Updated 10/28/09
First and foremost:
The Golden Rule: Please treat everyone with respect and courtesy. Drama is not something welcome in PNW Leisure Hiking. Your Organizer has very little toleration for anyone being disrespectful or crude. PNW Leisure Hiking is formed from a great group of wonderful people, and your Organizer will take whatever measures necessary to ensure that it stays that way!
Meetup Descriptions: Please be sure to read the event descriptions of each Meetup completely and carefully, as they will vary from event to event. They often contain important information and directions. If you fail to follow these directions, you may not get a spot in the event. In addition, pay close attention to the packing or equipment list and RSVP or prepayment deadlines.
Joining PNW Leisure Hiking: If using only your first name as your member name, please use your last name initial so we can tell the difference between Jane A. and Jane B. To change your "name," click on account (on the right upper corner). PNW Leisure Hiking frowns on using aliases because it makes it very hard to get to know you and identify you in case of an emergency. In addition, please fill out each profile question. These questions are geared towards letting us get to know you. After all if you aren’t willing to answer a few basic questions then how can we be assured you will commit the time and energy that we are willing to commit to making this Meetup great?
Prepaid Meetups/First-Pay, First-Serve: Some events require prepayment through Meetup or on other sites before you can RSVP, and in these cases RSVPing with “Yes” does not guarantee you a spot until after you prepay. Events requiring prepayment through Meetup require a non-refundable prepaid deposit paid through Paypal or Amazon Payments. Please note, you are not guaranteed a spot until you have paid. Prepayment is non-refundable and will not be credited towards future events. Guests may not be brought to pre-paid events without previous permission to the Organizer unless otherwise indicated in the hike description.
RSVPs: Please RSVP (yes, no or maybe) to all events. The organizer may remove members who RSVP and no show more than twice. We expect that if you RSVP “Yes” to Meetups, then you will be attending, especially for Meetups where space is limited or where we are expected to wait for you (i.e. a hike). We understand emergencies happen, and you can change your RSVP at any time to indicate any changes in your schedule. In addition, everyone is given the opportunity to get the Organizer’s cell phone number, so please consider calling the day-of if you are RSVPed “Yes” and cannot make it. If you are uncertain as to whether you will be able to attend, please RSVP “Maybe” rather than “Yes.” Some events do not allow for "Maybe" RSVPs, this is usually because of space limitations.
Trip Departure Times: Please show up 15 minutes *early* to events. If you have never been to the Meetup location for an event, plan on being 30 minutes early, in case you get lost or turned around. Please be sure to keep your organizer’s cell phone number with you in case you do get lost. If you are late, contact your organizer ASAP, as we will be starting or leaving on time, with or without you. Please keep in mind that some of our hike locations are outside of cellular range, and you may not be able to get a hold of your organizer because of it.
Changes/Cancellations: In spite of all precautions, problems can still arise at any time. Be aware that plans might have to be changed and you might be inconvenienced. If this happens, please be flexible, open to compromise, tolerant, and try to keep a positive attitude. Unfortunately, changes to events can happen at the last minute, ie due to cancellations or postponements of a meeting spot, or due to inclement weather. Prepayments will be refunded or credited in these situations, at the organizer’s discretion. If you are planning to attend an event, please check your email and the event description the evening before an event. You can also sign up to receive text messages to your cell phone by going to “Membership and Communications” on your Meetup.com account.
Inactivity: We expect all of our members to remain active in PNW Leisure Hiking. If you are not active, you will be given a warning, and then possibly removed from the Group for continued inactivity. When you agree to Meetup.com's ToS, you are pledging to meet other people face-to-face; however, I understand that your schedule is not always going to mesh with ours, so please note that remaining active does not require you to attend Meetups. It only requires you to visit our Meetup web site at least once every 60 days.
Privacy: The privacy of our members is important! If you are receiving unsolicited emails, phone calls, or greetings, please contact your Organizer so that she may intervene. Our member list, email addresses, physical addresses, and phone numbers should never be used for any soliciting and should never be shared without the person's consent. In addition, you are strongly urged NOT post any personal information [i.e. your last name, mailing / e-mail addresses or phone number] on the PNW Leisure Hiking site. Members may contact each other via the e-mail system Meetup has in place [i.e. click on the Mail icon next to a member's name to send them an e-mail], so personal details posted on a public website aren't recommended. In today's world of spamming, telephone solicitations, & identity theft, you should protect yourself.
Children & Pets: Children and pets are welcome at our events. However, there are some guidelines:
- We ask that you refrain from bringing children if they are going to be out of control. Please remember that you are fully responsible for your children and their behavior. You must have your children under control and your direct supervision at all times. We will not condone children running around and causing disturbances. We see no reason to risk our meeting spaces due to your children’s behavior. Children are not welcome at pre-paid events unless the event detail specifies otherwise.
- Well-socialized dogs are allowed at events where permissible. Only well-behaved dogs are allowed (dogs that do not bark incessantly, do not jump all over people or lick them uninvited, and get along well with other strange dogs). You must have your dog under control at all times. This means that either your dog responds to your voice command to come and/or stay, or you keep it on leash. Dogs are not welcome at pre-paid events unless the event detail specifies otherwise.
- Please do not abuse these privileges, as they can and will be revoked if necessary. If your organizer feels that your pet(s) and/or child(ren) is(are) out of control or out of line, she will specifically ask you to refrain from bringing them again. If you are asked to refrain from bringing them and then do so, you will immediately be removed from PNW Leisure Hiking. The definition of "out of control" and/or "out of line" is at the Organizer’s discretion.
Removal: Although removing members from PNW Leisure Hiking should never become necessary there will always be those circumstances that may call for it. Should removal from the group become necessary, no dues or fees will be returned. The organizer retains the right to remove members or refuse membership to anyone in the best interest of the group.
Message Board: The PNW Leisure Hiking message board has its own rules and regulations. Please be sure to review them prior to posting.
Disclaimer: When signing up for MeetUp.com, all members of Meetup must agree to their Terms of Service. The Meetup.com ToS 6.2 specifically releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings. During field trips, everyone is responsible for his or herself. The organizer and/or assistant organizers are not responsible for the safety of the participants. We will try our best to prevent accident or injury, but we are not responsible or liable if something happens to you. By joining PNW Leisure Hiking, you acknowledge this. Before each field trip, each participant is required to sign a release form, including guests. If you intend to bring minor guests without their parents, you will be required to sign on their behalf, therefore accepting full responsiblity for that minor. You may read the exact text of the language which is on every liability form/sign in here.
Soliciting/Advertising: No solicitations or advertising are allowed to be posted on the site or message forums without the prior approval of the Organizer. If you are unsure whether a post is allowed, contact the Organizer and ask in advance. In addition, this applies to posting non-approved events or solicitations as RSVP comments or any other fashion.
Organizers and assistant organizers, as well as individual members, invest a huge amount of time and energy into PNW Leisure Hiking to ensure that this Meetup is everything it can be. People that repeatedly fail to follow the above rules and guidelines and/or cause problems within the group will be removed from the group.
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