Could this be spring? The sun is out, overnight low temperatures are significantly higher than daytime highs for the last two months (or more), NMR Evaluations are complete and OEC Classes are starting. All great signs that spring is near.
Section 2 Alpine Patroller Evaluation
Eight candidates successfully completed the Section 1 Basic Evaluation at Nubs Nob on March 2nd. Congratulations to The trainers at Boyne Highlands and Nubs Nob for preparing these candidates. Thanks to Lisa Ballien, Dan Dryden for planning and all the evaluators that assisted with this evaluation.
NMR Senior OEC Evaluations
Congratulations to Howard Bates and Scott Lucy on the successful completion of the NMR Senior OEC Evaluation and earning their Senior Classification. Thanks to Rid Kivell, Tena Lechtanski for planning and all the evaluators that made this a relaxed, fun environment for our Senior Candidates to demonstrate then OEC and management skills.
Awards
The Region Awards Committee met Sunday March 9th to review applications for Outstanding Awards. Thanks to Awards Advisor Virginia Rodeman’s work, the committee had applications nominating seven very deserving patrollers and two patrols for various outstanding awards. All I can say at this point is patrollers from every section and five patrols will be recognized with Region Outstanding Awards at the May 3rd Awards Banquet. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us to celebrate these accomplishments at The Lodge at Cedar River.
Reminders
All NSP Classes must be registered on the National WEB Site before the class begins and that all class candidates must be registered NSP members or pay the non-member course fee. National and Division Policies require that every class must be assigned an IT by the Region or Division Advisor. IT’s must be from outside the patrol sponsoring the class and where possible, outside the Section.
National policy credits dues paid by candidate’s registered in OEC Classes beginning “after the end of skiing season” will count for the following Ski Year. I’m checking the exact procedure for registering candidates for compliance with this policy.
Note: NSP liability insurance covers instructors teaching in Registered Classes only.
Senior OEC Trainer/Evaluator
NSP is rolling out an updated Senior OEC Program including refined training evaluation requirements and tri-annual recertification of Senior OEC Evaluator/Trainers. This program is being phased in over a three year period including the current year. Division OEC Supervisor, Karen Hadden, started the Central Division roll out here in Northern Michigan with eight NMR Instructors in the inaugural class. An additional six Senior Evaluators were updated since then. We are now developing plans to roll out this new program to the remaining OEC Instructors in the Region. We will be contacting instructors with details in the next few weeks.
Central Division Spring Meeting
I’ll be heading for Chicago in three weeks for the Central Division Spring Meeting. I’d like to take all the Region, Section and Patrol success stories with me to toot our horns and show the Division all the good stuff that happens here in Northern Michigan. Everyone, please take a minute this week and send me a quick note with information to add to my report.