November Meeting Highlights

Hello all; Had a great business meeting last night and a wonderful slideshow. Thanks to everyone that toughed it out thru the business portion. Lots of stuff going on as we begin to close out this years' administation and try and make sure the house is in order for the next group of leaders. We'll get the full minutes posted to the homepage in a week or two as the pace of thins allow but just wanted to share the high points with everyone: The following two motions from the OCT meeting were voted on and passed: VA Trad Climbing Guide: The group approved the start of a project to develop and publish a guidebook on the (unpublished) Trad climbing areas of VA that the group has developed and/or frequents. Dave Raboy has lead on the project and will inform the membership of the scope and schedule for the project when defined. AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Certification: The group approved funding the assessment costs for an AMGA, SPI course in MAR 09 at Looking Glass Mtn in NC. We need six volunteers (first come first served). The course details can be found at http://www.foxmountainguides.com/AMGA_Single_Pitch_Instructor_Course.htm. The cost to participants will be $435 and the Mountaineering Section will pay the $230 assessment fee per applicant. Specific dates will be set once we have six volunteers. Contact me directly if interested. Elections: Colleen briefed the membership on the details for this years' election. The nomination period is open now until 10 DEC. GET YOUR NOMINATIONS TO COLLEEN ASAP - and don't be afraid to nominate yourself (I can think of no stronger endorsement than to simply say "I'd like to serve") - we need new faces and the new ideas that come with them to keep the club growing and thriving. Colleen will propose the slate for approval at the DEC meeting and then voting will be done at the JAN meeting. Everyone please join me in thanking Colleen for taking on this hugely important task and, most importantly, SUPPORT HER WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION! Christmas Party: Court and Lora P have graciously agreed to host and coordinate the event this year - THANKS you two. The date will be SAT, 13 DEC at Court's place in Rosslyn - MARK YOUR CALENDARS for what is always a highlight of the year. Proposed Bylaws Changes: There were two bylaws changes proposed and appropriately seconded. The first will establish term limits for the elected officers of the section and the second removes the specific coordinators currently reflected in the Bylaws thus more correctly aligning the Bylaws and Constitution on the matter. YOu can find the detailed proposals in the minutes when published. Change to Honorary Members: We inappropriately designated Annette and Vince as honorary members earlier in the year (our Constitution and Bylaws only permit this at the JAN Annual Meeting) and thus those designations are recinded until JAN when they will, hopefully, be resubmitted. This oversight is completely my fault and I have made personal apologies to the two members and ask the rest of the membership's forgiveness as well. Polar Express: The section leadership offered to rent a large capacity van for travels to the Nort Country for winter climbing adventures. The ideas is that if a group of members are interested, the Section will front the van rental and then the traveling members would split the cost of the van (to be reinbursed to the Section), all gas, and driving. Initial investigation shows that we can get a 12 pax van for ~$300 per weekend. That probably works out to less than $100 per person round trip per person. Sounds like a good deal to me but it's up to you all. Who's gonna test the water!?! Slideshow: And finally, we closed the evening with an outstanding slide show on the Cordillera HUAYHUASH in Peru given by the Section's newest international member Richardo Malca. Great jos and thanks! Like I said, a busy meeting, thanks to everyone that participated. Graver