GREEN VALLEY RECREATION INC.
P.O. BOX 1074 GREEN VALLEY, AZ. 85622
CURRENT REVISION: 05/2005
All prospective Hiking Club members shall attend an Orientation Meeting held under the auspices of the Board Orientation Representative before the first Club hike is taken. The Orientation Meeting shall educate the prospective member to the joys and hazards of hiking in the desert and shall impress upon them the clothing and equipment requirements. The Club’s Policies shall be provided to them along with their handouts. They shall be informed that their first hike shall be a "C" and then a "C" or a "B" hike must be taken prior to the new hiker’s choice of a more rugged "A". The purpose of this policy is to encourage safe and enjoyable hikes.
NUMBER OF HIKERS ON A HIKE:
The maximum number of hikers on any hike shall be limited to 25 people when other hikes have not been filled. Exceptions to this policy shall be as follows: When governmental entities limit a hike to fewer than 25 people, the Club shall limit the hike to their maximum number. In addition, the Hikemaster may set limits lower than 25 people on specific hikes. When all hikes of a class (A, B, C) are filled, the number of hikers on a hike may exceed 25 and the Hikemaster shall decide whether to allow more hikers or to add a hike with a new Leader and Sweep.
PARTICIPATION:
The Hikemaster or Leader may refuse a hiker permission to accompany the hike if the hiker is not prepared for the hike or has not adhered to the established rules and regulations.
GUESTS HIKING WITH THE CLUB:
All guests must register for the hike on a log sheet sanctioned by GVR and print "guest of (name of their sponsor)" in the GVR number space after their name.
The Hikemaster, Assistant Hikemaster or Leader may deny participation in a specific hike to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or equipped to hike or who has not adhered to established rules and procedures. Guests must meet the guidelines of GVR. The sponsoring member must accompany his/her guest(s) on the hike. Should the guest(s) be unable to complete the hike, the sponsoring member shall accompany the guest(s) in whatever alternate action is chosen by the Leader. "Part Time" residents with "Temporary" GVR cards are considered GVR members and not guests even though they are friends of Club members. The purpose of this policy is to encourage safe, responsible and enjoyable hiking.
HIKING FOOTWEAR:
In the interest of safety, GVR members who hike with the Club, and their guests, shall from their first hike forward, wear, as standard footwear, hiking boots which provide traction for all terrain in various weather conditions. To reduce the likelihood of twisting an ankle, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that the boots cover and support the ankles.
TRANSPORTATION TO THE TRAILHEAD:
It is the hikers’ responsibility to obtain a ride. The Leader may consolidate the rides in an effort to reduce the number of cars at the trailhead.
PARKING LOT COURTESIES:
The Hiking Club Board shall, in concert with GVR, select a parking lot to assemble the hikers for the purpose of signing up for the hikes and shall select a nearby lot, if necessary, to park the cars of hikers who are not driving to the trailhead. The purpose of this policy is to extend the courtesy of keeping parking lots open for people going to nearby functions who do not enjoy the same level of fitness as hikers and to enhance the efficiencies involved when considering short term, high turnover parking versus long term, all day parking.
CANCELLATION OF THE HIKES:
The Hikemaster or his/her designee has the responsibility to cancel hikes if the weather or other conditions make it advisable to do so. Once the hike is underway, the Leader will have the responsibility to abort the hike if the conditions warrant.
CREDIT FOR HIKES:
A credit of seven (7) miles for each hike taken shall be placed in the hiker’s record for the purpose of awarding patches. Credit will be given only for hikes taken with the Club on a regularly scheduled hike day. It is the Hikemaster’s prerogative, after consulting with the Leader, to award credit for partially completed hikes.
The hikes which are given double credit are: Mt. Wrightson (from Madera Canyon side only) and Crest Trail Crossover. No other hikes are presently considered for double credit.
AWARD PRESENTATIONS:
The Leader of the hike shall present the award to the hiker(s) on the day of earning such award, provided the hiker’s dues are current.
JUNE HIKING:
There will be no credited Club hiking in the month of June, except for the National Trail Day Hike.
MOONLIGHT HIKES:
Moonlight evening hikes may be scheduled at times during the year, but hiking credit will not be given.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OBSERVED ON HIKES:
Any illegal activities observed while hiking are to be ignored while getting the hikers away from the area as quickly as possible and reporting to the authorities upon returning to Green Valley. The purpose of this policy is to maintain the safety of the hikers and perform civic responsibilities.
SMOKING ON HIKES:
Smoking is not allowed on any Club hikes.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON HIKES:
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is not allowed on Club hikes.
FIREARMS ON HIKES:
Firearms are not allowed in a hiker's possession on Club sponsored hikes.
PETS ON HIKES:
Pets are not allowed on Club sponsored hikes.
MINE TUNNELS AND SHAFTS:
The entering of mine tunnels or shafts is prohibited on any hike sponsored by the Hiking Club and no encouragement is to be given for people to enter these unsafe tunnels or shafts at any other time. The purpose of this policy is to encourage safe and enjoyable hiking.
WILDERNESS INHABITANTS:
Snakes, animals, insects and other wild creatures shall not be harmed intentionally in the course of hiking in their domain. The Club members shall do what is in their power to respect the life we meet on our hikes.
MEMBERSHIP DEFINITIONS:
• A New Member is someone who has never before belonged to the Club. A person who may become a New Member has two perks which may be used only once. First, that person may hike twice without having the join the Club and pay dues. Second, that person may join the Club in November or December and receive membership privileges through the following calendar year.
• A Continuing Member is someone who is applying for an annual membership and who was a member of the Club in the preceding year.
• A Returning Member is someone who is applying for an annual membership and who had been a member of the Club sometime before the preceding year. A Returning Member, regardless of length of absence, does not get New Member perks. Attendance at Orientation is not re-required if a Returning Member is within 5 years.
HIKEMASTER COMMITTEE:
The Hikemaster Committee shall be composed of the Hikemaster, Assistant Hikemaster and two leaders. The Hikemaster shall select this committee. The purpose of this committee shall be to assist the Hikemaster in reviewing the scheduled hikes for any logistic, seasonal, or other problems; and give their advice and consent on the appointment of new Leaders.
HIKE LEADERS AND ASSISTANTS:
After determining that they are the best available candidates, Leaders of the Hiking Club are appointed by the Hikemaster with the advice and consent of the Hikemaster’s Committee. The Hikemaster administers a training program to enable them to safely and efficiently lead hikes. The Assistant Leaders are also selected by the Hikemaster, who administers their training as well. Assistant Leaders may sweep for Leaders on hikes and assist in other duties as required.
HIKE LEADER EMERITUS:
The classification of Hike Leader Emeritus shall be given to any retiring Leader who through a combination of years of leadership and years as a member of the Board of Directors shall have accumulated a total of not less than seven years of service. By a unanimous vote of the Board, exceptions may be made to this rule.
BOARD NOMINEES:
New Board nominees shall be announced in the monthly bulletin preceding the Annual Meeting.
ANNUAL MEETING:
The Annual Meeting shall be held in the month of March or April at the Board’s discretion.
ANNUAL DUES:
The Board of Directors shall institute an annual dues system to finance the expenses of the Club. These dues may vary based upon the forecast budget for the year. The dues are assessed for the calendar year and are not prorated for a partial year. Dues will be collected in November and December for the following year. When a hiker joins the Club during the year, the full year’s dues must be paid except that when a New Member joins in November or December, he/she may, by paying the next year’s dues, hike in November and December. A Continuing Member is in arrears for dues if not paid before his/her first hike upon returning. A Returning Member is in arrears for dues if not paid before his/her first hike upon returning.
DISTRIBUTION OF DIRECTORIES AND PUBLICATIONS:
The Club will assume the cost and responsibility of printing and distributing Club Membership Directories, Hiking Bulletins, Policy Manuals, etc.
HIKING BULLETINS:
The Hiking Bulletin, in addition to the hike schedule, shall carry basic news of the Club, a schedule of the month’s events, and announcements of the Board and Leader meetings.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE:
It is in the interest of the Club to maintain a close relationship with the Forest Service. The Club shall work with the Forest Service to maintain specific trails in the forest system and shall review other requests they may have. The purpose of this policy is for the membership to "Give Back" something to our outdoor community.
COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENTS:
The Club shall not become associated with commercial organizations nor appear to give endorsements to any products.
INSERTED FROM THE GREEN VALLEY RECREATION, INC. POLICY MANUAL
SECTION II - MEMBERS
C. GUEST POLICY:
1. Guest Definition:
a) A guest is a relative or personal friend visiting in a GVR member’s home or in a local commercial facility in Green Valley.
b) The guest’s principal place of residence must be more than 20 miles from the point on GVR’s boundaries which is closest to the guest’s place of residence.
2. ISSUE AND USE OF GUEST CARDS:
a) A GVR Regular or Assigned Member may request, at a GVR office, to have a Guest Card issued for a period of up to fourteen (14) days, at no charge, to a guest who is at least eighteen (18) years of age. b) The period of fourteen (14) days may be extended only for special circumstances, and application for such an extension must be made through the Membership office.
c) Guest Cards must include the GVR identification number of the host GVR member, the guest's name and the expiration date of the card.
d) A guest may use GVR facilities and participate in GVR activities.
e) Guests under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult GVR member or registered guest when using GVR facilities.
f) Guests are subject to GVR rules and regulations, and the host GVR member is responsible for his/her guest's conduct.
SECTION IV - FACILITY USE
SUBSECTION 1. GENERAL FACILITIES RULES AND REGULATIONS
B. All members and guests will be required to carry their membership or other GVR identification card while using GVR facilities; and produce that membership card when requested by Staff or an authorized volunteer. Members and guests are required to sign in.
SUBSECTION 3. CIRCULATION OF POLITICAL PETITIONS
A. No political petition, public referendums or initiatives, and material related thereto, shall be distributed on GVR property. Where facilities are rented by community service groups, such material may be presented during the meeting/rental period. Such material must be removed from GVR premises prior to the end of the rental period.
B. Surveys, opinion polls and questionnaires related to GVR affairs and distributed on GVR property may be circulated by members subject to GVR approval for accuracy.
SECTION VII – GVR PROGRAMS/CLUBS
SUBSECTION 2. GVR CLUBS
B. MEMBERSHIP/GUESTS/MONTORING
6. Clubs may grant guest privileges at their own discretion, as long as these are eligible guests in accordance with GVR Bylaws. No club may grant honorary membership, or the equivalent, to anyone not a GVR member. Clubs may be more restrictive, but not more lenient than GVR guest policies.