How is the Colorado Mountain Club Governed?
Does the Club lobby on various issues?
How are Club policy statements developed?

Why this page?

In an organization the size of the Colorado Mountain Club, questions naturally arise about the structure, organization, how decisions are made, and how policies are carried out. Here is a place where Frequently Asked Questions are answered. Have a question about the Club for which you can't find an answer? Send e-mail to our executive director, Kristy Judd, and she will endeavor to answer it.

How is the Colorado Mountain Club governed?

Like any other non-profit corporation, the Club is governed by a constitution and bylaws. Direct governance is provided by a 19 person Board of Directors. The Board's primary functions are to exercise corporate powers as prescribed by law; to make policies for the Club; and to manage resources.

The Board consists of 15 Directors elected for three year terms, with five terms ending at the end of each calendar year. Five new Directors are elected each fall by the State Council (see below). Directors must come from at least seven Groups (chapters) of the Club.

Officers are elected by the Board at the beginning of each calendar year. A Board member may be elected as an Officer, but must relinquish the Board seat upon election. Officers serve for two calendar years. Officers are the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary. Vacancies on the Board are addressed in the constitution and bylaws of the Club.

The State Council is composed of one member from each Group elected by that Group; outgoing Board members, and if applicable, outgoing Officers; and up to five representatives from State Committees. Council members serve one year terms. Council meetings are presided over by the Club President or a person designated by the President. The Council's primary functions are to elect Directors of the Club; to serve as an advisory and evaluative body for the Board; and to serve as a conduit of information from Groups and members to and from the Board. Council vacancies are addressed in the constitution and bylaws of the Club.

The Nominating Committee of five persons is appointed by the President in the spring and must be confirmed by the State Council. The Committee canvasses the Club, including Groups, President, Executive Director, and other Club members to prepare a slate of candidates for the fall meeting of the Council. At least one candidate must be proposed for each anticipated vacancy. The Nominations Committee must have at least one member from the prior year's Committee; two sitting Board members; and two at large members who cannot be sitting members of either the Board or State Council.

Groups provide most direct services to Club members. Groups are organized under procedures contained within the Club's constitution and bylaws and new Groups must be approved by the Board of Directors. Groups are allowed to have their own individual constitutions and bylaws provided said documents are consistent with the Club's constitution and bylaws. A Group is governed through procedures outlined in its constitution and bylaws. Groups are directly governed by Councils rather than a Board of Directors.

Other Committees of the Club, or individual Groups, are created under procedures outlined in various governing documents of either the Club or an individual Group. Operating policies of the Club in a variety of areas are approved by the Board.

Does the Club lobby on various issues?

The Club follows the guidelines for lobbying developed by the Internal Revenue Service for .501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations. The IRS limits lobbying for .501(c)3 organizations, like the CMC, to only a small portion of a group's annual budget since lobbying is not a primary purpose of such organizations.

The IRS defines lobbying as attempting to influence legislation before an elected body. Examples include Congress, the Colorado Legislature, Boards of County Commissioners and municipal councils. Lobbying as defined by the IRS also includes attempting to influence the outcome of ballot initiatives. Providing information of an educational nature to elected bodies is generally not considered as lobbying, unless there is legislation already introduced.

The Club lobbies occasionally on bills of interest or concern to the Club, its members, and activities. Approval to lobby is given by the Executive Director; is reported to the Board of Directors; and the need for lobbying must be comprehensively described in advance. Volunteers can lobby on behalf of the Club and their action is not subject to budget constraints and IRS reporting requirements. But, the proposed lobbying still has to be approved in advance.

One recent issue where the Club lobbied was House Bill 1049 in the 2006 session of the Colorado Legislature. HB 1049 contained amendments to the Colorado Recreational Area Use statute and its provisions concerning liability of private land owners who allow public recreation on their land.

Comments or testimony provided to administrative entities such as the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Jefferson County Open Space, etc. is not considered lobbying as defined by the IRS.

"How are Club policy statements developed?

The Club uses several ways to implement the directives of the Club's constitution and bylaws. One of these methods is job descriptions for staff positions and key volunteer positions. Another way is through the use of policy statements approved by the Club's Board of Directors. These policy statements are intended to guide certain activities on a continuing basis rather than dealing with specific, similar, situations.

Policy statements have been enacted by the Board in a variety of areas. Some examples are:

• management of the American Mountaineering Center,
• guidelines for Directors, conservation, finances, insurance, membership record keeping, outings & Adventure Travel, publications, and safety/leadership issues.

A proposed policy statement to address a given issue or concern can be brought to the Board by individual Directors, the Executive Director or senior departmental staff, the State Council, an individual Group Council, or state level committees. All proposals must be in writing showing the rationale for enacting the proposed policy. The Board may elect to adopt a proposed policy when presented, or may refer the proposal back to the originator for further study. The Executive Director maintains the permanent record of enacted policies.

The Board on its own motion may enact additional guidelines for governance of various areas of the Club. Examples include the trip leader manual and the guidelines/procedures document for the Conservation Department.