EXECUTIVE CORNER

Executive Position Appointments

Several of the existing board members have volunteered to be nominated for dual roles on the executive. These open positions are:

• Executive Trip Coordinator
• Membership Coordinator
• Communications Coordinator

Additional nominations will be accepted at the July 25 monthly meeting, and member approval will be requested.

Change in Password and Accessing Membership Applications

The CORE website/calendar password changed around June 20. Those members who have not had a chance to renew their membership can print off a form from the website and bring it to our July 25 monthly meeting or mail it to the address on the form.

To access a form on the website, go to “Joining” then click on “Membership Application Info”. Scroll down about 2/3 of the page to find downloadable forms.

Carpool Contribution Confusion

Some confusion seems to exist around CORE’s guidelines for contributing to your volunteer carpool driver. A few years ago, it was raised to $0.25 per kilometre (when gas price were “sky high”) but later it was dropped back to $0.20 per kilometre. To determine each passenger’s share of the carpooling contribution, use this formula: Total (return trip) kilometres multiplied by $0.20, divided by the number of people in the vehicle (including the driver). Please keep in mind that this formula is only a guideline, and that it is up to each driver to calculate a “reasonable” contribution for passengers. The complete carpooling guidelines are at this link.

CORE Photo Albums

Event coordinators, please encourage your group members to take photos of interesting scenery, flora/fauna and group shots along the way, and post a few in the CORE Photo Albums. Five to 10 photos of the best shots along the trail are probably adequate.

These photos are important because:

• Photos show other CORE members, as well as the general public, what great outdoor adventures are happening each week, and thus promote the club
• Photos help the person publishing the newsletter to include highlights from previous outings, as well as provide a great collection of photos that can be presented at the AGM
• A lack of photo albums would look like we are having a pretty dull year

If you don’t know how to post your photos, there is a CORE webpage describing the process under the “Guides” menu button. Or you can ask any member of the CORE executive to give you a short tutorial.

Warning! 16 Avenue and Home Road N.W. Upgrades – Affecting Carpool Lot at end of Home Road

The City is making a number of improvements in the Montgomery community which will create a safer environment for those who live and travel in the area. These improvements mean lane closures and construction around the corner of Home Road and 16 Avenue, where we turn to access the carpool lot at the end of Home Road. At times, people may be delayed getting to the carpool lot and returning to the lot.

Anticipated completion date: End of October 2017

ACTIVITY SCOREBOARD

June/July 2017

Between June 3 and July 12, CORE’s calendar featured 16 different events that saw members lobbing balls on the tennis court, dining at Emma’s Cozy Kitchen, hiking in the city parks, hiking in the foothills, and heading up mountains on several occasions. We would like to thank the following coordinators for posting these events: Pat, Lynn, Fiona, Harvey, Julia, Jeanette, Ann-Marie, Stu, Cliona, Cheryl, Dave V., Carol, David T., Edna and John R.

CONGRATULATIONS to Edna, Julia Tsang, and Harvey for completing the Canmore Triple Crown Challenge on July 19, following their ascent of the East End of Rundle (EEOR)!

Here are a few highlights. Please visit the CORE photo albums for more pictures from recent activities:

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JULY MONTHLY MEETING

Scarboro Community Centre

1727 14th Avenue S.W.

TUESDAY. 25 July, 2017, 7:00 pm

Presentation: Wildflowers of Southern Alberta, keep Alberta wild!

Join Julie Walker of Full Circle Adventures and learn how so many of our native wildflowers play a key role in the food forest for wildlife and humans. The plants of Southern Alberta are the key focus and the ecological influences that have affected them and how they are under threat by changes to the foothills landscape.

Julie has been an outdoor educator and guide for over 25 years in Southern Alberta and her company Full Circle Adventures has been running since 2004.

Prior to our guest presenter, we will spend a few minutes talking about CORE’s coming events, developments and issues, and we’ll also take a quick look at the results of the “Name that Flower” contest.

Note: Our August meeting will feature Sean Nichols who biked across Russia.

LOCAL “NATURE” NEWS & NOTES

Nose Hill Park

Did you know that there are brand new stairs in Nose Hill Park that take you up the hill from the Calgary Winter Club trailhead? The stairs make ascending and descending so much easier!

Also, early-mid July is a great time to see wildflowers blooming in Nose Hill Park. Spotted on July 16 and July 19 were the following plants: golden rod, harebells, different shades of fleabane, Alberta wild rose, yarrow, brown-eyed Susan, cinque foil, prairie thistle, sticky geraniums and some unidentified species, with an added bonus of ripening Saskatoon bushes.

Name that Flower Contest

We’ve got a pretty good collection of photos with flower names identified and these are posted in the CORE Photo Album. We’ve decided to extend the contest till the end of August, so please continue to take fauna photos on your hikes and post them in the CORE photo albums. Contest rules are at this link.

ARTICLES & BOOKS WORTH NOTING

Forest Therapy: Nature Decreases Stress & Boosts Your Immune System

By Ronna Schneberger, naturalist, guide and Shinrin Yoku Practitioner

In the 1980s, Japanese doctors started prescribing a type of Forest Therapy called Shinrin Yoku, which means ‘bathing in the atmosphere of the forest’. Shinrin Yoku is prescribed to decrease stress, boost memory and improve immune function.

Today, doctors in the U.S. and Canada are starting to follow suit, and scientific studies not only show how it works, they also show why it works.

Researchers studying the Shinrin Yoku in Japan discovered that trees give off organic chemical compounds called phytoncides, which are like a natural bug spray for trees. As people bathe in the atmosphere of the forest, they take in these phytoncides through their skin and as they breathe. These compounds have a powerful list of benefits to us, including reduced stress and improved memory.

Studies have shown that in a mere 15 minutes of forest walking you can reduce your stress hormone, cortisol, by 12%. In two hours, you can increase your memory and attention span by 20%. On top of that, participant blood pressure and heart rate lowered naturally.

….see you on the trails ….

CM