From snow@peak.org Tue Dec 3 01:21:45 1996 Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 01:15:47 -0800 (PST) From: "Avalanche Center (CSAC)" Reply-To: snow@csac.org To: csac-updates@csac.org Subject: CSAC Update 12/3 CSAC Update; December 3, 1996 Cyberspace Snow and Avalanche Center http://www.csac.org Web Site ======== We have been extremely busy lately trying to get all of the software which automates the distribution and posting of the avalanche hazard advisories in place again. This is a major task each year since there are changes in the ways that the various bulletins get onto the net. A few are not yet being issued, which is why you will still find the last spring advisory for New Hampshire and for the Missoula area. (In the case of Colorado we're not sure if this years bulletins will be on the web at all.) At this point most of our email distribution lists are functioning reliably and most bulletins are being posted on the web in html automatically. The ones which are not yet fully automated are being kept current manually. We have introduced two new email distribution lists. To receive the Washington avalanche bulletins subscribe to the list csac-nw and to receive the Missoula MT area bulletins subscribe to csac-mont-wc . The Oregon advisory is typically the same as the Washington one. We only have one list set up, but both are posted to the web so you can check for differences there. The Missoula area bulletins have not yet started for the season, but should within the next two weeks. The Incidents section has had the first two US entries for a while now. Fortunately neither one included any fatalities. The Courses listing in the Educational section is updated periodically as we learn about new courses, schools, and/or instructors. Utah and Oregon have recently had minor updates, and Washington has been added (but without very many listings yet). Organization ============ There have been some changes in our organization lately. The first good news is that we once again have a treasurer, which we have lacked since Russ Faux, an original board member, left for Africa in June. Jeff Clarke is the new treasurer and has made great strides already in organizing our pile of receipts into a more coherent record-keeping system. Now it will be easier than ever to see exactly how little money we have! Additional good news is that we now have weekly volunteer meetings in our Corvallis, OR office. These are small and informal, but a number of people are taking on small tasks and helping the project along. Our bad news is that our current Secretary has decided to pass the job on to somebody new. (We don't know who yet!) Jim Swirczynski was a founder and has been our secretary since we incorporated as a nonprofit over one year ago. We are looking forward to his continued involvement in other ways, and are sorry to lose him as the official secretary. Fundraising =========== The largest challenge faced by the CSAC at this point in time is developing a sustainable funding paradigm which will extend into the future. In the long term this will hopefully include additional sponsors and (eventually, we hope) one or more grants as well as contributions from people who use and/or value our many services. Over the past week or so we have received several contributions, including one for $100 which arrived Thanksgiving day. So we are Thankful that we are now able to pay the December rent on our office and our monthly computer account bill. We are mounting a fundraising drive for the month of December. This will include emphasizing the requested $10 contribution from those who subscribe to one or more of our many direct-to-your-inbox distribution lists for hazard bulletins. It will also include offering special deals in our online store, the content of which we are currently expanding. A notice about this fundraising effort will follow shortly. Thanks for your interest in our project, and have a safe winter! Jim *********************************************************** Cyberspace Snow and Avalanche Center (CSAC) 1034 NW 34th St, Corvallis OR 97330 (541)754-8353 (541)461-4279 Fax http://www.csac.org snow@csac.org Jim Frankenfield; Director ***********************************************************