ACC National Board Meeting
May 14-15, 2005
The spring Board meeting and Annual General Meeting of the ACC was held in Canmore the weekend of May 14-15.
This was one of the most peaceful, least contentious and quickest meetings that I've had the pleasure to attend. For the moment, at least, fee increases are behind us, rate increases to our insurance policies seem to be on hold, facilities projects are going ahead and ACC activities remain popular, generating needed revenue. The details:
Section Reports and News
It's always interesting to listen to the projects and problems other Sections face. There are 18 Sections in the Club. The Vancouver Section is looking to expand their activities into mountain biking; the Edmonton Section is moving towards an all-electronic version of their newsletter but continues to send out a paper version twice a year with the trip report stories; the Ottawa and Outaouais Sections struggle with climbing access in Gatineau Park; the Calgary Section is making a concerted effort to develop leadership training and increase the number of activities they offer.
There was a brief discussion about bylaws for Sections. While they remain somewhat informal, there is a basic outline of the requirements for Sections on the National ACC's website at: http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/whoweare/bylaws.html
The number of Sections was expanded to 19 at this meeting. In an unusual move, the Board approved a request from the Competition Climbing group to join with Section status. This group has been part of the ACC for many years. This decision represents the creation of the first Section that isn't defined by geography but rather by a concept or activity.
Incidentally, during the discussion on a request from the Outaouais Section to reduce their Section fees, it was pointed out that there is a pre-existing policy that allows Sections to change their fees effective January 1st of any year. To allow time for changes to the membership forms (on-line and paper versions), Sections are to let National Office know by October if any change is contemplated.
National Mountaineering Centre
Although the ACC isn't involved in any financial way, the Club is supporting a feasibility study and possible development of a National Mountaineering Centre. If the project goes ahead as envisaged, it will be located on the Trans Canada Highway just outside the Banff National Park gates.
Facilities Projects
The most significant project this summer is the construction of the new Fay Hut. You will recall that the original Fay Hut was destroyed by a forest fire nearly 2 years ago. The new hut will be constructed during a 4-week period starting in mid-July. For more information, visit the Fay Hut page on the ACC's website.
There is also a 2-week project to rebuild the outhouse at the Waites-Gibson Hut, the beginning of a project to rebuild the Toronto Cabin (at the Clubhouse location) and the possible rebuilding of the outhouse/woodshed/sauna at the Wheeler Hut at Roger's Pass later in September.
Of interest to SK Section members is the news that our Section will be making a substantial financial donation to the Fay Hut project. The amount has still to be decided and the way we will ask the funds to be directed.
Guides' Ball 2005
The annual Guides' Ball will be held October 29, 2005, in Banff. This will coincide with the fall Board meeting October 29-30, 2005. More information will be made available later in the summer.
Financials
National Bylaws will be amended to allow the ACC to receive money from Alberta lotteries. It is hoped that some project along this line will be in the works by the fall.
For the current fiscal year, the Club is operating on essentially a break-even status with the busy summer season still to come.
The financial situation at the Canadian Alpine Centre (the hostel in Lake Louise) is improving and the ACC (which owns 30% of this facility) should be receiving a cash dividend this year.
Memberships & Bookings
It was noted that memberships in some Sections has been dropping, particularly the Vancouver and Rocky Mtn Sections. Some of this can be possibly attributed to membership fee increases, but there are undoubtedly other reasons. The new Secretary (Peter Muir) will be looking into this situation in the near future.
National Office is working on developing on-line hut bookings, on-line access to membership lists, etc. It is hoped that these features will be available later this year.
ACC's Centennial 2006
Plans continue for the ACC's Centennial in 2006. Sections are encouraged to develop their own celebrations (how about a Section camp during 2006?). The February/06 Gazette will feature stories about the history and origins of the Club. The Digital CAJ (Canadian Alpine Journal) is progressing well and should be available early in 2006.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM was held later Saturday afternoon in the Canmore Civic Centre. Various reports were presented by the various members of the Executive. As well, 21 awards were presented, including one to Tony Nadon, one of our Section members. For more information about ACC awards, consult the National ACC's website. Earlier, during the Board meeting, it was agreed to change the name of the ACC Leader Award to the Eric Brooks Leader Award. The ACC Service Award was renamed the Don Forest Service Award last year.
This has been a very brief report considering that the reading material for Board members was in excess of 100 pages of documents. If anyone wishes more information, please let me know.
Dave McCormick - SK Section Board Representative