Brown led for years. Linda Sterger brought par 3 golf into being. Linda recalls that the club paid to train her in computer publishing to make the newsletter much more professional. John Pearsley was the webmaster for many years, through 2015. That's when we transitioned to Club Express with Cathy Thomas leading the way and Sue Eubanks designing the website. Charitable activities sprouted up too, and the club continued to make a significant impact in the community.
        
Because we grew with this dynamic website (you are enjoying it now), our members get all the news and activities that are fit to print online at GetOffYourRockers.org. The newsletter has retired, but our Home Page offers links to the President’s Message, up-to-date and future activities to consider, links to the full-scope calendar, and a pictorial spotlight on all the fun our members enjoy.
  
GROWTH 2015 – 2018 (Nan Myers at the helm)
The club changed and continued to do so.  A steady increase in membership of an additional 100 members brought the club to an average of 250 members. (This was the preferred limit for our club to manage our roster of things to do.) With 250 members, we needed to change the potluck venues (record attendance was 75) and offer more picnics in larger areas. The biking group, one of our most popular activities, had regular attendance of at least 25, and sometimes grew to 35.  At least 15 folks enjoyed Wexers every week.

During this timeframe, more activities popped up: par 3 golf, footgolf (a Sally Rothfus inspiration), kayaking, boogie boarding (summer only), hiking, bowling, and camping. Our cultural events offered broad experiences throughout San Diego and points beyond, including museum tours, cultural walks, concert venues, and more. Our Spring Installation Brunch and Holiday Gala always sold out with more than 100 in attendance. At the brunch, special prizes ("golden ski boot" or "golden tent stake") were awarded to a few members who either by outstanding deed or funny mishap deserved special recognition.

Whether because of increasing cost or the bad weather, the ski group captivated just 12 regulars who traveled to mountains near and far during the winter. Sailing was available when we had the boats and captains. Travel remained big, always through travel agencies. Our members have gone everywhere! Some memorable trips include an outstanding Bike and Barge in the Netherlands; a fantastic Roatan, Honduras snorkeling adventure hosted by our own Diane Coming at her B&B; biking along the Erie Canal in the fall; and nearly annual camping outings to Borrego Springs with biking, hiking, camping and just enjoying the desert. In fact, camping became a separate activity due to its popularity! 
 

SPRING 2020 - SPRING 2022 (Ellen Williamson  at the helm)

As this era started, our GOYR family rocked almost every day of the week with tried-and-true activities.  We could count on seeing our familiar friends biking, hiking, golfing, bowling, camping, traveling, socializing, walking with Wexers, doing cultural or charitable events and so much more! The calendar was full with a Rocker activity almost every day. 

BAM! COVID hit in March 2020. YOU KNOW! We complied. We isolated. When we could not go out, we used Zoom for virtual social hours, cultural poetry, board meetings, and even a Midway Museum tour.  We did what we could to stay connected.

Then the world slightly opened for us. In May 2020, California permitted some outdoor action, and our Rockers were ready to get out and play!  We offered the first safe and COVID-free, California-compliant, activities to our members:  biking, Wexers, and hiking.  All outdoors. All were easy to maintain a 6-foot distance and enjoy keeping fit and socialized. 

NEW OPPORTUNITIES:  A few chance meetings early in the COVID era and some energetic interest brought us pickleball thanks to Eleanor Bolen and Judi Ravetti. Gail Smith offered birding as an outdoor activity to replace indoor bowling!  Deanna Hastings led outdoor poetry readings which were a big cultural hit!  COVID was not going to stop us!

During the most difficult COVID times, we knew we wanted to help! When permitted, we continued our tradition of supporting the Food Bank each month and Judi Ravetti found charitable opportunities at the San Diego Rescue Mission. Within our own Rocker family, we started Rockers Helping Rockers, a forum to check on our home-bound friends and offer any assistance needed. Thanks to the team of helpers led by Myrna Trust and Lynn Bartlett, all Rockers were contacted during the height of COVID.

Later in 2020/2021, with safer COVID guidelines and vaccinations, we reenergized and brought back Tennis, Beach & Boogie Boarding, Kayaking, Camping, Travel, Picnics, Potlucks, Par 3 Golf and more.  We also added Dancing venues and delightfully varied Social/Happy hours!  John Gottlieb brought us Bridge!  Fred Shatsky gave tours on the Midway.

As we began 2022, we expanded! North County Rockin’ Ramblers, led by Linda Sterger, was born to include our growing community near Carlsbad offering afternoon walks twice a month.

Historically, we rarely had more than one activity daily. But with so many new and reenergized activities we adjusted! The calendar exploded with choices on any given day.

More choices led to increased membership! During this era we grew over 40% from an average of 250 members to over 360 members!  WOW!  That says a lot!!
 
AWARD WINNING!  Because of our involvement with our community (monthly dedication to the Food Bank, San Diego Rescue Mission and other charitable organizations such as Empty Bowls, Wreaths Across America, Promises2 Kids, and more) throughout the COVID years, we earned top “Diamond Recognition” honors by the 88th Annual Far West Ski Association (FWSA) in 2021.

FWSA also awarded Our Social Media presence with Facebook and our Rocker Website 1st place and 2nd place respectively above over 300 Ski Clubs’ social media! It is our wonderful website that attracts new members from all over!  Thank you, Linda Sterger and Eleanor Bolen for our Social Media Excellence.

TO COVID we say: “WE ARE OVER IT” and “THANKS!”  The Rockers embraced the best part of these COVID years with one another.  We ROCK!

THE FUTURE OF THIS CLUB IS IN YOUR HANDS.  

For MORE HISTORY and FUN READS

From before 1992 to 2021, our history and newsletters are on the website and can easily be researched.  (Newsletters are under Newsletter Archive. Go to ‘Documents’ on the menu.) You will find that every month we offered a wealth of activities, wonderful thoughts and experiences from our Activity Leaders, and inspiration from our President’s Message. They are fun reads, if you dare!

Beginning 2021, the archive of the President’s Message is also available to enjoy.

Disclaimer:
Please understand this is not intended to be a complete history in any way. It attempts to hit highlights of the past so that those memories are not lost forever. Many members who have contributed much to the success of this club may not have been mentioned by name.  Apologies to the many omissions - time, space and fading memories you know - please forgive!