This seminar is presented with the hopes of stimulating interest, t and providing povd gso some ep practical c how-to suggestions for Patrol/Region Aw

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Sabina Norton
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1 Awards-Writing Workshop

2 This seminar is presented with the hopes of stimulating interest, t and providing povd gso some ep practical c how-to suggestions for Patrol/Region Awards Coordinators throughout the NSP!

3 Good awards application-writing is difficult and very time consuming. However, the Re-ward of having one of your patrollers win a National A-ward ward, is more than worth the effort spent!

4 An Awards Committee is probably the most practical way for your patrol to approach the awards process. That way the load can be shared!

5 Your Patrol Representative should be a member of this committee and possibly the chair. Whoever leads the group, he/she must be directed, anal, and dependable!

6 So, let s start at the beginning. g When should the awards process begin? 12 months before the awards are due! Example: 6/2004 for 6/2005

7 Information gathering may be the toughest part of the process -- selecting potential Nominees -- then trying to research, organize, and collate information that supports Why the Nominee is outstanding! t

8 Suggestion! At Refresher give every patroller A Comprehensive Personal Information Form. Ask them to complete the form at their leisure, but return it promptly!

9 That way your awards committee will have a complete activity record for every patroller, and it will be updated every year!

12 A sample of the form just shown can be passed out to all Patrol Reps at your Region or Division Fall Officer s Meeting!

13 If additional information is needed, your Patrol Representative can always visit each patroller s personal website at to help fill in the blanks!

14 In December of each year, your awards committee reviews the up-to to-date patroller information forms from the past year, then reaches a consensus regarding the Nominees for each award!

15 Now comes the time consuming part of the awards process!

16 Grab the high school English teacher or the adventure fiction writer on your patrol. Feed the assembled patroller data to them so that they can begin developing an exciting, eye-catching application and letter of support for each Nominee!

17 Okay, so your committee has accumulated all this good info! Where do your awards-writers writers start? What kind of direction can you give them?

18 In the NSP, there are many award opportunities available that make it possible for us to say a hearty thanks to our patrollers!

19 Description of Awards National Outstanding Awards For each ski season, the National Ski Patrol awards the following awards to NSP patrols and individual NSP members whose nominations have been submitted to the national office by their division director. Outstanding Alpine Large (>41 members) and Small (<40 members) Ski Patrol, and Outstanding Nordic Ski Patrol Awards are presented each year to the Outstanding t Large Alpine Ski Patrol, the Outstanding t Small Alpine Ski Patrol, and the Outstanding Nordic Ski Patrol selected from among nominations sent by division directors to the national office and approved by the awards review committee. Outstanding Alpine Ski Patroller Award, Outstanding Nordic Ski Patroller Award, Outstanding Student Ski Patroller Award, Outstanding Auxiliary Patroller Award, Outstanding Paid dski Patroller Award, Outstanding Instructor Award, Outstanding Administrative Patroller Award, and the Outstanding NSP Patrol Representative Award is presented each year to a patroller selected from among nominations sent by the division director to the national office and approved by the awards review committee.

20 Merit Stars Gold Merit Star is awarded to those patrollers who are judged to be the National Outstanding Alpine Nordic Student Professional Auxiliary, etc., Patrollers. Silver Merit Star is award to those patrollers who are judged to be the Runner-up National Outstanding Alpine Nordic Student Professional Auxiliary, etc., Pt Patrollers. Purple Merit Star is awarded to patrollers who individually save, or who are primarily responsible, in conjunction with others, for saving a human life. This is the highest award the National Ski Patrol presents! Blue Merit Star is awarded to patrollers for outstanding use of ski patrol skills in an attempt to save a human life, but whose efforts have not met the Purple Merit Star criteria. Green Merit Star is awarded to patrollers for an outstanding act of heroism, such as arduous and hazardous rescue work at ski areas, air crashes, mountain rescue situations, etc., that does not meet the lifesaving requirements of the Purple Merit Star. Yellow Merit Star may be awarded to patrollers for any outstanding act or service to the NSP. The Yellow Merit Star is also given yearly to those patrollers nominated by their divisions for the Outstanding Patroller Awards, and who were not judged as the winner or runner-up in each category.

21 National Recognition Awards Unit Citation Award is awarded by the national chairman, upon the recommendation of a division director, to any NSP patrol that has performed in an outstanding manner in the NSP, ski industry, winter recreation, or rescue venues. The Unit Citation Award Certificate is also given automatically to each NSP patrol nominated by its division for the National Outstanding Ski/Nordic Patrol Award. National Certification of Appreciation is awarded to patrollers for national-level service that does not meet the level lof the Yellow Merit Star. Standard Certificate of Appreciation is awarded to those individuals for service to the NSP at the local, region, or division level. Service Recognition Award is given to patrollers who have served the NSP for 10. years or longer, in increments of 5 years. Angel Pin is awarded to non-member spouses who have provided valuable contributions i to the NSP by supporting their NSP member-spouse. Patrollers Cross is awarded to patrollers who have been seriously injured while training, while scheduled for on-hill duty, while performing search and rescue activities, while performing avalanche control, while performing lift evacuation, or other ski patrol duties. The injury should be of the magnitude to require physician care over a long period of time, surgery, extended rehabilitation, or lost work time.

22 National Appointment may be awarded to a patroller who has a minimum of eight seasons of service (at least one year as a Senior or Certified), and has demonstrated leadership that benefits the NSP beyond the patrol level, and/or served as a certified instructor for NSP for two or more ski seasons, and/or shown exceptional performance as a NSP Patrol Representative. A patroller does not apply for this appointment. The appointment should be overdue rather than premature. A member may receive only one appointment either National or LCA. Leadership Commendation Appointment -- Qualifications for this appointment are generally the same as those for a National Appointment outstanding leadership and commitment but nominees for this appointment are those members who are registered as auxiliary patrollers (must have completed the senior auxiliary requirements at least one year before nomination), or basic patrollers (must have completed Emergency Scene Management and four additional courses from the Senior elective list at least one year before nomination. A member may receive only one appointment either National or LCA. Distinguished Service Award is awarded to a patroller who has performed extraordinary service to the NSP and the skiing public over a long period of time. This service is characterized by exceptional devotion to duty and outstanding performance. The award may be presented to individuals not affiliated with the NSP -- such as Ski Area Managers. Meritorious Service Award is awarded to active members of the NSP who have completed extraordinary or outstanding service and leadership as a region or division staff member. This award is intended to fit between the Yellow Merit Star and the Distinguished Service Award in level of importance.

23 Let s initiate this discussion with The Outstanding Awards Outstanding Large/Small Alpine Patrols Outstanding Large/Small Nordic Patrols Outstanding Alpine/Nordic Ski Patroller Outstanding Auxiliary Ski Patroller Outstanding Paid Ski Patroller Outstanding Student Ski Patroller Outstanding Administrative Patroller Outstanding Instructor

24 This is how your awards-writers writers will begin! Awards application forms are: 1) Downloadable from 2) In Chapter 10 of the P&P (also at

25 If you download the awards forms from and you then type info directly onto the form, the font will be automatically adjusted for you!

26 Okay, Outstanding Patroller Applications!

27 The format for all of the Outstanding Patroller Awards is essentially the same Alpine Ski, Auxiliary Ski, Student Ski, Professional Ski, Instructor, Patrol Representative, etc.

30 Let sstressafewpoints stress included in the General Instructions

31 INSTRUCTIONS General No information dating back more than four years, including the current season, will be used for evaluation. Additional supporting information may be attached when space on the next page is not sufficient, but it must not exceed two single side 8 1/2 x 11 pages. Be sure to cross reference the supporting information to the pertinent section of this nomination form. Do not reduce type size.

32 Section 1 Type the above information as requested. Do not use nicknames. Make sure to mark (x) the type of nominee patroller, i.e., Alpine, Nordic, Auxiliary, etc. Nordic, Auxiliary, etc. Only the above information identifies the person and his or her patrol, region, or division. This page will be removed by the Nti National loffi Office before bf iti is forwarded ddt to the National Selection Committee. To ensure fairness in the selection process, it is imperative i that all other sections of this nomination not refer to a specific name of a person, place, or thing. Failure to comply py with this request will result in the rejection of this nomination.

33 Section 2a List dates and mark (x) in appropriate box. Omit geographical references. Section 2b Explain as needed any unusual circumstances that may not be reflected on above grid, i.e., nominee transferred to another patrol, changed discipline, dual membership, etc.

36 An award scoring gg grid is available to assist your awards-writers writers as they complete application Sections This grid is also used by national judges when they review and score those applications in national competition!

37 Rating System for Outstanding Awards Award Patroller Patroller Patroller Admin. Educator NSP Patrol Form Section Alpine, Nordic, Auxiliary Paid Student Patrol Rep a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 10 a. 5 b Total

38 Notice that t different maximum scores on the grid are assigned to each specific award section! Low -- Yll Yellow Mid -- White High -- Green

43 10. Letter of Recommendation (sample from a winner!) Rarely in public life does a figure appear with such compelling leadership and personal charisma as to capture the imagination of the NSP. Such a man -- intelligent, quietly forceful, and engaging -- is this nominee. This patroller is nominated for the Outstanding Ski Patroller Award because of his significant and continuing contributions to the NSP. This nominee devoted an exceptional number of total hours to the NSP in both the present and past seasons hours on the hill duty this season/380 hours last season and 990 hours off the hill duty this season/725 hours last. The nominee always has a set of clear-cut cut goals and moves towards them with a singleness of purpose. He has the professional competence to know what to do, the tireless conviction to decide to do it, and time dynamic leadership to inspire others to get it done.

44 This patroller greets you with a contagious smile, and is never seen without his upbeat attitude that is always motivating and inspiring. It takes an outstanding individual to perform in this manner and continue to strive to new horizons. This outstanding patroller is constantly improving his NSP professional development by participating p in almost every aspect of the NSP training available. In addition to his quest for learning, he also shares his knowledge with others as an instructor. He truly believes in giving back to the system that has given him so much. His undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology and psychometrics, along with his secondary-teaching credentials, enable him to use communication as a tool to arouse, convince and produce positive results for the NSP. In a short period of time, this quintessential ti nominee has gone from mountaineer, to Candidate, to Patroller, to Senior, to Certified, and to Ski Instructor at an accelerated pace. He has become a driving force in his Patrol, Section, Region, and ddi Division. i i He is always willing to accept increasing responsibility, and never tires of giving to the NSP.

45 His actions in the NSP have made him a great role model for others to follow, within and without our organization. He is able to balance theses priorities between family, profession, and the NSP. He has been able to perform all of the above tasks: lead, teach, ski, run toboggans, lead mountaineering i trips, facilitate avalanche classes, and judge Senior and Certified Clinics at multiple ski areas. He inspires the skiing public and his fellow patrollers with an infectious enthusiasm that elicits the cooperation and support of others. He is so proud of the NSP that he that he has taken the knowledge and flag of NPS to the summits of Mt. Shasta, Mt Whitney, Mt. Hood, Mt.Ranier, Klein Matahorn (Switzerland), Mt. Ellrus (Russia), and Mt Mc Kinley (Alaska). Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "There is a debt of service due from every man to his country, proportioned to the bounties which nature and fortune have measured to him." As one who has received so much from the NSP, this nominee believes it is his responsibility to give back to the organization as much as it has given him. We are proud of this nominee for his outstanding work and dedicated efforts. It is only proper that he be recognized appropriately by the NSP!

46 After an award application is completed, including all signature approvals, it should be sent to your Region/Division Awards Coordinator for review by your Awards Committee!

48 Now on to the Outstanding Patrol Award application form!

52 The application format for the Outstanding Patrol Award is similar to that we just examined, but obviously different in content!

54 An award scoring grid is also available to assist your awards-writers writers as they complete the various patrol application sections. Again, notice that the sections are weighted differently for each award!

55 Rating System for Outstanding Awards Award Patroller Patroller Patroller Admin. Educator NSP Patrol Form Section Alpine, Nordic, Auxiliary Paid Student Patrol Rep a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 5 a. 5 b. 10 a. 5 b Total

59 9. Why is this Patrol Outstanding? (another sample winner!) Commitment to Excellence: This patrol s commitment and dedication to achieving excellence in ski patrolling and education, is evident in the number of the patrol s instructors, instructor trainers, region and division advisors/officers, and the amount of time these patrollers contribute to the advancement of the skills of ski patrolling and the sport of skiing. Year after year, these patrollers put is countless hours over and above their patrol days, at no benefit to themselves, except the thought that their efforts contribute to the safety and well being of over one-half million skiers annually at their mountain alone, and over one million skiers visiting all areas in the region. skiers visiting all areas in the region. In recent years, patrol management has been commended by our division and the national office, for it's efforts and countless hours spent researching and helping to solve delicate liability issues relating to recent litigation and legal decisions concerning the NSP. They have also been commended d by area management for implementing specific mountain awareness programs that have reduced our accident ratio significantly.

60 Relationship with Ski Area Management: This patrol has worked extremely hard for the last two decades to become an invaluable asset to our ski area. The volunteer patrol has developed an attitude of unity with the paid patrollers, that our patrol is one patrol -- not a volunteer patrol and a paid patrol -- but the ski area s ski patrol, working as a solid unit. To develop that bond, the patrol had to develop credibility. They did so with their commitment to excellence, the confirmation that this patrol will have the best-trained trained patrollers, the best instructors, the highest standards in the region,and the best care for the people that visit our ski area. Our volunteers and paid staff patrollers, ski and snowboard together, train for NSP clinics together, participate in certified clinics and tests together, give OEC clinics side by side, and treat the injured skiers and snowboarders on our mountain working together as one team relying on their team members for each other s expertise. expertise. The ski area management has in turn rewarded us for these efforts, not only with increased benefits for patrollers and families, but more importantly, an attitude of appreciation that we are not just working at the ski area, but that we are part of the ski area.

61 A Patrol Family and Friends: All of our patrollers working together have created an atmosphere that is fun to work in and around. You see lifelong friendships develop, you see patrol marriages (nine and counting), you see two or three generations skiing and/or snowboarding together, you see patrollers caring about the person that is working besides them. working besides them. This very tightly knit family of hard working patrollers can be seen at an after-sweep party, out for dinner together, watching each others kids, attending our annual Christmas spaghetti bash, mountain biking in the summer, playing volleyball on one of our three teams at the region beach party or at local summer tournaments. This caring atmosphere carries over to everything in their lives including their patrolling. patrolling. This is a group that you are proud to be associated with and stay associated with. The patrol has a very low attrition rate year after year(less than 10% last year) and a normally high transfer-in rate every year. every year.the people I work beside are the reason that I come back to this patrol every year. And it is for these dedicated people and patrollers that I would like to nominate this patrol for the Outstanding Alpine Patrol in the Region for

63 How about Merit Stars

64 In order to make it easier for everyone, let s look at each Merit Star individually!

65 A Purple Merit Star is awarded d to a patroller who individually saves, or who in conjunction with others, is the primary person responsible for saving a human life.

66 For this award, a signed support letter from the physician who rendered follow-up emergency care to the injured person, or other certified hospital information that documents the patroller s lifesaving efforts, must accompany the application! Usually only one patroller/incident is presented this award!

67 A Blue Merit Star is awarded to a patroller/s for the outstanding use of ski patrol skills in a supportive role while saving or attempting to save a human life -- but whose efforts have not met the Purple Merit Star criteria. i

68 A Blue Merit Star, in association with a Purple Merit Star, requires the same documentation as the Purple Merit Star.

69 A Blue Merit Star not associated with a Purple Merit Star requires its own sponsor letter of recommendation describing the incident, but does not require medical documentation.

70 Award applications for these two merit stars should be sent to your Division Awards Coordinator, who then forwards them to your Division i i Medical Advisor for verification before they are sent on to National!

71 A Green Merit Star is awarded dto patrollers for an outstanding act of heroism such as arduous and hazardous rescue work at ski areas, mountain rescue situations, etc., that does not meet the lifesaving requirements of fthe Purple Merit itstar.

72 A letter of recommendation from the NSP patrol representative or higher officer must accompany The Green Merit Star Nomination.

73 AG Gold ldm Merit itst Star is awarded to those patrollers who are judged Nationally to be the National lo Outstanding t Alpine-- --Nordic-- --Student-- Professional--Instructor Auxiliary Patrol Rep-- --Admin Patrollers.

74 A Silver Merit Star is award to those patrollers who are judged Nationally to be the Runner-up up National Outstanding Alpine-- --Nordic--Student-- Professional--Instructor Auxiliary Patrol lr Rep--Admin Patrollers.

75 A Yellow Merit Star is given yearly y by National to those patrollers nominated by their divisions i i for the Outstanding Patroller Awards but who were not judged as the winner or runner-up up for each category in the national competition.

76 The Yellow Merit Star may also be presented to members for outstanding service in support roles associated with the Purple, Blue, or Green Merit Stars.

77 More importantly, The Yellow Merit Star may be awarded to any patroller for any outstanding act or service to the NSP!

78 One caution however, to maintain the value of The Yellow Merit Star, it should not be awarded too freely!

79 Therefore, this award should not be given for local services or functions (e.g., bake sales, repairing toboggans, painting aid rooms, etc.) These type of activities should be recognized with The Standard Certificate of Appreciation.

80 Patroller participation in significant region or division officer positions and/or activities should be rewarded with a Yellow Merit Star!

81 And, a member may receive more than one Yellow Merit Star, but each act or administrative duty must be unrelated to any prior receipt of the award, and must have relevance to the National Ski Patrol

82 Merit Star Award Nominations are submitted on a standard award form:

84 Each Application must also be accompanied by a support tl letter! Letters supporting a Yellow Merit Star should resemble the following:

86 Remember, Merit Star Applications may be submitted at any time during the year, and are not restricted to your Division National Outstanding Awards deadline! dli

88 One final award category that we should touch on is the Certificate of Appreciation!

89 Two levels of Certificate of Appreciation may be awarded.

90 The National Certificate of Appreciation is for National-Level Service that does not meet the level l of the Yellow Merit Star. Examples would be area managers/owners, retiring ski patrollers, and patrollers who deserve national recognition.

91 This award certificate is signed by the National Chairman and has a Gold Seal affixed. A nomination form similar to that used for Merit Stars must be submitted for this award, and requires an accompanying letter of justification signed by the sponsor, NSP Patrol Representative, and/or the Division Director!

92 The Standard Certificate of Appreciation i is used for those situations that affect the National Ski Patrol at the local, region, or division level l only.

93 This certificate may be obtained from the NSP Winter Catalog for a patrol award, or requested from your Region/Division Awards Coordinator for a Region or Division level award!

94 Well, that s about it! An Awards-Writing Course in a nutshell!

95 I hope you have found this seminar productive!

CENTRAL DIVISION AWARDS MANUAL

CENTRAL DIVISION AWARDS MANUAL 2018-2019 Outstanding Ski Patroller Template Page 1 of 2 8/05 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 3: General overview Page 5: Judging awards Page 8: Appointments Page 9: Distinguished