Page 46 - NSAA 2017 Fall Journal

Patrol

outdoor recreation indus-
GETTING TO KNOW NSP’S try. I’m sure that a vari-

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: ety of other challenges
and appropriate solutions
MEEGAN MOSZYNSKI will arise during my time
at the NSP. I’m ready—
and excited!
We want to engage
THIS SUMMER THE National Ski Patrol (NSP) hired a new our key partners and Amy K. Wright
executive director, Meegan Moszynski. A seasoned profes- stakeholders in ongo-
sional in leadership development, Moszynski also is a lifelong ing conversations about
skier, inveterate volunteer, and the first woman to serve as how we can help support Meegan Moszynski
NSP’s executive director. their needs. Those conversations help us execute programs
Before joining the NSP team Moszynski was the pres- and provide support for our members. In the end, we’re here
ident of Quarterly Forum, a Colorado-based membership to ensure the safety of people enjoying the outdoors, and
organization focused on community leadership, and exec- with that expansion going beyond snowsports, our ability to
utive director of The Leaders Initiative, a nonprofit group remain flexible and adaptable will continue to enable us to
that develops leadership talent for the public sector. She grow alongside those whom we aim to serve.
has worked in different industries all over the world, and
has collaborated on clean energy initiatives in China, edu- NJ: Volunteerism throughout our society seems to be
cational and vocational training programs for women and diminishing as people become more strapped for time.
children in Pakistan, agricultural economic development How will NSP deal with the challenge of recruiting new
projects in Chile, and rural economic development projects volunteers?
in Cambodia. MM: In a lot of ways, volunteerism is not diminishing;
Moszynski has a master’s degree in international trade, in fact, we’re seeing that many people increasingly want to
investment, and development policy studies from the engage, learn, and contribute to their communities. People
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, want to learn how they can help other people, and younger
Calif., and a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a con- generations tend to be more interested in donating their time
centration in European studies and history of art and architec- (and money) than previous generations. Will that translate
ture, as well as a minor in Italian, from Middlebury College, Vt. into the ski industry? We hope so.
The Journal reached out to Moszynski to discuss her We need to work on elevating the profile of our mem-
ideas about how to address challenges facing the NSP and bers—patrollers—and bring them more to the forefront of
how she plans to make a difference as the association’s new who we are as an organization. Let’s show the community
executive director. what it means to be a patroller. Patrollers are tough, dedi-
cated, compassionate, and passionate people who want to
NJ: NSP has a lot to grapple with—an aging NSP mem- help others enjoy the environment that they love, and to
bership base, dwindling volunteerism, resort belt-tighten- do it safely. It is incredible work, and many people do not
ing, and resorts’ desire to reduce liability exposure, among understand even a fraction of what patrollers do. Their job is
other considerations. How do you think NSP will need to extremely commendable and impressive. We want to inspire
address these factors in the coming years in order to secure others to join this group of amazing folks, and we can do
the role of volunteer patrollers in the industry? that by helping them learn more about our members. I have
MM: Working directly with resorts and listening to their full confidence that we will be able to continue to attract vol-
concerns will ensure the viability of the NSP. The ski unteers by more overtly demonstrating the camaraderie and
industry has seen significant growth and change over the past values espoused by the members of the NSP.
few decades, and many resorts are shifting to a year-round
focus that goes beyond just winter sports. With this new NJ: Are there any other priorities that NSP needs to address?
scope, the needs of many resorts are expanding, and the NSP MM: We have a strategic plan that we are in the middle of
will need to modernize alongside that expansion. The recent implementing. The plan does a great job of addressing today’s
launch of NSP’s membership category for bike patrollers is challenges for the NSP: the changing ski industry, the need
one way we have started to address the challenges of today’s to continue to attract volunteers, the trials and tribulations of

44 | NSAA JOURNAL | FALL 2017