Get OUT! The Newsletter of the Ventana GLS April, 2002 Volume 1, No 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Welcome! 2. It's environmental 3. Special opportunity: First Aid Class 4. Outings and events 5. Rating system for outings 6. Waivers 7. Who we are, subscription info, great links, other details ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. "Welcome!" by Wen Minkoff, Acting Chair Welcome to the inaugural issue of Get OUT!, the newsletter of Ventana Gay & Lesbian Sierrans. We are now official! Join the fun by signing up as a Ventana GLS Charter Member, serving on the Governing Committee, leading hikes, or just turning up to an event! In the near future, we'll be sending out membership guidelines and subscription info, getting the website up, and carrying out elections. You can get involved right now, however, by coming to an event. We're offering some great hikes and conservation activities this month; read below for details. We are striving to make GLS the kind of organization with which you want to be involved, so don't be stingy with those good ideas! Let us know what you would like! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. "It's environmental" by Marcia Quackenbush, Acting Newsletter Chair Ventana GLS participated in a habitat restoration effort at Scott Creek in February, and it was a lot of fun (honest!). We cleared a vast hilly dune of invasive ice plants, got sand in all our pockets, stretched in ways we hadn't done in years, and felt that nice warm glow of satisfaction you get when you do something good for the planet. And we did it all in great company. On Saturday, April 13, you'll have a chance to join GLS in another collaboration with the California Native Plant Society to restore habitat at Sunset Beach State Park. Check the listings below for more information, then come on out and join us for a rewarding morning of fun, sun and activity. Other groups may join the effort, so it's a good opportunity to interact with the general community. Queer lunch option afterwards! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: FIRST AID CLASS You've fallen and you can't get up! Never fear, the outings leader has had a first aid class. Whether you want to become an outings leader, are a current leader in need of recertification, or just want to learn first aid, this class is for you. You can now get 4 hours of first aid training, First Aid Certification, and interesting facts to impress others with at cocktail parties for the low, low price of $32.50. Our instructor, Bobbie, is a CPR and first aid instructor with the Red Cross, American Heart and the American Health and Safety Institute. Bobbie teaches First Aid professionally and has a website you can check out at www.fostercalm.com. TRAINING DATE AND TIME: Date: Sunday, May 5th Time: 10am - 2pm Location: UCSC Campus If you are interested and want to reserve a space in the class, please contact Deborah for more details at: 831-429-5543, or deborah_vitale@agilent.com Then, make your check for $32.50 payable to the instructor's business name: "Foster Calm" (It is fine to post date them to May 5th if you like.) Please mail your check to: Deborah Vitale 650 A spring St Santa Cruz, CA 95060 You will receive an e-mail confirmation as soon as your check arrives. Deb will e-mail you an exact class location and some reminder e-mails as the date approaches. This is going to be a great class, so don't miss out! 4. OUTINGS & EVENTS April, 2002 These are events being led by Ventana GLS Outing Leaders. Our events are also listed at the Loma Prieta GLS website (http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/gls/index.html). Check it out for additional LP-GLS listings. Saturday, April 13, 10 AM -1 PM SUNSET BEACH HABITAT RESTORATION Rating: Lots of bend and stretch We'll be joining the Santa Cruz Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) doing some habitat restoration at Sunset Beach State Park (16 miles southeast of Santa Cruz). CNPS has an ongoing habitat restoration project at Sunset Beach. We'll build on the success of this project by pulling invasive beach grass from the dunes, restoring native habitat for shorebirds and other critters. There is an interpretive trail through the top of the dunes from the parking lot to the project site. Wear comfortable, layered clothing, bring water and a snack, work or garden gloves, expect to have a great time with fabulous people. All tools are provided. We'll work rain or shine, but if things get particularly unpleasant, we'll call it a day. GLS lunch option afterwards. Santa Cruz carpool meets at SC County Building, corner of Water and Ocean, 9:15 am. Leaders: Marcia Quackenbush (quam@etr.org) and Laura Goodhue (lpgoodhue@earthlink.net). April 18th, 5:30 PM WILD WILDER WEEKNIGHT DINNER HIKE, UPPER UCSC, SANTA CRUZ Rating: 2A2 Whether you are training for a long backpacking trip, or are new to hiking and want to start out slowly, we'd like to have you along. Hiking sure makes us hungry, though. Wouldn't it be nice to have dinner on the trail? (Don't worry, we'll keep the wild pigs and plants safe and bring our own food.) We'll start at Upper UCSC and hike across to Wilder/Grey Whale on the Chinquapin trail, stopping for a delicious potluck at the Eucalyptus grove. Depending on the weather, there will be ocean views. The hike to the dinner spot is just under 3 miles. Meet at the parking lot behind the UCSC Fire Station for a prompt 5:30 PM departure. We'll return as it gets dark, so a flashlight is mandatory. Bring water, your own plate and utensils, and a simple potluck dish to share (remember, we're not packing the convection oven, microwave, and mini generator!) Contact Wen or Marcia for info or directions. Leaders: Wen Minkoff (wen@qbabe.com) , Marcia Quackenbush (quam@etr.org). Wednesday, April 24, 7:00 pm GOV COM MEETING Sierra Club Office, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz Find out how the Governing Committee works and what we do. Our meetings are open and we'd love to see you there. The Sierra Club Office is in the same building as Actor's Theater (and the old India Joze restaurant), at the north end of Center Street. Contact: Wen Minkoff (wen@qbabe.com), Acting Chair. Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am NISENE MARKS Rating: 2B2 The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park has won polls for "Best Santa Cruz Hiking Spot." No surprise. It's a beautiful spot. We'll see redwoods, oaks, madrones, lots of ferns and a bit of water on this 7-9 mile hike, climbing just over 1,000 feet along the Loma Prieta Grade and West Ridge trails. Wear layers and good boots. Bring water, lunch. Please carpool if possible to minimize impact on the entrance road. We meet at George's Picnic Area parking lot in the park at 10 am. Santa Cruz carpool meets at SC County Building, corner of Water & Ocean Street at 9:15 for prompt 9:30 departure. Leaders: Marcia Quackenbush (quam@etr.org), Paige Hackney. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. RATING SYSTEM Example Rating : "3B2" breaks down to a Distance of 10-15 miles, Elevation gain/loss of 1001-2000 feet, and Terrain of rough trail (boots recommended). The first number indicates the number of miles: 1 = less than 5 miles 2 = 5-10 miles 3 = 10-15 miles 4 = 15-20 miles 5 = more than 20 miles The second letter indicates cumulative elevation gain: A = less than 1000 feet B = 1001-2000 feet C = 2001-3000 feet D = 3001-4000 feet E = more than 4000 feet The last number indicates type of terrain: 1 = road or smooth trail 2 = rough trail (boots recommended) 3 = trail with some cross-country 4 = cross-country 5 = special equipment needed ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. WAIVERS All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, refer to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms or contact the Outings department at (415) 977-5630 for a printed version. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. WHO WE ARE, OTHER DETAILS VENTANA GLS is the Gay/Lesbian Sierrans section of the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, covering Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. We welcome participation by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals and our allies. Our goals are to increase appreciation of the environment, encourage members to inform themselves and act on environmental and conservation issues, and offer opportunities for outings and events that build appreciation for and commitment to the environment (and to have a fabulous time while we're doing it!). HOW TO CONTACT US: E-mail at ventana_gls_info@yahoo.com Snail mail to GLS/Ventana Chapter, PO Box 604, Santa Cruz CA 95061-0604. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: You can become a GLS member by joining the Sierra Club and GLS. More information is coming soon. Membership is not required to participate in outings or receive the newsletter. It is required if you want to become an outing leader, vote in GLS elections or serve on the GLS Governing Committee Board. MAKE A DONATION. You can make a donation to Ventana GLS or the Sierra Club. For GLS, make checks payable to "Ventana GLS" and send to the attention of our treasurer at the snail mail address above. For the Sierra Club, make checks payable to "Sierra Club" and send to Sierra Club, P.O. Box 5296, Boulder CO 80322-2968. BECOME AN OUTING LEADER. It's easy to do (co-lead two hikes with an official outing leader, become first-aid certified, submit an application). Our requirements are the same as the Loma Prieta GLS. See their website for details (http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/gls/index.html). We'll have this info posted on our website when it's up and running. Anyone can co-lead a hike with an official outing leader. If you want to check it out, or don't feel ready to make the Big Commitment, join us as a co-leader. Talk to Wen Minkoff, Danielle Benoit or Marcia Quackenbush for details. TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE AGENDA or find out more about how Ventana GLS works, contact vetnana_gls_info@yahoo.com CARPOOLING INFORMATION: We encourage carpooling to outings and events. Santa Cruz carpool locations include the Long's Lot on Mission Street (1700 Mission; meet in the lot, park on the street if you're not driving) and the County Building at Ocean and Water Streets. The Sierra Club assumes no responsibility concerning transportation. Carpooling is at the sole risk of the participants, both driver and passengers. QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC OUTINGS: Contact the leader listed in the description. Be aware that last-minute e-mails may not be received by leaders before the events. When possible, make contact a couple of days before an event. YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER because you subscribed to the Ventana GLS Planning Group list or the Ventana GLS members' list. Formal subscribe/unsubscribe instructions will be included in a forthcoming issue.