41st Annual Great Outdoors Conference


Great Outdoors' 41st annual conference took place at Cachuma Lake, Oct. 11-13, 2019, hosted by the Santa Barbara chapter. It was attended by 51 delegates.

The following elections were held:

  • Corporate Financial Officer: Wes Stieringer (Los Angeles) was elected.
  • Corporate Secretary: Vaughan Nelson (San Diego) was elected.
  • Corporate Chair: Pete Emond-Worline was elected.

Note: Ed Emond-Worline stepped down from the Financial Officer position.

Great Outdoors exists thanks to the efforts of its volunteers, which is recognized annually through the Volunteer of the Year Awards. This year, the awards went to the following volunteers:

  • Alessio Frenda (Los Angeles)
  • Frederick Brown (Orange County/Long Beach)
  • Scott Connelly (Palm Springs)
  • Steve Magruder (San Diego)
  • Chris Fava (Santa Barbara/Ventura)

A special award went to Ed Emond-Worline for his hard work and dedication on the Website Consolidation Project.

Special Recognition for work on corporate committees was deserved by the following volunteers:

  • Scott Connelly (Palm Springs) – Outdoor Experience
  • Tom Ogier (Santa Barbara/Ventura) – Bylaws
  • Tyler Redden (San Diego) – Bylaws
  • Wes Stieringer (Los Angeles) – Website Consolidation
  • Vaughan Nelson (San Diego) – Administration
  • Brian Miller (Santa Barbara/Ventura) – Awards
  • Steve Sisneros (Los Angeles) – Archives
  • Thomas Larsen (Santa Barbara/Ventura) – Outings

Special thanks to Scott Kuther and Todd Smith (Santa Barbara) for the outstanding breakfasts they cooked both mornings.

Brian Miller (Santa Barbara) also merited a special mention for his amazing performance singing Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music).


Next year's conference will be hosted by the Orange County/Long Beach chapter.