Minutes of Region
Meeting
Western Michigan Region, NSP
January
9, 2008 Brann’s, Grand Rapids
Region Officers
Present: Region Director, Tony Wolfer; Secretary, Colleen
Wolfer; Assistant Region Director, Gregg Hoppe; Assistant Region Director,
Erica Krol; Treasurer, Larry Klose.
Section Officers
Present: WM1 Section Chief, Ken Young; WM3 Section Chief, Tom Fisher.
Patrol Representatives
Present: Bittersweet, Dan Navis; Timber Ridge, Sue Brann; Crystal Mountain,
Brian Klebba; Western Michigan Nordic, Kelly Godfrey
Region Advisors
Present: Awards, Kathy Young; Assistant Awards, Patrick Mulvihill; OEC Advisor,
Dan Goldberger; Alpine NSPC Ski School, Chip Knappen; Avalanche, Michael
Walenta,
Members: Dennis
O’Brien, Dave Corey, Mike Patterson.
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm.
Secretary’s Report:
Report accepted with corrections from Chip Knappen and Kathy Young. Timber
Ridge over the summer added new snow guns and replaced old piping. Awards
should be to Section January 21 and to Region January 28.
Treasurer’s Report: Larry
Klose presented a written report which is on file. He has directed all patrol
representatives to read the last page memo regarding use of funds. Online
treasurer’s report may be accessed with the password “liftticket” and the
financial info with the password seniorpass. Report accepted.
Unfinished business:
Sue Brann and Erica Krol need to know who won the Harper Pack to reply to Chris
Moe to complete follow-up of the Division Meeting. Tony Wolfer will contact
David Menke.
Programs and Advisor Reports
ARD – Gregg Hoppe: Division
Senior Calibration Clinic gave us a lot of information about what level skiing
ability people need to be at to come to the senior test. One injury to Britt
Gustafson incurred. Central Division registration with National will be
starting to be entered this week. Cards will be sent out when all the patrol
information is complete. Do not contact the National office about the
registration packets – it will hold up the process. Contact Sherwin
VanKlompenberg if you have questions. Feel free to contact the
National Board and Board Members about the problem. Please emphasize that
people should correct their own information with National. Tony Wolfer
commends patrollers regarding correction of e-mail. Gregg says if patrol hasn’t
been completely processed you will need to do e-blast by using the 2007
information. Tri region 1-26/27 TES/SES coming
up. Conflicts with SEM.
Alpine NSP-C School – Chip Knappen: Region
SES at Timber Ridge – working on the dates. One level III PSIA and
two level II PSIA instructors will be available.
Alpine Proficiency – Britt Gustafson: Good
calibration clinic at Caberfae on 1/6/08. 16 people attended who will be
grading at the senior test. Expecting 14 candidates.
Alpine Toboggan – Shawn Rhoda: One TES
has been held and another will be coming up at the Senior Warm-up. Can
schedule week nights on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. Bittersweet, Feb 10 at
8:30am.
Avalanche – Michael Walenta: Feb
2 and 3 at Boyne Mountain in conjunction with Northern –
sheet passed to post in patrol rooms.
MTR - Michael Walenta: MTR
Basic had a successful class of 6 this fall. MTR Advanced has 4 in the
course. The indoor portion of the class has been completed. The outdoor
portion is scheduled for Fri/Sat/Sun February 29, March 1 and 2. It will be held at
Sleeping Bear Dunes. Contact Marty Monsma at 616-301-9138 to pre-enroll
for next year.
ARD - Erica Krol: Tom
Fisher will be the Section Chief for Section III again – no election will be
held as
there is only one candidate. Erica has contacted Division regarding running an
election for Region Director and will be run as we have in the past. We have
two candidates: Tony Wolfer and Dennis O’Brien. Chip Knappen proposes a
motion that accepts our dates for elections. Tony Wolfer says Division
has a plan to change other elections dates and they will be more in alignment
with ours. Election will be by paper ballot.
Awards – Kathy Young/Patrick
Mulvihill: Awards deadlines 1/21 to Section and 1/28 to Region are coming
up. Encourage everyone to submit awards and recognize those who deserve it.
One signed copy of every nomination please. One electronic copy. Electronic
copy is only form awards can be passed on to Division. Changes to policies and procedures – more
points for recommendation letters than before and letters must be relative
information. Merit Stars – from now on the stars will be limited to the last
two seasons. Blue and Purple must be based on doing something using ski patrol
skills
within the bounds of what ski patrollers do with documentation from a doctor
saying that something that was done was life saving.
Instructor Development – Tony Wolfer for Pat
Livingston: One person interested in taking Instructor Development. Pat is interested in running
the class in April. Please contact her.
National Appointment – Sue Brann: Same
deadlines as Kathy Young has but please send National Appointment
recommendations to Sue Brann. Sue suggests that it would be best if someone
has already had an award. Dennis O’Brien will join the
committee.
OEC – Dan Goldberger: 15
new patrollers in Section I have passed their OEC. Section II had final on
11/29 with all but one patroller passing. Section III had three patrollers
take the test but only one completed at this time. This was the first
time for an e-class and the program will continue to be modified. Gregg Hoppe
says that the most difficult part was the skill sets. January 26 will be
the Senior OEC final. Direct questions to Mike Fick.
Section and Patrol
Reports
WM I – Ken Young: Ken
reported on the loss of Bruce Johnson and the coming together of the patrol for
his funeral.
Timber Ridge – Sue Brann: Hope to be
open this weekend – difficulty getting toboggan refreshers completed with the weather.
Bittersweet – Dan
Navis: Hope to be open this weekend. Patrol room coming together.
Section II – Patrick Mulvihill:
Section II hill test has been moved to Feb 24 from the 10th because of the weather
and ability of the candidates. Expects about 10 candidates.
Will need help with evaluators as there will be a conflict with other Region
programs. Evaluators contact Mike Fick Jack Katerburg or Patrick Mulvihill.
Cannonsburg – Mike Patterson: On
January 26, Cannonsburg will host SEM clinic. They received a
thank you letter from management for their efforts in keeping the area running
over the holidays.
Western Michigan Nordic
– Kelly Godfrey:
Weather permitting they will be covering: Feb 2 - White Pine Stampede in
Mancelona; Feb 9 – Vasa - Traverse City. March 1 come to Caberfae at 9 am
if interested in Nordic patrolling – contact Kelly.
WMIII – Tom Fisher: The
proposed registration form for the Region Banquet was passed out and
discussed. Discussion followed about the use of region funds since this will
cost more per person for the dinner. Gregg Hoppe made motion to increase the
region funding to help reduce the cost of the dinners since they are more
costly this year. Patrick Mulvihill moves that the amount should be $1000.00
authorized on a year by year basis. Gregg withdrew his
motion. Ken Young questions whether reducing the cost of the meals will
actually increase the attendance. Michael Walenta suggests that the season has
to do with attendance also. Dan Navis suggests using the money for meals vs
prizes. Motion passed.
9:06 Motion to continue
meeting for 15 minutes to complete business passed.
Caberfae Peaks – Chip Knappen: From one
of Caberfae’s owners: Dec 30 they had an all time record day. They are very
pleased to have patrollers come up and sign in to help
out.
Crystal Mountain – Brian Klebba: Women’s
Winter Tour celebrating women winter and chocolate will be coming. Skiing this
weekend 44 of 45 slopes are open. Hill refreshers are conducted as a TES program on four separate
Sundays focusing on bringing people up to a senior level of toboggan handling.
New Business –
Larry Klose requests
that we amend the policies and procedures for the region to reflect that if
only one candidate is nominated and accepts the nomination that
there doesn’t need to be an election run.
Next meeting – need to move from the
planned date of March 12. Wed March 19 will be the new date.
Meeting adjourned 9:24.Minutes of Region
Meeting
Western
Michigan Region, NSP
May
3, 2008, Soaring Eagles Casino and Resort
Mt,
Pleasant, Michigan
Meeting called to order at 2:06PM.
Region Officers Present: Region Director, Tony Wolfer; Secretary, Colleen Wolfer; Assistant Region Director, Erica Krol; Assistant Region Director, Gregg Hoppe.
Section Officers Present: WM1 Section Chief, Ken Young; WM2 Section Chief, Jack Katerburg; WM3 Section Chief, Tom Fisher.
Region Advisors Present: Alpine, Britt Gustafson; Alpine, Chip Knappen; Awards, Kathy Young; OEC, Dan Goldberger.
Patrol Representatives Present: Caberfae, Tim Kirch; Timber Ridge, Sue Brann; Cannonsburg, Michael Fick.
Members Present: David Corey; Ray Browers; Kathy Browers; Mike Patterson; Dennis O’Brien.
Reminder to get financial reports in to Larry Klose by Aug 15, 2008.
Minutes: Minutes accepted as written.
Calendar: See attached.
Senior Program: Discussion of efforts being made to coordinate the Senior Candidate program. Erica Krol will take care of record keeping for the program if Karen Hadden wishes someone to handle this. Tony to discuss with Karen.
Alpine Program: Gregg Hoppe – NSPC ski school – people who are teaching in ski schools who are patrollers may gain advantages by joining the NSPC ski school.
National Event: June 20 – invitation to a special evening in Denver to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Ski Patrol. Sign up at nsp.org.
Instructor Development: Request from Pat Livingston – she has 3 people for Instructor Development – she would like to have 6 people signed up and then will schedule the next class.
Ski Enhancement Seminar: Discussion of additional SES dates for Cannonsburg and Caberfae. Cannonsburg may be able to do Jan 17.
Crystal Mountain: Brian Klebba has resigned – Tom Fisher and Gregg Hoppe are interim patrol representatives. They are looking for additional patrollers.
Meeting adjourned at 4:00PM.
Next meeting date Oct 15 at 7:00PM at Branns.
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