Roundup for Safety Board awarded $7,500 towards Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center (FOFAC)’s efforts to improve the safety messaging functionalities of the Flathead Avalanche Center’s website.
At a May 11 meeting, Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety Board of Directors awarded $16,200 to two area nonprofits. The Board granted a Three Rivers EMS request for $8,700 to fund bullet/stabproof vests for staff. In addition, the Board awarded $7,500 towards Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center (FOFAC)’s efforts to improve the safety messaging functionalities of the Flathead Avalanche Center’s website.
Emily Struss, FOFAC Director of Operations, presented in support of the request. FOFAC supports the mission of the Flathead Avalanche Center to save lives, limbs, and property from avalanches through education and information. The Center provides daily avalanche safety forecasting for 1.2 million acres in Northwestern Montana, including the Whitefish and Swan Ranges, parts of Glacier National Park, and most of the Flathead National Forest.
The Center’s safety messaging largely occurs via its website. That website is in need of technical upgrades in order to support the functionalities of its safety forecasting. Last season, the Center’s website saw 32,000+ unique visitors, which represents about 30% of the Flathead valley’s population. To create a positive user experience and keep those in need of avalanche safety forecasting returning in the future, the Center’s website needs backend development to support mobile functionality and to interface with the National Avalanche Forecast Center’s forecasting support, too.
The total project cost is $17,229. The Roundup for Safety Board noted with approval FOFAC’s multi-faceted approach to funding, some of which was attained through its 2022 Great Fish Community Challenge campaign, some of which resulted from its partnership with the Forest Service, and some of which was self-funded through fundraising. To learn more about the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center, please visit: https://flatheadavalanche.org/
Other Projects Funded
During the June meeting, the Roundup for Safety Board approved these projects:
- Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation — Bear spray storage, first aid, InReach — $2,065
- Montana Kayak Academy — First aid & CPR training — $600
- Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp — Climbing safety equipment — $2,100
- Whitefish Police Department — Multi launcher foam bullet safety tool — $5,000
- Samaritan House — Automatic locking door with buzzer entry — $7,800
- DREAM Adaptive — Safety helmets — $1,700
- Flathead Rivers Alliance — InReach communication devices — $2,450
- North Valley Rescue Association — Helmets with communication headsets — $10,000
- Fair Mont Egan School — Fire door, security cameras — $10,000
Roundup for Safety is a voluntary program for Co-op members who round up their electric bills to the next dollar. This money is managed by an independent board and goes into a fund for community safety projects.
If your nonprofit is interested in applying for community safety funds, visit our Roundup for Safety page or call the Roundup for Safety Board Liason:
