Sun Valley: A look back
The 10th Annual NSAA Convention and Trade Show at Sun Valley, reports Executive Director Dick Garis, was a “great success.” Over 500 people attended the meeting, among them more than 70 suppliers exhibiting their new ’72 equipment lines. Garis added that the attendance figure, though virtually the same as that recorded at Hyannis, Mass., last year, “was significant when you consider that almost all those attending had to fly in. Hyannis was within driving distance of hundreds of ski areas and therefore considerably more accessible.” Next year the convention will be held at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., May 21-24.
New Membership Categories
With all the activity—and with some 20 management seminars, sports competitions, banquet and rounds of supplier receptions, there was plenty—business went on as usual. The new membership categories adopted at Sun Valley—former supplier “sponsor” members now become participating “associate” members—says Garis, “will improve substantially the services to all our members.” First order of business is a directory, to be published late this summer, listing associate members and their products and services.
One of several proposals at the meeting was made by USSA Executive Director Mike Erickson who suggested that joint NSAA/USSA committees be established to consider developing common programs in the areas of competition, recreation and public affairs and to work objectives that would be mutually beneficial. Committee members have since been named by NSAA though no meeting dates have yet been set.
Exhibitor Reaction
When it comes to sheer fun and convention comforts, there’s little that Sun Valley lacks. However, a few suppliers felt the trade show could have been more effectively planned. A chief gripe was booth location, with some suppliers bemoaning the heavy traffic in corridors adjacent to their booths while others with exhibits in the main arena of the conference center complained that there was too little traffic.
In response to this and other reactions at the meeting, NSAA is sending its members a questionnaire, asking such questions as: Should attendees be permitted more free time to visit the exhibits? Should NSAA establish regular, rotating convention sites? (There are few ski areas that can handle the convention at its present size.) Should there be a return to fewer, in-depth seminars or should NSAA continue its “something for everyone” approach? Finally, should the slope maintenance conference and snowmaking demonstrations continue to be incorporated in the Mid-Winter Meeting agenda or should they be held separately?
Sierra Club Cancels
A major disappointment at the meeting was the last-minute cancellation by the Sierra Club’s John Townsley who had been slated as the convention’s lead-off speaker. Said Garis, “This did little to further the improved communications to which both NSAA and the Sierra Club had committed themselves. Rather it had the reverse effect, with people wondering ‘why’ and drawing their own conclusions.”
