Section Chairperson Angela Spence attended the spring Board meeting in Canmore on May 3rd and 4th. For those of you who aren't familiar with how this part of the Club operates, here is a short primer: There are 19 regional sections from BC to Quebec with the National Office in Canmore, AB. Each Section sends one representative to 2 Board meetings each year. This Board of Directors discusses and approves the overall direction of the Club. Various interests of the Club are overseen by several Executive Vice Presidents (eg: VP Services, VP Facilities, etc.). All of these positions are filled by volunteers. National Office staff (the Executive Director and the various Directors of Maintenance, Facilities, etc) deal with the daily running of the Club.
Some highlights from the most recent meeting:
Financially, the Club is in good shape and is currently in a surplus position. Some of you may be aware that the Club has an equity interest in the Canadian Alpine Center (the Lake Louise Hostel) and this position contributes financially to the Club.
There was more discussion about waivers. Any of you who have taken part in Section activities will remembered being pestered to sign the waiver. This represents the Club's front-line defense from liability claims and covers the Club and members in the unlikely event there is an accident on a Club trip. The current discussion centered around the possible use of web-based trip sign-up and electronic waivers.
A small number of Sections, mostly from Winnipeg and east, have been wondering about the possibility of allowing route bolting work (retrofitting, repairing) as approved Club activities. The initial concern was how it would fit with the Club's liability insurance, especially if something were to happen on a route some time later. Our Section and probably most others in our region seem to donate funds to TABVAR, an organization in Calgary which works to maintain many of the bolted routes in our climbing area. It appears as though there will be an accommodation for those Sections interested in pursuing this activity.
Work has been started to accumulate material for volunteer training (trip leaders, Section executive members, etc) and that should be available by 2009.
There were 18 applications for TNF/ACC Summer Leadership Course. Two of our Section's members applied - Mike Wild and Mark Rosin. We should know shortly who was selected to attend.
The Spring Board Meeting is usually shorter to make way for the Club's Annual General Meeting which was also held during the weekend.
If you have questions about other parts of the meeting, please contact Angela for details.
Monday, May 19, 2008
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