MORE ABOUT PROPOSED SIERRA CLUB OUTINGS POLICY
On February 19, 1976, Robin Ives, Angeles Chapter Chairman, submitted to the Sierra Club Council the Chapter's proposal for revision of the Sierra Club outings policy. The Sierra Club Counsel presently is charged with developing a new outings policy for the entire club. The Angeles Chapter proposal includes the following matters of particular concern to the DPS: Coordination of Trips Each chapter will be required to identify the areas within it's own boundaries that are environmentally or politically sensitive. Trips to those areas could be held only with the consent of the local chapter. Other trips to less sensitive areas would require advance notification to the local chapter, which would retain the right to request modifications of the trips. First Aid Training Required Most DPS leaders have complied fully with all of the leader training and qualifying requirements of the proposed policy. However, the Sierra Club Council has proposed and the Angeles Chapter concurred that leaders must successfully complete a Red Cross first aid course or have comparable training. Any DPS leaders who do not meet the first aid requirement should contact Gene Olsen at once in order to register for a special first aid course that will be given May 1-2 and 15-16. Gene's address and telephone number are in the schedule. This is an outstanding course and well worth the time regardless of the requirement for leader qualification. Cooking Practices The Sierra Club Council had proposed that chapter outings give priority to central commissary. The Angeles Chapter left this out of their proposal and pointed out that there are strong arguments both for central commissary and for individual commissary. The Angeles Chapter also stated that to the extent possible cooking should be done on chemical fuel stoves. If wood is used, there should be a single cooking fire for the entire party, and at most one campfire for the party. This policy may be relaxed in areas with abundant firewood if fires would not otherwise violate impact standards. DPS Position The DPS Management Committee believes that the requirement that the DPS notify other chapters when trips are scheduled to areas that are not politically or environmentally sensitive places an unnecessary burden on trip leaders and the outings chairman. DPS trips into those areas do not conflict with trips of other chapters which, in most cases, have never even considered going into them. The DPS Management Committee plans to write directly to the Sierra Club Council stating its position and pointing out that the area of the DPS has always been the mountains of the western deserts, not just the geographical area of the Angeles Chapter.
	Joe McCosker

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