by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News
Winter should be upon us by now, but you couldn’t prove it by what’s falling from the sky today in North Creek. I’m not a fan of “liquid snow” – at least not when we’re trying to open more terrain. Keep the faith; colder weather is coming soon! This has been a very busy fall season for many of us. OEC courses and refreshers, MTR courses, “Snowbound” (aka the Boston Ski Show), appearances at Warren Miller screenings, and, most recently, the Division OET Conference at Killington December 6-8. Many thanks to every member and their friends and family who helped staff these events; your dedication and exceptional efforts made them possible!
NSP National Board elections closed in December. Eastern Division leadership recommended four candidates and all four won seats on the National Board. A proposal to allow Mountain Hosts to vote in future elections was also passed. I’m waiting for National to provide voter turnout statistics, but I expect the numbers will again be lower than desired. If you didn’t vote, please try harder next year since every vote matters.
Are you ready to patrol? There’s no time like now to get ready. Last time I said a few words about physical conditioning. This time let’s think about our equipment: Are your skis tuned? Your safety and your patients’ will depend on your sharp edges – and in the East, that means frequent tuning. Have your bindings been tested? Many ski areas require annual binding tests as a condition of employment. If yours doesn’t, just remember whose body is being protected by those bindings. Binding tests sometimes lead to needing new boots, or at least new sole inserts, since we put a lot of wear and tear on our boot soles.
How about the first aid supplies in your pack, belt, or vest? How old are those nitrile gloves? Are all your clothing layers ready to protect you from the cold? Does your uniform look professional? There is probably an “ideal” amount of duct tape – and striking a balance between a seasoned, professional appearance and starting to look worn out can be a challenge! Is your helmet in good condition (ask a shop professional)?
The list goes on and on, but the time to act is short. Mountain management, our patrol teammates, and the skiing and riding public are all counting on us, so let’s be ready. And did I forget to say that our sport is almost always more fun when we are well-prepared? Let’s have fun!
Introducing Miss Kitty. She could be the prototype patroller of the future. She has:
• Perfect balance,
• Outstanding night vision,
• Black pants that fit well, with no holes or duct tape,
• Retractable microspikes for good traction on snow and ice, and
• (Very important) Ability to go from nap mode to full throttle very quickly!
Have a happy, joyous, and safe holiday season! Hope to see you on the snow soon!
Grant (and Miss Kitty)
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Sep 15, 2024 | Division News
Division Director Grant Fullman getting first tracksShorter days, and longer and cooler nights. The unmistakable signs of Fall are all around us – and that means three things: OEC Refreshers, vote in the National Board election, and get ready for snow! This has been a long, hot, and busy summer but I actually had skis on August 27 after a freak hailstorm deposited piles of white stuff around our house in North Creek, NY; just couldn’t resist the photo opportunity! Seriously, business is picking up all across the Division – and the pace will only increase for the next several months.
OEC Refresher Season
Feedback on the OEC Cycle B online and skills refreshers has been very positive. Most who have completed their refreshers agree that this year’s online modules are more user-friendly and effective than last year’s and the skills refresher is straightforward. Many thanks to all of the OEC Instructors and Instructor Trainers who deliver the refreshers. We couldn’t do this without you!
NSP National Board Elections
Fourteen candidates are running for four National Board of Directors seats this year. The candidates’ names were announced in a special edition of Sweep on September 13, along with dates for three candidate forums that will be conducted via Zoom on September 30, October 8, and October 16. Please mark your calendars and try to attend as many of these forums as possible. The Eastern Division leadership team will be well represented, and we will develop some recommendations based on what we hear at the forums. Most of all, I highly encourage everyone to vote. Turnout has historically been low, so every vote matters more than you might think! Voting will run from October 15 through December 1, 2024 so don’t miss the opportunity to influence the future of NSP.
Preparing to get back on snow is serious business. Biking, hiking, working outdoors, or hitting the gym are all great ways to get in shape. Most agree that trying to ‘ski yourself into shape’ is ineffective, so don’t wait! And if you need some additional inspiration, consider attending https://snowboundexpo.com/ (aka the Boston Ski Show). Eastern Division will have a booth; please contact Simon Thomas if you would like to help.
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Jun 27, 2024 | Division News, Spotlight Articles
Eastern Division Director Grant Fullman
Bugs and heat still dominate here in North Creek, New York, but winter is never far away, and we’ve been busy! On May 5, at the Division Spring Officers’ Meeting, Cal Goldsmith stepped down after four years of dedicated work and the Region Directors elected me as the next Division Director. The election was competitive; I appreciate the respect shown by the other candidates and repeat my pledge to equally serve all fifteen regions. The DD works for everyone in the division.
I feel honored to serve and very grateful that Cal’s tireless efforts left the division in good shape. My first act as DD was to appoint Carl Chaplin, the New Hampshire RD, as our Assistant DD, and obtain Division Board approval. I have known Carl for a long time; his resume far exceeds mine, and I trust his judgment and wise counsel.
Cal maintained very high standards while navigating multiple challenges – including the COVID pandemic and bringing a new treasurer on board. Cal worked closely with his peers and the National Board to support NSP while representing the Eastern Division’s interests. For me, multiple Zoom meetings with the other DDs and the National Board began the day after being elected to work on the National budget. Everyone is rightfully concerned about rising costs and I am grateful that the National Board listened to us and made adjustments before approving their budget.
Since then, the Division Finance Committee, led by John Tuttle and Doug Adams, worked diligently to finalize the Division budget, which was approved on June 27. This year we will meet our needs without raising our current $17 dues.
For those who don’t know me I have patrolling for 30 years, spending my first four at Scotch Valley, a humble and long-defunct ski area in the Catskills. I moved on to Gore Mountain, the largest ski area in New York. My first 20 years at Gore were as a volunteer, patrolling over 40 days a year. Since retiring in 2018, I’ve been a seasonal, full-time pro at Gore, typically patrolling over 100 days a year.
Money was always tight at Scotch Valley; we learned how to do a lot with very little, but the training was truly outstanding! Gore has more resources but is far larger and more complex. Along the way, I became an OEC instructor and IT, OET instructor and IT, OET Senior Trainer/Evaluator, Eastern NY Region OET Advisor for 11 years, Section Chief for two years, and Region Director for five years. Credit for any success as a Region Director belongs to the awesome ENY Region leadership team. My role was mostly to recruit, encourage, coach, and then get out of their way!
I am excited to begin work as Division Director with such an amazing team of Region Directors, Section Chiefs/ARDs, Program Supervisors and Staff, and Division Officers and Advisors. As I said before, the Division Director works for everyone – so please let me know when there’s a problem that I can help with. Good news is always welcome too!
