by Mack Skinner

If you are interested in liaising with other outdoor organizations, a place to start is the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC (FMCBC).

As a member club, the North Shore Hikers has a director position on the FMCBC board. This is shared by two NSH members (Cristina Jacob and Mack Skinner) who are also involved with FMCBC committee work.

We welcome more input from NSH. Below are short descriptions of six Federation committees. If one of these interests you, please contact Mack ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) who can answer your questions regarding this volunteer work. The only qualifications you need are an interest in learning and in giving back to the outdoor community.

The FMCBC has recently undergone a strategic planning process and three (of the six) committees are new: Advocacy, Fund-raising, and Outreach. Volunteer input from member clubs is essential in staffing these vital areas, and with new committees there are no time-worn tradition issues to work around.

Description of Current FMCBC Committees:

• recruit new member clubs
• educate non-member clubs about the work that the FMCBC does
• help develop educational materials for clubs
• build better connection with member clubs
• help develop promotional materials
• improve communications between the FMCBC, its member clubs and interested non-members
• find current news articles of interest from across BC
• make sure contents of website and wiki are up to date
• contribute articles to FMCBC monthly newsletter and Cloudburst

Useful Skills/Experience:  insurance knowledge, writing, research

• attend monthly meetings
• develop strategies for protection of key recreational areas and creation and maintenance of parks in BC
• write letters to government, land and resource industries and commercial recreation to resolve conflicts

• trail access, trail building and maintenance
• advocate for new trail projects
• network with BC Parks, Ministry of Forests and Range and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts

Advocacy Committee – Chair: currently vacant
Members: Brian Wood, Mack Skinner, Mike Stewart, Dave King

• Advocate for backcountry access for non-motorized users on Crown land by encouraging compatible legislation, policies and planning; in consultation with regional reps from the Recreation & Conservation Committees, produce Position Paper(s) reflecting these issues and potential solutions, and advocate changes in legislation, policies and planning consistent with these issues;
• Similar to the above, advocate, in consultation with members, government, land users and investors, for improved access for non-motorized users on private land; develop a club-friendly Guide to support local clubs negotiating access with landowners;
• Engage a consultant to support targeted advocacy;
• Build partnerships with other organizations and businesses

Fundraising Committee – Chair: Elisa Kreller

We need members for this committee

• Identify potential funding sources
• Identify projects which fit with the funding source and FMCBC's mission
• Develop project budgets
• Write grant applications
• Coordinate with the Program and Administration Manager
• Follow up with funders to meet grant requirements
• Write final reports on grant funded projects