What you need to know about your Volunteer Led Activities Acknowledgement and Assumptions of Risk and Release Agreement. From now on there will be two versions of this important document: One for members, one for non-members.
There will be some swag available as a thank you for helping out with the new program.
Non-members are welcome on your trips and activities. It would be even better if we are able to get more of the non-members having a great time on your trips, to join AMC.
Leaders are being asked to make a simple change. Use two versions of the release agreement: the standard version for members, and a newly revised non-member version that asks for the participant’s name, street address, and email.
The AMC will use this contact information to reach out to non-members participating in your trips via mail or email. We will welcome non-members to the community and ask them to join. As always, recipients will be given the chance to opt-out if they like. Below are links to both pdf versions:
Print them separately or as a two-sided document. Then on your next trip, simply ask members to sign the member version of the waiver and non-members to sign the non-member version.
Submit the waivers as you usually do (and if you don’t, please do). Instructions on the submission of completed release agreements can be found in the footer of both versions of the document.
Every readable name, address, and email (if possible) of new prospects (sorry, current or expired members won’t count) you send in will earn you points towards cool AMC swag. Don’t forget to ensure your name and chapter is legible to make sure you get credit.
| # of Names | Incentive |
| 12 | “AMC Leader” patch |
| 25 | AMC logo clipboard |
| 50 | “AMC Leader” key chain |
| 100 | “AMC Leader” hat |
| 250 | EITHER an “AMC Leader” water bottle OR your choice of AMC guidebook |
| 500 | AMC logo vest (or similar item from the AMC store) |
The following list of questions refers to the new initiative requesting the use of two different versions of the Volunteer Release Agreement – one for members and one for non-members – that must be signed by AMC chapter trip participants.
Some chapters and club units have been asking the club to do something to increase member recruitment that would more directly impact the chapters (ie. more potential participants, leaders, and committee members). AMC staff and regional directors agreed the waivers would be a logical way to identify the people who are getting out with AMC but haven’t taken the next step to support our mission. Not only is this a relatively easy and inexpensive way to collect names, but reports show that people who have engaged in chapter activities are more likely to choose to become members when asked.
Thank you in advance for your help with this new effort. Additional membership means more support for AMC’s mission, increased dues allocation to chapters, and more people enjoying the resources, discounts, and fun that come with being an AMC member. Everyone wins!
Simple. Send in your Volunteer Release Agreements as usual. We’ll tally up the number of legible names and addresses that are new to our database and add them to your total. When you reach the first incentive level, we will send you a specially designed “AMC Leader” patch. Subsequently, each time you reach one of the levels, we will send the next gift. (For trips with more than one leader, both leaders will get credit for any names that qualify.)
The language in the Volunteer Release Agreement is unchanged. The versions only differ in the information requested at the bottom of the form. Non-members will now be asked to include their email and mailing address along with the required name, signature, and emergency contact.
The club will use this contact information to reach out to non-members participating in chapter trips via mail or email. We’ll welcome non-members to the community, show them where to learn more about what AMC offers, and ask them to join.
Every e-communication from AMC includes an opportunity to opt out of the specific type of mailing being sent or unsubscribe from all AMC emails. In this digital age, most people are aware that if they are asked for their contact information, it is for the purposes of getting in touch. AMC takes unsubscribe requests very seriously, but if the participant is adamantly opposed to sharing their information in the first place, they can choose to leave the second line of information blank.
It shouldn’t. Members and non-members alike should be able to self identify. If you’re passing around the Release Agreement, simply make it clear that one side is for members and the other is for non-members and let the participants do the rest. If you print out both versions separately, you may actually save time by having two forms circulating at once. Then everyone gets out on the trail or water faster!
Yes! And that’s not a bad thing. AMC offers free and low-cost trips to anyone who wants to get out with great people and a knowledgeable leader. Distinguishing non-members from members should help start the conversation about why it’s worthwhile to support AMC and the chapter.
We’d all like to think that after spending a day outdoors with AMC members, the first thing a participant is going to do when they get home is figure out how to join. But, the numbers show that isn’t happening. This program will give AMC the chance to reach out, remind past participants about their experience, and invite them to join our community as a member.
Trip leaders are strongly encouraged to ask non-members to include all the information on the form. However, only the first line of information is mandatory (participant name, date & signature, and emergency contact information). If the participant is hesitant to give out the rest of the information called for on the form, they maychoose to leave it blank and still continue on the trip.
We’d be happy to talk to you further about why this initiative is important to your chapter and to the club as a whole. But, no matter what, please keep in mind that all participants must sign release agreements as usual. If you must choose only one version, please default to using the member version for your participants.
You can direct further questions to amcwaiver@outdoors.org.