The Northumbrian Mountaineering Club New Members Guide

v.1.2 The purpose of this document is to provide prospective and new members with a collection of useful information to help you get the most out of your membership.

This document was last updated in January 2014.

New

The Northumbrian Mountaineering Club

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+ Members Guide ’

Everything you’ll ever need

TERMINOLOGY • NMC is the Northumbrian Mountaineering Club • Club website refers to thenmc.org.uk and includes the club’s discussion forums. Registration is required to post articles • On-line

calendar

refers

to

thenmc.org.uk/

community/calendar • On-line guide refers to thenmc.org.uk/onlineguide • Club Facebook page or Facebook refers to www.facebook.com/thenmc • Club mailing list refers to nmcmail@googlegroups. com which is an opt in email newsgroup that can be subscribed to by anyone at thenmc.org.uk/mailing-listsand-newsgroups. Anyone mailing or replying to this group sends an email to all group members whether they are club members or not • Club newsletter refers to newsletter emails sent via an email group that can be subscribed to by anyone at thenmc.org.uk/mailing-lists-and-newsgroups. All new members (prospective and full) are added to this list automatically.

how-to?

- Meets - Benefits - Weekend Trips - Communication - Rates & Forms - Questions

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The club today The NMC exists to promote mountaineering in its widest sense, particularly in Northumberland and

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Membership benefits

the North East of England. It has a thriving, active

• Access to like-minded individuals with a shared

and diverse membership with weekly meets, day

interest in all aspects of mountaineering and

meets and weekend meets throughout the year as

climbing

well as many informal trips arranged by members

• Regular indoor and outdoor climbing meets,

on an ad-hoc basis.

weekend and longer trips in the UK and overseas, and a variety of social events • Discount on RRP from Wildtrak, Cotswold Outdoors, Needlesports in Keswick, LD Mountain Centre, Rockworks Climbing, Sunderland Wall Shop, Snow and Rock, Elite Mountain Supplies, Walkoutdoors.com and various other retailers via your NMC membership card which also provides BMC affiliate membership discounts nationwide (consult the Members’ Handbook for more details) • Discount at local climbing walls (Climb Newcastle, Newcastle Climbing Centre, Sunderland Wall, Durham Climbing Centre) • Discount on club publications of the Northumberland Climbing Guide and the Northumberland Bouldering Guide • Club library of national & international guidebooks and other publications and media related to mountaineering and climbing • Club publications such as quarterly magazine the County Climber, club newsletter and the Members’ Handbook (which contains members contact details, meets calendar, discount details, library listing and other useful information for all members) • British Mountaineering Council (“BMC”) affiliate membership, Summit magazine, third party insurance and BMC membership benefits including access to competitive and comprehensive trip insurance policies

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Club Meets Wednesday evenings (Winter) During the winter period, the club has exclusive use of the climbing wall at Hadrian Leisure Centre, St Peter’s Road, Wallsend, NE28 7LQ each Wednesday between 18:0021:00. For insurance reasons, you must be a full or prospective member prior to using these facilities. Arrangements can be made via the Membership Secretary to furnish non-members with prospective membership at the wall via any of the club’s committee.

The exact dates when this starts and end are communicated via the club’s Facebook page, the club’s website and the club’s mailing list; if in doubt check out the club’s on-line calendar.

On arrival at Hadrian Leisure, present your membership card at the reception desk and tell them that you are here to use the climbing wall. As at 2014 the usage fee is £5.00 per session which is paid directly to Hadrian Leisure. Follow signs for the sports hall (past reception, first right, through 3 sets of double doors to 2 sets of double doors on the left which lead into the hall). Walk through this and you will see the climbing wall opposite. Most members arrive after 18:00 so don’t panic if it’s quiet or you are on your own. If no-one comes forward to welcome you, ask anyone there to point out a committee member and they will sort you out someone to climb with.

The wall is approximately 10m high with slabs, vertical, stepped and constant overhanging sections with routes from F4 to F7c but mainly in the mid-range F6aF7a; all lines have top ropes which can be removed for leading; most lines are quick-

draw equipped though some require you to take your own (max. 8). There is usually an informal social afterwards at a nearby pub and this is where informal meets and weekend arrangements are often made. Check the club’s Facebook page, website or on-line calendar to confirm the wall sessions are on, especially in the transition between GMT and BST and around Christmas; this will also identify if there are any specific socials such as guest speakers, quiz night or members’ slides after the wall session.

The NMC prides itself on its adoption of technology to communicate with its members and to the wider world;

Wednesday evenings (Summer) During British Summer Time the club meets at outdoor crags throughout Northumberland according to the schedule set out in the Members’ Handbook which is also available on the club’s on-line calendar. The locations are chosen based on distance and walk in to try and maximise rock time whilst at the same time encouraging members to visit a wide variety of crags. There is a link to the on-line crag guide on the calendar for each scheduled meet which will give an overview of the area, parking, walk in details and the climbs

it also recognises that with multiple communication The

available; there is also a wealth of information

Minimum equipment required Harness, shoes, belay device and appropriate karabiner

and Bouldering Guides.

available in the NMC’s Northumberland Climbing

The prospect of turning up at a remote crag for the first time looking for other NMC members can be understandably daunting; if possible register your interest on the club’s Facebook page and/or website to get some idea of others who are going and possibly share transport. Some club members may be at the crag from mid-afternoon though most will typically travel after work. Inevitably there will be occasions where inclement weather affects the location; members may make arrangements to go to other crags or to a local wall and will update the club’s Facebook page and/or website where practical. When arriving at the crag for the first time, don’t be shy, seek out an NMC member who will generally be happy to give you a climb or point you in the direction of another climber to team up with.

There is usually an informal social afterwards at a nearby pub which is published in the Members’ Handbook; this is where informal meets and weekend arrangements are often made.

Minimum equipment required Harness, shoes, belay device and appropriate karabiner, helmet strongly recommended. If you have your own rope and leading gear then bring that along too.

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Meet leaders What you need to know For the following club meets, there is generally a nominated meet leader; this is a club member who has volunteered to arrange a club meeting which may be a day, weekend or longer. It is important to understand that they act as facilitators, not instructors or guides; it is your responsibility to make sure your experience and equipment is appropriate for the meet in question. If in doubt, contact the meet leader of other club members for advice. Contact details will be published in the Members’ Handbook when known at the time of publication, County Climber and on the on-line calendar.

Weekend day meets These events are advertised in the Members’ Handbook, the club’s Facebook page and website. The meet leader will determine a location based on prevailing weather conditions and may be able to suggest others to share transport with as well as likely timings when others will be there. Equipment as for Wednesday evenings but may vary depending on the activity such as when sport climbing.

Weekend meets These will typically involve overnight accommodation which may be in climbing huts or camping. The meet leader is responsible for allocating spaces and notifying of any costs involved, deposit required and will facilitate travel arrangements where required. Note that by signing up for a weekend meet you agree to cover any accommodation costs, therefore please let the meet leader know as soon as possible if you can’t attend as they may be able to fill spaces. Many meets involving hut bookings must be paid for in advance to secure your place. Equipment as for Wednesday evenings but may vary depending on the activity such as when winter climbing.

Communications

NMC prides itself on its adoption of technology to communicate with its members and to the wider world; it also recognises that with multiple communication channels and different levels of member adoption, it can be difficult getting the same message to everyone all the time, but we do try.

Members receive the printed Members’ Handbook annually and the quarterly County Climber by email. The club has an opt-in newsletter and mailing list, Facebook page, Twitter feed (@the_nmc), on-line calendar and discussion forum; club messages will be propagated across Facebook, Twitter and club mailing list; members and others may also post items to the Facebook page and the club’s forums as well as using the club mailing list.

Membership Rates and Forms

Any Questions?

Please visit the club’s website for these www.thenmc.org.uk/joining

If you have any queries on any of the above or on any aspect of the club then please do not hesitate to contact the membership secretary at: membership@thenmc.org.uk

The Northumbrian Mountaineering Club

www.thenmc.org.uk - membership@thenmc.org.uk