Kamloops Hiking Club started with a small group which communicated and planned through Facebook.   It grew over time and then decided to move ahead as a registered Society and a website was developed.    Many hiking clubs have websites and most post a list of events,  and members contact the designated leader/organizer.    KHC went a different way and developed a booking system using a full software package.    Events are posted by hike leaders for the members.    We had lots of hike leaders and lots of events for a number of years.    Leaders posted events of their own choice of date, time, and location.  In recent years, the number of hike leaders and the number of events has dwindled somewhat, and the overall numbers of active members also seems less.    We still have a core of hikers who get out each week.

Challenges are:

• less hike leaders and subsequently less events posted
• less weekend or evening hikes
• less easy hikes for novices and intermediate hikers
• a possible technical challenge for some people to login and post events

The previous initiatives have been to recruit new hike leaders to help out.    This has been partly successful, but has not really solved the problem.

The modest proposal shared here is a suggestion to change the way we create new events, with ideas borrowed from other clubs, but with a KHC blend, as follows:

• The core program will continue to be hike leaders posting events for the date, time, and location of their choosing.    This could be an individual or a small group which hosts the event.
• In addition, KHC would make the decision to create a Program Coordinator, that is, a volunteer who would coordinate additional events for members.
• The Coordinator would recruit other members to help out in various ways.
• We have two basic groups now – Hike leaders who are Authors on the website, and members who can register for events, but can’t post events.     We would create a third group  – Organizers.
• Organizers are not required to post events on the website (although we can provide those credentials, on request).   The Coordinator (or a team member) posts the event for the Organizer and members sign up as usual.    An organizer also registers for the event and then does light duty of meeting and greeting the group.    The organizer may choose to lead the group, or someone else in the group can do the leading.   It can even be a meet-up (of members) who meet and decide where to go (best for established trail systems like Kenna Cartwright Park).
• The coordinator may also choose to post a Meet-Up Event.    This is for members only and the group meets and decides the route to hike, how far, etc.   Informal organizers support the group.   This is how we all hike each week, meeting friends or family informally.

This would be a big change for KHC, but it has been successful elsewhere, so it is worth a try.     You can comment to this post, or you can contact the author, a Board member, or hike leader if you have thoughts on this proposal.