Hello MLC Instructors!
It’s Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekend all wrapped up into a super snowy, cold and epic conditions weekend! With snow in town, it’s going to take a lot longer to get here. Some of you will be calling in due to travel conditions and we expect **some** guests won’t make it here either. But whomever does make it is going to have an awesome time – there’s plenty of great snow and open terrain for all.
Historically this is one of the busiest weekends of the season, so come with the expectation that even if you don’t get a lesson, we will be using you in some capacity this weekend – you’ll be roving, greeting, doing maze control, friendly mask reminders, and for sure some shoveling. You know the old saying, “many hands make light work!” so please come with a “how can I help” attitude. Don’t worry, you’ll get a ride break – and it’s been super awesome so far this week!
In this update …
Weather Forecast
Hand Warmers
Lesson Guests May Need to Warm Up
Hood River County lowered to High Risk for Covid-19
Latest Team Member Check In
Training vs. Work Assignments
One Team
Know The Rules
You are Amazing – Guest Comments
Weather forecast is looking really snowy
Up to 50 inches of new snow by Sunday! This afternoon: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 22. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches possible. Tonight: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -8. South southwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 13 to 19 inches possible. Saturday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 20. Wind chill values as low as -3. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible. Saturday Night: Snow likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as -1. West southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Sunday: Snow likely, mainly after 4pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Cloudy, with a high near 22. West southwest wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. Sunday Night: Snow before 4am, then snow and freezing rain. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 19. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.
See for yourself here: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-121.6688576341901&lat=45.34194381514135#.YCcZb2hKiUl
Here’s a blog post on the Skihood.com website worth checking out: https://www.skihood.com/en/about-us/meadows-blog/posts/2021/02/prepare-for-storm-riding-feather-powder-and-frigid-temperatures
Hand warmers
Due to the cold temps we have a few boxes of hand warmers supplied to us from Mt Hood Meadows. Our department also purchased some to share with kids in lessons – especially the SnoBlaster lessons, as these are full day lessons. If you need a hand warmer we have them in the CLC for instructors and in the Program Lesson room for SnoBlaster lessons. If we are running low, please let a supervisor know, as we can probably get some more. Warm hands may keep your students out the whole lesson time, without needing to come inside and take a break – more on that later.
Youth Lesson May Need to Warm Up
If you have a Youth Daily Lesson, you may bring them into the CLC to warm up for 10 minutes; if you are teaching a SnoBlaster lesson they may come into the Program Lesson room and warm up for 10 minutes. They may come in and use the restroom and get a drink of water. The protocol for youth lesson guests drinking inside during a lesson break is to lower your mask, take a drink, then raise you mask – all while being 6 feet or more from the person taking a drink. This applies to youth lessons only as these guests are in our care during the lesson time.
Adult Daily Group lessons will need to “take a break” on their own as needed – they may go inside to use the restroom; eating and drinking inside in any public spaces is still not allowed.
Please take note: Once the CLC and the Program Lesson Room have guests in these locations, there is no team member eating or drinking allowed in these spaces. The only place you may lower your mask to eat is in a non-guest facing location and only for the purpose of eating or drinking. It is preferable that you keep your mask on as much as possible while inside eating. This is for the protection of others – if you are carrying Covid-19 and are asymptomatic, I’m sure you don’t want to spread this to others, especially those who may have a significant adverse reaction to the Covid-19 virus. Please protect your team mates by wearing your mask, keeping your distance and washing your hands frequently. Please adhere to these protocols.
Hood River County Lowered to High Risk for Covid-19
Mt Hood Meadows is located in Hood River County. Per the Hood River County Health Department, Hood River County has been lowered from extreme to high risk. This means that likely soon we will be able to allow limited indoor dining options. Until that time as deemed appropriate we will continue to operate within the extreme level, through this holiday weekend. We will advise every one of the upcoming changes to our operation. Your Effort Has Helped Save Lives – Don’t Let Down Your Guard!
· Stay home if you are not feeling well!
· Wear face coverings and maintain 6 foot distancing
· Wash hands frequently
· Avoid groups (especially indoors)
· Answer the call if you hear from a contact tracer
· Get vaccinated once you are eligible and vaccine is available
Latest Team Member Check In
I have personally read all the team member comments from the MLC team members who took the time to share their comments. THANK YOU! Overall we have a very positive response in this survey period, with those commenting having an 8 or higher on stoke level – this is so great to hear and the suggestions are awesome! Taking the time to comment helps us improve what we’re doing to enrich your lives too. There have been many suggestions shared by team members that have been implemented. Simple things like a napkin dispenser in the team member break room is easy to accommodate and we’ll pass this one onto those who can make it happen. Keep the comments coming on how we can improve your experience as a team member at Mt Hood Meadows!
Training vs. Work Assignments
If you are signed up for a paid training clinic and it is conflicting with a pre-lesson assignment like Rental Center, Greeting, Setup, etc. please send an email message to skischoolsupervisors@skihood.com to alert us. We are stoked you’re signed up to attend training and want to support your professional development, however we also need those other duties covered. So, if you’re signed up for a clinic and are “double booked” let us know. We can find another instructor to cover the pre-lesson assignment, but need your help to do so.
One Team
Let’s make a conscious effort to focus on the “one team” approach. We are not one department against the other department. We are ONE TEAM. Let’s embody this even when faced with individual team members who are not behaving as such. The Lift Operations Management Team has been so appreciative of our support of their very difficult job. Lift Operations see ALL GUESTS, so let’s be cognizant of this. Yes, we have the luxury of creating a bond with our students over the course of 2 or more hours. Lift Operations team members must deal with ALL guests while waiting in line, scanning at the gate and boarding the lift – not a lot of time to create a meaningful relationship. Keep this in mind. And when faced with a possible adverse interaction with another team member, just mention to them, “We are one team. How can I help?”
Know the Rules!
Golden rule, “”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Platinum Rule, “Treat others the way they would want to be treated.”
Diamond Rule, “Discern what people will want and need even before they realize it. Then offer it at the right time.”
Each rule may be applied during your day. Each are important and each are situational. Thank you for knowing and applying the “rules.”
If you see a guest who is possibly lost, apply the ________________ rule(s) – maybe all 3, right?
You are Amazing – Guest Comments
About …
· Immo – The instruction was friendly and positive.
· Dillon S. – Dillon is awesome!
· Sue L. – Sue was AMAZING. I would recommend her to anyone. Sue was great. My son asked to take another lesson with her before we even left!
· Sophie – She was amazing and super patient with me. Super sweet and professional and gave very good instruction. She made sure she communicated clearly and used language to help me understand better
· Ly’Anne – My instructor was very patient and helpful! She was very mindful about keeping her distance and making sure we were comfortable regarding covid precautions. Always asked if we had any questions and provided tips along the way.
· Simon – Simon was great, my son enjoyed his lesson and was more confident leaving there and hitting the mountain with me!
· Ryan Coussens – We loved Ryan
