Video by Steve Best: Paddling with the FONz

Thanks to Steve for his fascinating presentation at our club meeting on accompanying an eight main team of wounded veterans along their journey up the inside passage. Steve paddled alongside this amazing group for the Port McNeil to Prince Rupert leg of their journey this past summer. The group is Team Forces of Nature (affectionately called the FONz).

For those who missed it or would like information on their route, here's his presentation on video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh5-cZvdTiE

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Video from Harrison River Trip

Thanks Devi for making this video of the club's Harrison River paddle.

https://youtu.be/_owRuLpc3yc

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Update: Volunteers still needed for the following positions in 2023-24

Our club's AGM is November 6 so a Nominations Committee is preparing for the election of club officers. All positions are open for nomination, but the following are roles where we are still actively seeking volunteers.

Contact Susan at webmanager2@skabc.org to nominate someone, volunteer yourself, or ask questions.

Click each title to read the details:

[accordion clicktoclose="true"] [accordion-item title="Programs Coordinator"] (Note that in 2023-2024 the current Programs team plans to assist in the following.)

With input from others, both club members and sources outside of SKABC, sets the content and books presenters for the monthly general meetings in Sept, October, January to June.

Provide a description and speaker photo(s) of each month's topic for the website and club emails.

Introduce and thank the presenter(s). Take notes of questions from the presentation and moderate questions from participants

Work with executive on a budget to include arranging a card or token gift for the presenter, and/or travel expenses a guest speaker incurs if appropriate.

One representative from the Programs role should be present at monthly Executive meetings, held virtually each month except for December and July.
[/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Safety Officer"]

  • collaborate with Training to offer safety related courses, workshops, and seminars
  • lead safety related issues that the exec has identified (for 2023-24 there is a committee working on assembling first aid kits for club use)
  • organize safety related events as opportunities arise/interest is identified
  • identify speakers and or topics that could be presented at the start of club meetings
  • Receive and review Trip Reports
  • Attend monthly Executive meetings over Zoom
[/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Outreach and Promotions"] Coordinates club participation in outside events as agreed on by the Executive. In 2023 the main Outreach event was the Big Brothers and Big Sisters paddle.

Initiates getting an event on the club calendar, getting a committee together, and publicizing it to make it happen.

Attends virtual Executive Meetings Monthly.
[/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Training Officer's Assistant"] Assist the Training Officer as needed. Here is the description of the Training Officer's role.

SKABC’s vision for training is to have an effective, consistent and leading edge training system that puts safety first and foremost and ensures enjoyment for all levels while caring for the planet.

SKABC has nine core courses developed by the club and offered each year. Also, members volunteer to deliver specialty topic sessions and from time to time we make arrangements for courses with external providers.

While club members provide the instruction and coordinate individual courses, the training coordinator oversees the budget and the planning, scheduling and booking of courses for the season. Course related responsibilities include ensuring courses are posted on the website and regularly updated during the busy months, identifying qualified instructors, providing the lead instructor with originals of course handouts, ensuring the course coordinator has the necessary information to handle registrations, collecting participant and instructor feedback, approving expenses and monitoring the training budget.

In addition to the monthly club and executive meetings, the time commitment is heaviest from March through early June when most courses are running and may require 2-4 hours each month. The majority of scheduling and bookings is normally completed in January and early February and takes 5-10 hours over that period depending on the courses and options available. During the rest of the year, some off season courses may be offered but the work involved is limited.
[/accordion-item] [/accordion]

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Apodaca Correction – Nick Heath

"I have removed my previous message about this Park because it had inaccurate information. BC Parks have advised me that it is not yet officially open for overnight use, so please restrict your visits to day use only until an official opening date is announced, hopefully some time this winter after the information kiosk has been installed.

The Park will be paddle-in access only and fires will be prohibited year round."

Furthermore, I recently offered in our Newsletter a personal opinion about a possible cause of the human-set fire that occurred at Apodaca Provincial Park on 25 May 2023. I had no evidence to substantiate this opinion, therefore it was entirely speculative and I withdraw it. I am sorry for any offense my remarks might have caused.

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Nominations open for Silver Paddle and Orca Awards

The Silver Paddle Award is given by the club executive to express gratitude for a member's valuable contributions to SKABC over the years. In 2023 we are also asking for nominations for the Orca Award. This award is a way of saying thank-you to a person who has made significant contributions not only to SKABC but to the sea kayaking community as a whole.

Nomination guidelines: The club strives to recognize unique individuals each year -- someone who hasn't won before! The list of past recipients is below. Nominations are being accepted now - the deadline is October 15, 2023. Awards will be given at the November 6 Annual General Meeting.

Email Susan Jensen (see member list) to submit your nominations. Thanks!

History of The Silver Paddle and Orca Awards:

These Silver Paddle Award award winners were selected by the club executive to recognize and say a huge thank you for a member's volunteer efforts over the years!

Past Silver Paddle Award Winners:

2021: Philip Kubik

2019: Sue Johnson and Calvin Sam

2018: Graham Lorimer, Bob Salo, Steve Best, Chantal Ethier

2017: Roy Smyth, Inge Zegel, Bruce Pickwell, Randy Chatterjee

2015 Silver Paddle Recipients: Mick Allen, Shirley Brunke, Simone Avram

2014 Silver Paddle Recipients: Karin Hartner, Nick Heath, Rob Leeson

2013 Silver Paddle Recipients: Richard Jensen and Susan Jensen

2009 Silver Paddle Recipients: Bob Maher and Maureen Benzon

2008 Silver Paddle Recipients: Gayla Shulhan, George Prevost, Kallie Cunningham and Peter Kearney.

SKABC instituted the Orca Award as a way to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the kayaking community as a whole. Nominations for this award are sought from all club members before the Annual General Meeting. The challenge is choosing one person from a large group of people who have made a difference.

Past Orca Award Winners

2021 Orca Award: Steve Best

2018 Orca Award: Nick Heath

2007 Orca Award: Cindy Dopson

2006 Orca Award: Tony Clayton

2005 Orca Award: Rick Davies

2004 Orca Award: Ray Pilman

2003 Orca Award: Harald Riffel

A huge thank you to these recipients. We hope to continue the tradition of presenting Orca and Silver Paddle Awards in the future.

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