THE TEXAS
SKI COUNCIL Hosted by, JAMES MERSHON, President
GARY BUTLER, V.P. Marketing
Greetings and welcome to the third issue of Inside Online. To reiterate, it has been brought to our attention that there just simply isn't enough information trickling down to those of you who want to know more about the operation of the Texas Ski Council. As part of an all out effort to keep you informed, we will we will make every effort to post this newsletter every month on the web for your convenience.
From the Inside, I will be sending you updates concerning the Council's operations and our interaction with the industry on policy, procedures, and schedule of events. From marketing, Gary Butler, will keep you informed about decisions and operations directly related to the operation of trips, skier benefits, and other club marketing opportunities.
The entire Board of Directors is behind this operation to supply you with the information you not only need, but also information you just might have an interest in. SO STAY TUNED! .
Revisions to By-laws and Standing Rules:
At the June delegates' meeting in Dallas, several revisions to the by-laws and standing rules were proposed. After considerable discussion, changes requested by the delegates were noted and included. Notification for acceptance was given prior to the august delegates' meeting in Midland, august 17th. The revisions were approved by the delegates and are included here to keep you up to date on decisions that may affect you.
If you have any questions please contact you club representative or a TSC officer.
Proposed Changes to Bylaws Texas Ski Council
Article 3, MEETINGS OF DELEGATES, Notice of Meetings, 3.05
Currently Reads: Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of any meeting of Delegates shall be delivered, either personally, by email (if designated by delegate) or by mail, to each Club having Delegates entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before the date of such meeting, by or at the direction of the President, or the Secretary, or the Directors or Delegates calling the meeting.
Proposed: Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of any meeting of Delegates shall be delivered, either personally, by email (if designated by delegate) or by mail, to each Club, not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before the date of such meeting, by or at the direction of the President, or the Secretary, or the Directors or Delegates calling the meeting.
Rationale: Current wording sound like only clubs eligible to vote should be informed of the delegates' meetings. We want all clubs, including those with associate status or on probation to be informed.
Article 4, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Number, Tenure and Qualifications, 4.02
Currently Reads: The number of Directors shall be nine, (9). Eight, (8) of such Directors shall be elected by a simple majority vote. Each elected Director shall hold office until the next meeting of Delegates designated for the election of Officers and until his/her successor shall have been elected and qualified. The ninth (9th) Director shall be the most immediate Past President of the Corporation not currently serving as an active elected Officer and who is willing to serve in that capacity. All Directors shall be entitled to vote on all matters to come before the Board of Directors.
Proposed: The number of Directors shall be nine, (9). Eight, (8) of such Directors shall be elected by a simple majority vote. Each elected Director shall hold office until the next meeting of Delegates designated for the election of Officers and until his/her successor shall have been elected and qualified. The ninth (9th) Director shall be the most immediate Past President of the Corporation not currently serving as an active elected Officer. If this person is unable to serve as Past President, then the Past President position will be filled by the previous Past President. If neither is able to serve, then the Past President position will be filled by a prior elected Officer. In the latter case, the Board of Directors must approve the appointment of the Past President. All Directors shall be entitled to vote on all matters to come before the Board of Directors.
Rationale: The Past President takes over the President's duties, if necessary. Potentially we could have a person acting as President who hadn't been on the Board for a number of years. The Board of Directors could still choose the "next in line" if they wished to do so, but this avoids forcing acceptance of a person who hasn't been involved for a number of years.
Article 5, OFFICERS, Past President, 5.10
Currently Reads: The Past President shall be the most immediate Past President of the Corporation not currently serving as an active elected Officer and who is willing to serve in that capacity. As such, the office is non-elective and shall fulfill the prime responsibility of providing continuity between the current and past year's Board of Directors. In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability or refusal to act, the Past President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions on the President. The Past President shall perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors or the Delegates. In addition, the Past President shall perform duties as prescribed in the Standing Rules.
Proposed: In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability or refusal to act, the Past President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions on the President. The Past President shall perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors or the Delegates. In addition, the Past President shall perform duties as prescribed in the Standing Rules.
]Rationale: The selection of the Past President is covered in 4.02. Article 5 is dealing with duties, not how the officers are selected.
Article 6, NOMINATING COMMITTEE, 6.01
Currently reads: Prior to the meeting of the Delegates designated for the election of Officers, the President shall appoint a three- (3) member Nominating Committee from a list of proposed members thereof approved by the Board of Directors. Each member of the Nominating Committee must have been a bonafide member of a club for at least one (1) year prior to his/her appointment to the committee.
Proposed: Prior to the August Delegates meeting, the Past President shall coordinate with the Board of Directors the selection of a three- (3) member Nominating Committee, thereof approved by the Delegates at the August meeting. Each member of the Nominating Committee must have been a bonafide member of a club for at least one (1) year prior to his/her appointment to the committee.
Rationale: The President and Board of Directors could be running for office again. The Past President is likely to be more impartial and getting the approval of the Committee from the Delegates makes them the final authority in this appointment.
Article 6, NOMINATING COMMITTEE, Nominees, 6.02
Currently reads: The Nominating Committee shall present at least one (1) Nominee for each elected position on the Board of Directors and a designation of that office in the Corporation, which such Nominee is proposed to assume. Member clubs may submit at least one (1) nomination from their members to serve as an Officer. Nominations for a first time Texas Ski Council Office require Club approval. Repeat Officers may submit their own name. Nominees shall be submitted to the President and the Delegates at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting of Delegates designated for the election of Officers and shall be nominated at such meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the meeting of Delegates designated for the election of Officers by any Delegate or Director. Prior consent to serve shall have been secured from all Nominees.
Proposed: Member clubs may submit at least one (1) nomination from their members to serve as an Officer. Nominations for a first time Texas Ski Council Office require Club approval. Current elected Officers may submit their own name. 6.03 Slate Process The Nominating Committee shall select at least one (1) Nominee for each elected position on the Board of Directors and a designation of that office in the Corporation, which such Nominee is proposed to assume. The slate of proposed officers shall be submitted to the Board of Directors at their first meeting of the calendar year. The Past President shall submit the approved slate to the Delegates no more than five (5) days after the first Board meeting of the calendar year along with the names of the candidates who were not selected for the slate. The slate will be presented by the Past President at the Delegates meeting designated for the election of Officers. 6.04 Nomination from the Floor Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the meeting of Delegates designated for the election of Officers by any Delegate or Director as long as the nominee had submitted their application to the Nominating Committee but were not selected for the slate.
Rationale: The whole section was rearranged and broken up to separate the various activities. By limiting nominees from the floor to those who had submitted their application to the nominating committee, and by notifying the clubs of those potential candidates from the floor when the slate is presented, the clubs will know which candidates might be nominated from the floor and can be prepared for a potential contested office.
Proposed Changes to Standing Rules Texas Ski Council
VII. DUTIES OF OFFICERS/DIRECTORS; A.
Currently Reads: President: 1. Determine the order of business at meetings of the Delegates and Board of Directors; 2. Perform public relations duties of the Corporation 3. Initiate and coordinate all sponsorship bids 4. Appoint a Nominating Committee in accordance with Bylaw 6.01 5. Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or Delegates.
Proposed: President: 1. Determine the order of business at meetings of the Delegates and Board of Directors; 2. Perform public relations duties of the Corporation 3. Initiate and coordinate all sponsorship bids 4. Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or Delegates.
Rationale: To match proposed change to Bylaws.
VII. DUTIES OF OFFICERS/DIRECTORS; B.
(Current B. through E. will be renumbered C. through F.)
Currently Reads:
New Section: Past President: 1. In the event of the President's inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the President; 2. Coordinate the appointment of a Nominating Committee in accordance with Bylaw 6.01; 3. Shall serve as liaison between the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors and Delegates 4. Shall supervise and preside over the election of officers at the Election Meeting. 5. Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or Delegates.
Rationale: To match proposed bylaw change.
VIII. COMMITTEES; D.
Currently Reads: NOMINATING COMMITTEE. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed annually by the President in accordance with Bylaw 6.01.
Proposed: NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The appointment of a Nominating Committee shall be coordinated annually by the Past President and Board and then approved by the Delegates in accordance with Bylaw 6.01.
Rationale: To match proposed bylaw change.
TRAINING TIPS AND
OPPORTUNITIES:
Gary Butler has been hosting training sessions for trip chairpersons. The training involves an in-depth look at the bid process and the resort's proposals, as well as the responsibilities of the trip chair and TSC officer. We have discussed the options with north and central Texas clubs to offer their trip chairs an opportunity to attend. The schedule is listed below.
Training Schedule:
WHAT: TRIP CHAIR PLANNING & RESPONSIBILITIES
WHEN: Saturday, September 14th (Austin) Saturday, October 5th (Dallas)
WHERE: Tere Ayson's Residence in South Austin, Directions on request. Dallas - TBA
TIME: (Austin) 10:00AM - 1:00PM Group get-together afterwards.
(Dallas) 1:00PM - 4:00PM Group get-together afterwards.
FOR: Any club trip chair or other parties interested in a better understanding of the TSC bid process and trip operations
WHAT: LEADERSHIP FORUM -The Anatomy and Physiology of Leadership
WHEN: April 6, 2003
TIME: 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE: Bid Ski Fest, Holiday Inn, Riverwalk FOR: Club leaders and potential candidates for club leadership roles.
Monthly Training Tip:
Support you volunteers by providing opportunities to expand potential through training, service, and appreciation!
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! If you would like information about your clubs activities posted for others to share. Please send your notices to me, James Mershon, at lamurian@flash.net.
TSC 2002 Calendar
August
Saturday the 17th - Delegate's Meeting, Odessa
Sunday the 18th - TSC Trip Chair training
September
Tuesday the 15th - Club deposits due for Costa Rica
October
Sunday the 1st - Participation fees due for all planned trips
Saturday the 28th - Activity fees due for Fall Roundup
CLUBS:
Space City: Summer "CHILL" Weekend at The Shores on Lake Travis, September 6-8th
Club St. Bernard: Kick-Off Meeting, Aug 21st
Flatlanders: Lake Brownwood Trip, August 23-25
Clear Lake: Annual Shrimp Boil, Sunday, September 29th
Corpus Christi: Kick-Off Party, September 6th
Dallas Ski Club: Annual Tennis Tournament, Brookhaven Country Club,
August 24th
September 24th - Kick Off Party
Lone Star Skiers: August 27th - Trip Sign-up September 13th - Golf Outing
The Texas Ski Council would like to extend an invitation to you to express your ideas, concerns, and most of all your successes. If you would like to initiate an open discussion please feel free to send your comments to me, James Mershon, at lamurian@flash.net. There will also be a member's conversational forum prior to each delegate's meeting. Tell your representatives to pass along any pertinent information. Thank you.
This month we have had some interesting comments concerning the TSC's operations and future goals.
Our first letter was letter was in response to comments on endangering our bid process, Inside-July. Our writer was justified in his comments that the clubs have a duty to their members first. No argument there! Our intent is to impress upon you that it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. The TSC's goals and the clubs' interests are essentially the same and can both be satisfied.
We are doing our best to strengthen the belief that the TSC is not a board of directors that dictates policy. We are the administrators of the policies set forth by the delegates. You, your club members and officers, and the members of the TSC board elected by your delegates are all a part of the TSC. We all have a common interest in providing services that result in the best possible opportunities for all of us. Working together we will find those opportunities that will enhance all aspects of our operations.
Our second letter this month addressed several issues with the request for bids package. After careful review and considerable input from club representatives, we are encouraged that changes in the bid request will provide increased understanding between the TSC and bidding resorts. Most important, it will provide our delegates with a less confusing proposal to consider. This has been a great exercise in communication and action between the clubs and the TSC board.
We mentioned last month about a number of resorts now requiring younger kids to wear helmets when skiing. Now the National Ski Areas Association is developing a national skier/snowboarder campaign to encourage the use of helmets called "Lids for Kids". Expect to see more on this issue. A web site www.lidsonkids.org has been created with information and facts on the use of helmets.
An issue that can affect your members health insurance as it pertains to skiing are new regulations adopted under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Under the new regulations insurers can allow group health plans to issue policies that will deny benefits to those injured while skiing or snowboarding. So far no ski council has reported any members effected yet. Stay informed on what your policy covers so you do not find yourself exposed at a bad time.
Paul Swanston who was the national sales director for Heavenly Resorts has been moved to the sales representative for the entire state of Texas for all Vail Resorts. Expect to see him at your general meetings discussing Vail's offerings and helping to sell the Breckenridge trip.
I am pleased and excited to announce that the delegates at the Midland Delegate meeting has chosen Winter Park as the site of the first Texas Ski Council "Learn to Ski/Snowboard Trip". The trip will be offered from December 10-15, 2002. The trip should run around $500.00 per person. It includes air to and from Denver, ground transportation to Winter Park, lodging for 5 nights and 3 days of a Beginner Package of Lifts, Lessons and Rentals. The lodging is located in the centrally to downtown putting the restaurants, shops, and nightlife within easy walking distance. There is a free shuttle to take everyone to the mountain and back. For those who want to come to improve on their skiing or just to free ski while a friend or family member learns to ski, lift tickets will cost you just $30 per day.
This is a great opportunity for our club's to expose never ever skiers to the sport of skiing. This is a more economical trip with the entire focus on introducing skiing to those who have wondered but would never take to step to try it. Most of the people on this trip will be at the same ski level and can share a common experience. This will hopefully add members to our club's and create life long skiers.
This is the kind of program that is a win/win situation for the TSC and the resorts who bid on this trip. In the end we had 33 different bids from resorts all over North America. It was difficult to choose the best offered trip with all the excellent choices. Speaking for myself I was very impressed at the variety of programs and mountains bid and look forward to programs we will see at next years Bid Meeting.