NSP Board of Directors Adopts Sweeping Changes

Jerry Sherman Eastern Division Director

Garmish, Germany was the location, June 8, 2002 the date that the National Ski Patrol Board of Directors (BOD) voted to make major changes to our organization.  Changes to the governance of the organization that will affect almost every level. Our old structure had been in place for almost 64 years.  It served us well for the first 50 but in recent years most members of the Board have realized that we were not focusing on the major issues facing the National Ski Patrol. 

The BOD, beginning with the January 2003 meeting, will be 13 members.  The current BOD has 23. The BOD will set strategic direction, approve program development, monitor quality assurance, direct the finances of the association, and assess member satisfaction. Membership on the new BOD will be open to every NSP member.  The term “ Knowledge - Based” will replace the old representative/political process of electing BOD members.  A nominating committee composed of a cross section of members, including members at large, Division and Region officers, former BOD members, and one current BOD member not seeking election, will accept and review applications.  The skills and experience of the applicants will be compared to a list of needs, prepared by the BOD.  A slate of candidates will be selected.  This slate will be published and every member will have the opportunity to affirm or vote against any candidate on the slate.  The term of office will be three years with a maximum of two terms for life.  The National Chairman will be elected by the BOD and will also have a maximum of two terms on the BOD.  This new BOD will only deal with the “big picture” issues.

Governance of Divisions will be the work of the Divisions.  The Eastern Division now has the authority to design our own structure and to make many of the decisions that in the past we had taken to the BOD in the form of proposals.  This is an exciting prospect especially for those of us who have tried for years to advance Division issues at the National level.  The problem was that we had 11 Divisions all trying to advance local issues.  The BOD got bogged down micro managing the organization instead of dealing with issues that would solidify our position in the outdoor recreation industry.  Along with the new power at the local level will come accountability for the delivery of NSP programs.  The Division, Regions, and Sections must make the delivery of NSP training programs their number one priority.  The BOD will measure our success.   Member satisfaction and the availability of and participation in NSP programs will be two of the measurements.

What does all this mean to the average member?  It will mean very little at first but as we move forward you should have more opportunities to participate in NSP training programs.  You should see more member benefits in the form of catalog items and sponsorships like the Subaru program.  A better relationship between NSP and our industry partners will increase the value of patrollers to areas.  In other words we will continue to have a place to patrol.  There will be more opportunities to become an instructor of high quality, current, and relevant training programs. 

In April we formed a Transition Team to study our structure and how we deliver programs here in the Eastern Division.  This team will make recommendations on how we can be more effective.  The new power we now have will allow us to implement changes, suggested by the team and approved by Division and Region officers.  

This is an exciting time in our organization.  Many will resist change but I am convinced that over time most will embrace it.  As I said earlier the Board of Directors has been working on these changes for over two years.  Supporting this change meant giving up a seat on the BOD.  Getting elected to the old BOD involved a great deal of time, effort, and personal expense.  Many members who supported this reorganization were in their first term on the BOD.

If you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact any Eastern Division board member or member of my staff.  Check the Officers page of this web site for phone numbers and e-mail addresses.