Mike Seward
Yawgoo Valley Ski Patrol

Yawgoo Valley had another good year, there weren’t any concerns expressed to me by the patrol members with regard to EMARI programs. The patrol is working hard to maintain a high level of training, and this year received the EMARI outstanding patrol award. I get the Blue Hills Ski Patrol newsletter, attended the Blue Hills annual fall refresher and they have remain an organized, sociable patrol, under the competent leadership of Patrol Representative Simon Thomas.

I attended the MTRII class held by IOR Eric Zaharee in January at Ragged Mountain, and again in February on Mt Moosilauke in NH where we built snow caves and practiced MTR skills. I would highly recommend this class for those that are interested in being challenged in the out of doors.

In early March I organized the EMARI ski weekend at Black Mountain in Jackson, New Hampshire. I was unable to attend though but I heard that there was very good turn out and a great time was had. John Caron took some great pictures that are available on the EMARI web site.

The season ended for me at the May officers meeting in Albany NY, and it was another exciting experience. The section chiefs talked about the Patriot award for military veterans (my home patrol Yawgoo Valley has identified one who will be eligible), the functionality of programs like S&T and OEC and the reimbursement process for instructors, the national website, liability coverage, and the student seminar. The overall group discussed the new 5th edition of the OEC manual, a good debate about raising nation dues, and an update about the new software for national records.

Sincerely,
Mike Seward
Yawgoo Valley Ski Patrol
41 Northlake Dr
Barrington, RI 02806
(home) 401 245 9945
(cell) 508 951 9552
Email: rmseward@cox.net