John Fry Passes the Torch: ISHA Goals for 2015
On Oct. 6, ISHA's Board of Directors, meeting in New York City, named Seth Masia to succeed John Fry as president of the organization. Fry will assume the role of chairman of the board, while Masia takes on responsibility for day-to-day operations.
Longtime readers of Skiing History are familiar with Masia's work for the magazine. He's also been running the skiinghistory.org website for more than a decade, since taking it over from editor emeritus Mort Lund. Masia joined the staff of SKI Magazine in 1974, and held a variety of editorial positions there for the next two decades, including technical and group editor of SKI, editor of SKI Business and managing editor of Cross Country SKI. In his new job, Masia will put to use the skills he acquired as executive director of the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society and editor of its magazine, Solar Today. He will continue to teach skiing, part time, in Vail.
"ISHA is a smaller and more collegial enterprise," Masia says. "It's small enough that I recognize the names of most members, and can realistically expect to meet them while skiing or at ski industry functions. ISHA is, in one sense, a publisher of historical scholarship and reminiscence -- but it also functions as a fraternity/sorority for veteran skiers and snowboarders, keeping us in touch with friends and colleagues over the decades. I'm intensely proud to be part of it."
ISHA Benefits: New digital subscriptions and discounts
The board outlined clear goals for the next few years: ISHA needs new members. With the active support of the marketing committee, Masia hopes to recruit at least 1,000 new subscriber-members.
As a first step, ISHA has posted back issues of the magazine, and the current issue, in digital format, on the skiinghistory.org website. The digital issues are now available to members worldwide, in text-searchable format, to enable efficient research.
Publishing in digital format (in addition to the traditional print magazine) means that ISHA can now offer a digital-only subscription to members who would like to forgo the print edition.
ISHA saves money on digital subscriptions, which incur no costs for printing and mailing. So digital subscriptions can be sold at a significant discount off the regular subscription price.
"It's a great deal for students and especially for our non-U.S. members, who won't have to pay foreign postage rates or wait weeks to receive the magazine by snail-mail," Masia says. "I'm confident that the digital archive will help to build international participation for ISHA."
Digital membership is a great way to invite younger snowsports devotees to join our organization. As we move into holiday season, please think about extending Skiing History, as a gift, to your favorite skiers and snowboarders. Go to skiinghistory.org/join for details.
Both forms of membership -- the new digital membership and the traditional print-and-digital form -- include a free historical DVD (new members only) and a subscription to SKI or Cross Country Skier. Membership in ISHA also includes membership in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, along with a discount at their bookstore.
A number of ski resorts now offer a 20% discounted membership in ISHA to season passholders. If you hold a season pass, check with the marketing department at your resort to see if they participate in the program (or would like to). Participating resorts range from Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia to Sun Valley in Idaho, Steamboat and Crested Butte in Colorado, and Okemo, Bromley and Mad River Glen in Vermont. Retailers Danzeisen & Quigley in New Jersey and Equipe Sport in Vermont also offer the discount to loyal customers.
If your ski area or club would be interested in joining the ISHA discount program, contact Wini Jones (wini at fearlessleaderinc.com).
New ISHA Officers
At the October board meeting, John McMurtry was elected vice president in recognition of his pivotal role in fundraising for ISHA. In professional life, McMurtry oversees the fund development and institutional relations program at Vail's Steadman Philippon Research Institute, but he's best known in the world of skiing as a U.S. Ski Team coach and alpine director, from 1976 to 1984 and from 1987 to 1990. His success in those roles was honored this year when McMurtry was elected to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
Masia has invited Wini Jones, a tireless and enthusiastic member of the ISHA marketing committee, to join the executive committee. Jones, a Calgary native, grew up as a ski racer and instructor. She taught in Zermatt and Innsbruck while studying fashion design in Vienna, then worked at Roffe for 30 years as vice president for design and marketing.