Download Nominee Citation HERE. Download Ballot HERE.

Mary Olhausen is currently serving on the FWSA Board of Directors as the President of Northwest Ski Club Council. She was elected NWSCC President in June 2005. She has been involved with the Northwest Council beginning with the 1997 FWSA Convention in Portland.

In addition to her many duties as Council President, Mary coordinates the Annual Northwest Council Ski Fair which she revamped and resurrected in 2000. The Northwest Council Ski Fair is a one night ski show at an exhibit hall in Portland. It is open to the public and draws over 700 people each year. Mary coordinates booth exhibits by northwest ski resorts, ski related businesses, commercial members of the Council and member ski clubs. Mary also coordinates the Ski Fair silent auction where attendees bid on trips and ski products provided by commercial members. This event has succeeded in building strong relationships between the council, club members and ski industry partners.

Mary is also the coordinator of the Northwest Council/FWSA booth at the Portland and Seattle ski shows. The Council booths at both of these annual shows are its most effective effort to reach out to the general public, encouraging skiers and snowboarders to join a club. Mary coordinates the volunteers to work the booths and she works directly with the each show’s promoter. She provides the annual Northwest Skiers’ Directory, Far West Skier’s Guides and displays of photos and posters of Council and Far West activities for distribution at the shows.

Mary has been a strong advocate for inclusion of Washington clubs in Council and Far West trips and activities. She has made numerous trips to the Seattle area to build a strong relationship with Washington club leaders. Mary has also built strong relationships with representatives of northwest ski resorts. She attends the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association annual fall meeting as an advocate for Northwest skiers and Far West Ski Association.

Mary volunteered to co-chair the Travel Expo at the 2006 FWSA Convention in Arizona. Mary had been involved in the Convention at the host council level and decided to take this leap to the FWSA level. When Barbara Razo stepped down as FWSA Convention Silent Auction Coordinator after the 2006 Convention, Mary was quick to volunteer to take over the position. Barbara’s years of involvement in the FWSA Convention made for some very large shoes to fill. Mary did not miss a beat. She picked up where Barbara left off and the 2007 Silent Auction was a big success. She is working diligently to make the 2008 Silent Auction even better, all the time working as a volunteer.

As Mary steps down from her role as President of Northwest Ski Club Council she continues to demonstrate her commitment to FWSA by announcing her intention to run for VP of Council Services at the 2008 Convention. Mary has chaired the Council Presidents meeting on at least one occasion when Fran could not attend the FWSA board meeting. We are honored to nominate Mary for the Elizabeth “Schatzi” Wood Award.