Karabiner Mountaineering Club

Joining and Membership Information

Remember - you are welcome to attend any number of meets without being a member. There is no limit to the number of meets you may attend before deciding to apply for membership.

Download - New/Associate Member Application Form

Membership Details

Membership is open to anyone aged 18 or over, and is achieved in two stages, initially becoming an Associate Member and later upgrading to Full Member. Requirements are straightforward, after attending a minimum of four meets within a six month period you may apply to become a New/Associate member of the Club. Please bear in mind that you will need the signatures of 3 Hon/Full Members. An application for Full Membership will be considered after a further six month period.

We do not set out to teach people the skills of walking, mountaineering or rock climbing. The BMC (British Mountaineering Council), 'phone 0161 445 6111, run courses which would be more suitable if you wish to be taught skills by qualified instructors. However, we are happy to welcome beginners to come along and try various activities, although you must note that all club activities are undertaken at your own risk, in accordance with BMC guidelines.

The club has a Hut in North Wales. Some meets are based there and non-members are welcome to come along. See the meets list. The hut is available for use by Members at any time without booking. Associate Members can obtain a key for the days at the hut from the Associate Members Representative as only Full Members are allowed to have a hut key.

Members are expected to support outdoor meets as often as possible, however it is perfectly acceptable to go off and do your own thing. You are welcome to attend any number of meets before deciding about membership.

Once you have attended at least four official meets, you can apply to join the KMC by filling in a New/Associate Member Application Form.

To become a Full Member you must have been an Associate Member of the Club for at least 6 months. Simply fill in an Upgrade to Full Member Form.

The annual membership fee, if you do decide to join, is currently £22 and should be submitted with your application for membership.

Benefits

Some of the benefits of being a member of the KMC include:

The Club is affiliated to the British Mountaineering Council, so you will become a "Club Member" of the BMC. This includes Civil Liability Insurance which is currently up to £10m. You will not need to separately join the BMC in order to buy their world wide insurance. KMC Members can upgrade their BMC membership status from "Club Member" to "Individual Member" at a special rate. See the BMC Membership Online Application for more details.

Cheap nightly rate at the club hut in Wales and access any time of the year.

Full Members can apply to have a set of hut keys.

A yearly handbook, including contact details for all KMC members.

A full copy of the Newsletter every 2 months, which includes all the KMC news and notices.

Last minute Club notices and meet updates via e-mail (if you choose to provide an e-mail address).

Access to member areas of the Clubs website including the Scribble Board.

Help to keep the club running with a full schedule of meets throughout the year.

An Extract from the Clubs Constitution (2011)

10 MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Club shall be open to members of the whole community aged 18 years and over without discrimination. The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good or sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Clubs members, in which case it will be placed on the agenda of the next General Meeting, or a separate appeals committee appointed for such purpose by the Honorary Members, and decided by a majority vote.

There shall be three grades of membership: Full, Honorary and Associate Membership. At no time shall the number of Associate Members exceed the number of Full Members.
Applicants must: -
1. have climbed or walked with members of the Club and should have attended at least 4 official Outdoor Meets within 6 months,
2. be proposed by 3 Full Members,
3. state on an official Application Form (obtainable from the Secretary) details and dates of their mountaineering experience.
All applicants will, on election by the Committee by a simple majority, be admitted to the status of Associate Member. After a period of not less than 6 months, an Associate Member may apply to become a Full Member.
Upon such application the Committee will look for evidence that the Associate Member has supported the aims and activities of the Club, has tried to build up his or her mountaineering experience, and is competent. Admission to Full Membership shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee, which may stipulate a term of extension of Associate Membership.
Associate Members shall not have the power to vote at any General Meeting save that they shall be entitled to nominate and decide upon the Associate Members Representative in accordance with Rule 7, and may propose motions for the AGM. Associate Members are expected to attain Full Membership within 3 years.
The Committee shall have the power to elect as an Honorary Member any person who has rendered eminent service to the cause of mountaineering or assistance to the Club. Honorary Members shall pay no subscription but shall in all other respects rank as Full Members except where the Constitution provides otherwise.

11 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscriptions for the various classes of membership shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting and published in the handbook. Subscriptions for each club year, which shall run from 1st January to 31st December, shall be paid to the Treasurer on or before 1st January. The subscription paid by members elected on or after 1st October of any club year shall cover the following club year. Every member whose subscription is three months in arrears shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the club, but may be reinstated at the Committee's discretion on payment of all arrears. The financial year begins, for the purpose of accounts, on 1st October and ends on 30th September.

OLD Associate Membership Application Form.
OLD Full Membership Application Form