9.14.24 Meeting Minutes

NRAC Monthly Meeting Minutes

September 16, 2024

Present: Kate, Drew, Jeff, Erica

Minutes taken by Erica Aamodt

Call to order 6:06 PM

NRSAW: Presentation and NRAC Fall Meeting

·       According to the Flathead Avalanche website, NRSAW will be 11/9/24 (assuming that ProNight will be evening of 11/8)

·       Erica: we’ve talked about introducing NRAC as an organization during ProNight. Can Kate confirm if that’s still a possibility?

o   Kate: yes—will reach out to Lloyd to confirm.

o   Erica: Would Jeff and Lloyd be willing to lead out on that presentation?

o   Jeff: yes—will reach out to confirm and coordinate.

·       Erica: will we be able to have an NRAC meeting on Saturday morning (the 9th), similar to last year?

o   Kate: yes—will reach out to Whitefish Review to see if we can use their office again.

·       Erica: what should our message look like for ProNight?

o   Drew: it would make sense to frame the need in the context of the Silver avalanche (not to make the whole presentation about it, but it would serve an example for the need of the organization).

o   Jeff: Focus on the What, Who, Why and Where of the organization

§  What we are, what we aren’t

§  The ski patrols as the “Who”

§  Silver avalanche as an example of the “Why”

§  Where can include geographical location

§  Include some brief but important bits about the nuts and bolts, i.e. handlers being affiliated with a ski patrol, etc. and that the organization is a way to standardize between patrols

§  Leave some time for questions at the end

§  Will aim to have rough draft by Oct. 7 meeting

o   Kate: prior to NRAC, each mountain was in its own stage of building a program, but the Silver avalanche was the catalyst for a more centralized approach.

o   Erica: building on something Kate said, include a bit on calling for avalanche dogs specifically as a resource

o   Jeff: Drew, can we get stickers?

o   Drew: yes, and will work on an informational handout to distribute

Callout Procedures

·       Whitefish: Kate has a draft, will be working with Lloyd/Keagan when time permits to coordinate further with the Flathead region

·       Schweitzer: Jeff has talked with Cass (snow safety director) and will be working on getting things down on paper, might have Angie assist.

·       Silver: Drew has been working on writing up callout procedures for Silver and has found it naturally broke out into two documents: one for internal use and guidance, and one that could be distributed to the sheriff, etc.

Bylaws

·       Erica: everyone should review the bylaws in preparation to suggest edits and additions for final approval at the fall meeting on Nov. 9. To this end, all are asked to re-read and to bring ideas forward to the Oct. 7 and Nov. 4 meetings. The intent is not to reinvent the bylaws, but to make any necessary changes and updates that are needed.

Meeting adjourned at 6:41 PM.