RMCC Paddlers: Happy New Year!
by Kathryn Mutz
It is time to “Think Snow!” and start planning for the year’s boating activities.
2017 had good water (mostly), good people (always!), good trips (old standards and new additions), and weather (You take what you get!).
In 2018, we want to bring back the old AND bring in the new. We hope Mother Nature will cooperate with enthusiastic club officers, our existing cadre of volunteers, new ideas from members (You!), and new volunteers (You!!)
The following are some thoughts to get us started for 2018.
MEMBERSHIP
Bill Ashworth has retired from the RMCC helm, but continues as Membership coordinator welcoming new members to the club, coordinating the annual Rendezvous, and generally challenging us (by example) to contribute our talents for the continued vitality of the club.
PADDLING EVENTS
Meyer’s pool sessions kicked-off last week for winter tuning of paddling skills. And Trip Master Kit Williams, with Master-in-Training Lynne Carpenter, is already wrangling trip coordinators to ensure that we have a wide variety of paddling opportunities for 2018. The Permit Party on January 13 will officially launch trip scheduling for the year for lottery controlled, permitted and free-access boating trips throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and beyond. At the party:
- Sign up as a trip participant
- Suggest a new river or lake opportunity
- Volunteer to coordinate a trip or meet-up boating opportunity
Kit and Lynne will help trip coordinators with the necessary information and, if desired, pair you with a co-coordinator.
- If you have the skills and a favorite river to run, but lack the time for planning logistics, volunteer to be the on-river coordinator and partner with a logistics co-coordinator.
- If (like me!) you lack the knowledge, skill or confidence to coordinate on the water, partner with the on-river coordinator to arrange the trip logistics and submit the ACA paperwork.
TRAINING
We hope to provide new opportunities and/or cost subsidies for skills development this year:
- Flat and moving water canoe classes
- Instructor certification or recertification
- Trip Coordinator clinic
- First Aid and/or boating safety training
- Specialty clinics: canoe outfitting/packing, boat repair, and ???
Interested in training?
- Check the calendar, watch the website or sign on to the Google Group for class announcements
- Volunteer to organize or assist with training events
- Notify us of training opportunities that might qualify for a RMCC cost subsidy
EQUIPMENT
Quartermaster Doug Hurcomb stores, maintains, and loans club equipment to members. Club equipment includes tents, toilets, firepans, and a variety of canoe/boating books recently donated to the club by long-term members Jill and Bob Stoecker. For specifics on our inventory, see the Club Equipment List under the Members tab.
SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Are there new ways the RMCC can promote canoeing or help protect our boating environment?
- Volunteer to be the club’s coordinator of Service Activities (Service Master?)
- Identify or volunteer for specific activities: be a safety boat at a swim event, remove garbage for a waterway cleanup project, lend a boat or assist with kids’ boating.
- Keep members informed on issues that affect water resources or boating access.
- Share your ideas for activities with club officers; contact Kathryn Mutz for details.
CLUB COMMUNICATIONS
Webmaster Dan Custer has been updating the website and encouraging participation in the Google Group.
- Share ideas with Dan on additional improvements for the website
- Communicate with RMCC members directly through the Google Group or Facebook (register for the Google Group through the Members tab via Access Requests); or
- Post trip photos (via the Gallery) and trip reports (via the Forum’s “Trip and Outing Reports”) through the Members
Ask Dan for assistance.
CLUB FUNDS
Kathy Ashworth resumed the duties of Treasurer and will be shepherding our funds this year. Since we stopped publishing a hardcopy newsletter, we have been slowly adding to our coffers. While not in a hurry to reduce our bank balance, we have some funds to use for training/events, equipment, and service work. If you have suggestions, please contact Kathryn or another officer.
Make it your new year’s resolution to join the party – paddle with us, lead a trip, coordinate an event, or lend a hand. Please share your ideas or ask questions of the appropriate officer or contact Kathryn at any time.
See you on the water,
- Kathryn Mutz, President
- Bill Ashworth, Membership
- Kathy Ashworth, Treasurer
- Dan Custer, Webmaster
- Doug Hurcomb, Quartermaster
- Kit Williams, Trip Master
See the website Contacts tab for email addresses or your RMCC directory for phone numbers.