The election for the position of FMC Vice-President closed at 5pm on 17 May 2019.
 
Congratulations to Tania Seward on being elected FMC Vice-President for the year 2019-2020. Tania is joining President Jan Finlayson in our organization’s leadership team. Peter Wilson is Immediate Past President ex officio.
 
The votes received by each candidate are
 
Owen Cox             24
Tania Seward         42
Neil Silverwood    34
 
47 clubs voted out of 95 clubs eligible to vote (49.5%)
100 votes were cast out of 154 votes available (64.9%)

During FMC’s Outdoor Community campaign support to Ski Touring, we noticed some friction between members of the back country touring community and some ski area operators. 

To try to alleviate some of the friction, as well as let the fields know FMC is watching, we’ve consulted with every ski area in New Zealand to create a set of back country touring access guidelines. These guidelines articulate how to behave when accessing back country terrain using ski field infrastructure, and are intended to promote understanding of the real hazards present on ski areas.

FMC encourages you to read and share the guidelines, and to get in touch with us if there are access issues which may need our attention.

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In our latest article, Wilderlife examines soggy SPOT trackers and perforated PLB's. Advice, anecdotes and opinions about keeping your emergency communication devices ready for when they might be needed. 

Pioneer Energy Ltd has recently started the construction of a road and hydro scheme in the Matiri Valley, Tasman Region. Since the resource consent and concession for the hydro development by Tasman District Council (TDC) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) went through several years ago, many recreational users might not be aware of the background about this project.

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FMC ran a few courses like this in the 2000's and we're looking into running a few more in the future. Before we invest time and effort into this project, we'd like to hear from our clubs whether there is enough interest to justify it. Please read this letter to Club committees and send your thoughts to dan.clearwater@fmc.org.nz by 15 June.

FMC wants to encourage you to keep snapping those shots for our annual photo competition through the winter months! We have an online introductory photography course to give away, sponsored by Ray Salisbury from www.hotpixels.co.nz.

To be in to win an ART OF COMPOSITION course, send a photo of someone reading a copy of Backcountry magazine in the outdoors to photocomp@fmc.org.nz. Open to all FMC individual supporters, and members of FMC affiliated clubs. Entries close 31st July.

This book, the centerpeice of the TTC's centenary celebration is available NOW. Order online to receive the discounted rate for FMC members of $50 plus postage (normal RRP $59.95).

Masterfully written by Shaun Barnett and Chris Maclean, Leading the Way is full of historic images and recent colour photographs as well as maps, drawings and paintings. It is a welcome addition to Aotearoa's tramping literary heritage. See the June issue of Backcountry for a glimpse between the covers, and the August issue for a full book review.

This July, the Tararua Tramping Club marks 100 years of getting people into the hills with a commemorative tramp up Mt Kaukau, Wellington.

All clubs are invited to schedule their own commemorative tramps, to celebrate the fantastic milestone of TTC as well as taking the time to delve into the heritage of your own club. Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club President Anthony Pettinger says "The OTMC are onboard - our first trip was on Sept 1, 1923 to Flagstaff, we will redo this on Sept 1 this year - congrats to the TTC!"

Find out more about the commemorative tramp invitation on our website or about the other Centenary celebrations on the TTC website.

As part of FMC's support to the NZ Mountain Film festival, Schools can receive a 45 minute DVD of this year’s films for free. Our aim is to help inspire the next generation of adventurers and mountain enthusiasts.

Please see our website for more information, and encourage parents, teachers and club-mates to spread the word about this offer. There's also detail about how your club can bring the films to your town, as a fundraising activity.

Are you currently planning your Gold-level Adventurous Journey for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award? Would a cash grant help you have an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life?

Grants are now available to support your journey. The next round of applications closes on 15 June 2019.

We ask that you encourage your members to let friends, family and your local school know of this scholarship.

Read more about how to apply