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Final Sweep
The NSP Month in Review
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NATIONAL
SKI PATROL
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133
S. Van Gordon St. 100
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Helmet Legislation Update and Impacts on Patrollers
Over the last several months, the national office of NSP
has been following developments in helmet legislation in three states:
California, New Jersey, and New York. In our June Final Sweep,
we told you both AB 1652 and SB 880 had passed in their respective
legislatures in California on June 1, and that legislation in New
Jersey was close to passing.
This week, both pieces of legislation took steps toward
becoming law. Assembly Bill 1652 and Senate Bill 880 were reconciled
into a single piece of legislation and sent to Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger's desk for signature on August 24. SB 880 requires all
children under the age of 18, including patrollers and resort
employees, to wear a "properly fitted and fastened snow sport
helmet while operating snow skis or a snowboard while participating in
the sport of downhill skiing or snowboarding." A violation would
result in a fine of $25 to the parent.
SB 880 also requires resorts to post signage giving
"reasonable notice" of the law and "provide prominent
written notice" of the law on trail maps and resort websites. AB
1652 adds reporting requirements concerning resort safety plans and
monthly reports on any fatalities at the resort. The two bills are
linked such that AB 1652 and SB 880 only become law if the other is
enacted. If signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, the law will take effect
on January 1, 2011.
In New Jersey, Senate Bill 130 passed the New Jersey state
senate by a vote of 33-2. The bill would require anyone under 18,
including patrollers and resort employees, to wear a helmet while
skiing or snowboarding. Like the California bill, a fine of $25 will be
imposed on parents if their child does not wear a helmet, with second
offense fines increasing to up to $100. If signed into law by Governor
Chris Christie, the legislation takes effect on the "first day of
the seventh month after signed into law," meaning the earliest it
would go into effect is April, so it likely will not affect the coming
ski season in New Jersey.
Whether these bills are signed into law or not, it is
clear that helmet legislation (which also is on the table in New York),
will probably become law at some point in the future. How does this
affect you as patrollers?
Both pending laws have statements that there is no
enforcement requirement incumbent on the ski area or its employees.
Under both the California and New Jersey legislation, the
responsibility to ensure that children under 18 are wearing helmets is
on the parent. New Jersey's includes language that "[n]othing in
this act shall be construed to extend liability to the ski area
operator," while California's states "nothing in these
provisions shall be construed to increase or decrease duties imposed
under existing law."
Under the NSP/NSAA Joint Statement of Understanding, it is
made clear that patrollers work at the direction of area management,
which sets policy. As such, it is incumbent on patrollers to understand
and follow their resort's policies. This coming fall, as part of your
refresher, it would be a good time to have your patrol representative talk
to your area management about the resort's policies and procedures
concerning helmet use and clarify what you as patrollers should do
concerning the ski area's policy on helmets.
Finally, please be assured that NSP is continuing to
monitor these laws to make sure they are drafted to protect patrollers
from liability. The national office, with its team of volunteers, is
proud of the results it has achieved in educating state officials to draft
these laws in a manner which is favorable to patrollers.
Sincerely,
Tim White
Executive Director, NSP
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Board Election
NSP has renewed its contract with Votenet, who we use for election
services, and added a security feature for the upcoming Board Election
October 15-December 1.
NSP Presence at
National Scout Jamboree
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Simon,
Mary and Carol Thomas.
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Over 400 Scouts learned snow sports safety in sessions
lasting between 90 minutes and two hours at the National Scout
Jamboree. NSP supported three patrollers who led the sessions with
Scouts from all 50 states. The patrollers, Simon Thomas, the patrol director
at Blue Hills in Canton, Mass., and Mary and Carol Thomas, patrollers
at Blue Hills, demonstrated basics in alpine skiing, cross country, and
snowboarding so the Scouts could earn their Snow Sports Merit Badge.
NSP gave the patrollers stickers and NSP Natural Ice Lip Balm to hand
out to participants in the program. If you are hosting or attending an
event like this in your area and would like NSP products for
distribution, e-mail Christine Albertson (formerly Chris Bourne) at calbertson@nsp.org.
NSP Welcomes New Patrol
NSP welcomes a new patrol to its ranks.
The Thunderbolt Ski Patrol, a member of the Lanesboro Department of
Conservation and Recreation, joined the NSP in August. Thunderbolt is a
backcountry patrol. Thunderbolt Patrol Director Dave Childs stopped by
the office in August (see picture below).
NSP Nordic
Program Updates
With new Nordic Program Director Kevin Johnson in place,
the Nordic Program is undergoing an overhaul, including reviewing and
updating manuals and education materials and standardizing the Nordic
Program across all divisions. Johnson is also looking at possible
changes to the Nordic Senior classification and establishing a Nordic
Masters classification. Exciting times are ahead for Nordic patrollers.
As some of you head to your areas in
September for fall refreshers, Telecom Adviser Dick Woolf has asked Final
Sweep to remind you to collect the information needed to complete
and submit your patrol's NSP Telecom Survey. Details are at the Telecom Programs page.
It should only take about 20 minutes. Surely you can find the time (and
don't call me Shirley!).
Thanks again for your help in completing this important project!
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What makes smart
phones more interesting than other cell phones is the app market.
Whether you are an Android or an iPhone junkie, plenty of cool apps are
available, such as slope meters or moon phase widgets. CPR-App® now
offers an app for the iPhone that provides voice prompting for CPR on
adults, children, and babies, on both responsive and nonresponsive
patients, and with one rescuer or two. According to a press release,
the CPR-App® "incorporates the latest CPR timing and procedure
changes as updated in the latest AHA Guidelines. CPR-App® operates in
real time. It helps to ensure that the user is able to
perform the right steps in the right order at the right pace." The
app is available in the Apple store for $3.99. No word yet on an
Android version.
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Attributes of
Leadership: Part 13
NSP National
Marketing Adviser Dave Esty again brings some valuable leadership
knowledge in this month's newsletter. Esty's latest column discusses the
importance of listening in both leadership and patrolling. This column
goes hand in hand with Esty's earlier column on patience.
Dave welcomes feedback from our members on his column and how you have
incorporated some of these precepts into your lives.
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Marketing/
Communications/ Events
Sponsor Spotlight: Cascade Changes Name
CASCADE RESCUE. What's up with that? Since 1962, we've been Cascade
 Toboggan;the company was named after the only product produced.
Since then, Cascade Toboggan has grown into a company
that serves virtually every aspect of the rescue business. From
toboggans for ski patrollers to products for the New York Fire
Department and the military, we make rescue equipment. Because of this,
we changed our name to CASCADE RESCUE. We're the same
company, making the same great products you're used to, with a slightly
different name. So if you call us and someone answers the phone CASCADE
RESCUE, rest assured you're in touch with the guys that make
Cascade Toboggans, litters, lift evacuation gear and much, much more!
Sponsor Spotlight: Bolle
You're the first car in the lot. As
soon as the sun hits, you're ready to go - first chair and first
tracks. For more than six decades, we have imagined, designed,
tested and produced goggles and
lenses to help you get out there and charge no matter what the
conditions may be. With all the technical features necessary to give
you an amazing visual experience on the hill with the style you want,
you can see more and get more out of the line you choose. Bolle
sunglasses and goggles are for sale at discounted prices on the NSP
Pro Page under Member Services. Check them out!
 Recruitment
Posters and Stickers
Recruitment
posters and stickers will start shipping on September 15 from the
national office. The "We're A Different Breed" theme has
continued again with three posters, including one with a female and one
with a snowboarder, a 4x2 sticker, and a PDF printable brochure
available on the NSP website. This material can be obtained free of
charge, plus shipping costs, from Christine Albertson (formally Chris
Bourne) at NSP (calbertson@nsp.org). The printable PDF brochure can be
downloaded from the Press area of the NSP website. Patrols are
responsible for printing the brochures on their own. Call or e-mail
soon; posters and stickers are available while supplies last.
NSP Photo Site
There
may be some confusion over the NSP Photo Page on
Flickr. You do not need a login ID to view the photos. Simply click the
link, or go to Flickr and search for NSP Photos. The login ID is used
if you want to post new photos of an event or your patrol. To post
photos, go to Flickr, click
Sign In, enter the login ID nspphotos and the password. The password
for September is Denali (use caps on the D). The password will change
monthly, and will be included in each Final Sweep; if the login does
not work, e-mail Candace Horgan.
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ID Instructor Manual Now Available for Download
NSP
has put the ID Instructor Manual and Training the Adult
Learner books online for download under Instructor Resources and
I/T Resources. To locate Instructor
Resources and I/T Resources, login to Member Services,
click on Member Resources and then click Instructor
Resources or I/T Resources from the drop down menus on
the left, select ID Instructor Resources or ID I/T Resources and select
your desired download.
Members
can also download the Training the Adult Learner book from
Education Resources/ID Resources. To locate
Education Resources, login to Member Services, click on Member
Resources (Rosters-Email patrol and more) and then from the Education
Resources drop down menu on the left, select ID Resources, then
click the link for Training the Adult Learner.
 alt="Cookbook Cover" border=0 name=ACCOUNT.IMAGE.273
v:shapes="_x0000_s1030">NSP Cookbook
Looking for a great gift for the holiday season? Be sure
to grab the first-ever NSP Cookbook! The book contains nearly 500
recipes from NSP members from across the nation, and even some from our
friends in Europe! The cookbook will be available in October, and can
be purchased from the Winter Catalog, via the Online Auction, from our
website, and on Facebook. The cookbook contains extremely unique
recipes from categories such as "Boot up Breakfast" and
"On the Slopes/Backcountry". The cost of the book will be
$18.00. Be sure to get one for all the cooks in your family!
NSP Online Auction Confirmed
NSP will be holding the Second Online Auction this year
with bidding going live November 25 and running through December 9. We
are trying to gather unique NSP memorabilia, such as patrol hats, pins,
patches, and even old "rusty" jackets. These items were bid
on the most last year, and we hope it will prove to be the same for
this auction. All donations are tax deductible, and proceeds go toward
the NSP Anniversary Fundraising Campaign. If you are interested
in donating an auction item, contact Josh Jacobson.
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Preseason
Catalog Sale!!!!! (available at nsp.org)
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Micro Puff Vest, one sale item.
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NSP is offering blowout pricing on closeout items online.
These items are available through the closeout section of the online catalog.
Shop now to get the best pricing on Patagonia garments, Camelback
hydration packs, Goode and Swix Poles, Ortovox shovels, and NSP
accessories such as coffee mugs, license plate frames and many other
items. Prices good while supplies last, so hurry to get your
discounted items now!
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NSP Staffer
Marries
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The
happy couple.
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On August 14, Christine Albertson (formerly Chris Bourne)
married her fiancé Jack Albertson in a small ceremony at Copper
Mountain, Colo. The happy couple spent a few days celebrating together
in the Moab area before Christine returned to the office. Congrats
Christine! Please note that Christine's new e-mail address is calbertson@nsp.org.
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NSP Visitors
of the Month
 Dave Childs, Chris Cruz, and Henry Teller
Dave Childs,
patrol director of the new Thunderbolt Ski Patrol, a backcountry patrol
in Massachusetts, came to the NSP offices in August with two Jiminy
Peak patrollers, Chris Cruz and Henry Teller.
Thanks for stopping by!
Keith and Brenda Robinson
Keith and Brenda
Robinson of the Granite Peak Patrol in Wausau, Wis., came by the office
in August.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Final Sweep was created to keep NSP members informed about
national news. An archive of all issues of Final Sweep is maintained
under the Newsletters section of Member News.
After logging in, click Newsletters from the Quick Links menu. If you
have news that's relevant to the national ski patrol audience, we
invite you to submit it for consideration for Final Sweep. Please
e-mail it to editorial by the 15th of each month.
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