WASATCH MOUNTAIN CLUB
POLICIES (STANDING RULES)
CURRENT AS OF OCTOBER
2006
APPLICANT AGREEMENT, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK,
AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY FORM...
GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING DEPOSITS FOR CLUB
TRIPS
REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP:
LODGE CARETAKER JOB DESCRIPTION (9/00)
FEE STRUCTURE FOR SOCIAL FUNCTIONS HELD AT
THE LODGE
GUIDELINES FOR HIKING ORGANIZERS: (5/93)
HIKING REGULATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS (5/93)
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR WINTER SPORTS
ORGANIZERS
EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES FOR WINTER SPORTS
ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS
BASIC AVALANCHE AWARENESS GUIDELINES (SOURCE:
US FOREST SERVICE)
FEE STRUCTURE FOR SOCIAL FUNCTIONS HELD AT
THE LODGE
ENTERTANMENT
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGEMENS FOR THE FOLLOWING
All documents created by the Governing
Board, Coordinators, Trip Organizers, and others performing Club business,
should be considered historically important.
Therefore, all such documents should be dated, including month, day and
year. Use standard letter-sized paper
whenever possible. Since many documents
will be bound in some manner, leave a binding margin of one-half to one inch on
the left margin. For two-sided
printing, the binding margin will alternate between left and right margins.
(1/93)
The Club will use recycled products
whenever practical and Club members are urged to recycle. (6/91)
Board meetings will be held monthly, on
the first Wednesday of the month unless needed more frequently or otherwise
scheduled. (3/86)
§
Only
one person per directorship will report unless there is a clear splitting of
report between the co-directors. (6/92)
§
Chair
will allot "x" number of minutes per presentation.
§
Presentation
format of short issue:
State what is proposed.
State what action is requested.
§
Presentation
format of longer/complex issue:
Send written proposal in advance, i.e. in
time to be sent out with minutes or bring written proposal ahead of time and
Board will act upon it at following meeting.
§
A
Board member may appoint a proxy to vote at a Board meeting; it is recommended
that a committee member be appointed if possible. (3/84)
§
All
unopened mail addressed to a Club member will be opened before the end of the
Board meeting whether the Board member is there or not. Any unidentified mail will be opened and
designated to the appropriate director. (3/91)
§
Board
members will provide their own refreshments at Board meetings.
Board members may be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with routine Club business. The Board will vote on these reimbursements as they are requested. Each successive Board should determine its own policy. (6/81) The present board will be reimbursed at $.25 per mile. (92)
The president, vice-president, treasurer,
and secretary shall be the signors on the checking account. (3/89)
The president is signatory for the Salt
Lake Foundation. (1/92)
The vice-president is elected by the
Board from the Board to act as president when the president is not available.
(3/89)
Incoming directors should get keys,
notebooks, etc., from outgoing directors. (3/89) Outgoing directors will spend a minimum of
two hours with incoming directors. (3/94)
The treasurer and two trustees can
authorize a transfer from the investment account to the checking account.
(3/89)
No one can speak for the Club at public
meetings unless he or she is sanctioned by the Board. (8/86) Directors may speak to questions about their
particular domain. If an individual is
not a director or otherwise authorized by the Board, he or she is to make the
press and the public aware that he or she is speaking as an individual, not on
behalf of the WMC and to refer the press and public to the appropriate Board
members. (9/94)
The president, secretary, treasurer, and
information director are responsible for planning and implementing an
Organizer's Party in the fall. Each
director submits to the officers a list of organizers they would like honored.
(4/89) (6/90) Guests are invited by
written invitation. Also, a notice is
placed in the Rambler in case there
are any members who felt they qualified but had been overlooked in the
invitations.
Each director will submit a detailed
budget by the April Board meeting for Board approval and will subsequently
adhere to that budget for the period March 1 to February 28. (4/97) Those expenses that are General Fund expenses
will be further identified as hiking, membership, administration, etc. Office expenses include phone, rent,
utilities, and related expenses. The
treasurer will develop codes that identify each area of the general fund.
(6/94) The administrative assistant
position was discontinued.
WMC has accounts at Kinko’s and Office Max for use of the Board. (12/96)
The
Governing Board consists of a set of directors and four trustees. The directors' responsibilities include:
1.
Responsibility
for respective areas;
2.
Forming
committees;
3.
Giving
feedback to membership through the Rambler;
and
4.
Being
responsible for Club property and keeping inventories current.
The president is the main contact for
outside organizations and individuals who interact in one fashion or another
with the Club. These include Federal
agencies (in particular the US Forest Service) as well as state and local
agencies that are involved with outdoor matters such as recreation,
environmental concerns, and trail access.
Since the Club, along with most of its members, is located in the
Wasatch Front, the Club has its most frequent contact with agencies responsible
for this area. The Club also interacts
with sister organizations such as the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the
Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and Splore.
The president presides over the monthly Governing Board meeting. The vice-president presides if the president is unable to be at the meeting.
The Club's fiscal year runs from March 1
to the last day of February. (12/96) The
tax year is from January 1 to December 31.
Donations to the Club are not tax
deductible.
A $200 petty cash fund for the membership
director is approved if required. (8/93)
A $200 petty cash fund for the lodge director was also approved if
required. (7/93) The Board also approved
petty cash funds available for the entertainment ($300) and winter sports
directors. (9/99)
The treasurer has authority to pay the
following bills between Board meetings: rent, electric and phone, postage and
printing costs associated with the Rambler,
Kinko’s and Office Max. (5/95) (12/96)
The treasurer is approved to write checks
for pre-approved lodge budget items between Board meetings. Receipts continue to be required to receive
reimbursement. (7/94)
Requests for reimbursement should be
accompanied by an explanation (note) on how the money was used along with all
relevant receipts. All expenses must be
submitted to the treasurer, even if there are offsetting incomes that
compensate for them.
If the Club sells major assets, a
statement is required by the IRS, which includes the original cost of the item,
when it was bought and sold, and to whom it was sold.
For
the purpose of fulfilling tax requirements, the following procedures should be
followed:
1.
Any
donated funds and their designated purpose need to be detailed.
2.
The
lodge director needs to distinguish income from lodge use resulting from member
use or outside use.
3.
If
admission fees for Club functions at the lodge include a lodge fee, the entertainment
director needs to account for this separately, by noting the lodge fee times
the number of people present.
4.
Services
provided by the Club such as instructional courses are related to our
tax-exempt status; therefore, careful accounting procedures should be
followed. Directors should note income
from fees, and the cost for running the program.
5.
Receipts
for all expenses are required.
6.
Taxes
should be prepared by a professional tax preparer at the Club's expense with
the assistance of the treasurer.
Monthly and year-end financial statements are circulated to Board members including trustees.
Memorial Funds have been accounted for
under "Mountaineering" funds.
Where the Club is the collection agency for these funds, a trustee will
follow the fund. In the future, memorial
funds will be accounted for separately under "Donation Funds.” (3/81)
The accumulated interest for the year
shall be allocated to the individual Club funds by the outgoing treasurer in an
equitable fashion subject to approval by the Board. (1/90)
Past Boards have allocated 15% of all dues collected to the lodge, 10% to conservation, 4% to the lodge capital improvement fund. (Reaffirmed 11/00) Allocation can be changed by the Board at its own discretion. (4/87) (3/89) (Reaffirmed 1/97)
Investments are limited to treasury
notes, treasury bills, money market funds (US securities only) or certificates
of deposit. The treasurer is responsible
and authorized to make investments within the above parameters. (11/88) (3/89)
All statements for expenses, before being
paid, will be submitted to the appropriate director for approval and
coordination. (1/89)
$5000 to $15,000 of Club funds will be
left in the checking account based on projected expenditures with the rest
being transferred to the investment account. (10/90) (Modified 9/00) It is recommended that the treasurer keep no
more in money market fund than will be needed before long-term accounts mature.
(9/91)
The treasurer is authorized to meet
periodically with a CPA for Club business at the Club’s expense, with the
approval of the president. (9/00)
One million dollar liability insurance
policies are maintained on the lodge and the office per lease requirements of
the Forest Service. Property insurance
is maintained on the office contents (valued at $20,000) and the boating
"shed" (valued at $20,000). A
fire insurance policy was also purchased to protect the Club against damage to
the lodge. (7/00)
Funds from
publications. Because Wasatch Publishers has sold the
rights to Hiking the Wasatch, the
previous allocation of funds is no longer valid. Proceeds from one-time publications
transactions shall be allocated equally between conservation and lodge capital
funds or directed by a vote of the Board. (12/00)
Minutes should be taken at each Board
meeting, then typed, duplicated and mailed to each Board member, trustee, and
coordinator 10 days prior to the next meeting.
Notification of the next Board meeting should be included. (12/96)
The financial statement from the
treasurer should be mailed to trustees not attending the Board meeting where
the reports were given out.
The secretary maintains and updates the
current Club policies. After every Board
meeting, any policy modifications or new or deleted policies should be updated
on the master document and printed out at least semi-annually for Board
members. (1/01)
Permanent records, minutes, letters,
etc., should be collected and kept in a single place, with the current
secretary. (2/92)
Any Bylaw changes should be recorded word
for word, as opposed to a general summary.
The same applies to any other Board action, which might require an
explicit record.
The secretary handles thank you notes as
applicable, also correspondence for the president and directors as
required. Copies are kept for the file.
A brief report of the General Membership
meetings should be submitted to the Rambler.
(11/91)
The secretary shall provide ballots for
Governing Board elections at the General Membership Meeting. (2/90)
All trustees need to be consulted
concerning approval of major expenditures.
Even after a majority has agreed on a position, the rest still need to
be contacted. (4/81)
At least four days each year will be set
aside so that only Club service activities are scheduled. All in-town activities on these days must
have a service task as their primary component; the activity may have a
recreational component, but it must be subsidiary to the service component. (7/91) (9/94)(11/02)(8/03)
Two of the four service days shall be scheduled for the weekends following the July 4th and Labor Day holidays. (7/00)(11/02)(8/03) The remaining two service days shall be scheduled by the governing board. (11/02)(8/03)
The
following form is used for Club activities and on new member and renewal forms:
Voluntary
Participation: I acknowledge that my participation in
any WMC activity is voluntary. No one is
forcing me to participate. I agree to
abide by the rules of the WMC.
Assumption
of Risk: I am aware that WMC activities involve
risks, and could result in injury, illness, death, and damage or loss of
property. These dangers include but are
not limited to: the hazards of traveling
in remote areas without medical services or care, the forces of nature, the
inherent dangers involved in participation in sports, wilderness travel, and
social activities, and the negligent actions of other persons or agencies. I understand that all activities should be
considered “exploratory,” with the possibility of unexpected conditions and
route variations. The WMC is not, nor
does it provide, a professional guiding service. In order to partake in the enjoyment and
excitement of WMC activities, I am willing to accept the risk and uncertainty
involved as being an integral part of the activity. I acknowledge this risk, and assume full
responsibility for any and all risks of injury, illness, death, or damage and
loss to my property.
Preparation: I
understand that it is my responsibility to evaluate the difficulty of this
activity and whether I am prepared by having the experience, skill, knowledge,
equipment, and the physical and emotional stamina to safely participate.
Release
of Liability and Promise Not to Sue: I agree that I, my heirs, and personal or
legal representatives hereby do release and hold harmless from all liability,
and promise not to bring any suit or claims against, the Wasatch Mountain Club,
its leaders, directors, agents or representatives, for any injury, illness,
death, or damage and loss to property resulting from my participation in any
WMC activity even if they negligently caused the injury or damage.
Legal
Fees: Should it become necessary for WMC, or someone on their
behalf, to incur attorney’s fees and costs to enforce this agreement, I agree
to pay WMC reasonable costs and fees thereby expended, or for which liability
is incurred.
Insurance: I
certify that I have sufficient insurance to cover any bodily injury or property
damage I may incur while participating in this activity. If I have no such insurance, I certify that I
am capable of paying for all such expenses or liabilities.
My signature below indicates that I have read this entire document, understand it completely, understand that it affects my legal rights, and agree to be bound by its terms. I am at least 18 years old, or if not, my parent or guardian has signed for me.
All activity participants will sign an
Applicant Agreement, Acknowledgement of Risk, and Release from Liability Form
prior to participating in any/every Club-sponsored activity. (4/81) Also, each WMC member will sign a generic
Acknowledgement of Risk and Release from Liability form when joining the Club
and yearly thereafter; the WMC attorney will review all Release forms, and all
Release forms will be collected at the office, filed by activity and held in
storage for seven years. (10/94)
Activity directors continue to have the
final word about activity organizers. (10/94)
No alcoholic beverages will be provided
by the Club at any Club function. (8/86)
In case of a vehicular accident, the
driver will absorb reimbursement of the deductible on insurance. Trip organizers need to advise car owners to
be adequately insured as the $.15 per mile charge by trip participants is
intended to cover all operating costs including the cost of insurance. (7/91)
Board policy does not allow for payment
for helicopter rescue necessary on Club trips. (7/85)
All lists of scheduled events submitted
to the Rambler should come from the
appropriate director. (5/81)
If a change in organizers is needed for a
particular trip, the director for the activity should be consulted. (5/80)
Guidelines for handling transportation
costs on Club trips: $.15 per mile plus the cost of gasoline should be divided
equally among all the occupants of the vehicle, including the driver. The money goes to the driver. This can be modified for particular trips.
5/92)
Millcreek Canyon fee affects Club activities;
passengers pay fee, while driver goes for free. (3/91)
Parking for Wasatch Front activities will
occur in Park 'n Ride lots or lots where the Club has received written
permission. Permission is to be
reconfirmed on a yearly basis. (2/94)
§
Full
deposit will be refunded for any person on a waiting list not participating
because the trip is full.
§
A
person with a confirmed reservation for a trip, who later cancels, may be
required to forfeit a portion or the full amount of any deposits or advanced
fees paid if the cancellation has a financial impact on other trip
participants.
§
Non-Club
members who participate in Club trips must pay the estimated trip cost in
advance of the trip departure date. The
difference between actual and estimated costs will be addressed after trip
completion.
Individual directors and coordinators are
to plan and arrange their own parties, but the entertainment director needs to
be informed of any planned parties to avoid scheduling conflicts. The entertainment director may veto conflicting
parties. (10/89)
Trip organizers are required to submit a written report about any injury or accident/incident that occurs on any Club function at the first Board meeting after the injury or accident. The organizer will include comments written by the injured party and written by any witnesses to the accident/incident. (8/89)
A trip organizer has the right to refuse
participation to anyone if that person is unprepared or unqualified. (5/90)
(7/00)
The Club does not allow promotion of
commercial (for profit) trips with Club activities. (10/86) Trips not sponsored by the Club shall not be
written up in the Rambler. (9/92)
The participants of the trip shall absorb
all expenses of a trip. (2/85) Damage or
loss of Club gear will be equally divided among the group participants up to a
limit of $15.00/person, the rest to be absorbed by the Club. (6/88)
Coordinators volunteer and are selected by the directors to assist with a particular activity. This selection is ratified by a vote of the Board. The coordinators report to the Board through a sponsoring Board member as follows:
Canoeing Boating
Rafting Boating
Kayaking Boating
Boat
Equipment Boating
Sailing Boating
Boating
Instruction Boating
Mountain
Biking Biking (4/94)
In-line
Skating Biking (8/95)
Tennis Hiking
(1/92)
Trails
Issues Conservation
(1/92)
Adopt-a-Highway Information (92)
Commercial
Ads Publications (6/92)
Rambler
Mailings Publications (6/92)
Skiing Winter
Sports
Snowshoeing Winter Sports (6/92)
Lodge Use Rep Lodge
The membership year is for a 12-month
period, renewable in the month of the member's acceptance into the Club. Membership not renewed within 30 days of the
renewal date will be removed from the membership files. If dues are not paid within the 30-day
period, a reinstatement fee of $5.00 will be assessed. (2/94)
Dues shall be $35 for a single and $50
for a couple (or partner). (2/94)(10/01)
Full-time students, under 30 years of age, are eligible for a $20 per
year membership dues. All new or
reinstating members pay a $5 application fee.
Checks should be used to pay for
membership dues instead of cash. A
stipulation for checks only will be in the application form. The membership director will return all cash
to sender, and request checks instead. (3/80)
Checks and forms must accompany new memberships, reinstatements and
membership renewal requests. (11/80)
Renewal forms and the membership
application form shall include current applicant agreement, acknowledgement of
risk, and release from liability statements that are initialed and signed by
the member. (1/93)
A statement is included on the
application form indicating that the Club's mailing list is made available to
Board-approved organizations. If a
member does not want his/her name made available, he/she can indicate so on the
renewal or application form. (6/94)
Service activities should be stressed as
alternatives to outings as a method of satisfying membership application
requirements.
The membership director updates and
publishes the membership manual as necessary to reflect current Club
policies. The membership manual is sent
out to every new member. (1/01)
Any amendments or changes to the
Constitution and Bylaws or updates/revisions to the Membership Manual will be
published in the February Rambler.
(1/93) (1/01)
Information on interests of new members shall be given to Board members when the applications are approved. Printouts of this information are available to each director.
A letter of welcome and information is to
be sent out to new members. (4/81)
Free Ramblers
are not mailed to prospective members unless specifically requested by Board
members. Prospective members may request
two copies of the Rambler to be
mailed to them at a cost of $5.00. (2/95)
There is no exception to payment of
membership dues except for life members who only pay for the Rambler. (9/94)
Policies shall be sent to new members
only upon specific request. (3/85)
The membership director is responsible
for maintaining the membership database and for facilitating printing of the
membership list in the Rambler 1-2
times/year. (1/97) Current membership
lists should be sent to any retail store (such as Kirkham’s), which gives WMC
members a discount on purchases.
Life member designation is a privilege
and recognition of service in the Wasatch Mountain Club. Payment of dues and participation in Club
activities for the designated period of time are not in themselves sufficient
for candidacy for life membership.
The following must be satisfied for life
member candidacy:
1 Twenty-five (25) years of continuous dues paying membership in the WMC. In the case of interrupted membership, the candidate may update the dues in arrears with the approval of the Board of Directors.
2. The Life Member candidate must have satisfied one of the following:
a.
Serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
b. Accumulated the equivalent of 100 hours in the
organization and/or leadership of WMC activities and functions. c. The following scale will be used to guide in
the tabulation of equivalent time participation:
‑Day trip
organization: 5 hours
-Participation in work
parties: 2-5 hours
‑Extended trips: Document time
‑Committee work: Document time
‑Social event
organization: Document time
‑Other: Document time
3. Life Membership is not granted automatically. The Life Member candidate must submit a written application documenting the fulfillment of requirements to the Governing Board.
Life Membership is an individual recognition. In the case of couple membership, each must satisfy the requirements for life membership individually.
Life membership applications must be
cleared by the Governing Board and must be approved by vote of the general
membership at a regular WMC General Membership Meeting.
Life Member dues will be equivalent to
the existing Rambler subscription
fees.
After approval of life membership, it is incumbent upon that member to indicate to the WMC membership director her/his intention to remain on the WMC rolls by filling out a membership renewal form yearly.
Trail clearing efforts should emphasize lesser-used trails which the Forest Service does not maintain rather than helping where there are already sufficient resources being expended. (9/87) The trails issues coordinator position is within the conservation directorship. (92, 5/95)
When members of the conservation
committee attend public meetings but do not express Club opinions for one
reason or another, the Club can still be listed as having attended and
expressed an interest in the issues discussed.
Individuals who want to get involved in
issues in the name of the Club should get approval to use the Club name
beforehand.
Ten percent (10%) of membership dues
presently go toward a conservation fund.
Disbursal of the monies is determined by the Board currently in
office. Each successive Board must
evaluate this negotiable issue for its term of office. Organizations that the Club has supported
include: Southern Utah Wilderness
Alliance, Idaho Rivers United, Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land and
S'PLORE.
The conservation director is authorized
with Board approval to speak at public hearings and to submit written comments
on behalf of the Club subject to general conservation policy guidelines. Board approval is needed before signing onto
any environmental lawsuits or other legal actions. This does not apply to participation in
administrative hearings or appeals.
The WMC opposes the Olympics because of
environmental concerns for the Wasatch Front with particular concern over
potential impacts on Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons contrary to the Canyon
Master Plan. (12/89) (Reaffirmed 5/95)
The lodge is on the National Register of Historic Sites. (12/80) It may be eligible for matching funds, when available, from the Utah Heritage Foundation. An 8" X 10" historical plaque was purchased from the Utah Historical Society and hangs on the lodge. (1/81)
A fund has been set up for lodge
improvement. (7/00)
A
formal caretaker position has been established.
The caretaker is considered to be an employee of the Club. Payment for services is in-kind, i.e. free
room, utilities except phone and use of the lodge when it doesn't interfere
with Club plans. The caretaker has
access to the lodge at all times to perform certain duties and lodge
maintenance. (7/93)
·
Keeping
the roof free from damaging levels of snow
·
Operating
the snow thrower or shoveling to clear snow from the lodge entrances
·
Monitoring
watering systems
·
Meeting
with users and prospective users of the lodge and answering their questions
concerning the facility
·
Inspecting
the facility after use, and cleaning up as necessary
·
Attending
and assisting with work parties as needed
·
Performing
other tasks, activities, and duties as assigned by the lodge director(s)
User fees for the lodge will be $250/day and $150/half day. (5/94) The daily user fee for Club members is $3. (5/94) User fees will be established yearly.
The Club has adopted a policy that the
lodge shall be made available for public use to the greatest extent possible
without restriction as to member status.
This policy will remain in effect as long as the lodge is operated under
a USFS special permit. (12/94)
A person who has worked at a lodge work
party during the day will not be charged an admission fee for entry to a Club
function that night. (8/90)
Piano rental fee is at the lodge
director's discretion.
No smoking will be permitted in the lodge
or on the porch. (11/88) (10/93)
The second weekend of July and September
are reserved for service activities.
Optionally, August may also be scheduled as a service month. No in-town activities are scheduled in
conflict with these service days. (See
service policy.) (12/92) (Updated 4/95)
Zion Lutheran Church has free use of the
lodge in return for letting the Club schedule meetings at the church free of
charge. Utah Avalanche Forecast Center
(UAFC) has fee use of the lodge one weekend each winter (06/01).
Work parties or Club functions should not
be scheduled at the lodge during weekends when it is to be used by outside
groups. (7/80)
At present, the Board feels that Club
funds can cover losses from the lodge, which remain after user fees.
At least one weekend per month is to be
reserved for Club use out of total lodge use.
This usually has been done in conjunction with entertainment functions,
a party being held one night, and the rest of the weekend being reserved for
Club member use.
§
$3
per person lodge user fee, except for those people admitted free for
participating in a same day lodge work party.
The lodge operating and maintenance fund pays the cover charge less the
lodge fee except for those people admitted free for participating in a same day
work party. (06)
The John Gottman Memorial Fund was
established in March, 1980. For tax
purposes, memorial funds will be accounted for separately from the rest of the
Club's monies. The Board approved
application of the Gottman Fund toward development of a Mount Olympus
trailhead. (4/80) An alternate plan for
using the Gottman Fund money would be to set up a library for the lodge
containing mountaineering magazines, etc.
(9/80)
The Robert Frohboese Memorial Fund was
established in March, 1981. The
Frohboese Memorial Funds have been withdrawn from the general funds and are in
a separate account. This is a perpetual
fund and the interest that is accrued will be used to establish a source of
public education for avalanche survival.
The Club has an avalanche course offered every January using this fund.
(3/84)
A list of local hikes, their ratings, and
an explanation of the rating systems is published in the Rambler every April. (4/97)
The hiking director and committee
schedule local hikes, outings, and out of town car camping and backpacking
trips.
For day hikes into wilderness areas, group size should be limited to 14 unless a mandatory lower limit applies. If the meeting point group is larger than this, the scheduled organizer should recruit a second organizer so that the group can be split. The splitting of the group and second organizer's name should be noted on the release form. To insure that the groups will travel separately, the participants should be asked to assign themselves to either a "fast group" or the "slow-paced group" and the fast group should start up the trail first, preferably 15 minutes ahead of the second group. (6/92)
For backpacks or other pre-registration
trips, the scheduled organizer should keep a waiting list once the initial trip
is filled. As people call in and are
added to the waiting list, the organizer should inquire if the individual is
capable of leading an overflow trip to a similar destination, typically another drainage in the same general area. Once a second trip organizer volunteers, that
individual becomes responsible for contacting the people on the waiting list
and making necessary arrangements. (6/92)
Rules for hike organizers should be sent
to each organizer along with a release form to be signed by each hiker.
(8/84) It is suggested that new hikes
not be scheduled close to the beginning of the month because there is no
guarantee that the Rambler will be
out in time to announce the hike. (4/89) alternatively, the hiking director can
announce hikes into the month following the current published Rambler.
Minor children are only allowed on trips
designated as family trips and advertised as such in the Rambler. (4/99)
These guidelines should be sent to all volunteers prior to their hike. This is a supplement to the official hiking regulations, which should also be included.
§ If for some reason you can't lead the hike that you volunteered for, you should try to find a replacement organizer and notify the hiking director.
§ Planning is the key to a successful trip. Know your destination and route. According to regulations, the organizer is responsible for explaining the hike to the people who want to go on it. Unless the hike was described as exploratory in the Rambler, you should have personal experience with the route. If you haven't already hiked the route with the Club, you should hike it yourself first. It helps to start with a guidebook such as Hiking the Wasatch. If the hike is exploratory, you must rely on your general experience with the area, topographic maps (available from the USGS), guidebooks and contacts with forest or BLM rangers. According to current Club policy on exploratory hikes, an exploratory hike must be described as exploratory in the Rambler, and participants must register by phone so that the organizer can evaluate their experience and preparedness in advance. You should make sure that participants understand what is involved in an exploratory hike. For any hike that you lead, you should be able to describe the risks: the length and difficulty of the hike, whether there is exposed terrain, and whether the hike involves rock scrambling, wading, route finding, snow crossings, extreme temperatures or other difficulties. You should know approximately how much time the trip will take. You should be aware of seasonal road closures; for example, the upper gate in Mill Creek is often closed through Memorial Day. You must get permission to cross private property if no easement or right-of-way exists.
§
Get
everyone to the trailhead. A surprising
amount of trouble can occur at this step.
You should always try to carpool.
This saves gas, puts less stress on limited parking spaces, gives you
fewer vehicles to keep track of and makes it more likely that someone in any
given car will know where you're going.
You should count heads and cars before carpooling. Be sure that all the cars can handle the
road; for example, don't drive a Lincoln to the Lake Hardy trailhead. If some of the drivers are not absolutely
certain of the driving route, try to show them the route on a road map before
leaving and arrange to pause at obvious points to collect vehicles. It's very important to make sure that drivers
know what the lead car looks like. You
should be sure that you can park where you need to at the trailhead; don't park
illegally. Once you reach the trailhead,
don't start hiking until everyone arrives (count heads again). A special exception: a group with a
designated deputy leader may leave earlier (see below for a description of
subdivided hikes). Club policy on
sharing transportation costs is that drivers should be reimbursed at 15 cents
per mile, and the cost of gas in a given vehicle should be divided equally
among riders and drivers. For
four-wheel-drive vehicles, reimbursement is 25 cents per mile when
engaged. Riders split user fees (for
example, at the tollbooth in Mill Creek Canyon).
§
Evaluate
capabilities of hikers. Participants
must be prepared. The basic idea here is
to look for problems before they can hurt you on the trail. The regulations say that hikers must evaluate
their own capabilities; let people read the regulations before they sign the
release. Your job is to help people
understand what the hike involves so that they can make an informed decision
about whether they should be on this hike.
Make sure that everyone understands the risks and that it's their
responsibility to be prepared. To help
with this, you can check their clothing and gear by eye, and ask questions
about their experience and fitness. If
you notice that someone doesn't have the necessary boots, boots, socks, warm
clothing, water, food, or first aid, you should bring it to their
attention. You should be especially
attentive to deficiencies with gear, fitness or experience on exploratory hikes
and more difficult hikes. It is Club
policy that regular day hikes are not open to children under 18. The Club sponsors family hikes, which are
open to children, although unsupervised children under 18 are never permitted
on any hike. Minor children are only
allowed on trips designated as family trips and advertised as such in the
Rambler.
§
Turn
away people who aren't ready for the hike.
If in your best judgment, someone isn't sufficiently prepared for the
hike in spite of their own evaluations, you should turn them away. The hiking regulations give organizers
discretion to exclude people who aren't prepared, or who don't follow the
regulations. If no one is ready for the
(possibly poor) conditions, you should cancel the hike. You should always explain carefully why you
are excluding a person; if the Rambler
description was inaccurate or oversimplified, you may explain why, or if the
conditions have changed due to rain or snow on the trail or something else, you
should also explain. Don't let people
sway you from your best judgment, and don't let people tag along if you refused
to let them participate. It's useful to
bring a copy of the current Rambler
so that people can find out about easier hikes.
§
Organize
the operation. Everyone must sign the
release form. If you don't sign, you don' t hike; this is a Club regulation. You should make sure that everyone
understands what they're signing, and answer all questions as best you
can. The release provides protection to
participants, the organizer and the Club.
The release makes a participant think about the risks of the hike, and
tells you and the Club that the participant knows what they're doing. The release is not a magic bullet; you must
still act responsibly in your capacity as an organizer.
§
Don't
lose your hikers. It is polite to wait a
little while before leaving the meeting place, to accommodate a few
latecomers. Once on the trail, you
should set a pace appropriate to your group.
Pay special attention to inexperienced hikers. You should take care to keep the group
together and count heads when the opportunity arises. If someone is missing, wait for them, and
adjust the pace of the group if necessary.
Sometimes it is advisable to lead from the rear; in that case, you should
put someone at the front that knows the trail.
Organizers may choose to regroup as desired, for a lunch break or at the
trail's destination.
§
Large
groups should be subdivided. Large
groups can damage the wilderness and devalue the wilderness experience, and
they can be difficult to manage and account for. Groups of 14 or less are recommended, and are
required in designated wilderness areas.
If you have a big group, you should look for experienced Club members to
volunteer to lead a smaller group. You
can then divide the big group according to the speed of the hikers, or to
ability and interest, or other parameters.
You can select alternate routes or destinations for the smaller groups
to reduce the overall impact on one trail.
You should make sure that the organizers of the smaller groups can
account for all the members of their group and that they understand that they
have the same responsibilities as other activity organizers. You should take care to account for all
members of all the groups at the end of the hike(s).
§
Know
when to turn back. Sometimes you just
can't make it safely to the destination you chose. You might run out of time to return before
dark, or the weather might turn ominous, or some of your hikers may be running
low on water or have other problems. If
you can't make it on this trip, turn around and promise yourself that you can
try again some other time. You should
try to anticipate trouble while it's on the way, rather than waiting for it to
arrive.
§
Get
appropriate help when needed. You should
always use your best judgment and act responsibly when there's a problem. If you lose someone, check the obvious
places, but don't take unnecessary risks in self-rescue. If you can't account for all the hikers at
the end of the trip, try calling their home to see if they left without
checking out. If a hiker may be lost or
injured, don't let things run on until it's too late. Call emergency services or search and rescue
and let professionals handle the problem.
You should carry change for a pay phone, and bring the list of emergency
phone numbers. Club regulations say that
the person being rescued is responsible for any costs charged for the rescue,
even if the rescue turns out to be unnecessary.
§
Offer
useful advice. If there are less
experienced people on the hike, you may be able to increase their safety and
enjoyment by passing on some of your own experience. This can range from noting the best photo
opportunities, to telling people about potential problems on the trail such as
loose rock, rattlers or poison ivy. Do
answer all questions about the trip as best you can, however don't be a pest.
§
Have
fun. Almost every hike comes off without
a hitch. On the average hike, the most
important part is to have fun. Enjoy the
fresh air and the scenery, and make friends and learn new things. Set a pace and choose a route to maximize the
fun for everyone.
§
Close
out the hike. Every person must be
accounted for at the end of a hike. Use
the check-off boxes on the release form to check off hikers who have returned
safely. Hikers may return early, but
regulations ask that people who return in advance of the group travel with a
buddy. Choose an experienced person to
be a buddy; if no one else can be found, you should collect all the hikers and
return together. If some hikers need to
return early and can't wait for the rest of the group, you should ask them to
leave you a note on your car or some other designated place telling you that
they arrived safely. If a group has
divided, the organizers of the smaller groups should help you account for all
the hikers at the end.
§
If
someone does leave the hike, do your best to make sure they return safely. Club regulations permit people to leave the
hike. However, sometimes people just
take off on their own; if someone won't cooperate,
note the problem on the release form.
Please notify the hiking director about hikers who won't obey rules.
§
You
may have to dismiss a participant. If a
participant endangers others, undermines your authority, or acts contrary to
the Club's regulations and policies, the person can be dismissed. If someone looks like they're in trouble, or
they're causing trouble, you should use your best judgment about when to send
them back or even cancel the hike. Be
sure that people understand why they are dismissed, but don't be
argumentative. Don't let someone feel
humiliated because they can't finish a hike; act maturely. Above all, don't let problems progress to the
point where you can't handle them safely.
You should be sure to follow the rules and policies for returning
early. As above, please note the problem
on the release form and notify the hiking director.
§
Inform
the hiking director of accidents and incidents.
Using the accident/incident report form, you should report any
accidents, injuries, unusual conditions or circumstances to the hiking director
or another officer of the Club as soon as you reasonably can. Any accidents or injuries are to be reported
in writing to the full Governing Board within 30 days. You should cooperate with the authorities in
investigating the situation, if called upon.
The Club may ask you and other members who may have witnessed an
incident to write a description for circulation to the Club's board.
§
Have
an enthusiastic person write the trip up for the Rambler. The Rambler contains directions about
submitting write-ups. Don't forget to
include the compromising photographs!
Useful
Phone Numbers and Addresses:
§
Emergency:
911
§
Utah
Highway Patrol, road conditions: 964-6000
§
WMC
Hiking Director
§
WMC
President
§
Avalanche
Forecast Center: 364-1581
§
Forest
Service, Salt Lake ranger district: 524-5042
§
Forest
Service map office, 125 S State: 524-5030
§
Bureau
of Land Management, 324 S State: 539-4001
§
Utah
Geological Survey (maps), 2363 S. Foothill: 467-0401
1.
Don't
go on a hike unless you understand the risks and are prepared. If you want to go on a WMC hike, you must
read the release form and sign it prior to participating. By signing the form, you are acknowledging to
the WMC and to the organizer that you understand the risks involved with the
hike. If you are under 18, your parent
or guardian must sign the release for you.
If you have any questions about the risks, ask the organizer before you
sign. Don't sign and don't go on the
hike if you have doubts about the risks.
Trip descriptions in the Rambler
are meant to help you make decisions about risks before you consider a
hike. Check the hike rating and look for
terms like 'scrambling,' 'exposure,' 'exploratory' or 'cross-country.' Check weather reports for potential rain,
wind or extreme temperatures. Check
guidebooks such as Hiking the Wasatch
for more information about conditions on the hike.
2.
If a
hike becomes riskier than what you are prepared for, stop. If for any reason you can't complete the
hike, talk to the organizer and explain the problem. You may then sign off from the release form
and leave the hike. Don't leave alone;
always return to the trailhead with a buddy, and be sure that the organizer
understands your route. Fatigue,
blisters, bad weather and unexpected terrain are some of many appropriate
reasons for stopping. Don't let anyone
pressure you into taking risks for which you aren't prepared.
3. Always make use of common sense, experience and good judgment. If you find yourself in an awkward situation on a hike, ask the organizer for help and advice. If by circumstance you become separated from the group, make yourself easy to find and don't take any unnecessary risks. Your good judgment is your best defense against accidents. You can help by memorizing landmarks along the trail, carrying a compass and knowing how to use it, and taking advantage of the experience of the organizer and other hikers
Taking Responsibility.
4.
Be prepared for a hike with proper equipment and
physical fitness. It is your
responsibility to prepare for a hike so that you won't endanger yourself or
others. If you don't have the
appropriate equipment or fitness, or if you don't have sufficient experience
with the technical requirements, the organizer can bar you from the hike. If the Rambler
description or the organizer asks you to bring materials and equipment such as
high-top hiking boots, extra water, long pants, crampons, rope or wading shoes,
and you forget to do so, you won't be allowed to go on the hike. Check the hike rating and the trip
description to make sure that you are fit enough to handle a hike of the given
steepness or length. If you aren't sure,
ask the organizer.
5.
Stay together on the trail and watch out for
others. Stay within view or earshot of other
hikers in the group. If you get ahead of
the group, or if the organizer asks, you must wait to collect the rest of the
group before continuing. If the
organizer appoints another experienced hiker to lead a secondary group and
assigns you to that group, you must respect the decisions of the deputy
organizer and stay with your secondary group.
If you notice other hikers in difficulty, report the problem to the
organizer and try to help the organizer deal with it. There is safety in numbers, but it is also
hard to manage large groups, especially in terrain that limits views such as
forests or rough slick rock country. If
the group spreads out, it can be difficult for the organizer to provide proper
advice or directions, especially if the organizer must stay toward the rear to
help slower hikers. You can help the
organizer by making your location obvious; for example, if you leave the trail temporarily, drop your pack by the trail to show where you
are taking your break. Another way to
deal with these problems is for the organizer to ask the group to meet at a
landmark on the trail. If you have
experience with leading and with this particular hike, you can volunteer to
help the organizer in situations like this by heading a secondary group.
6.
Talk to the organizer to report problems and
seek guidance. The organizer is your
resource for help with the hike. If you
are unsure of the risk in a situation or if you need directions, you must ask
the organizer for help. Your trip
organizer should know the hazards and risks of the route; have directions for
driving to and from the trailhead; know possible escape routes in the event of
bad weather or other unexpected conditions; know meeting places to regroup on
the trail; have maps for exploratory hike routes; and have suggestions about
the right equipment for the conditions.
7. Walk softly in the wilderness and keep it clean and safe. While on a WMC activity, you shall preserve wilderness values. Don't cut switchbacks or encourage trail erosion. Pack all your trash out. Don't needlessly injure plants or animals, and preserve their habitat. Don't hunt while on WMC hikes. The WMC Constitution "encourage[s] preservation of our natural areas, including plant, animal and bird life."
8.
Obey established rules for recreation on the
trail. Certain wilderness areas have
established rules on group size; WMC groups will limit themselves to no more
than the maximum permitted size, or split into secondary groups. You must respect private property and take
care not to damage it or infringe on the owners' rights. Hikers should of course obey all applicable
laws and cooperate with police officers, forest and BLM rangers, and other
authorities. You are responsible for
parking legally at trailheads, refraining from fishing in restricted streams,
following rules about backcountry camping, and handling other duties of a
responsible citizen.
9.
You may be ejected for not following rules. An organizer may exclude you if in their own
best judgment, you lack the experience, equipment,
physical fitness or good judgment to complete the hike without becoming a
danger to yourself or others. If you are
already on the trail, you must return to the trailhead with the organizer or
another experienced hiker appointed by the organizer. You are responsible for understanding the
rules, and any violation of the rules may be grounds for exclusion. You must sign off from the release form
before you leave, and be accounted for upon return like any other hiker. By signing the release form before the hike,
you recognize that your trip organizer may act on behalf of the WMC to uphold
its rules and policies. If you observe
problems with leadership you should report them to the Hiking Director, but on
any given trip you must cooperate with the organizer.
10. You must respect the organizer's decisions on the trail. Even if you disagree with the wisdom or usefulness of the organizer's directions, you must comply with them or leave the hike. The organizer has no obligation to accommodate you if you can't accept the conditions on the hike. The organizer has some discretion to maintain order on the hike. If you do leave a hike, you naturally must follow the rules above about leaving hikes. Do take care not to follow the organizer into a situation you aren't prepared for‑sometimes the organizer's choices just aren't suitable for you, and don't be afraid to leave if that's the case. The WMC sponsors family hikes that are open to all ages of hikers; check the Rambler description to see if a given hike is a family hike.
The organizer will plan the hike and
explain the risks to you. The organizer
can always explain to you the chosen route to the destination of the hike and
describe the hazards along the way. The
organizer shall emphasize the safety and well being of the group. You should not sign the release until you are
satisfied that you have understood what kind of hike is being planned. Don't be afraid to ask. The organizer may change plans as a consequence
of changes in the weather, trail conditions, time constraints or other
problems, but they should explain the changes in plans and the reasons for the
changes.
The organizer will sign you in and account for you at the end of the hike. The organizer will ensure that you read and understand the release before signing it, and that you sign it before hiking. The organizer will account for you at the end of the hike, even if you didn't finish all of the hike. In turn, you must make sure that the organizer knows you have returned from the hike. In the event of an accident or rescue, the expenses incurred are your responsibility. If you don't notify the organizer, you will be held responsible for the expenses even if you didn't need rescue. If you return before the organizer, you must either wait for the organizer or make sure that someone who does wait for the organizer will tell him or her that you returned safely. (4/97)
The following policies define the activities and responsibilities within the winter sports program of the Wasatch Mountain Club. (10/00) The core program includes snowshoe tours, backcountry tours, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and out-of-town trips (e.g. yurt and winter camping trips). The Robert Frohboese Avalanche Class is held in December or January each year. The Audrey Kelly Learn-to-Ski Clinic is held in January of each year. At least one telemark clinic is held each year.
The winter sports director is responsible for the overall management of the winter sports program. He/she appoints a skiing and snowshoe coordinator who in turn schedule trips, which are not planned at the committee meetings, but can be announced in the Rambler throughout the season. The coordinators also assist trip organizers with information as needed. Other responsibilities include organizing or participating in training trips catered to novices and beginners. They are also welcome to submit articles discussing information on topics of interest.
The winter sports program will also promote conservation issues such as curtailment of ski resort expansion to prevent further loss of backcountry terrain, rigid control (or elimination) of helicopter skiing, continuation of involvement in land management decision-making (e.g. snowmobile vs. ski trails on Daniel's Summit), and use of UTA routes.
The winter sports program adopts the guidelines for hiking organizers, published elsewhere in these policies. However, special consideration is necessary for winter activities. Planning your destination and route is the key to a successful trip. You should always try to carpool or utilize UTA transit options in the Wasatch Canyons. Help people understand what the outing involves so that they can decide whether they should be on the trip. The organizer may use his/her discretion as to the equipment and skills necessary for a safe and successful tour. The organizer may evaluate the equipment and capabilities of skiers/snowshoers and turn away people who aren't prepared for the outing. You can check their clothing and gear by eye, ask questions about their experience and fitness. Make sure that everyone going on the trip signs the release form and therefore acknowledges the risk involved and that it’s their responsibility to be prepared.
Talk to the group and reach an understanding of when to turn back. You could run out of time to return before dark, or the conditions might turn ominous. Participants disagreeing with the organizer can choose to withdraw from a trip after clearly notifying the organizer, and preferably, at least one other witness. Skiers/snowshoers should return to the trailhead with a buddy, and be sure that the organizer understands your route. Large groups should be subdivided with appointment of a second organizer and separation of the parties into a “fast group” and “slow group.” Have fun. Enjoy the fresh air and snow.
All trip participants are responsible for their own equipment and preparedness. Be self-sufficient at all times, and be prepared to assist others when necessary. Carry necessary supplies for changes in conditions. A well-executed trip is a satisfaction to you and not a burden to others. In addition to the "Ten Essentials" (re: Seattle Mountaineers), which are emergency items you should have in your pack at all times, the following items are usually carried on winter sports trips: climbing skins, transceivers (dual-frequency or 457 mHz), shovel, probe, repair kit, headlamp, rope.
The organizer has the discretion to require any of these additional equipment items for group safety considerations. The general guideline is to require transceivers and shovel on MOD and above trip ratings. Of course, participants may always choose to take these additional items. If participants are unsure of what the trip involves and if certain equipment items will be required, please ask the organizer beforehand or at the meeting place. If beacons are required, the group should consider whether to conduct a beacon signal test before the tour and a practice avalanche search during the tour.
1. Carry an avalanche transceiver that will transmit your location. The transceiver can also be set to receive signals. Learn how to use the transceiver.
2. Carry a shovel and collapsible poles to probe the snow for victims in case you need help with a rescue. Some collapsible ski poles can double as poles.
3. Be alert following periods of steady snowfall when most avalanches occur.
4. Slopes with angles of 25 to 50 degrees are most likely to slide.
5. Cornices, or overhanging shelves of snow, can build up along ridges and can fall, triggering avalanches. When traveling along ridges, avoid the edges.
6. When traveling through potentially unstable terrain, spread out and cross slopes one at a time, keeping close watch for sliding or settling of the snow.
7. Most avalanches start above timberline, on slopes opposite the prevailing wind. Heavily forested slopes are less likely to slide.
8. Dig snow pits and learn to read the weather history of the snow pack.
9. Check with local forecasters and outdoor travelers for conditions and hazards.
10. Only one in three avalanche victims buried without a beacon survives. But if you're caught in an avalanche, try to escape by grabbing a tree or rock. If you fall, get rid of skis, poles and pack and "swim" on the slide to stay toward the surface. When the avalanche stops, try to stay near the surface and make an air pocket.
1. Parties should try to stay away from one another as best they can.
2. People need to be encouraged to keep their tracks close together in crowded areas.
3. Break trails that will be useful to everyone who follows.
4. Pay attention to inter-party safety considerations (e.g. do not tour above others). Share observations about potentially dangerous snow and avalanche conditions
Utah Avalanche Forecast Center: 364-1581. See other useful phone numbers and addresses published under the hiking guidelines in these policies.
A liability release form is to be signed when traveling to an out of town Club sponsored event. (6/94)
For social events held at the lodge, a
(determined yearly) per person lodge use fee is to be charged in addition to
any admission that the entertainment director deems appropriate. This applies to Club functions. (11/80)
(8/81) The fee has been set at $2 daily.
(5/94) 7/00) The
overnight fee is $3. (8/81)
A $3 per person lodge user fee, except
for those people admitted free for participating in a same day lodge work
party. The lodge operating and
maintenance fund pays the entertainment portion of the admission fee to the
entertainment committee. (06)
If admission fees for Club functions
include a lodge fee, the entertainment director needs to account for this
separately, by noting the lodge fee times the number of people present at the
function.
When planning a party, check with the
lodge director first to avoid two parties the same day.
Private parties serving alcohol will not
be listed in the activities section of the Rambler
and will not be reimbursed for any expenses. (12/89)
§
General Membership Meeting refreshments
§
Awards/Nominations
Banquet reservations at the designated restaurant
It is up to the individual directors and coordinators to plan and arrange their own parties, but the entertainment director needs to be informed of any planned parties to avoid scheduling conflicts. (10/89)
If there are no sponsors for a party,
then the party will not be held. (8/89)
Activity organizers' party was revised to one party per year in the fall. (6/90)
Name tags should be used at all socials. (11/88)
Live bands for parties should not cost over $600. (8/88) (7/94)
Socials are for members and guests only.
(8/88)
All parties should be self-sustaining,
with participants paying the costs of food and beverages. (10/85)
A balance should be maintained from year to year in the entertainment fund to cover inadvertent losses. (10/90)
The duties and purposes of the information
director shall be:
§ To oversee the Club’s website and Webmaster. (98)
§ To regularly monitor and respond to the Club’s general voicemail mailbox. (1/01)
§ To distribute copies of the Rambler to key outdoor recreational stores such as REI and Kirkham’s and to prepare stacks of Ramblers for distribution to local universities (U of U, Weber State, SL Community College). (1/01)
§ To update and oversee publication of the WMC brochure and any other printed collateral material as needed. (1/01)
§ To act as a clearinghouse to the media for all activities of the Club. Any individual, director, or committee wishing media coverage on any Club activities shall clear them through the information director.
§ To provide access and obtain coverage in the news, TV, and radio media for Club activities.
§ To contact other groups and organizations about pertinent Club activities.
§ To provide environmental education for the general public and to develop programs for this purpose.
§ To promote awareness of the WMC purpose as stated in the Constitution.
§ To publicize positive aspects of the Club. (1/86)
§ To oversee the Adopt-A-Highway Program. (5/92) (5/95)
To
submit an article or photograph: Articles/photographs
may be submitted in any of the following ways:
§
Email
submissions to the current WMC email address.
§
Mail
submissions to the publications editor at the office address.
§
Hand
deliver them to the
WMC office between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm weekdays. (The building is generally closed and locked
evenings and weekends.) Leave hand
deliveries in the blue box outside the office door.
If
on diskette, please use 3.5” diskettes, MS/DOS format, and in Microsoft Word or
WordPerfect format. Use Arial font, 10
point for all submissions. Label the
diskette with your name and identify what file(s) are submissions. Enclose a hard copy in case your diskette
cannot be read. The deadline is 6 pm on
the 10th of the month. (Changed from 15th
11/00.)
Photos, B&W and color prints, will be accepted. Make sure that each photo is labeled with the photographer, date, and names of people. Unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is provided, returned submissions will be available in the red bucket outside the WMC office.
§
It
is ok to hold some articles over to a following month, if the Rambler is getting too big.
§
Editors
shall make changes in grammar, and punctuation, etc. If major changes are needed, the article will
be returned to the author for a rewrite.
§
If
the publishing cost per issue goes over $1,200, the editorial policy may need
to be reconsidered.
Ramblers remaining after the membership mailing
are available to the public and are located outside the office and at REI.
Placement of ads in the Rambler is at the editor's discretion.
(10/91) Any commercial entity
advertising in the Rambler is
automatically given a complimentary copy without Board approval. (4/95)
Ads that are not consistent with the
philosophy and history of the Club and the sensitivities of the Board and
members will not be accepted for publication.
Examples of ads inconsistent with Club purpose and conservation
philosophy include ads for helicopter skiing or off road vehicles. Ads for partisan political races should not
be accepted. The Board shall fully
support the interpretation of this policy by the Publications director and
staff. (05/04)
The Rambler
is to be printed on recycled paper. (11/91)
Local outdoor recreation shops will
receive complimentary copies of the Rambler
by direct mailing.
Each member must be given the choice of
whether or not to receive the Rambler.
Scheduled events should be submitted 6 to
8 weeks in advance of the time they are to occur in order to allow time for
printing and mailing of the Rambler.
Only events or trips approved by the
appropriate director will be published in the Rambler and all events and trips should be sent to the director for
their submission to the Rambler.
Commercial advertising rates are set by
the publications director.
Only volunteer-led, director-approved
trips will be listed in the Club Activities section of the Rambler. Commercial trips
will be noted in a separate section.
Out of area trips, which are organized by individuals and are not a WMC-sponsored activity and are sponsored for a profit, must be listed and paid for as a Classified Ad. (3/94)
Club members may use the Rambler to advertise for sale personal
items, which correspond to Club activities without charge.
Private parties serving alcohol will not
be listed in the activities section of the Rambler.
(12/89)
Names of people who contributed to the
Conservation Fund will be published in the Rambler.
(4/88)
The Rambler
editor is authorized to reject advertisements in the Rambler that are inconsistent with the purpose of the Club or that
otherwise are likely to offend the sensitivities of
Club members. (8/87)
Political ads may be accepted for the Rambler if they address environmental or
recreational issues. (10/86)
Reimbursement of mileage at $.35/mile up
to 100 miles/month is allowed for the person soliciting ads for the Rambler. (2/90) (Increased 5/00)
Only the days of a trip should be listed
in the Rambler, not the departure day
(if the departure is in the evening) to avoid confusion about days needed to
take off work. (6/90)
Both the publication director and
president have to approve any special mailings before they are sent out. (5/00)
The following policies define the activities and responsibilities of the boating director as well as the rafting, kayaking, canoeing, boating instruction, and equipment coordinators.
The boating program of the Wasatch
Mountain Club in no way expresses or intends to provide a service to the
general public. Club members and
prospective members voluntarily participate as an amateur group in these
activities for recreational purposes.
All trip-related costs are equally divided among all trip participants. Prior to acceptance on a trip, participants
must fairly represent their abilities and experience, and sign a release form
acknowledging that they understand the risks and hazards of water sport
activities.
The Club provides numerous water sport
activities for its members throughout the year.
These activities revolve around rafting, kayaking, or canoeing rivers,
but also may involve sailing or Eskimo roll practice in a class for beginners,
and other informative sessions. These
classes are sometimes made available to the public, and any fee collected is
the same for all participants. The Club
offers these activities to help members gain experience and knowledge so they
can participate in more advanced and difficult rivers. Members who kayak or canoe are required to
provide their own equipment. The Club
owns several rafts and accompanying equipment needed for daily or overnight
trips. The Club collects fees to replace
or repair this equipment. The Club owns
a limited number of lifejackets for rental; however, participants are urged to
purchase their own lifejackets.
The boating director is responsible for
the overall management of the boating program.
He/she appoints coordinators who in turn assist trip organizers. The boating director sits on the Governing
Board of Directors and represents the boating contingent in respect to policies
and matters brought before the Board.
The boating director is also responsible for the following:
§
Plans
the boating calendar. This is usually
done at the trip-planning meeting in March. (4/97)
§
Ensures
trips have an organizer and that a river guide is assigned to support that
organizer. (4/97)
§
Budget. The boating director deposits fees from trip
organizers, spends funds in accordance with approved budgets, and sets the Club
boating fees.
§
Plans
and conducts meetings such as the trip planning, permit party, and coordinators
meetings (spring and fall).
§
Spring
and fall work parties: This involves organizing and coordinating the various
activities, with assistance from the equipment coordinator.
§
Rambler.
Ensures that trips are published in the Rambler. (4/97) Announces
meetings, classes, work parties, and such.
Also publishes information pertinent to boating.
§
Coordinates
boating safety course.
§
Coordinates
an orientation course. This class
provides information for new and beginner boaters. Topics include clothing and equipment,
hazards and safety, and other pertinent items.
§
Schedules
family trips. These are important trips
and the boating director needs to make an effort so that these trips are
scheduled annually.
§
Plans
and coordinates parties held in the spring and fall.
§
Maintains
boating files with trip reports, Board minutes, and other factual and historic
information.
§
Handles
problems. He/she shall arbitrate all
matters regarding the boating program.
§
The
boating director will receive the trip report, liability release, financial
ledger, and Club fees from the organizer after the trip is completed.
Any member who displays disregard for the
safety of himself or others, or abuses Club equipment may, at the discretion of
the boating director, be placed on probation.
The boating director shall notify the person affected by this policy in
writing and notify all coordinators and organizers accordingly. Additional incidents may result in restricted
participation in Club activities and prohibited raft rentals. Any member who feels they have been unfairly
placed on probation may appeal to the Governing Board.
The rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and instructional coordinators’ primary responsibility is assisting trip organizers in setting up and/or running their trips. They discuss with the trip organizer the itinerary, participants’ experience levels, Club policies, equipment, and whatever other information is needed by the trip organizer. Each coordinator should be actively involved in Club activities and be familiar with other members. Other responsibilities include:
§
Lead
or participate in a training trip catered toward novice to intermediate
rafters, kayakers, and canoeists. The Coordinator will collect the trip report,
liability release, financial ledger, and Club fees from the organizer after the
trip, and forward to the Boating Director.
§
Coordinators
are also welcome to submit articles discussing information on topics of
interest.
§
Schedule trips, which are not planned at the
trip planning meeting, but can be announced in the Rambler throughout the season.
The
equipment coordinator is responsible for the following:
§
Maintenance,
repair, or replacement of Club equipment
§
Inventory
§
Coordination
of equipment between conflicting groups
§
Rental
coordination and collection.
Trip organizers schedule the trip and plan Club boating events. Their efforts are greatly appreciated and make the Club a functioning active group. Trip organizers should be capable, but are not always experienced. Communication with coordinators can help the trip organizers with answers and suggestions. The trip organizer's responsibilities for arranging and coordinating trips include:
§
Arranging
transportation and shuttle
§
Assigning
tasks such as meals, drivers, PU, etc.
§
Overseeing
trip finances
§
Protecting
ecology (leaving a clean camp)
§
Submitting
a trip report, liability release, financial sheet, and Club fees to the boating
director.
Trip organizers may delegate any or all of the items listed above, but he/she is ultimately responsible for all these items. The organizer may appoint a river guide, who takes control of the group once on the river.
Trip organizers are required to submit to
the next Board meeting, a completed accident/incident report on any injury or
accident on any Club function. The
organizer will include comments written by the injured party and any witness to
the accident.
A Club boating trip must be announced in
the Rambler at least 2 weeks in
advance of the launch date. Members may
sign-up by submitting a deposit to the trip organizer. The trip leader will put all paddle boaters
on a waiting list until sufficient captains, etc. are signed up. (1/01) The trip organizer and or supporting coordinator
can deny any member from participating due to space or crew requirements.
(1/01) The trip organizer shall refund
the full deposit for any such person denied.
Full refunds will also be made for those paddlers on the waiting list
without a captain, or those on the waiting list because the trip is full. A signed-up person that later cancels may be
required to forfeit his/her deposit especially if the cancellation has a
financial impact on other trip participants.
A non-Club member wishing to go on a
boating trip must pay the estimated trip cost in advance of the trip departure
date. The difference between actual and
estimated will be addressed after trip completion. (7/94)
Compensation for private gear used on a
Club trip is at 50% of the Club rate if the gear (i.e., raft) benefits the
entire group. (4/97) Compensation for
transportation via private vehicles is at the current Club rate. Members are urged to consolidate into the
minimum vehicles required to conserve fuel, reduce parking requirements, and to
simplify shuttle.
Participants also have responsibilities and are not just going along for a ride. All work is to be equally divided among participants and those not willing to volunteer will be assigned tasks (such as the PTJ). All participants are required to:
§
Fairly
and honestly communicate their experience to the trip organizer.
§
Sign
a liability release form recognizing that boating has inherent risks and Club,
trip organizer, and boat captains are not liable.
§
Comply
with the decisions of the trip organizer. The organizer will listen to
participant input, but his/her decision is final.
§
Bring
adequate clothing, safety equipment, food, and water.
§
Comply
with the government regulations of the particular river section being traveled.
(4/97)
Any member who fails to comply with the
above items, or who displays disregard for the safety of himself or others, or
abuses Club equipment may, at the discretion of the boating director, be placed
on probation. The boating director shall
notify the person affected by this policy in writing and notify all
coordinators and organizers accordingly.
Additional incidents may result in restricted participation in Club
activities and prohibited raft rentals.
Any member who feels they have been unfairly placed on probation may
appeal to the Board of Directors.
Non-Club members will be allowed on Club
river trips by joining the Club prior to leaving (application and money
submitted at work party), (5/88) or by special exemption. Trip organizer and boating director approval
are required prior to the trip for this special exemption. Special exemption is limited to these special
cases:
§
The
person has special skills, knowledge, or equipment that is not available
elsewhere within the Club.
§
The
person is a relative or non-Utah resident and attends a maximum of one trip per
year.
§
Other
special circumstances approved in advance by the boating director. The exempt person must pay an equal share of
trip costs and must comply with Club policies. (5/89)
Damage or loss of Club gear shall be repaired, reimbursed, or replaced by the responsible group. The cost of reimbursement will be the replacement cost prorated over the lost/damaged item's remaining lifetime. Costs to the group are to be equally divided among the trip participants up to a limit of $40 per person. The boating program, if any, will absorb the remainder. (6/88) (4/97)
The current boating director and
equipment coordinator set boating fees, with approval by the Board. The fees are set according to replacement
costs divided by the estimated lifetime and the estimated usage. (4/97) The budget should be assessed each year to
reflect the Club's changing needs and the rising cost of inflation. The budget also includes rental for the
storage shed, which must come out of boating fees. Each trip is responsible for repair,
replacement, or reimbursement of damaged or lost Club gear.
The Club allows Club members to rent
rafts for private trips provided the rental does not conflict with a Club
trip. Members are encouraged to organize
Club trips rather than lead private trips, and the rental rate is slightly
higher than Club rates to reflect this.
Renters are responsible for repair, replacement, or reimbursement of
damaged or lost Club gear. The rental
rates include ropes, paddles, pumps, repair kits, first aid kits - everything
needed to launch.
The current bicycling policy was approved
by the Board 8/00.
Bicycling is a director-led activity. Bicycling activities are to be included in
the Rambler schedule.
Mountain bike and road bike coordinators
may be appointed as required to assist the biking
director in planning and managing the biking schedule.
Helmets are recommended on all club rides. Everyone must sign a release form prior to
each activity. Bicyclists are
responsible for maintaining and providing repairs for their own equipment.
The WMC advocates safe and responsible
bicycling activities. As such, the WMC
adheres to the rules and philosophies set forth by the International Mountain
Biking Association (IMBA), particularly IMBA’s mission statement and rules of
the trail as stated below:
The mission of IMBA is to promote mountain
bicycling opportunities that are environmentally and socially responsible.
“Opportunities”
means trails, which are fun, safe and legal to ride.
“Environmental
responsibility” means we stay on existing trails and roads. We do not ride cross-country off of
trails. We also do not ride trails when
they are wet, or closed to protect wildlife.
We never spook animals.
“Social
responsibility” means we control our speed, and yield the trail to hikers and
equestrians.
Respect trail and road closures (ask if not sure), avoid possible trespass on private land, and obtain permits or other authorization as may be required. Federal and state Wilderness areas are closed to cycling. The way you ride will influence trail management decisions and policies.
2
Leave no
trace.
Be sensitive
to the dirt beneath you. Even on open
(legal) trails, you should not ride under conditions where you will leave
evidence of your passing, such as on certain soils after a rain. Recognize different types of soils and trail
construction; practice
low-impact cycling. This also means
staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Do not cut
switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at
least as much as you pack in.
3
Control your bicycle.
Inattention for even a second can cause problems. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations.
4
Always yield trail.
Make known your approach well in advance. A friendly greeting or bell is considerate and works well; do not startle others. Show your respect when passing by slowing to a walking pace or even stopping. Anticipate other trail users around corners or in blind spots.
5
Never spook animals.
An unannounced approach, a sudden movement, or a loud noise startles all animals. This can be dangerous for you, others, and the animals. Give animals extra room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing wildlife is a serious offense. Leave gates as you found them, or as marked.
6
Plan ahead.
Know your equipment, your ability, and the area in which you are riding, and prepare accordingly. Be self-sufficient at all times, keep your equipment in good repair, and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. A well-executed trip is a satisfaction to you and not a burden or offense to others. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.
Organizers shall encourage appropriate
safety, courtesy and environmentally sensitive behavior. This includes using discretion (with respect
to group size, day of week, etc.) when planning trips to high use or
environmentally sensitive areas.
The Bicycling Program sponsors in-line
skating. Helmets, wrist/elbow guards and
knee pads are recommended.
Everyone must sign a release form prior
to each activity.
Dale Green was elected Club historian.
(7/83) Replaced by Mike Treshow.