2020 - 2021 Far West Skier's Guide - FWSA18

90th Anniversary Booklet/FINAL.qxp_90th Anniversary Booklet 12/6/20 2:06 PM Page 18

FWSA Convention 1972 held in Fresno, CA.
Board of Director and committee chair
persons following the elections.
STANDING L TO R: Ed McArthur, Dick
Goetzman, Bill Johnson, Don Simpson,
unknown, unknown, Mel Stazoff,Gar Bering
Paul Meyerho, Dave Brobeck, CarlGrover,
unknown, unknown, Bruce Bell, and
Ed Gehle.
SITTING L TO R: Dick Croft, unknown,
unknown, John Watson reelected President,
unknown, Judy Fjeld, John Hon, Bob
Youngblood, Dave Garretson, Executive
Director. John Watson's personal collection

The USSA refused to endorse the formation of a new recreational ski association composed
of the former USSA-Sports. Following the unsettling 1983 USSA Convention in Boston, the US
Recreational Ski Association (USRSA) was formed. It would be dependent on commercial sponsorships, travel, dues and an intramural racing program to survive.
Back in California, sufficient traditional Far West members decided that a revived FWSA
independent of national affiliation was their preferred way to continue as an association. In late1984,
a new set of bylaws were proposed by the Bylaws Committee, and approved at the 53rd Annual Far
West Convention held at the Oakland Airport Hilton, May 17-19, 1985.
Led by Janie Hansen, she produced a new set of Articles of Incorporation in 1985 that mirrored the earlier 1935 Articles. This independent structure is the Far West Ski Association of today.
The new Far West would have no dues, would be based on clubs and councils and would be reliant
on program sponsorships and interacting with the ski industry, primarily in travel scheduling and
promotion. It was a brave new world for FWSA.

A REVAMPED FWSA

The FWSA
Scholarship Program
Lila Lapanja was born in Truckee California
in 1994 and has lived her entire life in Incline
Village, Nevada, just minutes away from the
northeast shores of Lake Tahoe. She is 5-time
recipient of the Far West Ski Association's
Athletic Scholarship Program, crafting her
racing skills at Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
She skied for one year on the Sugar Bowl Race
Team before joining the ranks of the U.S. Ski
Team in 2011. She now skis on the World Cup
Circuit for Team Clif Bar.
photo provided by David Krupp

Building on Hansen's initiative, FWSA would now be competing with USRSA while
reconstructing the traditional FWSA. Ski clubs could chose to join as dues paying members as a
100% membership club of USSA or USRSA. But, loyalties ran deep for FWSA. Commencing the
reconstruction after five years would require hard work and a funding source to replace dues. Jane
Wyckoff brought her experience to bear and immediately launched a Silent Auction, and then a
Travel Carousel Program to bring ski and travel industry representatives to the annual meeting.
Delegates sent from their member clubs were present to elect new Association officers. The Silent
Auction and Travel Expo (formerly Travel Carousel) are still being conducted at the Annual Conventions.
The Convention and Annual Meeting expanded to four days with added informative, social and sports
events. Awards for service to the Association and to skiing were presented in an Honors Banquet.
FWSA developed a menu of industry partnership programs, in promotion of their mutual aims
and goals. In addition to participation in the Silent Auction/Travel Expo at the Annual Convention,
the industry was provided sponsorship opportunities, participation in the membership discount
program, and advertising in the Far West Skier's Guide annual magazine and other council publications.
Area Development matters were part of the Public Affairs family of activities. The Public Lands
Advisory Board was revived. Teams reviewed the lands issue with onsite inspection by skier teams.
Committee persons maintained a watch on statistics, ski area developments and government affairs.
The Safety Program was energized by Richard Lubin's distribution of thermometers to areas for their
principal lift loading areas. The Flight Program rapidly expanded from one domestic destination and
one international ski trip to the current menu of two domestic, and two international trips plus
adventure trips, a cruise and an annual dive trip, as well. The cruise and adventure events are not only
educational, but also very enjoyable.

FWSA 90th Anniversary Booklet / 1930 - 2020

2020 - 2021 Far West Skier's Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2020 - 2021 Far West Skier's Guide