Join Now
Volunteer
Events Diary
Search our Site

Member Services | Scottish Mountaineer Archive | Issue 22 - Mar 2004 |

Executive News

 

 

 

Notice of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2004

Glenmore lodge, Aviemore
Saturday 19th June at 16.30 hrs

AGENDA

  1. Apologies.
  2. Introduction of guests.
  3. Adoption of minutes of 2003 AGM
  4. Matters Arising.
  5. Annual Report for 2003/2004.
  6. Accounts and appointment of auditor.
  7. Proposal to increase subscriptions.
  8. Proposed Changes to the Constitution.
  9. Elections to the Executive Committee.
  10. New MCofS 3yr Corporate Plan.
  11. Any other competent business
  12. Date and place of 2005 AGM

FULL AGENDA NOTES will follow in June issue of Scottish Mountaineer.

3. 2003 MINUTES
Minutes are to be found on our website.

5. ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report, a financial statement and the accounts will be available on our website from May 1st (pdf), in Scottish Mountaineer Issue 23 (June 2004) and at the AGM. Anyone wanting hard copy before the June edition of Scottish Mountaineer should send an s.a.e. to the office.

7. PROPOSAL TO INCREASE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Proposed increases for 2004 / 2005 are required for increasing costs within the MCofS, including office overheads, and increasing Civil Liability Insurance. We should have confirmation (insurance estimated at a further £1.50 per head) by June.

9. ELECTION TO THE EXECUTIVE
Nominations are sought for Treasurer, Secretary and 3 Ordinary Members.

Please send your nominations to the Secretary Nick Halls C/O the MCofS Office with a brief CV (personal, professional and hill!) before Friday 4th June 2004. Please send any business or motions to be included on the agenda to the Secretary Nick Halls C/O the MCofS Office by 31st March 2004.

10. CORPORATE PLAN
The full plan will be posted on our website and available at the AGM.

 

 

Expedition Grants


The MCofS annual grant awards to expeditions will be made for 2004 soon. If members are quick with an application they may still be able to be considered. Remember the ‘expedition’ can be those “whose objective is one of excellence and adventure, whether they be first ascents or first free ascents of routes in the greater ranges and little or unexplored mountain areas of the world, or similar pure rock or pure ice climbs in less remote settings but which are nonetheless worthy of international recognition”.

Last year we awarded grants to the following trips and their reports will be available form the office in due course.

The SMC Greenland Expedition
(Members completed the 1st ascents of the South Ridge and South West Ridge of Dansketinde)

The Scottish Lemon Mountains
(Members of the Jacobite Club completed many ascents in the area)

Scottish Super Mixed
(Scot Muir’s attempt to repeat the hardest mixed routes in the world in one season)

Full details of the grants and an application form is on the website. Please note that members also applying for grants to the Mount Everest Foundation will be asked whether they wish to also apply for a grant from BMC or MCofS. If they indicate yes to this, then they cannot gain an additional grant direct from MCofS.

 

 

Walking Wild Quiz

Irvine Butterfield’s quiz, based on his walking wild articles, in December’s magazine, saw five entries. Of these only one was fully correct. The bottle of Arran Malt Whisky from the Lochranza Distillery was delivered to Mr Darby of Spean Bridge in time for Hogmanay. Congratulations to her and remember all Irvine’s articles giving detailed local information on accommodation, wet weather interest and supplies can be found on our website or in the office library.

 

 

2004 Mountain Article Competition
Enter Now

The MCofS has encouraged creative mountain writing through the Mountain Article Competition since 1987. There have been over 200 entries since it’s inception by then President Graham E Little. Past Vice President Ingrid Parker then introduced a Poetry category in 1997.

This years Judges are Ex-President John Donohoe, Ingrid Parker, Kevin Howett (National Officer), Irvine Butterfield (author) and Tim Mason (last years winner).

We all have it in us, so if you feel you can let it out, then, enter this years competition. The subject matter must have a connection with any aspect of mountaineering, rock climbing, walking or skiing. It can be fiction or non-fiction, weird or wonderful. Judges will look for originality.

There are two categories:
PROSE - 1st Prize : £100; 2nd Prize : £50.
POETRY - Prize : £50

Prose entries should be a maximum of 2,000 words long. Poetry entries can be as long or as short as you like. All should be preferably typed (or supplied as a word or rtf document on disc), but otherwise clearly written on single-sided paper. The closing date is the 30th of May 2004. Send your entries to the National Officer at the MCofS Office (or email to: kev@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk). Members should quote their club name or individual membership number. Enclose an SAE if you wish the article to be returned and the winners will be announced in the September edition of Scottish Mountaineer. The MCofS reserves the right to publish the prize-winning entries. Past winners have been published either in the MCofS newsletter, Annual Report or in magazines or Journals.

 

 

MCofS Annual Gathering

Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore
Friday June 18th & Saturday June 19th 2004

Friday Event

8.30pm
Debate: Ben Nevis Way marking Cairns
The Nevis Partnership is deciding what to do regarding this issue. Speakers will give arguments for and against
(see “Talking Point” in the June issue of Scottish Mountaineer for a discussion and come along and have your say)

Saturday Events

The following FREE activities will be on offer:
Between 9.30am and 3pm
(Full details in June magazine and on our website)

1. Looking After Your Feet 1/2 day session
A basic introduction to feet and boots by a qualified podiatrist

2. Come-and-try-it Climbing 1/2 day session
For non climbers wishing to try it. On the indoor wall or outdoor tower. Families with children welcome. All gear provided

3. Coaching in Rock Climbing 1/2 day session
For those climbing at any grade wishing to fine-tune their technique

4. Coaching in Winter Climbing 1/2 day session
For those climbing at any grade. Using the dry-tooling indoor wall and the outside tower. Technical gear provided

5. Belaying and Stance Management 1/2 day session
For climbers with some experience wishing to ensure tangle-free belay systems

6. Holding a Fall 1/2 day session
Practice holding a climbing leader fall — a real eye-opener

7. An Introduction to Classic Scrambling All Day Session
Ridges and Aretes in the Cairngorms

8. Loch an Eilean Safari All Day Session
Walk round the National Nature Reserve and over the tops

9. Abernethy Walk All Day Session
A medium day walk from The RSPB Lodge in Abernethy Forest, over Meall a’Bua chaille back to Glenmore Lodge

10. GPS use & misuse All Day Session
Participants need a Garmin Etrex (yellow) or Etrex Summit (brown). Some receiv ersare available to borrow

11. Micro Navigation with compasses 1/2 day session
How to be accurate with compass navigation. Based outdoors in the grounds of The Lodge

Sat Events for Kids
Especially for young mountaineers (aged 7 – 15)

12. Climb and Abseil
For young climbers with some experience of climbing. Bring your own gear, outdoor clothing and packed lunch.

13. Hill Walking and the outdoor environment
An introduction to the walking world and the environment. Based outdoors, so bring full clothing and boots suitable for the hill and packed lunch. Based around Glenmore Lodge in the morning with an introduction to map reading with the OS 1:50,000 series. Followed by a walk from the Ski area and back through the forest

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
4.30pm in the Lecture Theatre

DISCUSSION
Between 6pm and 8pm in the Lecture Theatre

WIND FARMS
Since our debate 2yrs ago on the relative merits of renewable energy developments in Scotland, we have received many letters on the subject from members both in support and against. Since then the number of wind farm developments in particular has increased dramatically and greater concern is now being expressed.

The MCofS position is outlined in our submission to SNH’s consultation on ‘Landscape’ (see next issue). This discussion is to inform members of the current situation and discuss what stance MCofS should be taking.

Introduced and Chaired by John Mackenzie (President)

BUFFET MEAL
8pm in the dinning room (includes FREE glass of Wine)
(ticket holders only – please book in advance.)
Drinks can be purchased from the bar and taken into the meal

Evening Entertainment
10pm—Midnight
Ceilidh

 

 

“Ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb”

By Norma Davidson

“Stepping outside my circle” and doing something outwith my everyday life was probably the best advice I have ever been given since losing my sight 21 years ago.

Three years ago, I and six other VIPs (visually impaired people) went to Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore, to take part in a tailor-made course for such individuals organised by Lorraine Nicholson for the MCofS.

I must admit that at the start of the week I was unsure and apprehensive about what I had taken on but by the time I left on the Friday there was nothing anyone could say or do that would upset me because I was on such a natural high from my achievements.

Subsequently through participating in the “summer skills course at Glenmore Lodge” I had the opportunity last February to go to Africa and climb the second highest mountain, Mount Kenya with another group of VIPs.

Just as I thought I had achieved all my own personal challenges, another one was placed in front of me. In September this year I returned to Glenmore Lodge, not as a participant on this occasion but as a co-ordinator of the course.

A brilliant experience for me, because I was then able to stand back and take in how much the participants were “getting out” of the week. Some gave it “their all”. I just beamed from ear to ear because I knew that they left the Lodge feeling exactly the way I had 3 years earlier, especially because some of the participants had neither rock climbed nor abseiled before or imagined doing so in their wildest dreams.

One highlight of the week was the expedition. In years gone by it has normally been a hike out to a local bothy in Glen Feshie but this year it was changed. A radical decision by the instructors was taken to undertake a kayaking experience down the River Spey followed by an overnight camp on the river bank. A radical decision that turned into an equally demanding and exciting challenge.

As a result of these courses I have abseiled, rock climbed, been kayaking and hill walking. You will have felt that exhilaration when climbing a hill and reaching the top; that feeling of owning the hill for just a moment. Those are the same feelings we all felt when we attended the “summer skills course at Glenmore Lodge” several times a day. The same feeling that now means we see no constraints or obstacles in our way but only opportunities and challenges that we perhaps can overcome. Overcome and stand on the top of the hill knowing that we had done it ourselves.

“Ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb”

The Next MCofS Visually Impaired “Summer Skills Course will again be held at Glenmore Lodge in September 2004. For more information and booking forms contact the Co-ordinator, Norma Davidson, c/o MCofS, The Old Granary, West Mill Street, Perth PH1 5QP. Tel: 01738 638 227; email: norma@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk.