Atlanta Outdoor Club - FAQs

Membership
1. How much does it cost to join?
2. Do I have to become a member to participate in AOC events?
3. What if I don't want to sign the AOC waiver?
4. Do you sell/share my information with any third-parties?
5. Can my children participate?
6. Can I bring my dog?
   Carpool
7. Can I meet at a different spot than the official carpool location?
8. How is your carpool "per mile" amount derived?
   Member Network/Info
9. Why is my age displayed? Isn't that private information?
10. I chose to participate in the Member Network. Why can't I view other members' info?
    Event Notifications, Registration and Waiting Lists
11. How does your event notification system work?
12. What if I can't attend an event that I'm registered for?
13. Can I be bumped off an event list for any reason?
14. I received a "Double Booked" warning/notice. What, exactly, does this mean?
15. Why was someone else from the waiting list taken before me?
16. There is a huge waiting list for the event I want to attend. Should I bother to add my name to the list?
17. What if I have to drop out of an event that I've already paid for?
18. What should I expect if I'm on the waiting list for a paid event?
    Mailing, Payments
19. What is your mailing address?
20. How can I pay for an event?
21. Can I drop a payment off at your address instead of mailing it?
    Event Descriptions
22. Can I view your events in a visual Calendar view instead of a list?
23. How do the AOC's difficulty ratings work?
24. What is the scope of the AOC events (ie. for risk/difficulty)?
    Volunteering
25. How do I volunteer or donate to the club?
26. I have an idea for an event that I may want to organize. Who should I contact?
27. Can anyone organize an event?
28. What does it mean when there's a star by someone's name?
    Complaints
29. What if I have a complaint about a coordinator or a trip?
30. What if I have a complaint about another member of the club?

1. How much does it cost to join?
   It doesn't cost anything to join the Atlanta Outdoor Club and there are no yearly membership fees.
   
   
2. Do I have to become a member to participate in AOC events?
   No; non-members are welcome to attend as guests of club members, depending on the number of guests allowed overall, and the number of guests allowed per member. The "host" member is responsible for bringing waivers for each guest on EVERY event.
   
   
3. What if I don't want to sign the AOC waiver?
   If you do not understand, agree to, or sign the AOC waiver, you will be unable to participate in AOC events. This is for the club's protection and safety, and we appreciate your hassle-free signature.
   
   
4. Do you sell/share my information with any third-parties?
   We respect the privacy of our members and do not sell or share your information with any third-parties. It is also up to you whether or not you want to share your member information with the other members of the club in the online members area.
   
   
5. Can my children participate?
   No; AOC events are restricted to those 21+.
   
   
6. Can I bring my dog?
   Dogs are permitted on some events. This is at the discretion of the particular event's coordinator and whether the area in which the event occurs permits them.
   Note that if an event is listed as "no dogs" may contact the coordinator to ask to get that changed, however, we do not make changes with less than 48 hours notice, and without the consent of everyone who is already signed up on the event.
   Wish we had more dog-friendly events? Please see our Coordinator Checklist on how to become a coordinator for the AOC. Others probably want more too!
   
   
7. Can I meet at a different spot than the official carpool location?
   Normally, if you want to meet up and drive together to an event, you must meet at the official carpool location. If you are unable to meet at the carpool location, you will be expected to meet at the starting point (ie. trailhead) for the event. Some coordinators may choose to make exceptions depending on individual circumstances, so please e-mail your event coordinator if you feel it is necessary to meet somewhere else.
   
   Meeting at event: Note that when you meet a group at the event (rather than at carpool) it is your responsibility to find the group, including being fifteen minutes early for departure time (since it is difficult to estimate our exact arrival time when carpooling).
   
   
8. How is your carpool "per mile" amount derived?
   Our carpool amount is derived according to the current cost of vehicle maintenance, plus the gas price in Atlanta. This is the per mile amount, which is multiplied by the total miles round-trip to derive the approximate cost for a specific event.
   
   
9. Why is my age displayed? Isn't that private information?
   Many members appreciate knowing what type of people may be accompanying them on an event and a group of 20 somethings can be a different experience than a group of 50 somethings. The AOC feels that age specific event are discriminatory however members are welcome to choose whether they'd feel comfortable among a group of significantly older or younger participants. Regular members will tell you that ages are insignificant, but it's still nice to know. If you are 50+ but don't feel a day over 29, go ahead and lie on your birthdate - we won't tell a soul! You have the choice to hide your actual birthdate from display since that is considered to be private information..if you are telling the truth!
   
   
10. I chose to participate in the Member Network. Why can't I view other members' info?
    Until you have attended 2+ events with the Atlanta Outdoor Club you will not have access to view the information of other club members. This is a privacy/security measure which ensures that personal information is not made publicly available (ie. all someone would have to do to gain access to the information is sign up for a free club). To protect our members' privacy we have implemented a policy that the information is only made available to participating members.
    
    
11. How does your event notification system work?
    We only send out e-mail notifications for events that are posted with short notice (<6 days in the future) or require pre-payment through the club. Newest events are always posted on the right-hand side of the calendar, so you can always check there for any new events as well (in fact, we recommend checking there regularly if you find that many events are full before you get the notifications).
    Out system is not able to send out all notifications at the exact same time - we have so many people signed up to get them that it would crash our system. So, instead, 100 notifications are sent out at a time, with the newest people in the club getting the notifications first. We have set it up this way to give new folks a fair shot at getting on some events, and hope that if you're getting the notifications later because you've been in the club for a while will encourage you to start coordinating events of your own (which is, of course, the sure-fire way of making sure you get on an event).
    You can change your subscription for notifications by logging on to the web site and going to "Change Preferences" on the left-nav if you are receiving the notifications and don't want them, or want them but aren't getting them. Note that you can also subscribe or unsubscribe from our newsletter service there as well.
    
    
12. What if I can't attend an event that I'm registered for?
    If you are a member, there are a couple of ways you can remove your registration from an event. First, log in to the web site, and then either:
    - Click on the event details and scroll to the bottom for a button to remove yourself
    - Select "My Events" from the left nav and use the section at the bottom to remove yourself
    Note that if you cancel after the registration cut-off, you must contact the event coordinator to let them know. If you simply do not show up for an event, it may impact your participation on future events. Please review our Cancellation Policy for more information.
    
    
13. Can I be bumped off an event list for any reason?
    Event sign-ups and waiting lists are always on a first-come, first served basis. It is, however, possible for you to get bumped off an event list in the following circumstances:
    - You are not physically able to complete the event, or are putting yourself (or others) at risk by attempting the event
    - You arrive without the required equipment to complete the event (ie. a helmet for a biking event)
    - The event hasn't got enough drivers, in which case a person willing to take their vehicle may be given precedence on the event over someone who isn't
    - You have two or more no-shows logged on your account (see our cancellation policy for more information)
    - You have been notified previously that you are not welcome on this coordinator’s events (due to past issues).
    
    
14. I received a "Double Booked" warning/notice. What, exactly, does this mean?
    There are three types of "Double Booked" warnings you may receive from the AOC web site.
    - The first two types are "automated" warnings from the web site, simply notifying you that you are registered for more than one event for a particular date. This situation is not always actually a problem, as it is entirely possible to attend more than one event on a day if they do not overlap. The web site is not able to tell if this is the case, or if you are, in fact, actually double-booked (ie. Registered on two or more events that DO overlap, making it impossible for you to attend all of them). This is just a courtesy warning and a request that if you ARE double booked, that you please choose which event you wish to attend and remove yourself from any others. You may get these "automated" warnings when you are moved from a waiting list to an event, or two days before the date of the events.
    - You will receive the third type of warning if you have been identified as being registered for more than one overlapping event by the AOC volunteers who monitor double-bookings. Once you receive this type of warning, you will have 48 hours (or three official warnings if it's very short notice) to rectify the situation (ie. Remove yourself from all events except the one you'll be attending) or you will be removed from all of the events. This is a club policy to protect our members and our volunteers... our volunteers must plan events and carpools and it is unfair to them to park your name on more than one event and then take it off at the last minute when you decide which one to attend (or not at all)... our members want to get onto events and if someone is taking up spots on more than one overlapping event, they are preventing another member from attending one of those events.
    
    
15. Why was someone else from the waiting list taken before me?
    Occasionally we have a situation in which we haven't got enough drivers to get all event attendees from the carpool location to the event. In these cases, the coordinator may skip down the list and take someone who is willing/able to drive over someone who indicates "Unable to Drive" or "Prefer not to Drive". Note that if you choose "Willing to Drive" or "Definitely Driving", you will be expected to be willing/able to take your vehicle, plus up to three passengers. See Related FAQ for more information about this and other reasons why someone else may be taken first.
    
    
16. There is a huge waiting list for the event I want to attend. Should I bother to add my name to the list? For the most part we try to make every accommodation to get as many people onto an event that want to attend. For hikes or other outdoor activities, the limited numbers are more of a suggestion and some volunteers are willing to add more people to the hike than they initially intended. If there is a long waiting list it will depend on the type of event as to whether you will be able to attend. There may be last minute drop outs and the volunteer might call you, or they might send out an email to all the wait listers to take an open spot as a first come, first serve basis. Or you might just be out of luck. The best option is to watch your email for any notification from the co-ordinator, or even to call the day of the event to let them know you are still interested. If you do not want to be put on a stand by situation, you have the option to be dropped off the waiting list automatically at a certain number of days before the day of the event. Don't forget that a guaranteed way to get on an event is to co-ordinate one!
    
    
17. What if I have to drop out of an event that I've already paid for? If it is still before the cut-off date, you may fill out the Refund Request Form (on your left nav) to receive a full refund. If the cut-off date has passed, you will receive a refund only if someone takes (and pays for) your spot on the event. Please contact the coordinator, and Treasurer, in this case.
    
    
18. What should I expect if I'm on the waiting list for a paid event? If paid attendees drop out of a paid event after the registration cut-off, the people on the wait list will be contacted. The first person to commit and pay for the spot gets it. Note that this is different from our waiting list "first come first serve" policy for regular events.
    
    
19. What is your mailing address?
    We have a mail box where you can send checks and waivers. Checks should be made out to Atlanta Outdoor Club, and the envelope addressed to same. Waivers can be mailed in and should be addressed to Tom Collins. Note that it is best/easiest to take your waiver to your first event instead of mailing it in, otherwise we may not have it on file yet before your first event.
    
    Other correspondence may be mailed to this address as well, however, we prefer if other business be handled electronically. Please use the Contact Us page. If you do mail something besides a check or a waiver, please address it to Atlanta Outdoor Club.
    
    Address:
    P.O. Box 468241
    Atlanta, GA, 31146
    
    
20. How can I pay for an event? You must pay for your events (which require payment) by the cut-off date. It is recommended you use Paypal (electronic) for all payments to the AOC. Payment must be made to the club Treasurer. Note that if you pay via check or money order through the mail, your payment MUST be received by the cut-off date otherwise your registration will be cancelled and your payment returned to you - if you're mailing in a payment, be sure to mail it EARLY. See our Payment Info page for more information.
    
    
21. Can I drop a payment off at your address instead of mailing it?
    No. Our mailbox is a Post Office Box. Please contact the event coordinator if you need to make special payment drop-off arrangements.
    
    
22. Can I view your events in a visual Calendar view instead of a list?
    Yes, you can switch the home page view to a Calendar view by going to "Change Preferences" on your left nav. You may switch back to List view whenever you like the same way.
    
    
23. How do the AOC's difficulty ratings work?
    The mission of the AOC is to provide events for all skill levels, with the main focus being at a beginner/intermediate skill level. Our events are rated for difficulty with this in mind. Because we are a variety club, and are not hard-core into a specific activity, our events are often rated more difficult than an expert would consider them to be (they are rated for our group, not for the expert, or hard-core community). If you have never participated in an activity before, you should be just fine attending an event that is rated Easy or Easy to Moderate. If your confidence level is higher with an activity, our events rated more difficult than that should still be fine. Make sure that you have an excellent fitness level, and/or extensive experience with an event, before signing up for anything rated Difficult or Advanced. Please see our Difficulty Ratings for detailed information. If you are unsure of your ability to complete event in which you’re interested, please e-mail the event coordinator to discuss before registering.
    
    
24. What is the scope of the AOC events (ie. for risk/difficulty)?
    Because the AOC is a free, volunteer-run organization, there are certain activities that are beyond the scope of what we're able to offer. The scope of the AOC includes:
    - Hikes, walks, backpacking, camping, canoeing, rafting, inline skating
    - Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating
    - Special events run through a tour company (caving, trail rides)
    The scope of the AOC does NOT include:
    - Social events
    - Singles events - these are WAY too dangerous (ok, seriously, they're just outside of our scope. The AOC is an "everyone welcome" club that does not discriminate based on marital status)
    - Mountain climbing, rock climbing or ice climbing (unless run through an external organization)
    - Sky diving, hang gliding, paragliding, wind surfing, kite boarding
    
    
25. How do I volunteer or donate to the club?
    It's easy to help out. We keep our web site updated with our current needs on our How You Can Help page. Let us know how you'd like to help, and we'll get you started. Thanks for your interest!
    
    
26. I have an idea for an event that I may want to organize. Who should I contact?
    Great! We are a club run by the members for the members, so we make it as easy as we can for people to start coordinating events. Please review our Coordinator Checklist and when you're ready to proceed, e-mail our volunteer coordinator, Steven Koonce, at boss@atlantaoutdoorclub.com to discuss!.
    
    
27. Can anyone organize an event?
    To organize an event, you must be on our Volunteer Team or wish to join our Volunteer Team. You may get a volunteer that you know to "co-coordinate" with you (they must attend and help with organization) or you may contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Steven Koonce, at boss@atlantaoutdoorclub.com to coordinate your own events without a co-coordinator. See our Coordinator Checklist for more information.
    
    
28. What does it mean when there's a star by someone's name? A star by a person's name means that they are on our Volunteer Team.
    
    
29. What if I have a complaint about a coordinator or a trip? Please see our Complaint Policy on our Rules page for information.
    
    
30. What if I have a complaint about another member of the club? Please see our Complaint Policy on our Rules page for information.