To: Ski and Snowboard Stores
Subject: Newport Ski Swap

Thank you for participation in the Newport High School PTSA Ski Swap. Together, we had over $347,000 in gross sales (with tax) last year and the goal for this year is $400,000+. I have stepped up advertising to help with that.  Our customer survey showed that we had an increase of 27 zip codes from the survey last year.  We are now getting customers from Vancouver BC to Olympia and the Islands to Cle Elum, even several from Oegron, Idaho and Mountana.

We will shoot for shop gear check-in completion Friday by 12:00.  On Friday evening and Saturday, I like to open a bit before the stated time to avoid the mad rush.  Actual closing time is general 30-45 minutes after the stated closing time.

We will make our very best effort to get checks out by Friday to Ski/Snowboard Shops.

The goals of the Ski Swap are:

1. To provide income for the Newport High School Parent Teacher Student Association. This money is used for textbooks and other learning aids. The Newport Ski Swap has earned over $500,000 for the PTSA over the last 21 years. Last year the swap earned over $65,000 for Newport High eduction.
2. To reduce the cost of the riding/skiing experience for the students (and parents) of the community surrounding Newport High School.
   Get more people in the mountains and keep this industry growing.
3. To provide an opportunity for students (and parents) to sell skis, snowboards or accessories which they have grown out of physically or through increased skill level.
4. To provide interested students an opportunity to learn about setting up and running a small business.

The Newport PTSA has a long tradition of providing a needed service to our snow sports community and of providing the teachers with additional funds for items which are beyond the state provided budget. This is the 35th year for the swap with 26 years at Newport High and 9 years at Tyee Middle School.

Related information:

1. Registration - This is a long runnng swap.  We prefer local ski and snowboard shops that provide service after the swap.
   I do sometimes add a supplier that has specialized goods. 
   Filling out the registration does not guarantee entry into the swap.
   This must be filled out and returned at least 2 weeks prior to the swap to participate in the Swap.
2. Directions for preparing your inventory for the swap.

Thank you in advance for your participation. It is a great service to our community and critical to getting people started in a fabulous sport. We are looking forward to a positive and profitable relationship with you and your business.

I also am a snowboard instructor and trainer. It is hard to describe what we see in first year students when they begin to understand the exhilaration and balance of the "in control/out of control" feeling which exemplifies our sport. Many of students have also never really been in the mountains which is such a big part of living in the Puget Sound region.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Email at: don@skiswap.info

Thank you,
Don Meyer,
Newport PTSA Swap Chair