Document type : vocene
Date : 2011-04-27
Description : VOCene #3
Content : 
VOCene #3 – April 27th, 2011
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In this VOCene:

I. Upcoming Events and Trips
 1) Mount Baker 30th April
 2) Tentative: The Needles - Sunday May 1st
 3) VOC First Monthly Summer BBQ - Wednesday May 4th
 4) Tentative: Kayak Polo on the beach! - Tuesday, May 10th
 5) MEC Gear Swap - Sunday May 15th

II. This week in the VOC
 1) Past trips and events
 2) From the exec's desk
 
III. Miscellaneous
 1) 2010 journals available for pickup
 2) Rewards and incentives for trip organizers

IV. Ms. Manners
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I. Upcoming Events and Trips

 1) Mount Baker 30th April

Charlie is organizing a ski ascent of Mt. Baker this coming weekend. If you need motivation, all you need to do is look at the photo in his message board thread! Pretrip is tonight.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18923&t=18923
http://www.ubc-voc.com/tripagenda_details.php?tripid=48

 2) Tentative: The Needles - Sunday May 1st

There will likely be a day trip to The Needles on the North Shore this weekend; nothing definite though.  Keep your eye on the message board.

 3) VOC First Monthly Summer BBQ - Wednesday May 4th

This will be our first monthly BBQ for the summer, starting at 6:30 PM along the beach at the end of Tolmie St. - in between Locarno Beach and Spanish Banks East.  This is a great opportunity to hang out with all your VOC friends, share some food, and conspire towards epicness for the weekend!
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18784&t=18784

 4) Tentative: Kayak Polo on the beach! - Tuesday, May 10th

It's time to move kayak polo to the beach, weather permitting.
http://www.ubc-voc.com/tripagenda_details.php?tripid=46

 5) MEC Gear Swap - Sunday May 15th

The next MEC Gear Swap is coming up fast!  Typically a bunch of VOCers can be found camping out the night before in order to get their grubby little hands on cheap gear!
http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18898&t=18898

II. This week in the VOC

 1) Past trips and events

 With the Easter long weekend behind us, it's a fitting time to appreciate how active the VOC is!

  - Caroline's beginner friendly ski trip to Sphinx was a success, judging by how tan everyone looks this week.  TR should be up soon: http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18778&t=18778

  - Three VOCers did the McBride traverse in 2 days to Sphinx Bay, which puts them comfortably in the demigod category. Photos and TR: http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18502&t=18502

  - Two teams made it up Mamquam, one via Elfin & Mamquam Lake and the other from Skookum Rd.  Sounds like now is the time to go via Skookum while avoiding slide-alder-of-death. http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18840&t=18840

  - Skyler activated his Plan B of climbing down in Leavenworth for the long weekend.  Part of the group continued on to Vantage, and apparently Charlie and Simon had some sort of major epic that they need to tell us all about here: http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=3&i=18740&t=18740

  - Jonathan D. led another climbing trip to Skaha, which allegedly involved some chocolate fondue!

  - And last night 90 VOCers enjoyed shopping at MEC with almost no tax - 10% off for Clubs Night.  It seems like GSI pot scrapers, Coleman fuel, and the usual: Ritter Sport bars, were all hits.

 2) From the exec's desk

The VOC is currently going through one of those phases where we need to make some decisions about how we want to operate.  At this particular juncture, the exec has been talking about gear rentals, and the related topic of work-hikes.  In short, we want to figure out how to provide an effective rental system that keeps gear available to beginners and trip leaders. There have been issues with people not bringing their gear back on time, or keeping their rental going for most of the season.  We've been talking about solutions to this.  The discussion shouldn't just be within the exec though, so if you have any thoughts let them be known.  Join the conversation on rentals here: http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=53404&t=53404 , and the one on work-hikes here: http://www.ubc-voc.com/phorum2/read.php?f=1&i=53422&t=53422

III. Miscellaneous

 1) 2010 journals available for pickup

If you haven't grabbed your VOC Journal yet, you are really missing out! This year's journal is packed with epicness, hilarity, and thought-provoking discussion about the outdoors, the VOC, and everything in between.  The cost of the Journal is included in your membership fee, so you owe nothing for your first copy. If you'd like more than one, extra copies are available for $20.

 2) Rewards and incentives for trip organizers

Woohoo, prodeals for VOC Trip organizers! In return for leading trips, you now get not only immense satisfaction, but cheap gear too!!
http://www.ubc-voc.com/wiki/Discounts_for_VOC_Trip_Organizers

IV. Ms. Manners

Do you have a question for Ms. Manners? If so, email it to to your friendly neighbourhood VOCene editor and he'll forward it to Ms. Manners for review. Remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away.

Dear Ms. Manners,

This past weekend I went climbing down in Washington.  Like the dirt-baggers that we are, we stopped on the way back to Vancouver to clean our dishes in the washroom sink of a grocery store.  While passing the dairy section we were reminded how cheap cheese is in the US, and proceeded to stock up big time on the things we can't normally afford: gouda, gruyere, goat cheese, feta, everything.  Next time I head south of the border, should I take orders from all of my friends for cheap cheese?

Yours,

Lactose Tolerant

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Lactose Tolerant,

Indeed, differing agriculture and trade policies make cheese a bit cheaper in the States than in Canada.  Because of the relative harmlessness and delicious nature of cheese, Ms. Manners would certainly recommend smuggling cheese over guns or drugs.  But, it's always best to stay within the allowed limits and be honest with the border guards. You don't want to end up on the cheese black-list.

Under current rules, you can bring up to $20 of dairy products with you when you come back into Canada, as a part of your personal exemption.  However, there is currently no limit on the value of dairy products that can be in your body when you present yourself at the border.  There are some nice picnic tables at Peace Arch to facilitate this. But don't forget to eat your vegetables too.

Happy climbing season,
Ms. Manners


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