From the Far the last update there was already close. Women s Summit, March 6-8, An event that is closer to home is here, well, at least

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1 News and Views of the Far West Division, NSP; December, 2016 Volume Eight, Issue Three From the Far the last update there was already close West Division to 500 signed up. That means there are Mark your calendars: Director, only about 100 places left. Believe Women s Clinic, February 16, Bill Gibson me; you won t want to miss Powderfall Heavenly Valley this season. It s here it s Women s Summit, March 6-8, An event that is closer to home is here, well, at least Mammoth Mountain the Squaw Valley Senior S&T. Each for some. The Powderfall, April 6-9, 2017 at March, the Squaw Valley Patrol Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado. n a s t y d r y h o t invited patrollers to one of the most Sea Otter Bicycling Classic at weather is gone and challenging mountains you will ever Laguna Seca Raceway near the wonderful, cold, magical time of ski for three days of both toboggan and Monterey, April 20-23, 2017 year is happening. Winter is back. ski training. You can train with the Far West Awards Dinner, August, Most ski areas are open and the few best instructors, running sleds and 2017, Davis, date TBA that are not are getting very close. And skiing terrain that we have all watched Continually check out the FWD it is not just in the Far West Division, in Warren Miller Films. (and, your own Region s) web Mt Baker is reporting record snow fall This clinic is billed as a senior event for this time of year. Utah and site for updated calendar of but truth be told, it is open to everyone. events & training opportunities! Colorado also have most of the areas Patrollers of every level will gain open and more snow is on the way. Refreshers are done, dues are paid and now it s time to start planning for all the events that will be held this season. The Women s Program will be celebrating the 20th year at Heavenly in February. Yes, for 20 years the ladies have been holding this event and this year they have a great event planned. You won t want to miss it that is if you are one of the lady patrollers, sorry guys. But there will be many events that are open to everyone. Powderfall is back. Every other year the NSP holds this education event. Two years ago it was at the Canyons in Utah. Over 500 patrollers attended and had a great time. This season it will be at Aspen and of you want to attend you better hurry and sign up. Space is very limited and at valuable skills and some will even sign off their senior electives. Plan on attending this season, it will improve your skiing and I think you will agree that it is also a lot of fun. Avalanche, MTR and Nordic folks again meet last month in Yosemite. This year s Tri Advisory was the 38th and it was well attended. Weather was Please see Director, continued p. 7 What s Inside... Alumni program is focus, p. 15, 16 Avalanche updates, p. 3 Awards of the FWD, p. 12 Bike event service, p. 7 Calendar of events, p. 14 Community service options, p. 14 Communications enhances, p. 10 FWD Officers, staff, p. 19 In Memoriam, Grant Elston, p. 11 In Memoriam, Bill Person, p. 11 Instructor Development, p. 2 Masur elected to NSP Board, p. 2 Medical updates, p. 8 Mountain Travel & Rescue, p. 4 Nordic program rolls, p. 17 OEC offers program updates, p. 9 Patrols of the FWD, p. 18 Sea Otter Bike Classic, p. 13 Tri-Advisory in Yosemite, p. 5 Women s Program, p. 6 Women of Squaw Valley, p. 7 Lots more; see inside!

2 Addresses up-to-date? Is your mailing address and e- address current with the National office? Remember, the FWD gets its mailing lists and lists directly from the National office in Denver. If you change your US mail or address, to to your Member Profile to change, and, notify your own patrol. Don't miss out on exciting future issues of FWD News and Views and other NSP publications designed to help you maximize your membership in the Far West Division and the NSP! FWD News and Views News of the Far West Division, NSP Division Director, Bill Gibson Asst. Dir., Nancy Stormswold Asst. Dir., Richard Wilson Arizona Dir., Andrew Youngblood Eastern Sierra Dir., Katie Dumont Mother Lode Dir.,Tony Atkins Northern Cal., Jason Allen Professional Rep, Rich Bailey Southern California, Diana St. Clair Secretary, Janice Waits Treasurer, Keith Dickens Legal Advisor, Josh Masur Registrar, Peggy Jamison Alumni Advisor, Tim Viall Awards Advisor, Ken Bergmann Avalanche Supervisor, Keith Church Certified Advisor, Lance Vaughan Community College Advisor, Steve Thorsted Conferences Advisor, Tony Atkins Instructor Development Super., Doug Hill Mountain Travel and Rescue Supervisor, Karl Chulski Nordic Supervisor, Jeff Gurrola Communications Advisor, Tim Viall Outdoor Emergency Care Supervisor, Kevin Qualseth Outdoor Emergency Transportation Supervisor, Daryl Whitcher Recruitment, John McGuigan Webmaster, Rye Livingston Woman s Program, Trudy Nye The FWD News and Views is published three times yearly, in September, December and February. Deadline is the end of the month prior to publication. Features, photos; send to Tim Viall, fwdnewsletter@farwest.org, or mail to 5854 Turtle Valley Drive, Stockton, CA Ten Tips To become a better NSP Instructor Many of us are already NSP be Instructors teaching courses in one or prepared more of the five National Ski Patrol be education disciplines: professional Avalanche be Instructor Development knowledgeable Mountain Travel & Rescue be a Outdoor Emergency Care model of what Outdoor Emergency you teach Transportation be a Doug Hill, FWD leader and a I n s t r u c t o r C o u l d w e b e c o m e b e t t e r coach D e v e l o p m e n t instructors? take A d v i s o r, f w d - Certainly, none of us are perfect, control and id@farwest.org. although we have many extremely guide when effective and successful instructors in necessary NSP. Below are a few tips taken from stay current with the latest the NSP Instructor Development updates in the course you are textbook, the Instructor Development teaching Instructor Manual, and a few outside sources as well that may help us Tip No. 2: Listen become more effective and successful in teaching our courses. Chances are, Listening is one of the basic if you are a successful NSP Instructor, communication skills needed to be an you may already be using some or all effective educator. But do we really of the following tips in your classes know how to listen effectively? and this may be a review for you. focus on what they are saying focus on what they are doing Tip No. 1: Be the Man/Woman: (non-verbal messages) Walk the Walk listen as much as you speak learn from your students, Since you're the instructor, you they will teach you also usually walk into the classroom or ask didactic questions to onto the slopes with some built-in solicit knowledge degree of assumed credibility. You ask rhetorical questions to must insure that you keep and develop motivate them to think that credibility with your students by listening effectively, you throughout your course. How do you will be able to adjust your teaching do that? as necessary to meet your students be on time Please see Instructor, cont d p. 17 Josh Masur elected to NSP Board! I cannot tell you how honored I am to have been elected to the national Board of Directors. My election is a credit to all of us in the Far West Division. I look forward to representing the FWD and the NSP as a whole at this critical time. Thanks; Josh Masur. FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 2

3 Preparing for the ski season starts before the snow flies. It's not just a matter of tuning skis and repacking your vest. Getting your avalanche head straight is important too. Early season avalanches can be deadly. Our skills may not be to the Introduction for more information Check out this case study of a spring 2013 avalanche honed yet and thin snowpacks and cold temperature can i n c i d e n t a n d r e s c u e i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a : create massive temperature gradients that can form layer of and read this facets that will cause instability now and in the future. We s u m m a r y o f a g r e a t I S S W p r e s e n t a t i o n : may not be as lucky as Nick McNutt was last season: m i s s t e p s - o f - avalanche-pros/. Skier Outruns Massive Avalanche youtu.be This past winter Nick McNutt was skiing in the North Cascades when he faced the most dangerous element of big mountain skiing, an avalanche. Fortunately the... Avalanche Training Has Already Started! Slide: The Avalanche Podcast is an educational and public information resource for all things avalanche related. Listen 10 Common M i s s t e p s o f Avalanche Pros - a d v e n t u re journal Todd L. Guyn is the mountain safety manager at Canadian Mountain Holidays in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Guyn has been on the CMH staff for 22 years, a storied guide... While most patrollers are waiting for AVY classes to start this month and next, your instructor corps has been boning up at the California Avalanche Workshops in South Lake Tahoe and/or the International Snow Science Workshops in Breckinridge. We're also holding our own events. Those who attended Tri Advisory in Yosemite last month were treated to presentations on snowcraft by Glenn Minuth, human factors by Keith Gale, and avalanche technology by the SoCal AVY instructor crew. Don't forget to check in with your local patrol's avalanche advisor to get the date for your on-hill avalanche refresher. I hope to see you on (top of) the snow this season! - Keith Church What Can I Do Now to Prepare? What can you do now? Explore your local avalanche center website. Then check out The Avalanche Podcast's educational resources: S l i d e : T h e Avalanche Podcast Free Listening on SoundCloud Keith Church, FWD AVY Program Supervisor; fwd-avalanche@farwest.org soundcloud.com FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 3

4 Mountain Travel & Resuce offers learning opps! Winter storms are finally upon us environment in all aspects of it, on the with more approaching! As the slopes of the resort and being able and winter storms are beginning to head knowledgeable of the winter survival further south and build-up a snow skills. pack we at the MTR program are Here are the courses that have been looking forward to sufficient snow scheduled. If you would like to learn conditions in the back country to more about the MTR program and join enjoy. in a course contact myself (numbers A new and up-dated curriculum below) or the instructor listed for the has just been released to be in course of interest. alignment with current National SAR standards and a uniform Northern California Region: delivery and course time for the None scheduled at this time. Make MTR program courses around the plans to attend one of the other country. courses. During June 2015 all Division MTR Supervisors from around the Mother Lode Region: country met in Denver to agree upon MTR 1 Classroom the up-date. The National Education To be scheduled Committee finally approved the new Field session March 11- MTR Instructors Manual during 12 Pinecrest their November meeting. It is now available to all MTR For more information contact Keith Gale at Instructors as a down-load on their Member Profile at keith_gale@hotmail.com Course number: F Some of the most significant changes / additions to the Eastern Sierra Region: MTR curriculum: MTR 1 Classroom Dec 03 - FEMA course requirements. MTR Fundamentals and 04 Davis CA MTR 1 require completion of the following free online Field session Feb Truckee, CA courses in the Incident Command System: Overnight Field session Mar Truckee, CA IS-100.b, Introduction to the Incident Command System For more information contact Chris Haagen at cmhaagen@gmail.com IS-700.a, National Incident Management System. Course number: F MTR 2 requires, in addition, completion of IS-200.b, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Southern California Region: Incidents. MTR 1 Classroom Has already been These courses provide nationally recognized held. certifications and have been a part of the MTR curriculum in If you have had your classroom but not the field session several divisions for many years. contact Natalie. Courses have been structured to meet the ASTM Field session Feb TBD F , Standard Guide for Training of Land Search For more info contact Natalie Muraciov at scblackdiamond@yahoo.com Team Member, the national standard for search-and-rescue Course number: F team members The new curriculum was presented to the MTR Arizona Region: Instructors attending Tri Advisory in Yosemite Valley and MTR 1 Classroom TBD was a MTR CE course credit was given. Phoenix area The MTR course presents how to confront the winter Field session Feb 4-5 Ski environment and be prepared. Clothing, nutrition, weather, Sunrise shelter are just a few of the topics presented to prepare for the For more info contact Guy Roll at winter environment in the event of an emergency, SAR, or guy.roll@gmail.com just for the enjoyment of the winter backcountry. The public is expecting us to be skilled in the mountain winter Please see MTR, cont d next page FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 4

5 Mountain Travel, cont d from p. 4 relative comfort and how to be an effective member of an SAR (Search And Rescue) team if called upon by your Hill Course number: F management. These courses and skills are designed for the patroller These courses are designed for the patroller and will that has not taken this type of activity and are increase the skills and knowledge of winter mountain designed to increase your confidence in the survival and travel. winter environment. These courses are opened to all patrollers, Alpine, Karl P. Chulski, FWD-MTR Supervisor, Nordic and Auxiliary. This course is designed to expand Far West Division Mountain Travel & your knowledge and experience of the mountain winter to a Rescue Supervisor, fwd-mtr@farwest.org higher level and gain confidence in how to survive in th 38 annual Tri-Advisory event, Yosemite National Park Held in Yosemite Valley the th 38 annual Tri-Advisory was enjoyed by all attending. Everyone starting arriving on th Friday November 4 with the activities on Saturday ending with a banquet pot-luck style dinner and a camp-out in a secluded camp site in the Yosemite Valley away from all other camp sites and lodging. With fantastic weather to camp all enjoyed the solitude of the special camp site the Park reserves for their special groups. Starting off on Saturday morning was Bill Gibson (FWD division director Mt Shasta) conducted a ID CE course for all to fulfill the instructor's requirement for continuing education every three years to renew their instructorship. The group then divided for the MTR instructor EC and Avalanche CE. These were conducted by the FWD MTR Supervisor (Karl Chulski) and FWD Avalanche Supervisor (Keith Church). Glenn Minuth (Mt Lemon) presented a lecture on Snow Craft and Keith Gale (Pincrest Nordic) presented on the Avalanche Human Factor. New technical products were p r e s e n t e d w i t h G a r m i n - inreach being presented by a i n R E A C H f a c t o r y representative, then Keith Church and James Pruett (Mt Waterman) demonstrating the AVTECH probe and Ave-Air bag. The new ShiftPOD insulated base tent was set-up and used by Mike & Diana St. Clair (So Calif Winter SAR & Mt Pinos), Larry Cody & Melissa Yee (Mt Pinos), and Todor Petrov & Dita (So Calif Winter SAR). Lucky them! The dinner was again organized by Larry Cody and Melissa (Mt Pinos) and was again certainly memorable! Plenty of home-make food cooked at the camp site and brought by everyone was certainly a feast and is now a must attend event. Tri Advisory is sponsored by the MTR (Mountain Travel & Rescue), Avalanche, and Nordic programs and is opened to all members that wish to gain and enhance their knowledge of the winter backcountry. Lodging is either camping at the site where Tri Advisory events are held, or at the RV camp site, or the lodges. Karl Chulski, Mountain Travel Advisor Keith Church, Avalanche Advisor Jeff Gurrola, Nordic Advisor FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 5

6 FWD Women's Program Updates - excitement! There are three great events for you to consider attending this coming season, read on! #1--20th Annual (Wow!) Heavenly Women's Clinic Feb. 26, 2017 At Heavenly Resort, So. Lake Tahoe, CA Go to heavenlyareaskipatrol.org and Women of HAP for more information. 1/2 day toboggans, 1/2 day ski lessons, choose intermediate to advanced terrain, or try the "hair on fire" options Lift ticket and celebratory lunch included, along with prizes and swag! Cost: TBD #2--Women's Summit at Mammoth Mountain, CA (formerly at Squaw) March 6-8, 2017 Ski lessons, workshops, toboggan training for patrollers, great networking and guest speakers Check out the website Photos from recent Women s Clinic (Editor s note - great photo worth repeating); last season, we had a good, lively and talented turnout! And, expecting deep snows and larger women s educational and fun events this ski season. Join us this year! Division Director, continued from page 1 #3--Powderfall 2017 at Aspen Snowmass, CO April 6-8, 2017, come earlier and/or stay longer for additional skiing This event gets more and more popular each season-- you've got to go! Check out the website: erfall-2017-aspen-snowmass/ - Trudy Nye. Trudy Nye, Heavenly Resort; Far West Women's Program A d v i s e r ; trudyenye@gmail.com perfect and early season weather had all the waterfalls that so richly deserve these awards will be recognized. It all running full. This is an educational event that covered the starts with you. latest information on the three core subjects but also As Christmas approaches and the weatherman keeps included an Instructor Development continuing education sending us snow, get out there and make a few turns, attend a course, with an update on the NSP s new IT system. few events and by all means go represent the NSP at your ski The event was topped off with a wonderful dinner, all area. cooked in Dutch Ovens. If you have never attended this Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you on the event, you really should. And this is open to all patrollers, mountain! not just the Nordics. I hope you will plan on attending next year. Bill Gibson, Far West Division Director, NSP A hearty congratulations go out to our own Division Legal Advisor, Josh Masur, just elected to the National Board of Directors! And now is the time to start thinking about the awards program (see page 12). This last year, members of the Far West Division made a very good showing in almost every category of awards at the National level. They received six National outstanding award and two second place awards. This was all made possible because patrollers like you took the time to submit them for these awards. Take a little time and start the process so again this season the patrollers FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 6

7 Bike Ride First Aid - Displaying the NSP Brand! On the September 24-25, 2016 fortunately did not involve loss of weekend the NSP Brand was consciousness or head injuries they favorably displayed at the were treated by assessment, BSI, Multiple Sclerosis Wave to Wine cleansing with alcohol swabs, applying fund raising bike ride. Neosporin antibiotic and a sterile Chuck Herbert, an alumnus dressing. with secondary registration with These treatments, although somewhat the Squaw Valley Volunteer Ski beyond NSP protocols, were prescribed Patrol manned a Medic Station on by the medical guidelines for the event. both Saturday and Sunday. It is hoped that next year even more Chuck has maintained his patrollers may serve in this fun, but highly credentials by updating his CPR useful function that also enhances the and attending the annual OEC image of NSP. refreshers. Many of the 2000 Dates for the 2017 event not yet set, riders commented favorably but will get up on the FWD website, under about NSP as a patrol belt and Community Service Opportunities parka were in evidence and a when we have it! Subaru with NSP stickers was parked near Chuck's Medic Tent. Submitted by Chuck Herbert) The first day's rest stop was in a beautiful copse of redwoods at Nick's Cove overlooking Tomales Bay, while the one of the second day was in a very warm meadow of the Emma Herbert Park in West Marin. Service consisted principally in making available sunscreen for exposed skin and ice bags and ample Ibuprofen for sore muscles. More serious were many road rash abrasions due to falls that Women of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Patrols Editor's Note: Here is a fun and fundraising project for enterprising patrols. For almost three decades, Keoki Flagg has been creating images of and for Lake Tahoe, donating his time and artwork to various charities and foundations. Last year, the women of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows ski patrol were fortunate to be one of them. The photo shown here is an example of what's in the calendar; those remain a surprise. See Teton Gravity Research for a full news item and more photos! FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 7

8 FWD Medical Advisor Update th November There was an NSP Medical Another topic of discussion was updated content for the Advisors conference call. Some very timely issues were next OEC edition. There were various conversations discussed as follows: regarding different content that needed to be added, edited or Medical oversight within the context of maintaining OEC removed. One specific topic was that of backboarding. as an independent first responder program. Some When to backboard or when not to backboard that is the background on this increasingly timely issue is that in question??!!!! A committee was formed to review, compare several states, legislation has been filed where state specific and contrast different EMS agencies policies across the EMS has unsuccessfully tried to take over oversight of the United States and make some recommendations to the rest of OEC program. What this means to us is that if passed, OEC the NSP medical board. would no longer be a self-certifying National independent Our last topic was regarding content to the next OEC text program. In those states that successfully pass legislation to was what addition, editing or removal of content needs to be provide oversight to OEC, then OEC would fall under state addressed for the next version. If anyone that reads this or EMS management. knows someone who has some constructive ideas regarding The understanding from NSP management at this point is content, please contact me (Keith Tatsukawa that NSP needs to design a plan where medical oversight brainfxr@yahoo.com) and I'd love to discuss your ideas with can be performed and documented at a resort level. Every you. other bonified EMS system has a process mandating medical More changes and updates to come.. stand bye.. oversight where individual cases are reviewed and Have a great beginning of the season for most resorts. recommendation made as to the quality of care provided. A committee to construct a proposal was formed and will get back to the NSP Medical Advisors with Keith Tatsukawa recommendations. FWD Medical Advisor Once a viable plan has been reviewed and endorsed by the NSP medical advisory and NSP board, a recommendation will be forwarded to NSAA. Powderfall, Aspen/Snowmass, CO, April 6-9, Next year's huge NSP education event, Powderfall will be held April 6-9, 2017 at Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado. This time frame will also include a DD Team meeting and the National Board Meeting. Start putting the word out so we can have another great event and high attendance from the Far West Division. I know our Lakewood staff is putting a lot of effort into this and no one will want to miss it! Bill Gibson, FWD Director FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD website: Page 8

9 OEC courses, Senior Programs, OEC program By this time most of our OEC courses and refreshers These QA forms are ALL read and not just briefly have been completed. Our Instructor of records for the looked over. I do read them all. OEC courses and refreshers have put in many hours The QA form for other OEC courses are just as preparing their courses and preparing their students for important. They might bring to light to the IOR that the final exam, and for the refresher day. Lots of work there was too much talk or not enough hands. Please use goes into this preparing and organizing. the QA forms for all events. A Big Thank You to FWD OEC Instructor Trainers, It appears that most are using the online refresher but Instructor of Records and Instructors, for contributing not all have got the hang of it quiet yet. Some are still to all of our FWD OEC classes and for the success of the lecturing quite a bit and this is not necessary. We should candidates, and patrollers involved. This commitment be going into a skills scenario set and not talking too is Hugh and takes a division of staff to accomplish it. much. Thanks to all who have committed so much of their Now if we can get national to include more of the time to teaching and organizing these classes. Thank workbook into the online portion this would be ideal, you to the IOR's for organizing and providing teaching maybe soon. opportunities for our OEC instructors and keeping them. OEC Instructor Recertification's If you are an OEC instructor there are Quality Assurance forms. recertification's that need to be met before you can There have been a few of the Quality Assurance continue on as an OEC instructor. This recertification forms returned from the refreshers but I'm still waiting period takes place every three years for the remainder to review. The Q.A. forms provide information for the Refresher committee, and OEC National requires OEC Instructors to be actively supervisors to build better refreshers, and to provide teaching as to not lose their skills. input for quality OEC classes. The forms are a valuable tool for us to review the success, or improvement The second thing that we need to do is to attend a needed of a course. This year after reviewing the National, Divisional, or Regional Instructor Quality Assurance forms that were returned, there was recertification clinic every three years. more moulage being used to help with the scenarios. It is always helpful to be as realistic as we can, Instructors are required to be observed and scenarios are tough anyway so the more we can make evaluated by an IT every three years. This things realistic the better for the testing candidates and evaluation is to be shared with the instructor, this refreshing patrollers. I DO READ EVERY QA FORM is to be made available to the Region OEC SENT TO ME. It is so important for all patrollers to administrator for recertification purposes. turn in the evaluation page at the end of your refresher workbook when your refresher day is over. This gives Instructors themselves are required to attend and the IOR a big idea on how the event went through your complete a full refresher each year. This could be eyes. The IOR can stand back and think that all is good a refresher at another area or at your local but until they see the evaluations' of the participants, the instructor refresher, either way the instructor IOR doesn't really know. needs to attend every station to be refreshed and The IOR can use this information for improvement be signed off Please see OEC, continued p. 12 for the next year's refresher. The Refresher QA Form that the visiting Instructor Trainer fills out, which is in the back of the Refresher Instructor workbook, is a great tool to provide T h a n k y o u a l l, K e v i n information to the Region Director and to the Division Q u a l s e t h, F W D O E C OEC Supervisor. This information goes with the S u p e r v i s o r, f w d - Supervisor to their yearly meetings and is reviewed for oec@farwest.org; H (559) ; C (559) success and improvement needs of the refreshers. FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD website: Page 9

10 OEC, continued from p. 11 rep. as attending a refresher. See the list of the Senior Trainer Contact your Regional OEC Coordinators (advisors) for each Region: Administrator for more details ESR- David Pinsky on the recertification process. North Cal -Bill Gibson South Cal -James Southerland Senior Program training and AZ- Andrew Youngblood evaluation dates MLR- Chris Peterson to be announced soon The above STC's are the ones in By this is the time we should be charge of the OEC Senior program in the thinking about registering and regions of FWD scheduling Senior training sessions, We have many Senior Trainer and planning the date for your senior Evaluators that need to take the T/E evaluations. There needs to be a date in clinic as their three year cycle is up. See your regional everyone's mind to be totally prepared, including the STC for the scheduling of this course. Please do not let Trainers and Evaluators. your Trainer Evaluator certification laps as the program The OEC MODULE OF THE SENIOR PROGRAM depends on you as trainers and evaluators. is supervised by the Division's OEC Supervisor. This is to maintain the same consistency and quality assurance YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD for all OEC MODULE OF THE SENIOR PROGRAM AS YOU TRAIN! candidates across the nation. Kevin Qualseth, FWD OEC Supervisor, (559)781- Do you qualify to enter the Senior Program? Contact 7208, (559) your Senior Advisor within your patrol or your patrol Communications enhanced in FWD, regions; both the Far West Division and Facebook page offer new looks, new information! Did you know that both the FWD web site and the FWD Facebook page have been enhanced and improved to share information with patrollers and alumni? successes, fun activities and to recruit patrollers and alumni into off-hill and on-hill activities. Take a look, and get in the habit of posting those cherished photos and success stories that come As an example, is you need w i t h p a t r o l l i n g! G o t o : insight on Awards, go to the web page and click Awards in the Member Programs area. The FWD web site offers a new look, new organization and offers new options l i k e C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e / and Join the page! It s there for you and your patrol! On the Facebook site, you can post up news to reach our FWD members, upcoming events and special projects, or Opportunities. This option offers just good skiing insight worthy of patrollers a place to post events and sharing. So, check it out, and use it! recruit NSP members to take part. If you are sharing news of your patrol To see the start of this new resource or region, also remember to send it along for you, the patroller, go to: for inclusion in the FWD News and Views newsletter (next deadline is grams/cso/cso.html. January 25, for the February, 2017 issue. The FWD Facebook page And, take a look at your region s continues to grow in interest (almost offerings in these areas, as well. The 600 FWD members) and utilization Take the time to scan the updated FWD whole idea is to better communicate as more patrollers and patrols use it website, and to join and use the contiually programs and opportunities to you, to as a place to communicate their improving FWD Facebook page! improve your NSP experience! FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 10

11 In Memoriam: Bill Person On July 7, 1016 NSP lost a very prodigious in the amount of time he gave valuable and beloved member when to NSP, it was not unusual the he taught 2 Bill Person passed on. For decades or 3 OEC and ID courses in a season. He Bill had been one of the most was able to propagate his ideas even more i n n o v a t i v e a n d p r o d u c t i v e effectively when he was ESR OEC instructors in OEC and Instructor Administrator from 2009 through Development in the Eastern Sierra Being an information technology Region (ESR )of the Far West professional, Bill was also instrumental in Division (FWD). setting up the early reginal websites for He had been an ardent back the ESR and MLR. He then supported country enthusiast when he joined them as webmaster for several years. the Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol in Not only did Bill do marvelous things Within two years, due to his high energy and for local patrols and regions, but he also helped to display the continuous search for knowledge and excellence, he had NSP brand in Europe. He participated in three European Patrol taken many NSP courses including Instructor Seminars in 2004, 2006 and 2008, sharing experiences and Development, Global Phase II and OEC Phase II. camaraderie with pisteurs, pisten retters and the soccorso Subsequently he took Level I and level II Avalanche, alpino in France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. On another Level I and Level II MTR. He passed Senior Emergency occasion he provided first aid support on a two month Management in European bicycle tour. He loved to teach and became a legend as an OEC and Other contributions to the outdoor community outside NSP Instructor Development (ID) Instructor. It was no wonder included innumerable presentations on backcountry survival that he became an Instructor IT in both disciplines. As to boy scout and school groups. In his beautiful modern house such, he had a significant impact on the teaching of OEC on the shore of Donner Lake, which is very near the Pacific throughout the ESR and Motherlode Region (MLR). He Crest Trail, for years he provided overnight accommodations expected his students to master the content of a course on to hikers who had been on the trail for many weeks. their own time and reserved class time exclusively for His work did not fail to be recognized by NSP. He was realistic scenarios. Although patient and friendly he was awarded several Merit Stars and was Outstandng Instructor at a no nonsense taskmaster. By course end his students the region and division level. In 2005 Bill received LCA were thoroughly drilled In what really mattered and none #8377. of them ever failed the final evaluation. He also initiated Whether you knew Bill in the back country, as a student, as the teaching of OEC on an intense basis. This meant an information technology expert, in Europe or just over a stein having daily sessions for a week or 10 days in November of beer you will dearly miss his friendship and expertise, we or December to meet the special needs of newly recruited all will. Submitted by Chuck Herbert, FWD Alumni Patrol. paid patrollers in the Lake Tahoe area. Bill was most In Memoriam: Grant Elston, Grant Thomas Elston passed away on at Dodge Ridge Ski Area and spending time Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the age of 31 in with his family. Members of the Dodge Ridge Modesto, CA. Grant was born on April 1, National Ski Patrol will long remember 1985 in Modesto, CA to James and Patricia Grant s friendly smile, his patrolling skills and (Souza) Elston. He was raised and received his service to the skiing public. his education in the Modesto community Grant is survived by his wife, Brianne having been a graduate of Central Catholic Elston; his son, Thomas G. Elston; his parents, High School with the Class of James and Patricia Elston; his sister, Marisa Grant was united in marriage to (Thomas) Olsen; and his grandmother, Dehlia Brianne J. Kennedy on December 27, 2014 Elston. Also surviving are his niece and in Pacific Grove, CA. Following their nephew, Jackson Olsen and Camryn Olsen. marriage, Grant and Brianne had since A funeral service was held on Tues., Oct. resided in Modesto, CA. He was employed 11, 10am at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. at Thorsen's Air Conditioning as an HVAC Soderquist Rd., Turlock, CA. Donations in T e c h n i c i a n. Grant's memory may be made to the Thomas Among his special interests, Grant enjoyed working with his Elston Trust Fund at any Chase Bank. Submitted by Tim tools, skiing and being a member of the National Ski Patrol Viall. FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 11

12 FWD Awards nominations due February! The ski season is upon us, your patrol is warming to the Useful information for a National Outstanding nominee includes action; did you realize that it s only a few months before award information on the nominee's outside activities that support the nominations are due - is your patrol on it? NSP, relationships with other ski related organizations, use of NSP You may not realize behind each of these winners is a small skills outside of the industry, the nominee's contributions to group or a dedicated individual that took the time to sit down and patrolling, a detailed history of the nominees patrolling career, write up a nomination. In my view just being nominated for one of including NSP offices held, classes taught, hours on and off the hill, these National Outstanding awards is an honor in itself because and awards received. One of the items you will need is the nominees someone thought enough of you to take several hours out of their NSP history. This is NSP history is available to your patrol day, do some research and type up your nomination. As the ski representative online. I also have access to individual NSP history. season begins, the award season begins and it is time to start If you need a copy, please ask us and we will get it to you. Once all thinking about who you should nominate for an award. this information is gathered you can sit down and type it into the The NSP has two categories of awards, the National awards form. Outstanding Awards and what I call the general awards. The Allow time for the award to work its way through the system. general awards include things like Merit Stars, Angle Pins, Service These awards are reviewed by your Patrol Representative, Region Pins and National Appointments. These awards can be written up Awards Advisor, Region Awards Board, Region Director, Division and submitted to your local awards advisor at any time. The Awards Advisor, Division Director, and even the National Awards National Outstanding awards include Outstanding Alpine Patroller, Advisor. All this takes time so allow at least 60 days to for the Outstanding Auxiliary, Outstanding Instructor and Outstanding nomination to run it's course. Patrol. These awards are on a timeline and must be submitted to Your Region and Division awards boards are here to help honor your region awards advisor in February. (Check with your region our own. Do not hesitate to ask for our help. We know there are awards advisor or your regional calendar for the specific date.) many deserving patrollers that work tirelessly with little or no To nominate any individual for any award you can start by compensation other than a few great turns here and there. Take a choosing the correct award for the individual. You can see the little time to write them up and honor them for their many criteria for each award by downloading chapter 10 of the NSP contributions. Again, if you need help, your regional and division Policies and Procedures. If that seems like too duanting a task just awards advisors are here to provide you with the assistance you ask your region awards advisor or you can ask me directly at need; if you need help, ask!. percuss@pacbell.net. We will be happy to give you advice and guidance on the best way to honor your nominee. Once you have selected the award, download the form from the Submitted by Ken Bergmann, Far West Division Awards Advisor, 956 NSP website, Or again, you can ask me or your regional awards Santa Lucia Dr., Pleasant Hill, CA advisor. We can send you the forms. Review the form and start 94523; kennyb@pacbell.net. gathering the required information. For Merit Stars you will need to get the facts, timeline and specific actions of the nominee. For National Outstanding awards you will need to do some research. Get published...we want to hear from you! Your Far West photo s content. If News and Views yo u a r e m a i l i n g newsletter is actively photos and want seeking news and them back, please photos of the patrols e n c l o s e s e l f - and patrollers of the addressed envelope. Far West Division. FWD News and Views is published three times yearly, in Send submissions to FWD Communications Advisor September, December and late in the-season. Deadline is the T i m V i a l l, e i t h e r e l e c t r o n i c a l l y t o : f wd - 25th of the month prior to publication; NEXT deadline is newsletter@farwest.org, or by U. S. mail to 5854 Turtle January 25 for our February, 2017 issue! Valley Drive, Stockton, CA If you are sending Features, photos welcomed, please submit items with the photos and want them returned, please send a self-addressed Five W s: Who, What, When, Where and How, and, if sending envelope. photos, please include an identifying cut line noting the FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 12

13 Mark your calendars: join fifty-plus FWD patrollers, family and friends at Sea Otter Classic bicycling event! Calendar the date; join 50+ ski patrollers, family and friends for first-aid d u t y a n d c o u r s e marshaling at the Sea Otter Classic, April 20-23, 2017 at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey/Salinas, CA. It s the USA s largest outdoor biking extravaganza. In 2016, Dodge Ridge Patrol led in numbers, with their 20+ members joined by Alpine Meadows, Bear Valley, Heavenly Valley, Homewood, Mountain High, Mt. Bachelor Nordic (of the Pacific Northwest Division) and Sugar Bowl. The group was joined by several Wilderness First-aiders and EMTs, as well as family members. These patrollers and friend s volunteer service earned $4,600 for their patrols! NSP members and friends receive free camping and admission, as well as two NSP barbecues and found time to ride their bikes, attend the huge trade show and make new NSP friends! The Sea Otter Classic features everything from mountain biking, dual slalom, road racing and cross-country - thrills and spills that draw 9,500+ (yes, 9,500) competitors, ranging from avid pro and amateur bikers - and 60,000 spectators. A trade show with 600+ vendors wowed our attendees! For more insight, check the Sea Otter web site at: Patrollers, family and friends receive FREE CAMPING and ADMISSION right in the Laguna Seca paddock-area at Ski Patrol Central. Motorhomes, trailers and tents make for cozy accommodations and all will enjoy the Friday and Saturday night NSP barbeques! Mark your calendars, April 20-23, 2017: For more info, contact Tim Viall, Coordinator for NSP Volunteers for the Sea Otter Classic, ; tviall@msn.com. Clockwise from top left, two bikers ascend Skyline Road on the crosscountry course in old Ft. Ord backcountry; the FWD first aid crew for the backcountry courses prepare to depart for assignments, including BETA team members ( B i c y c l e E q u e s t r i a n Tr a i l Assistance volunteers, in orange vests/shirts) and NSP patrollers, and tents, motorhomes made for cozy evenings at Ski Patrol Central. Join the NSP team in April for NSP service and fun!

14 New option on FWD website for Community Service Opportunities Got a big outdoors event that could use NSP help? Looking for an off-season way to utulize your OEC skills? Check out your Far West Division web site for new options/opportunities! Recently added: Community Service Opportunities offer a place to list upcoming events that showcase NSP first-aid and leadership talents - such as major events that utilize NSP first-aiders (like the Sea Otter Classic). This option offers patrollers a place to post events and recruit NSP members to take part. To see the s t a r t o f t h i s n e w r e s o u r c e f o r y o u, t h e p a t r o l l e r, g o t o : List your events and opportunities! If you are working to organize NSP firstaiders for Tough Mudder events, annual Cerebral Palsy bike-a-thons, community fund-raising events, big outdoor events like the Sea Otter Classic and more, list them! And, don t forget to work to enlist your alumni to assist! And, make a habit of scanning the FWD website for continuing updates on such events and programs - as well as new developments in your Far West Division! Send your event and activity postings, with the who, what, where, when and how to FWD Webmaster Rye Livingston, webworker@farwest.org. Also send your events to Tim Viall, FWD Newsletter Editor, tviall@msn.com and we will profile them in FWD News and Views. Pictured, left to right, Dori Bietz and Mike Fanelli worked the Tough Mudder event at Northstar this summer; NSP members and an NSP Subaru worked the Headwaters 50 K Trail Run last summer, and almost 40 patrollers and family members worked at, and enjoyed off time, at the Sea Otter Bike Classic in April. Please post notices for such events on the FWD website, and, scan the site for volunteer opportunities! FWD Events Calendar: Women s Clinic, February 16, Heavenly Valley Women s Summit, March 6-8, Mammoth Mountain April 6-9, 2017, Powderfall, Snowmass, Colorado April 20-23, 2017, Sea Otter Bicycling Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey Far West Awards Dinner, August, 2017, Davis, TBA Post your key events in News and Views, send to editor Tim Viall, tviall@msn.com. See the FWD Web site for updated calendar and training opportunities: Winter To Dos for more NSP fun...! Easy as the A, B, Cs! A: Skis: Get those skis tuned (take them to a ski shop for an edge and base job). B: Breakfast of Champions? Plan to eat well and improve your diet with good nutrition. And, get plenty of hydration - you ll be a better athlete because of good food/drink choices! And, stay hydrated on the slopes! C. Keep fit: Give some time to getting fit; drop a few pounds, walk, play golf, jog or get into the gym! Rewards come on slope! Winter returns to the Sierra soon; be ready! FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 14

15 FWD Alumni program, updates and suggestions Are you, as a patroller, considering moving to alumni For more info, the NSP Alumni brochure and draft Patrol status? Alumni Advisor position description, go to: I did that, myself, a year ago - after a 33-year NSP career click on Member Programs, then on Alumni. with the Dodge Ridge National Ski Patrol and the Mt. For individual patrols, several suggestions: Spokane National Ski Patrol. For me, it was a combination of a) Appoint someone from your patrol as your alumni maturation (OK, getting older), other activities such as a travel advisor (you will find a simple draft Patrol Alumni Advisor Job writing retirement career taking me out of the state for big Description on the Far West Division web site)). chunks of time, and the feeling it was time for new blood to b) Send me that Advisor's contact information. take over the slots at my patrol that I had been involved with. c) If you already have an active alumni program, and But, I remain involved with my Dodge Ridge Patrol as ideas/events that worked like crazy, please share them with alumni advisor, and continue on as the FWD Newsletter me (I am also the FWD Newsletter Editor, and will profile Editor and Alumni Advisor. After 34 years, NSP-service is in those best practices in future newsletter issues, as well as your blood. share them with all MLR Alumni Advisors). I am hoping to assist as best I can in the coming ski year in d) Ask your area and patrol to host a patrol and/or promoting, rewarding and energizing your patrol's alumni Regional Alumni Ski Day, typically in the spring; you ll see program, and our Division's Alumni program. And, if you details on next page! have reached the point in your NSP service where you are e) See the NSP's Alumni brochure on the Far West web site considering becoming an NSP alumni, rather than an active I would suggest you post several copies in your patrol room, patroller, continue on as an alumni patroller. I pose a couple and share the electronic copy with members of your patrol questions for you and your patrol: so that, when they move, retire or just-plain drop out they For Individual patrollers: If you are an individual realize there is a valuable choice to be made and to remain an patroller considering alumni status, check out the NSP Alumni NSP Alumni. brochure on the web site, and consider Alumni status. It gives Questions or suggestions welcomed! you ongoing NSP registration, access to NSP catalogue and sweet deals, invitations to yearly Alumni events (like the March Tim Viall, FWD Alumni Advisor, 16 Alumni Day), info from the NSP and your individual patrol fwd-alumni@farwest.org; and the halo status of continuing your NSP affiliation! And, F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o, g o t o : talk with your individual patrol's leadership; there is always a click on Member place for an alum who seeks to stay active in unique ways to Services, then, Alumni! match your talents! Best Alumni practices sought! The Eastern Sierra Region does an annual Alumni Reunion, a number of patrols in the Far West Division work hard to involve their alumni in patrol affairs and patrol activities/celebrations (see next page!), and several FWD alumni are regulars at such annual off-hill activities like the Sea Otter Bike Classic each year. Of course, the questions remain: how do we retain patrollers as alumni members of the NSP (rather than just dropping out ), how do we involve them in patrol and/or regional activities; can we use their skills to mentor newer patrollers? I am sure you have more questions or thoughts. Please share your best programs and success stories with Tim Viall, FWD Alumni Advisor (and FWD Newsletter Editor), tviall@msn.com. We will compile the best ideas, top programs and events that worked like crazy, and tap the National office for their advice, as well. Watch for an article in future issues of News and Views. Renew alumni dues on-line! Alumni members; renew your NSP Dues on-line. I have had this question come up several times recently can I renew my Alumni Membership on-line? Here's how to do it; an Alumni member merely: a) Logs into the NSP web site, with member number and your Password, then, b) At top, upper right where it will say "Hi, (member name)" - merely click on that icon, and it takes you to your My Profile page, then, at bottom left of the Profile, click on the "Renew Now" button, and it allows you to pay with a choice of credit cards, Pay Pal and the like. It works; I just did that, myself. Submitted by Tim Viall, FWD Alumni Advisor FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 15

16 Southern Cal Alumni invite alums for January, 2017; celebrate! The Southern California Region November 21, nearly 40 NSP Alumni are inviting all alumni as well members and their families came as regular members of NSP to join us out to the So Cal Region Alumni's for a ski day at Snow Valley on first event of the year: A night with Wednesday January 11th, Why Warren Miller. fight the weekend lines when you can Seeing the annual Warren Miller join us for some incredible weekday Ski film is the unofficial start of skiing/boarding? winter and "Here, There, and This is the first of several ski days Everywhere" was no exception. the Alumni are planning for our local We were at the Lido Theater in mountains. To sign up please contact Newport Beach, the same theater Tom Caruso, Assistant Region that Warren himself would narrate A l u m n i A d v i s o r, a t the movie live many many years tom888tcaruso@hotmail.com or ago. We hope to see more people We look forward to an there next year, "same time, same incredible La Nina winter. place". Submitted by Tom Caruso, Pictured at right: On Monday cell Regional Alumni Celebration days are shaping up for 2017 season! As you will read above, the Southern Cal Region is inviting FWD members to journey south and join them for an alumni ski day at Snow Valley Resort on Wednesday January 11. Both the Eastern Sierra Region (who have graciously hosted visiting alumni in recent years at Sugar Bowl and Heavenly Valley) and the Mother Lode Region are also working on alumni days later in the ski season. If your patrol and resort would like to host, contact your region director or alumni advisor! At right, Eastern Sierra and MLR alumni who gathered to ski, share old patrol tales, catch up and remain involved in the NSP at Heavenly Valley Resort in March, Thanks to Heavenly for hosting the gathering! Dodge Ridge Patrol continues Alumni Fun Days on 4th Fridays! For , the Dodge Patrol alumni remain active in patrol Ridge NSP continues a monthly events and fund-raisers. Dodge Ridge Fourth Friday Alumni Fun alumni and alums from other FWD Patrols Day series of events. In also make up a good portion of the January, February and March, volunteer force at the huge Sea Otter 2016, about 18 alumni and Classic in April each year, helping earn several family members and $4.600 for their service - income for their friends joined on the mountain patrols. for coffee, sharing of tall tales This year, Dodge Ridge hopes to draw and skiing and celebrated the more alumni and their family members to resort s 65th anniversary. the fourth Friday Alumni events, and to In recent years, a growing engage more alumni in both fun activities percentage of Dodge Ridge and service to their old patrol and to the FWD News and Views, December, 2016 Check the new FWD web site: Page 16