Should the NWAC be publicly funded?

We have data from FOAC on NWAC's funding sources... where can we find a statement of their itemized expenditures so we can see where they spend the 320k? We have data on how FOAC spend their money but not NWAC.
Anybody got that link?

Our programs contribute snowpack information to the NWAC and receive detailed mountain weather forecasts specific to our respective areas. These weather forecasts are integral to our avalanche control decisions; decisions that affect the safety of highway travelers and the movement of commerce.

Stimbuck

Whats the NOAA forecast for then? Not good enough for you?We need duplication? NOAA is a fully funded government agency and from what you say its more the weather forecast you are interested in not the generalized avy forecast that NWAC produces.

Backcountry skiing is a hedonistic recreation... Budget shortfalls are a bitch... somethings got to give. Frivolous recreational pursuits should be first.

I coudn't disagree more. Anything that helps and allows people to experience wilderness has immeasureable value, not just in individual experience but in providing an awareness of the natural world and its value and meaning to humanity. When people have less awareness of the natural world, they make poor decisions, degrading the most important resources on the planet for apparent short term gain.

Conventional bean counting inexplicably manages somehow to forget to count the direct economic value of the natural world, even though the natural world provides far more life-giving (i.e. economic) value than all human-generated GNP, and it does it every year. Awareness of this truth needs to be a critical, very high priority educational goal.

JDclimber.... specifically for you.
I know you and I know that you are indeed passionate about saving lives from avalanches as you stated in the other thread.
I  also know you're not very partial to snowmobiles in general as well.
You have a record on TAY of that fact. ( you once suggested putting down fishing gut to fuck up their tracks)
However, answer these questions is so inclined ( you said you would address issues in an earlier post)
You know the statistics and the facts in this matter( at least I hope you do)and know that snowmobilers are the ones that need the data provided by NWAC more then any other group.
1)Have you posted your pleas for funding on any snowmobile sites?
2) IMHO, the NWAC is very ski/rider centric and does not do a good job of outreach to snowmobilers. Why?

Since you are a board member of FOAC I think it a fair question.

I coudn't disagree more.  Anything that helps and allows people to experience wilderness has immeasureable value, not just in individual experience but in providing an awareness of the natural world and its value and meaning to humanity.  When people have less awareness of the natural world, they make poor decisions, degrading the most important resources on the planet for apparent short term gain.

Conventional bean counting inexplicably manages somehow to forget to count the direct economic value of the natural world, even though the natural world provides far more life-giving (i.e. economic) value than all human-generated GNP, and it does it every year.  Awareness of this truth needs to be a critical, very high priority educational goal.

Lofty rhetoric costs nothing and is meaningless without action. Pay up for what you believe!

What if we take part of the $600k/year that gets peeled off the gas tax to fund snowmobile access and use it to extend NWAC outreach programs aimed at sledders? We'd still have several $100k left over for the general fund which I'm sure will be spent wisely.

Safety first, right? Access can wait. And we need the money to help the other less hedonistic parts of the budget.