Latest from El Presidente

Team,

hope all are well - thought it would be good to have an update on AAA activities this year -


Newsletter published to good feedback earlier this year - well done Lorraine.

Website continues with good feedback - I'd appreciate some more idea of usage of the site and any ways we can improve it. Zac's private trip to G1 has thrown up some interesting debate about how we share expedition information.

Easter rock meet went well - 5 people camped and climbed at Blue Lake - not sure of the Bluies activities.

ADFA rockclimbing at Araps in May was completed successfully.

The tech and general climbing skills evenings on Wed at the RMC gym are going well - thanks to Lyle, Dave, Coach, Dave D, Zac and any others involved. I was able to attend this Wed event and had a great time and met some enthusiastic members.

Blue Ice - Dave Donaldson is working this up with an OIC identified.

Aoraki - any OIC ID yet?

All - as you can see by this quick list there is plenty activity going on, and we have significant inroads on the ATI front - TCA recently called for a rapid rewrite of the ATI after dissatisfaction with the DIG draft. It is Trg Commanders intent to get an ATI on the streets in May which may have OS AT approved. Thanks to those that contributed to the quick drafting of an Association friendly ATI. (Carl, Zac, Dave D., Lyle, plus AWWA president and AWWA reps)

Action required:

Blue Ice finalized instruction for ADFA - Dave D or OIC

Aoraki prep - Dave D

ADFA mountaineering club weekend (see email below) in Aug - lets call it August Epic for old times sake.
Carl can you draft an email to send to appropriate short list of likely instructors from the membership email DB asking for instr spt for this event and pass it also to Lyle to place an add on the website calling for instr.

Thanks to all those that have contributed to these activities outlined above.



cheers,

El Presidente

From the Belay

AAA Newsletter
Autumn 2007

It came as something of a surprise to realise this is my fourth year of holding the appointment of president. Like all benevolent dictators, I see and hear lots of positives from association members, but have the suspicion there is a lot more going on out there. I am keen to hear from all members about how the AAA can better support them, as well as what they have been up to in the hills.

I bumped into a number of people in New Zealand in January, and I'm sure there are lots of stories that need telling. Toil over the keyboard for an hour, attach a few doctored photos and you can join the other disreputable authors in the next edition of the newsletter, or better yet, be immortalised on the website. Write to your 'dear leader'1 today, or find yourself in the shark tank with the weapons inspectors.

In reviewing the three years at the helm of the AAA, one enduring challenge stands out. The continuing ban of overseas adventurous training (AT) has made more it immensely more difficult and costly for members to experience the greater ranges of the world. It is pleasing to see many members mount unofficial expeditions to some fascinating places (Kilimanjaro, Gashabrum, Patagonian Icecap, Aconcagua are a few that come to mind), but as a club we have been denied conducting these premier expeditions. Without these expeditions, the club suffers in two ways. First, there are no aspirational activities junior members can work toward. Second, the club can not grow first-rate AT leaders with the full range of technical and environmental experience and skills. Thus, my focus continues on putting overseas AT back on the agenda, as well as supporting the range of training activities in Australia and unofficial overseas expeditions.

This year will offer much for club members with all initiatives are designed to get members into the hills.

First our new website presence, replicated on both the DRN and internet, is a great way to find current information about the AAA. Much of the Association's corporate knowledge is now on the web, as well as a streamlined process to join the club and share ideas. Lyle, our webmaster, is keen to get your feedback and post your stories and pictures.

Second, we are rejuvenating the regional reps to encourage more activities out there in the provinces. In many cases, activities are happening - we just want more AAA members to be plugged into the action. Canberra's regular RMC climbing wall technical sessions is one outstanding example of a great regional event that can get people qualified to use the wall, as well as improving their technical skills.

Next, the range of primary training events will be run this year, including a Blue Mountains Rock Meet at Easter, a July Epic aimed at Alpine skills in the NSW alps, and an Arapiles trip in September, as well as the NZ technical training course in late December.

Finally, as indicated at the AGM, we will be investing in some more aid climbing gear and running an Australia based Big Wall exercise later in the year, probably based out of Buffalo. Lyle and Dave S. will be posting more details of this activity on the web soon.

The AAA AGM last December was typical affair, with lots of slides, stories and eating, but little climbing. Coach inspired us all with the ripping yarn of his adventures in Patagonia, followed by a quick AGM, then a leisurely BBQ lunch while we waited for the rain to clear to get on the ADFA climbing wall. The rain didn't stop, so we kept eating.
What the AGM did produce was the election of an enthusiastic and able committee. To complete the dictatorship metaphor, a 'dear leader' is only as good as his henchmen, and I am confident I have a great team working on the committee. I'm particularly pleased to have Dave D. back in the fold as expedition member, as well as Coach looking after the equipment. Lyle's work as webmaster has been particularly useful, as anyone using the website will attest.

As I've often said, the Association's potential is limited only by the imagination, energy and enthusiasm of its membership. I look forward to meeting some of you in the Bluies, Buffalo, or elsewhere around the ridges.

Good climbing.
Matt

AAA President


1. No disrespect to homicidal North Korean dictators intended