TAS trips are arranged by members, for members, on a volunteer basis. These "wranglers" coordinate the logistics of each trip. Wranglers do not need to be experts in an area or have personal experience with the site, just a willingness to make the arrangements and contact the appropriate guides, accommodations, etc.

A wrangler is not a guide and does not have to know much about the site. Of course, a quick study via Google might be comforting. Please let us know if you have any interest, or willingness, to be a wrangler.

Wrangler Guidelines

1.    Make sure the trip date does not conflict with another TAS activity.

2.    Give participants clear directions about the site location, meeting place, etc.

3.    Prepare a map if the directions are complex.

4.    Estimate the total cost of every trip even if the cost is only a lunch or zero.

5.    Ensure that both camping and hotel/motel accommodations are considered when costs are estimated.

6.    Try to have a clear idea of who is going. This is not always possible, especially for day trips, but give it a try. Use sign-up sheets at TAS meetings, for example.

7.    Ask participants ahead of time if they have any limitations or special requirements; e,g., you really have to be able to walk to get to Arsenic Springs, and to get back up the stairs. Some people can do part of a trip, but not all. The Wrangler should know about this. On long trips participants who believe they cannot scale pyramids, etc., may stay on the flat ground and wait for the climbers to return.

8.    On lengthy trips assign one participant to be the banker to handle miscellaneous money; e.g., for meals, museum tickets, etc.

9.    Have co-wranglers for extensive trips.

10.  Develop transportation needed. On long trips decide if vans will be used or local buses or taxis or personal autos. On short, local trips, plan to carpool.

11.  On long trips develop a plan for air fare and plan to contact, more than once, the travel agent, if one is being used.

12.  Make a clear distinction between TAS trips and those offered by commercial services. If members want to use these services, they may contact the operator to be put on the operator’s email list and sign up in response to their offers. 

13.  In usual circumstances, it seems that paid guides are local and might be on some occasions be people in academic positions.  In many situations knowledgeable guides can enrich the visitor’s experience, but bad guides are a plague. Try to get reliable recommendations.

14.  On long trips prepare overnight accommodations; that is, line up hotels. Make reservations for the group, but wranglers do not make reservation payments. That is up to the participant.

15.  Check on the sleeping arrangements.

16.  Ask someone on the trip to write a report on the trip and present it to the secretary for circulation to members.

17.  Wranglers should be volunteers. There are no exceptions. There is no pay and there are no public solicitations

18.  If possible, Wranglers should check out the trip before going with a group. This is possible for day trips.

19.  Announce the trip more than once at TAS meetings and via the internet. Also, contact CJ Johnson about having the trip announced on the web site. Let the Trip Committee leaders know of plans.