| FEB/MAR 1990 | 206 |
 |
WAIVERS NOW REQUIRED ON ALL DPS
TRIPS! The DPS Management Committee unanimously voted to require signed waivers
from all participants for all trips. The SPS has been requiring waivers for
some time now. Here is how it will all work: Beginning April 1st, 1990, leaders
will receive one copy of the waiver in their trip package from the new Mountain
Records Chair. When photocopying the trip sheet, leaders will also photocopy
the unsigned waiver form, and send one waiver for each participant in the SASE
along with the trip sheet. Participants must show up at the roadhead with a
signed waiver. No waiver, no hike, O.K.? A copy of the waiver is included in
this SAGE. READ IT. Questions? Ask your attorney. (He'll spend 30 minutes
telling you he doesn't know much about it either, then bill you at $2-$3/minute
for that sage advise!) No, we're not going to keep a file of signed waivers for
everyone; nearly half of our trip participants are non-DPS members. If YOU want
to photocopy several copies of this waiver and bring a freshly signed &
dated copy to each trip, that's fine. Leaders should retain these signed
waivers. The 1989 version of the waiver is O.K., but the 1990 version is
better. The 2-90 version differs from the 1-90 version by an insignificant
comma. (won't fill space in this column by re-explaining reasons for using
waivers. We are very happy that the Backroad Explorers Committee has been reinstated by the Angeles Chapter Excom. Bob Marshall headed a four-person committee (including Karen Leonard) appointed by the Chapter Council. Bob's committee thoroughly investigated the circumstances of the BRE suspension and strongly recommended reinstatement. The Council overwhelmingly recommended reinstatement. Chapter EXCOM overwhelmingly approved reinstatement. Kudos to the cooler heads on the EXCOM, Council, and BRE that enabled reconciliation, and especially Bob Marshall, whose analysis & presentation was reportedly superb, and to the BRE management, who, for the most part, stayed cool, persevered, and got back in. WELCOME BACK! The Feb 2.0 HR-780 hearings in Beverly Hills reportedly featured rudeness & short tempers on both sides. The HR-780 roadhead impact analysis published in the last SAGE was NOT an academic exercise! We can say the following at this time: "Regarding the California Desert Protection Act, I have discussed our trailhead concerns with the Directors of the California Desert Protection League. The directors have been meeting with various companies and organizations with site-specific wilderness boundary problems. Boundary decisions will be made in Washington during markup of the legislation and no promises were made, but our concerns were forwarded with the likelihood that most of our critical needs can be met." We have some ballot measures to vote on. If anyone cares, these are your Chair's recommendations: Delete Navajo: mildly favor. Delete Maturango: strongly oppose! Add Canyon Point: no recommendation. Add Mountain Records Chair to Management Committee: Strongly favor! Extend 8-month DPS meeting season to 10 months: No recommendation. VOTE!! -Dale |