The 21 Mile Creek drainage is a non-motorized zone and snowmobiling is prohibited. The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC is conducting a user survey to measure the frequency of illegal snowmobile use in 21 Mile Creek. The results from the survey will provide hard data which is needed to guide compliance and enforcement actions by government.

The non-motorized zone includes Rainbow Lake, Rainbow Mountain, Gin & Tonic Lakes and the north side of Mt. Sproatt. Hanging Lake, the west side of Gin Peak and the south side of Mt. Sproatt are outside the non-motorized zone.

Please help future enforcement efforts by completing the short survey which can be found at:- www.mountainclubs.org/21mile

Celebrate Seva Canada’s 30th Anniversary with Beyond the Darkness - a photography exhibition by international award-winning Canadian photographer and long-time Seva supporter, Dr. Larry Louie, at the HSBC Pendulum Gallery at 885 West Georgia Street. Beyond the Darkness, sponsored by QLT Inc., is an exhibition of images that reveal the light that can be found in the darkest of places. This is an opportunity to share with the public amazing humanitarian documentary photography, many of which are from the countries where Seva works. Learn more about the event. The photo exhibition is open to the public but if you would like to attend the reception with presentations by Larry Louie, Nancy Mortifee, Board Chair and QLT Inc. please RSVP at 604-713-6622 or admin@seva.ca

Join us at 7:30 pm at the Pacific Cinémathèque at 1131 Howe Street (at Helmcken) for a joint benefit for Seva and Climb for Change. The first part of the evening will feature a Climb for Change panel and in the second half we’ll be screening Blindsight, an award-winning documentary that tells the gripping adventure of six blind Tibetan teenagers on their journey to climb a mountain in the shadow of Everest. Capacity 200. Buy tickets in advance at http://www.vimff.org/ (Learn about Seva’s special campaign to restore sight in Tibet at http://bit.ly/TibetAppeal

BC Parks is developing a volunteer strategy to improve the volunteer experience for our existing and future volunteers. Our goal is to develop a strategy over the next few months and launch it in the upcoming summer season. The workshops will provide you with an opportunity to:

Share the work you or your organization has done in support of BC Parks;
Contribute to a discussion about how BC Parks can improve the volunteer experience;
Provide input on future volunteer opportunities you would like to see; and,
Network with BC Parks staff and other volunteer groups.
Workshops will be held in February and March in nine locations across the province. You are welcome to attend the workshop location that best fits with your schedule and travel abilities.

Please RSVP to Erick Pay, Project Assistant (Erick.Pay@gov.bc.ca) based on RSVP dates listed below. You will receive a confirmation email with detailed workshop information no later than two weeks prior to the workshop. If you are unable to participate in any of the workshops, please submit written comments to Becs.Hoskins@gov.bc.ca by March 16, 2012.

If you have any questions about the volunteer strategy, please contact Becs Hoskins, BC Parks Project Manager (Becs.Hoskins@gov.bc.ca).

Please join us at one of the following workshops:

Victoria - February 6, 9 am – 12 pm; RSVP by January 27

Prince George - February 10, 9 am -12 pm; RSVP by January 27

Smithers - February 13, 9 am -12 pm; RSVP by February 3

Vancouver - February 16, 1-4 pm; RSVP by February 3

Penticton - February 20, 1-4 pm; RSVP by February 10

Williams Lake - February 24, 9 am - 12 pm; RSVP by February 10

Miracle Beach - February 28, 1-4 pm; RSVP by February 17

Nelson - March 5, 1-4 pm; RSVP by February 24

Cranbrook - March 7, 9 am – 12 pm; RSVP by February 24

Kamloops - March 12, 9 am – 12 pm; RSVP by February 24

Regards,

Lori Halls

Lori Halls, Assistant Deputy Minister

BC Parks and Conservation Officer Service

5th Floor, 2975 Jutland Road | Victoria, BC | V8T 5J9 | 250 387-6177

Below is a link for an online comments form for the initial public input of the newly formed South Chilcotin Mountains Park (previously named Spruce Lake Protected Area). This form can be used to advocate for non-motorized use only for the park. The motorized community is heavily involved in this planning process, and so we need to represent the non-motorized users. If we do nothing we will continue to lose areas to motorized users.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/mgmtplns/lillooet/lillooet_mp.html

There are still spaces available on the new, free, Introduction to Backcountry Skiing program on January 28. The intent of this one day program is to give participants a chance to try backcountry skiing before committing to spend money on gear and formal avalanche instruction. Your next step after taking the program is to take the AST-1 avalanche course.  If you are an intermediate skier who can confidently ski ‘blue’ (intermediate) runs in bounds and want to try backcountry skiing, this program is for you.

In the past few days your BCMC executive has been busy running a contest for a new BCMC logo. The new logo is intended to be used in the upcoming new club website as well as future promotional materials. The logo contest was organized by Werner Grzimek, on behalf of the BCMC, using 99designs.com. In total, nearly 400 individual logos were submitted in more than 20 distinct design themes. Out of those, we have short listed six designs.

Now is your turn to have a say in what our future logo will look like!

Click on the link below to vote on your favorite design (you can assign 5 to 0 stars to the six logos). You will be required to log in using your BCMC member login name and password.
Please keep in mind that the final logo color scheme can still be adjusted so vote on a specific design idea, rather than a color combination.

Vote now: http://bcmc.ca/poll-logodesign.asp

Your BCMC Executive

The BCMC is now accepting volunteers for the VIMFF Centennial Theater events. Check out the VIMFF web site for the evening you wish to volunteer for. You would arrive at 6:30, man the BCMC display, attend the showing, man the display afterwards for a few minutes, then leave. You would be at the booth to answer questions, give out brochures to those interested, sell DVDs, show off the club journals and newsletters.
Please email david.hiker@gmail.com. or call me in Calgary 403 366 6757 until the 30th. After the 30th call 604 531 5025 for more details.

There are still spaces available on our two weekend Overnight Backcountry Ski Touring program. This program is designed for backcountry day skiers who want to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to safely participate in overnight backcountry ski trips.  Completion of Avalanche Skills Training (AST-1) or equivalent experience is required.  Previous summer or winter backcountry camping experience is required.

For dates and further details, see the Programs and Camps page.

The BCMC Executive has been looking into an option of changing the current Oct 1st – Sep 30th membership year to a 12-month membership. What that means is that whenever you join the club, your membership privileges will expire 12 months from your joining date with some provisions considered for maintaining your Active member status should you miss the renewal date. 

The proposed changes will require amendments to article 6 of the current club constitution (to view the Constitution, please login to the Members Area of the www.bcmc.ca and look under point 4, listed under “Main Menu” items at the bottom of the Members page). 

The proposed changes will simplify our fee structure by eliminating the current need to pro-rate member fees for those who join after Jan 1st and will also allow for all members to enjoy a full 12 months of membership at the same price.

Before making such amendments to the club bylaws, we would welcome your feedback and suggestions. If you would like to comment on the proposed changes, please leave a comment (or email the BCMC executive at exec@bcmc.ca).