ACC National Board Meeting & AGM - May 10-11, 2003 - Canmore
With snowy peaks displaying more white covering than there was most of the winter, ACC Board members from across Canada met over the weekend in Canmore.
Section Reports
Time is always set aside at each Board meeting to listen to reports from the various Sections. Some brief notes from what was said:
The Vancouver Section has an Executive handbook.
The Thunder Bay Section's 3rd invitational ice-climbing festival was another great success.
The Manitoba Section hosted their Film Festival in a larger theatre (1600 seats, up from 400) this past winter and had an attendance of about 900.
In Calgary, they are slowly moving to an e-newsletter. Their paper copies are consuming up to 50% of their annual budget. Currently, they are using an opt-out system to allow members the choice of paper or paperless newsletter.
Both the Edmonton and Calgary Sections have tried publishing a calendar but advise that there are marketing issues that need to be thought out before such a project is attempted.
ACC Financial Matters
Treasurer Gord Currie announced that there is a projected loss of $67,000 for this year. This has been caused by several factors including lower facilities revenue (poor snow, avalanche issues, war, SARS, etc). The designated funds have been doing better recently. Member fees aren't covering services provided (more on this later) and there is a concern that we're not investing enough in Facilities and leadership. Finally, the ACC is setting up a Fundraising Committee and is looking for experienced volunteers.
Membership Commission Report
Peter Muir discussed the findings of the Commission. These are important matters that need to discussed at the Section level. In brief, the conclusions of the commission are:
- recommend that the Board structure remain as is
- although there is an interdependence between all the various activities of the ACC, there is a $300,000 deficit that can be assigned to membership. What this means is that over $200,000 generated by Facilities isn't being used for Facilities upkeep (this means huts, Clubhouse, etc). Fees will need to be increased.
- Liability insurance costs the ACC around $35,000/year. A few years ago it was $2000.
- New sections will need leadership development and will have insurance implications. There should be a certain physical size to make any new section viable.
- Should more things be bundled into the basic membership fee, such as CAJ, huts upgrade, etc.
- Should there be a minimum Section membership fee?
- If membership was to double to around 12,000, the deficit would be partially eliminated.
- What inhibits the growth of Sections? Lack of Leaders!!
- More need for Facilities-generated revenue to go into Facilities. Right now, around $231,000 from Facilities is going to subsidize membership.
Committee Reports
Secretary (Rod Plasman) - current membership is 6471 (1683 unaffiliated). Secure on-line transactions over the ACC's website are coming. Note that there is a bulletin board section on the National Website.
Activities (Cam Roe) - activities continue to fill up well. A reminder to all Sections that the ACC does offer a custom portering service so if there are any Section camps that need some help.....
Facilities (Carl Hannigan) - the ACC has a contract to operate and manage the huts in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. This will allow Sections to get an advance chance to use these huts for winter camps. Contact Nancy Hansen by October 1/03. Parks Canada has decided to destroy the Bryant Creek hut (on the trail to Mt Assiniboine). The Bow Hut has mold issues in the sleeping section that are being looked into immediately. The proposed Centennial Hut is still being investigated. Four locations in BC show potential and proposals have been sent to BC Parks.
Services (David Zemrau) - see the UIAA website for information about leadership courses and associated standards.
External Relations (Mike Mortimer) - slogan "100 Years of Mountain Adventure". The Guide's Ball will be moved to Banff. Lake Louise has become too expensive.
Centennial SubCommittee - (Fern Heitcamp) - Sections need to start thinking about possible Centennial activities. There will be some funding available. For example, a Section history, mountain art, Section camps during 2006, etc.
Awards Committee (Paul Geddes) - note there will be a new protocol for all awards. See the National website.
Canadian Alpine Centre (Lake Louise) - revenue down; new management plan; increased fees.
Publications (Bob Sandford) - review of ACC publications - variety, number and quality. The ACC will be publishing a Lake O'Hara art book with about 120 pages in full color. Sections are invited to pre-purchase books at $20 wholesale cost. Prior editions of the CAJ will be digitized. Volunteer editors will be needed. The 2006 CAJ will be a 2-volume edition with historical content. The pamphlet "Melting Mountains" has been well received. It was agreed that a subcommittee be formed to gather information about how climate change is affecting mountain environments. We will be looking for people with knowledge and/or access to information about this topic.
The next Board Meeting will be in Lake Louise on November 1-2, 2003.
Submitted by Dave McCormick, Saskatchewan Section Board Representative.