What do 6,500 ski and snowboard professionals from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming have in common? A membership management system implemented by the team at Elev8. We are leveraging an open source Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to deliver a very high-functioning system for the not-for-profit Professional Ski Instructors of America – Rocky Mountain Division.
This CRM system will track member activities (like when they attend continuing education events), allow for on-line event registration and handle their annual dues benefit signups and renewals. We are happy to help out the 501(c)(3) Education Foundation by delivering a great system at a price even a non-profit can embrace.
A little about PSIA-RM: In September 27, 1950, Certified Ski Instructors, Inc. was founded and incorporated in Colorado as a non-profit corporation by George Engel Jr., Merrill G. Hastings Jr., Willy Schaeffler, Rudi Schnackenberg, Trad Fortna, Gorden Wren, Sepp Olmi, Hans Wagner and Per Stoen. The original purpose of the organization was for “organizing into a working body the certified and approved ski instructors who teach skiing within the area under the jurisdiction of the Southern Rocky Mountain Ski Association; setting up minimum standards of qualified ski instruction; approving and certifying the qualifications of ski instructors”.
On April 24, 1966, the Articles of Incorporation were amended to change the name of the organization to “Rocky Mountain Ski Instructors Association”. The purpose was also amended to read: “The object for which our said Corporation is formed and incorporated is for the purpose of the advancement of the sport of skiing through an organization composed of certified ski instructors; to provide for the certification of ski instructors and for the establishment of standards of ski instruction.”
In September, 1969, after a year of arduous work by Jim Riley, President of RMSIA, and Rudi and Dottie Schnackenberg, the IRS granted RMSIA a tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c) (6).
In 1983, the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) was founded and incorporated in Minnesota. PSIA approached the Board of Directors of RMSIA and suggested that strength and direction would be in a unified, national organization. RMSIA agreed to align with the goals of the national organization and on October 7, 1983, the Articles of Incorporation were once again amended to change the name of the organization to “Professional Ski Instructors of America – Rocky Mountain”.
The Rocky Mountain Division has a tradition of innovation in the education of ski and snowboard professionals and utilizes The American Teaching System (ATS). ATS is among the most respected and progressive teaching systems in the world and is a student centered, experiential and outcome based approach to teaching.