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As I travel to visit different patrols around the country, I talk a lot about the value of membership—not just in terms of service, camaraderie, and training, but the tangible, real-world benefits NSP provides through our partnerships and pro deals. I decided to track how I took advantage of those benefits this past year. Granted, I did some catch-up spending in 2025. But thankfully, my NSP membership helped to ease the pain.

When our reliable nine-year-old truck finally needed replacing, I used ID.me to access the first responder discount through Chevrolet and knocked $500 off the price of a brand-new vehicle. A month later, an accident totaled the Jeep, proving fate wasn't finished with our family fleet. I'm replacing it with a Bronco, and again, thanks to Ford's first responder program through ID.me, I received another $500 discount certificate. That's $1,000 in vehicle savings alone, just for being part of this incredible community.

Both vehicles needed quality floor protection for the winter, so I headed straight to our sponsor page and picked up WeatherTech mats. That alone saved me $140.

Traveling west for the Northern Division Powder Rendezvous in January, I discovered that my skinny Eastern skis just didn't cut it. So before heading to PNW's Nuts & Bolts in June, I picked up a pair of powder skis using our Pro Deals, saving a remarkable $410.

Education is a key part of our mission. This spring, I took NSP's new Outdoor Risk Management course—free of charge. For context, a comparable program from Viristar would've cost $649. That's a huge benefit, not just in savings, but in skill development and preparedness.

Another excellent resource for NSP members is GovX, for which we qualify as first responders. I tapped into GovX.com last week and saved $100 on tickets for the Ocean's Calling music festival in September for my kids. It's a small thing, but moments like those matter—time together, made more affordable because of our profession.

And after a subtle but well-placed nudge from my good friend and Board Member Paul Kelly (okay, maybe it was more of a public shaming), I finally upgraded my 22-year-old patrol uniform. I'm proudly wearing a new Mammut shell and pants—stylish, professional, and built to perform. And because of their generous sponsorship of NSP, I also saved a few bucks on this new gear. I ordered a Patagonia down sweater to keep me warm underneath, saving about $110 off regular retail.

I also switched from AT&T's standard service to FirstNet. One of our generous sponsors, FirstNet, is a dedicated wireless network built specifically for first responders and public safety professionals. It provides enhanced coverage and priority access during emergencies (for my line), and the switch saves my family approximately $600 annually across five lines—a simple change with a significant return.

I've saved well over $3,009 this year through NSP benefits, discounts, and partner programs. These benefits are not just perks—they're a real return on your membership, whether replacing gear, investing in training, or enjoying life outside of patrol.

To every patroller reading this: take advantage of these resources. You've earned them.

See you on the hill,

Rich Pietrafesa
Chairman, National Ski Patrol