Minutes of Region Meeting
Western Michigan Region, NSP
October 14, 2009, Brann’s Grand Rapids
Present: Doug Mesara, Michael Walenta, Dave Corey, Colleen Wolfer, Tony Wolfer, Dan Goldberger, Bob Mayberry, Larry Klose, Marty Monsma, Tim Kirch, Dennis O’Brien, Dan Navis, Caroline Navis, Gregg Hoppe. Rog Brands, Laura Cameron, Jack Katerburg, Mike Patterson, Jim Woodrum, Nancy Hensley, Sue Brann, Erica Krol, Shawn Rhoda, Brit Gustafson,
Secretary’s Report: Report of the meeting May 2, 2009 accepted as written.
Treasurer’s Report: Based on the recent Division audit of Western Michigan Regions finances, Treasurer Larry Klose recommends the following changes: electronic vouchers with electronic signatures; electronic archiving of records; year-month-day-your name-budget group as a common header on correspondence; PDF documents please. He will be sending a test voucher to all staff. Financial report will be on the web site as well as instructions for completing forms.
OEC Advisor: Dan Goldberger; All patrols have OEC classes in progress except Cannonsburg which will begin in December. All refreshers have been successful with one to be completed at Crystal this weekend. Jackie Bottomley is a new IT. Bob Mayberry will work to coordinate SEM workshop and final. All IT’s have been recertified. Instructor re-certifications will be held in all sections this year. Adopted standard grading criteria for OEC Basic tests.
Electronic Registration: Gregg Hoppe; Total access to the database nationally will happen with electronic registration. He will meet with patrol reps at the end of the meeting today.
Assistant Region Director: Erica Krol: Patrick Mulvihill has withdrawn as Awards Advisor. Erica would appreciate e-mails from anyone who knows who might be interested in filling this position. She went to a meeting at the Division Fall meeting hosted by Dick Jacques which showed software that would help with awards writing by tracking course completion and other accomplishments. We also have the Section II Section Chief election coming up this year. Nominations Dec 1-31. Erica brought flyers back on Women’s Clinic/ Senior Program and Auxiliary Programs.
Assistant Region Director: Dennis O’Brien; Kevin Fultz will be the new NSP-C Ski School advisor. Kelly Godfrey will be Nordic Advisor. Brian Klebba will be IT Coordinator. Division Clinic Dec 11/12/13. Patrol Reps may send two people from their area to the clinic, preferably the trainers, and will include Region staff. Region will cover the cost of the clinic and the house. Register on the Division web site.
MTR: Marty Monsma; October 24 there will be a MTR I class held at Pando. Contact Laurie Snedeker or Marty Monsma.
Nordic: Michael Walenta; Nordic program will post dates as soon as the snow flies. Will be covering the Birkie and VASA.
Section II: Laura Cameron; Refresher was held at Cannonsburg this past weekend. 120 people refreshing. Improvements for next year are better directions within the area for out of area patrollers. Moving locations for a refresher station and the registration to improve the ability to hear.
Caberfae: Tim Kirch; Nov 22 OEC final for 6 candidates at Caberfae. Caberfae will open the first Friday after Thanksgiving. Refreshed 26 individuals with one from the State of Washington. Patrollers felt that stations were very realistic and helped them get started thinking about what they needed to do. They will have about a staff of 50 to patrol this year and look forward to the increase.
Crystal Mountain: Gregg Hoppe; refresher will be this weekend for about 90 patrollers. The Peak Mountain Bike Race will also be going on at the area at the same time. They have lost 3 patrollers but will gain candidates and patrollers transferring in. On line program to register for shifts (VolunteerSpot.com) will be starting up this year.
Cannonsburg: Mike Patterson; Ski Swap coming Nov 4. Lost 16 patrollers this year.
Timber Ridge: Doug Mesara; they have a transfer from Ohio and have lost some patrollers due to conflicts etc.
Bittersweet: Dan Navis; 11-15 Ski Swap. Bittersweet will have new runs opening. 11 Candidates this year in the class.
Division Director Jim Woodrum: – tomorrow is opening of elections for National board members. Region directors have been asked to assist with ranking the candidates in the order of qualifications for the job. Will be posted in the next couple of days. Division is currently made up of the 10 Division Directors. They are developing guidelines for qualifications for candidates for the board. Also want to define what board members role and responsibilities would be. Process by which nominating committee evaluates candidates. Central Division web site has example of the ranking that we do in our division. Three STWs are coming up. Chris Stoddard of Midwest Ski Area Owners Association spoke at the Division meeting and recommended that we continue to improve skiing and appearance to public and also to continue to recruit new younger members. Michael Walenta mentioned that the Boy Scout program has the Venturing program which Jim thought would be an excellent way to bring new people into our program. In answer to Michael Walenta’s question where should we be in 5 years, Jim responded that we should continue to improve our patrol to meet the requirements of the ski industry and gain a higher level of respect. Included is the wish that we continue to promote helmet usage. Sue Brann asked about the disconnect throughout the levels and how it can be corrected. Jim Woodrum answered that he is including a requirement that board members would travel to local events. Mike Patterson commented that two things we need to work on or request – absolute transparency through the levels and ways to reduce costs to patrollers. Jim Woodrum recommends that we use proceeds from fund raisers to reduce member cost to serve the patrols. Sue Brann asked Jim Woodrum to talk about the bridging program for senior program evaluators. Jim says the board passed that two evaluators of 3 should be PSIA level I and one must be Level II or higher. The bridging program requires that current evaluators be assessed as able to demonstrate the skills required to pass the senior ski evaluation as well as their ability to help candidates understand and correct their skills to be able to pass the senior examination.
Proposal to adjourn meeting and allow patrol reps to go through on line registration with Gregg Hoppe.
Meeting adjourned 8:30pm.
Next meeting Jan 6, 2010.