Nelson Marlborough Section Newsletter August 2012

The committee has also this year introduced a couple new ideas to the way we run trips.Firstly, we now have written trip guidelines (see the club website). These were introduced tohelp and encourage trip leaders to organise trips with hopefully more successful andsatisfying outcomes. Trip participants can also use the guidelines to understand how they cancontribute to making those trips they are on more successful and satisfying as well.Secondly Ben Winnubst has offered to coordinate trips (as well as lead a few himself). Howthis might work is members may suggest trips or may be looking for partners for a trip andBen his happy to hear from people and see if he can match make as it were trips with partnersand visa versa.Note private trips by members are not obliged to follow the “section trip” guidelinesOne final thing re trips in my capacity as CCM rep (Club Committee) I have had other sectionreps suggesting joint section trips or regional swaps so watch this space.BANFFThis years Banff film festival was again a sell out thanks to the great support of our membersand the local sporting and outdoor retailers not to mention the hard work the sectioncommittee members put in organising it.The committee recently resolved to retain all of this years Banff surplus funds (in the past wehave forwarded surplus funds to National Office as our contribution to club capital expenses)to purchase 6 Avalanche transceivers and associated kit and some new crampons for trainingand winter climbing trips.FINANCEThe section finances are looking pretty solid (see RP’s finance report). Once we have settledoutstanding accounts and known upcoming expenses the committee will then be in a position(with input from members hopefully) to consider options for making use of the funds.SECTION MEETINGSThis year the committee has decided to hold section meetings only when we are able toconfirm a speaker hence the odd month with no meeting.Many thanks to those speakers who have come along and shared their outdoor experiencesand in advance those yet to come including Alan Wilson immediately after the AGM.We are also fortunate to be included on the Barry Blanchard tour (see the news letter fordetails) Barry is a world leading Canadian climber with a special affinity for ice climbing.Tickets are on sale online through the national website.INSTRUCTIONThe weekend of 3-5 August we ran our Basic Snow Craft Course (snow 1) which was fullysubscribed. It went really well and despite a dodgy weather forecast we succeeded inachieving our stated outcomes. I couldn’t help but be impressed by the participants whoturned up on day 1, well prepared and ready to learn. They all worked hard to get the most outof the weekend and I really hope they now can go on and get more mileage in and continue tobuild their skill set.