National Outstanding Ski Patrols

1
Welcome Central Division Patrollers

• Agenda
• Kick Off - Jim Woodrum
• Awards Gregg Reese Dick Jacques
• Ski Industry Update Chris Stoddard
• Recruiting Christopher Morris
• Panel Discussion on Recruiting Sandi Hammons,
  Alida Moonen, Christopher Morris
• National Office Wayne
• Block
• Wrap Up Jim Woodrum

2
Building a Great Ski Patrol for your Area

• Jim Woodrum
• Central Division Director
• National Ski Patrol

3
How to build your Patrol

• Area Owner/Managers request of us in Central
• Strong Skiers/Riders
• New/Young Recruits
• Elements Needed for Strong Patrols
• Whats in this for the Owners/Area Managers

4
Last few years Area Owners requested a couple of
things from us!

• 1. Help patrollers be better skiers/riders,
  because they represent the area.

5
What we have done!

• Increased our Ski/Toboggan Workshops to 3/yr.
  Last year we were at Trollhaugen, Granite Peak,
  Boyne Highlands w/ nearly 300 Instructors/Inst.
  Trainers
• Increased our Skier Enhancement Seminars to over
  32 last year with over 400 participants
• Increased our Toboggan Enhancement Seminars to
  over 44 with over 800 participants
• Increased our NSP-C Ski School to over 175
  members with 25 Level III, 40 Level II, 50 L Is,
  and many dual ASEA/PSIA
• We have 570 Toboggan Instructors which includes
  122 Toboggan Instructor Trainers in the Central
  Division

6
2nd Request

• Owners asked us to help with recruiting
  new/younger patrollers into the system

7
Here is what we did!

• We increased the number of junior patrollers and
  the number of areas that utilize juniors
• We conducted three seminars at the Fall 08
  Division meeting to show how successful patrols
  are recruiting new members
• We have yet another seminar being presented at
  the Fall 09 Division meeting
• We had the privilege of honoring our own CD
  Outstanding National Student Patroller in 08 and
  we repeated again this year, TBA

8
How to build a Great Ski Patrol

• Suggestions that may help
• Your patrol is integrated into the area
  management structure as a department of the area
• Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers
• Continuous investment in Patrol and Personal
  Skills development
• Higher Level Credentialing instructors,
• ITs, region/division leaders
• Customer Service
• Skier Outreach promoting the area
• Risk Management Considerations

9
Patrol Leadership Roles

• Each Patrol Director/Representative combines to
  make up a Region Board of Directors
• Each Region Director combines with the other
  regions to compose the Central Division BOD.
• Each Region and the Division has a staff to carry
  out the NSP main mission deliver educational
  courses with credentialing
• This mission means we need instructors and events
  to be able to deliver these programs
• There are many opportunities for patrollers to
  become instructors/trainers in the many national
  programs and/or leadership roles in the
  region/division/national

10
Why is it important that you integrate Patrol
Leadership into the area management structure?
11
Why is it important to integrate Patrol
Leadership into the area team?

• They get clear direction from area
  owner/management!
• The talent on the patrol is an untapped resource
  that can be used, if asked!
• They are at the area because they want to be
  there, they arent forced to be there!
• The center of many volunteers is a core value
  where they want to help!
• They want the business to be successful!

12
Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers

• People have less and less discretionary time and
  money
• Why would an area owner/manager want to join
  your patrol
• ????
• ????
• Whats in this for them

13
What makes a patroller tick!

• Patrollers want to help others
• Patrollers want to give back or contribute to the
  sport or industry
• Patrollers enjoy teaching others what they know
• Patrollers want to contribute to the communities
• They like being a part of the outdoor environment
• They want to enjoy themselves and ski/ride
• Patrollers want to be a part of and belong
• Patrollers want to become better skiers/riders

14
Investment in Patrol and Personal Skills
Development

• Create an environment where the patrol is self-
  sufficient in all NSP Programs
• MTR, Avalanche, SR, Ski/Riding, Toboggan, OEC
• Develop Instructors/Trainers
• Host events where the patrol can show their
  Moxie!
• Export the patrols talents for others to learn
• Help the patrol find financial routes to offset
  some of their costs, ie, fund raising,
  contributions, donations, etc.

15
Higher Level Credentialing instructors, ITs,
region/division leaders

• To improve skiing skills we use the PSIA/ASEA
  teaching, progression from Level I to III
• Instructors/Instructor Trainers in all
  disciplines
• Program advisors/supervisors/directors
• Leadership roles within the patrol,
• section, region and division
• Leadership roles in other volunteer
  organizations, Special Oylmpics,
• Red Cross, etc.

16
Focus on Customer Service

• Patrols use programs like, Excuse Me Please
• Training takes place to help patrollers
  understand what role they can play in Customer
  Service
• Patrollers dont want to be police, they want an
  environment where people dont get hurt
• Since we are in the entertainment/recreational
  industry, we need to help patrollers understand
  the expectations that are important to area
  owners/managers

17
Skier/Rider Outreach promoting your area

• Patrollers attend and promote the area with local
  ski clubs/groups
• Patrollers help support and host community events
  like the Special Olympics
• Patrollers have radio/TV/newspaper spots to
  promote the area
• Patrollers meet with skier/rider group leaders to
  help them with skier services

18
Risk Management Considerations

• Your management team, including patrol
  leadership, reviews accident facts and
• takes steps to improve performance
• Accident grids
• Terrain Park issues
• Accident follow- ups
• Types and body parts affected
• Investigate links with hill operations, time of
  day, skills of skiers/riders, etc.

19
So whats in all of this for area owners/managers!

• Highly skilled staff in the following
• First Aid
• Skiing Toboggan Techniques
• Rescue processes
• chair evac
• rope rescue techniques
• Missing customers
• Back country survival
• Various equipment knowledge
• Etc.
• Ambassadors for the areas

20
Why Patrols?

• Most of the Insurance Carriers look for it
• Brand Equity with the NSP Logo
• Customers know us and expect us to be there
• Customers trust us
• Risk Management Support
• Customer Relations
• Credentialed/Competent help on the slopes
• Knowledgeable interfaces with outside agencies,
  i.e. fire, police, rescue, life squads, etc.

21
Whats in it for Patrollers

• It changes, at first most likely it is the free
  skiing/riding
• Camaraderie with a common interest, ski/ride
• Being a part of your resort
• A way to give back to the sport/industry
• Part of a bigger community
• A part of an extended family
• 
  
  End

22
Division Direction for the 09/10 Ski Season

• Toboggan and Ski Refreshers registered on
  National Database
• Patroller 101 Registered in every Patrol with
  Candidates
• SESs at every area
• Continue recruiting new diverse patrollers
  Generation Y, snowboarders, pinners
• Continue to use our programs and promote Senior
  and Certified Patrollers
• Create a Professional Image