Budget Cuts Again Imperil Avalanche Center...

Article in the PI yesterday-looks at this point like the issue is not immediately threatening, but in 09?

Perhaps some Friends of the NWAC can provide a clearer situational summary, in the meantime maybe we can brainstorm some resources the TAY community can provide, or urge others to provide, to counter this apparently (and presumably) constant funding struggle?

Donations from REI for every snowshoe/ski/board they sell in WA & OR?
Ski/mountaineering gear manufacturers pressured to support? OR, K2, Lib Tech, Feather Friends, come to mind immediately as headquartered in WA....
Individual donations, of course?
More FOAC events?
Letters to your state legistator, federal agencies, congressmen & women?
Complete article here-http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347086_avalanche12.html

I'll be trying to post the best suggestions on my PI blog for greater visibility....

Thanks


<blockquote>"Funding has been a struggle from day one," said Mike Heilman, winter sports coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service's regional headquarters in Portland.

The Forest Service, Heilman said, has for many years served as the parent agency to the avalanche center and contributed a share of the budget. Because of federal budget cuts, he said, the agency is going to have to hand this responsibility over to somebody else.

"We likely would still be part of the funding scheme, but it's not clear how much," Heilman said.

Williams' report to the Legislature is due in a month. He knows what's at stake, having seen his own program in Colorado lose its federal funding in 1983 -- forcing him to scramble to find a new scheme to keep it afloat.

"I can't imagine the Northwest without its excellent avalanche forecasting system," Williams said. "But for some reason, these kind of operations always have to struggle for support. If something up there isn't done, after 2009, I don't know if the Northwest avalanche center will exist."</blockquote>

Here... reworked your link.

seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347086_avalanche12.html

I sincerely hope a permanent solution to the annual NWAC funding crisis is reached, but in the meantime I think it would behoove anyone using their service on a regular basis (probably almost everyone on this forum) to go to the FOAC site and PayPal them a few bucks. Quick, direct, and less overhead than the usual fundraisers.

www.avalanchenw.org/

Hey all. Benj here with the Friends of NWAC. Thanks for the plugs above. Just to clarify a bit, funding is NOT secure for this winter. At this point, NWAC is in the hole $58,000 for '08, which means they will have to close their doors at the end of March...not a good situation. FOAC will be working with the state legislature to fill that gap. I will be in touch on this forum when we need folks to contact their legislators. In addition, as the PI article mentioned, the State is undertaking a thorough a study this year to come up with a more sustainable solution in '09 and beyond. We are working closely with the State and Knox Williams who has been hired to to conduct a review of NWAC and the funding situation. This is a very pormising process which makes it clear that the State is taking the situation to heart. The current conditions in the mountains and the unfortunate events that have occurred have certainly highlighted the need as well.

With regard to the comments above about additional ideas, all good. We are currently looking into various ways to generate more corporate support, and are in the process of working on a spring fundraiser. The catch of course is time. We are an all volunteer organization and we are stretched thin. If anyone out there is interested in getting involved, PLEASE contact us. We need all the help we can get. And of course, don't hesitate to donate through our website. Thanks for the support, and be safe out there.

If you haven't done it, contact your state legislators (reps & senator), the gov, and your federal congressman and our senators. Ask them to provide funding for NWAC. You can send you message by email. Find the links at: access.wa.gov/ .

"It's easy. Do it now."