Dear Editor:Every non-profit organization exists to meet a need of the community, and Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club is proud to have served this community for nearly 70 years. It is our mission to do so and we strive to improve our service each year. Should we ever cease in that effort, it will only be a matter of time before we are no longer relevant.As an organization matures, it also takes on an obligation to its staff. It is from that obligation that I am writing about the recent personnel decision to part ways with long-time Alpine Director Dave Hjerleid. Normally I would not choose to speak about a personnel decision in a public forum, but it has become clear to me that silence on the matter threatens to impugn Dave’s reputation in the community that has been so important to him for many years – the community in which he has made his home. For example, some have wondered if Dave had done something egregious. Far from it.Dave has been a committed employee for more than 10 years, and for the last six he served as alpine director. He has always been focused on our fundamental goals, especially making sure alpine athletes do not have to leave Aspen to find the training they needed. It was during his tenure as alpine director that our post-grad program was resurrected, enabling Aspen athletes to find advanced training at home and attracting athletes from far-flung locations. Other accomplishments include: increasing participation by 7 percent; providing knowledgeable support to each World Cup event; pushing AVSC to host competitions of the highest caliber – the Dan Bean Downhill, the Wilder Dwight Super G, the Rocky Central Regional Championships; compiling the first written manual explaining philosophy and expectations for Alpine coaches; crafting meaningful measures of success in the key areas of our strategic goals: core values, participation, athletic excellence, best staff, risk management, image and financial performance.While AVSC felt the time had come for us to go in different directions, it is my fault that our parting was more abrupt than it needed to be. Hopefully that will not for long overshadow the mutual respect extant – AVSC for Dave Hjerleid and Dave for AVSC.The coming season marks our 70th Anniversary Year. Please know we go into it more mindful than ever of our dual obligations to community and staff. Mark ColeExecutive DirectorAspen Valley Ski/Snowboard Club