RPN Summer 2006.Pmd

Rusty Parka News/Summer 2006 Page 1 National Ski Patrol System, Inc NON-PROFIT N3275 Stillwater Drive ORGANIZATION Medford, WI 54451 U.S.Postage PAID Permit No. 1202 Cleveland, OH Rusty Parka News Volume 45 Issue 1 www.nsp.org/divisioncentral Summer 2006 Central Division Fall Meeting . Jim Woodrum, Central Division Director CENTRAL DIVISION DIRECTOR’S NOTES: Let me begin this article with a sincere appreciation to 500 plus members of the Central Division that took the time to fill out the Patroller Survey that was on the Internet for a More Information Inside couple of months. We collected the data, analyzed the data, and reviewed it during our CD Spring Meetings in Chicago. Registration Form on Page 7 There was a lot of good information and input from the Division that we then took and broke out into several committees. Each of the committees is taking the input and putting together an action plan on how to deal with the information in the best possible way. The action plans from these committees will report to the board at the Fall Central Headliners Division meetings in Wausau. If you would like to work on one of these committees, please feel free to drop me a line Message from Nat’l Chair Pg. 2 ID CD Course Pg.10 and I will forward it to the appropriate committee leader. Senior Update Pg. 3 Get it On! Pg.10 As you may or may not know we have five new National NC Region Ready Pg. 5 The Unthinkable Pg.11 BOD members that we voted in this past spring. Since then SW Region Report Pg. 5 Steps to Instruction Pg.11 we have also had three BOD’s resign and that will increase E MI at Motown Blast Pg. 6 Yo-Yo In Mountains Pg.12 the number of new BOD members to nearly a whole new Spirit of Service in WausauPg. 6 Avalanche Report Pg.13 top organization by this winter. Our nominating committee Staff Roster Pg. 8 Trailhead Notes Pg.13 is diligently working to sort out the next slate of candidates. NSP-C Ski School Pg. 10 Division Scenes Pg.15 I know there are still a number of members that are less then pleased with what has been going on at the national level. I ask that we give the Board a chance. They deserve our support to lead our great organization and not be labeled or shackled with the issues from the previous Board. Let Deadline For them develop as a team and give them the benefit of the doubt that they have the member’s interest in mind as they sort out our direction. They will be asking for our input and Fall Issue we will provide it in due time. I have been assigned to the Governance Committee to provide input. With all the September 15, resignations at the top several changes have been made to balance out the committees with BOD members. All the other Division Directors have been assigned to one of the three 2006 National Committees. Our input will be heard as these committees begin their work. Please See Division Director pg. 3 Rusty Parka News/Summer 2006 Page 2 Editorial Page Special Message From New National Chair Jim DeWeerd Less than one year ago I answered the call amount of disinformation, rumor and hearsay. natural fit for the next job up the line, even to from David Dahl (North Central Region I know that the vast majority of patrollers, the national board level. Director) and Jim Woodrum (Central Division most of whom are silent, want only to go to Director) to consider running for a National work, cover their shift, and provide safety and Budgetary and fiscal responsibilities are keys Board of Directors’ seat. Now why would I rescue services for the snow sports industry. to our success. Based on many issues last want to do such a thing based on what we’ve They want to be well-trained and year (insurance losses, legal bills, rising been through in the last year? I did it because credentialed. They want opportunities for business and personnel costs, and lower I was given the opportunity and a vote of education in related areas and they want catalogue sales due to Internet competition), confidence that I could meet the challenge of access to good gear in their catalogue. I know the board felt that increasing the dues $20 the future during the evolution of the NSP. for many years that is all I wanted. No political would over five years restore the lost cash involvement for me! reserves to equal one year’s operating We face many issues, as do all boards of expenses (a very common business principle) national organizations. One of the most Other issues we face involve succession and allow all the program development on important ones is communication. If we can planning which is better worded as leadership the horizon. At the recent annual meeting we provide accurate, timely information and the development. We need better programs and chose to adopt a budget based on no dues reasons for the decisions, patrollers should opportunities in place such that people move increase because of the significant and understand how the decisions were made. In through an orderly progression of increasing adverse member commentary. Because of the last year there has been a remarkable responsibility to the point where they are a this, some programs will be on hold this year including the 5th edition of the OEC manual and a new MTR manual. I suspect that we Kasten’s Korner will need to increase the dues $5-$10 in the near future so that we can help the bottom line of the budget which this year starts out $77,000 in the red. Improvements in our educational programs cannot afford to suffer, as they are the backbone of NSP. The Bylaws and Policies & Proceedures manual will undergo a major review and thorough revision so that the any discrepancies between the two are resolved. We will also look at the proposed education model changes to see if they are what we really want. You will elect seven board members in the upcoming election cycle in order to make your board fully staffed. We need qualified people and their talents to represent your interests and drive the NSP. In a short while your confidence in our actions and decisions will be restored. Our relationship with our industry partners (NSAA, PSIA, ASA, and ASEA) must be stronger and closer than ever before. We depend on each other to be successful in our efforts. We must build strong relationships with them because NSP is not the only organization that can train rescue personnel. If your area decides to use some system other than NSP, you may be out of the job that you The official newspaper for the are so passionate about. National Ski Patrol®, Inc. NATIONAL SKI PATROL Central Division We are exploring liability insurance for patrollers - more on this in the future. The Rusty Parka News is published We are launching a search for an Executive three times annually. Director. Many of you know that we share an ED and office staff with our industry partners 2006 NATIONAL SKI PATROL®, INC. that rent space in the NSP building in All rights reserved. The words “Ski Patrol” and “National Ski Patrol” are trademarks Lakewood, CO. This is a successful plan that registered in the U.S. Patent Office allows us to have talented people in our organization at a portion of the cost of Division Director Editor Production employing them solely by NSP. Jim Woodrum Tim Zimmerman PM Graphics 7723 Westwind Ln N3275 Stillwater Drive 10170 Philipp Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45242 Medford, WI 54451 Streetsboro, OH 44241 What it takes to protect our 501 (c) 1& 3 not 513-791-3166 715-748-6552 330-650-0861 for profit status and national charter is being [email protected]@mitchellmetals.com explored and we hope to give everyone from the Division leaders down to the patroller EDITORIAL STATEMENT guidance that will protect our organization. The appearance of advertising material in the Rusty Parka does not imply that the Na- Please See National Chair pg.3 tional Ski Patrol endorses any product, service or company unless specifically stated. Statements or opinions expressed in the Rusty Parka reflect the views of the author(s) and are not necessarily the views of the National Ski Patrol, its officers, staff, board of ADDRESS CHANGES directors or members. The Rusty Parka will assume no loss or liability for loss or dam- Changes to addess should be updated on the NSP Na- age to any material submitted for publication including manuscripts, photographs, or art tional Web Site. Please log on to www.nsp.org and ac- work. All contributions and submissions are subject to revision or editing at the sole cess your NSP Member Page to update your personal discretion of the Editor. The act of mailing, submitting or transmitting materials to the information. The Rusty Parka mailing list is downloaded Rusty Parka shall constitute an express warranty by the author or contributor that the from the National database. All address changes and cor- material is original and in no way an infringement upon the rights of others. rections must be made on the National site. Rusty Parka News/Summer 2006 Page 3 Division Director’s Notes Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a to replace those Board members who have continued from page 1- part of our history.

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