PSIA-W Education Foundation – where is the money going?
Katherine Hayes Rodriguez.
Hello Members, As your new President of the PSIA-W Education Foundation, I am excited to build on this amazing legacy of helping instructors. Twenty- three years ago, I had the privilege to work with Greg Felsch and Blaine Lomen to form and incorporate the Foundation. I am very excited about the potential of the Foundation to make a positive impact on the PSIA-AASI membership and our community.
Originally, as a PSIA-West Board of Directors, we were looking at ways to fund some new on-snow educational products (such as Children’s events) and printed materials (such as the Master Plan) without having to raise event or membership fees. Over the years, the Foundation has been able to successfully nurture these kinds of programs until they are able to financially stand on their own. Examples include Women’s Summit, the Fall Professional Development Day, and lately, training and projects that help our education staff deliver the best possible on-snow experiences to our members. We also support the membership through individual scholarships for education, accreditation, and multi-day immersion events.
Our current Education Foundation Board is committed to energizing the Foundation.
Our plan is two-fold:
Through a solid core of investments create a sustainable amount of money to take us into the future. Our cumulative fund balances are currently hovering near $200,000. We have benefited from individual donations, as well as a rise in the stock market.
Conscientiously fund worthwhile projects each season. Our target is to ‘give back’ to the membership roughly 10% of our accumulated reserves each season. The math is simple. The more money we have the more we can responsibly distribute back to the members of the PSIA-W
On tap for this year:
• Sponsor the Oct. 14 Professional Development Day
• Provide individual Scholarships for deserving members
• Assist with funding for staff uniforms
• Create a fund to help volunteer Adaptive Instructors re-coop costs of certification
• Spruce up our ‘brand’ with a Foundation pamphlet and signage
We would appreciate your consideration of making a charitable donation to Education Foundation. A donation will directly support your fellow PSIA-W members in their pursuit of professionalism and excellence.
Please join me in thanking my fellow Ed Foundation Board members who give selflessly to our organization:
Blaine Lomen, Vice-President
Artie Castro, Treasurer
Dave Sutherland, Secretary
Nick Treat, Director at Large
This July 30th marked the 20th anniversary of the tragedy in Thredbo, Australia. In the dark of night 2 buildings collapsed under a mud and snow slide, killing 18 people. Two of those wonderful people were my very great friends Mike and Mariam Sodergren. This particular year because the anniversary year ends with a zero we purposely have Mike and Mim in our thoughts even more often. I hope you do too.
– Barclay Moore
This article appeared in print in our Fall Edge Newsletter in September 2017.
