Spring Board Meeting Preview

by Jack Burns, President

Chris Kastner Resigns As Certification VP

With deep regret, I accepted the resignation of Chris Kastner as Certification Vice President. Since moving to Mt. Hood Meadows and taking on the responsibilities of Director of Skiing & Snowboarding, Chris found it difficult to lead our examiner group as effectively as he wanted. "I have not been able to guide the examining staff to the next level due to the lack of time to develop training, organize exams, evaluate the exam process and develop new strategies." Chris felt that his resignation should be done now in order to allow the certification program to grow in the immediate future. A special election will be held at the Spring Board meeting to name his replacement.

Chris served as our Certification Vice President for several years. He served two terms on the PSIA National Demonstration Team. In additional, he served on the National Certification Committee where he was one of the prime authors of the National Alpine Certification Standards. Chris will still remain active with his roles on the EAC (Education Advisory Council) and Certification Unity group and he looks forward to having new challenges brought to him to help support PSIA-NW.

Thanks Chris!!

 Transition Task Force Report

The Office Transition Task Force was created in the fall of 2006. Its members include, Mark Schinman (Chair), Jack Burns, Barb Darrow, Molly Fitch, Kirsten Huotte, Ed Kane, Laurie Stack, and Diana Suzuki. The Task Force was created to prepare for Barb’s retirement and a possible office restructure. At about the same time, PSIA National began development and implementation of a new Association Management Software system and financial accounting package that will allow PSIA to offer a wide range of services to the Divisions such as accounting, billing, database management and related office and administrative functions. The Task Force was asked to take a look at how we do business, how we staff our office and what we might do differently, including outsourcing to PSIA or other third party vendors.

At our May 17, 2008 Board meeting, the Task Force will be presenting their report. In the report, the Task Force proposes three (3) options for structuring the way we do business. Ultimately, it recommends an option that provides for a single Executive reporting to the Board through the President. The Executive budgets for and hires appropriate staff, including a person responsible for the current Education Program Director responsibilities. Full and part time staff is used by the Executive to manage and operate the office and perform other required duties. The Executive is to use outsourcing as appropriate, for example with PSIA.

Because of the long term ramifications of this decision, the Board will devote a substantial portion of its meeting to a full discussion of the pros and cons of each of the options. Whether a final decision is made at this meeting will depend upon whether a consensus develops early enough in the discussion so that we can formulate an action proposal.

Whatever path the Board chooses to follow, you can rest assured that we will attempt to maintain, as best we can, the level of member service you have come to expect and enjoyed during Barb’s stewardship of the office.

Trying Something New

This spring’s Board meeting will be followed by a full day meeting of the Executive Committee. The goal is to proactively plan for next season. The agenda includes updating the ETC Policies and Procedures, as well as revising them to include how the Education and Programs Director coordinates with the programs. Other items we will be discussing include modifications and additions to the Senior Accreditation Program, appointing a committee to implement the Transition Task Force plan, reviewing and developing a budget for the transition and developing a budget to purchase new equipment necessary to integrate with National’s AMS and financial software. These topics, as well as others on the agenda, will provide grist for my next report to you.

For those of you who have not done so in the past, now is a good time to think about including one of PSIA-NW’s on-snow educational offerings at Mt. Hood in your summer plans. The clinicians are great, the weather usually cooperates and there is no better place to muscle memory those new movement patterns you are working on.