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-==== Storm Paddling ====
-**Edoh Amiran** \\
-/09/10  #7691
-Thanks to Morris and Debbie for hosting, and to all the participants for their frank comments and suggestions and for sharing their experience.
-Bellow is my attempt at a summary of the meeting.
-The subject was winter storm paddling in Bellingham Bay.  In Morris's words: I'll define "cold" as below 55F and windy as winds greater than 10 mph. Yeah, a lot of this stuff would apply to Lake Whatcom or Puget Sound, but let's stick to Bellingham Bay....
-Categories of things to consider emerging from the discussion, with a few words that could describe each, were
-A. Goals -- play, race, point-to-point paddle.
-B. Equipment -- gear checklist, gear check, redundancy.
-C. Readiness -- skills, fitness, knowledge of weather conditions.
-D. Group dynamics -- communication, assessment of self and others, responsibility, safety margins.
-E. Responsibility -- for decisions, for others, to others.
-Comments made (mostly each by several people) about things to consider.
-On Goals -- discuss these explicitly (see D); suggested that in rough conditions paddling point to point with play and successful navigation be the main goal.
-On Equipment -- dress for immersion; bring some warming devices (skull cap, pogies, chemical hand warmers, etc.); bungee backup for rudder; tape 2-piece paddles for security; examine cables for corrosion; test radios (VHF preferred for communication in the group and to shore/boats/ coast guard); be aware of visibility.
-On Readiness -- ask yourself whether you are ready for these conditions on this day; ask yourself how far is your equipment and conditioning from what it was on your previous paddle in similar conditions; before leaving review possible scenarios (possible exit strategies should paddling prove difficult); consider consequences of accumulated small problems (should you be delayed, will that cause other difficulties); consider emersion and remount as a practical check before setting out; consider the readiness of others in your group.
-On Group Dynamics -- decide explicitly and before leaving on a paddling formation (if any) and on expectations (staying together, sending someone for help, etc. should problems arise); resist group pressure to go (your buddies will respect you for not jeopardizing their run); tell group members if you think they are not ready for conditions on that occasion (your buddies will respect you for keeping them safe).
-On Responsibility -- we are responsible for our own decisions; we can also influence one another; it is our responsibility to keep our ego in check (assess as honestly as we can and consider our past performance).
-Suggestions sought: more thoughts on group paddling protocol, thoughts on a group plan, thoughts on peer assessment, additions to emergency gear.
-**Re: Storm Paddling\\
-Reivers Dustin** \\
-/10/10  #7692
-I am (again) blown away by the quality of the people in the group last night.  ... and those cookies!
-The task here is very difficult.  As we entered this season I was feeling we might have a serious loss on the bay.  I had shared this with a few and it seems each and every one of you has stepped forward in your own way and given me faith.  They say that people don't resist change, they resist 'being changed'.  You are the proof.
-However, some of the insights rattled my paradigm.  Simon: - is it wise/fun/practical to go out in these conditions?  J. Hedge: - we seem to think we're doing another Wed Niter, eh?  Various: - tell the newbie they can't do it.
-I'll save these discussion notes.  Morris and Edoh were being gentle about it: We Must get some concrete things out of our work together.  I think a checklist is a good 'deliverable'.  Peter's information from the C.G. was great.  Maybe we can do a meeting with the C.G.
-If you are reading this, you are important.  The get together last night was fun, but also puts a load on the host.  Hopefully we can do some work here by messages.  I am thinking of Else.  Each of us has strong feelings.  You can't tell it, but I'm holding back so much to keep from bloating this message up with how cool and wonderful everyone is.  Thank you.
-Reivers
-**Edoh's Notes\\
-Reivers Dustin** \\
-/10/10  #7694
-I've saved the meeting notes in a file named "100109 Safety Session".  If you log into Whatcompaddlers on the web, go to the 'Files' on the left of the screen, then look for 'Safety' or you can cut and paste the following:\\
-http://groups.yahoo.com/group/whatcompaddlers/files/Safety%20Files/
-You'll also see some bits & pieces from previous safety discussions that have gone down.  Somewhere in there I've saved the Coast Guard risk assessment guide that uses the Green, Amber, Red (GAR) model.  This basic approach is used in industry to guide workplace and task specific safety.
-RD
-(by the way, that filename looks cryptic, but it's simple.  Filesorting works wonderfully well when preceded by the yr/mo/dy format.  If we do more notes, this will be a blessing.)
-**Re: Edoh's Notes\\
-Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@...>** \\
-/10/10  #7696
-Thanks Reivers, Morris, Debbie Edoh and everyone!  The evening was a very nice step in evolving a more formal safety protocol for winter cold water open cockpit small craft paddling.  With this outline, it would be interesting to have another meeting, and focus on developing just one piece of the protocol.  For example, finish 'Equipment Checklist,' or get on 'Winter Dress Code Strategies.'  Most interesting might be getting around to ' Solo, Duo and Group Paddling.'  Good jon everyone!  Looks like a sunny day, see you on the water!
-**"Morris Arthur" <marthur@...> wrote:**
-Thanks to all who showed up:\\
-Often, each of us is a solo paddler, sneaking off for a glorious hour on the water, but Saturday night, we continued to demonstrate that we are a community that cares deeply for the sport and each other (and not in that order :)
-OK, let's focus on some tangible outcomes related to the most popular lines of discussion. I suggest:
-) A pre-launch checklist.
-) A consensus agreement on group paddling protocol.
-I'm a fan of get-togethers, especially if there is food and drink involved. However, for  1) A pre-launch checklist , I suggest that we brainstorm a huge long list electronically. Then, we can compile the list, organize a party (oops, "meeting") and fine-tune the list. OK?
-The easiest way for us to brainstorm a list would be via Whatcompaddlers with a single thread/subject. (e.g. I would post a message with subject "Pre-launch checklist" and then any Whatcompaddler could add to the list by replying to that post.)
-Alternatively, I  (or someone else with web skills like DJ & Kristen) could start a new storm paddling web site with a bulletin board, or we could start another (temporary?) Yahoo group to keep the traffic off Whatcom paddlers. Opinions? (especially from Reivers :)
-What about 2) ?  This relates to informal paddle excursions where we all just happen to launch at the same time (specifically, Saturday at 9am).\\
-We could also brainstorm some ideas online before calling another party meeting...
-Any comments and ideas about objectives or process? (i.e. before we jump into content)
-Thanks again,\\
-Morris
-**Reivers Dustin** \\
-/11/10  #7703
-Excellent.  You are tracking the best line here, Morris.
-Regards high traffic on WhatcomPaddlers: not a concern.  In fact some of our important resources are not computer wizards, just sensible folks.  So whatever we can do to make it simple for average paddlers is my favorite.  I've tried using the "Polls" feature on yahoogroups and it is cumbersome.  But it's one more tool.
-If we get the opportunity to do our own real live website I would be delighted.  Note: I am not the awesome web-wonk that you all think I am.  I just was bored one day and started checking all the little boxes on Yahoo.  You can have my awesome powers if you want, but someone already stole my superhero costume.  Get your own.
-Now for some boring reference information:  some of us cannot log into yahoogroups often (workplace security, etc.)  If you just get emails of these messages, the high traffic might be bothersome.  You have choices: daily or weekly digests might work for you.  My favorite is to log directly to the yahoogroups site with username/password and check the postings at my convenience.  (I get no email traffic.)  Also, you might get a notice of 'bouncing membership' this is because yahoogroups checks your email address on file to make sure it is 'live'.  If it isn't, your membership might get 'bounced'.  Make sure you give them a working email addy.  If you change, you'll have to update.  If you need any help tweaking your settings, contact Larry G. or myself.
-rd

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