May 2020

A Message from the NRM Board of Directors

Greetings Northern Rocky Mountain Snow Pros!

Springtime, a time of renewal and reflection. Typically during springtime here in NRM, we begin the planning process for next winter by looking back on how we’ve done and building on the strengths and lessons of the past season. Who could have imagined the additional challenges we now all face as a society and as an association as a result of COVID-19.

Your NRM leadership, including the Board of Directors, the CEO, and the Discipline Teams have been collaborating with our peers from around the country to face the challenges ahead of us all. As a board, we have been hosting meetings virtually and learning how to connect with each other online. While this time has created new challenges and advantages for our team, connecting with and coming up with creative ways to support our membership has been the focal point of each of our meetings. We want to thank you in advance for your understanding and flexibility during these uncertain times.

As we all continue to monitor the region's progression for reopening, it is important that we are prepared for whatever the scenario is that we are presented with this coming winter. We know that the ways we are used to gathering and learning together may look differently than what we are used to. Though we are hoping to return to normal, we know that our resort partners may be under restrictions that will impact our operations. We are planning accordingly and be assured that we put the health, safety, and wellbeing of our members, our Education Teams, and resort employees as our top priority.

As a division, we are a community - and just as we have stood together in the past, we stand together now. We hope you can continue being a part of our community this year - and to this end we (working with the other divisions of PSIA-AASI) have tried to make the dues renewal process as flexible as we can. If you worry you cannot afford dues this year, or have the ability to support those who can't, please reach out to info@psia-nrm.org or 406-581-6139.

Even with all this uncertainty, we want to congratulate NRM’s Alpine and Snowboard Education Teams who have worked so diligently over the past few years with their peers from around the nation on the 2020 Alpine and Snowboard Standards. These long-awaited standards will be presented to the PSIA-AASI National Board in June for adoption. Well done Team!

As we all adapt to this new world of human interaction, we are discovering new venues and methods for communicating that will make us a stronger organization. We look forward to the day when we can have the personal interaction we all thrive on as instructors.

Keep Sharing the Stoke,
Sincerely,

Your Operational Leaders and Board of Directors
Craig Beam, Ben Brosseau, Stu Hoyt, Eliza Kuntz, Katie White
Jim Mikulich, Shelby Rogala, Josh Vale, Herb Davis, Jill Chumbley

Board Happenings

by Stu Hoyt, NRM President

Greetings from your Board of Directors. You have been getting lots of communication over the last two months from Herb Davis on virtual activities for you. Hopefully, you have been taking advantage of the great training opportunities that our education staff have been presenting, or at least taken part in the Thursday evening social hour. Even though these events are not on snow, they are still really enjoyable and pretty interesting.

The Board has been having regular meetings since March to stay abreast and informed of how our division is doing in this unusual time. Some happenings that are not related to COVID-19 and staying away from skiing are some changes to our division Board of Directors. The results of our spring elections are in and both Craig Beam and Jim Mikulich were reelected to the board. It is great to having them on the Board of Directors. Their experience with the division and time on the board make them valuable in helping with some of the strategic planning that the board is doing. On the national scene, Ed Younglove has completed his terms as the Chairman of the National Board of Directors and will be stepping down. Beginning in July, our own Eliza Kuntz will be stepping into the role of Chairman of the National Board of Directors. This is a great honor for Eliza and for the Northern Rockies Division of PSIA-AASI. For being the second smallest division in the association, we have and continue to have great representation at the National level. Eliza has been so important for both our division and at the national level. She has been and continues to be a powerhouse in helping shape how our association governs. Prior to Ed Younglove, Eric Sheckleton chaired the National board. With Eliza moving into the Chairman role, that leaves her seat on the National Board vacant. To fill this seat, Shelby Rogala will be leaving her seat on our division Board of Directors. And to fill the remainder of Shelby’s term, Bob Morcom of Terry Peak has been chosen.

For me, these moves represent how active and engaged the Northern Rockies Division is, in being a large part of the leadership of our association both on snow and in the leadership roles. So, when you see Eliza, Shelby, Jim, Craig, or Bob make sure to thank them for helping be part of the leadership of the Northern Rockies Division of PSIA-AASI.

Stu
Chairman
Northern Rockies Division PSIA-AASI
Board of Directors

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