November/December 2022

Volume 23, Number 9

November/December 2022

The Oregon Whitewater Association brings private boaters together for the enjoyment of whitewater boating. Our vision is to promote whitewater safety and training for all of our membership in an effort to provide safety awareness and confidence when executing river rescue skills. OWA is the community of choice where fun and river adventures thrive and where people and rivers connect.

Photo of the Month

This month's featured photo was taken by Steve Herring on the Green River this summer. See the trip report in this issue for more.

If you want to have your favorite river picture featured, send it to vicepresident-newsletter(at)oregonwhitewater.org. You can also submit pictures through Instagram or the OWA Facebook group.

Contact Information

Your OWA Officers and Volunteers

OWA Board of Directors

Scott Harvey, President

Steve Adams, Vice President - Events

Kimberly Long, Vice President - Newsletter

Steve Kasper, Secretary

Paul Vermilya, Treasurer

Meredith Berenski, Membership Director

Scott Ogren, Technology Director

Matt Saucy, Training Director

OWA Volunteers

Scott Harvey, Trip Editor

Cary Solberg, Advertising Editor

Scott Ogren, Webmaster

Kimberly Long, Newsletter Editor

Bruce Ripley, Safety Auction Lead

Steve Oslund, First Aid Kit Organizer

President's Corner

President's Corner

Winter Boating: With the arrival of the wet months (Nov thru April), also comes the start of the winter boating season known only to those handful of hardy rafters, cat boaters and paddlers who enjoy getting out 12 months of the year on our Northwestern Rivers. By and large, this includes most rivers that are in the…

Next OWA Meeting

Meeting link will be sent out via H2OAddicts and posted in the OWA Facebook group

What: Annual Holiday Party

Who: All Members

When: Tuesday, Dec 13th, 6:00pm

Where: Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 97209

December Club Meeting

This year we are breaking with tradition and holding the holiday party on Tuesday (the venue was not available on Wednesday). The event room will be open to us at 5:30pm but food will not be served until 6:00. The club will provide pizza and salad for the event. There will be a cash bar in the event room. Please do not bring outside food, beverages, or other substances. Continue reading for more information about the Gift Exchange and Ugly Sweater contest . . .

Do you know of a speaker for one of our monthly meetings?

Do you know someone engaging, entertaining, and full of knowledge who you would like to hear speak at a club meeting? Any club member who successfully connects OWA with a speaker for one of our meetings will be entered into a prize drawing for a $150 gift certificate to one of our sponsors. To discuss a potential speaker, email VicePresident-Events(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Trip Reports

Trip Report: Green River Desolation Gray

Desolation and Gray Canyons of the Green River, July 2022. They had said goodbye to their loved ones, written their…

Stay safe and healthy on the river and be prepared for emergencies.

Do you have a trip coming up? OWA has two extensive Wilderness First Aid kits and AED’s that go on all club trips and are available for club members to take on private trips. You can check them out by sending an email to firstaid(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Special Features

American Whitewater Article

Originally Published in American Whitewater Mar/Apr 2022, reprinted as an Affiliate ClubOn a Sunny October morning, I hauled gear from a United States Geological Survey truck down to the bank of a wide, churning Colorado River. Stuff you’d expect for…

Do you have something to share with the OWA community through the newsletter?

Do you want to share the tale of your latest multi-day rafting adventure or just the basics of your recent day run? Do you have a recipe your river friends must try? Is there other river-related content you want to share? Any club member who submits written content published in the newsletter will be entered into a prize drawing for 1 of 2 $75 gift certificates to one of our sponsors. Submitting photos gets you a chance to win 1 of 2 $25 gift certificates. To submit newsletter content or photos for our social media accounts, email VicePresident-Newsletter(at)oregonwhitewater.org.

Upcoming OWA Trips

The new website trip calendar is mobile device friendly! Check it out here: Oregon Whitewater Association Calendar

OWA has a Facebook group exclusively for members. It is a great place to connect with other members to meet up at the river or exchange gear tips. Anyone can follow the OWA Instagram page.

OWA is an affiliate member of American Whitewater. OWA members receive a $10 discount off of individual membership. American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501©(3) river conservation organization with a mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. Click the Logo to visit the AW website and learn more.