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Skagit Alpine |
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Skagit Alpine Club – April 2009 Newsletter Skagit Alpine Club mission statement: "To promote the use and prevent the abuse of outdoor recreation areas"....SAC Articles of Incorporation
Meeting: Our April meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on THURSDAY (New day! New day!) April 2nd at Skagit Valley College in Walter Hall T-31. The following shortcut is to a campus map http://www.skagit.edu/images/color_mvCampus.pdf.
Secretary‘s Report:
Old Business: Jason Griffith reminded everybody to make sure those $25 membership dues are getting paid. We know who you are! Dues can be brought to the first class session (Tues. 31st), the next club meeting (Thurs. 2nd) or simply mailed to P.O. Box 1054, Mt. Vernon, WA. 98273
Pat dazzled us with his own made movies set to music. He played for us such titles as "Sweet Motion: North American Alpinism in 2008" - Alpine journeys from Alaska to the North Cascades. "Bhajan Pon Pon: North American Alpinism in Three Acts" - A musical tour of alpinism in 2006 and 7. And lastly "Snaffle Shorts"- A collection of animal films. I think we all walked away from this presentation with a belly ache from laughing. Thanks Pat!!
Food and Drink Schedule:
New Business:
· The clubs annual dues for the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs are due. Jason G. asked if there were any objections to us renewing our membership. No objections. Vice Pres Jonathan made a motion that we renew our membership with the FWOC. Shannon second that motion and it passed unanimously · Paul mentioned that there is a meeting being held soon by the FWOC and was curious if the SAC should have a representative at the meeting or conference. Jason added that he would send in our membership dues and gather more information on the up coming conference. · Club Officers: Jason brought up discussion about the recent Executive Committees conversation regarding Club Officers membership dues. It was decided among the members present that clarification needs to be added to the current set of by laws regarding this topic. Mainly the questions at hand were as follows: Should current Executive Committee members be exempt to membership dues and should past presidents be exempt from dues also. After some discussion, Jason G. made a motion and it was decided that:
1. All current Executive Committee members are exempt from paying dues for their
term of office.
· Glacier Getaway Ski Trip: Jason G. The turnout was small but those who turned out reported to have had great time. The conditions that weekend were good. Friday and Saturday but then took a turn for the worst on Sunday and rain fell in the mountains. · Climbing Class Update: Chris Danilson informed us that the class is OVER FULL this year. There is even a waiting list of 8 people. He gave a big thanks to everybody who helped out getting the word around and promoting the class. Special thanks to Vince Richardson and the Skagit Valley Herald for the article that was ran in mid February. Chris also reported that there was a big interest shown by club members to help out with the class. He thinks that we have enough people to fill in those positions needed by instructors for outing assistance. · Discussion occurred regarding whether or not our insurance through the school covers non active members or UN-paid members. Chris D. is looking into this but thinks that only active/paid members are covered and recommends that ALL outing leaders and helpers with the class be caught up with their membership dues. · Jason G. will be sending a notice out to all members participating in the class who are not current with their dues. · Chris D. announced that there will be one more Climbing Committee meeting on March 11th to go over final details and organizing. · Danilson also wants to gather interest from members to do some club outing this spring while the class is being held. With the overwhelming interest in helping out with the class, it would make sense to transfer that enthusiasm to club outings and activities. One idea was to have members "scout out" the locations of the class outings a week in advance to gain an idea of the conditions and such. Speak up if you have interest on doing this. · Announcement: AIARE Level 2 Course announced by Chris D. March 27-30Th Essex, Montana and Glacier National Park. The level 2 course is a 4-day program that provides back country leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills. This course also includes the introductory and prerequisite components for the professional progression: the level 3 certificate. For more information go to http://avtraining.org/ COST $495.00 · Lookout: The Lookout committee reported receiving a check in the amount of $100.00 from the Wenatchee Snowmobile Club. The donation was mailed in by the club for the use of the lookout sometime this winter. · Outings/Trail Work: Lynn informed the club that work parties are being formed for the new season of trail work on the PNT. Trail work starts in April and is held twice a month through October. Volunteers always needed to maintain this trail. And, if you sign up and show up for a work party you will earn a annual trail parking pass. · Jason G. asked club members to submit more trip reports of outings and adventures that you've been on. We all love hearing stories of the outdoors and your unique experiences. · Maggie S. brought up discussion about other organizations advertising in our newsletter. Members recalled a meeting in the past that prohibits other parties from marketing their products and/or services in the SAC newsletter. All agreed that we should keep it that way. · Announcement: Starting in April, the monthly Alpine Club meeting will move to the 1st Thursday of every month for the duration of the mountaineering class. That way our meeting won't interfere with the mountaineering class lectures and folks taking the class can attend the meeting if they choose. · Gear Swap: A reminder was issued by Jason that our annual Gear Swap will be held at the next meeting on April 2, 2009. Bring all your gear, new or used to trade or sell. Program:
Our program speaker cancelled for April so we will talk with the climbing class students and have the gear swap!
Lookout:
Outing(s):
2009 SKAGIT COUNTY TRAIL MAINTENANCE ON THE PNT Want to do some local trail work with a wonderful group of people? No experience needed. Wear long pants, bring rain gear, work gloves, lunch, and get ready to have fun! Meeting place is the Cook Road Park-n-Ride, exit 232 from I-5 north of Burlington. Meeting time is 8:15 AM. If you have any questions email Lynn at sancho999@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!
GENERAL TRAIL WORK Trail work will be done on the FIRST and THIRD Saturday of each month EXCEPT JULY. April 4 and 18 (Earth Day Activity) May 2 and 16 June 6 (National Trails Day) and 20 July 11 and 25 August 1 and 15 September 5 and 19 October 3 and 17
Conservation Report:
Maggies' term as Conservation Chair has come to an end and I was asked to fill the role. Currently I am a graduate student in a joint program with the North Cascades Institute and Western Washington University. As a student in this program I learn and teach about conservation in the Skagit Valley watershed on a nearly daily basis. If anyone has any questions about local conservation issues or thoughts about subjects members of the club should know about please feel free to contact me at jennyleefrederick@gmail.com. Thanks Jenny Frederick.
Mount Erie- The Peregrine Falcons have once again returned to Mt. Erie, prompting the closure of the area between Power Line Wall and Head Wall. Power Line Wall, Head Wall and Snag Buttress are all still open, but the Skyline Arete area is closed. The Peregrine falcon was placed on the federal Endangered Species List in 1970. They were delisted in 1991 after the population rebounded but low numbers in Washington, 72 pairs including three pairs on Fidalgo Island, prompted the state to consider the Peregrines a sensitive species. Research shows that activity and noise made by people near raptor nests disturbs the falcons and their offspring, which can lead to the falcons leaving their eggs unattended and exposed to the elements. Anacortes Parks and Recreation (360)293-1918 More information: http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/peregrines_return_to_mount_erie/
Special Announcement/Event:
· From Steve Trent, our website guru: I will be out of the country from the end of February to the beginning of June, and the website will not be maintained during this time. Please submit any desired changes to the website by mid-Feb. · From Maggie Sullivan: Maggie was recently asked whether an advertisement for a commercial guide service or other type of for-profit (commercial) outing was allowed in our newsletter. The short answer is no and Maggie has provided a reminder of the amended club’s bylaws, which were voted on and passed in 2004. The club’s by-laws are on the website. The relevant article to this issue is Article XV: Amendment, which states that the by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting. Here’s the text from the February 2004 newsletter:
“Authored by Brian Heinrich, Maggie Sullivan read a statement that bans advertisement from the SAC newsletter. After discussion, a slightly revised version the membership voted to adopt this policy as bylaw.
-editor’s note as stated in the bylaws: The Skagit Alpine Club does not accept commercial advertisements in the Skagit Alpine Club newsletter. This policy reflects our commitment to further the Skagit Alpine Club’s effort to use the newsletter as a way to promote camaraderie, share information and discuss Club business.”
Trip Report:
Ed. Note: Who has been out and has something to say about it? Anyone want to write up a trip report about the SAC sponsored cabin rental at Mt. Baker over the last full weekend in February?
Climbing Class:
Submitted by Chris Danilson
Gear Swap Bring your used climbing gear to the gear swap/garage sale at the next SAC meeting on Thursday April 2nd. Like everyone else, you've no doubt upgraded to the light weight, brighter colored, carbon fiber, etc... version of that old stand-by piece of gear. Whether it worked out or didn't, it's time to unclutter your gear closet and bring in your unused climbing matter to sell, swap or give away.
Climbing course students (and new club members) will be on the hunt for bargains for use in the class. So, bring in stuff that isn't getting used, but would still be of use to someone else. To simplify, please mark the stuff with your name/initials and a desired price (BE REAL!). And, use your discretion about how tattered, moldy, stinky etc.. is just plain ridiculous.
SAC Club Outing at Icicle Creek To carry on the tradition started last year, SAC has footed the bill for the Bridge Creek group campsite on Friday-Sunday May 1-3 (two nights). This is a great way to get over to the east side for some warm spring weather to enjoy climbing, hiking, cycling and your fellow club members (but not too much!).
This outing will be in conjunction with the mountaineering course, so the site will be quite full with students and class assistants Saturday night. However, there will certainly be room for club members Friday night and we'll make things work somehow on Saturday (i.e. you could get squeezed to an individual site).
Not sure if/how they'll enforce these regs, but generally: Check in 3:00 (Fri) Check out 2:00 (Sun) Max. vehicles: 15 Max. occupants: 40 Tent only camping Quite Time: 10pm-6am
Please maximize carpooling efforts and do everything you can to mitigate our potentially oversized group.
Officers: President – Jason Griffith (360) 419-7480 jkgriffith@gmail.com Vice President – Jonathan Frostad jonathanfrostad@hotmail.com Treasurer – Ginny Darvill gdarvill@fidalgo.net Secretary - Chris Noskoff cnoskoff@gmail.com Newsletter - Corrina Marote corrina.marote@gmail.com Webmaster - Steve Trent skagitalpineclub@comcast.net Programs – Jason Griffith (360) 419-7480 jkgriffith@gmail.com Lookout - John and Marie Erbstoeszer erbst@cnw.com Outings - Lynn Postler sancho999@comcast.net Conservation Com- Jenny Lee Frederick jennyleefrederick@gmail.com Social Com- Wade Bessett bessettw@hotmail.com Climbing Com - Chris Danilson
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