USIA Board reorganizes area operations in association; moderates dues increase
In the wake of the discontent expressed by several members at the USIA convention, the board meeting that followed was “a pretty brutal assessment of USIA’s operations,” as one member put it. Members were “realistic about what had happened,” and reportedly there was quick consensus about the nature of the measures that were needed. Among the actions taken were:
- The area dues increase was modified by setting it at a flat 14 percent increase for all, replacing the first plan that would have yielded a 38 percent increase. The minimum dues figure of $200 was kept, but to accommodate the 14 percent approach, the threshold for minimum dues was lowered from $200,000 in gross lift revenues to $175,000.
- USIA would reorganize itself essentially as a corporate holding company with two separate operating divisions: the ski areas and the manufacturers. This organizational structure presupposes functional and financial separateness and responsibility; that is, what the ski area division costs to operate, the ski area division would have to realize in funding.
- A staff position was created to be the focal point for all ski area interests and concerns. (From a budgetary perspective, this is more a re-structuring than the creation of a new position.)
- Creation of a ski area advisory committee that would meet a couple of times a year, and that could react quickly to ski area needs and provide a forum for ski area concerns. It is also hoped this committee, because of its composition, would help restore consensus-building among the many ski area constituencies. Membership is seen as consisting of the 12 existing ski area members of the USIA board, plus a like number chosen to achieve geographic diversity and size balance. It would be chaired by whomever was senior area board member — currently first vice chairman Chris Diamond, of Mt. Snow. Diamond expects to name the heads of a number of regional ski associations in order “to tap into these lines of communication and consensus-building.”
It has, some have observed, the smell and feel of an NSAA board, but with neither the name nor legal standing.
- Significantly, a decision was made to continue the so-called “pre-nuptial agreement” between NSAA and SIA for another year, instead of allowing the union to become final in October, as had originally been called for. It was a cautious move that seemed justified by the cracks showing up in the USIA structure.
At presstime, all these changes were being absorbed by a USIA staff that was, to put it mildly, somewhat numbed by convention events and their aftermath.
The ski area advisory committee was still to be recruited. “The whole process is riddled with political traps,” said Chris Diamond, who is spearheading the job for chairman, John Stahler. “All we can do is give it a good shot and then over time clean it up.”
The key ski area division staff position was to be filled, probably before mid-July. Whether it was to be filled from the outside or from existing staff was not known.
How did the smaller dues increase affect the budget? “Obviously, some adjustments had to be made,” said Diamond. But there was some good news in that there was an extra $60,000 in dues stream based on the unanticipated and substantially higher lift revenues from this past season. Still, he felt, about $60 – $85,000 would have to be cut from expenses, which was “not pleasant, but do-able.”
And how did all this churning on the area side play on the manufacturer side? Chairman John Stahler explains that, “Yes, there has been some concern, but manufacturers have been generally somewhat patient.”
He acknowledges that in the merger, “There were emotional issues that went unresolved on the area side,” and that merger brought much more change to them than to the manufacturers. Also, he says manufacturers tend to look at the ski industry differently. “They’re working with a national approach to the ski business,” he explained, whereas much of the area membership thinks and markets regionally.
Though reiterating the patience of the manufacturing side with regard to the dues problems on the area side, Stahler also said, “It won’t go on forever.” Referring to the lowered dues increase to be imposed on areas he commented, “What started out as a $500,000 problem ended up with a $200,000 solution.”
When asked if the increase meets the needs of dues parity with the SIA side, Stahler said, “Different people look at it in different ways.” He went on to explain that parity is really a matter of fairness — that each side should pay sufficient dues to cover the cost of services its members require. If the area dues achieve that, then the parity or fairness goal is achieved, he felt. But the $200,000 surplus from the Las Vegas trade show “is not part of the deal.”
Stahler also expressed some long-term concern — “a complicating factor that some people have conveniently forgotten” — that the SIA side still has “substantial assets in cash and real estate” which will eventually have to be rebated back to the manufacturing members. He wonders out loud whether it won’t be hard for ski areas to buy their portion of these assets out of area dues.
Nonetheless, Stahler felt the board was getting USIA “back on track,” and although there were many things “still somewhat unresolved,” the first steps were being taken and he was encouraged.
Diamond was also encouraged. “I ran our changes by the Vermont Ski Areas Association meeting and there was a general feeling we were making the right moves.”
Badami gets Blegen Award
For the second year in a row, a ski area owner and former chairman of NSAA has received the highest award of the U.S. Ski Association, the Julius Blegen Award. Last year it was Waterville Valley’s Tom Corcoran; this year it was Nick Badami, principal of Alpine Meadows, Calif., and Park City, Utah. For Badami, the ski industry was a second career. He started at 50, following a highly successful career in the garment industry.
Badami, 71, is a member of the board of U.S. Skiing, the sport’s national governing body.
He has long been extremely active in U.S. Ski Team efforts, serving as a director of the U.S. Ski Team Foundation. He was instrumental in getting Park City selected as the permanent headquarters of the U.S. Ski Team.
Earthquake hits Bear Mt.
At presstime, SAM got a preliminary assessment of damage from the earthquake whose epicenter was just a mile from Bear Mt., Calif. The report comes from Stewart Parks, of Marlboro Construction, who happened to be water skiing on Big Bear Lake when the quake hit. “Right at that moment every fish in the lake jumped out of the water. It was like being in the middle of a horror movie,” Parks said.
Principal damage at the area seems to be to the lift towers. “The mountain moved,” Parks said simply.
The buildings looked in bad shape, but it was too early to tell how much was structural damage and how much cosmetic. The main water feed for the snowmaking was intact, even though Parks figures it went right over the epicenter. On the mountain, the main lines were intact, with some damage to the laterals.
ACL awareness urged in Fall area training
Knee injuries, especially the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) type, are directly and indirectly having a costly effect on the ski industry, according to Carl Ettlinger, of Vermont Safety Research, (VSR) and Dr. Jasper Shealy, of Rochester Institute of Technology. (See March SAM.)
As part of an all-out assault on the problem, VSR is urging ski areas to include an ACL Awareness Program in their Fall training sessions. To this end, kits have been prepared for area use that include video tape material and a separate five-minute video that helps management train a course leader in the effective use of the training materials.
The anticipated length of the actual video presentation is 15 minutes, with several programmed pauses for discussion.
Areas using these materials are being asked to contribute $500 or more, the proceeds going toward consumer-oriented research which, in turn, will hopefully result in fewer of these injuries.
For more information, contact Vermont Safety Research, P.O. Box 85, Sandhill Rd., Underhill Ctr. Vt., 05490
Computer Fairs launched; other training tied in
In response to the ever-increasing use of computer technology in every discipline of ski area operations, Computer Fairs are being launched this Fall, September 28 and 29 at the Mountain Club/Loon Mt., N.H.; and at the Lodge, at Snowbird, Utah, October 8 and 9.
The fairs are designed to provide a setting where ski area specific computer products can be showcased for interested ski area personnel. Developers of the computer programs will be set up in individual suites. During the open house period, area personnel can browse to find what interests them. They can also make appointments to go back for hands-on, private demonstrations.
Registration at the Fair is $25; for information on savings for advance registrations, call for a brochure (612) 635-9819.
The Computer Fairs will be held during the same week as several other ski industry events, providing cost-efficiency and convenience for ski areas. The other events are the Mountain Management Workshops (see below), the USIA-endorsed Ski Industry Seminars for ski shop managers. The Ski Mechanic’s Tech Training Workshops will be held concurrently with the Computer Fairs.
Mountain Management Workshops — A skilled and experienced team of presenters will cover aspects of several key disciplines at this year’s Mountain Management Workshops, held on the two days following the Computer Fairs.
Among the sessions is one on USIA’s new and acclaimed “Quality Counts” program, giving details on it and how areas can best implement it.
Also to be covered: “Risk Management;” “Communicating Your Message” for PR, marketing and managers; “Service Excellence;” “Capitalizing on Good Lift Inspections;” “Training New Staff.”
Registration for the workshops at the door is $150; or call for a brochure to find out about savings for advance registrations: (612) 635-9819.
Supplier appointments
Poma of America — Jay Gamble has been appointed sales representative, working with Rick Spear in the West Lebanon, N.H. offices. With a background in lift construction, he comes from Sunday River, and before that, Killington.
Hedco — Larry Duel, active in the ski industry since 1963, has been appointed director of marketing and public relations for Hedco snowmakers.
NESAC — Chuck Devine had been promoted to director of broadcast operations for NESAC. He is a seven-year veteran of the organization.
Willis Corroon — LeRoy W. Schultz, with the insurance company and its predecessor, Kendall, since 1977, has been promoted to assistant v.p. of engineering in their western recreation division office in Salt Lake City.
Ski Area Industry Calendar
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| August 3-6 | Midwest Ski Areas Ass’n. Technical Conference | Alpine Valley, Wisc. |
| Aug. 30-Sept. 2 | OITAF/NACS Continental Symposium | Sheraton Hotel Steamboat, Colo. |
| Sept. 21-23 | Ski Areas of N.Y. Annual Seminar & Trade show | Grandview Holiday, Lake Placid, N.Y. |
| Sept. 24-27 | Canadian Ski Industry Symposium | Capri Hotel, Kelowna, B.C. |
| Sept. 28 & 29 | Computer Fair-East | Mt. Club, Loon, N.H. |
| Sept. 30 & Oct. 1 | Mountain Management Workshop | Mt. Club, Loon, N.H. |
| Oct. 8 & 9 | Computer Fair-West | The Lodge, Snowbird, Utah |
| Oct. 8-10 | Interalpin ’92 Trade show | Innsbruck, Austria |
| Oct. 10 & 11 | Mountain Management Workshop | The Lodge, Snowbird, Utah |
