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Q.
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Can I advertise my business on this site?
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A.
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NO
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Q.
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Discussion Areas: When To Use Each Area?
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A.
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Trips: Anything related to trips. Share trips, ask about trips etc...
Gear: Anything related to gear.
Shopping: For sale, want to buy area.
Tips: Any tip related to backpacking
General: Any generally informative or interesting messages
Club: Specifically related to the club itself
*Note: If you are signed up for a trip, discussions pertaining to that particular trip should be posted within that trip's discussion area. Any discussion not specifically relevant to that trip should be posted in the appropriate discussion area on the main discussions page.
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Q.
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Discussion Sections vs. Email: When To Use?
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A.
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Discussion postings are public conversation. Members may choose to discuss a topic that other members may find informative or interesting. Anything posted in a discussion section can be read and replied to by any member.
Email is a private conversation you may choose when you do not wish to share particular information with the entire club (e.g. address, phone number, etc.)
*A general rule of thumb would be: If the group might find the post informative or interesting, and you wish to share the information with all, use the appropriate discussion areas. If not, contact a member directly through email.
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Q.
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Email Preferences: How To Change Them?
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A.
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Members receive automatically-generated emails based on their email preferences. Members have the option to change the type of email they receive by following these steps:
1. Log in to the site
2. Click on "My Profile"
3. Select your preferences
4. Click on "Update"
*Note: Any member signed up for a particular trip will receive an email whenever a new discussion message is posted to that trip - regardless of email preferences.
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Q.
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How & When To Post A Backpacking Trip?
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A.
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Any member may post (organize) a backpacking trip after attending one club meeting and two club backpacking trips. A trip organizer is responsible for providing all necessary trip details and information updates up until commencement of the trip, including contact information, meeting time and location, and directions, as well as knowledge of the trail/ adequate map skills and ability to lead the group.
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Q.
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May I Attend A Club Meeting If I Am Not A Member?
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A.
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Yes. Please feel free to come to the club’s monthly meeting and introduce yourself!
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Q.
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Meeting Other Members
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A.
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Members have the opportunity to meet each other by attending the monthly meetings (social time combined with hikes), or by joining a group for a backpacking trip, or by participating in various other casual activities posted in the general discussion area by other members (hikes, workshops, or classes offered by local park/outdoors organizations, etc.)
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Q.
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Survey: When Do You Get It?
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A.
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When the trip is over, the trip organizer will complete an online end-of-trip task. After that, the trip group members will see a yellow survey button at the top of the screen the next time they log on to the web site. When you click on this button, you will be presented with the survey.
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Q.
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Survey: What Is It?
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A.
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The survey is a collection of questions (with multiple-choice response scales) that members are asked to answer after completing a trip. The purpose of the survey is for members to share opinions of the trail with others.
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Q.
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Survey: Who Gets It?
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A.
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Members who complete a trip will have the opportunity to respond to the survey questions for that trail.
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Q.
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Trip Calendar: Organizers - What are some points that I need to know about Club Trips?
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A.
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The trip is yours, members joining you are your guests.
Communicate your expectations as clearly as possible. In this way, you may save someone from becoming a burden on the trip or making the trip unsafe for everyone. Make every effort to ensure that the message you send is the message received.
Be ready to lead the group. Be prepared with all the details:
• Who may join the trip
• Amount of experience required
• Difficulty levels
• How fast you want to go
• Directions to the trailhead
• What time you will meet at the trailhead
• When you expect to be back
• What trails you want to take
• Where you want to stop for the night
• Where there are water sources
• Any special gear needed
• Any fees along the way
Make your cell phone number available for travel-time emergencies on the way to the trailhead (if someone is stuck in traffic and will be late, etc.)
Don't take anyone that you don't feel comfortable with. Minors MUST be accompanied by an adult. Don't take unnecessary personal risks. If you want to allow or disallow kids or pets, make sure to mention it.
It is NOT acceptable for members that are not on the signed up list to just show up at the trailhead. If one does show up, it is your choice whether or not to include them in your trip. If you decide to include them, make sure to explain the clubs policies, and your expectations. Also, make sure that they sign the waiver (print a few copies to keep in your car).
If you choose to move members from the waiting list to the signed up list, please do it in a timely manner so members have enough time to prepare for the trip.
As an Organizer you represent the club, please follow the simple basic guidelines, which would make succeeding Organizers tasks easier and more pleasurable.
At the end of the trip, please login and fill out the trip completion form.
Have a nice and safe trip.
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Q.
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Trip Calendar: What are some points that I need to know about Club Trips?
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A.
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- Trips are organized by members that have the skills and are willing to take other members with them. When joining a trip, respect the organizer’s wishes… after all, it’s his or her trip. Trip organizers set the rules and have the right to take or refuse members at their discretion.
- When organizers set up trips, they specify where, when, and how the trip will go. Please read all the details and make sure you are up for it. The pace, the difficulty level, and the level of experience are very important points to consider. If you are not sure about any of the items in the trip’s details, ASK the organizer. Please do not show up unprepared. Unprepared participants may be unsafe and a burden to the group.
- When signing up for a trip, you signup yourself only. You cannot bring any guests with you unless you have the organizer’s approval ahead of time. A definition of a guest may include friends, kids, pets, etc...
- If you are on the waiting list you cannot just show up at the trailhead; the organizer has to move you to the signed up list before you can participate in a trip.
- If you can’t make it to the trailhead when specified, let the organizer know ASAP. Just not showing up is unacceptable.
- Organizers cannot charge a fee for their service. The only exchange of $ is for fees along the way, and carpooling expenses.
- Members are responsible for their own gear. You must bring all the gear you need for the trip unless you pre-arrange sharing with another participant. As a general practice, we do not automatically share gear, food, etc.
- Click HERE to see the disclaimer/waiver you need to agree to when you signed up for a trip.
- Be safe.
- Have fun.
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Q.
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Trip Calendar: Who’s Can Sign Up? (May I Bring A Friend Who Is Not A Member?)
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A.
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While non-members are welcome to attend the monthly club meeting before joining the club, membership is required in order to participate in a club-scheduled backpacking trip. As a member, at the time you sign up for a trip online, you will be presented with a waiver to sign before your name is added to the trip group’s list.
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Q.
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Trip Log: What Is It?
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A.
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The trip log section of the site is dedicated to backpacking trips where members can share information about the trail. The main purpose is to create a library of information to assist members in their research of the trails.
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Q.
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What If I Sign Up For A Trip And Have To Cancel?
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A.
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This is not a problem as long as you remove your name from the trip’s list before the day of the trip. If you encounter an emergency and must cancel at the last minute, please have the courtesy to notify the trip organizer so that the group is not assembled and waiting for you at the trailhead.
If the trip required some kind of payment, it may or may not be refundable based on the purpose of the payment. It should be made clear to you at payment time if it's refundable or not.
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Q.
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What is backpacking?
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A.
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A backpacker packs all of his or her gear into a backpack and hikes into the wilderness for an over night
stay. This gear must include food, water, and shelter, or the means to obtain them, but very little else,
and often in a more compact and simpler form than one would use for stationary camping. Many backpacking
trips last just a weekend (one or two nights), but long-distance expeditions may last weeks.
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Q.
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What Is The Waiver?
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A.
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The waiver is a standard form releasing NEOH Backpacking Club from any liability. Please read the full waiver for the details.
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Q.
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What kind of activities does this club do?
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A.
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As the name of the club states, we are a Backpacking Club. This site is only for backpacking activities.
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Q.
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Survey: How Do You See The Results?
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A.
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The results of the survey are linked to the trip log. If a trip log is not posted by a member, then one will be automatically generated by the system. Icons for survey results, as well as notes, photos, and GPS Tracks are located to the right of each trail on the trip log page.
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