Challenges

by Jack Burns, President

As I told you in my last Report, the Board was in the process of voting on Bylaw changes designed to protect your status as a voting member of PSIA-NW in the face of industry changes beyond your control. A number of changes were adopted that I would like to share with you.

The Bylaws of PSIA-NW provide for five (5) classifications of instructors, i.e., Divisional Registered, National Registered and Level I, Level II and Level III certified. Each member who attains one of these classifications is entitled to vote on issues that are submitted to the membership.

In the past, Registered instructors were required to pay dues, be educationally current and be actively teaching a snowsport in order to maintain their status an active voting member. The recently adopted Bylaw changes remove the requirement that Registered instructors be “actively teaching.”

Similarly, Certified Level I, Level II and Level III instructors need no longer be actively teaching in order to maintain their certification status and right to vote. They need only be current in the payment of their dues and educational requirements.

Other Bylaw changes were adopted that may have an effect on the composition of the Board of Directors. In the past, a Director on the PSIA-NW Board of Directors was required to be actively teaching in the Region he or she was elected to represent. If he or she no longer taught in the Region from which they were elected, that Directorship position was considered vacant. That provision has been changed to provide that the Director “shall be a member of the region in which he primarily teaches or has taught.” The effect of this change is to allow a Director who no longer teaches to finish their current term and run for reelection at the next election.

The Board hopes that these changes will encourage you to remain an active member even though you may no longer be actively teaching. If you have any questions about how these changes may affect your membership status, please contact me or the office for clarification.

Take Up The Challenge

The NW Division Board of Directors is one of the largest in the country. The diversity of backgrounds, life experiences and knowledge this group possesses has allowed our Division to be in forefront of developing certification standards and new teaching materials. We are one of the most progressive Divisions in the nation. However, no group has a perfect picture of the future. We are fortunate to have many people in our Division that have talents and ideas that can help shape the future of PSIA-NW. For those of you who have been quietly sitting on the sidelines, have the courage to step forward and take a chance. Run for a Director position from your Region. Become involved in shaping the future of PSIA-NW.

At present, the PSIA-NW Board consists of 29 Directors. Twenty six (26) of the current directors were elected by the membership. Of the remaining three (3), the Financial VP, was elected by the Board, the Member Ski School VP was elected by the members of the Member Ski School Committee and there is one appointed Director-at-large who represents the Nordic disciplines.

Currently, the NW Division is divided into 10 Regions. Those regions include Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain, South Central, North Central, Spokane, Mr. Baker, Mt. Hood, Bend and Blue Mountain. The number of Directors from each Region is set by a formula based on the number of voting members within a particular region. Directors serve three (3) year terms. Approximately one third (1/3) of the Directors stand for election each year.

We recently concluded a call for candidates to run for 11 directors’ positions to be elected in early 2008. Not a single person stepped forward to challenge an incumbent Director. More troubling is the fact that two (2) Director Seats will become vacant for the next year because no one chose to run for the positions. As a consequence, the membership in those regions will be underrepresented.

Maybe the lack of interest is our fault for not providing better notice. Maybe it the result of the chaos to our industry caused by the displacement of concession ski schools. Maybe it is just generation X not wanting to get involved. Whatever the cause, be part of the solution.

When elections are announced next November, get involved. New people can bring new ideas, new approaches to problem solving and maybe suggest better ways of doing business as we emerge into the high tech environment that is enveloping our world. Be courageous. Find a compelling issue that motivates you. Meet instructors from within your Region, attend events and become known. Give your fellow instructors a reason to vote for you.