Crag Crux Climbers - A Blueprint for the Future
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Crag Crux Climbers - A Blueprint for the Future

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Posted March 12th, 2009 by shawn

Preface

Early in 2009, Crag Crux Climbers (CCC) was approached by the Toronto Sporting Alliance (TSA) to participate in determining what the TSA should be.  In preparation for that working session, discussion was started within the membership of CCC as to what in fact it itself was all about.

For most of the club’s recent history, the club has been a loosely-held-together group of LGBT and LGBT-friendly climbers who, through the use of a Yahoo mailing list co-ordinated at various times climbing nights, road trips, and even beginners’ nights to afford LGBT folks the opportunity to try climbing in a supportive environment.

Four active members of the club (Xiaoping Li, Roger Near, Andrew Hlavats, and Shawn Sheridan) met in February 2009 to figure out how we should try to represent ourselves at the TSA workshop.   This Working Group drafted a mission statement for CCC, and came up with a list of activities aligned to that mission as a basis for discussion in the TSA workshop for participation of CCC in the TSA, and for how we would want to be able to leverage the TSA.  This draft mission and list of activities was circulated to the CCC membership for comment via the Yahoo mailing list.

The CCC Working Group then continued on, ratifying the mission statement after the comment-by-the-CCC-membership period closed at the end of February, and proceeded to formulate as well, a vision, set of objectives for 2009, and a proposed Operating Committee structure to actually achieve those objectives.

Mission

The mission of Crag Crux Climbers is to promote climbing in the LGBT community in an inclusive, fun, and social environment.

Vision

The vision for Crag Crux Climbers is to be a vibrant and active sporting club in the GTA, with a solid membership base, active involvement with the larger LGBT community and the larger climbing community, facilitation of learning opportunities for its members, provision of financial benefits to its members in the form of various discounts at sponsoring businesses, and last but certainly not least, organising climbing opportunities for its members and prospective members.

2009 Objectives

In keeping with the mission and vision for Crag Crux Climbers, the working group decided on the following list of objectives which it felt were achievable in 2009.  Names in parentheses represent the Working Group members who volunteered to initiate planning and be accountable for execution until such time as the appropriate member of the Operating Committee (see Organisation below) could take over the accountability.

  1. Road Trips (Roger)
    • Buffalo Craig – June/July 2009
    • Metcalf / Wiarton – July/August 2009
    • Bon Echo / Bancroft – August/September 2009
  2. Monthly club climb at a gym with social following (Shawn)
  3. Summer BBQ (Roger)
  4. Holiday party (Roger)
  5. Continued participation in TSA (Shawn)
  6. Branding (Roger)
  7. New Website (Shawn)
  8. Collateral material in Gyms - Advertising (Roger)
  9. Funding (Xiaoping)
  10. Membership Increase (Andrew)

Organisation

Finally, the Working Group decided on an organisation structure for Crag Crux Climbers in order to not only achieve the goals of 2009, but also to further the mission and vision.  That organisation structure is an operating committee to serve CCC of initially eight members.  The titles, accountabilities, and nominees by the Working Group are as follows:

Title Accountabilities Nominated
Click on names to see bio
Chair (E) Chairs all Operating Committee, Executive Committee, annual and extraordinary meetings of CCC including setting Agendas for such meetings, and co-ordination of CCC Activities to enhance the reputation of CCC and further its aims and objects. Shawn Sheridan
Vice-chair (E) Accountable for backing up the Chair in his/her duties. Acts as ombudsman for the general club membership. Roger Near
Secretary (E) Attends all Operating Committee, Executive Committee, Annual and Extraordinary meetings of CCC to take minutes and arrange for their publication as necessary, keeps permanent records, maintains up to date membership lists and publishes the same from time to time, takes care of routine correspondence and sends out all notices of meetings. OPEN
Treasurer (E) Oversees and coordinates the work of the Finance Committee, and keeps the accounts of CCC in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices.  Liaises with various funding sources.  Co-ordinates annual budgeting. Ian Greenwood
Climbing Co-ordinator Co-ordinates club climbing nights at various facilities. Facilitates learning opportunities, such as techniques clinics, climbing courses.  Ensures ample opportunities for indoor and outdoor climbing. OPEN
Social Co-ordinator Plans and executes various social events, either co-ordinated with climbing events, or separate from them.  Ensures general membership is notified.  Enlists members as necessary for execution of various events. OPEN
Trips Co-ordinator Works with the Climbing Co-ordinator to organise extended climbing trips to outdoor locations.  Ensures general membership is notified.  Enlists members as necessary for execution of various events. Xiaoping Li
Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator Branding of various elements of CCC.  Produces collateral material as needed for advertising and events.  Ensures maintenance of the Club’s website. OPEN

(E)   Member of the Executive Committee.

 

Additional positions on the Operating Committee are possible as CCC moves further toward its vision.  One of them would be that of “Past Chair”, the accountability of which would be to provide continuity and guidance for the current Operating Committee, and also would have accountability for the Nominating Committee for new Operating Committee members.

What Next?

The club membership needs to ratify the nominated Operating Committee members for the three positions of Chair, Vice-chair, and Treasurer (Interim).  Then, we need members for the other open positions on the Operating Committee!  This team will start to plan and execute on the objectives for 2009, come up with a constitution and bylaws for the club, engage other members of CCC, and start a membership push.

So, if you’re interested in serving on the Operating Committee, please let one of the Working Group members know!

 

 

Appendix

Activities to Support the Mission

The following list of activities was produced in the first working session that was in preparation for the TSA workshop.  Items with the red [TSA] behind them were ones that the Working Group felt could involve the TSA in some fashion.

  1. Monthly club climbs.
    • Sharing techniques and experiences
    • Climbing clinics
    • Group discounts. [TSA]
  2. Outreach to other LGBT climbing clubs. [TSA]
  3. Increase awareness to LGBT climbers in the GTA of our existence
    • Posters / flyers at gyms and stores
    • Advertisement through ACC and local chapters.
    • Website update (website hosting [TSA])
  4. Outreach to LGBT non-climbers
    • Pride day booth [TSA]
    • Liaison with 519
    • Beginners’ nights / helping beginners start to climb
    • Leveraging larger social events [TSA]
    • Other sports clubs [TSA]
  5. Social-only events for CCC
    • Holiday party
    • Summer BBQ
  6. Trips