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Final Sweep
The NSP Month in Review
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NATIONAL
SKI PATROL
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133
S. Van Gordon St. 100
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From the Desk of Tim White
It has been another busy and rewarding month for the
National Ski Patrol. A new national recruitment campaign is being
launched, the Patroller Education Conference (PEC) dates and program
are set, fundraising efforts are gearing up, work is progressing on the
OEC 5th, and reports from our division leaders indicate a vibrant
organization readying itself for another ski season. While there is
much work to be done in order to reach our goals, each day I feel there
are more members--from the leadership to the front line patroller--all
rowing in the same direction.
In this regard, I can cite numerous examples of members
who are voluntarily stepping forward to help improve the NSP as an
organization. There is Clark Goodrich and Larry Klose, who has
helped tremendously in identifying bugs in our new website, and Bob
Leonard, who recently provided a Power Point training program that will
be made available at nsp.org
to all OEC instructors, and Dave Esty, who continues to beat the drum
along with Board member Larry Bost and others for developing the next
generation of NSP leaders. I wish to commend these individuals and all
of you who step forward in service of this worthy organization.
You make our day here at national.
Best wishes for a successful fall refresher.
Warm regards, Tim
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National
Office Updates
Administration
2009/10 Policies and Procedures
Manual Available
The 2009/10 Policies and Procedures
manual has been posted to nsp.org and is available for download. The
2009/2010 version of the P&P includes all the changes that
the Board approved between Sept. 1, 2008 - Aug. 31, 2009. Click here to download the PDF document or go to: Member Links/My
Bookshelf/Policies & Procedures 2009-2010.
NSP Winter Catalog Inserted in Fall Ski Patrol
Magazine
To cut printing and shipping costs, the fall 2009 issue of
Ski Patrol Magazine
will include the 2009/10 NSP
Winter Catalog as an insert. This exciting package will hit
mailboxes in early October. The catalog will remain a four-color,
fully-descriptive publication with an order form inside. Be sure to
check for the catalog in your fall SPM--it's
your number one source for previewing and ordering 2009/10 NSP gear.
All items, and more, will also be available in the on-line Winter Catalog at nsp.org.
Need Help
Logging Into Member Services?
Patagonia Sponsors Facility Tour 
In an effort to build stronger ties with NSP, Patagonia
sponsored a recent tour of their Ventura, CA facilities. Pictured
here with our very own Chris Bourne is Craig Simile, fabric quality
analyst for Patagonia. Craig is the man who makes sure the jackets are
waterproof, that zippers withstand abuse, and that materials hold up to
the daily routine of patrollers. The NSP is looking forward to growing
its partnership with Patagonia and appreciates all the company does for
NSP and patrolling.
Back Issues of Final Sweep Available On-Line
If you've ever needed to reference an article from
the monthly Final
Sweep newsletter but didn't know where to locate past
issues, you'll be glad to know that back issues can be downloaded from
nsp.org. Just log in to member
services and go to "Member News," then click on
the "Newsletter Links" menu bar at the top. All
newsletters are saved as PDFs and are easy to download.
Patroller Day at Northeast Winter Sports Summit
 More than 50
Eastern Division patrollers attended the NWSS held at Bretton Woods Ski
Area, N.H., on Sept. 9th and 10th. NSP programs included a
morning session by NSP Safety Team member Mark Petrozzi of New
Hampshire's Gunstock Ski Area entitled "Emergency Action Plans: Is
Your Patrol Ready for Any Emergency?" The afternoon program, led
by Lonny Whitcomb, also a member of the NSP Safety Team and a patroller
at Liberty Mountain, Pa., focused on lift evacuation planning and
problem solving. In the photo above, John Hammond of Sugarbush, Vt.,
discusses how to handle a problem in a "worst case" scenario.
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Leadership
2009 Board of
Directors Election Nominees Announced
The NSP Nomination
Committee has reviewed all applications that were submitted for the
2009 Board of Directors election, and the eight individuals listed
below have been selected as nominees for the four available seats. A
platform statement and application for each nominee will be available
to view no later than Thursday, Oct. 1. To view the information, log in
to the "Member Services" area of nsp.org
and click on "Member News/Elections."
The 2009 Board election will open on Oct. 15, and an
electronic ballot will again be used. All NSP members will receive, via
e-mail, a link to the e-ballot prior to Oct. 15. You will need your six-digit
National member ID number to vote. The election ends at midnight MST
(11 p.m. PST) on Dec. 1, and the electronic ballot will close at that
time.
Here are the 2009 Board of Directors Nominees:
Larry Bost - Southern Division
John Carlquist - Intermountain Division
Frank G.F. Davis - Rocky Mountain Division
Janet Glaeser - Central Division
John Lawson - Eastern Division
Wally Shank - Rocky Mountain Division
John Stinsmen - Eastern Division
Alan Werner - Pacific Northwest Division
National Safety Awareness Week Set for January 16-22
The ski industry's National Safety Awareness Week is a
perfect time for NSP patrols to work with area management in an effort
to step up guest and employee education efforts and other slope safety
initiatives. All patrols are encouraged to mark the calendar for the
11th Annual National Safety Awareness Week on Jan. 16-22, 2010, and to
contact ski area management about how the patrol can contribute to
making this special week a fun and educational experience for the
skiing and riding public. For more information on National Safety
Awareness Week and the National Ski Areas Association Safety Contest
click HERE.
Attributes of Leadership--Part 4
Dave Esty, national marketing advisor to the NSP, has
developed a collection of "Eight Attributes of
Leadership." We looked at the first six attributes in
the June, July and August newsletters. The final two--"Put
Your Duty Before Yourself" and "Stand Out Front--Take the
Hits"--are examined here.
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Marketing/Communications/Events
Posters, Brochure
and Stickers Available Through New NSP Recruitment Campaign
 A brand new national recruitment campaign, sponsored by
Patagonia, is available to all NSP member patrols now. Three different
poster designs and stickers are FREE to all patrols, except for the
cost of shipping. An accompanying downloadable, print-ready recruitment
brochure is also available at nsp.org. Patrols are welcome to download the
brochure file and are encouraged to take it to their local printer for
as many copies as are needed. For details on ordering posters and
stickers contact NSP.
 PEC 2010
Planning is underway for the much-anticipated 2010 NSP
Patroller Education Conference (PEC), which will take place in
Snowbird, Utah from April 14-16. For the second consecutive year, PEC
will bring together patrollers from all divisions of the NSP for three
days of education, skiing, snowboarding and socializing.
New to the line-up this year are two opening
day clinics on April 14. A women's clinic, featuring PSIA Demo
Team member Mermer Blakeslee will focus exclusively on women's
patrolling skills, and an avalanche instructor continuing education
clinic will include a comprehensive day of avalanche teaching methods
and field skills. In addition, this year Petzl headlamps will
co-produce a new three-part MTR clinic. And as last year, the latest innovative
products for patrolling will be displayed at the vendor/sponsor area.
This year's featured speakers include: longtime patroller and MTR
instructor Mike St. Clair from the Far West Division;
and former patroller and current forensic animation specialist
Brian Brill from Rocky Mountain Division; and Colin Grissom, medical
advisor for the Intermountain Division and president of the Wilderness
Medical Society.
Back by popular demand, the Patroller Challenge returns,
again pitting three-member teams against one another in OEC and
toboggan handling skills. All patrols are invited to create a team and
attempt to dethrone reigning champs "Team Coil" from the Snow
King Ski Area in Jackson, Wyo.
PEC registration forms will be available for download by
mid-October, and conference attendees will receive the same great rate
of $99/night at Snowbird's legendary, slopeside Cliff Lodge. (With an
average annual snowfall of 500", it's a good bet that the
ski-in-ski-out lodging will come in handy.) For more information call
NSP at 303.988.1111.
Sponsor Spotlight: Ortovox 
ORTOVOX S1: Save time. Save lives.
The easy-to-read  display of the S1 transceiver shows an accurate overview
of any burial situation with bearing line and directional arrows for up
to three victims. Distance and direction readout help you make
instantaneous decisions for the most efficient search. Unique, precise
pinpoint search screen further speeds rescue. Update your S1 with the
new 2.1 software to manage transceiver functions and print activity
reports as never before.
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Nomination Committee
2009 Board of
Directors Election Schedule
The NSP Nomination
Committee has been busy reviewing, selecting and announcing candidates
for the 2009 Board of Directors election (see
nominee announcement in the Leadership section above). The remaining deadlines for the election process
include:
October 1 -
Platform statements and candidate information posted at nsp.org.
October 15 - Election begins, electronic ballot opens.
December 1 - Election ends, electronic ballot closes.
To-Be-Determined - Election results are published.
January 1, 2010 - Elected candidates take office.
Fundraising Committee
Fundraising Online Auction Nov 26 - Dec 9
NSP is hosting its first ever online auction - similar to
a silent auction, but in web format and open to the public as well as
NSP members. The auction will be available for preview on October
26th and bidding will be open from November 26th - December 9th.
We are looking to the membership to help make this fundraiser a
success. If you have any piece of unique ski memorabilia, a
company with goods or services, or if your patrol has a resort patch that
you'd like to donate to the auction, please contact Christine Gouwens
at cgouwens@nsp.org / 303.988.1111
x2629 for further information. All donors will have their logo
displayed on the auction homepage to acknowledge support in NSP's
fundraising effort. We need your help to make this a success.
NSP Affinity Car Revenue Sharing Program 
Would you like an extra $50 in your pocket? With an
approved application for the NSP Affinity Card, $50 is automatically
yours! Most division websites are displaying the application,
this is a great way to support NSP on both the National and Local level.
Low APR's, reward points, and cash back are among some of the benefits
- not to mention a percentage of purchases made on the card goes
directly back to NSP to support patroller education and training
programs. Head
to your division website today to apply!
Anniversary Fundraising Campaign
The Anniversary Fundraising Campaign is entering its
second year. Help support this organization's financial stability
and promote quality education programs for all patrollers to
come! You can make a one-time donation, or pledge money over the
course of the next four years until the culmination of the campaign in
2013. Contact cgouwens@nsp.org for more
information, or check your Ski
Patrol Magazine for a pledge card.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee met on Sept 16 to commence work
on the 2010/11 budget. Items discussed include;
- developing a timeline for
the 2009/10 budget cycle
- focusing on prioritizing
projects and goals
- improving communication
with members and providing more opportunities for member
input
The
committee will meet again in 6 weeks to review a draft budget process
plan.
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Meet a Member of the NSP Staff
 Carol Hudson
303-988-1111 ext. 2637
Carol serves as the NSP education assistant and is
responsible for tracking OEC and other elective course
completions.
Hometown: Carol was born in Tulsa, Okla., raised in
Flint, Mich., and now resides in Lakewood, Colo.
Why she loves Colorado: The people
are so friendly, and there are so many activities you can participate
in, like bike riding, theaters, museums, and great football, baseball
or hockey games.
Fun
Facts: Before moving to Colorado, Carol lived in Florida and
spent most of her weekends in the Gulf of Mexico at low tide
spearing mullet, flounder and blue crab. She hosted a great fish fry
nearly every weekend. She also enjoys canoeing, fishing, bike
riding and oil painting.
Snow
Skills: Years ago, Carol injured her knee and has
been unable to ski, though she did go on a snowshoe outing with
office staff and had a great time. She feels ready to get on a pair of
skis, and has had many great patrollers offer to teach her!
She is hoping to hit the slopes next season.
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NSP
Winter Catalog Item of the Month (available
at nsp.org)
Ortovox Patroller Transceiver
 This high-tech, fully automatic avalanche transceiver works
precisely, thanks to easy, self-explanatory functions. The
microprocessor provides a 70-meter range on the international frequency
457 kHz and determines the digital-analog technical features as it
calculates search direction, shows the distance and controls the volume
in the process of quickly and directly leading to the buried
person. Weighs 247 grams with batteries and uses only alkaline
batteries. Comes with a socket for the optional earplug and an
integrated body belt. A five-year warranty is available through
Ortovox. Limited quantities available.
 A limited edition, hand-numbered poster featuring the
popular 2007/08 "Patrol Land" NSP Winter Catalog cover art,
illustrated by award-winning artist Tim Zeltner. Only 450 of the 18 X
24" posters were originally printed, and a limited number are
left. The poster also commemorates NSP's 70th Anniversary. Matte
finish.
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The Writer's Corner
Occasionally we receive poems and other works which
commemorate the organization or the fine work of patrollers. In
this case, we have received a poem from Len Buckland. Len has
been a member since 1992 and patrols for the Nashoba Valley Ski Patrol
in MA. We are sure you will enjoy Len's poem and we invite other
members to submit their works for the Writer's Corner as
well.
The Ski Patrol
On a cold winter morning the snow blowing intense
They come from above carrying explosives and a fence
A cross on their back and you know right away
The national ski patrol has begun their working day
See the rest of the poem by Leonard A. Buckland Jr. HERE
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Final Sweep was created to keep NSP members informed
about national news. If you have news that's relevant to the national
ski patrol audience, we invite you to submit it for consideration for Final Sweep.
Please send it to Kristen
Kennedy by the 15th of each month.
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