The Summit is an annual ski industry conference and exposition. This year it includes the NSP Fall Training Program. Current NSP members are invited to attend the one-day, 3-part training for $25 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch and training.

The event takes place on Friday, September 16, at Sunday River in Newry, Maine. Visit the Summit web page and/or download the registration form.

The Sweep! is NSP’s monthly newsletter. This week the August 2011 issue was delivered to your e-mail address.

For a month, you can also read The Sweep! here. All issues are archived in the Newsletters section of Member News. Log in and click The Sweep from the Quick Links menu.

NSP once again has some recruitment material available FREE of charge for patrols to hand out; we just ask that you pay for shipping. There are three posters, as well as the “We're a Different Breed” stickers, available. These are great to hang in ski shops, grocery stores, schools, and hand out at trade shows and different on-hill events. To order, please call David Frick at 303-988-1111 ext. 2641.

Click image to enlarge.

The May issue of the patrol’s newsletter, Rattlebone, is now online with reminders about coming patrol events this sumer and fall. As usual, Joannie Duris has done a great job as writer, editor, and publisher. To view and download a copy, click here or visit the archive of past issues.

The Sweep! informs NSP members about national news. This week the May 2011 issue was delivered to your e-mail address.

You can also read The Sweep! here. All issues are archived in the Newsletters section of Member News. Log in and click The Sweep from the Quick Links menu.

Celebrate the region with workshops, gear demos, and information about outdoor recreation! Discover the area’s scenic splendor and versatility. No admission charge.

Organized by Trail Head and other area organizations. Proceeds benefit the Dare to Dream Foundation.

The 2011 show will be held Sunday, May 15^th from 10am – 3 pm at the Athol-Orange Elks Lodge, 62 New Athol Rd. (Rte. 2A), Orange, MA (978) 249-3849

Read the event flyer and the web announcement.

At the March meeting, patrollers planned these summer activities:

• June 11: Orienteering at Northfield Mountain
• July 9: Paddling at Barton Cove
• August 20: Frisbee Golf at Tully Lake

Put these dates on your calendar today. If you can suggest other activities, please let us know.

The Avalanche, Mountain Travel & Rescue, and Nordic (AMN) instructors of the Eastern Division of the National Ski Patrol will hold their annual fall seminar and skills refresher at Northfield Mountain for the fourth time in five years. About 40 instructors are expected to participate in the event, camping at Barton Cove. The dates are September 16 – 18.

Take a look at the event website.

The relative patrol standings can be found at the Western Massachusetts Region website. Organizers have posted 588 photos and videos of the Dummy Pick-up and the Toboggan Relay. The event looked like a lot of fun.

The Fifth Edition of Outdoor Emergency Care has been available since this spring. The Fall 2011 and following OEC refreshers will follow the new text, so all patrollers need the 5th edition. Copies for Northfield Mountain patrollers are now in the first aid room.

Read the message from NSP Education Director Darcy Hanley, which appeared in February’s The Sweep!.

The March meeting decided the dates of the 2011 refreshers:

OEC: Saturday, November 5

Nordic: Saturday, December 3

Put these dates on your calendar now.

After one of the best snow seasons in recent years, Northfield Mountain has closed. The decision was made following recent heavy rains and washouts on the trails. See you next year!

For the ninth year, candidate Brett Marquard tackled the American Birkebeiner XC race in Wisconsin on February 25, winning his personal best and knocking more than twenty-one minutes off last year’s time. Brett’s wife, Jenna, and father, Robert, were among the thousands of competitors. (Click photo to enlarge.)

He finished the 50 km (31 mi.) Birkebeiner Skating event in 2:34:11, 304th of 3704 skiers, and faster than 91.8% of them! His pace was 3:04 per kilometer or 5.0 minutes per mile, 12.1 miles per hour.

Take a look at the American Birkebeiner web page, view the 2011 promotional video, and visit Brett's photo album.

WGGB abc40 in Springfield aired a 3:23 segment on the Berkshire East Ski Patrol. Ed Ralicki, Ski Patrol Director, and Dr. Jeff Palmer, Ski Patrol Medical Director, were interviewed on camera. The team is composed of some 70 members, ranging from doctors, to paramedics, to EMTs - experts in providing emergency care.

Read the article and play the video by clicking the "Ski Patrol" image.

An NSP Instructor Development class will be offered Saturday, April 2, in Northampton. This course is a pre- requisite to becoming an NSP instructor and serves as a Senior elective. Read the complete course description and syllabus here.

The Sweep! was created to keep NSP members informed about national news. The February 2011 issue should have been delivered to your e-mail address. Its name was changed from Final Sweep to The Sweep! as of the January 2011 issue. An archive of all issues of The Sweep! is maintained under the Newsletters section of Member News. Log in and click The Sweep from the Quick Links menu.

The March Patrol Meeting and Annual Election of Patrol Officers takes place Sunday, March 13th, at 6:00pm.

Nominations are welcomed for the positions of Patrol Representative, Assistant Patrol Representative, Secretary, and Treasurer. Send your nominations to Tom, Bo, or Bill S. Better yet, come to the meeting and do it from the floor! Yes, you need to be there to vote and have a say in the Patrol’s direction.

The 2011 Western Massachusetts Region Ski Patrol Competition will be held at Berkshire East on Sunday, March 13, 2011. This yearly competition pits the skills of the Region’s patrols in a day of skill, guile, and camaraderie.

Recent events have been comprised of teams from alpine, nordic and college patrols.

Patrollers are needed for for judging, course set up, etc. If you can help, volunteer your services to Dave Sacchitella, dsach@sbcglobal.net or 860 982-7951.

The day begins with registration/booting up at 8:30; the events start shortly thereafter. We expect 3 events, break for lunch which is currently expected to be a cook out at the top of the hill, 2 events, then the post event. For more information, visit the WMR website and download the competition events description.

The February issue of the patrol’s newsletter, Rattlebone, is now online with dates and places of coming patrol events. As usual, Joannie Duris has done a great job as writer, editor, and publisher. To view and download a copy, click here or visit the archive of past issues.