2010 Silent Auction - The council thanks all our many contributors for their generoristy for this year's auction. Without our donations and winning bidders we could not bring you the ISC without yearly dues. Thanks to the efforts of Don Anderson, and the dedication it takes to make the calls, collect the prizes, etc., we had another successful auction. Please feel highly encouraged to patronize these businesses and let them know how much we appreciate them.
Packages and products were donated by the following resorts and businesses:
Linda and Jonna enjoying the Beach Party
Big Sky Resort , Big Sky, Montana (2 days of lift tickets for 2 people)
Club Entries for FWSA Conference: Begin gathering your entry information for submission to the FWSA Annual Conference. Categories include: Best Club, Community and Service Awards, Safety Award, Best Newsletters/Best Websites, Man and Woman of the Year, and more. Check out the details at the FWSA website and be prepared. www.fwsa.org
December 2009 - FWSA Holds Quarterly Meeting in Ogden. FAR WEST SKI ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES -OGDEN VALLEY WINTER SPORTS FOUNDATION
Ogden, UT: The Far West Ski Association conducted its winter Board of Directors and Board of Trustees meetings December 3rd to December 6th, 2009 at the Marriott Ogden and Ogden Eccles Conference Center, in Ogden, Utah. The Far West Ski Association, founded in 1930, is a volunteer non-profit organization representing 180 affiliated ski clubs located throughout eleven regional councils in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Association conducts active programs in public affairs, skier safety, ski heritage, athletics, racing, communications, travel, council development, ski industry, and community outreach.
At the December meeting of the Far West Ski Association Board of Directors, Troy Price from the Ogden Valley Winter Sports Foundation (OVWSF) gave a short talk about their program that partners with the Weber School District to provide students with an opportunity to capitalize on their academic and athletic potential. FWSA donated $500 to the OVWSF for their program. The FWSA Athletic Scholarship program donated $10,000 this past year to 14 deserving junior racers in California, Nevada and Oregon.
The Far West Ski Association is appreciative of the many sponsors who were a big part of the success of the FWSA winter meeting. Sponsors included: Ogden Convention & Visitors Bureau, Ogden Eccles Conference Center, Hampton Inn & Suites, Marriot Ogden, and Snowbasin, a Sun Valley Resort.
The 78th Annual Far West Ski Association Convention is scheduled for June 10-13, 2010 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, California, hosted by the San Diego Council of Ski Clubs. For additional information regarding the Far West Ski Association, please visit www.fwsa.org.
June 2009 - FWSA Convention, Reno, NV - The Far West Ski Association conducted its 77th Annual Convention and Meeting June 5-7, 2009 at the Peppermill Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada, hosted by the Sierra Council. Among the awards given out at the convention several were given to our ISC council clubs. Seventeen ISC club delegates attended, making it the best represented FWSA event to date for our new council. In addition, our council President, Don Anderson, was elected for VP of Council Services, on the board of directors for FWSA. Plans are being made for next year's convention at Palm Springs, CA, for June 10-13, 2010. For more information, please check back to this site or click on the FWSA site at www.fwsa.org. Photo is of the Intermountain Ski Council's Poolside Party on Friday afternoon. Mt. Bachelor greatly assisted in the sponsorship of this activity and we thank them for their support. For a complete report on the convention, please click here.
Congratulations to all our clubs for their support and interest in the learning process of the convention. And a special cheer to those winning the following awards and recognitions, we all couldn’t be more proud of our new council!
Council Man of the Year - Don Anderson, ISC President, Council Woman of the Year - Lennia Machen, ISC Website, 1st Place - Councils - Website - Intermountain Ski Council, 2nd Place - Class AA - Outstanding Website - Cheyenne Ski Club, 2nd Place - Class AAAA - Outstanding Website - Idaho Falls Ski Club, 2nd Place - Class AAAA - Outstanding Publications - Idaho Falls Ski Club, 2nd Place - Charitable and Community Service - Bogus Basin Ski Club.
May 2009 - Elections are held - The council elected Michael Boulton to the seat of VP of Membership and Linda Scott to be our VP of Travel. Congratulations to our new directors and thank you for stepping forward to volunteer. A special thanks to those who served this past year that are leaving us: Larry Huber and Cynthia Sculpizio. We greatly appreciated your input and support. The council presently has an opening for VP of Resources and many openings for representatives of the clubs. If you are interested in joining the fun, please contact us.
May 2009 - Delegates are getting ready for convention in June - Traveling to the convention will be 19 delegates from our member clubs. With only two delegates attending last year's convention held in the Seattle area, we are all excited to see so many planning to attend. The ISC will host the Pool Party on Friday afternoon and attend the break-out sessions on Saturday, as well as the social activities and meetings planned. Watch for news about the event in June.
April 2009 - Two Council Reps attend FWSA Educational Meeting in Switzerland - Linda Scott and Don Anderson traveled to Grinderwald Switzerland to attend the National Ski Council Federation Recreational Ski Councils Educational Meeting on April 14-15th, hosted by Switzerland Tourisim and Ski Europe. Many topics were covered including information about the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver, strategic marketing for destination resorts, and the state of air transportation. Fifteen councils were represented. If you would like to learn more about the Federation, go to their website at www.NSCF.org.
April 2009 - FWSA Man of the Year: Don Anderson, FWSA Woman of the Year: Lennia Machen. Both become our first nominations to the FWSA program and are honored by receiving the council nominations at the April 8th meeting. Council President, Don Anderson, has led our council with a professional and energetic attitude and been the coordinator for this year's trip to Steamboat, started planning next year's trip to Sun Valley, been the driving force behind our fantastic fund raising silent auction, obtained our new Affiliate Member; Sun Valley, represented our council at numerous board meetings and conventions, and has led us through these formative years as we begin our association with Far West. Webmaster, Lennia Machen, has served on the board for the first two years of its operation and kept the Council Website running throughout that time. Helping out with various tasks to support the last two council trips, council publicity needs and tasks, Lennia is looking forward to continued service and enjoyment in her affiliation with the council. "This is a very high honor and I hope to live up to the vote of confidence everyone has given me" Machen commented. Both nominees will travel to the Far West Reno Convention to represent our council for 2009. (Both are pictured below, standing on the left)
April 2009 - New Affiliate Sponsorship - Sun Valley Resort has joined our council as an affiliate sponsor. We are thrilled to welcome them into our family of resorts. Thanks to President, Don Anderson, for contacting them and welcoming them aboard.
April 2009 - Decision on 2010 Ski Trip Made - Board members decided upon traveling to Sun Valley for the 2010 February trip. Mark your calendar for Feb 25-28th, 2010 for a long weekend of skiing. More details will be posted as they develop.
June 2009 - Far West Convention - Make your reservations for the upcoming convention
at the Peppermill in Reno, NV, June 4th-6th. Our council is up for several comepitions and will
be hosting the pool party on Friday... come and join the fun and support our council!
February/March 2009 - Steamboat Springs Trip - We had a wonderful time on our trip, we wish you all were with us. Our trip was highlighted with a surprise ski clinic with Olympian, Billy Kidd, on Friday afternoon, followed by his visit to our reception on Friday evening. Billy tirelessly signed autographs, posed for photos and welcomed each one of us to Steamboat. Mr. Kidd is a great ambassodor and supporter of ski 
councils and warmly encouraged our participation in the Far West Ski Association. We were delighted with his special attention and care towards our council.
We all owe a huge thank you to council President, Don Anderson, who worked diligently to gather silent auction items for the reception, earning around $3500 for our council treasury. Many others brought in items as well, and we also extend our thanks to your efforts to help make our council stay in operation. A hearty thank you to those who purchased the prizes... your support is greatly appreciated!
The accommodations and arrangements were all stellar, and perfectly topped off with fresh powder snow upon our arrival Friday morning. Who could have expected more? Great condos, hot tubs, shuttle busses, wine and cheese reception, ski clinic, bluebird skies over powder snow... wow! Again, our thanks go to Don Anderson, who has stepped in to do double duty as our trip coordinator this last year. Linda Scott also deserves our thanks for her agenda of events and gatherings... thanks Linda!
So many of our council members contributed their talents and generosity to make this a wonderful event... thank you, every one of you! The photos on the site were contributed by several participants; Alan Stanek, Tom Lee, and whoever clicked this photo on our camera :-)
January 2009 - Council President, Don Anderson travels to great lengths to support our council. Travels this season include meetings in Bend (photo below), OR, Bogus Basin, ID, Keystone, CO, Bellevue, WA, and planned is the meeting in Reno the first weekend in June. We all greatly appreciate Don's dedication to helping lead our council to grow with professionalsim and care. If the council grows strong, we all benefit with more trips and activities, ...and more fun in the snow!
Applications are available for our member clubs to earn and win recognition from the Far West Ski Association for many area of club expertise... Charitable support, website, newsletters, Scholarships for racers (See photo of last year's winner, Jordon Schweitzer with FWSA Pres Randy Lew, and Dick Shawkey on the right), and much more.... check out the details on the Far West site. 
Plans are taking shape for the annual trip - this year we travel to Steamboat Springs, Co. We are still taking a few last minute reservations and welcome your inquiry. Visit our trip page for details or contact our trip coordinator, Don.
This year is a strange year of large storms mixed with warming periods and sun. This creates unstable snow and avalanche. We urge our members and all skiers, to check with the local experts for avalanche danger before venturing out into backcountry areas or in resorts with steep bowls and cornices. Be cautious and bring the proper rescue equipment if needed or just stay clear of closed areas. Safety and good judgement are highly encouraged in the life and death decision of where to ski.
Ski and See New Zealand with the Idaho Falls Ski Club. This is a wonderful trip open to all council members, led by a guy with lots of experience and knowledge about NZ. If you would like to go on this trip, contact the coordinator, Les Clary, as soon as possible. The dollar is strong in NZ right now and the prices are better than when we started organizing this trip. Ski in August and see one of the most beautiful places on earth! Click on the trip page for more details or contact Les.
November 2008 - Plans underway for the Annual Ski Trip
Plan to join us in Steamboat Springs for our 2nd trip. See our information page for details. Reservations required by December, 2008... time is now to join the fun!
Welcome Black Hills Ski Club - our newest member club! This club from Rapid City, SD, has joined the council and wishes to participate in ski trips. Please help us welcome them into our council!
News from the Far West Convention - Bellevue, WA, June 2008
Congratulations to Joe Coles, ISC Director, for being presented with the President's Award for his participation in forming the Intermountain Ski Council! Mike Sanford, National Ski Council Federation President, made a special phone call to Joe to congratulate him on his award. What a special and proud moment for our council to see Joe recognized for his efforts and enthusiasm.
Thanks and congratulations from all of us in the Council, Joe!
Other news...
Bogus Basin Ski Club is now a member of the Intermountain Ski Council. Welcome to BBSC!
Welcome our new VP of Travel - Larry Huber of Pocatello Ski Association.
Intermountain Ski Council News - August 2008
ISC is accepted into the National Ski Council Federation. Through nomination by Far West Ski Association President, Randy Lew, the ISC has been acceted into the federation in August 2008. The annual Federation meeting was attended by ISC President, Don Anderson and his wife Deborah. By joining this parent organization our directors will become part of the learning process of operating and directing successful councils through education and sharing of information. For more information on how this affiliation can help individual members of our council and discounts and benefits, please go to the Federation website at: National Ski Council Federation.
Council Planning Trips and Activities The council is busy planning the trip to Steamboat for this coming winter as well as other trips in the future. All members of council member clubs are welcome to participate. Look soon to the "trips page" on this website for information about a trip to New Zealand in August 2009 and Chamonix in February 2009 through the Idaho Falls Ski Club, and many others. If your plans take you to an area of another member club, then be sure to check out the available activities open to ISC members.
If your club has any trips planned that it would like to open to ISC members, please contact us with the information.
Submitted by Peggy Stuart, Director of Communications, ISC.