Colmcille Climbers

Minutes Colmcille Climbers AGM 2008

Present: Sandra Kennedy, Valli Schafer, Peter Cooper, Geoff Thomas, Dave Millar, George Carleton, Finbar, Anthony Feeney, John Arbuckle, Helen Feeney, Margaret Tees, Alan Tees, Peter McConnell, Michael Hassan, PJ Monaghan

Apologies: Keith Monaghan, Sandra Monaghan, Marty McGuigan, Bill LeClerc-Gigot

Treasury Report: Club's bank balance stands at £131

Fees / Membership Benefits

Fees for the year 2009 were set once again at £25.

The issue of the benefits of paying fees to the club was discussed. The current list of email addresses used to inform people of the club's activities stands at almost 100, while the number of people who paid fees for the 2008 year was less than 20. It was decided that in future only people who pay fees will be contacted in this way. The club will maintain a separate list of known email addresses for things like the ClimbFest where it is valuable to spread the word of this event as far as possible.

An final email will be sent out to the current extended list explaining about the reduction in the email list and the benefits of joining the CCC and MCI membership / insurance, e.g. discounts in Alpine huts, quarterly Mountain Log magazines, access to training, international climbing meets.

Access to the website's route database will remain open to everyone but the ability to add routes, post reports, and add comments to photos will be restricted to club members.

Contacts

In addition to the revised email list the club voted to refresh the contact details (mobile phone no. and / or email address) for each paying member. This is to enable climbing partners to be found more easily, and so that last minute changes to plans can be distributed properly. The details will be updated on the website and made available only by password.

Website

Pete Smith has suggested that the current log reports be upgraded to allow users to enter names and comments against each report and it was unanimously agreed that this was a good idea and should be implemented immediately.

Recruitment Drive

The possibility of a recruitment drive was considered. In the past the ClimbFest was considered the best possible avenue for this and it was decided to be more active in recruitment campaigning at this year's event. It was considered a good idea to contact the universities in advance of the ClimbFest and to have posters at the major climbing walls advertising the club and asking people to join. Alan suggested a possible new role within the club could be Recruitment Officer and suggested Pete Cooper for the post.

ClimbFest 2009

Alan has spoken to the GAA in Glencolumbkille re a camping site and facilities and this looks very promising. Chris McDaid has already done topos of some of the local climbing but the club may have to produce topos for other nearby areas. Cotswold Outdoor are willing to sponsor the event also.

T-shirts for the 2009 event were discussed as it seems they were badly missed in 2008. Cotswold are to be asked again regarding their logo on the t-shirts. The overall cost of fees towards the GAA, printing of topos and t-shirt production is to be calculated.

Alan suggested the possibility of a mobile climbing wall at the camp site during the ClimbFest. The local scout group could be invited too and this would all help towards promoting the sport among young people.

A sub committee of Alan, Margaret, PJ, Pete Cooper, Valli and Dave was established to organise and plan the event.

Training Issues

Members suggested areas where they feel they would benefit from a day / weekend of training, e.g. navigation, self rescue and the Single Pitch Award. The MCI are currently offering free training days in Kerry and Wicklow but hope to provide this in the north in 2009, depending on demand. The club hopes that 2 members could attend one of these sessions and then pass on their new found knowledge to the remaining club members.

The MCI are also offering environmental officer training that could be taken up.

The club also agreed that, where necessary, club members could be given some travel expenses, e.g. petrol costs, to enable them to attend a training weekend.

Environmental Officer

Marty McGuigan had declared he'd like to stand down as environmental officer and also leave the club. This was partly because he felt he could not change people's attitudes from within the role, because their opinions differed too much. He also highlighted some concerns regarding the over-cleaning of routes and seeking out new routes to the detriment of the area they were in.

New Officers

Chair person: George Carleton requested to be stood down and Pete Cooper was elected. Suggested by Alan and seconded by Valli.

Secretray: Anthony Feeney agreed to continue another term as secretary. Suggested by Pete Cooper and seconded by PJ.

Treasurer: Geoff Thomas agreed to also stand for another term. Suggested by Margaret and seconded by Dave.

Training Officer: George Carleton elected. Suggested by Anthony and seconded by Pete McConnell.

Environmental Officer: Valli Schafer elected. Suggested by George and seconded by PJ.

Recruitment: Pete Cooper agreed to work towards recruiting new members by taking novices out when possible. Anthony agreed to help out in this when available.

It was suggested that each role within the club be provided with a generic email address, e.g. secretary @ colmcilleclimbers.com , so that when a new person is voted into a role there is no change in administration details. Pete Smith will be consulted on this.

Xmas Abseil

The annual abseil is to be held this year at Knockmore cliffs at Derrygonnelly, near Enniskillen. Pete McConnell, PJ and Anthony have already scouted the cliffs and found public access to the cliff tops.

Xmas Party

Once again the Xmas party is to be held in January but the venue is yet to be decided. Suggestions will be taken on the Xmas abseil. Overnight accommodation should be booked for members having to travel.

A.O.B

Pete Smith is to be acknowledged for his unique and continual services to the Colmcille Climbing Club by being given an honorary membership.