MH - Mt & Sun
American Mountain Guides Association
MARCH 2009
E~NEWSLETTER 
In This Issue
UIAA Endorsement
2009 Scholarship Recipients
AIARE Level 2 Course
the Low Down
Greetings!

I hope all is well and that you have been able to enjoy the winter season.  Boulder has been getting a little taste of warmth and sunshine reminding us that spring is right around the corner.

The AMGA has been busy this winter and we have a lot of great things to catch up on!

So please, hang tight, read on, and take it easy.
 
AMGA Successfully Obtains Unanimous International Endorsement
    With unanimous support from all members of the Union Internationale des Assocations D'Alpinisme (UIAA) Training Standards Working Group and Pierre Humblet, the chair of the Mountaineering Commission, the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) is proud to announce that its Single Pitch Instructor Certification Program (SPI) has earned the highly respected international training label through the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation.

With the UIAA Training Label, the AMGA is able to prove that their training andSPI rescue assessment method for the SPI program have been independently examined by the UIAA and meets the common international standards for a national training and certification program. This makes it possible for professionals from different countries to recognize each other's qualifications.

The AMGA SPI Program is the only internationally endorsed certification program in the United States that is recognized by and has met the minimum training standards of the UIAA. Nation wide land managers, insurance companies, educational institutions, guide services, and most importantly the general public recognize the AMGA SPI Certification. It is the highest standard attainable for single pitch instructors in the USA.

The AMGA applauds the UIAA Training Standards Working Group, Pierre Humblet, and Steve Long for working with the AMGA for the past three years going through the lengthy review and assessment process of our SPI certification program.  The AMGA would also like to thank the American Alpine Club for their continued support and endorsement.  It is a great honor for our organization to receive UIAA recognition for the AMGA's SPI program.

To find a SPI Course or Assessment near you go to the AMGA website, www.amga.com.
For more information about the AMGA SPI Program or how to become a provider please contact Adam Fox, SPI Discipline Coordinator, at [email protected].

2009 Scholarship Recipients!!
  The Scholarship review process was recently completed and we would like to congratulate  all  2009 AMGA scholarship recipients.  Splitter crack

Arc'teryx - Peter Doucette
Backcountry Access - Drew Lovell
Black Diamond - Mark Allen
Chad VanderHam - Eli Potter
Julie Cheney Culberson - Lindsay Fixmer
LEKI - Ben Mitchell
LOR Foundation - David Merin
Mammut - Todd Passey
Marmot- Forest McBrian
Mike Hattrup - Jayson Simons-Jones
Montrail - Chris Simmons
Mountain Hardwear - Dawn Glanc
Osprey - Mike Bromberg
Patagonia - Anne Keller
Petzl - Caroline George
The North Face - Kurt Hicks
Walker Family Foundation -Ron Funderburke
W.L. Gore - Andrew Councell

This year the pool of applicants was quite competitive and despite all our efforts we are unable to provide scholarships to all applicants.  However, we want to thank all applicants for their time, hard work and dedication to the AMGA and guiding community.  We encourage you to apply to AMGA scholarships in 2010.  

We wish you the best with your training and certification plans, future applications, and all your endeavors.

AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course
If you are planning on perusing Alpine or Ski guide certification, be sure that you begin to get the proper avalanche training by taking an AIARE Level 2 Course.

AIARE LEVEL 2 AVALANCHE COURSE
by Alpine Safety Awareness Program
 
Dates:       March 27-30, 2009
Locations: March 27 -28, 2009; Izaak Walton Inn
                 March 29-30, 2009; BNSF Office-Essex, Montana
Field Sessions: Glacier National Park
Schedule:  8am-5pm
Cost: $495 (includes all course materials)

For more information and course details contact:
Michael Jackson
ph: 360-319-2421
email: [email protected]
web: www.whitefishbackcountry.com

Enroll online at http://www.whitefishbackcountry.com

  the Low Down

Program Date Changes

North Conway Rock Instructor Course and Exam Dates Changed:
R10:RIC:09 Was 9/2 - 11/09  Now 8/31-9/9/09
R12:RIE:09 Was 9/14 - 19/09  Now 9/11 - 16/09

Jackson Ski Guide Course Dates Changed:
S7:SGC:09 Was 12/7-18/09  Now 12/12-23/09

FEE Change Notice:  All Aspirant Re-exams will now be $300.00 per day

Membership Updates


With the coming of the new year, the AMGA is in the process of getting a new online database.  Membership cards are temporarily on hold while we integrate the new database into our system. We are still working out some quirks and thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.  This is a very exciting upgrade for the AMGA office and we look forward to sharing it with you.


Work for Brooks-Range ~ Summer Outdoor Retailer Show
 
Brooks-Range Mountaineering Equipment will be at the Outdoor Retailer Show - Summer Market this year.  They need two or three people that would like to work part-time during the show at the Brooks-Range booth, answering questions regarding the Brooks-Range products.

You will earn a daily work rate and admission passes for the entire show.  The daily rate depends upon each individual's qualifications and certification level.

The dates for the Summer OR Show are July 20th-24th.
You need to arrive to help on July 20th by 2pm to stock the Brooks-Range OR Booth and depart on the 24th after 3pm, once break down is completed.

If you are interested, please contact Matt Brooks.
ph: 510.797.7980
email:[email protected]
www.Brooks-Range.com

And remember to always act in a manner that brings credit to yourself and to the AMGA.
 
Sincerely,
 

Katie Kelly
American Mountain Guides Association