Calgary Outdoor Club

Calgary Outdoor Club - Volunteers

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Calgary Outdoor Club - Volunteers

Officers and Administrators Karen H: President, Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Asst. Training Coordinator Ed: VP Operations Kevin: VP External Relations, Partner Data Manager, Avalanche Safety Committee Member Marta Daszkiewicz: VP Legal & Special Events Mike W: Safety Advisor, Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Issues Corner Team Member Rhonda Scheurer (Sissy): VP Administration, Treasurer, Lead Volunteer Coordinator, Issues Corner Team Member Ben Wards: Avalanche Safety Committee Member Kevin S: Avalanche Safety Committee Member Safari Phil: Avalanche Safety Committee Member Dana K: Issues Corner Team Member Lana Tanney: Communications Manager, Issues Corner Team Member Samantha M (Hoodoo): Assistant Treasurer, Social Convenor Sylvia A.: Training Coordinator Veronique : Training Coordinator Ben C (Slowey): Volunteer Coordinator Beth: Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Mac: Volunteer Coordinator Dana: Volunteer Coordinator Diane I: Volunteer Coordinator Duane V: Volunteer Coordinator Karen D: Volunteer Coordinator Kim H: Volunteer Coordinator Michelle P: Volunteer Coordinator Patrice: French Liaison, Photo Historian Rob (Chunks): Kilkenny Contact David Meisner: Ambassador for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Marko Stavric: Webmaster Wendy Wong: Content Editor Lynda: Content Editor Blanka: Photo Historian Hong, TOC: Photo Historian Mitko Vlaev: Photo Historian Ian Courtney (STFU Ian): Forum Administrator See our Job Descriptions for more information.	Event Coordinators
	Alvin J Arina Baljinder Barry McConnell Britta Carol Guthrie Carole W. Carolyn L Casey Zayko Charlene W Charles (The Colonel) Conny D Craig marshall Daryl B. Dave Dave S David Brandreth Dave Debbie A Doug C Dustin M Edward Pothier glenn davis Gloria Allison Graham C Hanan Heather Anderson Ian Gammack Jake Y Jana N Janet	Janice Nguyen Jeff S Jenny Brown JennM Jim F Joanne N Joel W. (SquarePants) John B Joni Judy T Juliet Karen Gray Karin Karl K Kathy W Kayla B Ken Kenneth Fung Kerry V Laura L Laura M Laurie C Laurie M Len M. Leslie N Lisa P Pug Daddy Marc Rachiele (aka Stripey) Marcel Bourque Margaret M (Pokey) Mark Kudryk	Mark P Martine Marty Stanvick Mary Anne Michael D (Kielbasa) Mike Hawkins Mike Way Parry Loeffler Paul R Phil Rhonda O Rick M Rick Metzger Roy Piper Roy Scarisbrick Sakeb Scott Parker Sibel (Mushroom) Sneha A Steve Zitterer Sue W. Suzanne Foraie Tracy K UrsulaW Veronica J. Wendy (slowpoke hiker) Wil Jack
	We are always looking for Event Coordinators. If you think you may be interested, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Rhonda and the VC Squad at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.


	President Avalanche Safety Committee Member Asst. Training Coordinator Karen H
Wanting to escape the rain, Karen came to Calgary from Coquitlam in the late 1990s. In August 2004, she decided she’d had enough of begging hungover and/or lazy friends to go hiking and joined the COC where she’s had ample opportunity to get out and breathe the fresh air with other non-couch potatoes. Karen enjoys hiking, scrambling, and backpacking. Other interests include baking, cooking, photography and travel. She coordinates easy-moderate scrambles, scenic day hikes and one-two night (moderate) backpacking trips for the COC. She is an average-paced hiker who likes to take lots of snack and picture breaks, and has a strong self-preservation instinct, so she sticks to moderate-level activities in decent conditions. On her events, you will find that she generally sticks to her planned itinerary, but enjoys apres-event side trips (e.g. Banff Hot Springs, MacKay’s Ice Cream in Cochrane). Her all-time favorite backpacking trips include Berg Lake Trail & Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park. Her favorites scrambles are Cirque Peak and Ptarmigan Peak. Karen doesn’t always know the trail that she’s taking you on because she doesn't like to repeat hikes, but armed with her BSc in Geography, she’s good at finding the way (back to the car to go for ice cream). Karen guides the COC by making decisions regarding Club policies and procedures, overseeing the Training Coordinators, and handling escalated complaints. For all club related matters you can reach Karen at pres@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. As an Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Karen is responsible for: Monitoring COC events in avalanche terrain and ensuring they comply with the Avalanche Safety Policy Reporting safety concerns and issues to the VP Safety for followup Answering inquiries about the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events in avalanche terrain If you have any questions about avalanche safety or equipment, please contact snowsafety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com As Assistant Training Coordinator, Karen is responsible for: Evaluating volunteer training requests Maintaining volunteer records indicating courses completed and in progress Assisting the Training Coordinators with event research and coordination Answering volunteers' questions on training policy and procedures If you are a coordinator and would like to submit a training request, please review the training program information in the Event Coordinator Manual and contact Karen at training@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Karen H.

	VP Operations Ed
The most important event in my life took place in Portland Oregon on May 6, 1922 about 2:00 AM in the morning, and it's all been downhill since. I grew up in Southern California near Los Angeles, eventually graduating from The University of Southern California as a chemical engineer after a brief break for the unpleasantness that ended in 1945. After a couple of false starts, I went to work for Texaco, came to Canada in December 1971, and finished my career here in Calgary. I have three children (two boys and a girl). Both boys work in the oil patch and the daughter became an RN. Two of the grandchildren are geophysicists and the other four are still making their way through school and college. My main interests these days are hiking and maintaining a web site (http://www.digestivedistress.com) for my daughter’s charitable organization, Gastroparesis and Dysmotilities Association. I hope to coordinate a few hikes for the club. As a doddering old timer, I will probably have to limit myself to the easy ones like Sentinal Pass, but if the sun should hide behind a cloud, don’t expect the hike to be cancelled. (Editor's Note: Don't let Ed's self-deprecating humor fool you... he's a strong hiker - hiked the West Coast Trail in summer 2007, is often at the front of the pack, and is usually armed with his fancy GPS for route finding and exploring). As the VP of Operations, Ed is responsible for: Recruiting & training volunteers, handling issues with volunteers Overseeing the Volunteer Coordinators and Photo Historians Assisting the President with all decision-making and policy and procedure changes Assisting the President with coaching volunteers, including performing duties of open positions in the Operations area See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Ed.

	VP External Relations Partner Data Manager Avalanche Safety Committee Member Kevin
Kevin (aka "THE Kevin") is well known in the COC for his shy manner and gentle spirit. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Seriously, if you attend one of Kevin's events, look for the guy with the biggest head (and personality) imaginable, bring your sense of humor, expect the unexpected, and don't set your skis down behind his car. Note that in order to attend an event with Kevin, you may be required to sign a special waiver. As the VP of External Relations, Kevin is responsible for: Maintaining existing partnerships and sponsorships Seeking out new opportunities for the COC to partner with existing businesses and organizations in the community Overseeing the positions of Communications Manager, Content Editor, French Liaison, & Kilkenny Contact Assisting the president with all decision-making and policy and procedure changes. Assisting the president with coaching volunteers, including performing duties of open positions in the External Relations area As the Partner Data Manager, Kevin is responsible for communicating with partners and sponsors, and entering/updating partner and sponsor information (ie. banner ads, content on Partners and Sponsors page). As an Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Kevin is responsible for: Monitoring COC events in avalanche terrain and ensuring they comply with the Avalanche Safety Policy Reporting safety concerns and issues to the VP Safety for followup Answering inquiries about the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events in avalanche terrain If you have any questions about avalanche safety or equipment, please contact snowsafety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Kevin.

	VP Legal & Special Events Marta Daszkiewicz
Marta hails from the old country. That would be Poland and decided two years ago that Calgary is the place to be! Her interests are mainly hiking and a passion for sailing. As sailing here is hard to come by, you can find her in the mountains. (I think she thinks she can find the ocean. Don't tell her!) She likes to coordinate hikes that are easy scrambles and difficult hikes. Also she loves exploring new areas, so be prepared to see new things with her. She has been known to stray from the itinerary if the group would like to. Her favorite areas are Nihahi Ridge traverse, Mt Edith traverse - looots of fun ;-))) and hopes that all have a great time on her events. As the VP of Legal & Special Events, Marta is responsible for: Collecting and maintaining the waiver archive Planning and execution of annual COC events (such as the annual Photo Awards) Assisting the president with all decision-making and policy and procedure changes. Assisting the president with coaching volunteers, including performing duties of open positions in the Legal & Safety area See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Marta Daszkiewicz.

	Safety Advisor Avalanche Safety Committee Member Issues Corner Team Member Mike W
Mike has been in Calgary about 20 years, drawn to the mountains from the relatively flat surroundings of Montreal and Ottawa where he grew up. He’s interested in most wilderness activities, particularly if they include a trip to the pub after! In the summer he spends his spare time scrambling, trail running, cycling, and canoeing. In the winter he does downhill, cross-country, and backcountry skiing. His other interests include photography and music - particularly jazz. He joined the COC in July 2004, and is also a member of the Alpine Club and Bow Waters Canoe Club. What he especially likes about the COC is the web-oriented layout, making it easy to sign up for events and post his own events. Mike coordinates scrambling, trail running, road cycling and skiing events, usually in the difficult to advanced range, with a few moderate events at the start of the season. His favourite trips are Mounts Fox, Whyte, and Carnarvon (scrambling), Jumpingpound Ridge and Telephone Trail (trail running), Hwy 40 from Longview to Highwood Pass (cycling), downhill skiing at Lake Louise, cross-country skiing at Peter Lougheed Park, and backcountry skiing at Valhalla Mountain Lodge. As Safety Advisor, Mike is responsible for: Assisting the President with Safety Policy and procedure changes Monitoring COC events, enforcing Safety Policies and following up on Safety Policy violations Overseeing the Safety Committees Answering inquiries about the COC's Safety Policies Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events If you have any questions about safety or equipment, please contact Mike As an Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Mike is also responsible for: Monitoring COC events in avalanche terrain and enforcing the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events in avalanche terrain If you have any questions about avalanche safety or equipment, please contact snowsafety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com As a member of our Issues Corner team, Mike is responsible for reviewing, assessing and addressing complaints against COC members and volunteers. Contact the Issues Corner team at complaint@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Mike W.

	VP Administration Treasurer Lead Volunteer Coordinator Issues Corner Team Member Rhonda Scheurer (Sissy)
Rhonda is a software developer, originally from Red Deer, living in Calgary (most of the time) since 1993. She is the founder of the Calgary Outdoor Club, and therefore its first president and dictator (and, naturally, its very first ex-president, as of Oct 2005). She stole the Outdoor Club idea from the Atlanta Outdoor Club, which was started by a friend during Rhonda's 14-month stay in Atlanta. The COC was the third 'sister' club after the AOC and MOC ( Maryland Outdoor Club), and has now spawned three more clubs, the TOC (Toronto Outdoor Club), EOC (Edmonton Outdoor Club), and CCC (Calgary Culture Club). Due to asthma, Rhonda is a slow (but enthusiastic) hiker. On her events, the group often splits into fast and slow groups, with Rhonda leading from the rear. Rhonda hikes year-round, with snow shoeing and x-c ski events supplementing the winter hiking schedule. Do note, however, that she is a fair-weather hiker and in the event of yukky weather will either move a hike to a different location (if the weather's nicer somewhere else), or cancel/reschedule the hike if it's yukky everywhere. During bear season, Rhonda is a "hike nazi", keeping her hikers in tight groups of six or more in bear country. As the VP of Administration, Rhonda is responsible for: - Overseeing the Treasurer and Webmaster - Assisting the President with all decision-making and policy and procedure changes - Assisting the President with coaching volunteers, including performing duties of open positions in the Operations area - Answering inquiries sent to vp@calgaryoutdoorclub.com As club Treasurer, Rhonda is responsible for: - Receiving and recording member payments for events - Managing and paying club expenses - Managing club financies - Managing the club budget - Answering inquiries sent to treasurer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. As Lead Volunteer Coordinator, Rhonda is responsible for: - Recruiting event coordinators from experienced and knowledgeable membership base - Training and coaching event coordinators on club procedures for leading events - Answering inquiries sent to volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com If you are interested in coordinating for the Calgary Outdoor Club, review our Coordinator Checklist, and then contact Rhonda at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. As a member of our Issues Corner team, Rhonda is responsible for reviewing, assessing and addressing complaints against COC members and volunteers. Contact the Issues Corner team at complaint@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Rhonda Scheurer (Sissy).

	Avalanche Safety Committee Member Ben Wards
During the summer, Ben enjoys venturing off trail into remote areas of the Rockies. He enjoys discovering scrambles not in Kane’s books. He likes to keep the size of his groups small and likes to stay together! In the winter he has an addiction for making turns. He has had a season pass at Sunshine for the last couple of years and can’t get enough of the place. When his addiction to making turns has been tempered, he likes to explore the countless valleys of the Rockies and Columbia, ski touring on skinny and fat skis. Group members are expected to help out on route finding, decision making, and sharing chocolate with the coordinator. Ben is self-admittedly gramatically challenged and can't spell worth a darn, but don't hold that against him - his events are fantastic! As an Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Ben is responsible for: Monitoring COC events in avalanche terrain and ensuring they comply with the Avalanche Safety Policy Reporting safety concerns and issues to the VP Safety for followup Answering inquiries about the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events in avalanche terrain If you have any questions about avalanche safety or equipment, please contact snowsafety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Ben Wards.

	Avalanche Safety Committee Member Kevin S
Kevin was born and raised in Calgary. He enjoyed hiking growing up, although he has only gotten back into it the last few years, joining the Calgary Outdoor Club in September, 2005. Kevin began scrambling in the spring of 2005, and he quickly became addicted to the stunning summit panoramas of the Canadian Rockies. Kevin is also a member of the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), where he was introduced to mountaineering in July, 2006. However, his true passion has always been snowboarding. Kevin is a self-confessed powder junkie, often hiking outside of local ski resorts for hours in search of untouched snow. Although he had taken his avalanche safety training years earlier, it wasn’t until the winter of 2005/2006 that Kevin was introduced to “true” backcountry snowboarding through the COC and the ACC, giving him new appreciation for the mountains that have been in his back yard all these years. Kevin plans to lead mostly easy and moderate scrambles, although there will be some hikes thrown in as well. In the winter, Kevin will be leading easy backcountry ski and snowboard events. Kevin places strong emphasis on keeping his groups together and on exploring new areas. But be warned: Kevin will only cancel an event due to bad weather if conditions become dangerous, although events may be moved to alternate destinations to better take advantage of conditions. As an Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Kevin is responsible for: Monitoring COC events in avalanche terrain and ensuring they comply with the Avalanche Safety Policy Reporting safety concerns and issues to the VP Safety for followup Answering inquiries about the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events in avalanche terrain If you have any questions about avalanche safety or equipment, please contact snowsafety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Kevin S.

	Avalanche Safety Committee Member Safari Phil
Philip moved to Calgary in 1998 from a city 200 miles north which shall remain nameless... ok, it was Edmonton (try not to hold that against him). He was born and raised in Edmonton, and until 1997 spent his time away from work Downhill Skiing and (yikes!) Snowmobiling. Yes, he was a Sled-Head. But then his Sled- Head buddy got him into Backcountry Skiing in 1997, and now he would rather stay away from the crowds and go backcountry. Philip is self-employed and travels to Asia for work, so he has seen quite a bit of the world. His main interests include Hiking/Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Skiing/Boarding (Back Country and Cross-Country), Canoeing/Kayaking, Traveling, and enjoying a pint of beer after the activity. He joined the Calgary Outdoor Club in December 2003 and began leading events for us in May 2004 (primarily hikes, scrambles, mountain biking and social events). Philip's club nickname is "Safari Phil" for his head-to-toe khaki hiking outfit (including the funky safari hat). As an Avalanche Safety Committee Member, Philip is responsible for: Monitoring COC events in avalanche terrain and ensuring they comply with the Avalanche Safety Policy Reporting safety concerns and issues to the VP Safety for followup Answering inquiries about the Avalanche Safety Policy Answering inquiries about equipment and rentals appropriate to COC events in avalanche terrain If you have any questions about avalanche safety or equipment, please contact snowsafety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Safari Phil.

	Issues Corner Team Member Dana K
Dana moved to Calgary in 2004 after living in most other provinces at some point in her life. She joined the COC in the fall of 2004 and lurked until January when she started attending events. A slow poke hiker Dana has also scrambled for one event and loves to mountain bike. She discovered the mountains on a hike to the Ink Pots and has been hooked ever since. The lifestyle has now caught her and she now has a kayak, a tent, a sleeping bag... She also has a well dressed whippet for winter events. Dana is hoping to coordinate hiking, backpacking and some road and MTB adventures. As a member of our Issues Corner team, Dana is responsible for reviewing, assessing and addressing complaints against COC members and volunteers. Contact the Issues Corner team at complaint@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Dana K.

	Communications Manager Issues Corner Team Member Lana Tanney
Lana was born and raised in Brockville, Ontario, and moved to Vancouver in 1994. She's spent some time overseas, living in London, UK, and working, traveling and hiking her way around New Zealand and Australia. In July 2003, she moved to Calgary on a work transfer with her employer and joined the Calgary Outdoor Club soon after. She was looking to meet some people with similar interests and to get out to explore her new surroundings. The nature of the club's events piqued her interest originally, and the informal atmosphere and fun and friendly nature of the people are what keep her interested. In January 2004, Lana decided to become more involved with the club since it parallels closely that about which she is passionate, and she joined the COC Volunteer team. Lana's interests include hiking, biking, skiing, traveling, reading and photography. As the Communications Manager (aka "Info Chick"), Lana is responsible for: Answering the e-mails to the "info" mailbox Developing rapport and fostering a friendly, comfortable atmosphere with people inquiring about the club Writing/compiling the club newsletter Lana also steps in to lead the occasional event, as required. Lana's club nickname is "Info Chick" to go with her talent for dishing out... well... info. Lana can be reached at info@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. As a member of our Issues Corner team, Lana is responsible for reviewing, assessing and addressing complaints against COC members and volunteers. Contact the Issues Corner team at complaint@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Lana Tanney.

	Assistant Treasurer Social Convenor Samantha M (Hoodoo)
Samantha ("Hoodoo") moved from Whitehorse in July 2002 with hubby, Jason. Deciding that employment opportunities were not plentiful there, they moved to Calgary rather than flee back to Vancouver, B.C. A close friend had moved to Calgary, so Sam and Jason decided to give the city a try. Samantha's interests include hiking, camping, rafting, horseback riding, skiing and snowshoeing. She is most often found with a camera at the back of the pack, taking lots of good pictures. Of course, she blames her slow pace on the camera, but we know differently! She has claimed the prize of expert Mendi painter and can be found painting her own, and existing, designs on her many friends and clients. Samantha’s first event was to the Hoodoos in Banff. She was so enamoured with them, that she couldn’t stop showing them to everyone. Hence, the nickname, "Hoodoo". If you want the true story, you’ll have to ask her yourself. Bringing a strong drive to make the club even better than ever (as if that's possible), she became the club president in October 2005. As Assistant Treasurer, Samantha is responsible for assisting the treasurer and providing coverage for: - Receiving and recording member payments for events - Managing and paying club expenses - Managing club financies - Managing the club budget You can reach Samantha at treasurer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. As Social Convenor, Samantha is responsible for planning and organizing the yearly anniversary party (usually in May) and the AGM (usually in October). See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Samantha M (Hoodoo).

	Training Coordinator Sylvia A.
Sylvia lived in Calgary and Banff many years ago, and returned to Calgary in 1996. In between she travelled the world, and lived in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Her outdoor interests include biking, inline skating, ice skating, hiking, snow shoeing, downhill and cross country skiing and camping. In the winter she supplements with swimming, pilates and weight training. She believes in the importance of giving back to her community and volunteers extensively with various organizations throughout the year. Sylvia coordinates in-city biking, inline skating and urban hikes as well as bowling and other social events for the COC. As Training Coordinator, Sylvia is responsible for: Investigating opportunities for training and development Organizing training sessions for volunteers and members If you have any questions about training, please contact training@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Sylvia A..

	Training Coordinator Veronique
Moving to Calgary in February 2007 was a dream come true for Veronique who fell in love with the Canadian Rockies a few years ago. Originally from France, she enjoyed living in Europe and spent about 12 years in the UK prior to moving to Toronto in 2003. Veronique loves hiking, scrambling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tennis and yoga. She is always keen to discover new cultures and attend social / multicultural events as well as studying languages. She took several sabbatical leaves over the years to travel and hike around the world in Europe, Asia, Australia / NZ, North America and her all time favourite Latin America. She joined the COC in April 2007 as it was an amazing opportunity to meet great people who share similar interests. She prefers organizing moderate to difficult hikes (at moderate pace, rain or shine) and some easy scrambles. May also occasionally organize cultural and social events. Veronique works as a Project Manager / Business Analyst for a consulting firm and has been working in the healthcare industry for 14 years as it is so rewarding. Her favourite hiking trips: Fitzroy National Park & Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Milford Sound in NZ, Machu Picchu in Peru and in the Rockies: Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass/Wasatch Pass/ Eiffel Lake. Favourite motto : “Go confidently in the directions of your dreams and act as though it was impossible to fail” and “Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even into your smallest acts as this is the secret of success” As Training Coordinator, Veronique is responsible for: Investigating opportunities for training and development Organizing training sessions for volunteers and members If you have any questions about training, please contact training@calgaryoutdoorclub.com See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Veronique .

	Volunteer Coordinator Ben C (Slowey)
Originally hailing from a tropical (but really really hot) paradise, Singapore, Ben has been in Alberta since 2005 having first lived in Lake Louise and now Calgary. He likes backpacking, camping, kayaking, motorcycling and will (almost) try anything once. One day he hopes to learn how to fly a plane (he just needs to win that Lottery first). Ben likes to explore and go places he hasn’t been to before. Traveling is also in his blood, being afflicted with a terminal case of wanderlust. His pace is usually tortoise like, mainly because he’s a slowpoke and tends to bring too much unnecessary stuff in his pack. On his days off, if he’s not doing any of the above you’ll find him at the movies or out riding his motorcycle. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Ben is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Ben C (Slowey).

	Volunteer Coordinator Beth
Beth has lived in Calgary since 1988 and has found a passion for activities outdoors and in the mountains. She started by being a Ski Friend at Lake Louise where she would show Lake Louise guests some of the best runs and best snow at Lake Louise. Now she would like to explore the outdoors with others from Calgary. Her interests include skiing (both down hill and cross country), hiking, backpacking, skating (both ice and in-line), snowshoeing, cycling, kayaking – and is up for new adventures. Beth is interested in coordinating trips that have a good fitness component - but can also stop and take lots of photos and bask in the amazing part of the world that we live in. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Beth is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Beth.

	Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Mac
Although Catherine has only been in Calgary for nine years, she first discovered the city and its incredible scenery some 22 years ago. Having lived in Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto in the past, she has no intention of ever leaving Calgary again. Her first hiking experience was as a parent volunteer accompanying a high school group to Cox Hill. It was on reaching the summit of Cox Hill, and the spectacular view from the top, that hooked her. Hiking and snow shoeing are her main outdoor interests, although she likes slow paced biking as well. To be able to hike more frequently, Catherine joined COC in July 2005, and in 2007 started to become much more involved in the club. Catherine is an accountant and has her own small business, which provides some flexibility for her to pursue her outdoor interests. As a coordinator, Catherine plans moderate hikes, with a moderate pace. Although the scenery is a major draw, she also likes to get a good workout on the trail. But she does not plan to try to beat any records in reaching the summit – breathing breaks, pictures breaks, and snack breaks – are all part of a good hike for her. Weather rarely dissuades her from tackling a hike. Being a fairly organized person, Catherine sticks pretty closely to planned itineraries. All time favourite hikes include Rockbound Lake, the Iceline in Yoho, and Jumpingpound Ridge. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Catherine is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Catherine Mac.

	Volunteer Coordinator Dana
Dana came to Calary in June 2005 via Prague, then Chicago area, then Prague again, then Vancouver. She is a winter person and could not stand the constant rain in Vancouver. Her outdoor interests including hiking, scrambling, downhill skiing, camping and snow shoeing. Other interests include reading, movies, socializing and dancing. Dana coordinates swimming, deep water workouts, hiking, scrambling, skiing and snow shoeing events for COC. She likes a slow to intermediate pace depending on the angle of the slope and will not cancel as long as it is safe to proceed! Her favorite trips include Caldron Lake, Cirque Peak, Mt. Yamnuska and Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Dana is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Dana.

	Volunteer Coordinator Diane I
Diane grew up around Swan River, Manitoba, spent a few years in “Winterpeg”, and has been in the Calgary area since 1980 - living in Crossfield since 1990. She moved here to be closer to the mountains after a spring ski trip to Sunshine Village. Diane is a Graphic Artist, dances with a Ukrainian dance group and is a volunteer firefighter with the Crossfield Fire Department. Diane’s outdoor interests include hiking, kayaking/canoeing, mountain biking, backpacking, camping, floor hockey, ultimate, inline skating, and x-c skiing. She coordinates hikes, scrambles and x-c ski events for the COC and likes to keep a good pace on her events. She says she takes more breaks on steep hikes going up and loves doing scree on the way down. She is a die-hard outdoorsperson, stopping only for “raging blizzards” and “hurricanes”. On her trips she likes to build in a little side exploring to make things more interesting whenever possible and likes getting together for food and refreshments afterwards if time permits. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Diane is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Diane I.

	Volunteer Coordinator Duane V
Duane, a die hard Sens fan (is there any other kind?), was born and raised in Ottawa where he lived for almost 20 years before moving to Saskatchewan. After a few years working at “Corner Gas” in “Dog River”, he decided it was time for a change so he packed up and headed off to Calgary. He has been employed within the credit union system here since his arrival in 1998. Duane has actively participated in team sports such as ice hockey and volleyball over the past several years. He also loves the mountains and enjoys exploring the many hiking trails within the Kananaskis region. His favourite hike of all time had to be Northover Ridge in June ’06 where he didn’t find his way back to the car until after 1:30 in the morning. Armed with only a pack of matches, he created a torch out of his walking stick burning most of his clothes by the time he had made it back to the parking lot (he’s been receiving flashlights as gifts ever since). In the spring of 2007, Duane’s faithful hiking buddy moved away to Vancouver, kick starting Duane's interest in the COC. His plan was to seek out a fun group of people to share the odd hike with but ended up with a lot more than he bargained for. With so many great events to choose from he was instantly hooked and quickly decided he wanted to become more involved as a COC volunteer. Although he loves to hike it is more likely you will find him coordinating various sporting events such as soccer, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, hockey, ice skating and rafting. Duane is always up for an outdoor activity and makes every effort to proceed with an event even if the weather is less than ideal (the friends he dragged along for an afternoon raft on the Bow during a hail storm will attest to that!!) He’s the type that generally sticks to the plan but is never opposed to modifying the itinerary if it is likely to improve the overall experience for the group. Duane’s number one priority on any event is to have fun and stay safe. He will always make an effort to ensure each participant feels included and comes away with a positive experience. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Duane is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Duane V.

	Volunteer Coordinator Karen D
I was born in New Brunswick, but have lived all my life in Montreal until I moved out West a few years ago. After a brief stint in Vancouver, I settled in Calgary. I joined the COC in 2005 to discover what hiking was all about (I only hiked once before, and that was in Turkey !) After traveling to many countries around the world, I realized how lucky I am to have been born on this side of the world and the abundance of opportunities we have in Canada. Since moving out West, I have traveled throughout BC & Alberta, and am planning on traveling to the prairies this year. Last year, I found living in Calgary too far away from the mountains and took the big step and moved to Canmore. I feel so fortunate to live, work, and play in a “postcard” !!! For the first time since I left Montreal, this small beautiful town feels like home. My true passion has always been downhill skiing which is why I have stayed in Alberta – the best snow in the world. :) Other winter sports that I love are x-country skiing, snowshoe, and curling. Since discovering hiking with the COC, hiking has become my second passion. My goal each year is to beat my personal best in elevation from the last year !!! All my hikes will be “slowpokes & dawdlers”, or even slower depending on the elevation gain. Like Rhonda S, I have asthma; which slows me down, but the good part of going at a slower pace is the opportunity of seeing all sorts along the trail that most would have missed going at a brisk pace. Whether you are a beginner or expert hiker, if you want to take your time and smell the “trees” or look up at the sky to see our friendly flyers, then my hikes are for you !!! I like to start my hikes early and will always lead from the back of the group !!! Happy Trails :) As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Karen is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Karen D.

	Volunteer Coordinator Kim H
Kim moved back to Calgary in 2007 after having been away for 20 years. Growing up camping and hiking in the mountains Kim was eager to get back out there and signed up for the Calgary Outdoor Club her 2nd day back in Calgary. Kim loves to get out into the mountains any chance she gets, hiking, camping, backpacking and even tried snowshoeing for the first time this past winter in -20 degree weather and loved it. An avid traveler who has been to a number of countries around the world, she loves what’s in her own backyard and getting out to discover and explore it. So, you won’t find her repeating hikes, but she will have done her research and be armed with a map on the trail to figure out not only where to go, but also the names of the mountains all around. On trips, she’s open to suggestions to make the event fun but they are group events so it’s only a go if everyone is willing. On Kim’s events, taking a moment to enjoy the view and surroundings is a must and you’ll always find her with some snacks to share. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Kim is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Kim H.

	Volunteer Coordinator Michelle P
Michelle is one of the few people around actually born in Calgary. After spending some time in that other Alberta city (Edmonton), she returned in 2004 and rediscovered the mountains of her childhood. She discovered the Calgary Outdoor Club in July 2007 while looking for someone to hike with while her husband was out of town. Michelle enjoys trying anything, including kayaking, canoeing, sailing, hot air ballooning, hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing. She likes a slow to moderate pace. Hardly ever without a GPS (or more accurately, her husband Gord & his GPS), she is happy to take scenery stops and side trips without worrying about getting lost and firmly believes enjoying the day and the company is the goal, not the top of the mountain. Look for Michelle to organize easy to moderate x-c ski and snow shoe events in the winter and biking and hiking events in the summer as well as anything new that looks like fun. She doesn't let weather be a factor and will not cancel trips unless the weather is really really bad. As a member of our Volunteer Coordinator team, Michelle is responsible for training and coaching event coordinators. Contact the team at volunteer@calgaryoutdoorclub.com for more information. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Michelle P.

	French Liaison Photo Historian Patrice
Je suis un consultant en Intelligence d’Affaire et je suis à Calgary depuis août 2006. Je demeurait auparavant dans la belle ville de Québec et plus précisément, je suis natif du Lac St-Jean. Il va sans dire que j’ai été intéressé de déménager à Calgary pour les montagnes, le Chinook et la situation économique… de plus, l’absence de neige comparée au Québec est un bel avantage! Je me suis inscrit au Club en Février 2007 apres en avoir entendu parler dans le but rencontrer des gens et de faire des activités extérieures. Mes intérêts incluent hiking, scrambling, camping, ski alpin, raquette sur neige, course et le badminton. Mes interest intérieurs incluent les films, les soupers, l’eau de vie (boisson), socialiser et danser. Je coordonne principalement des activités de raquettes sur neige, hiking, scrambling, ski alpin et nage…. Mais aussi toutes sortes d’activités qui peuvent me traverse l’esprit. Je peux très aisément marcher vite, mais j’ai tendance à être lent puisque je suis un maniaque de photographie; de plus, je n’ai pas tendance à annuler une activité s’il pleut. Dans mes activités, je peux improviser, mais je crois tout de meme que l’improvisation doit être organizer. Mes sorties préférées fûrent Cirque Peak, Mont Yamnuska et le Mont Lafayette dans le New Hampshire. En tant que Liaison Francophone, je suis responsable du dévelopement et de la traduction du contenu du site web en français et de répondre au questions envoyées dans notre boite “francais” (francais@calgaryoutdoorclub.com). Patrice is a Business Intelligence Consultant and has been in Calgary since August 2006, coming here from Quebec City. He came for the mountains, chinooks and economic situation… plus the absence of snow compared to Quebec! He joined the COC in February 2007 after being told about the club by someone for the opportunity of easy going outdoor activities and meeting people. Patrice’s outdoor interests include hiking, scrambling, camping, downhill skiing, snow shoeing, running and badminton. His other interests include movies, eating, drinking, socializing and dancing. He coordinates snowshoeing, hiking, scrambling, downhill skiing, swimming and any kind of uncommon activity that may cross his mind. He can go at a really fast pace, but since he is a photographic maniac, he tends to go at a slow pace, and is not likely to cancel if it rains. On his trips, he’s willing to improvise but feels that even improvisation needs to be organized. His all-time favorite trips include Cirque Peak, Mt. Yamnuska and Mt. Lafayette in New Hampshire. As the COC French Liaison, Patrice is responsible for developing and translating web site content in French, as well as answering questions sent to our "francais" mailbox (francais@calgaryoutdoorclub.com). As one of our Photo Historians, Patrice is responsible for: Photo Album Management: Managing our Fotki albums, and posting photos submitted by club members. Slide Show Management: Selection and posting of photos to the slide show on our homepage For photo related questions or submissions, Patrice can be reached at photos@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Patrice.

	Kilkenny Contact Rob (Chunks)
Rob is a Quality, Health, Safety, & Environment Risk Specialist in Calgary. He moved here in November 2003 from Dawson Creek, BC. Rob was drawn to the COC by the variety of outdoor/social activities and joined the club in December 2003. In January 2004, he joined the COC Volunteer team as the Safety and Equipment Coordinator (a title that he held until January 2006), and from September 2004 to October 2005 was club Vice President. His special claim to fame is that he won the potato sack race at the fall fair when he was five. Rob now holds what is considered by some to be the most important position on the volunteer team. He is our Kilkenny Contact. Rob set up the Kilkenny VIP Program for our active members as follows: 1) 10% discount seven days a week just for presenting your card 2) Whenever we have a multiple of 5 members with VIP cards there at a time (ie. 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 members with their cards) on a Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, a free gift will be coming to the table. The gift will be in the form of wings or a pitcher of beer (one gift for each multiple of 5). As our Kilkenny Contact, Rob is responsible for coordinating creation of Kilkenny VIP cards for club members. For more information regarding the Kilkenny Pub, see their Web Site, or for information regarding the VIP program, please contact Rob at kilkenny@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. Rob coordinates hiking, canoeing, mountain biking and camping events for the Calgary Outdoor Club as well as the occasional co-ed naked hot tub party. Rob would love it if you would address him by his club nickname, "Chunks", which he was christened after an unfortunate Berry-Go-Round incident at Calaway Park. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Rob (Chunks).

	Ambassador for Adults with Developmental Disabilities David Meisner
David is an avid outdoorsman and has been an enthusiastic participant in the Calgary Outdoor Club since July 2004. He has a developmental disability on the autism spectrum and is the COC’s Ambassador for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. In addition to hiking, David participates in backpacking events, skiing, skating, cycling, go-karting, laser tag, gymnastics and other sport/adventure activities, as well as our volunteer activities such as Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Friends of Fish Creek, and Friends of Kananaskis Trail Maintenance. David attends sometimes with his mom, Margaret, or, if Marg isn’t into it (ie. go-karting, laser tag), David may attend with one of his favorite support partners. David’s other interests include off-highway quading and skidooing, and he works at two part time jobs with assistance: Totem Building Supplies and Elevation Adventure Outfitters. More information about autistic spectrum disorders: Autism Calgary ; Autism Society of Canada See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by David Meisner.

	Webmaster Marko Stavric
Marko is a quiet guy and prefers to lead by example. He’s been a resident of Calgary since 1990, arriving here at the age of 11 from former Yugoslavia. He spends most of his weekends in the mountains, enjoying the peaceful pace of the Canadian Rockies. He stumbled upon the Calgary Outdoor Club in 2004 and started coordinating events in 2005. Though he prefers to organize scrambles and hikes he does enjoy a variety of other outdoor activities. He likes a moderate to quick pace but will take time to enjoy the scenery, take photos and stop for lunches. He enjoys meeting new people and is eager to coordinate exploratory trips. As Webmaster, Marko is responsible for: Update content on static informational pages on web site Update web site options for site formatting and functioning Update announcements on club home page Create and update club e-mail addresses/forwarders See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Marko Stavric.

	Content Editor Wendy Wong
Wendy has called Calgary home since she was 3. She didn't discover winter sports until forced out of hiberation due to a volunteer commitment. Once she realized she was not going to freeze to death, she decided to check out what she had been missing. Unable to convince friends to join her in her quest of things new and different, she ventured out on her own - from paragliding to snow shelter building. Her goal is to try at least one new sport (or race) per year, so when she saw dogsledding on the COC event list, she knew she had to join! With an art and teaching background, Wendy is able to spot a typo in less than 30 seconds and constantly fights the urge to correct all spelling errors and crooked wall hangings. However, members need not be afraid of (or avoid) her as she has no authority to expel you from the club. (She'll just send you nasty emails.) When she is not running or playing volleyball or hiking/snowshoeing, Wendy is out enjoying her favorite or new culinary and cultural/artistic happenings. So let her know if there is something interesting you want to investigate (as it may be turned into an event). As the Content Editor, Wendy is responsible for: Ensuring correctness and accuracy of static web site content Event Content Management: ensuring correctness and accuracy of event details and write-ups Member Content Management: ensuring correctness and accuracy of member data, including Calendar Postings If you notice any problems with the web site content, please send them to Wendy at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Wendy Wong.

	Content Editor Lynda
Originally from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Lynda has lived in Calgary since 1980, with a nine-year break spent in Invermere and Golden, British Columbia. She’s called Calgary home (again) since 2001, and has been an enthusiastic member of the COC since 2005. It was in those two tiny mountain communities that she developed a love for her favourite outdoor pursuits: hiking and cross-country skiing. Shortly after moving to Calgary the first time, she was visiting friends of friends in Golden when some kind soul took her on a brief hike, basically in his back yard, and she was hooked! Nineteen years later she found herself back in Golden, this time living there! Bored and restless while living in Invermere one day, she loaded up her little car with skis given to her many years ago by a long lost friend, and drove up to Panorama where she was suddenly hit with the skiing bug. She’s been silently thanking that friend ever since. Lynda also enjoys snowshoeing, canoeing and dabbling in other outdoor activities as well as social events, and is always open to new adventures. She’s always been good at spelling and (written!) grammar, and except for hiking, skiing, cooking and eating, loves nothing better than to fix a typo, spelling mistake or an awkward sentence. As the Content Editor, Lynda is responsible for: Ensuring correctness and accuracy of static web site content Event Content Management: ensuring correctness and accuracy of event details and write-ups Member Content Management: ensuring correctness and accuracy of member data, including Calendar Postings If you notice any problems with the web site content, please send them to Lynda at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Lynda.

	Photo Historian Blanka
Blanka is originally from Pardubice in the Czech Republic. She came to Calgary in the summer of 2005 and joined the COC almost immediately after she arrived. She enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, but mainly likes to scramble! As one of our Photo Historians, Blanka is responsible for: Photo Album Management: Managing our Fotki albums, and posting photos submitted by club members. Slide Show Management: Selection and posting of photos to the slide show on our homepage For photo related questions or submissions, Blanka can be reached at photos@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Blanka.

	Photo Historian Hong, TOC
They say sharing is a good thing, and we're all for it - especially when it means we get to steal good volunteers from the TOC! Hong was originally the photo historian for the TOC, but when she moved to Calgary in summer of 2007, we managed to scoop her for ourselves. Yay team! In addition to posting photos for us, Hong coordinates hike & spa / onsen / hot springs events. Hong's favourite quote: “The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith.“ - Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British Philosopher, Mathematician, Essayist As one of our Photo Historians, Hong is responsible for: Photo Album Management: Managing our Fotki albums, and posting photos submitted by club members. Slide Show Management: Selection and posting of photos to the slide show on our homepage For photo related questions or submissions, Hong can be reached at photos@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Hong, TOC.

	Photo Historian Mitko Vlaev
Mitko is a long-term member of COC known for carrying his beloved Bulgarian flag along on events anytime there is a mountain peak involved. So far we haven't had the heart to tell him that his claiming our peaks in the name of Bulgaria doesn't make it official... As one of our Photo Historians, Mitko is responsible for: Photo Album Management: Managing our Fotki albums, and posting photos submitted by club members. Slide Show Management: Selection and posting of photos to the slide show on our homepage For photo related questions or submissions, Mitko can be reached at photos@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Mitko Vlaev.

	Forum Administrator Ian Courtney (STFU Ian)
Ian is originally from Saskatchewan (mostly) and has been in Calgary since 1996. He is a systems administrator who develops and hosts his own web servers at home. He joined the Calgary Outdoor Club in the summer of 2004 and offered to set up a new set of forums for us so that we can have discussions without the pop-ups that came with our old service. He can be found on most social outings, and when found on a trail often comes accompanied by his boisterous black lab Cheero. Ian can be reached at forum@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Ian Courtney (STFU Ian).

	Event Coordinator (Since Mar 07) Alvin J
Alvin was born and raised in rural (northern) Alberta, went “walk-about” for a few years and then settled in the Calgary area over 20 years ago. He is a bean counter, doing accounting and finance for a private real-estate company. His outdoor interests including mountain biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, sailing and skiing. His other interests include being a supportive dad for his two teenaged daughters, good food, and a bottle of wine by the fire. Alvin joined the COC in November 2005, attracted by the variety of activities, and wanting to try (and coordinate) overnight cross-country ski trips. Alvin coordinates mountain biking, camping and cross-country ski events for the COC. He doesn’t mind a bit of rain/mud/snow, but says that group safety comes first when deciding whether to proceed. He loves to tap the group’s knowledge to improve on his planned trip itinerary, so be prepared to contribute ideas and go with the flow if a great diversion is proposed. Alvin’s events often carpool from Cochrane, and smaller groups are often invited for a post-event hot tub and cold beer. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Alvin J.

	Event Coordinator (Since May 08) Arina
Arina arrived in Calgary in July 2007 and says it was "Mountains, Mountains, Mountains" that brought her out from Mississauga, Ontario. Her outdoor interests include hiking, scrambling, backpacking, caving, skiing and horseback riding. Other interests include photography, dancing and traveling. Expect Arina's events to be at a slow-to-moderate but steady pace. She likes to go for longer and moderate-to-difficult activities and likes going for the nice views at high elevation. She prefers optimal conditions for photography, however she will hike in less than optimal conditions because, she says, "getting out there in not so nice weather is better than not getting out at all". She likes to explore and do little side trips, time and weather permitting. Since she is fairly new to the area, some "exploring" may happen naturally, anad has been known to stop for photos. Her all-time favorite trip with the COC was to Healy Pass with thousands thousands of flowers everywhere you look and her other favorite was her one-month trip through many US National Parks among which Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon & Arches. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Arina.

	Event Coordinator (Since Oct 07) Baljinder
I moved to Calgary in April 1982 just prior to the oil sands boom that went bust. I was hired by an engineering company from England to work on design of oil sands project in Ft. McMurray. Despite the work situation, we fell in love with Calgary and never went back. I have travelled on business to various cities in different countries and I still rate Calgary to be the best place to live and raise kids. My interests are in hiking, snowshoeing and backpacking. I like to host most of my events close to Calgary, within 1 ½ hour drive. My other interests are watching good movies and enjoying a good glass of wine. Most of my hikes tend to be at a moderate pace with difficulty level up to D4 and I like to stick closely to the plan. My favorite event was the packing trip to Elk Pass. I work in Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management Company as a control systems engineer that provides services to Oil and Gas Industry. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Baljinder.

	Event Coordinator (Since Mar 05) Barry McConnell
Barry was born in Edmonton, and moved to Calgary at a very young age. He comes from a large family, having 7 brothers and sisters. Barry has been employed with Calgary Coop for 25 years. Barry's interests are varied but animals, sports and social functions are at the top of his list. His outdoor interests include camping, downhill skiing, walking his dog “Chico”, and bike riding on the city bike paths. He also enjoys a variety of sports, including volleyball, hockey, ball hockey, tennis, and golf. Going for dinner, movies, shooting pool, games, and dancing top his social list. Barry joined the COC in Dec 2004 after hearing about it from a friend. He primarily is interested in organizing social and sporting events. He describes himself as "not an avid hiker", but has given it a try now that he’s volunteering. Barry is a wonderful person to be around and is one to make you laugh. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Barry McConnell.

	Event Coordinator (Since Mar 07) Britta
Britta grew up in Edmonton but has no problem conceding that Calgary is a terrific place to live. She lived here briefly in 2000 and then returned more permanently in 2006. She was drawn back to Calgary largely because of the opportunities for outdoor pursuits. In the summer of 2006, shortly after arriving in Calgary, Britta had lots of guests come and stay with her and she coerced all of them into hiking with her. When the spate of houseguests dried up she was forced to look elsewhere for hiking companions and happily stumbled upon the COC. During the week, Britta works as a lawyer for the Alberta government. On weekends, she is usually out xc skiing (in the winter) and hiking (in the summer.) On events that she co-ordinates, she is likely to keep a steady pace and stick to the plan regardless of the weather. She is not too keen to re-do a hike, so she will often be hiking in unfamiliar territory (but with a map.) See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Britta.

	Event Coordinator (Since Aug 07) Carol Guthrie
I'm originally from Edmonton, but spent 8 years in New Zealand before returning to Canada in 1989. My passion is the outdoors so it just made sense to move to Calgary rather than Edmonton. I spent a number of years hiking, backpacking and scrambling, but once I started mountain biking I was hooked. I love the speed and the technical challenges of biking. I am also an avid skier with backcountry skiing being at the top of the list, followed by downhill and cross country skiing. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and love anything that is fast and gets my heart pounding. Most of my trips will be intermediate to advanced and at a reasonable or moderate+ pace. Not all trips will necessarily go as planned as weather and conditions change and I like to be adaptable. I joined COC in spring '07 and am keen to met new people to share adventures with. Check out some of my adventures at http://www.headwaysystems.com/Personal.htm. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Carol Guthrie.

	Event Coordinator (Since July 07) Carole W.
After two and half decades of teaching in Manitoba, the winds of change brought Carole to Calgary in the fall of 2001. Today, she a teacher's substitute and also takes on temporary contracts with the Calgary Board of Education. Carole always enjoyed going for long walks so in the summer of 2002, some new Calgary friends took her on a hike to Lake Minnewanka all the way up to Aylmer’s lookout (approx 24km round trip). Even through it took 3 days to recover from the hike she got hooked on hiking in the mountains. After hiking with friends for several years, Carole joined the COC in the spring of 2006. As a coordinator, Carole enjoys organizing slow paced hikes where she and others can enjoy nature and the views along the trails. She does all levels of trails, preferably in fair weather. Other recreational interests include the theatre, reading, movies, sewing, and yoga. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Carole W..

	Event Coordinator (Since May 07) Carolyn L
Carolyn has been living in the west for over 18 years. Most of that time has been in Calgary, but she did spend 5 years living in a small community on the Alaska Highway. Originally from Toronto, she was lured here by those amazing, inspiring mountains… and cleaner air. Carolyn discovered scrambling when she joined the Calgary Outdoor Club… and scrambling is, without question, her passion. She’s not concerned about beating anyone’s time to the summit and is perfectly content leading from behind when necessary. Safety is more important than bagging a peak… and sticks mostly to the easy/moderate scrambles… but will take on a more challenging peak as long as it doesn’t involve razor edge ridges. ‘Interval Hiking’ is what Carolyn likes best… (hike at a moderate pace for awhile… stop… take pictures… hike at a moderate pace… stop… take pictures… and so on). Carolyn has been known to bushwhack and will deviate from a planned route if an alternate makes more sense or offers hands on scrambling :). Carolyn also coordinates hikes from time-to-time (to develop greater endurance for scrambles) and occasionally posts family hikes, so she can share her love of the outdoors with her children. However, when children are included, it’s all about the pace they are comfortable with… and only in good weather. Carolyn also enjoys downhill skiing, speed walking, sport climbing, biking, camping, canoeing, birding (with her kids) and snowshoeing. This year she plans to add Kayaking to the list. Other interests include music, writing, photography, dancing, and traveling. Carolyn’s favourite trips to date include Mount Edith, Mist Mountain and, of course, Yamnuska (she met her husband on Yam). See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Carolyn L.

	Event Coordinator (Since Oct 07) Casey Zayko
Casey is originally from Poland and came to Canada in 1990. He studied Anthropology at Warsaw University, taught history, and has been a small business owner since 1994. His favorite hikes in the Rocky Mountains include Tonquin Valley, Mt. Robson, Assiniboine PP that included a face to face encounter with a grizzly sow and her two cubs. Besides that, his favorite hike was celebrating his 50th birthday on top of Kilimanjaro with a windchill of –20C in the company of his fast freezing guide. Casey is a landscape photographer by passion, and therefore most of his events will be photography oriented. He plans to do some overnight trips to scenic locations to witness and photograph the incredible colors of the sunrise and the sunset skies, but you have to be willing to pay the price and carry your heavy backpack to get there. Get your cameras ready! See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Casey Zayko.

	Event Coordinator (Since Feb 07) Charlene W
Charlene grew up in Calgary, traipsed around Canada and the world like a gypsy-girl then came back here in 2002 expecting to do a master’s degree in neuroscience. She and her son, Matheu, first enjoyed the COC when tobogganing in January 2005 with Margaret. Since there weren’t many events they could both go on, Charlene lurked for awhile then went on events while her son was away in the summers. Now, as a coordinator, she can post events for all ages - underwater hockey for instance! Even better, now that she is self-employed, she can post events mid-week. Adventurous and persistent beyond what some would consider sensible, she takes calculated risks according to the interests of the group. Stopping to ponder the ecology and culture of her surroundings, members should get a full appreciation from the experience. Slowest of the slow pokes, she wants to be sure everyone can enjoy the good fun, fresh air, and exercise. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Charlene W.

	Event Coordinator (Since July 05) Charles (The Colonel)
Charles was born in Victoriaville Quebec, and lived in Montreal 3 years for school. Charles first moved to Calgary in 1998 to learn English (still working on it!). He got a season pass at Sunshine Village where he skied 29 times in 1999-2000, the year he felt in love with the Rockies. After living 2 years in Ottawa, thinking that his life belonged in Eastern Canada, he moved back to Alberta in 2002. Charles has been a WestJet employee since 2000, and spends all his money traveling the globe. Other than that, he plays hockey and soccer year round, and definitely needs to spend a day a week in the mountains to remain sane. Charles joined the club in late 2004 to spend more time in the mountains. He mostly does hikes, easier scrambles, snowshoe events, and downhill skiing. He believes that the weather makes your trip more memorable - chances are you’ll remember that rainy hike you had 2 years ago, but not that sunny one, so don’t count on him to cancel any events due to weather! Some of his favorite hikes are Eiffel lake and Mount Bourgeau. Sunshine and Le Massif (Qc) are his favorite ski hills. And, just for the record, he loves poutine. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Charles (The Colonel).

	Event Coordinator (Since Mar 08) Conny D
Conny came to Calgary in 2006 and soon looked out for an outdoor club after a few seasons with the outdoor clubs in Guelph and Victoria (cheers to both!). Originally an ocean kid from the white beaches of the Baltic Sea, she has developed a passion for mountains and loves living so close to the Rockies now. Her favorite activities are skiing, hiking, horseback riding, scrambling, and just trying out different things once in a while. As a former skydiver and motorcycle fan, she likes an occasional adrenaline kick after all, but keeps it mellow otherwise. Her trips are relaxed trail riding, hiking or anything for variety. Previous trip favourites - before coming to Calgary - were sea kayaking on Haida Gwaii, trail riding on Icelandic horses in foot-deep snow, spelunking at the Niagara escarpment, canyoning in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and a hiking trip to a cave of hanging snakes in Southern Mexico (not half as bad as it sounds). See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Conny D.

	Event Coordinator (Since May 07) Craig marshall
Originally from Saskatchewan, I definitely have a little flat land blood running through my veins as I currently work for John Deere and spent many years working on farms. My family moved to Calgary when I was about 9 and I have remained here ever since. I consider myself super lucky to be able to work in a field I enjoy and have this incredible playground just an hour or so to the west. I have always been a pretty active person (yes, I have a few scars to prove it). I grew up on a skateboard, which as I grew older spawned a love of snowboarding. I enjoy pretty much any riding but will often try and seek out pockets of powder, even if it means tackling the steeps packing a beacon and shovel. I hope to take some avalanche training in the future and eventually try a little back country exploring, hiking to that secret powder stash is a something I really enjoy. I always enjoyed biking but a year or so back got into mountain biking, which has now fueled a desire to ride more and get stronger on my bike (that's my excuse for the latest addition to my bike fleet, my cyclocross bike). My newest addition to the fleet has managed to see quite a bit of action and I am really enjoying the diversity it offers. I am enjoying road riding, and now feel like I have opened another avenue to get out and enjoy riding when it's early season, or the trails are muddy, or just when it feels right to head out and feel the rush of speed rolling down the smooth pavement. Mountain biking is still my biggest passion, I love getting out on the trails in and around Calgary to enjoy an afternoon, or an evening or even an all day epic adventure on my bike. I originally joined the club as an outlet to network with other people interested in mountain biking, but since joining the club, I have had the opportunity to meet lots of great people and experience new and exciting things. I hope I am able to share some of the great activities, people and places that I have experienced through the club, through some of my events, and look forward to exploring many new places, and meeting lots more fun and intriguing people. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Craig marshall.

	Event Coordinator (Since Jan 08) Daryl B.
Daryl didn’t embrace an active lifestyle until moving to Red Deer from Saskatoon in 2000. Although he joined the COC in 2004 as part of his ongoing quest to find opportunities to share his passion for the outdoors with others, he didn’t actually participate in his first COC event until moving to Calgary from Banff in May 2007. He is now a regular on the COC event circuit, and he loves the diversity of people and events that make up the club. A lifelong fan of summer and sunshine, he enjoys all summer season has to offer using both foot and pedal power. He also likes healthy doses of things like tennis, inline skating, camping and lacrosse. After trying to deny the existence of winter for most of his life, in December 2007, he took his first tentative, and cold, steps toward embracing it. Now you are just as likely to see him picking himself up off a cross country ski trail or skating on an outdoor rink. His biggest adjustment to tackling winter activities has been the need to let his hair grow for a day before going out so his toque will actually stay on his head. He is even contemplating the purchase of winter boots, a fashion accessory he has not owned for about 25 years. Daryl enjoys exploring new trails and is always curious to know what is around the next bend. Regardless of the event, he has a tendency to treat it like it should be an Olympic time trial. He prefers a quick pace and enjoys the challenge of pushing to be at the front of the pack. It is rumoured he is looking to purchase a watch so he can more accurately gauge his time. In addition, he is particularly challenged by the “long” trails with no obvious destination because he feels it just isn’t right to turn back until you reach the end. Ultimately, however, it is about fun and safety. Everyone needs to return safe and sound in order to be in a position to enjoy the next adventure. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Daryl B..

	Event Coordinator (Since Aug 07) Dave
Dave has been in Calgary for four years - he came here from Toronto to hike and work. He sells dental equipment and lists his job as one of his interests - he says that his job is a total blast and it's the easiest job he's ever worked hard at. He also lists food (cooking and eating), movies, travel and writing among his interests. Dave's outdoor interests include hiking, scrambling, scree slopes, snowshoeing, kayaking and food (Editor's note: wow... that's a lot of interest in food). He says he will coordinate hiking, hiking and food (there's that food again!), snow shoeing and maybe kayaking events. His events generally have a slow to moderate pace but he is a die-hard finisher and will go in any weather - especially rain. Rain lifts out all the wilderness scents!! Dave generally sticks to his itinerary rather than going on side trips, unless the entire group is willing and prepared (safety first, food second). Expect serious fun, and no deviations from safety. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Dave.

	Event Coordinator (Since Apr 07) Dave S
Dave has been in Calgary for a very long time after leaving Winnipeg to see the world. He still pines for the Winnipeg Jets, even though they left town in 1996, and the Arena was “Blowed up. Blowed up real good!” in 2006. Dave says actually, the Jets and the Arena are still in Winnipeg – when you wake up you will realize it was all a dream and they are still there just like what happened on the TV show Dallas. His claim to fame is being shipped off to exotic Wainwright repeatedly. Dave learned how to ski in a ditch outside of Winnipeg (where they call 150 feet vertical a ski hill). He likes downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, camping, biking and social events. He joined the COC in February 2006 to find activity partners who weren’t golf addicts. He coordinates bike trips, hikes and slow-pitch baseball. On his hikes, expect to keep a “normal” pace and distance as Dave has no desire to bike the Tour de France nor climb Mt. Everest nor do four-minute miles. He generally sticks to the itinerary but is open to suggestions. His all-time favourite trips (when not being shipped off to Wainwright) include seeing the Northern Lights in Norway above the Arctic Circle, and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Peru. He says please, no whiners on his events, and no hero cookies will be given for being the fastest or the best. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Dave S.

	Event Coordinator (Since Aug 07) David Brandreth
David is originally from Manchester, England, and came to Calgary in 1981. He says it was the boom that brought him here, but it turned into a bust on the flight over! He proudly proclaims that he does nothing for a living (then follows it up with a caveat that he's a semi-retired entrepreneur in oil industry related fields such as geophysics, geology, geomatics and prospects). David's outdoor interests include trail running, canoeing, rock climbing, caving, x-c skiing, scrambling and mountaineering. Other interests include environmental and social activism, green politics and reading. He coordinates running, canoeing, scrambling, urban hiking and caving events. A bit of rain does not bother him (he did grow up in England!) but he is happy to call off a trip if the weather looks awful. He also has no problem turning around during a trip if conditions turn dangerous - the journey is more important than the destination. He loves to explore - his itinerary is just a suggestion. On David's trips, he asks that you: Expect the unexpected; Expect fun; Be open to a spiritual experience; Leave your expectations at home. High all-time favorite trips have included climbing Andromeda in a white-out, exploring a virgin cave in Cuba, the Giant's Hole cave in England, the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave in Wales, lead climbing Cenotaph Corner in Wales (his first Extreme), canoeing Cochrane to Bowness, climbing the Aiguille du Midis in France, completing his first Ultramarathon, and walking around Tom Campbell's Hill with Buddy his dog. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by David Brandreth.

	Event Coordinator (Since Jan 08) Dave
In 1953, when laid up in bed with a serious illness I read a book that triggered an interest in outdoor activities, and the following year, I started caving, with some hiking, camping, and a bit of climbing. This led to an interest and a subsequent career in geology, and I have been a geologist since 1962. After working in the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe, I settled in Calgary in 1978, and I currently work for the Alberta Securities Commission, reviewing the public disclosure of oil and gas companies. Although the demands of work and family limited my outdoor activities for some years, I am now more active in the outdoors. I joined the COC in January 2007, and have done a number of hikes and snowshoe trips, but I no longer do the “hard core” stuff, and prefer to maintain a moderate pace. I coordinate city activities (e.g., flogging up the curling club stairs with a loaded backpack, just for fun) and moderate hikes and snowshoe trips, but I am not too good on skis, so will leave that to someone else. I still enjoy geology and try to incorporate it into my trips. My other interests include keeping as fit as possible by working out in the gym, and I have been a keen amateur artist for many years. I volunteered to be a coordinator because I like to get out into the mountains (much more than my usual activity of sitting in an office) and hope to be able to pass my lifetime enjoyment of the outdoors to younger people (i.e., anyone less than about 60!), in particular, to those who have never tried outdoors activities and maybe a bit nervous about starting. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Dave.

	Event Coordinator (Since July 07) Debbie A
Debbie has been in Calgary since 1992, and came here via Regina and then Winnipeg. Her outdoor interests include hiking, scrambling, kayaking, snow shoeing, x-country and downhill skiing. She also enjoys walking/running in the off-leash parks with her yellow lab, Houston. Debbie's all-time favorite trips include: Athabasca Glacier Hike (2004): gearing up with ice cleats, helmets and harnesses and rappelling into a crevasse in the Athabasca Glacier, and more recently, river kayaking with Paddlefest 2007, organized by Alberta White Water Association. Debbie coordinates moderate to difficult hikes and scrambles and likes to stick with a moderate pace. She says if the day starts out with good weather but turns bad, she can still make a good day out of it, but if the weather is bad from the start, she's likely to cancel or postpone an event. More than sticking rigidly to her itinerary, Debbie prefers keeping an open mind to exploring and asks that you attend with the expectation of having fun and meeting new people. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Debbie A.

	Event Coordinator (Since May 05) Doug C
Doug is originally from the Ottawa area, and switched offices and came to work in Calgary in 2003 in search of a better way of life (he was always working out here anyway, so it seemed like the natural thing to do). He joined the COC in June of that year to meet some people in his new home city. Doug works as a geographer in the survey industry, and traveled for years conducting in-field airborne surveys. He is currently trying to find the right job in Calgary to settle into. He has a wide variety of interests, including hiking, biking, walking, dog walking and rollerblading. Other interests include web site design, reading, good movies and cooking (editor’s note: he’s REALLY good at the cooking thing). Doug coordinates hikes, biking events, dog walking and some social events such as movies and game nights. He is a fair-weather wussy (his words) so if it’s raining, Doug ain’t going! He prefers a slower pace and is usually at the back of the pack keeping an eye on everyone in front of him. As a general rule, Doug sticks to his planned itinerary and likes to stick together as a group for safety reasons. His all-time favorite hikes are Rae Glacier and Healy Pass. His favorite overseas trip was to the Kalahari in Botswana. Doug likes to have fun, be safe, have a good lunch, take lots of pictures, soak in the scenery, enjoy the day, and have a beer afterwards. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Doug C.

	Event Coordinator (Since Aug 07) Dustin M
I was born in Cape Breton and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick. I moved to Calgary in 2000 after finishing university. I participate in a lot of outdoor activities but most of my time in the summer is split between scrambles and golf (I am aware this is not a normal pairing). Some of my non outdoor interests are wine, beer, shooting pool, road trips and poker. I joined the COC in June 2007 to find more scrambling partners but have now gotten into other midweek pursuits such as Dodge Ball and Volleyball. Through the warmer months I will likely be organizing scrambles. Winter may find me coordinating snowshoeing, snowboarding and X-country skiing. Unless otherwise noted on the trip description I prefer a moderate to quick pace for scrambling. Weather forecasts will not interrupt my plans; I'll always at least drive out to the mountains to see for myself. If safety is an issue we'll look at other options, otherwise it's a go. Being a scrambler I usually have an objective to be reached but variations on how we get there and how we return are always fun. My favorite trips are those involving multiple peaks and/or any that end at a pub with fun people. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Dustin M.

	Event Coordinator (Since Oct 04) Edward Pothier
Ed was born in Edmonton and grew up in Exshaw (wow... have you ever met someone who grew up in Exshaw?), attended grade school in Banff and became very familiar with the outdoor pursuits in the Canmore and Banff areas. He moved around Alberta a bit, and then came to Calgary for work about 22 years ago. Ed is a paramedic with the City of Calgary EMS. His favorite outdoor activities include walking, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and kayaking, and indoor favorites include cooking and gardening. He joined the COC in September 2004 and joined the volunteer team in October 2004 and currently coordinates mountain hikes for us. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Edward Pothier.

	Event Coordinator (Since Nov 04) glenn davis
Glenn was born in a little town called North Bay in Ontario and promptly moved to a smaller town called Ottawa (native translation is "Land of Little Sticks") when he was young. He found a fondness for the outdoors because he always lost his house keys and was not good at breaking into buildings (without getting caught). Way back when the earth cooled and the dinosaurs had just died, otherwise known as the seventies, he spent two summers in the mountains visiting family. His first weekend there, he was made to go up a mountain. The complaining has never stopped, although there has been plenty of climbing and hiking to follow, much to his disappointment (and the frustration of others). Have these people never heard of television? It is, after all, what raised Glenn, and is the basis for all of his opinions. In the nineties, he moved to Yellowknife, (we never said he was smart) where he discovered the love of water sports such as diving and sailing. He eventually sobered up enough to realize where he was living, and relocated to Calgary to pursue more water activities (once again, not smart). Since water is hard to find, hiking is the way to go, if only to see if there are any lakes anywhere. One can only raft the Bow so many times. His only keen observation when in the mountains is "this would be a great view if all these rocks weren’t in the way". Glenn coordinates hikes for the club. He is a slow hiker, and his groups normally split into a fast and slow group, with Glenn leading from the back. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by glenn davis.

	Event Coordinator (Since Jan 07) Gloria Allison
Gloria grew up on a farm near Glen Bain, Saskatchewan, and now lives in Airdrie. She married her high-school sweetheart, Victor, and they have two kids, Jordan (18) and Janelle (13). Growing up in Saskatchewan, Gloria curled in the winter and played softball in the summer. Since arriving in Alberta, she and her family have explored the mountains and Gloria finds that she loves to hike and has just taken up snow shoeing. Her other interests include making greeting cards, scrapbooking her family photos, baking/cooking and sewing. She has played the piano/keyboard since she was four years old. Gloria coordinates hikes and snow shoe trips, and looks forward to coordinating some scrambles once she is more experienced with the sport, as well as some social events. She likes to hike at a moderate pace, although she loves to take pictures and enjoy the scenery so will make stops along the way. She prefers hiking on nice sunny days (cool, not cold), but has been known to hike when it's raining or snowing. She loves to explore and go on little side trips, although she'll always ensure the group is in consensus on decisions and she won't tackle anything that she doesn't feel is safe. Gloria is very personable and likes to meet new people, so her events are perfect for club newbies! See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Gloria Allison.

	Event Coordinator (Since Feb 05) Graham C
Graham was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan and spent a whopping 30 years of his life growing up and working with his dad on the family farm. During that time 3 years were spent in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves out of Saskatoon as a field medic. A secondary career as a building contractor was what the winter months entailed. In 2001 a move to Calgary and a career change brought a new sort of lifestyle about and also the love of the mountains and the outdoors. These days Graham spends his days working in the insurance industry as a property appraiser. Appraising damage to burnt residential and commercial buildings and the odd storm work is the main stay. No more hammer and saw, just a computer and the knowledge of the building industry is what keeps his days filled. Since the start of 2005 Graham has taken up running, resumed his love for mountain biking and started climbing both indoors and outdoors (Rock & Ice), and this is what takes up most of his time now. All things outdoor and for a change without a motor attached to it is what keeps Graham motivated. If you want to find him he will be doing laps around the Talisman, pedalling as fast as he can in Fish Creek Park or trying to remind himself about half way up the cliff side, ice cliff or indoor wall why he is doing this and how the heck he is going to get to the top without having everyone really see how much heights really really scare the heck out of him. Graham's interests in volunteering for COC events will be revolving around mountain biking, hiking and indoor climbing. Or at least anything the club will allow that the waivers cover. See Upcoming Events or Past Events being coordinated by Graham C.