Movin' on up!

I'm excited by this period into which we are entering as a club. Xiaoping sent out a note a couple of days ago via our soon-to-be-no-more Yahoo! list noting that our ratification period has closed, and by virtue of the fact that we received no indications contrary to the recommendations of the Working Group, we are moving ahead with those recommendations.

As the new and first Chair of Crag Crux Climbers, I'm both proud and humbled to be granted this opportunity to do something good for both the LGBT and climbing communities, and of course to build upon the success Crag Crux Climbers has enjoyed since 1996. I'm looking forward to working with my fellow Operating Committee members — Roger Near (Vice Chair), Ian Greenwood (Treasurer), and Xiaoping Li (Trips Co-ordinator) — to fill out our roster on the Operating Committee (yes, there's still four positions open) and start tackling a few objectives.

Our immediate goals will be:

1. Incorporation as a not-for-profit Ontario corporation. This will allow us to apply for funding, which will further our other goals. Part of this process will be the creation of bylaws and a formalisation of the notion of a "member" per the Ontario Corporations Act. We'll make sure everyone has a chance to comment on the bylaws as we did for the ratification period. We'll want to move swiftly on this, however, so we can make the next funding deadline for the Trillium Foundation of 1 July 2009.
2. Application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding. Once incorporated, we will qualify to apply for provincial funding. Such funding will, amongst other things, permit us to product collateral material for placement at gyms, merchants, and LGBT community locations, increasing our club's visibility. The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s grant application deadlines are 1 March, 1 July, and 1 November annually. We'll be aiming for the 1 July 2009 application deadline.
3. Grow the membership. This is a clear mandate of our mission and vision, and really the main goal that the prior two facilitate. We'll be able to start outreach activities, such as our May climbing night with Downtown Swim Club that we've already initiated, as well as other activities to get our name OUT there (no pun intended... well, maybe a little bit... ;-) and let people know who we are and what we're about in a way that attracts them to us.
4. Climb! And at the end of the day, this is really what it's all about! We'll be working on building a climbing programme within the club that includes day trips outside, the Monthly Club and Beginners' Nights, and more. And combined with all that, of course, is invaluable social time where we build the strength and culture of our organisation.

So we definitely have some great work and good times ahead! Stay tuned for more. My intention is to use my blog to let everyone know what's going on.

Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Working Group and others who have helped so much in getting us from where we were in early February to where we are now:

• Ken Allan
• Ian Greenwood
• Andrew Hlavats
• Xiaoping Li
• Roger Near
• [name removed at request of person formally named]

Your contributions, time, and support are greatly appreciated!