Should the NWAC be publicly funded?

Sorry, not sure you were responding to mine, but you know I'm happy to chat, so..

I suspect the Av centers have been skier-centric, but that's likely due to the preponderance of those that take advantage of the resource, not because of any attempt to exclude.

I agree and I don't think they attempt to exclude either but like you I think they are ski centric because they are usually run by skiers/riders and the preponderance of their  recreational users are probably Bc skier/riders  Most of the feedback re pits and conditions comes from skier/riders( I'll just say skiers henceforth with the understanding it includes riders).
Many have made the point, including Andrew above in his excellent letter that one of the main common goods of the NWAC is to get data and warnings to the occasional user or groups not as aware as the hard core BC skier group.
Since one of the main reason for NWAC is to save lives ( not  to provide great telemetry for experienced Bc skiers although we benefit ... thanks) I would suggest that their outreach needs improving especially towards snowmobilers and the occasional user.
Not sure how they do the latter but I'm damn sure they could do a better job on the former.

Also FOAC... Look at the board members bios here.
www.nwac.us/about/mission/foac/
They even point out that the Treasurer is the only non skier on the board. Why nobody representing a snowmobile group or club or advocacy group. FOAC  board looks like a supper club for skiers????

and David, thanks for engaging and chatting... unlike some you debate not just respond with dogma and or lofty rhetoric

Have you read this page Chris? www.nwac.us/about/mission/

Yes Aaron I have.
Have you read this.
www.nwac.us/about/mission/foac/

It's like a the Portlandia "Have you read" episode.

What do you think regarding the bios of the FOAC boardmembers?
Do you think they should be more inclusive and include people from snowmobile clubs and advocacy groups since their aim is to reach all????

Since one of the main reason for NWAC is to save lives ( not  to provide great telemetry for experieneced Bc skiers although we benefit ... thanks) I would suggest that their outreach needs improving especially towards snowmobilers and the occasional user.
Not sure how they do the latter but I'm damn sure they could do a better job on the former.

Also FOAC... Look at the board members bios here.
www.nwac.us/about/mission/foac/
They even point out that the Treasurer is the only non skier on the board. Why nobody representing a snowmobile group or club or advocacy group. FOAC  board looks like a supper club for skiers????

Agreed.  I don't think we need a more scientific poll than of your co-workers to tell that NWAC could (and should) do more outreach to snowmobilers. I can't tell you if bc skiing or snowmobiling experienced greater growth the past few years, I do know that 'bilers recently surpassed BC skiers as the group with the most avy fatalities in north america.  I know that NWAC and other avalanche professionals do free avy awareness classes at REI and the like, so there has been some inroads on education amongst some casual users, but these more likely to include the snowshoer crowd than 'bilers.

Besides the potential to save lives, the FOAC has an opportunity to gain another segment of financial and non-financial supporters if it could more effectively court 'bilers.  While telling volunteer boards what they should be doing is often a good way to nominate yourself to volunteer, maybe sponsoring an event that builds community (and some revenue), like vertfest, but for 'bilers would be a good way to publicize NWAC/FOAC.

Thank you Andrew. My respect for you grows with every post you make.

Summarizing several previous posts (and adding a few points of my own) we can say:

1. The number of backcountry skiers has grown dramatically in past 10-20 years.

2. Penetration of snowmobiles into avalanche terrain has increased dramatically during the same period. (I don't know about the numbers, but I suspect they've grown also.)

3. Backcountry skiers are the heaviest users of NWAC avalanche forecasts at present.

4. Snowmobile riders have not started using NWAC forecasts very much (yet).

5. Snowmobile riders represent the fastest growing segment of avalanche accidents.

Does anybody disagree with this summary? To me, this summary suggests that NWAC is a valuable service for promoting avalanche safety and we should do everything we can to increase awareness and use of this service by the snowmobiling community.

Nothing in this summary suggests to me that NWAC should be deprived of public funding.

Add a few.
6. The FOAC board is made up of nearly entirely skiers and should diversify immediately to include snowmobile groups in an attempt to reach smowmobilers and save lives.

7. The FOAC should sponsor snowmobile events such as the skier's vertfest to promote avalance awareness and create another funding scource.

8. The NWAC should immediately review its policies and outreach programs as to why snowmobilers seem to be a group not using their resources and publish a public plan to correct that.

9. As long as NWAC and FOAC take immediate steps to correct the make-up of their boards and outreach porgrams as outlined above, the non-profit should continue to receive public funds.

Add those and I'll sign it Lowell.