FAQ: How to have your say in the future of the BMC

Posted by Tony Ryan on 27/10/2017

Climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are changing, and the BMC needs to adapt to meet future challenges. A major review of our work is underway, and we need your help to shape the future of the organisation.

What is the BMC Organisational Review?

The BMC Organisational Review Group was formed this May. Its role is to look at the way the BMC currently works – in terms of organisation, governance, and decision-making structures – and evaluate how this reflects current best practice in governance, whilst continuing to act in the best interests of the membership. The group will also recommend new ways to increase engagement and consultation with all BMC members on key issues. 

What’s happened so far?

Headed by independent chair Ray Wigglesworth, an eminent QC and climber, the review group volunteers have gathered views from an online survey (with over 5,000 responses), focus groups and individual feedback from across the BMC. They balancing these views against information on best practice in sporting organisational structures and modern codes of governance to produce their iniitial report. The review group launched the report at Kendal Town Hall on Saturday 18 November, as part of Kendal Mountain Festival.

Where can I read the report?

There are three versions: full, summary and one-page highlights. 

Download the full report

Download the summary report

How do I give feedback on the recommendations?

The review group has made various recommendations, but it is your feedback that will help make them reality. We are asking all BMC members to read the report and send us your feedback through an online survey. The survey has now been launched and emailed to members. It has been run by independent market research company 2020 Research, and members can express can express support or opposition to recommendations, and comment on specific sections. All BMC members have been emailed a link to the survey or you can use this link: 

Complete the online survey

The online consultation period is open until 22 December, then the final recommendations will go to a vote at the BMC AGM in April 2018.

Can I discuss it at a BMC area meeting? 

Yes. If you’d like to discuss the recommendations, then head to your local BMC area meeting. There is a huge amount of detail in the report, so you don’t have to make any votes or decisions right away. The next round of area meetings will be attended by two members of the Organisational Review Group, who will present the group’s findings and recommendations. This is an important opportunity for you to discuss the findings and provide feedback to help shape the final recommendations, which will eventually go to a vote at the BMC AGM in April 2018.

Upcoming November area meetings:

Cymru North Wales
Date: Wednesday 22 November 2017, starting at 7.00pm (food from 6.30pm)
Venue: Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig LL24 0ET
ORG presentation by: Rab Carrington and Rebecca Ting
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

Midlands
Date: Wednesday 22 November 2017, starting at 8.00pm
Venue: Old Edwardians Sports Club, Streetsbrook Road, Solihull B90 3PE
ORG presentation by: Fiona Sanders and Tim Strong
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

Peak
Date: Wednesday 22 November 2017, starting at 6.30pm (food from 6.00pm)
Venue: The Maynard, Main Road, Grindleford S32 2HE
ORG presentation by: John Roberts and Ray Wigglesworth
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

London & South East
Date: Thursday 23 November 2017, starting at 7.00pm
Venue: The Old King's Head, 45-49 Borough High St, London SE1 1NA
ORG presentation by: John Roberts and Matthew Bradbury
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

South West
Date: Saturday 25 November 2017, starting at 7.00pm
Venue: The Nova Scotia Hotel, Nova Scotia Place, Bristol BS1 6XJ
ORG presentation by: Fiona Sanders and Simon McCalla
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

Yorkshire
Date: Monday 27 November 2017, starting at 7.00pm
Venue: The Wheatley Arms, Wheatley Lane, Ben Rhydding LS29 8PP
ORG presentation by: Fiona Sanders and Rab Carrington
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

Lakes
Date: Wednesday 29 November 2017, starting at 7.30pm
Venue: Hawkshead Brewery, Mill Yard, Staveley LA8 9LR
ORG presentation by: John Roberts and Ray Wigglesworth
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

North East
Date: Thursday 30 November 2017, starting at 7.00pm
Venue: Honest Lawyer Hotel, Croxdale Bridge, Durham DH1 3SP
ORG presentation by: Fiona Sanders and Ray Wigglesworth
NOTE; change of venue, originally advertised as taking place at Durham Climbing Centre.
Find out more on the BMC Local Areas site

What happens after the consulation period ends?

Throughout the next month there will also be Q+As, focus groups, and requests for written feedback. The ORG will present and take questions from National Council in early December and the initial consultation period will conclude on 22 December. After Christmas, the ORG will review all the feedback gathered and look to make any changes, and add details to the recommendations where it needs to, as well as to draft a new set of Articles of Association. After that there’ll be another round of Local Area Meetings in late January, and a National Council Meeting and early February.

How will major changes be implemented?

Any changes to the Memorandum & Articles of Association (M&AA) will require the approval of 75% of those voting members present and attending (in person or by proxy) an AGM, and voting in favour, in order to be accepted.  The BMC AGM is currently planned for the end of April.

Recommendations that don’t require M&AA changes can be dealt with in other ways, again, potentially a vote at AGM. How that’s dealt with will be able to be more detailed once initial feedback from the consultation is gathered.


Get involved with the BMC Organisational Review

WATCH: The BMC Organisational Review report launch at Kendal

REPORTS: Read the organisational review reports

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT: Read the report

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT SUMMARY: Read the report summary

DOWNLOAD THE ONE PAGE REPORT: Read the one page report

DOWNLOAD THE MEMBER SURVEY REPORT: Read the member survey report

DOWNLOAD THE LOCAL AREAS BRIEFING PAPER: Read the briefing paper

DOWNLOAD THE AMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS REPORTRead the recommendations report

DISCUSS: At your local BMC area meeting

 

More details 

MEET: Ray Wigglesworth and the BMC Organisational Review Group

READ: Terms of Reference of the Organisational Review

UPDATE: January 2018 Organisational Review Group update 

UPDATE: September 2017 Organisational Review Group update 

UPDATE: August 2017 Organisational Review Group update

UPDATE: July 2017 Organisational Review Group update

UPDATE: June 2017 Organisational Review Group update

UPDATE: May 2017 Organisational Review Group update

READ: Minutes of recent BMC National Council meetings


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Anonymous User
21/11/2017
Hi, do you need to book a place or can you just turn up for the area meeting at The Anderson Centre. Thanks
21/11/2017
Hi do I need to book to attend the NW Area meeting, thanks
26/11/2017
At the L&SE area meet we were told that comments about the review can also be emailed to org@thebmc.co.uk, is there a way to write comments and send them by normal mail as well, for those not that tech savvy?

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