Members will be aware that the BMC EGM takes place in Manchester on 25 October to debate subscriptions rates for 2004.

On the Agenda are two main items, the facility for club members to take out Individual BMC Membership at a reduced rate, and the proposed subscription rates for clubs, families, individuals and other categories of membership (u18s, full-time students etc) as discussed at the Club Open Day and agreed by the BMC Management Committee in June. The BMC has been forced to increase subscriptions due to the rising cost of Civil Liability Insurance which gives BMC members (including clubs and club officials) £5m worth of cover against virtually any conceivable type of legal action that could result from climbing and walking activities; the cover includes accidental injury or damage to third parties or their property, professional indemnity cover for advice given by individuals, club officials or meet organisers, libel and slander and much more.

 Following the EGM there will be an Open Debate chaired by Mark Vallance on the future direction of the BMC. This forms part of the BMC’s Future Policy Review Process launched by the Management Committee in June to review the BMC’s activities, work programmes and priorities. The Review, which is chaired by CC Guidebook stalwart Bob Moulton, will focus on the BMC’s specialist activities and sub-committees (Access & Conservation, Training, Youth etc); the membership and management structure and ways of improving support for volunteers. A series of Open Meetings is planned around England and Wales for this autumn and an initial report will be made to the AGM next April. The meetings will attended by the BMC President and Chief Executive - so if you’re interested in finding out more about the BMC, or telling us what we should be doing in your area, then come along. Meeting Venues and Dates

« Back