Welcome Central Division Patrollers

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, AlidaMoonen, 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 • What’s 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 I’s, 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, IT’s, 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 aren’t 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 • ???? • ???? • What’s 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, S&R, Ski/Riding, Toboggan, OEC • Develop Instructors/Trainers • Host events where the patrol can show their Moxie! • Export the patrol’s 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, IT’s, 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 don’t want to be police, they want an environment where people don’t 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 what’s 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. What’s 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 • SES’s 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