SnowPro The Official Publication of the Professional Ski Instructors of America Eastern / Education Foundation
Early fall 2010
National PSIA-AASI Report: How Your National Association Dues Work for You by Bill Beerman, Eastern Representative, National Board of Directors
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his past spring our Eastern Executive Director, Michael Mendrick, provided our membership with an electronic survey, which resulted in a very high participation rate by PSIA-E members. Many of the questions raised by members were addressed in the Summer issue of the SnowPro. Michael provided comments to a variety of questions. In addition, I was asked to address a comment that appeared regarding question 10: “Dues is too much. What does the National organization do for me?” I asked Mark Dorsey, National Executive Director, to help provide a summary of the information on that topic. Following is information that Mark provided. So often the question is asked, “What do I get for my dues?”. Before launching into the list of “stuff we all get” - and there is lots of stuff – it’s important to remember the primary reason for belonging to an association. Think back to when you first joined. Most likely, it was to feed the need to ski or ride better, to teach more proficiently, to learn more about snowsports we all enjoy. Your dues go to support the organization that supports you, and to support you as you get people excited about skiing and snowboarding. Bottom line is that this is a pretty cool club to be in. At a minimum, PSIA and AASI enable the opportunity for you to make lifelong friends and colleagues in the snowsports industry. The National association works very hard to take as few dues increases as possible. PSIA-AASI raises at least one dollar for every dollar in dues. In fact, PSIA-AASI has taken only two dues increases in the past 20 years. So, what does this revenue get you? Some things are more obvious, and others aren’t. Perhaps more important, programs and services from the National organization are designed to complement divisional offerings. Your dues contribute to a wide range of services and benefits designed to offer the best possible value to you, all designed to give you increased access to resources and people to increase your enthusiasm for skiing and snowboarding. Member Education and Certification • PSIA-AASI offers National brand recognition and credentials, recognized by ski and snowboard schools throughout the country; this often can mean increased wages, additional benefits, and recognition.
the inside edge
• The National association provides incentives and subsidies for divisional events to bring in National team members and increase sponsor involvement. • The PSIA-AASI teams are supported by the National organization, and their primary purpose is to support member education and divisional events across the country. • PSIA and AASI research and publish a wide range of manuals, videos, and other materials to support your education. These materials are made available at the lowest possible cost to the member and can be found on-line and in the PSIA-AASI Accessories catalog. • Free copies of newly developed education materials are provided to every member school each year so that directors are kept abreast of the latest developments. Member Communication • A subscription to 32 Degrees: The Journal of Professional Snowsports Instruction, the definitive publication on what is happening in teaching Alpine skiing, Snowboarding, Nordic skiing, Adaptive skiing, and more. • Members receive three issues annually and can access current and back issues online. • www.TheSnowPros.org is your gateway to member resources and services. Dramatic changes to the website are to be implemented before the snow flies, including new member communities, upgrades to the Movement Matrix, and much more. • PSIA-AASI supports your division by providing access to rights-free photos, video, and other creative templates. You’ve seen them in this newsletter and in divisional recruiting efforts, • The National association facilitates communication across the divisions by subsidizing face-to-face and virtual meetings of division presidents, National task forces, and divisional education leadership. • The PSIA-AASI board member from the Eastern Division is chair of the National Education Advisory Council. • Member services staff are available via phone, fax, or e-mail to answer questions about events, membership status, catalog orders, policies and procedures, and a host of other topics. • Over 200 members use this service each day continued on page 5
6.........Around the Regions
13.......Education Foundation Donors
22.......Your Turn
8.........VIP Privileges
16.......20, 30 & 40 year members
26.......2010-11 Event Schedule