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Evening “Meetings” Resume!
As Seniors Outdoors cannot have in-person meetings for a while, we have resumed our series of evening meetings and presentations in the form of virtual Zoom based webinars. Our plan is to have a Zoom webinar presentation every two months until further notice.
Upcoming SO! Zoom Webinar
Date and time: March 9, 2021, 7:00 PM
Topic: Tunneling Under the South Pole
Speaker: John Wright
Presentation summary: Maintaining the continuous US presence at the South Pole since 1956-57 has simultaneously evolved a series of station and infrastructure improvements over the years. One such improvement included driving utility tunnels below the surface in support of the station’s sewer and domestic water needs. John Wright was in charge of the South Pole Tunnel project, begun in 1998 and completed in 2002. His presentation describes uniquely fascinating aspects of driving a network of tunnels totaling over 3000’ against the backdrop of “what are we doing there at all?” and includes side bars on “ground” conditions, on how you get a water well in solid ice, and what do you do with wastewater and sewage? The tunnel network is still in use today.
Speaker bio: John H. Wright began his career in the underground mines of the American West as a mining geologist and hardrock miner. With the closing of the western frontier, he headed south to Antarctica, serving first as explosives engineer, then later driving a tunnel in the ice beneath the South Pole. Because of his record in service to the United States Antarctic Program executing dangerous, difficult jobs with an impeccable record for safety and achievement, he was selected to lead the historic South Pole Traverse Proof-of-Concept Project. He lives in Silverton and is honored to tell its story.
Email invitations to the webinar will be sent 4-5 days before the webinar, and you will be required to respond to that email invitation in order to attend. Response instructions will be included with that email.
All Seniors Outdoors! Outings and Activities
Cancelled Until Further Notice
SO! Coronavirus Policy – Cancellation of All Future Activities
Given the projected severity of the Coronavirus pandemic, and the enhanced risk to seniors, the Board of Directors of Seniors Outdoors! has concluded that all available steps should be taken to avoid enhanced exposure to our members, even when it requires avoidance of some activities that are very dear to our members. These temporary measures will be revisited and revised as conditions allow.
Board and Committee Meetings: All Board of Director and Committee meetings will be conducted by telephone or Zoom to the extent possible, until further notice.
SO! Outings: The Board recognizes that outdoor activities are particularly important to the health and happiness of our members, and present a lesser risk of exposure than indoor gatherings. Nevertheless, any gathering of members does enhance the risk to some degree. All SO! group outings are currently cancelled.
Members are encouraged to continue their outdoor activities individually or in very small groups, especially on bike rides and local hikes that do not involve car pools. Depending on future risk analysis, the outings schedule will be resumed as soon as we feel it is safe.
The SO! Directors, and all our members, are grateful and appreciative to the leaders and members who contribute their time and efforts to the schedule of outings, meetings and activities. We all look forward to resuming our SO! adventures and social functions. Stay Safe!
Updated: 10/25/2020