President's Message 🍁
Dear Amigos,
As the leaves begin to change and we’ve been teased with a few days of autumn weather, I hope this message finds you embracing the spirit of adventure that comes with the new season. Whether you're planning to participate in wine and craft beer outings or the Western Rodeo night at the end of this month, the club aims to provide plenty of activities for camaraderie year round.
I feel it is important to share important updates from our recent board meeting that will keep you informed. So, grab your favorite pumpkin-spiced beverage, and let's dive into what's new:
Exciting Growth and New Initiatives
First, I'm thrilled to report that our club is growing! We've increased from138 active memberships from April 30 to 183 as of September 15–a 32.6% increase. To all our new members: welcome to the Los Amigos familia! Your enthusiasm for travel and adventure is what makes our club so special.
To better serve our expanding membership, we're launching some new initiatives. We're piloting member-authored blogs, starting with trip-related topics. I encourage you to check out our first blog and consider volunteering to write one yourself. It's a great way to share your travel experiences and tips with fellow members.
Speaking of volunteering, our new volunteer portal is now live! You can sign up for roles like blog author, interest group coordinator, or trip leader. Your feedback during this soft launch is invaluable, so please send your comments to info@losamigos.com.
As we grow and cherish moments together, we also want to honor those members we've lost. We've added a new "In Memory of Our Members" page to our website (member login required). You can find this page directly on the Menu bar. This will be our process for paying tribute to those who have been part of our Los Amigos familia.
To access the Blogs and Volunteering, member login is required maintaining content visible to members only. Once you have entered your account, click About Us on the Menu bar and Blogs and Volunteering will be visible as you scroll down the tab. If you ever need assistance with navigating the website, you can contact your VP Communications Linda Lopez-George.
Important Changes for Trip Leaders and Members
We've approved a new structure for Trip Leader expense reimbursement to recognize the time and effort our volunteers invest. The reimbursement will be based on the number of participants, ranging from a prorated amount for smaller groups to a fixed amount for larger ones. Rest assured, the reimbursement will never exceed the actual cost of the trip.
For all members, please note that starting next year, our membership renewal period will align with our fiscal year. You'll receive your first renewal notice on May 1, 2025, and you'll have until July 31 to renew. After that, a late fee will apply.
Looking Ahead to Exciting Adventures
Thank you to the 44 members who responded to our trips survey last month. Your input helps us plan the adventures you're most excited about. Based on your interests, we're opening registration for an exciting 11-day Peru Trip, including two nights in Machu Picchu! More details can be found in this issue and the website.
As we embrace the changing seasons, I'm thrilled to see the enthusiasm for our upcoming trips. Our traditional ski trip to Alta and our Big Sky trip are both approaching waiting list status – a testament to the fantastic destinations and the camaraderie of our club. If you haven't secured your spot yet, don't wait! And for those looking ahead to warmer adventures, remember that our newly announced Peru trip is sure to be a hit.
From snow-capped peaks to ancient Incan ruins to local activities, our goal is to continue evolving and providing value to our members. As we move forward, an ad hoc committee chaired by Director At Large Brian Goebel will be reviewing our Standing Rules to ensure consistent club management. This will help us continue to provide the best possible experience for all our members.
Stay tuned for more updates, and I look forward to seeing you at one of our fall events!
Warmly,
Kerry Huffstutler |