Trip # Assigned: ___________
Leader Name: Phil Mecagni
Destination:
Tuscany, Italy
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
If possible, please fill this form out electronically so that it can be distributed by email. Type on
or over lines and directly into the appropriate sections of tables. When responding to Yes/No
questions, please delete the answer you do not want so that only the appropriate answer remains.
If you are filling out a hard copy, please attach additional pages if you find there is not enough
space to answer thoroughly.
I. TRIP PROPOSED
A) Trip Title: Bike Tuscany 2004
B) Type of Trip: Daily Bike Rides in different parts of Tuscany
C) Date: Start: September 10, 2004
End: September 18, 2004
D) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum # 8
Length of Trip: 1 week
Maximum # 10
E) Brief outline of trip and trip activities. You may write or type below or attach as a
separate sheet. A complete itinerary with all available contact information must be provided
before departure.
Complete Trip Description attached.
Synopsis:
We’ll stay in a villa in the heart of Italy’s Tuscany region. From there, we’ll take daily cycle
trips through the lush and rolling Chianti vineyards and the moonlike landscape of Le Crete
with its cypress lined lanes and silver olive trees. We’ll stop along the way to visit ancient
Etruscan tombs, Roman baths, and medieval towns. We’ll sample ribolilita soup, panzanella
salad, panforte almond cake, and Montepulciano wine. We’ll spend one day strolling the
cobbled streets of Siena and visiting its 12th century Duomo.
F) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands)? No
If yes, please explain what permits will be needed and how/when they will be acquired.
G) Equipment: Does the trip require special technical equipment?
No
If yes, what equipment is needed and will any of it be provided by the trip?
We’ll rent vans, bikes, and bike racks. Rental bikes will be equipped with computers, spare
tubes, tools, and a back storage rack. Participants will be required to bring their own helmets.
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H) Educational Aspect: What are the specific education, conservation, or recreation
components of this trip?
Education: Tuscany is a treasure house of Etruscan tombs, roman baths, medieval towns, and
renaissance churches. Art works abound, including; Michealangelo, Pisano, Donatello and
Signorelli. We’ll sample regional foods such as: ribolilita soup, panzanella salad, panforte
almond cake, and Montepulciano wine.
Recreational: We will be exploring various sections of Tuscany by bike; Chianti vineyards,
the moonlike landscape of Le Crete, and fortified hill towns like Montalcino and Pienza.
I) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter?
No
Why or why not? _______________________________________________________________
Who are they? _________________________________________________________________
What is their safety record? _______________________________________________________
Do they have liability insurance? ___________________________________________________
Can they provide a certificate of insurance listing AMC as an additional party insured? Yes No
How do they handle emergencies? _________________________________________________
II. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information
Leader: Phil Mecagni
Co-Leader: TBD
Address: 226 Wood St. PO Box 5
Address:
Woodville MA 01784
Home Phone: 508-435-5172
Home Phone:
Work Phone: 508-393-2277
Work Phone:
Email:
Email:
pmecagni@intralearn.com
B) First Aid Training – To lead a Major Excursion, you must have current CPR and
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or its equivalent at the time of your trip.
Course
Other cert.:
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Leader
Exp. Date
Copy Attached
Course
Other cert.:
Co-Leader
Exp. Date Copy Attached
If copies of CPR and WFA or equivalent are not attached, please detail your specific plan to
obtain this certification.
Leader’s copy of WFA and CPR certificates are on file at AMC. Medical Form from last year is
also on file, and an updated one will be submitted with the participants forms.
C) Leader Experience and Training
New Leaders: If you are a new leader or co-leader, you must have submitted the form
“Application to Become a Major Excursions Leader.” Please attach a copy of that form.
Experienced Major Excursions Leaders: Please list below the last three trips you have led for the
AMC including destination, type of trip (backpacking, skiing, etc.), dates, and number of
participants. Feel free to list additional trips you have led, particularly if they demonstrate
experience related to the trip you are proposing.
1. Bike Tuscany 2003 & 2002 - Carbon copies of this trip
2.
3.
D) Scouting: Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area? Yes
If yes, please describe:
Scouted all the rides for the 2002 trip prior to the trip commencement. We’ll be using most of
these rides again.
E) Special Experience: What special skills or experience are required to lead this trip and how
do you or your co-leader bring these skills and experience?
I have had extensive bike riding experience, including Europe and Italy. I have reasonable
bike repair knowledge and experience.
F) Couples: If leader and co-leader are a couple or have some other close personal relationship,
what are your back up plans if one if you cannot go and the other must stay behind as well?
Or if you are in the field and both of you must return?
Won’t be a couple.
G) Medical History: Both leader and co-leader need to have a recent copy of the AMC
Confidential Medical Form on file at 5 Joy St. This form can be obtained online at
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http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ or call Katherine Byers at 617-523-0655 x333 to receive a
hard copy by mail. Forms will be submitted soon.
III. RISK ASSESSMENT
A) Please assess the risks/hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it
may affect your trip with specific potential hazards. Then, devise a plan to attempt to prevent
each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary.
Areas of Risk
Climate/Terrain:
trail conditions,
weather, etc.
Potential Hazards
Rain and poor road conditions
Prevention/Response
Heavy rain will cancel bike rides.
Sightseeing trips will be substituted. All
rides have been scouted. Rides are
relatively short 25-40 miles.
I have studied the Italian language for 3
years and have enough working
knowledge to deal with everyday issues.
Foreign Countries:
political concerns,
crime, language
translation
Transportation:
vehicles, drivers,
insurance
Italy is a stable democracy.
Tuscany enjoys a low crime
rate.
Rental Cars/Vans
2 rental vans will be used. The leader and
coleader will each drive one. Standard
rental insurance will be employed
Participants:
skill level, health,
group dynamics
Low ability, sickness, injury
Screening for recent bike experience and
conditioning programs will be used.
Hospital/doctors are available locally to
deal with sickness and injury.
Other:
B) Emergency Action Plan
Before you leave for you trip, you will need to provide a list of participants and their emergency
contacts in case something happens to someone in the field as well as an itinerary with phone
numbers (where available) in case something happens at home. In the space below, please
describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Please use as much detail as possible and
attach additional sheets if necessary.
Emergency Communication (phone contacts, language, documentation)
Because we will be in a relatively developed area, phones, hospitals, doctors, transportation are
all readily available. Our villa’s host can assist with local information and advice.
Evacuation (out of backcountry location, out of foreign country)
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Standard transportation systems (buses, trains, planes) are all readily available,
Medical Care (local medical facilities – location and quality)
Siena has a modern hospital facility with all standard facilities.
IV. COST INFORMATION
Your application to lead a trip will not be accepted if a detailed cost analysis is not attached.
A) Estimated cost per participant with minimum #: $2200 with maximum #: $2200
Cost per participant to be listed in AMC Outdoors: $2200
B) What deposits are required in advance? See table in Trip Description
C) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? June 30, 2004
D) What are your plans if you do not get the required number of people?
We will run the trip with as few as 8 participants. The leaders would pay for the shortfall. Below
8 participants, we will cancel the trip.
V. PRIVATE TRIPS
Are you currently (up to and including the time frame of this proposed trip) leading trips that are
“private,” i.e. not sponsored by the AMC? No
VI. AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION
Detailed instructions on trip listings available at http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
A) Request month for trip to first appear in AMC Outdoors: Jan, 2004
Date to be pulled: August 2004
B) Please provide an electronic copy of both the long (150 words maximum) and short form (50
word maximum) announcements. Note that the word count stops at the phrase “For info.”
See Trip Description for both Long and Short versions.
VII. TRIP PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Trips cannot come before the Major Excursions Committee for approval unless the forms are
completely filled out and received three weeks prior to MEC meetings for review. Please make
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sure you have filled out all appropriate sections of this form completely and included any
necessary attachments.


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First aid certifications
Leader Qualification information
AMC Medical form for both leaders

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Detailed cost information
AMC Outdoors listings
By turning in this proposal, you are agreeing to the following:
I have read the Major Excursions Leader Handbook and I agree to follow all policies and
procedures of the Major Excursions Committee and the Appalachian Mountain Club in
preparing for and conducting my major excursion.
Thank you for completing this form!
 Copies of first aid certifications and medical forms should be submitted in hard copy only.
These can be faxed (marked attn: Katherine Byers) to 617-523-0722 or mailed to the Major
Excursions, 5 Joy St. address below.
 Email submissions of this trip proposal form are preferred.
Email should be sent to both of the following two addresses:
T. Walley Williams, Major Excursions Committee Chair at twalley.williamsiii@verizon.net
Katherine Byers, AMC Outdoor Leadership Coordinator at kbyers@amcinfo.org
Or, if you unable to send electronically, please mail a hard copy to the following two addresses:
T. Walley Williams, III
Chair, AMC Major Excursions Committee
71 Orchard St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3509
Major Excursions
Appalachian Mountain Club
5 Joy St.
Boston, MA 02108
Questions? Call T. Walley Williams at the above email or 617-484-1877.
He can put you in touch with an experienced MEC mentor who can help you with trip planning.
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