by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Dec 22, 2025 | Division News
Winter arrived early this year – unlike last year! Lots of good snowmaking weather and some help from Mother Nature, so most of us have already been out on snow. OEC courses and refreshers were successfully delivered throughout the Division, and feedback on this year’s refresher content was overwhelmingly positive. Certified Boot Camp at Ski Roundtop (EPA), Advanced Patroller School at Swain (GV), AMN Instructor Refresher at Pike Glades (NH), multiple MTR courses, “Snowbound 2025” (Boston Ski Show), and the Division OET Staff Conference at Killington (SVT) were delivered and well received. Many thanks to everyone who made these possible!
National Board election turnout was up from last year’s, and all four candidates recommended by the Division won seats. Congratulations to Shelley Urben, Sharon Friedel, Rich Pietrafesa and Bill Cline! It’s never too early to look ahead to next year’s election, which will have five National Board seats to fill. If you’re interested, I recommend attending National Board meetings by Zoom on a regular basis; most are open to any member, and you can find the schedule and login information on the National website.
As we start a new season on snow, let’s pause to reflect on how we interact with our teammates, area management, and resort guests. Treating everyone with kindness, dignity, and respect wins the day every time—especially when that might seem undeserved or the heat of the moment might send us in a different direction. We can make a positive difference every day, even when we’re not providing first aid or transportation.
Have a happy, joyous, and safe holiday season! Hope to see you somewhere on snow soon!
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Sep 13, 2025 | Division News
Earlier this month I instructed at a local OEC Instructor Refresher – something I’ve done in September for many years, but this one was particularly memorable.
To start the day, I was honored to present the Eastern Division and National Outstanding Alumni Awards to Roberta Fox, whose 50+ years of NSP service, and decades of leadership as an OEC Instructor, Instructor Trainer, and Senior OEC Trainer/Evaluator are legendary. Roberta continued in all these roles as an Alumni member without skipping a beat and received a Purple Merit Star for saving a life – proving the immense value of our skills and experience even when no longer actively patrolling.
Roberta and I share a special connection because 31 years ago I was lucky enough to be one of the candidates in the first OEC course she led as the Instructor of Record. At the time, I had no idea how fortunate I was to have had such an outstanding instructor!
L-R: ENY RD Jim Marco, EDiv Dir. Grant Fullman, Roberta Fox
Throughout the rest of the day, I had the additional privilege to work with a 15-year-old YAP Candidate named Ben, who served as a patient at our lower extremity injury station. Ben was packaged with various traction splints and backboarded at least ten times during the refresher – always with a smile and definitely learning from each cycle!
Roberta and Ben give us confidence in what we can accomplish in the NSP, and how bright our future can be if we seize the opportunities.
OEC Refresher Season and 7th Edition Textbook
This year’s Cycle C OEC refresher has been very well received. Don’t expect to fly through the online refresher modules at the last minute, as they are rich in content and professionally delivered. Work on OEC 7th Edition is underway by a National team, with a Spring 2027 target launch.
NSP National Board Elections
Six candidates from the Eastern, Central, and Pacific Northwest Divisions including our National Chair, Rich Pietrafesa (running for his second 3-year term), are running for four National Board of Directors seats this year. Please look for links to online candidate forums on September 22 and October 5; both sessions will be recorded, so you can view them at your convenience if you miss the live show.
Most of all, please make sure you vote in the election. Voting runs from October 15 until December 1, and we need a strong turnout to ensure we are well represented on the National Board. If you would like some advice on this, please ask your Region Director (or me) as the Eastern Division Board plans to endorse a slate of recommended candidates after the forums are complete.
Have a wonderful fall season. There’s a chill in the air and some of the trees are already in full fall colors here in North Creek! Miss Kitty is looking ahead to her big time, so let’s do the same and be ready when the snow flies! Enjoy every day!
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Jul 4, 2025 | Division News, Spotlight Articles
Although the run-up to winter is probably the last thing on our minds during July heat, each passing day is a little bit shorter, and this will continue until mid-December. I’ve been back driving the car the past four weeks, after ten weeks of “home confinement” following injury in March and ankle surgery on April 1. With lots of physical therapy, I’m seeing slow progress toward where I’ll need to be when the snow flies. Getting my swollen right foot back into a ski boot might remain the biggest challenge
We often hear the term “patrol family,” but I doubt many of us ever fully grasp the concept until we see it in action. The commitment of that “family” was positively proven during my confinement since I couldn’t drive and my wife hasn’t driven in years due to low vision. Patrollers brought me to doctor’s appointments and to the hospital for surgery.
Patrollers brought us home-cooked meals, picked up our mail at the post office, hauled our trash, checked our other house 90 miles away, delivered groceries that we ordered online, replaced the dead battery in our car, helped take the plow off my truck, picked up milk at the local convenience store, and just stopped to visit and help us keep our sanity. Some traveled 50 to 100 miles each way, just to get to our house in North Creek so they could help us out, and then covered the same distance on their way home. And some did this repeatedly after a long day’s work.
Many more just called to check on us and wish us well. I’ve done my best to thank them, but the debt will never be fully repaid – and I suppose that’s just how it goes with “family” such as this! You all have my eternal gratitude!
July 1 marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for NSP and the Eastern Division. Every patrol will need to complete a Form 990 and submit these to their Region Treasurer by July 15 for the fiscal year just ended. And, every Region Treasurer will need to forward a consolidated Region 990 to Dallas Coffman, our Division Treasurer, by August 1. Dallas sent an email to the Region Treasurers with further details on June 29; please help get this done on time, so Dallas won’t have to ask your RD (or me) to chase after you!
July is also when program activities for the coming year start to pick up. OEC refresher materials are now available from National for OEC instructors, beginning the refresher process that will take us through the fall. Certified Boot Camp is coming to Ski Roundtop in the EPA Region in August, and the Enhanced Patroller School will be at Swain in the Genesee Valley Region in September. Please check the Eastern Division calendar and don’t wait too long, since these events fill up fast!
Stay strong and enjoy every day!
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Jun 5, 2025 | Division News
May came to the Adirondacks, and we all know what that means: bug season! June arrived, and spring skiing is done, but there’s biking, rafting, hiking, and yard work a-plenty! Unfortunately for me, none of those are on my list of possibilities as I continue to recover from a late March on-duty injury – still confined to our basement in North Creek, with no weight bearing and no driving!
Our leadership team showcased their accomplishments, challenges, and opportunities at the annual Spring Officers’ Meeting in Albany, the first weekend in May. We reconnected with old friends and made some new ones, had lively discussions about important issues, and had some fun, including a reunion of the previous four Eastern Division Directors (John Kane, Cal Goldsmith, John Shipman, Rick Hamlin). I only wish I could have been in the group photo with them!
Many thanks to Kate Tornese, Nancy Mayberry, Orest Ohar, and Chuck Dunn for their efforts to make the SOM very successful. Kate and Nancy ensured the venue was ready and delivered our event as planned. Orest applied considerable technological resources to every aspect of the meeting. This was key to my ability to attend most phases remotely by Zoom. Chuck Dunn became our Assistant Division Director in early April, replacing Carl Chaplin, who served with dedication and distinction until terming out on March 31. Chuck chaired the in-person meetings, while I joined via Zoom. I doubt that any new ADD has ever worked harder in their first month on the job!
Every year brings changes on the National Board, and this election cycle will fill four seats. Four current Board members are from the Eastern Division; three have terms ending this year, and two are terming out (Paul Kelly and Bob Scarlett). National Board Chair Rich Pietrafesa has done an outstanding job and will be running for re-election. Division Directors Mike Schons (Central) and Shelley Urben (Pacific Northwest) are running this year, and I invited them to join us at the SOM so we could get to know them better.
During the SOM, Sharon Freidel and Bill Cline also announced plans to run for the National Board. I am encouraged to see so many highly qualified candidates this early in the election cycle, given that the filing deadline has passed. The best candidates will represent the interests of all members, regardless of their origin, but we need to increase voter participation. Last election cycle, the Eastern Division had just under 10% voter turnout; we can and must do better, and you’ll hear more on that in the months ahead.
Please don’t think of summer as the “off season.” Yes, most of us will be off the snow – but bike patrol is “on,” and this is also a great time to have fun improving and maintaining our fitness for the next on-snow season. I’m looking forward to my doctor’s clearance to bear weight, lots of physical therapy, walking, and driving a car again!
Enjoy every day!
Grant
