Kirby wrote, "I had a situation the other day on a club trip organized by several members. > > On Good Friday a group of paddlers decided to head out to the Sooke Basin, west of Victoria,B.C....." Was this a VCKC trip or a Network Paddle? I think the group dynamics of the VCKC paddles is generally quite good. There have been some VCKC paddles that I've been on were questionable leadership decisions have been made, but this does not happen very often. As for the Network Paddles, I avoid them. Competency is not required or even encouraged on these paddles. The last one I was on left from Island View Beach to circumnavigate James Island. While getting ready to launch one Network Member asked me if I'd be wearing a spray skirt! Another simply packed her PFD on the back of her kayak. Half way through the paddle it blew off and she blissfully continued to paddle unaware that the PFD was gone. A VCKC member retrieved it for her. I tried to take a head count before we left, initially I counted 21 paddlers. At lunch we had 23 and when we landed at the end there were 19. No one was concerned or cared. I resolved never to paddle with the Network again - or at least until some standards are implimented. I also think we should never leave the beach with such large groups unless it's been explained to everyone just what the plan is. I am not trying to slag the Network paddle group. I'm just recalling my experience and would like to encourage the group to address some of these issues. I know the Network is an informal association, but I think they should adopt a more prudent attitude. Group dynamics are not easy to manage and even the most cautious VCKC practices are sometimes ignored - but at least we endeavor to practice leadership and set out to manage the group when we paddle. Gordin Warner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Apr 05 2002 - 10:27:22 PST
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