The Official Publication of the SnowProfessional Ski Instructors of America Eastern / Education Foundation ProEarly fall 2010 National PSIA-AASI Report: How Your National Association Dues Work for You by Bill Beerman, Eastern Representative, National Board of Directors his past spring our Eastern Executive Director, Michael Mendrick, pro- • The National association provides incentives and subsidies for divisional events vided our membership with an electronic survey, which resulted in a to bring in National team members and increase sponsor involvement. very high participation rate by PSIA-E members. Many of the questions • The PSIA-AASI teams are supported by the National organization, and their raised by members were addressed in the Summer issue of the SnowPro. primary purpose is to support member education and divisional events TMichael provided comments to a variety of questions. In addition, I was asked across the country. to address a comment that appeared regarding question 10: “Dues is too much. • PSIA and AASI research and publish a wide range of manuals, videos, and What does the National organization do for me?” I asked Mark Dorsey, National other materials to support your education. These materials are made available Executive Director, to help provide a summary of the information on that topic. at the lowest possible cost to the member and can be found on-line and in the Following is information that Mark provided. PSIA-AASI Accessories catalog. So often the question is asked, “What do I get for my dues?”. Before launch- • Free copies of newly developed education materials are provided to every ing into the list of “stuff we all get” - and there is lots of stuff – it’s important member school each year so that directors are kept abreast of the latest to remember the primary reason for belonging to an association. Think back to developments. when you first joined. Most likely, it was to feed the need to ski or ride better, to teach more proficiently, to learn more about snowsports we all enjoy. Your dues Member Communication go to support the organization that supports you, and to support you as you get • A subscription to 32 Degrees: The Journal of Professional Snowsports Instruc- people excited about skiing and snowboarding. Bottom line is that this is a pretty tion, the definitive publication on what is happening in teaching Alpine skiing, cool club to be in. At a minimum, PSIA and AASI enable the opportunity for you Snowboarding, Nordic skiing, Adaptive skiing, and more. to make lifelong friends and colleagues in the snowsports industry. • Members receive three issues annually and can access current and back The National association works very hard to take as few dues increases as issues online. possible. PSIA-AASI raises at least one dollar for every dollar in dues. In fact, • www.TheSnowPros.org is your gateway to member resources and services. PSIA-AASI has taken only two dues increases in the past 20 years. So, what Dramatic changes to the website are to be implemented before the snow flies, does this revenue get you? Some things are more obvious, and others aren’t. including new member communities, upgrades to the Movement Matrix, and Perhaps more important, programs and services from the National organiza- much more. tion are designed to complement divisional offerings. Your dues contribute to a • PSIA-AASI supports your division by providing access to rights-free photos, wide range of services and benefits designed to offer the best possible value video, and other creative templates. You’ve seen them in this newsletter and to you, all designed to give you increased access to resources and people to in divisional recruiting efforts, increase your enthusiasm for skiing and snowboarding. • The National association facilitates communication across the divisions by subsidizing face-to-face and virtual meetings of division presidents, National Member Education and Certification task forces, and divisional education leadership. • PSIA-AASI offers National brand recognition and credentials, recognized by ski • The PSIA-AASI board member from the Eastern Division is chair of the and snowboard schools throughout the country; this often can mean increased National Education Advisory Council. wages, additional benefits, and recognition. • Member services staff are available via phone, fax, or e-mail to answer ques- tions about events, membership status, catalog orders, policies and procedures, and a host of other topics. • Over 200 members use this service each day the inside edge continued on page 5 6.........Around the Regions 13.......Education Foundation Donors 22.......Your Turn 8.........VIP Privileges 16.......20, 30 & 40 year members 26.......2010-11 Event Schedule Editor's Desk rope tow, the first snowmaking, the first ski area, the first ski school - and on and on with the “firsts”. In Snow short, he did what was thought to be impossible; he Pro established skiing south of the Mason-Dixon Line. He Volume 37, Number 2 touched just about every ski area that exists in that Bill Hetrick, Editor region. He was certainly a pioneer in our field. This The official publication of the Professional made me think of the time I had to catch my breath Guest Editorial Ski Instructors of America-Eastern when Bill Tate, retired PSIA-E Examiner, introduced Education Foundation me as a pioneer in our field to the participants in 1-A Lincoln Avenue Speaking of Legends one of his Workshop Clinics. The more I learned Albany, NY 12205-4907 about Sepp, the more I realized that he was truly a Phone 518-452-6095 and Tributes…Sepp pioneer of pioneers. Fax 518-452-6099 There are those instructors who remember www.psia-e.org Kober Sepp’s attendance and his support at the regional meetings held in the previously called Region 4 General Information by Joan E. Heaton Southern District- now known as Region 7. And, Submission of articles, photos or other PSIA-E Area Rep Coordinator of course, there are those countless numbers of items for publication is invited. Articles are instructors who were simply touched by this man’s not to exceed about 1000 words. Receipt of submissions will be confirmed to the writer. n Friday, August 27, 2010, I had the honor charisma and love of skiing. Upcoming deadlines are published in each of attending the funeral services for Joseph PSIA made Sepp Kober an Honorary Lifetime issue of SnowPro. Material should be sent H. (Sepp) Kober, widely and respect- Member in 1997. He was inducted into the United to “SnowPro Editor” at: [email protected] fully recognized as The Father of Southern States Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2009. as an MS Word document attachment. If it is OSkiing. The services were held in a church in Hot He was a pioneer, and he is now a legend, indeed! necessary to mail material, it may be sent to: Springs, Virginia, just across the street from the fa- I also took part in the procession from the church Bill Hetrick, Editor 110 Hubler Rd. mous Homestead Ski Resort where Sepp established to the cemetery - this was an event in itself. There State College, PA 16801 his first Sepp Kober Ski School. There were so many had to have been at least fifty cars (my guesstimate) Phone 814-466-7309 people in attendance that the parish hall was set up in the procession. After the very moving ceremony [email protected] with television screens so the people there could at the cemetery, I drove back to the ski lodge of The Pro Shop header and Your Turn header watch the ceremony in the church. Two Catholic Homestead Ski Area where the reception was held. photos by Scott Markewitz. Courtesy of PSIA. All submitted material is subject to edit- priests and an Episcopal reverend were in attendance Pictures and memorabilia of Sepp were displayed on ing. Its use, whether solicited or not, is at the for the services. Peter Foster, a dear friend of the a table for all to see. Both the lodge and the outside discretion of the editorial staff. All published family and a Charlottesville business man, gave a deck were filled with supporters, friends, and folks material becomes the property of PSIA-E/EF. heartfelt eulogy. It was a ceremony appropriate to who genuinely knew, respected, and loved Sepp Articles are accepted on the condition that they the man it honored. Kober. I was proud to be a member of this group. may be released for publication in all National I was swept into the world of Sepp Kober And, for those passionate, hard-core skiers who and Divisional publications. SnowPro is published five times per year when, as the 2008 ski season began, I called The wonder if there is skiing in heaven, fear not. I am sure by the Professional Ski Instructors of America- Homestead trying to recruit an Area Rep for their ski Sepp is busily working his magic once again, prepar- Eastern Education Foundation. Permission is resort. It became immediately obvious to me that ing that first rope tow and the needed snowmaking hereby given to all National and Divisional the founder of their ski school was someone very equipment to make it all possible. publications to copy original material from this special. I dove into learning more about Sepp Kober newsletter providing credit is given to PSIA-E/ EF and the author, and the material is not – the more I learned, the more I wanted to know. It Ed. Note: The above is a guest editorial. We altered. Articles that contain specific copyright was relatively easy to gather information about Sepp thank Joan for sharing her thoughts and experiences notices may not be reprinted without written because his accomplishments within our industry resulting from this moving day in tribute to Sepp permission from the author.