|
Open Letter to members of TK2O - Touring Kayakers Ottawa-Outaouais Welcome to the 2003 paddling season! Welcome to TK2O if you are new to the group! Some of us have already launched the season and others will soon be ready to roll. Speaking of which, this year we've already held rolling clinics, a video night, held our spring general meeting and elected a new club executive. We're off to a great start! The new executive is working hard to organize a busy paddling season. New courses and events are in the works. And now that the ice has cleared, it's time to head off to our favourite paddling destinations. Our goal as a club is to provide a forum to meet other sea kayakers, plan outings, and encourage continuous improvement of our paddling skills. The club is membership driven, and like anything worth doing, you get out of it what you contribute. Plan a trip! Propose an activity! Come out to the social events and meetings! Over the past two years, the club has worked hard to attract new members, encourage trips, and stage social events. The hard work has paid off. We now have over 90 paddlers registered on the email forum. Our website contains a wealth of information, listing the club executive, a Q&A board (details on our new direction), trip reports and trip photos, future events, trip planners, and more! Go to http://tk2o.webhop.org Those of you who have participated in the email forum or attended some meetings know that the club has been trying to find the right level of organization. To remain very informal? To become more formal? There are pros and cons either way. The club executive, after consulting the membership, has chosen to become, just slightly, more formal. This will enable us to provide the membership with the additional benefit of organizing more courses, workshops and other events, and the possibility of club equipment (i.e. GPS) or store discounts in the future. We will be incorporating and acquiring the liability insurance that clubs such as ours should have. Improving benefits to club members will require us to seek a small membership fee. It is important to note that the club has and always will be non-profit. The annual membership fee we are asking for is $25 for individuals ($40 for families (18+)). This fee covers various expenses (annual Ontario Recreational Canoe Association (ORCA) membership, $75; annual liability insurance ~$500; incorporation $150 (one time fee); P.O. Box; banking fees; website support; club promotion; event costs; potential club equipment). Sign up now to take advantage of our discounted pricing for upcoming events and full access to the TK2O website. Your continued support is essential toward ensuring that your club continues to grow and improve. Annual membership fees can be mailed to Touring Kayakers of Ottawa-Outaouais, P.O. Box 35127, R.P.O Westgate, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 1A2,along with your club membership application, signed waiver of liability, and Statement of Medical Record forms (annual submission). Click here to begin the membership process go to the membership page, and click on Membership. For further information on membership and the submission of forms please see the FAQ page on our website. Cameron Bowes
|