Seven weeks on from the BMC's historic, constitution changing, AGM, BMC president Lynn Robinson updates us on the progress to implement the recommendations of the Organisational Review Group (ORG).

Update from Lynn Robinson, BMC president August 2018

At the time of writing this, it is just seven weeks since the historic 2018 AGM. Thank you to all of you that voted and what an amazing result. I know I’ve said it before, but I also want to say it again, thank you to all the BMC staff and key volunteers and those of our trusts, affiliated clubs and partner organisations. Everyone worked incredibly hard leading up to the AGM, the result has given us the mandate to get on and implement the recommendations from the ORG. 

Immediately following the AGM, the next morning in fact, Simon McCalla, our Senior Independent Director became the Interim Chair of the Board of Directors. This role has been split off from the Presidential role following the 2018 AGM vote. My new role is to represent the membership, hold the Board to account and to chair National Council.

We were also able to formally welcome Amanda Parshall, as a newly ratified Independent Director, and John Roberts, our newly elected Vice-President, onto the Board.

Lots has been happening since then, either by teleconference, over emails, or our first full-length Board meeting on 19 July.

After each meeting, Simon has produced a summary which have been published on the BMC website. Have a read and let me know what you think:

READ: Notes from the BMC Board meeting in June

READ: BMC Board of Directors: July 2018 meeting summary

Highlights of the summaries

I’m not going to repeat what’s in these summaries, but just want to highlight a few things:

The Nominations Committee has now been formed. Mick Green, was elected by National Council members to represent them. Its first task is to recruit to the position of Chair of the Board. A (volunteer) job role for Chair has been finalised and will shortly be advertised on the BMC website and wider – please keep a look out for this exciting and important role.

The Implementation Group of the Phase II ORG recommendations has been formed and work streams have been identified. John Roberts, is chairing the IG and is working alongside myself and the BMC CEO, Dave Turnbull. Fiona Sanders and Andy Syme have been elected from National Council, and Amanda Parshall is the Independent Director on the group.

Other roles will soon be recruited to, for example, some independent BMC members.  Please keep a look out on the BMC website and on social media.

We’re also recruiting a part-time paid Project Manager to support the Implementation Group and the CEO.

This is a huge piece of work for the BMC, and will take a period of 1-3 years to fully implement.  We’ll be ensuring that we report on progress to members throughout the implementation, and we’re really keen that volunteer members get involved, to help to use their skills and experience in the many different areas we’re working on, whether it’s corporate structure, communications or policy development.

BMC Strategy

A key priority for the BMC is to develop the BMC’s strategy and business plans. This is being worked on by the CEO and I, in partnership with the Board and the Implementation Group.  BMC members will be consulted and will be able to have influence over this, so please do comment and contribute to its development over the coming months. It is planned that we will produce a high level strategy paper for discussion at the September local area meetings, so watch this space.

As well as being involved in Board, Implementation Group and BMC Office work, I have also spent the last few months getting ‘out and about’, including:

• Being a judge at the Junior British Bouldering Competition. I was super impressed with the up and coming talent that we have.
• Attending the Hill Walking Working Group and meeting the hill walking reps and getting an update on the Mend Our Mountains campaign.
• Going to the Women’s Trad Festival – this was truly inspirational, watching women lead their first route outdoors, in a supportive and conscientious environment, despite the high temperatures. The festival had been incredibly well thought out, with a zero waste and low impact policy – thank you to all the volunteer organisers.

I plan to go to as many area meetings and various other BMC related events as possible, to meet as many BMC members as I can over the next year. If you are holding a BMC related event, I’d be interested to hear about it.

It’s exciting times ahead. Please do get involved – it is after all, your BMC.

Lynn Robinson, BMC president

Get in touch via email. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @bmc_lynn

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