During the 2016-2017 Refresher season, New Hampshire Region Ski Patrol will be holding elections for two office seats: Northern Section Chief and Region Director. Notices were posted in February 2016 seeking nominations. The election committee received one nomination for each position. For Region Director, incumbent Paul Kelly will run unopposed and for Northern Section Chief 0rest 0har has entered the race unopposed. Below are the platform statements from each of the candidates:
REGION DIRECTOR
STATEMENT OF PAUL L. KELLY
CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION AS REGION DIRECTOR
First, I need to thank everyone for all the support you have shown
me during the last three years, as well as to the Region Staff, and
the Region’s Program Advisors and Instructors. Without the support
of the Patrol Directors, members, and the mountains that we serve,
I (we) would not be able to do an effective job on behalf of our
membership.
I am again seeking re-election as the New Hampshire Region Director
for a third and final term. I was elected to my first term as Re-
gion Director in the fall of 2012, and re-elected to a second term
in the fall of 2014. As you may or may not be aware, the Region
Director is elected to a two-year term, and can serve a total of
three terms.
If given the opportunity to lead the Region for a final term, the
focus really remains unchanged:
• Ensure the delivery of high quality educational programs con-
sistent with National Ski Patrol Guidelines;
• Conduct the affairs of the New Hampshire Region with the high-
est level of integrity and transparency;
• Improve communications throughout the Region; and,
• Continue our record of being fiscally conservative and respon-
sible with the Region’s resources.
In addition to these core principles, the next several years will
also present unique challenges to me if re-elected as Region Direc-
tor, and to the Region’s leadership group. Specifically, the chal-
lenge that we all have directly in front of us is the conversion to
National Ski Patrol’s new information technology solution. For
many of us, this conversion has been a long time coming and may
take several years for full integration and understanding. In this
regard, we (the Region Staff) must be accountable to you to answer
questions and assist you as needed through registrations and other
interactions. While there will be bumps in the road, I am confi-
dent that years of frustrations will soon be forgotten!!!
And, while I am not necessarily going anywhere, I think all leaders
share a common goal, which is to leave things better than you found
them - even if only a little. The Region is in strong financial
condition and, while costs are rapidly rising, we do not anticipate
a dues increase in the immediate future. Our educational programs
are strong, and popular. Again, this past season, we saw a big
increase in demand for our educational clinics across the Region.
I attribute this success to the planning, training and execution by
Program Advisors and Staff. Lastly, our organizational structure is
strong. We have the right people in the right positions, which is
why our primary goal of delivering high quality programs is being
met. If elected to a final term, my biggest challenge may be to
ensure a succession plan is in place to so that our success is
ongoing for many years into the future.
Lastly, if I am fortunate enough to meet you at a refresher, a
clinic, a Region Staff meeting, or out on the hill, you will likely
hear me talk about elections. Our organization is member driven.
What that means is that our organization is led by a Board of Direc-
tors elected by YOU, to represent you and your interests. These
people are line patrollers like you and I who, on Saturday and
Sunday, are patrolling side-by-side with you, but who are spending
immense amounts of time off-hill working to make the National Ski
Patrol a better organization. These individuals deserve our support.
In the last election (fall 2015), only 18% of the Region’s 425
members voted. Our National Chairman was re-elected by a very small
margin and other key Eastern Division candidates were not elected.
Every vote counts. And it’s the responsibility of each of us to
ensure that we exercise our right to vote!! If re-elected, you will
hear me talk about this until you are likely tired of hearing it –
however, I am committed to showing the Eastern Division that the New
Hampshire Region is active, engaged, and concerned about the future
of this wonderful organization.
Again, I want to thank each of you for your support, past and
future. While I am asking you to allow me to lead the Region, you
must know that this is not something that I can / have done alone.
There is a strong group that leads this Region that we should all be
very proud. As a group, we have accomplished much over the last
several years, although I feel there is more to do. If given the
opportunity, I would like to continue my role as Region Director and
advance the work that we have collectively started.
by Paul L. Kelly
To review Paul Kelly’s Ski Patrolling Resume, click this link…
NORTHERN SECTION CHIEF
STATEMENT OF 0REST 0HAR 0rest 0har is a 30 year member of the Ski Patrolling community who has dedicated much of that time to teaching and mentoring New Hamp- shire based Ski Patrollers in the National Ski Patrol System. Through his leadership, he has worked to eliminate inefficiencies by rebuilding struggling programs and measuring their success. Building strong programs that can stand on their own takes dedi- cation, perseverance and patience because success requires culti- vating ideas, implementing practices and bringing in new people empowered to deliver. Mr 0har has a track record of developing and implementing educational programs and mentoring people to achieve a higher level of success. For a detailed description of his accomplishments, click his bio- graphy link found below. After decades of working directly in many of NH Region's educational programs, Mr. 0har understands the needs of the Patrol Director and their line patrollers. Mr. 0har is dedicated to problem solving and program development, and with his Ski Patrol track record promises to deliver results in order to represent the concerns of the patrollers of northern NH. Please vote this autumn to elect 0rest 0har as the Northern Section Chief of New Hampshire.
To review 0rest 0har’s Ski Patrolling Biography, click this link…
