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Environmental Discussion

This page contains a list of environmental discussion topics of interest to Mosaic clubs and MOCA. We have begun this list with a few suggested topics. Discussion of these and other topics sent to the Mosaic Discussion Group (MDG) will be collected on this page.

• mechanized activities, e.g. snow mobiling, downhill skiing, speed boating, etc.

• responsibility to coordinate car-pooling in urban areas

Mechanized activities

mechanized activities, e.g. snow mobiling, downhill skiing, speed boating, etc.: I feel that Mosaic should not engage in activities that directly threaten the environment (such as snow mobiling), unless that activity is being used as a means of transportation. Downhill skiing, on the otherhand, is more of an indirect threat to the environment, as once the resort is built, the major damage has already been done.

Ben (2/8/00)

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Since I downhill ski but haven't snowmobiled, I agree completely.

Joel (2/10/2000)

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Carpooling

responsibility to coordinate car-pooling in urban areas: I think that trip leaders should try to help out with coordination of car-pooling both to increase environmental awareness and to generally make our organizations more user-friendly. An easy way to do this is to ask each person who signs up if they will allow you to provide their phone number to others who live near-by.

Ben (2/8/00)

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Ben,

One problem I have learned with car pooling is insurance. Our chapter has traditionally encouraged car pooling from close-by jump-off points for several reasons: more economical, more convenient, more likely to involve those without cars, and yes more environmentally friendly.

The insurance problem relates to the fact that we tend to organize car pooling from jump-off points selected by the activity leaders and advertised in our newsletter. Though so far no one has had any accidents in our chapter, I figure sooner or later it will happen. My understanding is that in such situations regardless of who is at fault the Mosaic members who are passengers are likely to be advised to sue their driver. Who is to say that if that driver's insurance is not adequate that they might not also try to sue our chapter?

We revised our release form recently to specifically make clear that members accepting rides to our events do so at their own risk. I have also been trying for the past six months to get our Board to OK the liability insurance package that was put together by our national executive director, but so far they have balked at the cost (latest quote was about $1100). My understanding is that some other outdoor club chapters such as the Sierra Club specifically avoid discussion of car pooling because of this liability issue.

Another way I have seen this handled is to only do "private" car pooling. That is to simply encourage people who want a lift to call the activity leader for suggestions. That seems to be the alternative that Ben is describing below. Has anyone tried this? I am afraid it would have a negative impact on our turnout.

Stewart Wilder (2/9/2000)

 

 

Page Last Updated : 02/25/2005