What to do about meetings?

   The idea was suggested that responsibility for "hosting" monthly meetings rotate around Club members. The host would NOT be responsible for speaking or handling ordinary Club business, but would take charge of picking a program that interested the "host" and contacting the person asked to address that topic (or who has the videotape to be shown), etc. It also would be fine for a meeting host to ask another Club member to make a program presentation (instead of that person pushing himself or herself forward, it's simply more pleasant to be asked).

    Two meetings a year, however, could be used for schedule planning, one before the Spring/Summer schedule needs to be ready and the other before the Fall/Winter schedule is prepared. This approach could better "democratize" the creation of outing schedules, by having everyone involved in scheduling outings (as opposed to having a list handed down by others).

    A list of possible meeting topics has been assembled below -- but this is just an initial list, so other ideas and suggestions are welcomed, and people who like a particular topic should feel free to "claim" the topic for a meeting you want to host, to ensure it gets onto the meeting program agenda.

Possible meeting program ideas:

Click this link to submit comments or postings about meeting programs via E-mail:   Meeting Planning Ideas

Meeting program ideas --

   Some program ideas are listed below. Those in italics have been programs on the MCKC calendar in the past. This list is intended to suggest ideas, not define the universe. Individuals could (and are encouraged to) promote any ideas of their own or, if any idea already on the list is especially attractive, encourage having it as a program.

Club skills and Club "stuff":
Build each new outing schedule
  (twice yearly, in a meeting)
  (with "planning trips" program?)
Digital photography for the Web
"Make a webpage" workshop

Invited speakers:
First Aid for kayakers
Pacific Northwest birds
"Leave No Trace" principles
Talk by a kayaking author
 The Washington Water Trails Ass'n
    & Cascadia Marine Trail *
Safety (Coast Guard presentation)
Local geology
Local ecology/environment
Salmon preservation projects
Regional plant or animal life
Useful/edible regional plants


"Nuts and bolts" of kayaking:
The Risk of Hypothermia
Using a Compass
Planning Kayak Trips
Charting a Route
Understanding the Tides
Kayak Camping Tips
Winter Paddling Precautions
"Rough Water" Issues
 Currents and Winds
Paddling: The Forward Stroke
    (videotape, could be bought)
Paddling: Techniques and Tips
Safety gear show-and-tell
"Dead Reckoning" Navigation
Self-rescues and helping others
Best Ways to Get Into Trouble!
GPS -- Understanding and Using
Using a VHF Radio

Info-tainment:
Videotape about the salmon "cycle"
Videotape on the life of Orcas
View KRIO TV news feature --
    "Troubled Waters of Puget Sound"
"Trailside" kayaking videos --
    Circumnavigating Manhattan;
    Australia, Great Barrier Reef;
    Vancouver Island
"Neat Gear" show & tell
    (could be done at each meeting) "Best & Worst" review
    Members discuss best/worst trips Slide shows of kayaking areas
Slide shows of kayaking trips