THE NSP SWEEP NEWSLETTER: READ IT HERE!

Thanks to the good work of the board, staff and countless volunteers, I am happy to report that the NSP continues to be very busy and productive. First and foremost, the long awaited OEC 5th edition will be rolling out this month. Our special thanks go to the dedicated group of volunteers who have contributed countless hours to the project, including project leaders Ed McNamara, Dr. David Johe, and Deb Endly. Details of how to preorder the book can be found in the Sweep under "A Message from Education Director Darcy Hanley," or by going online to NSP.org.

In other good news, late last week, the Idaho Senate passed the ski patroller legislation (Senate Bill 1021) in a landslide 35-0 vote. This week, the bill moved to the House Health and Welfare committee, where it passed by a vote of 8-2. The legislation, which will protect patrollers' ability to practice OEC as they have in the past, now goes to the floor of the House for a vote, where it is likely to pass. The bill has been hotly contested by Idaho EMS, and passage of the bill will be a show of confidence and vote of thanks by the Idaho legislature for the good work of Idaho ski patrollers. The success of the legislation is in large part attributable to a joint effort of Idaho ski patrollers and ski area operators.

In an example of new services we seek to provide our patrols, NSP and Medline Industries have partnered to create the first NSP Medical Supply Purchasing Program. Medline is a leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, with over 4 billion in annual sales. The NSP Purchasing Program is designed to save patrols 20-70 percent on medical supply purchases. The program is scheduled to officially launch next week. Once launched, patrols will be able to open an account with Medline to take advantage of the discount prices offered to NSP member patrols. More details about the program will be forwarded to patrol leaders next week.

Finally I am pleased to report the 2011 NSP Member Survey will roll out next week. The survey is very important because, simply stated, to run the organization effectively, the board and staff need your input. The 2011 survey features questions on a variety of topics, such as membership, products and services, and education programs, and will give us the feedback we need to be more responsive to your needs as patrollers. In addition, members will also be able to give their opinion on an important issue being reviewed by the board related to a name classification change from "Auxiliary" to "Patroller." If you feel strongly about this issue, the survey will give you a chance to let the board know how you feel. Watch for the survey to be emailed to you next week. For more information on the Auxiliary name change question, click here.

Enjoy the spring snow, and stay safe out there.

Sincerely,
Tim White
Executive Director, NSP

Erie Ski Club and NSP assist Cockaigne Ski Patrol

On January 24, 2011, a fire destroyed the lodge (which also housed the ski patrol

Cockaigne patrollers with their new belts..

facilities ) at Cockaigne Ski Center in Cherry Creek, N.Y. The ski patrollers lost most of their personal items, including ski boots, skis, patrol jackets, gloves, goggles, and first aid patrol belts. Toboggans and blankets, oxygen cylinders, and first aid supplies were also lost. Neighboring ski areas have lent some equipment till the end of the season; plenty of bandages, splints, and other first aid supplies have been donated.

The Erie Ski Club, in Erie, Pa., recently purchased 12 patrol belts for individuals of the Cockaigne patrol, a volunteer organization. Patrollers, as a rule, purchase their own equipment and clothing. Judy Baker, a volunteer with the Peek'n Peak Ski Patrol and board member of the Erie Ski Club, coordinated the donation with Karen Gollnitz, Cockaigne's medical supply officer, and the National Ski Patrol. In support of their own, NSP extended a substantial discount.

Funds for this donation were made possible through a showing of Warren Miller's film "Wintervention" in January and February. Sponsored by Elements Board Shop, Erie Ski Club, Erie Sport Store, Peek'n Peak Resort & Spa, and Big Screen Theater at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, the first two shows sold out. The ESC board was considering several charitable organizations to support when the fire at Cockaigne occurred. Forty members of the club had skied there just the day before, so it was appropriate to offer assistance.

The Cockaigne Ski Patrol is planning fundraisers to purchase equipment for the 2011-2012 winter season. They also hope to supplement the out-of-pocket expenses to individuals purchasing new patrol jackets. Anyone interested in donating to the Cockaigne Ski Patrol should contact Karen Gollnitz at 716-410-5278 or patcher58@yahoo.com, subject line ski patrol donation.

Montana Patroller shown on local news

In a story on avalanche danger and avalanche preparedness, local Montana TV station KRTV showed numerous demos by patroller Allan Rabbitt, the patrol rep for Great Falls. The story had a lot of punch, and Allan's knowledge was put to excellent use. Watch the video here.

NSP Communications Director Candace Horgan appears on radio show
As part of the radio program "The Caring Generation," which is hosted by Pamela Wilson and played on KHOW talk radio in Denver, NSP Communications Director Candace Horgan was interviewed in a segment on "Caregivers who Rescue" on March 20. You can listen to the segment here. Candace's segment starts at approximately the 55-minute mark.

Telecommunications

IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN SELECTING NEW RADIOS

When considering the purchase of new radios to comply with the FCC Narrowbanding mandate that becomes effective 1/1/13, please be aware that some inexpensive (i.e. "low-tier") VHF (150 MHz band) radios are NOT capable of being programmed to some of the new four-decimal-place frequencies (e.g. 159.4725 MHz) being assigned by the FCC. You should verify that the radio you're considering buying is capable of "2.5 kHz channel spacing" (not to be confused with 12.5 kHz bandwidth). Even if you're not using four-decimal-place channels now, you may in the future, especially if you will be adding channels for interoperability. Your radio vendor should be able to confirm the channel spacing capability of the model you're looking at. If you have questions on this topic, send an email to telecom@nsp.org.

Marketing/ Communications/ Events

Sponsor Spotlight: Birkenstock

Check out our NEWEST NSP sponsor - BIRKENSTOCK USA LP. Birkenstock has signed on with National Ski Patrol to give your feet a rest after a long day on the hill. Check out the amazing selection of sandals! NSP members receive 30 percent off with the special coupon code found on the NSP Pro Page.

Sponsor Spotlight: prAna

prAna is a small sportswear, climbing, and yoga brand based out of North County, San Diego. While we do climb, surf and practice yoga a lot, we have an amazing amount of skiers and snowboarders here and we love to support the National Ski Patrol. If you're an active member of the NSP, please sign up for our Influencer program that allows you 50 percent off our product. You can do this by going to the NSP Pro Page under Member Services at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&et=1104753087419&s=17162&e=001VHeZlLfKo4JLg0oRtNpNf-gJ7gEmNy_i5RIfOjixnggXTnuk5OczU22TSQ8o6ogiorAkLiIqbdxBO64ubKXRWkp0qCCX_IYdubtQE-bafeo=, or for more information, call Christine Albertson at 303-988-1111.

Patagonia Patrol Jackets on SALE

Are you in need of a new Patrol jacket? All Primo and Primo Flash jackets are 25 percent off until March 31!! Go to the NSP Online Catalog and order yours today! Quantities are limited, and all sales final.

Sponsor Spotlight: Ortovox

Smart, fast, and easy to use, it's easier to command the situation with an Ortovox 3+ avalanche transceiver. The 3+ provides real-time distance values, direction arrow, multiple-victim display with instant flagging, battery life indicator (and just one AA battery), and more. Search faster when the solid arrow and distance values always keep you going in the right direction. Search smarter with 'intelligent position recognition' - the buried device senses position and transmits from the most optimal antenna. The 3+ is software updatable, too. Orders yours today from the NSP online catalog.

Sponsor Spotlight: RAMP

RAMP Sports is a brand new ski and snowboard sponsor. They are based out of Park City, Utah, and are a direct-to-consumer company, which allows them to offer you great value on quality products.

They respect the Patrol community and realize having people like you on their product creates a strong foundation for a successful company.

Go to the NSP Pro Page and check out RAMP Sports. Receive up to 60 percent OFF of skis, boards and bindings! RAMP is also welcoming you become a RAMP Rep and earn a 10 percent commission. Go to http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&et=1104345011609&s=0&e=001EfOvAmLnq2DTsl442Px_WbcU6BO1AhW1MrWjCviFm8AgLLjovgdWpeH4ZK0--WT2320g9NUyVqN1F_GncsFqmGvjVyRcepq_34zbLrm0Cz4= to learn more.

NSP Photo Site
You do not need a login ID to view the photos posted by your fellow patrollers at the NSP photo site. Simply click this link, or go to Flickr and search for NSP Photos under Users. 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 April is Tahoe (capitalize the "T"); if the login does not work, e-mail Candace Horgan.

Education

A Message from Education Director Darcy Hanley

OEC5 cover

OEC: The OEC ITs, OEC Division supervisors, Division directors, and the National Medical Committee have been receiving e-mail communication through the month of March. The Division OEC supervisors should be in communication with the OEC ITs concerning the rollout of the 5th edition for their respective divisions.

Ordering Information: OEC 5^th edition, ship date May 6, 2011

On March 28, all patrollers may place advance purchase orders for the OEC 5th edition by going through the NSP website (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&t=86uug7eab.0.zr8mwscab.76htuscab.17162&ts=S0612&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nsp.org%2F), logging on, getting the coupon and clicking the link for Brady Books. The book purchase will provide access to MyNSPKit for all the student materials; an access code will be printed on the inside front cover. The price for a printed copy through the Brady website is $65.60 plus sales tax. (Note that the price on Brady's website will read $87.47, the book's retail price; the NSP discount will appear upon checkout, after you redeem your coupon.) There is free shipping on orders of less than 50 copies. Bulk orders (50 or more books) must go through customer service at Brady 800-922-0579, and will be assessed an 8-10 percent shipping charge

Orders of 50 books or more should be spaced 60 minutes apart so that your credit card will not be flagged by Brady. OEC books will start shipping May 6.

The shipping time typically will take 24-to-72 hours, depending upon the U.P.S. zone in which you reside. Alaska and Hawaii will take 7-to-10 business days. On returns, full credit for your purchase will be honored up to 15 months after purchase with an invoice and in new condition. Refunds take 4-to-6 weeks to process.

OEC Candidates: Candidates should contact their instructor of record, get the coupon code and log into http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&t=86uug7eab.0.htypjcfab.76htuscab.17162&ts=S0612&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bradybooks.com%2F.

E-book: If patrollers want to purchase an e-book, they will need to go to http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&t=86uug7eab.0.86qys7eab.76htuscab.17162&ts=S0612&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coursesmart.com%2F. There is an 18-month subscription fee of $44.00. The e-book is not downloadable onto a reader such as Kindle or Nook. (These are not textbook-friendly devices at this point, although it's likely they will be in time, and OEC will find its way there.) Both links will be available on the NSP website. The e-book has complete functionality-note-taking, highlighting, printing-as well as an iPad application. (Download a CourseSmart app from the iTunes store first.) There will be a renewal fee at the end of 18 months. The e-book price may be different at that time. The e-book will be available April 25.

The OEC 5^th edition Instructor Manual will be on the Brady site and it is completely downloadable at no charge. You can print your own copy. This will be available May 6. The manual will be located under MyBradyKit/Resource Central; select myNSPkit from here. Instructors may obtain their instructor access code by going to the Instructor Resources on the NSP site.

The Instructor Development Course is going the distance. Beginning March 30, any patroller may take the ID course online using http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&t=86uug7eab.0.itypjcfab.76htuscab.17162&ts=S0612&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nspelearning.com. You can create an account and begin to take the course online. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate that can be presented to the instructor of record. The registration for an ID course must still be done through NSP by the instructor of record. The above link will be available on the NSP website. The book is downloadable, and there is a $15.00 charge to take the online course.

Video Locker: Many thanks to the Central Division and the Alpental Ski Patrol for submitting video clips of ski and toboggan skills. The V1 locker has been established, and the information to view the video has been given to Transportation Program Director Frey Aarnio. The Division Transportation supervisors are requested to view the clips. We will keep all members updated as we make progress to having this available to everyone.

Industry News

NSAA honors Shaun White with Industry Impact Award

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced that it will present the Industry Impact Award to professional athlete Shaun White. Last presented in 2009 to the Winter X Games, the NSAA Industry Impact Award recognizes significant contributions made to the ski and snowboard industry by an individual, business, or other entity. NSAA will present the award May 5 during its National Convention and Tradeshow to be held at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, Calif.

"For both his legendary athletic achievements and the tremendous exposure he has brought to the sport of snowboarding, Shaun's impact on our industry cannot be overstated, and we are truly honored to present him with this very fitting award," said NSAA President Michael Berry.

Shaun's impact on the snow sports industry is incalculable. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the halfpipe, and holds record-setting medal hauls in both the Winter X Games and the Winter Dew Tour. Shaun is the only athlete to win gold medals in four straight years at the Winter X Games, and the first person to medal in both the Summer and Winter X Games in two different sports (snowboarding and skateboarding).

Fundraising

Charles "Minnie" Dole Service and Safety Memorial Fund

A salute to all of the dedicated and enthusiastic past members of the National Ski Patrol. We recognize and appreciate their devotion to skiing and patrolling, and living by the NSP creed of "Service and Safety." The Minnie Dole Memorial Fund is intended to provide a means of honoring and remembering patrollers, friends of skiing, and service to the National Ski Patrol. If you would like to donate to the Memorial Fund or would like to get more information on the fund itself, click here. Contact Josh Jacobson with any questions regarding the fund.

Donate Now!

Let your friends know that they can donate to NSP! Right now, NSP is offering a FREE NSP First Aid Kit to anyone who donates $50 or more to the NSP Anniversary Campaign. By clicking the "DONATE NOW" button with the picture of "Minnie" the St. Bernard on the http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=76htuscab&t=86uug7eab.0.ktypjcfab.76htuscab.17162&ts=S0612&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nsp.org%2520home page, your friends can help out NSP in a big way! Spread the word to the skiing and riding public that NSP is made up of mainly volunteers like you who give up their time to keep the slopes safer! Enlightening the public of who we are at NSP is good for all involved. All donations are tax deductable. Send them this donation link!

Spring Catalog Sale

Bolle glasses Beginning April 1, several items in the NSP Winter Catalog will be placed on sale. All Bollé sunglasses are going to be 25 percent NSP Water Bottle off of the catalog price, and you will receive a free Chums retainer with each sunglass purchased. Several different styles of NSP logo gear will also be on sale at 25-50 percent off the regular catalog price. Travel mugs, beanies, belts, sweatshirts, and many more will be placed on sale! Visit the NSP online catalog to view all the items available on sale by clicking on the "SPRING SALE" category. Welcome back the spring with some great deals from the NSP catalog!

New NSP Bumper Sticker

NSP has created a new 12x3-inch bumper sticker! The sticker has the quote "We're a Different Breed," and is UV protected so it will resist fading in the sunlight! Show your support for NSP year-round with this great bumper sticker. This sticker can be found on the NSP online catalog under "Logo Gear" and costs $4.00.

NSP Staff Changes

Kenneth Ondrak named NSP IT Manager/Network Administrator Keny Ondrak

Kenneth Ondrak has been named the NSP's new IT manager/network administrator. In this position, he will oversee the NSP's website and database, as well as all internal computer systems, and evaluate and improve the hardware and database systems of the organization.

Ondrakpreviously worked at University Physicians, where he managed technical implementation and systems integration for a system that supported 1500 physicians and 500 billing professionals. He has extensive experience with systems and network integration, as well as the creation of Intranets.

NSP Visitors of the Month

NSP Visistors 3711 Leo Wutke, Jay Ackland, Jacqueline Ericson, and Doug Palank

These four patrollers stopped by the NSP headquarters on March 7 on their way to ski powder in Colorado, having traveled from Iowa and Nebraska.

Thanks for stopping by!!

The Sweep was created to keep NSP members informed about national news. An archive of all issues of The 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 The Sweep. Please e-mail it to editorial by the 15th of each month.
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