AGM success

A busy Saturday at Glenmore Lodge saw decisions made, awards presented, knowledge shared and great fun had in the evenings as Mountaineering Scotland celebrated its AGM and Members’ Meeting.

Following the opening address by CEO Stuart Younie each of the directors delivered a short presentation highlighting key successes and the challenges facing Mountaineering Scotland looking forward. A call was made for more action on tacking footpath erosion and a key commitment set out to on doing more to address the challenge of the climate crisis and to establish a Climate Response Action Group (CRAG) to help advise the board. Key outcomes are to reduce the carbon footprint of the organisation and work with others to encourage changes in behaviour and government policy.

A lively Q & A session followed, with members raising a number of questions and comments relating to the Glen Etive hydro campaign, problem camping, how Mountaineering Scotland is promoting diversity and the general situation relating to hydro and renewables.

Increase in membership fees

In the formal part of the day members agreed an eight per cent increase in membership fees. As a not for profit company, Mountaineering Scotland works hard to minimise any increase to membership fees and, despite managing to sustain and even grow services and activities, had managed to keep fees static for the last three years.

The decision to increase fees this year was a result of both inflation and the desire to increase the level of our members’ public liability insurance cover. The increase will take an individual membership from £30.50 to £33 and a club membership from £16.25 to £17.55 per member, to come into effect from 1 April 2020.

New board members

Three new directors were also elected, with Brian Shackleton appointed the new President, in place of Mike Watson. Lucy Fraser takes over from Avril Gall as ClimbScotland Director, and Nigel Clark, an ML and member of Oban Mountain Rescue Team, takes over from David Montieth as Mountain Safety Director.

Brian Shackleton, the incoming President, paid tribute to the outgoing directors and praised the significant contribution they had made to the organisation during their time with the Board.

Changes to articles of association

A change to the voting arrangements for clubs was also agreed during an Extraordinary General Meeting immediately after the AGM. As a result in future votes clubs will have one vote per active club member.

Recognising the contribution of our members

The Mountaineering Scotland Awards were also presented on Saturday.

The ClimbScotland Young Climber of the Year Award went to Max Milne, whose recent results have won him a place in the 2020 GB Senior Climbing team. The Mountaineering Scotland Volunteer of the Year Award was split between Ainsley Hards, of Urban Uprising) and Iona Rendall, who runs the Iona’s Adventuring Facebook group.

After lunch at Glenmore Lodge, members, staff and directors split into groups to take part in a number of workshops covering topics such as the environment, winter navigation, avalanche awareness and ropework for climbers, as well as strength and conditioning for walkers and climbers. There was also a discussion for those involved in mountaineering huts. It was all followed in the evening by a very competitive pub quiz in the Glenmore Lodge bar!

48 club and individual members attended, along with 13 directors and prospective directors, eight members of staff and four guests.