Re: [Paddlewise] Get together ?? and/or Join Together By Common Interests

I have to add my agreement.  There appears to be some validity to the 
independent (there I go) observations of people on the PW list.  Having 
begun paddling in Florida and now living on the West Coast I can tell you 
that the clubs and/or paddlers I have encountered tend to be far more 
independent and less structured as a group than what one would expect.  In 
comparison to the Sierra Club, Mountaineers or other outdoor groups 
paddlers just don't seem to socialize or unify in the same manner.   I have 
made some life long friends flying, climbing and backpacking, but have 
found it difficult to get together with paddlers.

In California there are organizations such as California Kayak Friends, but 
they don't get together as a group yet have trips that folks can join and a 
couple of purported excellent clubs such as BASK and San Diego Kayak 
Club.  Presently there are no clubs in the Los Angeles area or Orange 
County that I can find.  I would like to work on putting a club together in 
the Dana Point area.  There are facilities available to meet and some 
excellent paddling opportunities at our door step.

I believe a more active club structure would have a positive impact on the 
paddling community at large and provide an excellent venue for people to 
enter the sport of sea kayaking in a safer way, gain experience and skill 
and generally grow as a paddler and person.




At 12:36 AM 4/29/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>Steve,
>
>         My experience thus far with kayakers in general, is that they 
> tend to be relatively independent [though my view has changed a bit 
> having actually had coffee with another kayaker recently-give me a month 
> or so and I'll change my signature line perhaps<g>]
>
>         THIS "club" is one that appears to cover nearly the entire 
> globe... well... sorta...<g> and yes, that can be a problem getting 
> people together...<g>  But I heartily endorse your views however!
>
>         Frankly I cannot afford even one "T."  <shrug> but now decals? 
> <VBG> that I may be able to swing, along with hopefully an electric pump 
> this month!  I mean we all have out priorities don't we? ;-)
>
>         Fact is that it would indeed seem that a group of people with a 
> common interest could get together very well.  It would also seem that 
> you make a valid point about how a group of paddlers could possibly 
> influence the public.
>
>         The decision about decals is to place them very visibly on both 
> ends of my kayak, as well as on my truck on "both ends."  Perhaps that 
> may "identify" me to others as being part of this select group?
>
>         I Intend to go to Pt. Townsend this summer and get with at least 
> one of the other members of this group, perhaps there will be more?  I 
> would love for that to happen!  C'mon you Seattle-ites, it's just a ferry 
> boat ride+50 miles...<g>
>
>         OTOH, since I have been a member here from shortly since its 
> conception and Wavelength before that, and have only recently met another 
> member F2F, if it never happens I guess it is all right too!
>
>         Weather is good for the weekend out here, and one way or the 
> other I intend to spend at least Saturday on a lake, and possibly I will 
> shift to sea water for Sunday...
>
>         Take care,
>
>                 Tom Weese [Bremerton]
>
>At 10:18 PM 4/28/00 -0700, Steve James wrote:
>>Question Paddle wisers!!
>>
>>Why when Tina wanted to get together as a group no one said a word, or
>>wrote any support for this. Now someone else wants to get t-shirts going
>>for sale and you are ready to jump on it. Come on people, this is a
>>group for the enjoyment of paddling not JUST for the East coast or for
>>the West coast. I think that it is a good idea that there is some way to
>>say that you are a part of a bigger group. That is why I  will buy 2 of
>>these t-shirts as soon as I can. I also think that if a person has an
>>Idea, that can pull more than a few people together then lets go for it.
>>It is not very often that a large group can have a positive inflence on
>>the public and how they look at us as YAKERS. What better mix of people
>>then us to show them.
>>
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>
>A kayak paddler with a brain injury that is VERY glad
>He no longer lives in the close vicinity of seattle...
>            <gadfly911_at_earthlink.net>
>               homepage: none yet
>
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