FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

What’s Going On?

 

Simply stated, there are National Ski Patrol members throughout the Nation who are unhappy with the perceived direction of our organization.  Many Patrollers believe that this unhappiness has been building for some time, but current events have brought it in to focus for many members of the National Ski Patrol.  The roots of the dissatisfaction are diverse, but how risk management is conducted by the NSP National organization is a recurring theme.  When one thinks of risk management, the term “risk” infers some threat to an asset.  To some, the current risk to the NSP and its members relates to a threat to our business and monetary assets.  To others, the current threat is to our human assets.  These human assets include our members’ spirit and the strong bond of camaraderie that we share as patrollers, assets that form the historic fabric of our organization.  Many Patrollers feel that if that fabric is lost, then it is a moot point to protect the business assets as NSP will no longer attract members.  This is, of course, a very simplistic description of some very complex issues.

 

Then How Does Protecting the “Fabric” of Our Membership Protect the Organization?

 

NSP is a strong organization because of its members.  Our members are high achievers in their other lives outside of patrolling and, for the most part, were attracted to our organization to be among others like themselves and to donate their time in service to the public.  In order for our organization to not only survive, but to thrive, we must be able to attract and train new members and support the existing members.  This takes a very large commitment from our fellow Patrollers who are instructors and program support personnel.  Much of the current concern with the direction of our organization is coming from this core group.  These Patrollers have invested untold hours of their personal time in support of the growth and improvement of NSP.  If these patrollers feel disenfranchised and are no longer willing to support the NSP, then the ability of the NSP to deliver programs, its stated mission, will be lost. 

 

What About Risk Management Then?

 

Presently, one of the current concepts to help reduce risk is to make our membership as National Ski Patrol members less visible to the public.  The goal is to associate patrollers with their home mountain, who, as we all understand, are our “employers” (or truly are the employers of the paid patrol) and not with the NSP organization.  Overall, the concept can be described as trying to make the exterior of our organization very slick and smooth so that those that wish to attack us cannot easily find a foothold.  The National Leadership believes less visibility will provide a very strong defensive position.  This is why back crosses with the text “National Ski Patrol” will no longer be sold by the National office.

 

So What’s the Problem?

 

Many members feel, as do some attorneys, that while this defensive action may show good short-term results, the long-term ramifications may, in fact, hurt us.  NSP has been known from its inception as an organization of folks who help the public and do not seek reimbursement for this help.  There was a time when the sight of patrollers in NSP uniforms was common in the United States and the presence of NSP through advertisement and safety programs was strong.  We were easily identified as the “good guys” in the winter sports community.  That positive image helps to protect us.  Many feel that that with the desire to make us less vulnerable to attack, that this image is fading in the publics’ consciousness and in the long term that protection from our good image will be lost.

 

Can We Still Get Sued?

 

Yes, as long as there are attorneys, laws, and courts, the threat of a lawsuit against your mountain, the NSP, and even an individual Patroller exists.  This is in fact not a new concept or something that has just been a concern to the NSP just in recent years.  In the “The National Ski Patrol Manual” printed in 1941, there is an entire chapter dedicated to the issue of “Legal Liability”, so this is clearly not a new issue.  What has changed is the strategy of how to blunt the attacks that may be made against us.

 

So There Is More to This Than Just About the Back Crosses?

 

Yes, much more.  The decision by our National Leadership to discontinue the sale of back crosses with the “National Ski Patrol” text on them was a catalyst that did prompt many Patrollers to publicly express their concerns.  Most would agree however that the back cross issue was just a spark that ignited an already volatile mixture of member dissatisfaction and that spark could have come from any number of issues.  Essentially what is currently at stake is the direction of the NSP and what our members want the NSP to look like in the future.

 

O.K, Why Not Just Tell the National Board That We Are Unhappy and Have Them Fix It?

 

Several of the Division Directors did meet with the National Board in June and expressed that members were unhappy and suggested changes that would start to address our members’ concerns.  One of the questions that was asked by the Board was how they could know that the presentations were, in fact, the will of the membership of their respective Divisions?  Prior to acting on the proposals, the National Board would like to know if they are hearing from a vocal minority, or the majority of NSP Patrollers.

 

What Has Been Done Then?

 

The Eastern Division, along with the Rocky Mountain Division and the Central Division, presented proposals to the National Board in June.  Although the proposals were slightly different, all of the Division Directors present, and, in fact, most of the Division Directors have agreed that three things need to change first.  Generally they are:

 

·         Allow the members a direct vote for the National Board and give the members a choice in their vote.  Currently, there are just the same amount of names as vacancies and the election is held using a default proxy process.

·         Change the way Board Nominees are selected to be on the election slate.  Currently, the nominees are chosen by the Board and two members at large.  The proposed process would be that the Division Directors would form the nominating committee.

·         Change the Board term limits back to 6 years total.  Recently, the Board term limit was lengthened to 9 years.

 

The National Board is considering some of the suggested changes and feels that there may be a report of their findings after they study the problem.  There are currently no dates set for any reports.

 

Is There Anything Else We Can Do?

 

Yes, there is.  We can assist the National Board by helping them answer the question that was asked at the June Board meeting, which was, how can they know that these are the concerns of many of the members, not just a vocal minority?  We can provide guidance to them in a structured way that respects the rules of our organization and Colorado law.  One of the tools that allow our members to provide guidance to our Board is a petition process.  Under Colorado law, if 10% of our members approve of a petition for change to the organization, then the proposed changes must be brought to a vote by the entire membership.  If 25% of the members vote and over one-half of those members voting approve, then the changes must be enacted.

 

Why Use the Petition Process?

 

This process will help to answer once and for all whether these issues are coming just from a vocal minority, or in fact represent the will of the greater membership.  If we cannot achieve a 10% response, then there will be no vote for change and NSP will continue on its current path.  If we do get the required response on the petition, then all members will have a chance to vote on these issues and the Board will not have to guess as to what our desires are regarding these matters.  Again, the petition process allows the members to have a vote.   Support of the petition does not infer support of the items to be voted on, it just says that you think it is a good idea to have the members vote on these issues and that members should determine the outcome.  It is the belief of the sponsors of the petitition that if it is the members will, there can be no incorrect outcome to the vote.  Our goal is to give the members a chance to have their voice heard and we hope that every member takes this opportunity.

 

How Will We Get the Petition?

 

It will be e-mailed to you.

 

What Do I Do With It?

 

When you receive it, click on the “Reply” button and then click on “Send” and you are all done.  There is no need to add any other responses in your e-mail.  Your e-mail response will then be counted as an “I support the petition” vote.  No reply to the e-mail means that you do not support the petition.

 

What If I Do Want To Comment?

 

Your comments are always welcomed and encouraged.  If you want to comment about this process, please contact your Patrol leadership so that they may send your comments up line through the Eastern Division leadership channels.  Please do not send comments to the petition e-mail address as this will be used only for tabulating the responses and your comments may be lost.

 

Is There Anything Else I Can Do?

 

Yes, absolutely.  Please talk to your fellow Patrollers and make sure that they respond to the petition, if they agree that members should have a chance to vote on these issues.   If you know Patrollers without e-mail access, you can print out a copy of the petition that they can put their name and patrol name on and mail in.  A link to the petition will be posted on various Division web sites and can be printed from there.

 

10% Isn’t Too Large A Percentage; Do I Really Need To Vote?

 

YES!  Four Divisions, Eastern, Rocky Mountain, Pacific Northwest and European have agreed to put this petition before their members.  In total these Divisions represent over half of all of the membership of the NSP.  However, since this petition is being sent out via e-mail, we know that not all members have an e-mail address or may have changed it since the last registration update.  More than 25% of the members in these Divisions will need to respond to the petition in order to meet the 10% of all members requirement.  A strong response to the petition will also help to confirm what we have been hearing, and that is that the members do care.

 

If I have NSP Friends in Other Divisions, Can They Respond to the Petition?

 

Yes, any active Patroller may respond to the petition.  They may go to the Eastern Division web site www.nspeast.org, or the Rocky Mountain Division web site www.nsprmd.org and find a link to the petition.  It can be printed from the site and mailed in.  Again, they just need to print their name and their Patrol name on the petition, sign it, then mail it.  It would also be helpful if they would write the Division they are from so that we can sort out where they came from.  If you have paid Patrollers on your patrol that may be registered in the Pro Division, let them know also as they will not have received the e-mail.

 

 

If the Petition Is Approved By 10% Of The Members, When Do We Vote?

 

The goal is that a vote will be held this fall.

 

Wouldn’t It Be Better To Take the National Board and Leadership to Court?

 

Some Patrollers have done extensive research and believe that this would be an appropriate course of action.  The Division Directors cooperating in the petition drive do not support this approach at this time.  One of the largest problems with this approach is that our members’ money would be used to defend against an attack from our members.  Second, the wounds that this would inflict on our organization would be very slow to heal.

 

Why Don’t We Just Withhold Our National Dues Until We Get What We Want?

 

First, it is every member’s right to decide each year if they wish to be a member of the National Ski Patrol, or not.  If you decide to withhold your dues at any level, then you are also deciding that you do not wish to be a member at all levels of the organization as there currently does not exist a way to pick and choose how to pay your dues.  If you are not a member, you cannot work from within the system for the changes you seek.  We should do everything we can to continue building strong relationships with Patrollers in the other Divisions.