[Matt Lemke]

How funny...I just met someone who I believe I'm going to be hiking with for a long time now who just told me about this site. Of course she referred me to the Denver meetup group but I'll have to look at the Seattle one when I'm back there for the summer.

[Dayhike Mike]

You did read the entire thread, right? Meetup is very much a mixed bag. Never know what you'll get.

[Matt Lemke]

yes...I read most of it and from what I can see at least down here in Denver there are two "groups" of people using Meetup One group of people I've recently met will go climb up anything and have all the gear and experience to do it...winter or summer. Everyone I've talked to knows what they are talking about. The other group really only meets up in summer and fall and does simpler and easier trailed hikes and has your traditional outdoors noobs in it.

[shadetree]

I know someone who teaches 1rst aid cpr. I'll find out what the going rate is and let you know. But 65 does nt sound out of line to me.

[MCaver]

Guess this means I'll get another call from Cameron complaining about public slander. I think he thinks I'm some kind of customer support line.

[Lono]

FWIW the American Red Cross teaches an ~8 hour Adult and Child CPR + First Aid for ~$92, Cameron's looks like an abbreviated (begins at 4pm, so 4 hours?) CPR + First Aid from the American Heart Association curriculum. The price from a certified AHA instructor sounds about right to me; I would quibble over teaching CPR + any meaningful FA in only 4 hours, I've had that from a couple refesher courses and they do not address any meaningful first aid principles except "apply pressure" and "keep it clean": if you were to take your first aid training from this kind of instruction you would be woefully lacking. I wouldn't blame Cameron for mixing FA with CPR in only 4 hours, that seems to be endemic to the FA/CPR industry. Also Infant CPR requires some separate instruction and practice, but both adult and Child can be done in 4 hours, especially the newer compression only CPR.

[Carie Yawn]

Well I guess it's good that he's trying to get more people in his meetup trained in CPR and First Aid. Interesting that he's not trying to make a buck here. I remember a few of the earlier stunts when it seemed like he was trying to monetize his little army of followers. He still does to some extent, charging a dollar for attendance to socials, but nothing as obvious as creating fake personas to promote and give glowing testimonials of his own hiking seminars.

[Lono]

I don't know if Cameron is making money on this, I'm just saying that the price of the curriculum is about right. You can contact the AHA and ask them their rates for an evening class, or compare to other AHA evening classes held at REI. I don't know if REI lets them use their space for free, or charges for it; or if Cameron might get comped for his own attendance fee by bringing in x number of CPR students. Really, I don't think anyone gets rich off of CPR classes, least of all the instructors.

[Bedivere]

charging a token fee for attendance at socials and other events is a tool to ensure the people who RSVP actually show up.

[Dayhike Mike]

How does that actually change anything? Unless I get my money back when and if I attend, charging a fee is simply that. Besides, what kind of bullsh## is requiring someone to sign up and register to attend a free-form social event? Sounds like the best way to avoid the fee is to just show up and refuse to pay a buck to walk into the restaurant. Since I'm already there, there's no need to charge me the extortion fee to get me to arrive.

[Bedivere]

The logic is that people aren't going to pay a buck or five bucks or whatever it is unless they're serious about showing up. I have seen that fee be refunded, or used to pay for food/drinks for the attendees in some groups. And, as you know, restaurants have limited capacities. Your idea about just showing up might work but it would be awful hard to plan a large event if everyone just did that. If you have to limit the size of the group due to the capacity of the venue then it sucks to have to tell people they can't come because the event is full then have people who don't show up.

[Dayhike Mike]

Looks like it's time to bump this thread again. Cameron, Cameron, Cameron...

[like2thruhike]

Wow....

[Doppelganger]

[JimK]

You folks might want to steer clear of Rattlesnake Ledge and Cedar Butte on 1/29/12. So far Meet Up has 41 signed up with 4 spaces still available. I'd like to see all 45 on the summit of Cedar Butte. Imaging being on the lower ledge when 45 folks join you. Try passing that group on the trail. Still time to sign up!!