NSAA More Involved Than Ever
In a sense, the annual gathering is a microcosm of NSAA’s ongoing activities. Both are broad in scope. At times it might appear that certain NSAA actions receive much greater attention than others. Matters such as use of federal lands certainly have been in the limelight. It is a very visible problem.
But there are many other important matters that NSAA works equally hard on throughout the year, as partly evidenced by the subject matter to be covered at this year’s Convention and Trade Show. For example, we are deeply involved with regional and state associations in assisting them in drafting and passing skier safety legislation. This effort was initiated by the drafting of the NSAA Model legislation and we continue to work with each state as this issue comes before their respective legislatures.
Liability problems and risk management is another area in which the association works continuously to improve the climate for ski area operators. A risk management program will be unveiled at the convention and it promises to be a very important one for everybody involved in ski area management.
Last Fall, the NSAA Board of Directors paid personal visits to their legislative contingents in Washington D.C. Subjects such as labor laws, national energy policies and land use were discussed in detail with members of Congress. These visits served as an important first step in improving the association’s relationship with the national lawmakers. We intend to expand that relationship tremendously in the coming months by establishing a fully-operative office in the nation’s capital. This office will enable NSAA to more closely follow the important decision-making process on matters that ultimately affect everyone in the ski industry. This will be a big step, one that will make NSAA an even stronger and more vital organization.
The association is constantly taking on new challenges as needs arise. Along with its committee chairmen and directors, NSAA’s watchdog function is increasing in its impact. But we also continue to need additional individuals to provide more input, to serve on the various committees and provide their expertise in their area of specialty, be that labor law, tax regulations, skier safety, insurance, marketing, land use or financial.
The National Ski Areas Association is more involved than ever. In the coming year, we hope more ski area management people will join us by becoming more involved in the functions of the association.
Presidential Byline
Image Building
Jay Price
NSAA President
“In the fall issue of SAM I paraphrased President Kennedy’s famous admonition by asking not what NSAA could do for you, but suggesting that you become actively involved in the political function and therefore help both yourself and the NSAA. I hope you have pursued this matter because the entire industry benefits every time any area wins even a small bureaucratic battle.
Now that you have demonstrated uncommon good judgment by recognizing that I possess wisdom beyond my tender years, I offer you yet another opportunity to participate in our mutual pursuit. What have you done lately to enhance the image of the sport of skiing? NSAA is pursuing both a program for political involvement in Washington, D.C., and a public relations effort addressed to overcoming some widely-held negative impressions of skiing. I submit that you operators of the areas are really in the best position to really achieve some accomplishments in this image-building endeavor. How do you think the skiing public perceives you . . . if at all? Do you think they see you as a business person trying very hard to provide a quality experience while walking the tightrope of the real world economics, or do they think your only interest is in pursuing “the almighty buck”?
A few years ago we funded a marketing research program called “The Glendinning Study” and we were amazed to find so many negative concepts about the sport of skiing, so amazed in fact that many of us had a tendancy to write it off as an obvious exaggeration of the facts. The fact is that we had better reassess our position. How does the skiing public perceive our sport? Dangerous, expensive, physically demanding, cold. These are a few of the report findings. Who is speaking out for the hedonistic aspect of the ski experience? What about the fun, healthy exercise, wholesome activity? Especially now that we are finding ourselves contemplating more disclaimers and warnings about our sport, we had better give some serious thought to accentuating the positive and overcoming, if not eliminating, the negative, or we’ll continue to be the “Mister Inbetween”.
So what does all this mean? It means that the NSAA office would like to hear from you about this image issue and what you think needs to be done. It also means that we cannot solve all the problems from the national office. Besides sharing your ideas with us, put them in action at once. In short, put your money, your mouth, your heart and brains into promoting the sport, and your pocketbook will thank you later.
Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel and Casino
Business Agenda
The business agenda has been carefully planned to include highly informative sessions on a wide variety of subjects. Areas big and small will find the seminars extremely useful to their operations. Here’s what you can expect when you attend the 16th Annual Convention and Trade Show.
*NO CAUSE FOR PANIC — The keynote address by N.Y. Times columnist Russell Baker opens the seminar sessions and provides plenty of food for thought. Baker offers his own unique perceptions of the contemporary scene and adds touches of humor to basically serious subject matter.
*SKI AREA RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE — An outstanding panel of noted authorities will review NSAA’s new risk management program and legislation and insurance issues. David Rowan, publisher of Ski Area Management, will chair the two-hour session. Panelists include Felix Kloman, Risk Planning Group; David Cleary, Vermont attorney; Barry Bunshoft, California attorney; Chuck Lewis, Copper Mt., Colo. president; Dick Williams, NSAA Insurance Plan Manager; Graham Anderson, Western Insurance Plan Manager and Norman Sothan, safety consultant.
*HOW TO NEGOTIATE FOR MONEY — Offers area operators a step by step program on successful financial negotiations. Somers White, a graduate of Harvard Business School, is a leader in this field and has successfully assisted many companies in obtaining their financing requirements.
*SOLAR ENERGY AND SKI AREAS — Explores ways solar energy might be utilized at ski areas. Dr. Frank Werner is president of Park Engineering Company, a firm that has developed a novel way of storing solar heat and has designed a simple, effective solar heat collector.
*GREATER SKI SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS — Takes a look at the relationship of the ski school to ski area operations. Operating efficiency, marketability and safety education are among the topics to be covered by Werner Schuster, moderator, ski school director, Alpine Meadows, Calif.; Max Good, ski school director, Mammoth Mountain, Calif. and Peter Duke, director of skiing, Heavenly Valley, Calif.
*SKI LIFT MAINTENANCE, OBSOLESCENCE, INSPECTION AND OPERATOR TRAINING — Covers vital subject matter in this two-hour “nuts and bolts” seminar. The distinguished panel of experts includes Channing Murdock, president, Butternut Basin, Mass.; Howard Anderson, P.E., supervisor of engineering, Western Insurance Plan; Leroy Schultz, P.E., director of NSAA lift engineering program; Gunther Hussman, mountain manager, Northstar Resort, Calif.; Chuck Dwyer, chief aerial tramway engineer, USFS; Victor Hall, P.E., president, Hall Ski Lift Company and Tony Sowder, P.E., president, Riblet Tramway Company.
*THE BASICS OF SNOWMAKING — DECISIONS AND SELECTION — Focuses on the procedures and considerations required to make decisions on snowmaking installation. Types of snowmaking, costs and area requirements are covered in this discussion led by Jeffrey White, P.E. and Ted Farwell, M.B.A.
Trade Show Agenda
The trade show exhibit hall will be open during the hours specified on the schedule. Among this year’s convention and trade show innovations is the scheduling of one entire morning for trade show viewing. With the exception of a meeting of regional association executives, no other business is on the agenda on Tuesday morning, May 23, allowing exhibitors and ski area operators four and a half hours exclusively for trade show business.
Two fulltime ski area employees and their spouses will win their convention travel, room and meal expenses in the All Expense Paid Jackpot. Jackpot cards will be issued at registration. Cards must be validated by visiting 75 percent of the trade show booths and then turned in for the drawing at the Annual Banquet.
Social Agenda
Special social events are also planned, enabling attendees to carry on business in a lighter vein. Cocktail parties will be hosted by the Hyatt Lake Tahoe, Coca-Cola and the Exhibitors. We’ll gather for an informal evening of fun at the Ponderosa Ranch, film location for the Bonanza TV series. Convention activities conclude with the annual banquet, highlighted by guest speaker James Boren, author of “When In Doubt Mumble” and president of the International Association of Professional Bureaucrats.
For Further Information Contact:
National Ski Areas Association — P.O. Box 83, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107/203-521-0206
