REGION UPDATE: REGION BOARD & STAFF CHANGES

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1 Sweep Newsletter Fall 2015 South Central Region Central Divsion REGION DIRECTOR S REPORT BY RON PLUMER September 15, 2015 INTRODUCTION Where did the summer go? In any case, we re into September and patrol refreshers already. I m hoping that you re working hard on the OEC Workbook and for those taking the Hybrid refresher, the on line OEC module, I can assure you that your OEC instructors can and will be working equally hard to bring you the highest quality program possible so please say THANKS when you get an opportunity. REGION UPDATE: REGION BOARD & STAFF CHANGES Welcome to Steve Paladini, who has stepped up to serve as the new Section Chief for Section IV, taking over for Steve Stormer who has stepped down after 2 terms. A BIG THANK YOU to Steve Stormer for his hard work and dedication to the region both during his tenure and especially this past season. Bill Bailey Assistant Region Director for Programs, has stepped down and his position has been filled by Eric Gesteland. THANK YOU Bill for your service as an ARD and WELCOME aboard Eric. Mike Krakora Young Adult Patroller Advisor has stepped down and we are currently looking for someone to fill this position. Again, THANKS to Mike for his tenure in this position. SPEAKING OF REGION PROGRAM STAFF, this Region has been blessed with a core cadre of concerned and skilled members who have stepped forward to implement programs. Please join me in saying THANK YOU to them when you get the chance. REGION ELECTIONS COMING UP During the season this region will conduct elections for the positions of Region Director, and for Section Chief, Section II. By action of the Board of Governors, both of these events will be conducted on a one patroller one vote basis. While using this approach results in additional work and expense for the Region, it also provides each member an opportunity to participate in the selection of their leaders. Please review the article by Joe Miller, Elections Advisor later in this edition and take the time to mark and mail your ballot when it arrives. FALL DIVISION MEETING The fall Central Division Meeting was held September 11, 12 & 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosted by the Western Michigan Region. As always, the minutes of this meeting, when approved by the Board, will be posted on the Central Division website for your detailed review. Highlights of the meeting included: John Thomas, Division Directorreported that our membership continues to hold steady at approximately 6,400. He reminded us that our primary customer is the area we serve and through them their guests. He noted that patrols need to continue monitoring member skill levels and where necessary support those with weaker performance with additional training. He also expressed concern regarding what members post on social media as it can return to negatively impact both the patrol and their area. Finally, he indicated that Division and region program staff should be working this season to offer their programs at local areas. Chris Radabaugh, Assistant Division Director presented National Board Election information and a brief needs assessment for the Board moving forward. He introduced the 4 candidates from the Central Division, who made a brief presentation, including: Jim Woodrum National Board Member Ty Damon North Michigan Region Brian Rull Southern Region Brian Ulrich Western Region

2 Candidate resumes and position statements are currently posted out on the National website. The election opens on October 15 and closes December 15. Chris stressed the need for every Central Division member to review all candidate information and give as much consideration as you can to the candidates from Central and then VOTE! Chris Stoddard, Executive Director of the Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) addressed the general session on Saturday morning and noted the following: Change in our industry is unavoidable due to the aging of area infrastructure, the weather, demographics of our prospective guest population, and changes in ownership. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) in conjunction with MSAA and other regional area associations is working hard to gather data to assist resorts in addressing many of the factors affecting their businesses. Chris stressed the importance of helping our areas to create magic moments that are transformational for all of our guests and especially for our beginner visitors. A day of enjoyment and satisfaction is a significant motivator for a return visit. Helping take a family photo, talking with guests at the lift, and greeting them when they are searching for a service in a cheerful and happy manner goes a long way. He noted that MSAA members see patrols as a valued part of ski area operations. He suggested that patrol leaders could strengthen their connection by striving to have regular face to face meetings with area managers to share plans, operational information and participate as part of the ski area operations team. Finally, Chris reported on a follow up meeting that MSAA leadership had in August with NSP and Central Division leaders to discuss area owner concerns surrounding the Outdoor Emergency Care 5th edition standard of training as it affects patroller recruitment and retention from their perspective. The NSP National Board was scheduled to discuss this topic during their September conference call. Jim Woodrum, National Board Member Indicated that NSP represents approximately 90 percent of the 650 resorts and ski areas in the United States. The organization currently has approximately 30,000 registered members, and continues to maintain our federal charter (which has been granted to only 100 other organizations). He further noted that NSP is currently actively working with the National Ski Areas Association and others in the snow sliding industry in the areas of: Helmet safety Risk Management and Accident Investigation Chair Evacuation EMS issues at the individual state level, and And in several other areas. Jim reviewed the Joint Statement of Understanding between NSAA and NSP with the group reminding everyone that ski area coverage for winter patrol activities does not necessarily extend to summer area events and certainly not to other off area programs and events with which the area is not associated. He strongly suggested members providing services for these types of events determine what if any coverage is being provided by the event organizers for them before participating. Finally Jim noted that the NSP Mountain Host program is expanding in areas across the nation including in Central Division. Division Program Highlights SKILLS TEAM Central Division Ski Trainer s Workshop (STW) will be held at Afton Alps, Minnesota on December 5 & 6 and Boyne Highlands on December 12 & 13. Registration for these events must be made through the Region Directors. AVALANCHE Will continue offerings for Level 1 Modular 1 which is a 10 hour one day program throughout the Division. DIVISION WOMEN S SEMINAR Will be held on January 30 & 31 at Crystal Mountain, Michigan SOUTH CENTRAL REGION BUDGET REPORT A copy of the Budget to Actual Report is presented in this newsletter for members information. REGION CALENDAR An updated South Central Region Calendar of events is being published in this edition of the SWEEP for your review and use. It contains events reported and included as of September 15. It will be updated and republished in each subsequent edition of the SWEEP Newsletter. As in the past an electronic version containing regular updates will be available on the South Central Region s Website at REGION ORGANIZATION CHART Is included in this edition of SWEEP and is also presented on the South Central Region Website along with contact information for current Board and staff members for your use. As changes occur, it will be republished and reposted on the Webpage PROGRAM ARTICLES AND APPLICATIONS Please take a moment and review the various articles from Region Program Advisors regarding their plans and schedules for the upcoming season that are contained in this edition of SWEEP. Where available, applications for participation are included in this newsletter and are posted on the Region website at southcentral.org/ INTRODUCTION TO PATROLLING (Patroller 101) Advisorship was created by the Region Board at its September meeting to coordinate the registration and use of this NSP program during local candidate training programs in the region. If your patrol is using this program it, as with any other National Education Program, needs to be registered with NSP.

3 VACANT POSITIONS We currently have opportunities for members who would be interested in supporting their fellow patrollers at the Region level in the following areas: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT working with the Region Director, and Board of Governors ; AVALANCHE, YOUNG PATROLLER PROGRAM, and INTRODUCTION TO PATROLLING, working with Eric Gesteland, ARD Programs; and LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT working with Brad Bailey, ARD Administration. If you are interested in learning more about what a position would be responsible for, please contact either Eric Gesteland, Brad Bailey for positions listed under their supervision. As always, you can also contact me directly regarding any of the above. REFRESHERS Everyone needs to successfully complete one for Outdoor Emergency Care, CPR, On Hill, and where required by management Chair Evacuation. Remember, there are no bystanders, observers, or administrators in this organization when it comes to skill proficiency. AWARDS This past season we had a very active awards year giving the Region Awards Committee many submissions to review and work with. As always, if no one prepares awards no one receives them. Tom Wright, Region Awards Advisor will again be conducting at least 2 Awards Workshops this season. One will be presented in Section 4 and one in the southern half of the Region. If you are considering preparing award(s) be sure to attend one to get Tom s valuable seminars to gain advice and suggestions on how to write a successful nomination that succeeds beyond the Region. The Awards Committee meets 3 times each year (see the Region Calendar) to consider nominations (Outstanding Nominations are reviewed in March). A key tip is start early rather than rush at the end when it is due. If you believe someone is deserving of recognition and is eligible for an award, and you want to learn more about the Awards Program, or just plain need assistance in preparing one Please contact Tom or your Section Chief as early as possible for assistance. SWEEP TO ALUMNI To reach out to our Alumni patrollers, we will be sending out few issues of the SWEEP to them. AND SO, THE SEASON BEGINS The paperwork is just starting, and we still have CPR, OEC, Chair Evacuation, and On Hill refreshers to look forward to. Seems like the skis were stored just a couple of weeks ago and its already nearing time to get them out and tuned for yet another season. Let s spend some time getting prepared for our refreshers and enjoy the experience and then look forward to yet another great year of snow. Be safe out there. As always, I ask you to remember that: YOU ARE THE NATIONAL SKI PATROL! See you at the refreshers. Region Historian by Jon Hering Calling all South Central Region patrollers. I need you help with chronicling for posterity the life and times of the National Ski Patrol in the South Central Region Central Division. Please help me by taking pictures of your events and associates. Please forward these pictures directly to me at jsh@stotzersales.com Thank you for your help! Sincerely, Jon Hering South Central Region Historian. Region Election Notice By Joe Miller Elections are coming up this season for the positions of Region Director and Section Chief, Section 2 in the South Central Region. These positions serve 3 year terms. The current Region Director is Ron Plumer. The current Section Chief in Section 2 is Bill Gavinski. Both incumbents are eligible to run for another term. All active NSP members in the South Central Region are welcome to submit nominations for the Region Director to the Central Division Elections Coordinator Ken Meldahl at kmeldahl@comcast.net. All active NSP members in Section 2 are welcome to submit nominations for the Section Chief position to the Region Elections Coordinator Joe Miller at millerjosephm@charter.net. Qualfications for Region Director can be found in the Central Division Policy & Procedure Manual, page 7 which is available on line on the Central Division website. Qualifications for the Section Chief position include: 1. Must be registered NSP member in the Section as their primary registration unit. 2. Must have been a NSP patrol Representative for at least a year or registered as a NSP member for at least 5 years. 3. Must be familiar with current National, Division, Region, and, if relevant, Section policies and procedure. 4. Should have been a NSP patrol Representative for at least a year. 5. Should have logged at least 45 days of active patrolling (excluding refreshers, tests, etc) with 1/3 of those days at a ski area in the section.

4 6. Should have experience working with area management in an area within the section 7. Should have actively participated in management of Region activities (attended Region meetings, helped/administered Region tests/training activities). 8. Should be registered in the Division as a Senior Patroller in any discipline. The responsibilities for the Section Chief position include: 1. Serves a term in accordance with Central Division By Laws. 2. Supports and fosters the NSP mission statement. Promotes the NSP education programs within the Section to maintain the integrity of NSP training standards and promote efficient service delivery. 3. Cooperates with the Region Director and other NSP officers in maintaining rules, regulations, and training standards of the NSP. 4. Submits annual activity reports to the Region Director and, if necessary, financial reports to the Region Treasurer. 5. Facilitates communication to and from the Region Director, NSP unit Representative, Ski Area Patrol Representative, and NSP members, and is responsible for any other duties designated by the Region Board of Director or the Region Director. 6. Works cooperatively with NSP unit Representatives to facilitate registration, dues payment, and financial reports in a timely manner. 7. Actively participates in Region functions off area. 8. Maintains section records as directed by the Region Director or Region policy. 9. The Section Chief is expected to perform as a mentor and coach to prospective NSP leaders within his or her section. 10. Section Chief is expected to visit each Registration Unit within his/her section annually Key dates for the election of the Region Director and Section 2 Section Chief are: Dec Jan 26, 2016 Section Chief nomination forms submitted to the Region Election Coordinator. Nominees will be notified by the Region Election Coordinator of their nomination. (Nominations for the Region Director are sent to the Division Election Coordinator. See the Rusty Parka News for additional information on the Region Director election). February 9, 2016 Last day for nominees to submit any resumes and/or position statements to the Election Coordinator. February 15, 2016 Election Coordinator sends resumes, position papers, voting instructions, and ballots to electorate. (If there is only one validated candidate, ballots are not sent. Candidate information is posted on the division/region website.) March 8, 2016 Last day to return ballots by electorate to Election Coordinator. Postmarks will be used as cutoff date. If ballots are pre stamped, then ballots received by March 10 will be counted. March 19, 2016 Last day for tabulation of ballots and validation of the results. March 27, 2016 Elections Coordinator or Director makes announcement of election results to electorate and post on appropriate website(s). If you would like to submit a nomination for Section Chief for section 2, please submit the following information to the Region Election Coordinator, Joe Miller via e mail: millerjosephm@charter.net: Your Name Your Patrol Name Your and Phone Number Nominee s Name Nominee s Patrol Name and Section Number Nominee s and/or Phone Number Please remember to submit nominations by January 26 th, Region Administration BRAD BAILEY The summer just passed by and it is time to gear up for the season. The Board of Governors has been very busy to help deliver a quality program for the new season. COMMUNICATIONS I encourage everyone to read the Sweep and see the Region website (NSP SouthCentral.org). The Board of Governors and the Regions Advisors are all working hard to get as much information to you about upcoming programs and events. Advisors, we need your help as well. Make sure the calendar of events are kept up to date with the new events dates and times or make the proper changes on dates that you previously posted in the Sweep or Region website. Please notify Doug Peters the Region Webmaster and Tim Theisen Sweep Editor. ELECTIONS Two positions must be filled this year in the South Central Region the Region Director and Section Chief for Section 2. See the article in the Sweep prepared by Joe Miller our Region Election Advisor. AWARDS It is never too early to submit awards for consideration. The awards Committee meets three times a year to review awards. The award meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2015, Tuesday, February 9, 2016 and Tuesday, March 8, There a number of awards that can be submitted and they can be found on the National website NSP.ORG in the Policies and Procedures Manual found in your member services. It is important that if you submitting awards that the most current award forms be used. Forms can be found within the Policies and Procedures Manual as well. If you have any questions on awards you can contact

5 Tom Wright the Region Awards Advisor as well as your section chief to assist you in preparation of the awards should you need any help. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR We are pleased to Announce Dan Bell as the new Leadership Development Advisor. This is a newly created position for the Region and Dan will be conducting leadership seminars for new patrol officers and advisors and to serve as a resource for the current patrol officers and advisors. Welcome aboard Dan. By now most of the patrols completed their refresher and renewal of CPR. Each day we are getting one day closer to start of the 2015 ski season. It is time for each of us to gather our gear and be prepared for the hill to open. Most of you will be returning to your assigned crew shift and others will be assigned as fill ins with the crew shift. This is the time we all look forward to returning to the camaraderie and the friendship that we developed over the years and making new relationships with the new members who joined your shift. As a member of the patrol and crew shift you have a responsibility to make sure that you are on time for your assigned shift. That doesn t mean that if your shift starts at 10:00 that you arrive at 10:00. You need to arrive early enough so you are prepared to be on the hill by 10:00. Late arrival for your shift duty creates extra pressures and responsibilities to your crew chief/shift captain and the patrollers assigned your shift to carry the burden for you. The biggest concern of all is that there is adequate coverage for a serious injury. It would be most embarrassing for your shift much less the hill if there is an injured skier that required a medical emergency and no patrollers available to the injury. Make your crew the strongest it can be by giving 100% of your help. A special thanks goes out to all of the instructors and IT who volunteered at the refreshers to prepare us for the year. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. It won t be too long now for the 2015 season to open. Enjoy and keep the hills safe and have a great year. Region Proficiency Jason Erdmann The countdown to the next season doesn t have far to go! As you re checking over your buttpacks and backpacks and thinking towards your first shifts, start thinking too about participating in some of the great programs that the South Central region holds each season. Last year was a great year for programs, and so our advisors have a lot of enthusiasm and energy going into this next season. While I m always talking about getting involved in the senior program, there are lots of other options as well: ski, snowboard, and toboggan enhancement seminars, certified program, women s clinics, lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Check the calendar on the region webpage ( southcentral.org) or articles from the advisors in the Sweep for more information! One of the things that I love about being a ski patroller is that there are so many different ways to get involved. On the snow, instructing, evaluating, helping with programs, administration, there s something to fit any interest that you have. If you re interested in getting involved in different ways, we are always looking for people to help. Please reach out to the advisor of an area that you are interested in to see what ways you can get involved in a new or different aspect of patrolling. Lastly, while it s not an area that falls under my ARD position, I d still like to put in a quick word about another important program to me awards. It never ceases to amaze me how many amazing and dedicated patrollers we have in our region, and we re all volunteers. If you go above and beyond and do an amazing job, there should be some recognition of that. So if you see someone who really makes you say wow, think about nominating them for an award. There are many different ones, and for most of them you just need a letter explaining why they are deserving and fill out a quick form. Some awards, when received at the Region level, automatically escalate to Division, and if they are received there as well go on to the National level. Have a great season all. I hope to see you out at one of our events! Stay safe, stay warm, and think snow! Know the Code Skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in many ways. At areas, you may see people using alpine skis, snowboards, telemark skis, cross country skis, and other specialized equipment, such as that used by the disabled. Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Observe the code listed below, and share with other skiers and riders the responsibility for a great skiing experience. Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

6 "Back to the Future" Eric Gesteland ARD Programs I am entering my 22nd year as a member of the Cascade Mountain Ski Patrol where I currently serve as an Assistant PD. The past nine years I have also been a secondary patroller with the Fox Hill Ski Patrol. I have had the privilege of serving the South Central Region as Proficiency Advisor and Toboggan Advisor which led to a stint as ARD. Since that time I have remained very active in Region activities as an instructor. When again the call came to serve as ARD, I was happy to jump back in as it will allow me to use my experience to help shape the future of our Region. My involvement in Region programs, particularly ski and toboggan, has made me a familiar face to many of you over the years. Now I am venturing into less familiar territory working with the Nordic, Mountain Travel and Rescue, Avalanche, Women's, Instructor Development, Young Patroller, and hopefully Adaptive and Introduction to Patrolling programs. I am excited to work with and learn from this group of talented and enthusiastic advisors. Why am I here? It was never a goal of mine to aspire to the highest levels of leadership. What lured me into patrolling was pretty much the same as most other patrollers: I enjoy the camaraderie and helping people... and, of course, I love sliding on the white and slippery stuff. One principle that has guided me through life is "Never stop growing. At the end of the day I want to be a little bit better than I was yesterday." I have taken advantage of many training opportunities and learned from a lot of great instructors during my time in patrolling. Along the way those instructors helped me realize that I had improved my skills and gained enough knowledge that now I too had the ability to help other patrollers grow. It is truly a rewarding experience helping patrollers especially when they have that a ha moment with the realization that they gained something today that they did not have yesterday. My goal is to simply get more patrollers to experience that realization. Our Region team is stacked with leaders, advisors and instructors that are skilled and energized to bring you top quality educational programs. We may have all traveled different paths to get here, but I can assure you that I am speaking for our entire staff when I tell you we all share the same satisfaction from delivering these programs. Take advantage of these programs. It does not matter if your goal is to be a future leader or you just want to be a little bit better than you were yesterday. If you have not participated in a Region educational opportunity lately, I strongly encourage you to consider it this season. I know we are all busier than ever. Our discretionary time is at a premium. We get that and are working hard to make our programs more accessible. As you peruse through the articles in this issue, pick a program that piques your interest and consider signing up for it. You might be surprised at the rate of return on a couple hour investment. Who knows, you might even be inspired to be a future leader. Looking forward to a great season! Senior Program Anne Blaedow Hello Patrollers, Ski patrollers are a rare breed. We love new challenges, we love the outdoors and we love working with people. All of the reasons that we became patrollers in the first place are the same reasons that you may consider continuing your journey into the Senior Program. We don t get paid any more in terms of money. but the wealth of knowledge and experience that you gain by pursuing the Senior program is a benefit worth considering. The senior program offers you the chance to learn new skills, practice your OEC and tobogganing skills in more challenging environments and get to know more snow loving people. The Senior Program is rooted in the idea that if patrollers are given some training opportunities, encouragement and constructive feedback, more people will set a goal to achieve their Senior classification. There are many opportunities to improve your skills by attending our established Senior Training Clinics and Here is a list of possibilities: Senior OEC Module Clinic Senior Ski and Toboggan Module Clinics Ski Enhancement Seminar (SES) Toboggan Enhancement Seminar (TES) Mountain Travel and Rescue (MTR) Instructor Development (ID) Mentoring at your home area with an experienced instructor and eventually become an instructor in OEC and OET (Outdoor Emergency Transportation).

7 Teaching others will help you gain in experience and feedback analysis with your students. We know when you have to teach a skill, you develop a better understanding of that skill, which makes you more proficient. These also serve as electives for completing the senior program. Download the current Senior manual from the Our Senior training team will be offering some Senior OEC training opportunities in preparation for this year s Senior OEC clinic and evaluation days. These sessions will focus on preparation for effective scene management, OEC skill review/development, communications, decision making and plan execution. With quality practice, anything is possible. We will determine when and where we will hold these practice sessions at the Senior Program Kick Off Informational meeting to be held at Meadowbrook Elementary School in Waukesha on Sunday, November 15th at 11am 3pm. (I 94 and Hwy G) We will start with an overview of the Senior Program from 11 12pm and then from 12 3 for those interested in Senior OEC Module, bring your buttpacks/vests as we will start with some OEC skill review and scene management overviews. Please RSVP that you can attend this informational meeting. Please be sure to attend this meeting if you are considering pursuing the Senior program. My role is to support you with communication, training and encouragement along the way. Please contact either me ( ablaedow@wi.rr.com) or David Kleinschmidt (OEC Administrator) or Tim Weinand (Proficiency Advisor) with any questions or concerns. Certified Report Paul S. Fuchs Certified Mission Statement: Certified is a national skills development and verification program that provides a readily identifiable resource of highly motivated, skilled, and knowledgeable patrollers to better serve NSP, ski area management and the outdoor recreation community. Steps to become a Certified Patroller: * Senior Alpine Patroller with 5 years of NSP membership. * Read Chapter 12 of the Ski Patrollers Manual. * Talk to a Certified Patroller and/or your Region Certified Advisor about the program. * Download the Central Division Certified Manual and National Study Guide (beta). d.com/certified/get_manuals.php * Fill out application and submit to Certified Program Supervisor prior to January 1st. * Attend a Certified Qualification Clinic and demonstrate the skiing and tobogganing skills necessary to be accepted into the program. * Attend the annual Certified test, passing all of the program modules within allotted three year window. The Certified Program will be holding our Qualification Clinic in conjunction with the Southern Region. The Qualification Clinic will be held at Chestnut Mountain January 23 & , 7:30am and an additional informational and evaluation date held in the South Central Region. February 6 th or 7th 2016 Location not scheduled yet. All are welcome to both the Qualification Clinic and the Info/evaluation sessions. We want to get to know the Certified Program, learn new skills and make new friends. Paul S. Fuchs South Central Region Certified Advisor Certified Patroller # 569 Toboggan Tom Merritt Bring it on, let the snow start flying. Hello everyone. Are you looking forward to toboggan training this winter? I would like to try a different TES format this year by having smaller sessions at individual hills, tailored for that patrol. This would allow you to address the things most beneficial to your patrol, whether that is a general skills overview or specific techniques. We also have a new tool this year, video equipment. We can now record training and provide feedback that same day. This is an incredible tool to be able to compare your technique to the skills demo. So get the ideas brewing, talk it over with fellow patrollers and send me an to set up a date.

8 Women Program Jennifer Thompson FREE CHOCOLATE! If you missed last year s South Central Region Women s Clinic, the most successful and most talked about SC Region event of 2015, you have a chance to experience it again in The 2016 Women s Event will occur at Little Switzerland, Slinger, WI on February 7, What is the Women s Event? It is an event for women taught by women! Taught by women who understand there is a difference in how women s equipment is to be fitted. Taught by women who understand the difference in structure and thus performance between a woman s and a man s body. Taught by women that will explain and teach you how to finesse that toboggan through challenging terrain and not muscle it through. And the whole time you will be surrounded by other women, facing similar challenges that will be cheering you on and supporting you the entire time. This is not an event to be missed! For 2016 a super line up of PSIA Level 3 and Level 2 instructors and an all women team of toboggan instructors is being assembled. We are excited for the return of Chris Moe Herlick, PSIA Level 3 Alpine and Telemark, and Katie Voss PSIA Level 2 Alpine. Joining these fantastic ladies we are excited to be having Linda Barthel, PSIA Level 3 Alpine and NSP National Women s Program Advisor, and Linda Murphy Jacobs, PSIA Level 3 Alpine and Level 2 Telemark. Toboggan sessions will again be led by the awesome team of Kerstin Hammarberg and Anne Blaedow. As with last year s event, participants will be given the chance to enhance skills in PSIA, toboggan or both. Are you looking to work on skills specific to edge control? Maybe you need more confidence in the bumps? Do you desire more confidence in toboggan handling? Maybe you want to focus on back to basics. This event aims to meet the needs of what the participant s desire! Registration for this year s clinic will again be limited to 30 women in order to maximize learning through a healthy balance of students to instructors. Because last year s event filled, it is strongly recommended to register early. Registration will open December 1, Registration forms will be able to be found on the SC Region Website. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Thompson, drjlt@hotmail.com or Instructor Development Rick Wayne Unless you re The Donald, you probably credit much of your success to the help you ve had along the way. Most of us can cite early influences that made a big difference to our Patrol careers. Maybe it was an exemplary patroller on your shift. Or a health care professional who got you interested in emergency care, or maybe even one of your instructors. But we all know that a single good example or a few words of guidance can have ripple effects that last for decades. Years back, NSP decided to embrace that model for would be instructors and formalize it via the mentoring program. It s the most important part of an instructor s early career arc and I fear it frequently gets pretty short shrift just tick off the boxes, let s get on with this already! It s hard to argue with eagerness to teach. But I submit that rushing through mentoring is an opportunity lost. A good mentor can give a significant leg up to a new instructor, and it behooves us to make the most of the chance while we ve got it. From the other side of the Mentoring Completion form, it s understandable that a mentor may wish to minimize roadblocks...but you ve got a lot to give, and you owe the new instructor a chance to avail themselves of it. What does it take to be a good mentor? How do you choose one, if you re an instructor candidate? Well, you could do a lot worse than reading the NSP Guide to Mentoring New Instructors. No, seriously. Imagine: an official publication that s clearly written, makes sense, and contains info that s not obvious! In the Guide they spend a good bit of time on concepts like trust, respect, empathy, and peer relationships, as well as bread and butter techniques like coaching and assessment. You want your mentor to be someone you can work with. On the other hand, a mentor will sometimes need tell you things you don t want to hear, so don t just pick your buddy. You should be able to vent to a mentor when it gets tough, and they should be able to actively listen to you. Conversely, they ve been around the block enough times to know where the potholes are. They re not your boss, so you don t have to take their advice, but you should at least consider it. If I had to pick the single most important attributes of a good mentor, I d put listening active, engaged, empathetic listening at #1. Next up, enough experience to be able to float good alternatives to the candidate instructor at each decision point, and finally enough self confidence and trust to let the candidate make the choices.

9 For example, suppose a candidate is stressing because they re a big Deathby PowerPoint fan, and can t figure out how to get across a particular skill or bit of knowledge without it. The mentor can listen, rephrase what they say, and think about what they re saying hard enough that they can identify the crux of issue at hand. (Here, it sounds as if the candidate is a little unclear on instructional methods appropriate to the topic and target learning level.) Then, instead of just handing the candidate a gift wrapped solution, the mentor can reach into their bag of tricks and proffer some ways forward. Could be a diagram, could be a demo, could be read the book and we ll do an oral quiz. Once over the hump, it s the candidate driving again it isn t the mentor s lesson, after all! Of course, a good mentor should have many other fine qualities: excellent domain knowledge, a knack for organization, ironclad ethics. If you re an instructor candidate, don t sell yourself short, go for the best mentor you can find, take shameless advantage of their experience and don t be shy about asking for another if it isn t working out! If you re an experienced instructor, please consider mentoring. The more diverse our mentoring bench is, the better chance candidates will have of finding someone who s right for them. And it s incredibly rewarding work. The cumulative effect you can have is yooooooge! Who wants a Continuing Ed Instructor Clinic, or an Instructor Development class? The ID program is ready to schedule em, but we need to know when and where in the Region is best for you. Contact Advisor Rick Wayne (fewayne@gmail.com), and watch the Region calendar! News flash: We added an Instructor Development Course on Sunday, November 15th in LaCrosse. Outdoor Emergency Care David Kleinschmidt My name is David Kleinschmidt and I am sharing the position of Region OEC Administrator with Moe Minor. She is helping me understand the duties of the position and easing me into the role. I have been a patroller since 2002 and patrol at Ausblick Ski Club in Sussex. WI. I know it is hard to start thinking about snow and patrolling but we are getting into refresher season and need to make sure we are up to speed on our skills. That being said, many hills in the area are moving to the hybrid option for refreshing this year. Patrollers are required to take the online portion of their refresher prior to coming to the hands on skills portion. I encourage all to reach out to your IOR for your OEC refresher information and what is expected this season. Remember, if you are doing the hybrid option, to have a copy of your certificate of completion as well as your refresher guide filled out when you arrive the day of the skills portion. We are asking IT s to make sure these are collected the day of refreshers for quality purposes. To all those candidates currently attending OEC classes, we wish you luck on completing your courses and becoming patrollers. Your time commitment and hard work are much appreciated. Looking forward to seeing you continue on to become instructors and IT s in the discipline. Finally, our senior OEC program will be getting under way with Anne Blaedow holding training sessions prior to our clinic on January 23 rd and final evaluation February 20 th. Nordic Mountain has kindly volunteered to host the event this year and we are looking forward to a great course. If you have an interest in becoming a senior, the application can be found on the region website. If you just want to learn more about senior OEC, please think about volunteering as a patient or helper. If you are already a senior, your participation as a tester would be welcome. Please contact me with any questions or to volunteer at 1davidk@att.net. Here s to a great season on the slopes!

10 Proficiency/Senior On Hill Update Tim Weinand I don t know about you but I haven t started thinking about the ski season. The weather is in the 90s and humid. It s still golf and boating and cycling season. Nonetheless, the calendar has turned to September and OEC classes have started and refreshers are being planned. Thankfully, planning for the Senior on hill program started at the end of last season. The clinic will be held on January 9th and 10th at Tyrol Basin with the exam on February 14th, also at Tyrol. Why Senior you may ask Well, the Senior program is a division wide standard and participation in the program will make you a better patroller. South Central has the distinction of having the lowest percentage of Senior patrollers among the active patrolling population in Central Division. However, we are making great strides in improving that percentage. Last season South Central had six members fulfill all the requirements for Senior and that is the highest number in recent memory. The Senior program consists of Senior Emergency Management, Senior On Hill and three electives. For the On Hill program, we had an excellent pass rate. Seven of ten passed skiing/riding and seven of eleven passed the toboggan portion of the exam. Credit for the improvements in the program can be attributed to a consistent training staff, a new Senior coordinator position in South Central as well as dedicated participants. The program is in place in South Central and the results are encouraging. We need you to step up to the challenge. The increase in Senior members results in a bigger base for increasing our training staff. Not only for individual patrol training but also Senior staff. It is my desire to have enough staff for a training team separate from the testing team. We are not quite there yet. So, if you are a Senior patroller and would like to join the staff, please contact me. I know I will be reaching out to some of you. There will be two or three Ski Trainer s workshops early in the season that are great opportunities to learn what it takes to be a part of the Senior staff. Keep an eye out for them. In addition to the Senior activities, there will be a region wide ski/snowboard enhancement seminar tentatively scheduled for Devil s Head resort on January 31 st, The goal of the SES is to improve skiing/riding in a more relaxed atmosphere than the Senior exam format. Like in the Senior program video analysis will be used if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth ten thousand. Continuous improvement has been one of my goals in patrolling. If it is a goal of yours too, come on out to an SES. Section 1 Report Paul S. Fuchs Section 1 consists of three patrols. Alpine Valley, Ausblick and The Rock. All are located in Southern Wisconsin, no further north than Sussex WI. Information of the resorts in Section 1 is as follows. Alpine Valley Resort W2501 County Road D Elkhorn, WI Ausblick Ski Club W260N6395 Mary Hill Rd Sussex, WI (262) The Rock Sports Complex 7900 Crystal Ridge Rd Franklin, WI (414) If you are looking to take a refresher and you cannot attend your own area refresher please look at the Region Web Site under Calendar and you will find the dates of all the refreshers scheduled in our Region. But Please call ahead to make sure it is OK for you to attend. You will see more news from Section 1 in later editions of the Region News Letter. Thanks and see you on the Slopes,

11 Section 2 Report Bill Gavinski Fall OEC and Chair Evac refreshers will soon be upon us. If you cannot attend your own patrol s refresher, please contact the Instructor of Record of the refresher you wish to attend, prior to the date of the refresher to insure they can accommodate you. Some patrols may charge guest patrollers a fee for attending their refresher. If you have lost or misplaced your Cycle B refresher workbook you can download it from NSP s website. Also, if you need a new OEC Technicians card please contact the national office and request a replacement card, the sooner the better. Many patrols are now using the hybrid refresher format. In addition to the OEC Refresher Workbook all those attending a hybrid refresher must complete an online assessment, located on National s website, PRIOR to the refresher date. When you complete the on line activity, print the completion verification form and bring it with you to the refresher you attend. Contact your patrol director if you need the codes to access the online portion of the OEC refresher. Plan ahead so you allow yourself sufficient time to complete the online activity. Completion of the on line portion of the annual OEC (hybrid) refresher is a requirement prior to you attending the skills portion of the annual OEC refresher. For those of you looking to buy or sell equipment, Tyrol Basin Ski Patrol s annual Ski and Snowboard Resale is October 25th. If you have equipment you wish to sell please contact the Tyrol Basin Ski Patrol. Finally, the annual Ski Pro night at Les Moise in Brookfield is on Tuesday October 12th. Section 3 Report Matt Poser It seems summer has come late this year. The weather is still warm, leaves are still green, and most gardens are in full bloom yet. The warm weather hasn't taken away the thoughts of winter or hopes of those wanting to become a patroller. Little Switzerland started classes in early July with 8 new recruits, 7 of which will stay on at Switz, and the last is headed to HH. Classes have been busy nights of hands on and plenty of discussion, while the new recruits take to the computer portions at home. The class has had a great turnout of instructors as well, both experienced and new. Section 3 looks forward to all the new faces on the snow this year. Refreshers for section 3 have been set. Little Switzerland's will be held October 3 and HH/Foxhill following on October 24th. Enjoy the last days of summer and start thinking snow. Section 4 Report Steve Paladini I am Steve Paladini from Nordic Mountain Ski Patrol and have lived in Appleton for the past 17 years. Early in my career, I worked for a city fire department and spent nearly ten years with the department, achieving the rank of Lieutenant/EMT. I decided to leave and pursue a degree in Civil Engineering. I am currently employed as Project Manager for The Boldt Company. While in college, I learned to ski at Beech and Sugar Mountains in North Carolina. It was years later, while chaperoning my daughter s middle school ski club at Nordic Mountain, that I inquired about the ski patrol. It seemed like a natural fit with my background in emergency care and my love of skiing. I attended their OEC class and was patrolling by the 2008/2009 season while taking the On Hill Transportation class. I became a Toboggan Instructor, and eventually an OEC Instructor. During the summer of 2012, I co wrote and coadvised, the Nordic Mountain s Young Adult Best Practice Program. To date I have continued to co advise and the program remains one of the four Best Practice programs in the NSP and one of two in the Central Division. In March of this year, I received my OEC Instructor Trainer appointment. During May, I finished the last required course and obtained Senior Patroller classification from the NSP. Followed by becoming the new South Central Region Section IV Chief. I look forward to assisting the patrols within Section IV, along with fulfilling my responsibilities with the South Central Region. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

12 South Central Region Ski/Snowboard Enhancement Seminar January 31 st 2016 Devil s Head Resort Please fill out the application and mail or to reserve your spot by January 15th to: Timothy Weinand N56W16077 Scott Ln. Menomonee Falls, WI timothyweinand@gmail.com Name: Address: Phone: NSP# Patrol: Region: Discipline: SKI TELE SNOWBOARD The cost for this event will be $30. You can mail a check with the above form or bring it with you if your spot is confirmed. Due to staffing requirements, we will limit this event to 30 participants.

13 Avalanche Level 1 - Classroom Sunday, November 1 st, 2015, 9 am to 5 pm Little Switzerland Ski area, Slinger, WI Do you know that backcountry skiing is the fastest growing snow sport? If you have ever been side/backcountry skiing, have you ever wondered how stable the snow is on the slopes that you are about to ski? Do you want to learn about what gear you will need when in the side/backcountry and how to use an avalanche beacon? Are you interested in discovering how the snowpack changes throughout the season and do you want to have fun while learning? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then this is the workshop for you! This course is taught by National Ski Patrol instructors. If you have any questions, please call or Mike Husar or mike@husars.com Course Book: Snow Sense 5th Edition Avalanche book available from NSP store or Amazon for $ Books will also be available during the morning registration for $ Course Fee: Fee is $15.00 for NSP members and $25 for non-nsp members. Registration Deadline: October 29th, Registration Start: 8:30 to 9 am on day of class. Register Early: Space is limited to 25 students Avalanche Level 1 - Classroom - Registration Make Checks out to NSP South Central Region and mail to: NSP South Central Region, C/O Mike Husar, PO 207, West Bend, WI Name: NSP # (or mark N/A): Address: Phone #: Method of Side/Backcountry access (circle one or more): AT / Telemark / Split-Snowboarding / Snowshoeing / Ice-Climbing / Mountaineering / Snowmobile