We have received three applications for candidacy for the 2022 Region Director Election - John Caron, Chris Mitchell, and Simon Thomas. The applications are listed in order of being received:

 

Platform Statement:

    I will represent and serve the Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island (EMaRI) region patrollers, young adult patrollers, alumni, mountain hosts, region staff, and mountain management with vision, discipline, energy, and enthusiasm.  To that end, I will work for the personal growth, improvement, and reward of everyone that I represent and serve in my responsibility as Region Director.  It would be my honor to have this opportunity and thank you for your vote in support. 

Patrol Registrations:

Life Member of the National Ski Patrol with over 50 years of service

1971-1973 Pale Face, New York

1974-1976 Hickory Ridge, Pennsylvania

1977-1987 Blue Hills, Massachusetts

1988-present Wachusett Mountain, Massachusetts

2009-present secondary Black Mountain, New Hampshire

Training and Certificates:

1972 Senior EMM (WEC)

1980 Senior S&T

1980 Level I Avalanche Course (Circle A)

1980 Mountain Travel & Rescue 1 (Circle B)

1981 Level II Avalanche Course (Patch)

1991 Instructor Development (Phase I)

1992 Phase II

1992 Global Phase II

1992 Mountain Travel & Rescue 2 (Patch)

2000 Alpine Toboggan Phase II

2002 Skiing Enhancement Seminar

2002 Toboggan Enhancement Seminar

2008 Level I Avalanche Course

2009 Level II Avalanche Course

ICS 100

ICS 200

ICS 300

ICS 400

ICS 700

EMaRI Service:

1992-present OEC Instructor

1995-present SR OEC Trainer/Evaluator

2000-2018 Toboggan Instructor

2003-2010 Assistant Region Director

2003-2006 OEC IT

2005-present MTR Instructor

2009-present MTR Instructor Trainer

2010-present Avalanche and Mountain Travel and Rescue Advisor

Awards:

1996 Yellow Merit Star

2001 Certificate of Appreciation    

2002 Yellow Merit Star

2010 Eastern Division OEC Instructor Award

2010 Yellow Merit Star

Experience:

I have always served as a volunteer alpine ski patroller and continue to volunteer at Wachusett Mountain in the EMaRI region and Black Mountain in the New Hampshire Region.  Besides New York, Pennsylvania and all of New England I have skied in Utah, Idaho, Canada, France, Italy and Switzerland.

As one of three EMaRI Assistant Region Directors I have represented EMaRI and voted at seven (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) Eastern Division Spring Officers Meetings in Albany, New York.  I was an active and willing participant in the development of the current EMaRI by-laws in 2004 with its “one member one vote” and term limits. 

As an OEC Instructor I have taught at annual refreshers and full courses at Wachusett, Yawgoo Valley, Ski Ward, Black Mountain, and Blue Hills.

As an OEC Instructor, SR OEC T/E and Toboggan Instructor I have participated in the annual “on hill” refreshers at Wachusett and Black Mountain.

Over the last twenty years I have participated at Regional Senior OEC evaluations in New Hampshire nine times, Maine four times, Western Mass four times, and Connecticut twice.  I have been involved in the EMaRI Sr OEC program since 1994.

I have been the EMaRI OEC IT for Ski Ward and Yawgoo Valley.  I have overseen and participated in their OEC 2003-2004 refreshers, Ski Ward’s 2003 OEC course, Yawgoo Valley’s 2003 OEC challenge, and 2004 on-hill refresher.  My last assignments were the first EMaRI OEC Enhancement Seminar 2004 and ongoing EMaRI OEC instructor QA.  Lately I have been involved with OEC Instructor Candidate mentoring. 

As the instructor of record I have administered three NSP MTR1 courses and one NSP MTR2 course for the EMaRI Region (2007-2010).  I have taught at three NSP MTR courses in New Hampshire.  I currently mentor four NSP MTR candidate instructors in various stages of their personal growth to become an NSP MTR instructor.  I have been the NSP MTR IT for two MTR 1 courses in EMaRI, one MTR 1 course in Maine, one MTR Enhancement course in EMaRI and one MTR Enhancement course in Maine.

I am a BLS CPR and First Aid instructor for the American Heart Association.

In 2003 I successfully completed my 120 hours classroom study to be an EMT-Basic and in 2004 passed both the practical and written Massachusetts State exams the first time.  I continue to maintain a Massachusetts EMT-Basic credential.

For the City of Leominster, Massachusetts Emergency Management since 1994 I have been a volunteer Rescue SCUBA Diver and 1997-2019 an Auxiliary Police Officer.  I currently teach AHA CPR/AED to their volunteers.

Patriots’ Day 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 using my EMT-Basic I have volunteered at the Boston Marathon as a Medical Sweep member and five Boston Marathons as a Medical Sweep Team Leader.

For the Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corp I volunteer as an AHA CPR and First Aid instructor, at yearly Worcester Health Department Flu Clinics and during 2021 at COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Before retiring I worked in “high tech” in Massachusetts, Europe and the Middle East for over thirty-seven years and have extensive computer skills, organizational skills and business experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please see formatted papers: SPT_EMARI_RD_Application_2021.pdf

Platform Statement: 

Greetings, my name is Simon Thomas and I have a strong desire to combine my 35 years of  continued service to the National Ski Patrol and two decades of leadership in the Boy Scouts of  America, with my education, ongoing community service, and extensive business skills to serve  as the EMARI Region Director. In doing so, my goal is to guide and support our Assistant  Region Directors, Patrol Directors and Program Supervisors to grow our Region’s programs,  elevate patrollers’ abilities, and attract younger members that will become the Patrol and EMARI  leaders of the future. 

In my opinion, EMARI is one of the finest regions in the nation with some of the best patrollers.  Thru energizing our patrollers to seeking out training programs outside of their comfort zone, we  have been able to achieve high patrolling standards as well as top leaders. This is evident by  the positions held by our patrollers in EMARI, Eastern Division, National Office and ski patrols  outside our region. We need to keep this level of excellence moving forward. 

During my tenure as Blue Hills Ski Patrol Director, I initiated programs to attract young men and  women of all skill levels and retain them, reduced the average age from 55 to 45 with an  average of 19 years of patrolling, and implemented a synergistic “Scouting to NSP” program  that helped both organizations and grew our YAP program. Thru this type of cross pollination,  and the continued use of off mountain events, we will be able to help the next generation of  patrols bring our region to an even higher standard. My goal is to find a way to do all of this  while keeping it fun for all involved. 

Thank you for the time that you give to your area and NSP. I am looking forward to your support  and becoming the next EMARI Region Director. My resume follows. 

Thank you, Simon

National Ski Patrol Service 

1986 – Present Blue Hills Ski Patrol 

1988 NSP Senior 

1989 – 1995 S&T Instructor 

1991 Instructor Development 

1991 – Present OEC Instructor 

1992 – 1998 BHSP First Aid Advisor, IOR Annual OEC refreshers and 4 OEC courses 1996 Yellow Merit Start 

1999 – 2015 Patrol Director Blue Hills Ski Area including IOR for 4 OEC courses 1999 – 2015 EMARI Executive Committee  

2006 National Appointment: 10478 

2010 – Present OET Instructor 

2015 Distinguished Service: 1430 

2016 – 2021 EMARI Assistant Region Director 

2020 – 2021 Chair EMARI Bylaws Committee 

2021 – Present EMARI Alternate Region Director

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Boy Scouts of America 1996 - Present 

Leader Pack 49 St. Catherine of Siena Parish 1996 - 2006 

Instrumental in growing the pack membership from 43 Cub Scouts to 83. Grew fundraising from an  annual of $2,000.00 to $18,000.00 allowing to fund all advancement, awards and activities completely.  Dues were held and used only to cover the National and Council fees. 

1996 – 2003 Den Leader for 6 to 10 cub scouts starting with Tigers (1st grade),Wolf (2nd  grade), Bear (3rd grade), WEBELOS (4th and 5th grade). Rotated thru this  

leadership cycle 3 times as the den leader for my three sons. Training included  

Akela (Cub leader training), Youth Protection and Webelos Outdoor Leader  

Skills. 

2003 – 2006 Cubmaster – Managed the monthly Pack Meeting attended by all Cub scouts and  their families, training of all leaders, and the annual Pack camping weekend.  

Training included Pack Committee Member and Cubmaster training.  

2006 Cubmaster of the Year Award, Old Colony Council. 

Assistant Scoutmaster/Scoutmaster Troop 49 St. Catherine of Siena Parish 2000 - Present Responsible for assisting the troop leadership to provide training in leadership, team building, outdoor  skills and building a foundation for the scouts to make good ethical decisions throughout their lifetime.  Responsible for health and safety of the scouts during all activities. Mentored 24 scouts to achieve the  rank of Eagle Scout, scouting’s highest achievement. 

2000 Scoutmaster Specific training and Outdoor Leader Skills. 

2001 Troop Committee training. 

2001 – Present Merit Badge Counselor, lead instructor for Merit Badge courses in First-Aid,  Emergency Preparedness, Snow Sports and Cooking. 

2002 District Award of Merit, Seven Rivers District, Old Colony Council. 2005 National Scout Jamboree staff for Bike-Athlon. 

2007 Woodbadge Course NE-I-248 - Highest level of BSA Scout Leader training. 2009 Troop Guide, Woodbadge Course NE-I-261 - Patrol guide for a team of 6 Woodbadge trainees for six 14 hour days. 

2009 Emergency Preparedness Weekend – Ran a weekend long event for 600 scouts  with 80 staffers manning 20 first-aid training stations for all scout ages to help  

fulfill all first-aid rank advancement requirements along with First-Aid and  

Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge. Stations ranged from first-aid to night  

search and rescue to low angle rescue, weather emergencies and helicopter  

landing zone management. 

2010 Senior Patrol Leader, Woodbadge Course NE-I-268 – Lead instructor for the  entire course consisting of 8 patrols with each patrol having 6 participants for six  14 hour days 

2010 National Scout Jamboree – Lead Merit Badge Councilor for the Snow Sports  Merit Badge. Trained over 500 scouts thru dry land requirements. 

2012 & 2016 BSA Sea Base Bahamas and Florida, crew advisor, 9 days with 12 person  crews. 

2017 National Scout Jamboree – Assistant Scoutmaster Old Colony Council Troop  T1119. Medical Lead for the Old Colony Council Contingent consisting of nine (9)  troops for a total of 288 Scouts and 36 adult leaders. 

2018 Silver Beaver Award – For exceptional character and providing distinguished  service within Old Colony Council and the community. This is the highest  

National BSA award that can be given at the council level. 

2018 – 2020 Scoutmaster, Troop 49 St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

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Education 

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics and Economics, 1978 Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA - Masters, Economics, 1981 

Business Experience 

1. S. Thomas, Inc. 1981 - Present 
2. S. Thomas, Inc. is a privately held family business providing engineering, research and  development of advanced manufacturing technologies.  

Software Engineer 1981 - 1990 

Software engineer in the development of the A. S. Thomas, Inc. NUFORM CAD/CAM software. Instructor for the NUFORM CAD/CAM and Expert Systems 1983 - 2002 

Expert Systems Project Manager 1984 - Present 

Project manager for the development of knowledge-based group technology engineering and  manufacturing systems for the design and manufacturing of complex parts and sculptured  surface. These systems are in use at corporations in the medical, aerospace, aircraft engine,  steam and gas turbine power generation industries. 

Inventor/Product Manager ASTRRA oneTouch Changeover System 2008 - Present The ASTRRA oneTouch changeover system is the first fully automated wireless communication  system for machine changeovers and conveyor rail adjustment mechanisms. Designed for ease  of installation, simple retrofit and low wiring overhead, ASTRRA provides the end-user with  unprecedented flexibility, speed, repeatability and accuracy in all changeover adjustments. 

 

The Spring newsletter is out.  Please view it here.EmariSpring2020web.pdf8.34 MB

Do you want to do more within EMARI to help out all of your fellow patrollers?  The EMARI region has the following positions open:

 

 

 Anyone that is interested should send their name, contact information, and a brief statement of why they feel they would be good in that position to Chris Mitchell.  Please see the Officers page for contact information.

The 2019 Q4 Newsletter is available now.

Great job to all who contributed, and to Ingrid once again for pulling together an excellent newsletter!