05 April 20 - 26 2015 The Weekly ICO UPDATE

Post date: Apr 20, 2015 10:13:01 PM

 

Hello all my friendly ICOers!  I would like to start this week with paraphrasing my dear dear, never met him, friend Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (or perhaps his scriptwriter), 

 

Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: "You know what the first rule of flying [boating] is? … Love. You can learn all the math in the 'Verse, but you take a boat in the air [water] that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.” (Serenity)

 

 

The Weekly Update: April 20 - 26, 2015.

 

New Updates:

 

1.      Beyond Basics TRIP: The beyond basics trip ran this weekend on the South Fork American with a conservative flow of 1300 cfs.  The weather was perfect, hitting the mid 80’s during the day, yet cool enough to warrant an extra hoodie at night.  Everyone had an opportunity to work on fine tuning their guide skills both in paddle boats and/or oarframes. 

 

Saturday we ran the top half, successfully navigating all of the rapids and leaving time for a small but lively discussion about ICO culture and how our current culture shapes the feeling of inclusion for new and returning members of our group.  What can we do to make people feel welcome? What do we unconsciously do that makes people feel excluded? 

 

Sunday we emptied the Oakland shed to bring everything back to Oakland for the Advance Training Trip.  Due to lockable truck capacity, we had a entertaining one day expedition trip, transporting much of the gear by oarframe to Skunk Hollow take out and the waiting pickup trucks.  Kate Starr had her first ever vegan meat product sandwich at lunch.  It was delicious, thank you Erica P. for expanding my food horizons.  There was a long arduous take out transporting all of the expedition gear up the hill at take out, but delicious take out snacks of watermelon, chips and cookies took the edge off.  We were able to load all of the gear into two trucks to bring back to Oakland.  A huge shout out to Chris Orman, Larry Orman and Shad  for meeting us at the Oakland shed to help unload the gear.  Ryan thanks for leading a great trip. 

 

2.      Pre-Season Rogue Trip:  Is this coming weekend.  This trip has been changed to a 2-day Tuolumne trip.  Check your e-mail and/or talk to Steve A. for further information.  Sign up, sign up, sign up! 

 

3.      Trip Reschedule: TRIP LEADERS the Bill Wilson Center Trip originally scheduled for May 18/19th(Thursday/Friday), has requested the weekend of May 16th/17th.  Please let Anthony Scott know if you are available to lead this trip on that weekend.

 

4.      BAKE SALE May 16 & 17th: Natalie MacIntyre, having rocked lasted year’s bake sale, has volunteered yet again to lead the bake sale.  It will be held at the Berkeley REI on May 16th and 17th.  Please contact her @natjmac@gmail.com to volunteer to either bake goods, run the table, assist w/ organizing or all three.

 

5.      Peak Adventure: There is still time to Sign up! Please contact Kate@Icorafting.com if you want to attend.  Sunday May 3rd ICO is invited to Sacramento State to Participate on the challenge (ropes) course.  The program being offered will focus on helping ICO cultivate the following:

 

a.      Improved organizational communication

b.      Improved safety recognition

c.       Improved cohesion between ICO Personnel

 

6.      WICOU on the website!  The WICOU can be found here on our internal website.

 

Older Updates:

 

1.      April River Mtg Minutes: These are coming soon to the ICO internal website.  Lots to read and learn about, including the rough draft of the new structure.  Please read and provide questions and feedback! (KATE is still working on the minutes/Org Chart)

 

2.      2015 Sierra Club National Volunteer Award Nominations: Each year the sierra club takes nominations for volunteer awards.  Is there someone in ICO Rafting that you think goes above and beyond?  Do you think they deserve additional recognition for their work?  Please go to the below clubhouse link if you would like to nominate someone or learn more about the available awards.  They Madeline Pyatt, one of our founders, Award is specifically geared toward ICO and has a monetary gift associated with it.http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/people/leaders/awards.aspx

 

3.      The SOPs REVISIONS are moving forward.  Ryan and his team are working diligently to meet the May deadline of a rough draft.  If you have any questions about the goal/intent of the revisions, please contact Kate Starr.  A rough draft should be ready for the May or June River Mtg.

 

4.      The ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURE, a task intended to better organize how off-river volunteerism is structured, is underway.  A rough draft will be presented at the April River Mtg.  Roles for each group will be outlined.  Input is encouraged and welcome!

 

5.      SWIFTWATER RESCUE is being offered w/ Julie Munger combined with the Healing waters group.  It is being held on May 2-3, 2015.  Please contact Brian O’Neil  for further information on how to sign up for that training.  THANK YOU BRIAN.

 

6.      The TRIP CALENDAR has been set!  Please sign up for trips.  The participant season starts in early May and continues thru Mid September.  Time to bust out the Sun Block, funny hats and get ready to go a-boatin!

 

7.      MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - We are going to re-institute a monthly news letter.  Bill Weinberg is heading up this endeavor.  Anyone who would like to assist, provide articles, editing support, computer skillz, photos, etc please reach out to Bill.  THANK YOU BILL!  Monthly Newsletter can be found on our internal website here

 

 

Until Next Week.

 

Kate