Are you missing out? Join the Rainier Volunteers discussion group!

If you're not a member of the Rainier Volunteers discussion group, you might be!

Many of you have become faithful readers of this blog, where I've tried to keep you posted with all the latest news about our beloved volunteer program. However, there is another resource for information of interest to volunteers. It includes discussions on such important issues as how much snow to expect this winter, what kind of wild cat George Coulbourn saw near Mowich Lake last week, what the park should do (if anything) to restore the Carbon River Road, and whether 500 hours is too many before park volunteers receive recognition for their service in the form of an annual pass.

I also regularly forward e-mails that I receive in my inbox containing basic information about activities in the park that might be of interest to volunteers. Want to hear the latest about plans for the grand opening of the new visitor center? Curious about why helicopters were hovering over the Fourth Crossing trail at Paradise? Care to join us for a farewell luncheon for Jill Baum (Wednesday noon in the Longmire Administration Building conference room), who will be moving on this weekend after two years as director of the Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative? It's all posted in the discussion group. When you sign up, you can choose to receive updates as they're added. That way you'll always know when a notice goes out to all employees about road construction delays, or about current trail conditions.

And, of course, if you don't see the information you're looking for, you can post a query of your own: "How are the flowers looking at Spray Park this week?" And within 24 hours, usually, someone will post a response. It's virtual interactive volunteerism!

Here's the link. Join the discussion!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RainierVolunteers/