ENews from www.nsp.org 8/1/2005

Dear National Ski Patrol Member:

Your board of directors is comprised of members who are listening to and responding to the needs of the membership. Our goal is to increase your value to your local area management as a respected provider of outdoor emergency care services. Just as important, your board is working diligently to serve and protect members by limiting liability to you and to the organization as the nature of patrolling and the industry evolves.

Recently you may have received a solicitation asking you to sign a petition to amend the NSP Colorado Articles of Incorporation regarding voting rights. You should know:

1) This petition is not about your right to vote.

• Each member has a right to vote for the board of directors, something that did not exist in the past. Previously, patrol representatives elected section chiefs, who in turn elected region directors, who in turn elected division directors and/or board representatives. Unless you voted for your patrol representative-and many of you did not-you had no vote. Now, you do. And unless you were participating in the division's political structure, you could not run for the national board of directors. Now, you can.
• The board recognizes that the current voting system is not perfect, and is looking into ways to increase the members' voice in NSP governance.

2) The petition is about a grab for power.

• It is out of touch with today's reality:
  The petition is circulated by a small group of disenchanted members who believe that the NSP should be in charge of area operations, and that they should be able to press forward with this activity without regard to increasing your individual potential legal and financial exposure. Their true agenda is to maintain the illusion of local operational control and preserve their current political positions at your expense.
• It is unofficial:
  The solicitation of this petition is not an action requested or supported by the National Ski Patrol or your board of directors. Those circulating the petition are disappointed that the board did not immediately adopt hastily drafted proposals to return to the old system. The board referred these issues and ideas to the appropriate standing committees for action at the upcoming board meeting.
• It is without legal merit:
  The action that the petition promises is, at best, questionable and will most likely lead the NSP into a legal dispute. Sadly, those circulating the petition have no long-term vision for the NSP, but are only absorbed in their disagreement with board decisions. Apparently, their objective is to create a legal dispute with no positive outcome for NSP.
• It will be costly to you:
  This means that your board will be spending less NSP resources to enhance services. Instead, the board will be forced to spend substantial NSP resources to defend the organization from this small group of members that seek a return to the past for their own selfish purposes.

It is unfortunate that this issue has taken time away from your busy lives. Your board will work diligently to avoid disruption of the benefits and services that you deserve as members of the National Ski Patrol. We will keep you informed of further developments without burdening you. Thank you for your commitment on behalf of the National Ski Patrol

Sincerely,

The National Ski Patrol Board of Directors

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