Awards

To go to the NSP website page for downloading award forms, click here: https://www.nsp.org/1/oms/pp/ (You will need to log in first.)

So you have been an NSP Member for a few years and you have seen a few awards presentations - Merit Stars, Appointments and Service Awards. You know how rewarding recognition is for people, and I'm sure you know fellow Patrollers who deserve some. How about getting involved with awards at your Patrol? Or maybe you just want to get the ball rolling for one special person who has shown great leadership or done a great job with a Patrol activity for a long time. Where do you start? Step 1 is to go the the NSP web site, click the Member Services Tab, and then go to Policies and Procedures. Chapter 10 contains everything you need to know about NSP awards. Take a few minutes to read through it. You will have an idea of the intent and the nomination process for every NSP award.

Most NSP awards can be applied-for all year, only the "Outstanding" awards have a deadline and in the Eastern Division, starting this year, that deadline is March 1st. All of the awards listed in Chapter 10 require several levels of approval and must come to me from your Region Awards Advisor. They must also be on the latest version of the nomination form and should be accompanied by a support letter written and signed by the sponsor. The only reliable source for the latest nomination forms is the NSP web site. Although hard copies with signatures are currently required, an electronic copy is also helpful at each step along the way so minor corrections or changes can be made.

If you have questions start with your Patrol Awards person followed by your Region Awards Advisor and if they can't answer them, contact me. Even if you just want to send me an email listing a fellow Patroller's accomplishments, I will be happy to tell you what award that Patroller might deserve. I know that the process may seem very involved but there are people at every step along the way to advise and assist. I also know the satisfaction of seeing a fellow Patroller receive the recognition they deserve.

Jerry Sherman
Division Awards Advisor
11/24/11

The T. Tyler Davis Outstanding Instructor Award is given to the most outstanding instructor each year. The recipient will be chosen from those nominated for the National Outstanding Instructor Award (Roger Langley Outstanding Instructor Award). The winner of the T. Tyler Davis Outstanding Instructor Award will be forwarded to the National Office as the Eastern Divisions Outstanding Instructor. The form to be used is the Outstanding Ski Patroller Form in electronic form. Nominations flow from Patrol Unit Representative, Section Chief and Regional Director with a Division level review board and Division Director picking the winner. Deadline for submission is March 1st each year.

The late,T (Thomas) Tyler Davis joined the NSP in 1958. He served as Patrol Director, Section Chief and Region Director in Western Pennsylvania, now know as the Western Appalachian Region. A recipient of the cherished Mini Dole Award and a Gold Merit Star, Tyler also was an NSP Board Member, Assistant Eastern Division Director and Eastern Division Awards Chairman. He served as an Instructor and Instructor Trainer in every NSP discipline including OEC, Avalanche, Mountaineering and S&T. Tyler was also a devoted volunteer for the American Red Cross.

The Donald Hamlin Outstanding OEC Instructor Award is awarded to the most outstanding OEC instructor in the Division each year. This Patroller's name will be forwarded to the National Competition for OEC Instructors. The form to be used is the Outstanding OEC Instructor form. Deadline for submission is March 1st each year.

Donald L. Hamlin joined the NSP in 1943. Over the course of his 60 year membership, he patrolled in the Eastern PA, Western NY, and Northern VT Regions of the Eastern Division. During the course of his career he was a Patrol Director, Region Director, served as the Eastern Division First Aid Advisor and held National Appointment #2265. Prior to the adoption of the OEC program by the NSP, Don was an Advanced First Aid Instructor training hundreds of Patrollers. Not content with providing care to the public just in the winter, he and several other Patrollers founded Essex Rescue, a highly respected volunteer ambulance organization serving one of Vermont’s largest communities. Don was a firm believer in training and encouraged continual training throughout the ski season. His leadership and support of constant and challenging training have left an impact that can still be felt in the NSP.

The William J. Gross Memorial First Aid Trophy is awarded each year to the patroller performing the most outstanding first aid procedure of the year. All recipients of the Purple Merit Star for the 12 months preceding March 1st are considered for the award by a Division Jury appointed by the Division Awards Advisor.

The Don F. Page Outstanding Administrative Patroller Award is awarded to the most Outstanding Administrative Ski Patroller. The winner will be forwarded to the National Office as the Eastern Division Outstanding Administrative Ski Patroller. The form to be used is the Outstanding Ski Patroller (Administrative) in electronic form. Nominations flow from Patrol Unit Representative, Section Chief and Regional Director with a Division level Review Board and the Division Director picking the winner. Deadline for submission is March 1st each year.

Don Page joined NSP in 1955 and is still an Active member of the Catamount Ski Patrol. Don has served in virtually every NSP Leadership position during his 57 year NSP career. A former Eastern Division Director and NSP Board Member he has served as the parliamentarian for Division Annual Meetings for decades. Don has served as an OEC instructor since the start of Winter Emergency Care and is an Instructor Trainer.

The George Wesson Jr., Outstanding Professional Patroller Award is awarded to the most outstanding Professional Ski Patroller. The winner will be forwarded to the National Office as the Eastern Division Outstanding Professional Patroller. The form to be used is the Outstanding Ski Patroller (Professional) in electronic form. Nominations flow from Patrol Unit Representative, Section Chief and Regional Director with a Division level Review Board and the Division Director picking the winner. Deadline for submission is March 1st each year.

The late George F. Wesson Jr. was an original member of the NSP, joining in 1938. He also served in the 10th Mountain Division. George was one of five founding members of the NSP Certified Program, and during his NSP career served as Patrol Director at Mount Mansfield, Sugarbush, Thunder Mountain and Killington. At the time of his death, he was among NSP's oldest and most honored members.

The Jerry Sherman Outstanding Division Patroller Award is awarded at the discretion of the Division Director to a Patroller for outstanding service to or within the Division. The award does not have to be given each year. Submissions are due by March 1st.

Past Division Director Jerry Sherman joined NSP in 1978. He has served as Patrol Director, Region Director, Assistant Division Director, NSP Board Member and is currently the Division Awards Coordinator. A past member of the Brantling Ski Patrol he is currently active as a Paid Patroller at Bristol Mountain and a Volunteer at Hunt Hollow, all in the Genesee Valley Region. During his tenure as Division Director he asked several outstanding and highly respected Eastern Division members to study and make recommendations for change to the governance model. The end result of two distinguished committees, one led by Rick Andriole from Western Massachusetts and the other by Rick Hamlin from Northern Vermont, is our current structure. Rick Hamlin then took that structure on to the National Level. The "One Patroller one Vote" privileges that we now enjoy are a direct result of the work of those committees.