instructors` annual meeting - Recreation Canoeing Association of
Transcription
instructors` annual meeting - Recreation Canoeing Association of
Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com T he Pur poses of the R ecreational Canoeing Association of British Columbia are: To coordinate, promote, and encourage all types of paddling; To develop safe canoeing practices and activities for canoes; To involve the society in appropriate conservation and environments issues around the province. INSTRUCTORS’ ANNUAL MEETING Contents: The Instructors Annual Meeting - Adams River New CANEWS editor IAGM continued... David Thomson Brigade... President’s Report...... Instructor Coordinator’s Report Environment Director’s Report Your Volunteers, Paddling Clubs and Agency supporting Members Trippers’ Corner Cinnamon Buns & Your Tent Poles! How to get the Instructors’ Annual General Meeting The Last Word 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 6 7 8 8 Every year RCABC holds an instructors gathering somewhere near the fabulous Adams River! Set aside your September long weekend, August 29 to September 1. It is an exciting event with great paddling, enthusiastic discussions, parties et al... We encourage all of our instructors to attend! See page 2 for more details.... New Editor for CANEWS - Tony Shaw with an easy to remember email: canoemaster@shaw.ca. Please feel free to contact me with questions, information, articles, adverts and feedback of any kind! I will try to bring a new look to this newsletter in the months to come. But, I do need the help of all the members of RCABC. This issue contains the details of the Instructors AGM near Chase. It will be a great event with participation from RCABC instructors right across this province! RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 1 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling Instructors’ Annual Meeting from page 1 This year, the 2008 RCABC Instructors Annual General Meeting will be held at the Girl Guides Camp which is located on the south end of Adams Lake. It is approximately 30 minutes North of Chase (see page 8 for complete directions and sketch map). The facility has numerous accommodation options. Check with Scott Rookes for more details. Of course, the Adams Canyon run is certainly one of the attractive highlights of the weekend events. However, there are several other paddling related opportunities. Do you need a Lakewater Instructor Re-certification? You can get it there! Are you interested in ‘rescues’ and techniques for river rescues? There will be a formal rescue clinic built into the weekend. Middleton’s Speciality Boats S Canoes from Clipper Hellman CAnoes Esquif Solo White Water Canoe and Outfitting In addition to the excitement of paddling, there will be a Call for an appointment to meeting of the instructors and at this meeting a new Instructor see our warehouse. Coordinator will be elected by the members. RCABC... Closing the Store on encourages you to consider taking on this task... You will get September 7th. full support from our out-going IC, Scott Rookes. 604.240.0503 Discussions revolving around instructional issues will be the Middleton’s Speciality Boats Website: www.middletonsboats.com focus of the meeting. Your ideas are needed and welcome! Demos and Rentals available - ‘Come and see for yourself.’ David Thompson Brigade... The Sextant, an instrument used by David Thompson on his map Once in a lifetime, something comes along that is eminently significant, and for a lucky few, becomes an integral part of their life. Envy is the only way I can describe my feelings as I realize that this opportunity has now vanished into the past. However, I do want to rejoice in the fortune of those who took part and travelled the waterways explored and mapped by David Thompson. Who was this man:? The following description may give us some insight: ‘He was plainly dressed, quiet and observant, and his black hair was worn short all around, and cut square, as if by one stroke of the shears, just above the eyebrows. His complexion was of a gardener’s ruddy brown, while the expression of deeply furrowed features was friendly and intelligent, but his cut-short nose gave him an odd look.’ Nisbet, Jack. Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America. I expect that we will be receiving a full report from one of the RCABC member participants for the next edition of CANEWS - with more about the intrepid Welshman ‘Map Maker.’ RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 2 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling Instructor Coordinator’s Position President’s Report: The Association’s business has been relatively quiet since the Annual General Meeting in April. Membership for 2008/09 is up to usual levels, most members choosing to join online, using PayPal. This method is quick and simple, and saves the Treasurer and Database Manager time and effort. The new database that underlies this membership has had some teething problems transferring from one year to the next. The automatic updating of the expiry date for renewed memberships has not been happening reliably due to changes at Paypal’s end, we are told, and has had to be checked manually. Also, the automatic notifications of membership coming to an end and warning of the approach of re-certification dates have not been working due to a programming omission that was not rectified due to the database programmer’s resignation from the software company and the resulting lack of continuity. Thanks to Sean Burnett for helping out in the diagnosis of these problems which should be fixed very soon. At the AGM in Duncan in April, Scott Rookes, our Instructor Coordinator, repeated his intention to step back from this role for a while. I am very pleased to say that Roger McColm, a long time RCABC member and Master Instructor has agreed to take on this role for the next year. His appointment will be put to the instructor attending the IAGM at Adam’s Lake on the Labour Day weekend. News of the IAGM can be found on pages 1 and 2. Scott’s tenure of the position has seen many changes – the Instructor Manual is on-line and 3 new courses (2 started by Lyle Dickieson, his predecessor) have been added to the program of canoe courses approved and taught by RCABC. At least two of these courses – Big Canoes and C-1 – are unique in Canada, and the Playboating endorsement for Moving Water courses is also not matched in Paddle Canada’s suite of courses. Congratulations and thanks to Scott for these results of his very hard work and persistence in keeping the Association’s standards up-to-date and ‘high’. Scott will stay on the board as the Zone rep for the Kootenays Other Directors At the April AGM, a number of other changes in the board of directors took place. Kari-Ann Thor has relinquished her position as Secretary of the Association but has agreed to stand as Acting Vice-President. The Acting means she wishes to continue to be involved in the Association, but does not intend to stand as President in 2009. I look forward to continuing to work with ...continued in column one - page 4 Instructor Coordinator’s Report: Roger McColm will likely be taking up the reigns of instructor coordinator after this year’s IAGM in the fall. I (Scott) will stay on the River Rescue subcommittee and continue to work on the manual updates over the next while, as well as to continue with Paddle Canada Equivalencies. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as instructor coordinator for the past 4 years, and I would like to think that I have learned a lot about the organization and the people in it. Thanks to everyone for their support and help along the way. There will be a phase-in period, where Roger (or other replacement- Ed) and myself will share duties and correspond so as to make things transition as smoothly as possible. For now, continue to send questions as needed to instructor_coordinator@bccanoe.com. Scott Rookes. One padder who definitely benefitted from the RCABC instructional Programs... Ed Note: Scott has devoted many, many hours of his time to making RCABC a better place for instructors and paddlers alike. He richly deserves our gratitude. Also see president's report on this page ‘above’... RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 3 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling Kari-Ann, who has been a very prompt and diligent secretary for the past 5 years. I know we share a common interest in finding a candidate for the President’s position in 2009 ! Jean Chandler has stepped down as CANEWS editor, her work there being taken over by Tony Shaw, whose continued work for RCABC’s interests hasn’t flagged in the year’s since he stepped down as president. Jean has taken up the position of Secretary – or at least will do so when she returns from her 3 month paddling trip with the David Thompson Brigade this spring and summer. As I write, the Brigade is pulling into Thunder Bay, 3,600 kms from there starting point in Rocky Mountain House. At least four other RCABC members have taken part in this historic trip – Ellie James and Joy Newham from Victoria and Laurel Archer from Courtenay paddling with a crew from Saskatchewan and Boudi Van Oldenborgh from Tsawwassen with a Paddle Canada crew. There may be others I don’t know about – congratulations to them all. Another change in the board of directors is the arrival of Dwight Milford as Vancouver Island Zone representative, replacing Tony Shaw. I thank these directors and those who are staying on in their position for their continued support and hard work, particularly Dan walker who is staying on as Treasurer. He carries out this essential role quietly and effectively, saving me much potential concern. Meeting Attendance Speaking of the AGM and IAGM, it is noticeable that attendance has been low for the past number of years since the Prince George AGM in 2003. Thanks to the fact that the IAGM is held in conjunction with the Beaver Canoe Club’s annual Adam’s River trip, there are quite a few paddlers at that event, but less than half are RCABC instructors. While the business of the Association can be done at a distance, teleconference and e-mail cannot replace regular, if infrequent, personal face-to-face contact. Without these opportunities to meet the people, the common interests that tie us together are likely to weaken. One example is the difficulty of meeting and talking to new members who might be interested and able to help in the running of the Association in the future. So I hope that if you can come to the IAGM at Adam’s Lake on the Labour Day weekend, you will make the effort. That way we can meet new faces and learn about the strengths and needs that we all have, and so better serve the members. If you have any suggestions as to a different time of year, different venue or different format for these meetings, please let me know. Navigable Waters Act There have been messages of concern about proposed changes to the federal Navigable Waters Act. Essentially, the proposed changes are intended to remove some inflexibility in the present Act which requires Transport Canada to carry out reviews on any structures or proposed changes that might affect running water. (The definition of ‘navigable waters’ in the Act is hopelessly vague. In conversation with staff of the Navigable Waters Protection Division, it was remarked that any water that did not come out of taps could be deemed to be navigable). The concern of some paddlers (and the Green Party) is that the proposed changes could result in the loss of an opportunity for questioning of development in or near waterways. The proponents of the changes argue that much of the Act enforcement required by the present Act concerns minor changes or changes that do no affect users at all, and that removing these activities would free up time and energy to investigate the more important and significant projects. See the Transport Canada Website for background on the present Act and enforcement. At present, RCABC is taking a waitand-see approach as there will be further opportunity to comment after the recommendations have been considered by government and any proposed changes to the Act – e.g. defining what a ‘navigable waterway’ is – are clear. Thanks to Roger Warnatsch for keeping up with this and so many other issues in his role as Environment Director. Paddle Canada The Association no longer has a director in the board of Paddle Canada (was CRCA), but has joined that organization as a Federated member for 2008, one of 5 provinces to have done so to date. The applications for membership of 3 other provinces are pending according to the PC website. Ontario has not applied for membership, and Quebec maintains its customary independence. It remains to be seen what value the Federated membership of PC offers RCABC, and what assistance we can offer PC. Good tripping and teaching this summer - Alan Thomson, President RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 4 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling Navigable Waters Protection Act: Many people are concerned about the proposed changes to the NWP Act, which is the legislation that ensures that public or private works (construction) don’t create a hazardous situation on navigable waterways. Information has been compiled for your information on the RCABC website. It includes a ling to the NWPA, a summary of the proposed changes and some the opposing voices. Although these are the early stages of the process, my current impression is that our paddling community has reasonable opportunity to provide input. (A perfect example of how RCABC and PC could work together - Ed). Maxime Ricard, Committee Clerk, Standing Committee on Transport, infrastructure and Communities: TRAN@parl.gc.ca “The process in which the Committee is currently involved in can be referred to ‘pre-consultations’. Once the Committee has made recommendations to the Minister, a bill will still need to be drafted and introduced in the House of Commons. If such a bill is introduced, passes second reading and is referred to the Committee, a broader consultation process will then take place and stakeholders from around the country will be invited to comment on a specific proposition from the Minister." continued on page 8... Type to enter text Contact Us: Phone: Toll Free: Fax: 604.853.9320 1.866.644.8111 604.852.6933 Mail: Box 115 1717 Salton Road Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6Z5 Address: 1717 Salton Road Abbotsford, BC Type to enter text RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 5 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling Your Volunteers, Clubs and Supporting Businesses We are happy to recognize all those who make the Recreational Canoeing Association of British Columbia the great organization that it is. Feel free to contact any of them for more information and membership details. They are the lifeblood of the organization and will do their best to provide guidance to all paddlers seeking help and information. A special thanks to our business members whose support has been undying over many years and continues to this day. Please look for a club in your area and give them your support too! One of the best ways to get involved is to JOIN A CLUB. Executive and Board Members President Acting Vice President Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Member at Large Member at Large Instructor Coordinator Environmental Director Alan Thomson Kari-Anne Thor Jean Chandler Dan Walker Tony Shaw Lynne Smith Jamie Boulding Scott Rookes Roger Warnatsch Zone Representatives: Burnaby Delta Alternate Fraser Valley Alternate Kootenay Northeast Northwest Alternate Okanagan Vancouver Alternate Vancouver Island Alternate Dan Burnett Leigh Burton David Wooldridge Coriette Hofstee Scott Rookes John Marien Roger McColm Ian Hourston Hugh Westheuser Leonard Thor Chris Kovach Dwight Milford Lindsay Cornell Check the RCABC Website to contact your representatives and your executive: http://www.bccanoe.com British Columbia Member Canoe Clubs: Beaver Canoe Club Columbia Canoe Club Nakusp Canoe Blackwater Paddlers Dogwood Canoe Club Port Moody Canoe Club Thompson River Interior Paddlers Kelowna Canoe & Kayak Club Heather Matthews Bert Port Diana Kelland John Marien Mark Alexander Gordon Clay John Marien Ron McKay British Columbia Non-Member Canoe Clubs: Victoria Canoe & Kayak Club Cowichan Kayak & Canoe Club Linda Thomson Ed Campbell Agency - Supporting Members Bob Hellman 250.825.9571 Hellman Canoes NELSON, B.C. www.hellmancanoes.com Pacifica Paddle Sports VICTORIA, B.C. Peter Harris 250.361.9365 www.pacificapaddle.com Western Canoeing ABBOTSFORD, B.C. Lynne Smith 866.644.8111 www.westerncanoekayak.com Middletons Speciality Boats Dave Middleton 604.240.0503 N. VANCOUVER, B.C. Wood Canvas Canoes www.middletons.boats.com Boudi Van Oldenbourgh TSAWWASSEN, B.C. Go Outdoors 604.943.3052 Brenda Parks 250.674.0204 CLEARWATER B.C. www.go-outdoors.ca RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 6 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling Cinnamon Buns: Trippers Corner... So, what’s for dinner? It is always an interesting question when landing at your evening campsite and getting ready for the evening. Campfire or Stove, simple or complex, gourmet or not! would love to have your favourite recipes. So, to start the ball rolling, here’s one from your editor that was given to me by Ontario Paddler, Linda Leckie. Linda paddled the Lower Stikine with me this past May and baked these buns using a reflector oven! Simple eh? Bisquick Mix and Roll out Spread on margarine, brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up and Slice. Place on tray in Oven and BAKE! You can add raisins or other goodies of course... Here’s a simple enough camping trick! Have you ever had difficulty pulling out those ‘sticky’ aluminum tent poles from the sleeves of your tent? Try orienting your poles so that the ferrules don’t catch on the seams of the fabric. It is amazing how such a simple consideration removes so much frustration. Can we have a subscriber to the Tripping Corner for the Fall Issue of CANEWS? This is a great way to share great ideas with other RCABC Members - Ed. in the barn, and of course the Thors toughed it out in the weather. The outdoor kitchen tent collapsed in the weather and the water hose was buried and likely frozen. RCABC AGM RETURNS TO THE ISLAND I’m not sure if it is appropriate to have the host of the AGM write the report for the weekend; however, I had such a great time that I feel compelled to contribute! I was thrilled that the property at Affinity Guesthouse Cowichan was chosen for the 2008 AGM. Those that attended had access to our on-site voyageur canoes, put-ins to the Cowichan Estuary and Cowichan Bay and easy travel time to white water paddling on the Chemainus and Cowichan Rivers. Camping was offered, as was an outdoor kitchen and access to the running water bathrooms in the guest house. Everything looked perfect until the huge snow fall on the Friday Night of the AGM. Most campers put their tents up The paddling itinerary was maintained, if not the schedule, with poling clinic from Leonard Thor (highly recommended; it was a real treat to pole up the Koksilah River in the snow!), white-water trips on each day and a voyageur paddling clinic with Dave Wooldridge (with Leonard and Kari-ann as safety boats poling in the Bay). On the business side of things; Alan chaired a very smooth AGM and charmed us with his wit, accent and semantics. Everyone enjoyed a fantastic meal after the AGM and Tony Shaw provided the entertainment with an excellent slide show yet another epic northern journey. The weekend was very well received and I believe that the spirit of canoeing in BC is strong and healthy. We are very fortunate to have leaders like Alan, Tony, Scott and the Thors… I say we keep the AGM on the island for another year; the weather can’t get any worse! by Dwight Milton, Vancouver Island Zone Representative. RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 7 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875 Summer edition - 2008 www.bccanoe.com paddling waterways. Others say the purpose of the Act would essentially remain the same, and threats to navigation will "any briefs received will be distributed to Members of the Committee and be treated no differently. their staff after it has been translated in both official languages." A significant problem is that the public has been left to "To discuss the substance of your presentation, you may contact the interpret the proposed changes to the NWPA with little Committee’s Research Officer, John Christopher, at (613) 995-2127." guidance or been given clear examples of how it wold affect navigable waterways. This has led to a lot of The Committee is looking at seven parts of the NWPA: 1. Amending the definition of ‘navigable waters’ to exclude ‘minor’ speculation. waters It is also unclear who is driving the proposed changes: NWP Officers, Government, Industry? There sees to be a 2. Amending the definition of ‘work’ to explicitly exclude ‘minor backlog of referrals sitting on the desks of NWP officials, work. which is a problem that needs to be addressed, but should 3. Deleting reference to the four ‘named’ works in the Act. 4. Adjusting the amount of current fines in the Act. the answer be to change the NWPA or to increase staff to deal with the backlog? 5. The removal of wrecks and derelict vessels. this issue directly affects recreational paddling and 6. The definition of inspection powers; and RCABC and other recreational paddling groups in B.C. 7. A five year review of the amended NWPA Some groups have declared that the changes are a ‘watering down’ of should consider providing input to the Committee. the Act and represent a serious threat to the navigability of our Roger Warnatsch - Environmental Director - RCABC ...from page 5 The Last Word... Directions to the RCABC Instructors’ Annual General Meeting: You will be welcomed at the Girl Guide Camp Selhowtkan at the South End of Adams Lake. See you there... So, what is happening with Paddle Canada? It appears that although we are ‘federated members’ with Paddle Canada, we are seeing little in the way of benefits yet. What do you think that Paddle Canada could do for RCABC? Conversely, what should we be doing to promote our relationship with the National Paddling Association? For those who are not familiar with Paddle Canada, the organization has three major products that recur from year to year: The Waterwalker Film Festival, the Heritage Rivers Calendar and KANAWA, a truly Canadian Paddling Magazine. As noted by our President in this issue of CANEWS: “It remains to be seen what value the Federated Membership of PC (Paddle Canada - Ed) offers RCABC, and what assistance we can offer PC.” Do you have any ideas? What about resurrecting subscriptions to KANAWA for all RCABC members? How about transfer of certifications to and from Paddle Canada? We at RCABC would be very interested in your ideas. Check out the Paddle Canada Website to learn more about the National Program. Surely there is a common benefit somewhere in this ‘relationship.’ Tony Shaw, RCABC Editor and Past Western VP for PC. RC ABC - Newsletter Editor - 2945 Dolphin Drive, N anoose Bay, B.C. page number 8 of 8 Canada, 250.468.4875