Loughton Mountaineering Club

2008 AGM: Secretary's Report.

2008 was a really positive year for Loughton Mountaineering Club, maintaining consistent membership numbers and for the first time in a couple of years, almost every member was seen on a meet and even better on a hill!! Unfortunately the average attendance on meets has decreased to 6 (if xmas / annual dinner and an exceptional September meet are not included), and this along with the change in booking conditions for huts (paying for numbers booked, not attendees) means we may need to consider the size of huts booked in 2010. Despite this, the meets have 'broken even' this year.

In addition, interest from potential new members is growing, and although not all have yet joined or come away on a meet as a guest, many have met us at the pub and have kept in touch by email. I hope this means that we shall encourage them to join us on a meet soon.

The 2008 BMC subscription remained at £15 which covered the BMC affiliation costs. We shall join the BMC in 2009 at a slightly increased cost. By joining the BMC, we have access to club huts. The BMC also provide individual members with civil liability insurance. Members should be aware that they can upgrade their club membership to full membership (see me for details) which will provide the benefits of being an individual member. If you are a member of more than one club, you can get this refunded (see me for details).

A plea for help. I have found the planning and organising of meets to be taking quite a lot of time. A couple of areas you can help me with;

• Please pay by BACS or cheque before a meet (it means I don't need to think about it at the weekend and can concentrate on going on the hills). If you don't bring a cheque. We can't easily pay in cash as we now have a postal account.
• When you decide you are coming to the weekend, please let the organiser know the time you are able to travel or preferably come to the pub the Monday before where we discuss who is able to go with whom.
• If you are around and can help buying food that would be wonderful. Please ask for the club cash card to buy it direct from the club account.
• If you have any comments to make about places we go / huts we stay in can you let me know so I can add them to / take them off a list of huts to go to. It is very disheartening to not receive feedback, book a hut and then in the pub hear "Why are we going to hut x, it was awful last time".
• If you invite a guest /are a guest can you remember to fill out a guest form, preferably before the meet.

Thank you to all that have helped over the last year. It was gratefully received.

Helen Robertson 01/02/2009