By Khara Pence
11/15/2006
[Editor’s note: Khara has been a continuous Member of OASC since
its inception on March 20th, 2004.]
After moving to Charlottesville and working at the University of Virginia
for about seven months, I heard from a colleague about the debut of
a new outdoor club in the area. I was very intrigued by the idea and decided
to attend the first meeting to see what the club had to offer. When I arrived,
there were already well over 50 people at the meeting and it impressed
me that so many people in the area shared my interests and were also interested
in discovering more about the new club. After arriving, we soon  moved
to the rooftop terrace where club manager, Matt Rosefsky, introduced the
club leaders and described his vision for the club. Matt also provided a
thorough overview of membership benefits including use of club equipment,
use of the club’s social space for gatherings and events, and the experience of
leaders who were trained in first aid and knowledgeable about the natural
beauty surrounding Charlottesville. I was most impressed by Matt’s
attention to detail and his apparent level of commitment to the club – Matt
made it clear to all potential members that managing OASC and ensuring that
it met or exceeded our expectations would be his number one priority. He
has encouraged members to send suggestions and feedback to the club (even
anonymously) in order to provide club members with the highest degree of
quality possible.
In the more than 2.5 years that I have been a member of the club, I
can say with great sincerity that joining OASC was one of the best
decisions I have made since moving to Charlottesville. I have met some of
the most interesting, intelligent, and fun people imaginable through the
club and have participated in adventures both near (e.g., after-work hike
on the Rivanna Trail) and far (e.g., vacation to a tropical paradise in St.
Croix, U.S.V.I) that I would not have experienced otherwise. In addition
to what one would consider to be traditional outdoor or social adventures,
many of the leaders have conducted outdoor and social activities that provide
service to the greater Charlottesville area and beyond. River cleanup canoe
adventures, construction for Habitat for Humanity, fundraisers for Operation
Smile, and volunteer efforts to restore local trails and assist at a local
animal refuge are just a few examples.
In my experience, OASC’s leaders are extremely knowledgeable about
outdoor activities (even activities as specialized as white water kayaking
and rock climbing) as well as the cultural and social activities that take
place in our community (e.g., film festivals, art exhibits, concerts). Their
commitment to OASC, like Matt’s, is evident both in the level of planning
that they undertake and in the quality of the execution of their adventures.
A great deal of work behind-the-scenes has also enhanced my experiences
in the club. For example, the OASC website makes it very easy to take advantage
of all the club has to offer. Members receive invitations to join the club’s
many adventures, and can also browse the club’s website for additional
information about adventures. One of the most notable features of the OASC
website is the adventure archive and the photo archive. Members are able
to search for adventures that they have previously attended and can enjoy
memories by browsing through the well-organized photo gallery.
In summary, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of OASC and cherish
the many friendships that I have as a result of my membership. Although I
cannot possibly mention everything that I would like to in this letter, I
will say that my experiences as part of OASC have far exceeded my expectations
for an outdoor club and have introduced me to people and places that have
made living in Charlottesville so enjoyable.
On 11/17/2006, Elizabeth Donatelli of Charlottesville ABC-TV and CBS-TV
showcased an OASC Wallyball adventure! View
the video clip.
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