President’s Desk
Well it certainly is getting a bit cooler of late which is on track for a better snow season than last year. Thanks to those who attended the March Club Night AGM, it was intended to be an efficient affair like the last couple of years that preceded it. However because of the requested member feedback for lodge insurance options the meeting did include some comprehensive discussion on a very wide net of possible solutions going forward. One Item that didn’t take long was the election of the executive committee with the welcome addition of John Coplestone. I would also like to thank Peter Lofthouse for his time over the last year on the committee as a Taranaki Tuatara Competition Team representative and wish him the best in his new important role as father of the two future Taranaki climbers. If there are any parents and/or competitive climbers involved with the Taranaki tuataras team who would be interested in updating the committee on the club’s growth and performance by all means please do get in touch with myself or another committee member.
For those of you who attended last year’s AGM you will be happy to know we did manage to successfully raise the clubs annual subs thanks to Sheryl Hamilton our secretary getting Hello Club aligned with our clubs financial system. Increases have been set to match inflation since the last time they were raised. So please add $15 to student, individual and family membership types and $5 to your annual e-key subscription if paying by internet banking or better yet use the convenient hello club facility as per our website where you can see your past payments, download both your receipts directly from there without impacting our treasurers already busy workload in the slightest.
Also we are on the hunt for a new registered financial auditor, so please contact our treasurer or myself if you or you know of anyone capable of completing our annual audit at a reasonable cost to the club. Many Thanks to Ann Hatch who has completed these audits for many years and we wish her the very best in her retirement.
Our next club night is an engaging mountaineering gear talk from Stephen Ritson, if you can understand his northern english accent that is. To see more info on this club night please read on below. Shortly following this clubnight snowcraft spaces will be released therefore attending this club night will show how serious you are about securing a spot on snowcraft.
Steve also doubled up his contribution to the club this month as our rock and ropes course leader which hopefully will have gone ahead (not helped by weather) by the time this HiTAC goes out so you will have to put it in your calendar for next year if interested in taking your rope skills to the next level in an alpine environment.
Conrad Murray
President