Gunstock Management team resigns

[cdskier]

Eh, I'm going to disagree with the prevailing sentiment on this board: a government body donating to a political campaign for an elected official is very inappropriate. To my fellow liberals: remember how upset we all were when Trump blatantly violated the Hatch Act during the 2020 Republican convention? Remember the justified outrage at Secretary Pompeo used public funds to travel to Israel for a campaign speech?

That being said, based on what we've seen from Sylvia and Ness, it appears very likely that there is more to the story. I won't be the least bit surprised if a valid explanation surfaces.

It looks like Day himself made a statement about this confirming it was a donation:

In a statement to News9, Day disputed the contribution came from public money.

"We are a for-profit entity that has a donation line item in our budget and we donate to different things to promote Gunstock and promote the area and promote skiing in general," he said. "We generate our own revenue and this donation does not affect Belknap County residents because we don't take Belknap County money."

Day said last year, the resort paid the county hundreds of thousands of dollars, about 1% of its gross revenue.

I do think the fact that they're a for profit entity that does not receive taxpayer money makes them a bit different than a typical government body/committee where I can agree you'd consider it inappropriate. Personally I hate the whole concept of political donations in general from anyone and wish they were somehow all made illegal across the board. But since it is legal and I'm assuming this is something other for profit ski areas do as well from time to time, I don't really think this is a big deal like Sylvia claims it is.

 

[Newpylong]

This whole conversation is good and all, but is $500 really what got drove a wedge between senior staff and the committee? No...

 

[drjeff]

This whole conversation is good and all, but is $500 really what got drove a wedge between senior staff and the committee? No...

Agree 100%

I am guessing the amount of stuff that hasn't come out yet (and whether its real stuff or just perceived grievances between the various parties involved it really doesn't make that much of a difference at this point) is greater than the bits that have come out. And it seems like there are certainly some bruised egos in this sh$tshow who can't accept that they very likely are way off base with what they think is going on and how that contradicts what they wish was going on.

Ultimately it sure seems like the board has lost the trust of the majority of the community as well as the admins at Gunstock, and the only way that returns it seems is with the board tendering their resignations

 

[deadheadskier]

The hilarious thing is that the politicians involved are IN THE SAME DAMN POLITICAL PARTY. Sylvia better not need any help from the Governor. He’s screwed himself politically with his own party.

Oh, I guarantee you that Sylvia doesn't think he is part of the same political party as Sununu. According to Sylvia and others in opposition to Gunstock, Sununu is a RINO and part of the Deep State Cabal. They are total lunatics and for that matter idiots.

 

[cdskier]

Oh, I guarantee you that Sylvia doesn't think he is part of the same political party as Sununu. According to Sylvia and others in opposition to Gunstock, Sununu is a RINO and part of the Deep State Cabal. They are total lunatics and for that matter idiots.

I don't know NH politics well, but I feel like Sununu is more the type of republican I would like while Sylvia seems like an extremist nutjob.

 

[deadheadskier]

I don't know NH politics well, but I feel like Sununu is more the type of republican I would like while Sylvia seems like an extremist nutjob.

Yes, 100%. He is a Rockefeller Republican similar to Phil Scott and Charlie Baker. Sylvia and most of the rest of the delegation are Trump Republicans. Very different things

 

[thetrailboss]

This whole conversation is good and all, but is $500 really what got drove a wedge between senior staff and the committee? No...

Correct. It is Strang and Ness looking for anything to throw at the management to try to blunt the deluge of public criticism being aimed at them.

 

[Newpylong]

I don't know NH politics well, but I feel like Sununu is more the type of republican I would like while Sylvia seems like an extremist nutjob.

He is fairly even keeled and down the middle, with some minor exceptions. So yeah, if you're a Free Stater / Ultra Libertarian nutjob, he is far too common sense for you.

 

[Smellytele]

He is fairly even keeled and down the middle, with some minor exceptions. So yeah, if you're a Free Stater / Ultra Libertarian nutjob, he is far too common sense for you.

To be honest I lean libertarian but only in the way of personal freedoms and don’t tax the shit out of me to give it to someone else. When it comes to public education or other similar things I am not libertarian.

 

[Edd]

Situation is changing for the worse rapidly.

County delegation chair calls Aug. 8 meeting, earlier meeting canceled

LACONIA — A meeting of the Belknap County Delegation scheduled for Aug. 4 was canceled Thursday, in the same county notice that posted a new meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug.

www.laconiadailysun.com

 

[MadPadraic]

Reports in Laconia Sun are that Ness and Strang haven't even been to Gunstock since things fell apart. Another report is that they are focused on finding a new senior management team. Given their behavior so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they were recruiting Ariel Quiros and co from Jay.

 

[bigbob]

Reports in Laconia Sun are that Ness and Strang haven't even been to Gunstock since things fell apart. Another report is that they are focused on finding a new senior management team. Given their behavior so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they were recruiting Ariel Quiros and co from Jay.

They would be working remote.... from jail and I doubt they have access to the internet!

 

[deadheadskier]

Reports in Laconia Sun are that Ness and Strang haven't even been to Gunstock since things fell apart. Another report is that they are focused on finding a new senior management team. Given their behavior so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they were recruiting Ariel Quiros and co from Jay.

I might suggest to them that typically part of the recruitment process is to actually advertise the openings. Thus far, none of the vacated positions are being advertised for.

I'd be interested in hearing their hiring pitch. How do they answer this question:

"So the entire management staff and many line level employees have quit. They all say it's because of you two. Why should I want to work under your leadership?"

 

[Newpylong]

They will never find competent management in time.

 

[Smellytele]

They will never find competent management in time.

Never stopped vail before

 

[Newpylong]

Vail hasn't had to find an entire new management from top to bottom, it's usually just been the GM, or the GM plus Mountain Manager in extreme cases. Also, there is no one still there that will be able to do a knowledge transfer. Do you think that committee knows how the business operates? Nope.

 

[thebigo]

If we move through August without resolution there will be a good opportunity for a range of NH ski areas to make an offer in good faith. Offering early pass prices to Gunstock pass holders who bought early would be good PR and likely good business for any of the independent areas in the region: WV, Pats, Cannon, ragged or BW come to mind.

 

[deadheadskier]

If we move through August without resolution there will be a good opportunity for a range of NH ski areas to make an offer in good faith. Offering early pass prices to Gunstock pass holders who bought early would be good PR and likely good business for any of the independent areas in the region: WV, Pats, Cannon, ragged or BW come to mind.

I'm hopeful that Ragged offers something like that. There or Pats would make the most sense for my family for quick access Sunday skiing if it comes to that.

The one thing that Gunstock does that I probably won't be able to replicate elsewhere is the one day per weekend seasonal programs. I don't want to be tied down to programs that are on both days at the same mountain. We likely would get bored by that. Me especially. I have my kids in seasonal programs on Sunday at Gunstock so we can use our Indy Passes elsewhere on Saturdays.

 

[thebigo]

The ragged U8 program is saturdays only but kids need to be six by Jan 1, my youngest just made it, she turns six on Christmas. I think it is sold out but I can find out if you are interested. There were however several U10 families that only showed one day per week or every other weekend.

I get that it sounds boring to ski the same small NH mountain 50X / year but my nine year old got sucked into the program. If ragged was open, the kids just wanted to ski with their friends. At this stage in my ski career, variety is reserved for early/late season and midweek. They will move on from skiing with Dad soon enough, I am going to enjoy these years.

 

[deadheadskier]

The ragged U8 program is saturdays only but kids need to be six by Jan 1, my youngest just made it, she turns six on Christmas. I think it is sold out but I can find out if you are interested. There were however several U10 families that only showed one day per week or every other weekend.

I get that it sounds boring to ski the same small NH mountain 50X / year but my nine year old got sucked into the program. If ragged was open, the kids just wanted to ski with their friends. At this stage in my ski career, variety is reserved for early/late season and midweek. They will move on from skiing with Dad soon enough, I am going to enjoy these years.

I can appreciate that, but my kids definitely like variety and get very excited when we go elsewhere. I don't want to give that up.

I'm going to give things two weeks. If Gunstock doesn't have their shit together by then and look like it will operate well and safely, I'll fight for a refund and move elsewhere for the season.