Dear PRCA Members,

Greetings and Salutations!

As we are all aware, ropes courses have a rich history in experiential / adventure education with leadership development. Some of the first ropes courses as we know them today, began as part of Outward Bound courses and many of the rope techniques come from the mountaineering and rock climbing disciplines. Because of this unique and common theme, the PRCA has been working behind the scenes to expand our services and offer more diverse benefits for the professionals in the ropes course industry.

Over the course of the past couple years, we have been formally discussing a joint conference with other associations. The benefits would include, not certainly be limited to, shared resources, larger attendance, better culture and population of workshops on leadership and professional development, and alignment of talent with other like associations. These talks have proved fruitful!

It is with great pleasure that we announce that the PRCA and the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) www.weainfo.org have agreed to offer a joint conference for this up coming 2009 conference year! With the rich history WEA has with their 18 point leadership curriculum, some forty-five program affiliates, and many of them with ropes courses, this seems to be a mutual and beneficial alliance for both our organizations.

The PRCA conference has been typically in the early part of December and our membership feedback was that this was a poor time of year. Therefore, the PRCA will adopt the WEA conference schedule. Our joint conference will be held in Bloomington, Indiana at Indiana University on February 4 & 5 (pre-conference) and February 6 & 7, 2009 for the main conference. Mark your calendars now!

Also, the PRCA will be sponsoring a pre-conference workshop entitled "Ropes Course Skills Assessment Test-Out". This will be an full day of technical skills check off with Q&A by Accredited Vendors. This is a "test out" course to meet your insurance requirement for an annual renewal training. The workshop will be focused towards basic level skills such as harness fitting, helmet fitting, knot tying, belaying, course set up, course take down, equipment care and inspection, etc. An agenda will be made available on the PRCA website one week prior so registrants may practice up on the skills being reviewed. A basic working knowledge of these skills should be known by those wishing to test out. The price will be close to $50.

A call for presenters will be placed to the membership in the near future, so please look for the announcement in a later e-mail and posted on the PRCA website. The PRCA will also offer a pre-conference workshop, along with Accredited Vendors meeting, the annual members meeting, and the annual Board of Directors meeting at this conference.

So please, visit our friends over at the WEA, check them out, and see all the good they have been doing for years. Keep checking back to the PRCA website for more information on the up coming joint conference and a call for presenters on line form.

Again, thank you for your membership and support in YOUR association.

Sincerely,

Steve Gustafson
PRCA, Board of Directors

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We hope that you take advantage of this years' conference located in the Mid-West for easy travel from both coasts! Join us for the workshops, join us for networking, join us for climbing, join us Come share ideas and join us for a chance to recharge your professional batteries!

Registrations
Registrations are being worked out and will be announced at a later date.

Location
Bloomington, Indiana

Costs
Cost will be very low and be broken down as follows:
TBA In addition to the outstanding workshops, we will also be conducting our Annual Board Meeting, Membership Meeting, Accredited Vendors Meeting, and ANSI Q&A. Please come join us and help set the direction of YOUR association!

Cost looks to be inexpensive again for this next conference so set aside funds in your budgets now and hold the dates. Professional, student, and other discounted rates will be available.

If you are interested in submitting a workshop proposal, please forward a brief description in WORD format to the PRCA office and the conference committee will be in contact with you shortly.

Interested in presenting at the conference? E-mail your proposal to the PRCA office.

Tentative Workshops Topics:
Open-forum Members Meeting

Lodging / Meals:
TBA