The Caledonia Ramblers are once again gearing up for its annual membership renewal campaign and although the COVID pandemic has prevented the club from hosting hikes, we hope you will consider renewing your membership.
Even when the Ramblers are not putting on hikes - and we hope to have them up and running in the next few months as the vaccination rollout continues - there still is value in joining. These include:
Trail Maintenance
Ramblers volunteers are extensively involved in trail maintenance in the surrounding area. In 2019, before the pandemic hit, volunteers put in more than 40 workdays improving local trails. Over the course of 11 months ending September 30, 2020, nearly $3,700 was spent on trail maintenance, mostly in the form of fuel for vehicles and chainsaws.
Even in the time since the virus put things on hold, they have been out clearing out brush and blowdown and putting up trail markers, albeit on a more limited basis. Given the explosion in trail use since the pandemic started, trail maintenance will likely increase for the foreseeable future.
Supporting Backcountry Initiatives
$8 of the your membership goes to the Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia, the umbrella organization for hiking clubs across the province. The FMCBC is dedicated to protecting and maintaining access to BC’s backcountry and is part of the campaign to significantly increase funding to BC Parks and Recreation Sites. However, due to the pandemic, the FMCBC has suffered a significant decline in revenue due to falling memberships of the affiliated clubs. By joining or renewing your membership with the Caledonia Ramblers, you help ensure that the FMCBC can survive this trying time and can continue to do its good work in the months and years ahead.
Member Renewals
The Caledonia Ramblers have two preferred methods for club members to renew their memberships and for new people to officially become members. Although members and new members alike can officially join the club by providing completed 2021-22 membership forms, waivers and their annual membership dues - together - to trip leaders at the start of official club hikes, the club MUCH PREFERS people using one of the following two options.
1. People can print 2021-22 membership forms and waivers from the Memberships page on the club’s website. After completing these forms, they should mail these plus a cheque to the club’s treasurer:
Maureen Beier,
c/o Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club Society,
PO Box 26, Prince George,
BC - V2L 4R9.
Club memberships can also be paid using e-transfers (more information about how to do this is on the Memberships page as well).
3. Club members can wait to be contacted by mail with a club renewal package. Members can then mail in their completed 2021-22 membership form, waiver and membership renewal cheque to the club treasurer. Again members can use e-transfers to pay for their memberships.
Members who fail to pay their annual membership dues by July 1st cease to become members. Membership dues for this membership year (May 1st, 2021 - April 30th, 2022) are $35 for individuals plus $12 each for additional family members.