DPS Newsletter


CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN          John W. Robinson

This Newsletter is out a bit earlier than usual, but the cause is just: Publicizing the March 21st business meeting, at chapter headquarters. Besides electing our 63-64 officers, the agenda will include voting on the by-law revision to modernize our election procedures (see page 3), planning our June through October schedule, and deciding if Smith Mtn. is worthy of joining our peaks list. All of you who can possibly make it are urged to attend.

Don't fail to get your reservations in for the DPS Annual Banquet in Temple City Wednesday evening, April 3rd. A check for $3.75 mailed to Trudie Hunt will save you a seat and a dinner. Not only Desert Peakers, but all those interested in the wilds of Baja California are invited. Howard Gulick, author of the informative, up-to-date Baja California Guidebook is the featured speaker so bring your friends and enjoy with us this evening of fraternization with Baja bums, desert rats, and the like. P.S.: Address is Black Watch Steak House, 8909 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City.

Most, if not all, DPS outings take a great deal of planning and effort by the trip leaders. Perhaps many of you haven't realized just what preparation and work is involved that places a minor, and sometimes a major, hardship on the leaders of a scheduled trip.

First of all, the area to be visited must be scouted before hand, often taking up an entire weekend of the leaders' time and effort. Following this gaining of intimate knowledge of the area, the leader(s) must attend a meeting to propose the trip to the schedule chairman, submit a write-up for the chapter schedule, and, if the trip is detailed, a brochure on the outing for the Newsletter and individual trip participants.

During the week immediately preceding the trip, the leaders are apt to enjoy few nights at home without being interrupted by at least half a dozen telephone calls. They are usually responsible for arranging transportation for those without cars or, more likely, those who don't wish to drive alone. On a large trip this can be quite a headache, involving many calls by the leaders themselves to arrange car pools. If the trip is difficult or strenuous, the leaders must use judgment in deciding just who should and should not attend.
Finally the weekend of the trip arrives. The leaders must arrive at the meeting place early, place arrows in strategic positions, and sometimes try to find would-be participants who missed a turn-off somewhere. During the trip the leaders are responsible for keeping the group cohesive and on the right route. With a small party of equal or near equal abilities, this is usually a not too-difficult task. But if the party is large, which usually
 
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