In reply to Goucho:
> When I joined I already knew, and had climbed with lots of CC members, so it was easy.
> However, had that not been the case, then the application process might well have put me off.
> - if you know people, you're in straight away, but if you don't, then you have to jump through hoops.
Hit the nail on the head there.
In response to AJM:
Think you too have got the wrong end of the stick; I was perfectly happy going to the aspirants meet, I was just slightly underwhelmed by it. No need to labour the point about benefits of being in the club, I'm aware of them and that's why I'm still interested in joining.
In reply to Goucho, AJM, MG, Wiley, Coel, Howard and others:
Agreed, getting the six signatures isn't difficult.
However, it is not so easy finding a proposer and seconder who are willing and able to complete the support forms in accordance with the strict guidelines/requirements set out for these forms. I gather things have tightened up somewhat over the last couple of years, which may explain why some of us are not having the smooth/easy time of it that others have had in the past.
It is not (no longer?) permissible to propose or second someone you've just met and climbed with on an aspirants meet.
It is also not (no longer?) permissible to propose or second someone you've only sport climbed or done single pitch / non adventurous trad climbing with; the routes you've done together must be of the adventurous type detailed in the guidance/rules.
Unfortunately, whilst they're quite good at saying what's not acceptable, the CC don't actually specify what length of time someone has to have known you, in what capacity they know you, and the minimum number of suitable routes (i.e. multi-pitch adventurous as set out in the rules) you have to have done with someone before you can propose or second them. If the CC made this clear it would make things easier for both potential new members and existing members who've been asked to propose/second someone.
It hadn't even crossed my mind to use CC membership as a means of assessing someone's competence/safeness and I don't think I would. I tend to weigh up unknowns by talking to them, watching them and starting on something relatively easy and un-committing, which seems more reliable to me than a club membership which is based on relatively modest climbing ability and personal referrals.
Whilst I don't like being asked to jump through hoops (are there many climbers who do?) to prove myself worthy I do understand the need for a membership system. A friend of mine I was talking to about this just sees it as a game to be played, with the potential benefits to be gained outweighing the nuisance/hassle of getting in. I think he's probably got it right, and believing/hoping as I do that membership will be worth it I am continuing to pursue my efforts to join.
Frank asked what attracts people to the CC and what puts them off so I answered based on my own recent/current experience, which appears to be similar to Dave Reeve's but dissimilar to others'.
I think you've started a good and useful thread with some interesting posts Frank, hopefully you're finding out what you wanted to.