Why aren't you a BMC member ?

[Andy B]

Originally joined for the insurance but found that it stopped being competitive with other providers quite a while ago. Have been a member for the last 8-10 years entirely to support the access, conservation and guidebook work, and in spite of some other activities, for example those which could be seen as "promoting" climbing.

 

[shurt]

Joined for the Cheddar access stuff. I know I should have anyway, but that was what gave me the nudge.

Same here. I only joined for Cheddar insurance i.e. technically you can't climb there without it as a condition of access. Im glad I'm a member now after a few years on a DD and can see the advantages. I climbed for years without membership and (personally) think I shouldn't have. They do great stuff for access to crags and should be supported. I'm not here demanding people join btw

 

[Simon Lee]

I thought you could get their insurance without being a member, is that wrong?

You have to be a member

 

[dave]

Isn't the insurance story something along the lines of the premiums rocketed a few years back when professional chancer Bear Grylls demanded an arguably unnecessary helicopter rescue from Antarctica, and hence fucked it up for everyone else?

I can't remember why I joined, but I support the BMC primarily for the access work and guidebooks, and I think that frankly nobody operating in the Peak today can afford not to support the BMCs access work.

I am not mega happy about the BMCs involvement in comps though, which essentially promote climbing and may prove to cause long term access and sustainability issues themselves, although I understand most of this is probably the undesirable side of otherwise valuable sport england funding etc etc or something.

 

[Dolly]

Isn't the insurance story something along the lines of the premiums rocketed a few years back when professional chancer Bear Grylls demanded an arguably unnecessary helicopter rescue from Antarctica, and hence fucked it up for everyone else?

I can't remember why I joined, but I support the BMC primarily for the access work and guidebooks, and I think that frankly nobody operating in the Peak today can afford not to support the BMCs access work.

I am not mega happy about the BMCs involvement in comps though, which essentially promote climbing and may prove to cause long term access and sustainability issues themselves, although I understand most of this is probably the undesirable side of otherwise valuable sport england funding etc etc or something.

+1

 

[Drew]

Think I first joined about 15 years ago to qualify for the (at the time) competitively priced insurance. Stayed a member for a couple of years utilising the discount in shops. It lapsed for a couple more years, but living in North Wales and seeing the work the BMC were doing in the local area (Bwlch y Moch for example), persuaded me to rejoin. I've been a member for 7 or 8 years on DD. I've also realised what the personal liability stuff is since rejoining, which also appeals just in case I kick a rock on someone's head at Millstone.

Whilst I don't see the BMC as being whiter than white, and could probably be far more efficient/cost-effective, I think they do a better job than anyone else out there so I'm happy to throw a small amount of money at them. I'm also keen to get more involved with the area meetings in the future, but living out in Doncaster with a wee bairn makes getting to the meetings more awkward of an evening.

 

[csl]

I just joined (again) because of this thread (Cheddar, access stuff)

Was affiliate member through a university club years ago but never signed up fully before.

 

[Offwidth]

You mean actually join an organization that is prepared to employ Grimer?

An easy joke. In fact Grimer is a kèy reason I have done way more fòr the BMC more than just join. He sorted the guidebooks in a way that moved me from a slightly anti BMC stance to very pro BMC one. He recruited and 'perverted' me (and Moff). Because of what he does we have the current BMC guides guidebooks that do the job and sometimes approach art. A conventional office worker appointment never could have acheived this.

He is not the only one, I already mentioned John and Dave. Martin Koscis and Henry Folkard also had a massive influence as did several denizens of UKB, as access and guidebook volunteers and various BMC employees and national and local volunteer officers.

Shit... I'm past aqueducts and halfway through hot baths.

 

[nai]

I just joined (again) because of this thread

Me too.

The arguments put forward make me realise how blinkered I have been.

Good to be able to select UKB as the source :great:

 

[andy popp]

You mean actually join an organization that is prepared to employ Grimer?

An easy joke.

Indeed, but just a joke for all that.

In fact, I'd meant to come back and post more seriously but didn't round to it. Grimer has undoubtedly done an incredible job revitalising BMC guidebook publication and having worked with him on the Cheshire guide I've had a little bit of insight into what that means in terms of the work he does.

But otherwise, I'm guilty as sin. I don't think I've ever been a member in the nearly 40 years I've been climbing ... and I don't have a good explanation as to why. I think it was a much lower profile organisation back then, I was barely aware of it. But the reality is I've never joined any climbing club in the way previous generations had done almost automatically as part of their apprenticeship. Somehow that was fading as part of climbing culture around the time I was getting started. I suppose I simply never got into the habit of joining. A pretty crappy excuse, I know.

 

[Will Hunt]

Shark has earned 1/6000th of his salary so far. Keep it up!

 

[Oldmanmatt]

I just joined (again) because of this thread

Me too.

The arguments put forward make me realise how blinkered I have been.

Good to be able to select UKB as the source :great:

Ha! Black cat everyone!
I not only re-joined, I went to the area meeting last night.

Where do I claim my prize?

(This may or may not be Simon's doing, other options exist).



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[webbo]

Due to the recent influx of new members of doubtful character. I may have to resign.

 

[Offwidth]

=27760.msg542310#msg542310 date=1484414743]
You mean actually join an è that is prepared to employ Grimer?

But otherwise, I'm guilty as sin. I don't think I've ever been a member in the nearly 40 years I've been climbing ... and I don't have a good explanation as to why. I think it was a much lower profile organisation back then, I was barely aware of it. But the reality is I've never joined any climbing club in the way previous generations had done almost automatically as part of their apprenticeship. Somehow that was fading as part of climbing culture around the time I was getting started. I suppose I simply never got into the habit of joining. A pretty crappy excuse, I know.

In the end what matters is what you do overall for climbing. The BMC is just part of that even though I think it's easily worth it, especially at a time when they are buying crags to preserve access.

 

[Iesu]

Been a member consistently for a long time (since my early twenties I guess); originally for trip insurance, but came to realise the benefits of the liability insurance when buggering about in scrappy south wales quarries and challenged by landowners:"have you got inchewerance young man?".

I share some of the reservations about the BMC promoting comps and I feel it's still quite an old fuddy duddy sort of org. I have no exposure to their social media presence so my impression of them could well be caught in the past.

I do read the mag that comes through my letterbox but don't find it particularly relevant to anything i do. I agree that the recent leadership changes have improved things. The 'Climb Britain' thing totally passed me by (guess I missed that mag/announcement?).

I have often questioned the need for the recurring DD but at the end of the day it's a small annual fee for quite a lot of benefit as previously mentioned.

Interesting thread and I hope it encourages more folk to sign up to support the access work if nothing else.

 

[Paul B]

I originally joined when I was 18 for the insurance for my first foreign trips. I stayed partly for the insurance and partly to help fund the access stuff. Then I stopped using the insurance because
- it seemed to get more expensive
- I realised how many other (cheaper) providers would cover what I wanted to do
- they changed their trip limits so it's now crap for big trips

This is a bit of an issue IMO; it's now hard to get long climbing trip insurance which I'd hoped the BMC would try to offer in the future.

I joined because of the insurance but have stayed a member due to their access work, bolt-fund work etc. As per Dave, I'm not overly comfortable with the direction of the comp stuff but I trust the BMC to act in Climbings' best interest with this.

I visited the 'Climb Britain' Yorkshire BMC meet and it left me feeling like the orgnisation as a whole needed representation from the younger generation and as such I'll try my best to contribute.

 

[James Malloch]

I've generally been a member since starting climbing in 2010/11 but the times I haven't been are generally due to my membership running out and then being a bit tight so only renewing when my next trip came around and I wanted to get insurance again.

Since I've been out of uni I've just been on the DD and will continue to renew annually. Though I believe the mountaineering club I have just joined provides me with membership so I may cancel the DD once I properly understand what I'm signed up for.

I've never really followed the work of the BMC and to be honest I've never really looked into it. However when threads such as this pop up I get a glimpse of the work regarding access etc etc which makes me want to continue my membership. Seems like a small amount to give for a large amount of benefit.

 

[tommytwotone]

Another signup from me - never been a member in 20 years of climbing for many reasons, mainly ignorance and inertia. Good thread.

 

[galpinos]

Like many, joined for the insurance, stayed for the good works. Both my wife and I are members.

Always intended to get more involved but have managed to find excuses up until now. Currently using the two kinds under 4 excuse.......

 

[galpinos]

Isn't the insurance story something along the lines of the premiums rocketed a few years back when professional chancer Bear Grylls demanded an arguably unnecessary helicopter rescue from Antarctica, and hence fucked it up for everyone else?

The rumour mill.......

http://lifeinthevertical.co.uk/blogs/blog/2009/07/12/bear-grylls-the-bmc-and-us/

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=442426

Dave Turnbull:

Large claims
Secondly, we’ve had several particularly large claims: a £210,000 bill for a rescue from Antarctica, a number of high-cost snowboarding claims from the USA and some big hits from accidents on cruise ships. These claims weren’t from our core members going climbing, hill walking or mountaineering, so we’ve addressed the issue by introducing a detailed questionnaire for polar region cover and increasing the policy loading on snowboarding from 35% to 50%.