Where paddling doesn't mean you get a spanking!

We're a group who has only two hard and fast rules..... you need to be safe, and you absolutely HAVE to have FUN! We're principally flatwater (lakes, streams, rivers, etc) paddlers, but this group is really about whatever floats your boat....really!

Whitewater? Sure thing...
Canoes? Can do...
Rubber dhingys? Uhhh.OK!
Sculling.... BYOC ....
A 2 X 4 from Home Depot? Just float it safely !

This group is about RECREATION, and ranges from the basic beginner to the most advanced skill levels. If you want a bunch of rules, and committees, and people telling you what to do and offering to sell you secret handshakes, you made a wrong turn. Certainly we'll be making learning and developing your skills part of the offerings here, but these offerings will be from the standpoint that it makes you a safer kayaker on the water, not that you're here to get a bunch of medals, and it's not just a place where you're going to spend as much time as a Delta pilot practicing emergency landings. If your expectation for being here is the next ACA or BCU level accolade, that may happen, and we certainly wish you the best on that quest, but we're here to have fun, and be safe. Please don't try to turn everyone into your personal kayaking trainer.

I'll simply promise two things.

THING ONE: This group will ALWAYS practice safety first. We are not going to compromise on that. Part of the safety requirement is following the laws of the state(s) we boat in.

THING TWO: I'll also promise that if this starts to look, smell or act like work, or a government run beauocracy, you can push me over Victoria Falls in an inner tube.... We are NOT the DMV, and I presume you already have (or have access to) a mommy! That is not my function!

This is also a FREE group to members. Only in those situations where we are going to locations where there is a charge for a facility will there be any fee to member (ie the National Whitewater Resource Center in Charlotte has an entry fee). Membership in this group is also on an individual basis, as many of our events require a headcount limit, such that signing up as couples could cause us to overbook some of our events. If you have a Meetup membership as a couple, I will be requesting that you establish individual memberships, and apply individually as a condition of joining Simply Kayaking!

We are also not going to offer "JUMP BALL" events. Huh...what's that you ask? When an event is scheduled on the calendar, I'm going to give you a logistically do-able event out of the box. That is to say you will already have a where, a when, and a how. You are coming with the why, presumably to have fun. I will not pack your lunch for you, and I will not be holding your hand.

It is my concerted opinion that this is an adult activitity. Anyone who intrudes on anothers ability to have fun in a safe manner will be asked to leave, either the event, the group, or both. You will not be solicited for your political opinions, you will not be hit up for memberships, and you will not be assigned to committees, work details, or bucket brigades.

The Organizer and Assistant Organizers can, and will, introduce events for signup on the calendar. If members have events they want posted, just ask one to post it. ALL posted events will require who is responsible for posting and hosting, where it will be, when it will happen, and will need to make sure any logistical details are complete. As a member signing up for our events, I would ask that you respect the organizers' preplanning efforts by reading and agreeing to the events as posted and planned by the organizer; trying to personally customize events by making separate arrangements or agreements without the agreement of those organizing the event quickly degenerates into confusion (I mean, you wouldn't want to board an airliner where everybody had a different destination in mind, would you?). If you have suggestions or recommendations, by all means please email the organizer, and/or request your suggested changes through the organizer of the event, who may at their own disgression make such alterations to their planning. ANY MEMBER can use the message board to meet up with others. The message board is not for posting non kayak related opinions, advertisements, etc.

I am going to attempt to provide a well rounded group, and Assistant Organizers that have a wide set of kayaking interests to extend the opportunities available to any and all interested kayakers.

Enjoy, and BE SAFE!