Centre Street Church Sports - FAQs

Membership
1. How much does it cost to join?
2. Do I have to become a member to participate in CSC Sports events?
3. How do I find you when I've never met you before?
4. What if I don't want to accept the CSC Sports waiver?
5. Is a waiver required to attend social events?
6. Do you sell/share my information with any third-parties?
7. Can my children participate?
8. Can I bring my dog?
   Carpool
9. How do I get to a carpool location via transit?
10. Can I meet at a different spot than the official carpool location?
11. How is your carpool "per km" amount derived?
    Member Network/Info
12. Why is my age displayed? Isn't that private information?
13. I chose to participate in the Member Network. Why can't I view other members' info?
    Event Notifications, Registration and Waiting Lists
14. How does your event notification system work?
15. What if I can't attend an event that I'm registered for?
16. Can I be bumped off an event list for any reason?
17. I received a "Double Booked" warning/notice. What, exactly, does this mean?
18. Why was someone else from the waiting list taken before me?
19. There is a huge waiting list for the event I want to attend. Should I bother to add my name to the list?
20. What if I have to drop out of an event that I've already paid for?
21. What should I expect if I'm on the waiting list for a paid event?
22. My friend/partner is also a member of the club. Can I sign them up for an event?
23. I'm trying to register for an event and the web site says I'm not old enough, even though I am. What's up with that?
    Mailing, Payments
24. What is your mailing address?
25. How can I pay for an event?
26. Can I drop a payment off at your address instead of mailing it?
    Event Descriptions
27. How do the CSC Sports's difficulty ratings work?
28. I want to submit photos but I don't know how to resize them. How do I do that?
    Volunteering
29. How do I volunteer or donate to the club?
30. I have an idea for an event that I may want to organize. Who should I contact?
31. Can anyone organize an event?
32. What does it mean when there's a star or something else by someone's name?
    Complaints
33. What if I have a complaint about a Event Coordinator or a trip?
34. What if I have a complaint about another member of the club?

1. How much does it cost to join?
   It doesn't cost anything to join Centre Street Church Sports and there are no yearly membership fees. We do ask for voluntary donations for many of our free events to help us pay for things like web hosting, printing fees, club mailbox, first aid supplies, etc.
   
   
2. Do I have to become a member to participate in CSC Sports events?
   Because of league requirements etc, not all CSC events are open to guests. For those that are; non-members are welcome to attend as guests while attending with a member.
   
   
3. How do I find you when I've never met you before?
   If you're new to the club and haven't been out to one of our events before, here are some oh-so-handy tips for how to figure out which of the strangers you see are the ones you're actually looking for:
   - At our social events: A designated spot to loiter will be appointed, and the Event Coordinator will gather everyone in that spot. When possible, they will wear an article of CSC Sports-wear and/or have a Centre Street Church Sports sign nearby.
   - At a carpool or event location: The carpool location will be described in as much detail as possible. Look for a group of people milling around some vehicles, likely toting hiking or other outdoor gear.
   
   
4. What if I don't want to accept the CSC Sports waiver?
   If you do not understand, agree to, or accept the CSC Sports waiver, you will be unable to participate in CSC Sports events. This is for the CSC Sports Ministry's protection and safety, and we appreciate your hassle-free cooperation.
   
   
5. Is a waiver required to attend social events?
   Accepting the waiver is required to attend every CSC Sports event, including socials.
   
   
6. Do you sell/share my information with any third-parties?
   We respect the privacy of our members and do not sell or share your information with any third-parties. It is also up to you whether or not you want to share your member information with the other members of the club in the online members area.
   
   
7. Can my children participate?
   CSC sports is primarily an adult ministry although there are exceptions ie. social events. You'll need to check the particular event's information online to see if children are permitted.
   There are special REGULATIONS pertaining to children participating in carpool. Please see our Rules page for complete details.
   Wish we had more kid-friendly events? Please see our Event Coordinator Checklist on how to become a Event Coordinator for the CSC Sports. Others probably want more too!
   
   
8. Can I bring my dog?
   Dogs are permitted on some events. This is at the discretion of the particular event's Event Coordinator and whether the area in which the event occurs permits them.
   Note that if an event is listed as "no dogs" we are not able to change it to "dogs allowed" due to liability issues.
   Wish we had more dog-friendly events? Please see our Event Coordinator Checklist on how to become a Event Coordinator for the CSC Sports. Others probably want more too!
   
   
9. How do I get to a carpool location via transit?
   The carpool place determined on a by-event basis and is included in the event details. Centre Street Church East Campus located at: 3900 2nd Street NE Calgary, AB. Go to: www.mapquest.com for map directions. The Calgary Transit web site can provide more information on routes and schedules.
   
   
10. Can I meet at a different spot than the official carpool location?
    Normally, if you want to meet up and drive together to an event, you must meet at the official carpool location. If you are unable to meet at the carpool location, you will be expected to meet at the starting point (ie. trailhead) for the event. There are a few important reasons for this: first of all, we are a transit-friendly ministry and have many members who meet at carpool via transit. If some of our drivers are meeting at an alternate location, we likely will not have enough vehicles at carpool to get everyone to the event. Additionally, the time and complication involved with arranging alternate meetings for different people could easily get out of hand if people are wanting to meet at various locations instead of at carpool. Some Event Coordinators may choose to make exceptions depending on individual circumstances, so please e-mail your Event Coordinator if you feel it is necessary to meet somewhere else.
    
    Meeting at event: Note that when you meet a group at the event (rather than at carpool) it is your responsibility to find the group, including being fifteen minutes early for departure time (since it is difficult to estimate our exact arrival time when carpooling).
    
    
11. How is your carpool "per km" amount derived?
    Carpooling is both relational and cost effective. To avoid the vehicle owner carrying the financial responsibility of the trip we have created a fair way to calculate the overall cost to be shared equally by everyone in the vehicle. Calculate $0.10/km for maintenance, and add this total to: (the cost of gas in Calgary times the total kms and divide by 9) For example: Round Trip is 150kms. 150 X 0.10 = $15.00. Gas is currently 1.10/Ltr. 150 X 1.10 = 165. 165 divided by 9 = $18.33. $15.00 + $18.33 = $33.30 total cost to be shared equally by the people in the car. Another simple approach is to have the vehicle owner carry the maintenance cost (0.10/km) and the others pay the cost of gas as per above.
    
    
12. Why is my age displayed? Isn't that private information?
    Many members appreciate knowing what type of people may be accompanying them on an event and a group of 20 somethings can be a different experience than a group of 50 somethings. The CSC Sports feels that age specific event are discriminatory however members are welcome to choose whether they'd feel comfortable among a group of significantly older or younger participants. Regular members will tell you that ages are insignificant, but it's still nice to know. If you are 50+ but don't feel a day over 29, go ahead and lie on your birthdate - we won't tell a soul! You have the choice to hide your actual birthdate from display since that is considered to be private information..if you are telling the truth!
    
    
13. I chose to participate in the Member Network. Why can't I view other members' info?
    Until you have attended 2+ events with the Centre Street Church Sports you will not have access to view the information of other members. This is a privacy/security measure which ensures that personal information is not made publicly available (ie. all someone would have to do to gain access to the information is sign up for a free club). To protect our members' privacy we have implemented a policy that the information is only made available to participating members. Note that "Social" events do not count towards your 2+ events.
    
    
14. How does your event notification system work?
    We only send out e-mail notifications for events that are posted with short notice (<6 days in the future) or require pre-payment through the sport ministry. Newest events are always posted on the right-hand side of the calendar, so you can always check there for any new events as well (in fact, we recommend checking there regularly if you find that many events are full before you get the notifications).
    Out system is not able to send out all notifications at the exact same time - we have so many people signed up to get them that it would crash our system. So, instead, 100 notifications are sent out at a time, with the newest people in the sport ministry getting the notifications first. We have set it up this way to give new folks a fair shot at getting on some events, and hope that if you're getting the notifications later because you've been in the sport ministry for a while will encourage you to start coordinating events of your own (which is, of course, the sure-fire way of making sure you get on an event).
    You can change your subscription for notifications by logging on to the web site and going to "Change Preferences" on the left-nav if you are receiving the notifications and don't want them, or want them but aren't getting them. Note that you can also subscribe or unsubscribe from our newsletter service there as well.
    
    
15. What if I can't attend an event that I'm registered for?
    If you are a member, there are a couple of ways you can remove your registration from an event. First, log in to the web site, and then either:
    - Click on the event details and scroll to the bottom for a button to remove yourself
    - Select "My Events" from the left nav and use the section at the bottom to remove yourself
    Note that if you cancel after the registration cut-off, you must contact the Event Coordinator to let them know. If you simply do not show up for an event, it may impact your participation on future events. Please review our Cancellation Policy for more information.
    
    
16. Can I be bumped off an event list for any reason?
    Event sign-ups and waiting lists are always on a first-come, first served basis. It is, however, possible for you to get bumped off an event list in the following circumstances:
    - You are not physically able to complete the event, or are putting yourself (or others) at risk by attempting the event
    - You arrive without the required equipment to complete the event (ie. a helmet for a biking event)
    - The event hasn't got enough drivers, in which case a person willing to take their vehicle may be given precedence on the event over someone who isn't
    - You have two or more no-shows logged on your account (see our cancellation policy for more information)
    - You have been notified previously that you are not welcome on this Event Coordinator’s events (due to past issues).
    
    
17. I received a "Double Booked" warning/notice. What, exactly, does this mean?
    There are three types of "Double Booked" warnings you may receive from the CSC Sports web site.
    - The first two types are "automated" warnings from the web site, simply notifying you that you are registered for more than one event for a particular date. This situation is not always actually a problem, as it is entirely possible to attend more than one event on a day if they do not overlap. The web site is not able to tell if this is the case, or if you are, in fact, actually double-booked (ie. Registered on two or more events that DO overlap, making it impossible for you to attend all of them). This is just a courtesy warning and a request that if you ARE double booked, that you please choose which event you wish to attend and remove yourself from any others. You may get these "automated" warnings when you are moved from a waiting list to an event, or two days before the date of the events.
    - You will receive the third type of warning if you have been identified as being registered for more than one overlapping event by the CSC Sports volunteers who monitor double-bookings. Once you receive this type of warning, you will have 48 hours (or three official warnings if it's very short notice) to rectify the situation (ie. Remove yourself from all events except the one you'll be attending) or you will be removed from all of the events. This is a club policy to protect our members and our volunteers... our volunteers must plan events and carpools and it is unfair to them to park your name on more than one event and then take it off at the last minute when you decide which one to attend (or not at all)... our members want to get onto events and if someone is taking up spots on more than one overlapping event, they are preventing another member from attending one of those events.
    
    
18. Why was someone else from the waiting list taken before me?
    Occasionally we have a situation in which we haven't got enough drivers to get all event attendees from the carpool location to the event. In these cases, the Event Coordinator may skip down the list and take someone who is willing/able to drive over someone who indicates "Unable to Drive" or "Prefer not to Drive". Note that if you choose "Willing to Drive" or "Definitely Driving", you will be expected to be willing/able to take your vehicle, plus up to three passengers. See Related FAQ for more information about this and other reasons why someone else may be taken first.
    
    
19. There is a huge waiting list for the event I want to attend. Should I bother to add my name to the list?
    For the most part we try to make every accomodation to get as many people onto an event that want to attend. For hikes or other outdoor activities, the limited numbers are more of a suggestion and some volunteers are willing to add more people to the hike than they initially intended. In some cases, a second group will be added to accomodate a growing waiting list. However, for social events like dinners, paid events or house parties the number of people allowed is not usually flexible. If there is a long waiting list it will depend on the type of event as to whether you will be able to attend. There are almost always last minute drop outs and the volunteer might call you, or they might send out an email to all the wait listers to take an open spot as a first come, first serve basis. Or you might just be out of luck. The best option is to watch your email for any notification from the co-ordinator, or even to call the day of the event to let them know you are still interested. If you do not want to be put on a stand by situation, you have the option to be dropped off the waiting list automatically at a certain number of days before the day of the event. Don't forget that a guaranteed way to get on an event is to co-ordinate one!
    
    
20. What if I have to drop out of an event that I've already paid for?
    If it is still before the cut-off date, you may fill out the Refund Request Form (on your left nav) to receive a full refund. If the cut-off date has passed, you will receive a refund only if someone takes (and pays for) your spot on the event. Please contact the Event Coordinator, and Treasurer, in this case.
    
    
21. What should I expect if I'm on the waiting list for a paid event?
    If paid attendees drop out of a paid event after the registration cut-off, the people on the wait list will be contacted. The first person to commit and pay for the spot gets it. Note that this is different from our waiting list "first come first serve" policy for regular events.
    
    
22. My friend/partner is also a member of the club. Can I sign them up for an event?
    Yes, but please use the "Agent" feature on our web site to do so. Your friend/partner should use the "Set Up Agents" link on the left nav and enter you as their agent. Then, when you register for an event, indicate that you're bringing a guest. Select your friend/partner from the list at the top - everyone who has designated you as their "Agent" will appear in the list. Please do not sign them up as a regular "Guest" otherwise the event will not show up in their event history, and so on.
    
    
23. I'm trying to register for an event and the web site says I'm not old enough, even though I am. What's up with that?
    Sometimes a person receives this message when they are using:
    - A very old version of a browser
    - A non-standard browser
    Or:
    - Have their security settings too high on their browser
    - Have their browser set to refuse cookies
    The solutions to this problem are:
    - Use a different computer
    - Upgrade/change your browser
    - Decrease your security settings and/or allow cookies
    
    
24. What is your mailing address?
    We have a mail box where you can send cheques. Cheques should be made out to Centre Street Church and in the "memo" field please remember to add the name of the sport or event c/w "CSCS".
    
    Other correspondence may be mailed to this address as well, however, we prefer if other business be handled electronically. Please use the Contact Us page. If you do mail something besides a cheque, please address it to Centre Street Church Sports.
    
    Address:
    3900 - 2 Street NE
    Calgary, AB, T2E 9C1
    
    
25. How can I pay for an event?
    You must pay for your events (which require payment) by the cut-off date. Payment must be made to the club Treasurer. See our Payment Info page for more information. Note that if you pay via cheque or money order through the mail, your payment MUST be received by the cut-off date otherwise your registration will be cancelled and your payment returned to you - if you're mailing in a payment, be sure to mail it EARLY.
    
    
26. Can I drop a payment off at your address instead of mailing it?
    Sure, you can drop it off directly at CSC East Campus with the receptionist on the 2nd floor. Please be sure to have your payment sealed in an envelope and addressed to the Sports Facilitator c/w reference to which sporting event the payment pertains to.
    
    
27. How do the CSC Sports's difficulty ratings work?
    Because we have a wide variety participants, and are not singularly focused on a specific sport, our events are often rated more difficult than what an expert would consider them to be. Please see our Difficulty Ratings for detailed information.
28. I want to submit photos but I don't know how to resize them. How do I do that?
    Thank you for taking the time to submit your photos for our photo albums! Here are some instructions that will hopefully get you going with resizing them so they don't overwhelm our photo historian's e-mail account:
    - Go to the folder your photos are saved in
    - Right click on a photo, select Open With/Microsoft Office Picture Manager (MS Office Picture Manager will open)
    - Select Picture/Resize from the menu bar at the top
    - Select from the bar on the right: make picture fit inside/predefined widch x height/web large (640 x 480px)
    - Click ok
    - Select file/save as from the top menu bar and rename the photo so you know this is the resized photo (e.g. original file name: Calgary Picnic 1, resized file name: Calgary Picnic 1 sm)
    - Send this photo to the photo historians
    *When you close MS Office Picture Manager, you will get a popup that says "There are changes that have not been saved". Select "Don't Save" . This will ensure you keep the original size photo for printing at a print shop AND have a resized photo for the photo historian to post online.
    It's quite easy once you get the hang of it!
    
    
29. How do I volunteer or donate to the club?
    It's easy to help out. We keep our web site updated with our current needs on our Volunteer & Donate page. Let us know how you'd like to help, and we'll get you started. Thanks for your interest!
    
    
30. I have an idea for an event that I may want to organize. Who should I contact?
    We are a ministry run by the volunteer members for the members, so we make it as easy as we can for people to start facilitating sporting events. Please review our Event Coordinator Checklist and when you're ready to proceed, e-mail our volunteer coordinator, Wendy, at Volunteers@cscsports.ca to discuss!.
    
    
31. Can anyone organize an event?
    To organize an event, you must be on our Volunteer Team. For more information on joining CSCS Volunteer Team you may contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Wendy, at Volunteers@cscsports.ca.
    
    
32. What does it mean when there's a star or something else by someone's name? An icon of any kind by a person's name means that they are on our Volunteer Team.
    
    
33. What if I have a complaint about a Event Coordinator or a trip?
    Please see our Complaint Policy on our Rules page for information.
    
    
34. What if I have a complaint about another member of the club?
    Please see our Complaint Policy on our Rules page for information.