The committee was so busy we forgot to meet this month. There is a great deal going on administration wise and out in the field. The highlights are recorded in this newsletter. Thanks to everyone who has obliged us by writing trip reports. I’m sure I’m not the only person who looks forward to reading about our outdoor adventures. As we say on our club poster “how much fun can you have?”
Work in the priority areas is going well. Forgotten about the big three? No problem I’m good at repetition:
1. Lifting usage of the club lodge
2. Membership acquisition
3. improving the website
It’s cool that some of you have volunteered to help out with these initiatives. If you would like to join in please get in touch. Meantime there are lots of small, simple, practical things you can do. For example, talking to new people at club nights will make them feel welcome and more likely to stick around and sign up for trips. You could have a go at leading a trip. Day walks are a great place to start if you have no experience with leading and coincidentally we are particularly keen to run more day walks for people trying tramping for the first time. It does not take much effort to gently encourage your friends, colleagues and family to come on trips or utilise our lodge. Do you know some non-members who would be interested in this newsletter? Go on, indulge in a spot of spamming, email them the link.
There has been a lot of focus on the club lodge lately so I thought I’d remind you about our other great facility, Paua hut. Paua hut is much closer to home, located in the Rimutaka Forest Park and just a 2 hour walk from the road end. The hut sleeps 10 people and is a great spot to head for a relaxed weekend. The hut is looked after by a team: Phil and Ann Kendon do the bookings (check out the Paua hut tab on the front page of the Club website) and Marty Green and Mike Pratt handle hut maintenance. We are very lucky to have these members doing this important work for us, thanks guys. Paua hut is popular with families and Mike Gilbert is always keen to hear from people who want to join in family orientated tramps. Email Mike at
There are lots of websites that cater for outdoors enthusiasts interested in finding out about local tramping trips or getting information and opinions on issues relevant to trampers. I don’t make endorsements lightly, generally a minimum of several boxes of good quality chocolate or a large cash donation is required but I have to confess that for considered, thoughtful, well written analysis of the issues of the day it is hard to go past our own Mike McGavin’s Windy Hilltops blog. Even though I’ve had no chocolates from him and he will probably turn scarlet with embarrassment when he reads this, check out Mike’s blog at http://www.windy.gen.nz/. You may be interested in the Freedom of Camping Bill which is currently out for consultation. The bill is designed to give local authorities and DoC the power to hand out instant fines to people caught violating new by-laws or rules relating to camping in wilderness areas. There is scope for the provisions to apply to some of our road end camping. Mike has undertaken an analysis of the bill. Reading the bill got me thinking about the potential environmental impact of large groups of WTMCers camping at road ends where there are no toilet facilities. This is something we need to think about.
Speaking of tramping related issues, Megan our Promotions Officer was interviewed and is quoted extensively in an article in the June issue of Wilderness Magazine. The article called Tramping 2.0 looks at why traditional tramping clubs are struggling for new members in the fast-changing digital age.
Finally, on behalf of the Club I’d like to congratulate Ian Harrison. Two of his photos won first and second place respectively in the flora and fauna section of the 2011 FMC Photo competition. Sweet!
– Sharron Came, WTMC President