Recently three members of the Snow Trails Ski Patrol received national recognition at an annual awards banquet hosted by Mad River Mountain Resort in Zanesfield, OH. David Baumlein, Scott Kinnamon, and Ken Rose each received honors.
“It is really good to recognize those in the community who have dedicated the time and energy to volunteer,” said Sue Cline, Ski Patrol Director at Snow Trails. Cline then added, “People always step up to the plate here.”
David Baumlein received the National Ski Patrol’s “National Appointment” No. 11344. Baumlein has served the patrol in many positions including patrol director, Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) instructor, as well as the Ohio Region OEC Administrator. A patroller since 2000, Baumlein lives in Westerville with his wife Gail and is a retired pharmacist.
Scott Kinnamon is the first Snow Trails Patrol member to receive the “Leadership Commendation Appointment” (LCA) No. 8465. Kinnamon joined the Snow Trails Patrol in 1994 and has also served as patrol director. Kinnamon is one of four “Section Chiefs” currently in the Ohio Region representing Snow Trails, Mad River Mountain and Clear Fork. Kinnamon was also a recipient of the Ohio Region “Wally James Award” for his outstanding leadership skills as Region Section Chief. Kinnamon resides in Lexington with his wife Sonia and is a sales representative for Norwalk Concrete Industries.
Ken Rose, a Snow Trails Ski Patrol member since 1967, received the National Ski Patrol “Lifetime Achievement Award” National No.5792. Among his many jobs in the early 1990s at Snow Trails, Rose was the Ohio Region Director and was instrumental in the production of the 50th anniversary slide show used to promote and recruit for the patrol. Rose retired from The Gorman-Rupp-Mansfield Division after 30 years as advertising manager.
“I was very humbled and honored to receive the award. There are a lot of good people here on patrol,” said Rose.
National and Leadership Commendation Appointment numbers, like those following the patrollers awards, are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated leadership, good character, diplomacy, a positive attitude, good judgment, unusual qualities of patrolling ability, a genuine desire to serve the skiing public, and extraordinary service to the National Ski Patrol.
According to Cline several patrollers, including herself, are second generation patrollers.
“I grew up in the atmosphere, my mother was, and still is, a patroller, I learned a lot even before I actually joined,” said Cline. Cline added, “The comradery is great here. All the members who join love to volunteer, love to share the sport, it really becomes like a second family.” Ski Patrols are all volunteers.
“Enjoyment of the sport and of course safety are the top priority here at Snow Trails. Joining Ski Patrol not only involves a love of skiing, you have to have a desire to help people and have the ability to work in extreme conditions. It takes great dedication. We are the first ones on the mountain and the last ones off,” said Cline.
The Snow Trails Ski Patrol was formed when the resort first opened, registering at the time as the first Ohio Region patrol team. Consisting of 100 patrollers the Snow Trails Ski Patrol team is a member of the National Ski Patrol (NSP) and all patrollers are certified and meet NSP standards. The NSP is the premier outdoor emergency care organization in the country. Each year the patrollers refresh in first aid, CPR/AED, skiing and toboggan handling as well as in depth training in chair lift evacuation. The Snow Trails Patrol logs around 14,000 hours of service in an average season.
