Item: Building community support and diversifying funding for backcountry avalanche forecasting
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Title: Building community support and diversifying funding for backcountry avalanche forecasting
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 1994 International Snow Science Workshop, Snowbird, Utah, USA
Authors: Jim Frankenfield, Friends of the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center, P.O. Box 58581 Salt Lake City Utah 84158, 1-800-289-4403; snowman@aip.org
Date: 1994
Abstract: In this era of government fiscal austerity it is becoming necessary for some services which have been dependent on federal funding in the past to diversify their base of support. Community involvement and/or new funding sources can help offset shrinking federal budget allocations. Sizable budget cuts for the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center (UAFC) were announced by the U.S. Forest Service prior to the 1993/94 season. In response to these cuts a volunteer organization called Friends of the UAFC reorganized and increased its efforts. Among its goals are the development of new funding partnerships and of a stronger sense of community ownership. The first year brought some success, including the maintenance of previous levels of funding through new sources and the development of a new local forecast center in the Logan area. The first year also brought some challenges, and the need for a long term funding strategy became apparent. The question of what role a volunteer organization can and should play arose. It became clear that the UAFC, the US Forest Service, and Friends of the UAFC had to have a common vision on these matters. In an attempt to develop long term goals and strategies a comparison of sources of support for several US centers was compiled.
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: funding, community support, fundraising, forecasting
Subjects: avalanche forecasting backcountry mapping federal funding
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Digital Abstract Not Available
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