• The Board of Directors met on October 15 and made a number of decisions for the upcoming year.   The minutes are available for review on a page on our website – link.
• A significant change is proposed for registration/membership for new members.   A summary is provided on the Membership Information page.
• Current members will receive an email with a link to the registration page about December 1, 2017.   Please ensure your email address is current (edit your profile).
• A page with all registration information will be open later in December for both renewals and for new members.   The page is currently scheduled to stay open until June 15, 2018, but the Board of Directors will keep an eye on the number of event spaces available to members.
• All current memberships will expire by the end of December.   At that point if the membership is not renewed, the 2017 member will not be able to book into 2018 events.   Non-renewed members will have their names removed from any posted future events after the membership expiry date.   This will leave those spaces available for 2018 members.
• All renewed and new memberships will be for 365 days from the day of confirmation of the completion of the registration process.  This will be done automatically.
• A revision to the Dogs Policy has been approved and can be seen on the website – Our Furry Friends page.
• Hike Leaders are reminded to list possible risks for a given outing and members are reminded to read these to make sure the event fits their interests and abilities.
• A list of best practices in keeping a group together on the trail will be provided to both leaders and members.
• Some concern has been expressed that some new members may be joining KHC only for retailers discounts (no outings in a year).   We don’t know if this is true or not, but the Board has taken some steps to deal with this issue.   See the Membership page for the measures approved by the Board.
• A KHC Leaders Recognition Dinner is now posted for December 3rd.   See the Event Listing for more information.

KHC’s mandate is to offer group hikes and other outings for its members.    These outings can vary from very easy and very safe to very difficult and with more potential risks.   Although we do not encourage dangerous events, some of our hike leaders do offer events with off-trail sections, trails that skirt the edges of cliffs, scrambles up or down loose slopes, routes with steep sections, routes with long climbs and downhills, hikes in hot weather or cold weather, snowshoes in untracked terrain, paddles on rivers or across lakes, hikes in bear, cougar, or rattlesnake country, and so on.   Some of those leaders have been doing those kinds of outdoor activity for decades so they are experienced, but they are volunteers nonetheless.   Our hike leaders rely on KHC members to read the listings carefully before deciding to register.   They rely on expectations of preparedness (see the Ten Essentials) and on keeping in touch with the group.   Fitness is also an issue for longer events so a less fit person may not be able to keep up, making the outing difficult for everyone.   In the end, everyone is responsible for their own safety, preparation, good communication, good choices, and common sense.   Our success as a Club is a combined effort, full of rewards, but all of us must weigh our choices carefully.