For years UCMC members have talked and speculated about who founded the UC Mountaineering Club and when. Some older members have made obscure references to different climbing legends, but no one was ever able to confirm those recollections.

Enter Annelies Koob. Long time UCMC member and former UCMC president. Anne (pronounced ah-na) has always been moderately curious as to the truth of the clubs beginnings, but not until Spring of 1999, did a series of coincidences provide her an avenue for that curiosity. At the time she worked for Benchmark Outfitters and was president of UCMC.

Fortunately, the customer just happened to have left his business card! Along with being curious, Anne is also persistent. The customer, a busy and prominent lawyer in Northern Kentucky, was difficult to reach. It was her tenacity that finally got her in touch with Lawson Walker at his home in northern Kentucky. Lawson later called another original member, Jay Budde, who contacted Terry Barnhart. Terry was excited and quite surprised to hear from the Mountaineering club and he called Anne back. He and the other founding members never expected UCMC to last too many years after they left Cincinnati. Terry contacted Denny and Jane Conners, Gerry Papania, Juanita Janigan, and John Frasca.

The eavesdropping theme continued when I overheard Anne discussing this chance encounter at a Wednesday evening meeting. After she told me the story summarized above, I got the idea to write an article about the beginning of the club. I offered to write the article and Anne enthusiastically accepted my offer. One of these days maybe I'll actually learn from the old cliche about curiosity and the cat. At the time, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into! Anne shared her information with me and I began sending e-mails to the founding members and talked with Terry, Denny, and Gerry.

A common theme among UCMC members today is found in U2's Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For; and UCMC members have been looking around the globe for years. Actually, UCMC members have been climbing and rafting and hiking and biking and running and doing just about any outdoor activity for almost 30 years now.

Between 1969 and 1971, Denny Conners and Terry Barnhart made friends with other outdoor enthusiasts. They went climbing, backpacking, and camping as their school schedules would allow. As interest in climbing grew among Denny and his friends, they wondered how many other students might be interested in joining them.

Terry and Gerry Papania went to Clifton Gorge as often as they could. Over Spring break in 1971, these guys went to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia with John Frasca. According to Terry, this is the trip where "the idea for a club evolved."

According to Denny, it was another outdoor enthusiast, Michael Murphy, who asked UC how they could go about forming an official club. The school assigned the new UCMC an advisor. They got permission to put up a display in the lower level of the student union, reserved a room, and held an organizational meeting. Enough people attended that they began having "periodic meetings in the student union and began organizing trips."

Terry Barnhart created posters to help get UCMC going. He created two: HIKE PRICE HILL and CAMP MT. ADAMS. Hopefully, no one ever actually camped in Mt. Adams, as I'm sure the Cincinnati Police would be less-than-thrilled with tents strewn around that part of town.

Terry and Denny became integral parts of my research. With their help and the help of some long-time UCMC members still here in Cincinnati, I contacted several of the original members using email. I created a questionnaire and sent it to them this summer. Terry and Denny are the only two who have returned that questionnaire so far and that's where I got most of the information for this article.. Terry (who still lives in Denver) and Denny Conners (who lives in Wisconsin) both have families. They not only stayed active in outdoor activities, they passed their love of the out-doors to their children, who are now of college age themselves. In fact, Denny's son sounds interested in forming a club similar to UCMC at Georgia Tech. If he does, maybe one of the traditions he starts there will be a chart of who's who, so future members can see how their club started.

Terry and Denny shared numerous stories of their adventures with me. The stories share a similarity to many of the trips UCMC members plan today. It's Wednesday evening and someone wants to go somewhere. That person decides where they want to go, asks others to come along, they all decide who is going to drive, how long they can afford to be away from work and school, and off they go. Except for the major treks which require prior training (such as the trip several club members made to Mt. McKinley in 1997), club members are still quite spontaneous.

I found yet another common theme between today©s club members and the original members. Most students lack sufficient funds to do all they want to do, such as travel and buy gear.

"We were all equipment freaks, but lacked sufficient funds to buy much," Terry recalls.

According to Terry, the first gear arrived late Winter quarter, 1972, not quite a year after their initial discussions at Seneca Rocks.. The order included a rope, carabiners, pitons, webbing, and a helmet or two. Terry ordered the equipment using his REI member number. The gear arrived , just as the seniors were trying to finish their final projects. They had little time to use the new equipment, but I know they relish the fact that their club thrived.

Gerry, Denny, and Terry are absolutely amazed that the club they and their friends formed, became one of the largest student groups at UC. UCMC's 140+ members and dozens of former members literally spans the globe. The UCMC "family" continues to support each other. Former members welcome newer members into their homes because they know how tight students' budgets are. Such camaraderie allows students to travel the world climbing mountains, hiking the backcountry, paddling the whitewater, and viewing eclipses, among other pursuits. These trips continue to be our escape from our everyday lives.

Terry Barnhart summed up UCMC trips in one sentence. "Our trips cemented our friendships." That tradition continues to this day.

So much of what college students learn while at college takes years to actually sink in. We must first grow up some and experience the world. But we should never forget the power that comes from a team of people striving toward a common goal. It's that teamwork that created UCMC. It's that teamwork that will help Denny's son create the Georgia Tech Mountaineering Club and it's that team work that has kept UCMC alive for almost 30 years.

I hope you've enjoyed this first article on the beginnings of the UC Mountaineering Club. While I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this project, I thoroughly enjoyed working on it and look forward to continue re-search. I have pages and pages of stories from Terry and Denny. Gerry Papania promises to send me more and I hope to get even more stories from the other members as yet unknown to me. This project is truly a work in progress, so look for more articles about how UCMC has developed over its 30 years.

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MOUNTAINEERING CLUB CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I
This organization shall be called the University of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club (UCMC).
ARTICLE II
The purpose of this organization is to provide a forum of interests in wilderness use and its associated aspects including but not limited to: mountaineering, backpacking, caving: whitewater sports, and bicycling. Through participating in these activities it is our purpose to develop an appreciation of the outdoors, to preserve the natural balance, and to proceed safely. It is the purpose of this organization through the sponsorship of club outings, lectures, and courses of instruction to extend an educational service in wilderness use and its associated aspects into the university community.
ARTICLE III
3.1) There shall be three (3) classes of members: voting, non-voting, and honorary.
3.2) Voting membership shall be open to any full/part-time undergraduate or graduate student, enrolled in any of the colleges, schools or divisions of the University at the time of applying for membership.
3.3) Non-voting membership shall be open to any student and any member of the University faculty, community or administrative staff.
3.4) Honorary membership shall be open to any person desiring such membership, elected to such membership by a majority of the voting members.
3.5) There shall be no limit on the size of the membership of the Mountaineering Club, provided that the number of the non-voting and honorary members together shall not exceed the number of voting members.
ARTICLE IV
4.1) The elected officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trip Coordinator.
4.2) The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall appoint Equipment Managers.
4.3) Each officer shall be a voting member and a matriculating student achieving and maintaining a 2.300 semester grade point average and in good standing with the respective college.
4.4) Any elected/appointed officer who is unable to fulfill his/her remaining term shall be removed from office and a successor elected/appointed.
4.5) An officer with an obligation to Professional Practice Division to co-op out of town shall appoint a replacement for his/her co-op semester(s), and have the appointee ratified by a majority of voting members.
ARTICLE V
5.1) Regular meetings of the U.C. Mountaineering Club shall be held at a minimum of twice per operating semester.
5.2) The Executive Committee may call special meetings of the U.C. Mountaineering Club at any time.
ARTICLE VI
6.1) The U.C. Mountaineering Club officers, employees, servants, or agents do not have any responsibility, legal or otherwise, expressed or implied, in connection with the Clubs activity, and each person and others participating accept and assume the risk for any and all injuries and/or damages growing out of such participation including travel and practice.
6.2) The U.C. Mountaineering Club officers, employees, servants, and agents are to be held harmless from any and all responsibility for any such injuries and/or damages resulting from or in connection with the participation in the Club activities, as well as for any claims that might be made against them, or any of them, by virtue of the conduct of any of the members in connection with the activity.
6.3) All Club members are to be advised to obtain personal insurance coverage, i.e., student health plan, family coverage, etc.
6.4) All Club members are required to receive and acknowledge by signature a “ Waiver, Release, Indemnity and Gear ” form as a condition of membership.
ARTICLE VII
The U.C. Mountaineering Club shall have a University Advisor who shall be a full-time member of the University faculty, staff, or administration. The Executive Board shall select the University Advisor.
ARTICLE VII
8.1) Any member may propose amendments to this Constitution.
8.2) There shall be two (2) weeks prior notification when an amendment is proposed to be voted on.
8.3) This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the membership present, with the approval of the Student Activities Board.
8.4) In cases of mandates from the Student Activities Board requiring amendments to this Constitution, the President may, with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the voting members present, suspend the two (2) week notification period.
ARTICLE IX
This Constitution will be ratified by a majority affirmative vote of the voting members present at the meeting at which it is presented, and with the approval of the Student Activities Board.

University Of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club By-Laws
Section 1
1.1)  The President shall preside over all meetings of the U.C. Mountaineering Club and the Executive Committee. The President shall be an ex-officer member of all standing committees. The President shall have the power to sanction all Club outings and courses of instruction.  The President shall be responsible for getting the U.C. Mountaineering Club registered with the University/SALD board each academic year, as well as a Club meeting space, or delegating that responsibility to a UCMC Executive Member.  The President shall be responsible for guiding the Club in general.
1.2) The Vice-President shall be responsible for maintaining correspondence with the other organizations. The Vice-President shall be responsible for fulfilling all marketing needs of the Club and approving any marketing materials. The Vice-President shall be responsible for any Club displays set up at the University, including reserving the display space as well as seeing that the displays are properly assembled and removed.  The Vice-president shall work as a liaison between the other club executives and the gear manager when issues arise involving the gear space. These issues include but are not limited to the need to retire, replace, update, or acquire new gear. The Vice-President along with another UCMC Executive member will perform a quarterly audit of the funds and books of the Treasurer and certify current balances at that time.  The Vice-President shall assist the President with various other duties and shall act as President when the President is absent.
1.3) The Treasurer shall be responsible in conjunction with the University Advisor for all fiscal matters of the Student Organization. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all funds paid to the Student Organization and shall deposit them in the official depository. The Treasurer in conjunction with the University Advisor will disburse all of the approved Student Organization expenditures. The Treasurer will co-sign all checks with the University Advisor in payment of bills. The Treasurer will abide by all University Funding Policies and Procedures. The Treasurer will attend UFB funding approval meetings when a UCMC budget is being heard.  The Treasurer will abide by all Policies and Guidelines set down by their respective Funding Board (University Funding Board). The Treasurer shall maintain the membership roster, comprised of: name  M#, email, address, phone #, contact information, and medical information. The Treasurer is responsible for educating his/her successor on the obligations of this position. The Treasurer will keep the account and books which, at all times, must be open to inspection by the President, Executive Board, Funding Board, or any authorized auditor. The Treasurer will make reports at the semester meetings of the Student Organization as defined by their respective Funding Board.
1.4 The Secretary shall be responsible for updating the U.C. Mountaineering Club Web and  Face Book Page with UCMC events. The Secretary shall keep minutes at each U.C. Mountaineering Executive meeting as well as the general U.C. Mountaineering meeting. The secretary shall post meeting minutes and approved trip announcements on the web page via the listserv email and on the Mountaineering Club Face Book page. The Secretary shall be responsible for all external fund raising and volunteering activities.   The secretary shall aid the Executive Officers. The Secretary shall attend every meeting.
1.5) The Equipment/Gear Managers shall maintain a current and historical working inventory of Club equipment. She/he shall assume full responsibility for all Club gear with the exception that the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer, acting together, shall have the power to retire any piece of equipment they feel is unsafe. The Equipment Manager will be responsible for acquiring new gear, replacing gear, and  retiring obsolete, worn out or unsafe gear. The Equipment Manager shall also be responsible for assuring that all Club equipment is marked for easy identification and for updating and following the equipment sign-out procedure. The Equipment Manager can assess fines and with-hold gear from members who violate the U.C. Mountaineering Club Gear Policies. The Equipment manager can turn in notification to the University to put a service block for grades and transcripts as well as file theft and/or  code of conduct violation against any member who does not return gear, pay fines or pay for/replace damaged gear.
1.6) The Trip Coordinator position can be held by one or more elected individuals. The responsibilities shall include: Make sure trip leaders explicitly follow the UCMC Trip Leader Checklist. Make sure the emergency contact sheet and trip roster are present on the trip, submitted to the trip monitor, and sent to the club advisor for all UCMC funded trips in advance of the trip departure.  The trip coordinator will ensure there are trips planned for each week, acknowledging that winter months can present challenges. The Trip Coordinator will ensure that the large (winter, spring, summer) school break trips are planned well in advance (6-8 weeks) and that communication is taking place with the UCMC treasurer to complete UFB paperwork.  The Trip Coordinator will foster the development of new trip leaders through co-leadership and encourage experienced leaders to step up to plan and lead additional trips with co-leaders.  The Trip coordinator will ensure large and UCMC funded trips are presented to the Exec board during the planning sessions 3-4 weeks in advance of the trip date.  The Trip Coordinator will be copied on all trip leader emails to ensure that pertinent trip information is disseminated to trip participants, and that there are pre-trip meetings for large and UCMC funded trips.  The Trip Coordinator will ensure that trip leaders follow the UCMC trip safety gate guidelines. The trip coordinator will ensure there are sign-up sheets for new trips at the general meetings.  

Section 2
2.1) The University Advisor shall consult with the U.C. Mountaineering Club and ensure that the Clubs activities are consistent with the stated purposes of the organization.
2.2) The University Advisor shall grant approval for all off-campus activities in which students formally represent the U.C. Mountaineering Club such as conventions, meetings, etc.
2.3) The University Advisor is required to file an official certification of academic standing of the U.C. Mountaineering Club's officers with the Student Activities and Programming Office. Certifications are due every semester.
2.4) The University Advisor has an obligation to know the rules and regulations governing the handling of all funds and to assist and advise the Treasurer in all financial matters and to co-sign checks.
2.5) When the U.C. Mountaineering Club sponsors programs utilize off-campus speakers it is the obligation of the University Advisor to be present at the program.
Section 3
3.1) The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Equipment Manager, Trip Coordinator and the University Advisor.
3.2) The Executive Committee shall determine the policies and activities of the U.C. Mountaineering Club, discipline members, approve the budget, and have general management of the U.C. Mountaineering Club.
3.3) The Executive Committee shall meet once each operating semester with the Equipment Committee.
Section 4
4.1) Regular meetings shall be held weekly at such time and place as determined by the Executive Committee.
4.2) At all meetings a quorum shall be one-half (1/2) of the voting members of the U.C. Mountaineering Club. A quorum is necessary for the Club to conduct official business.
Section 5
5.1) Normal elections shall be held at the tenth meeting of Spring Semester.
5.2) Special elections shall be held at the first regular meeting after it becomes apparent that any officer cannot fulfill her/his term of office.
5.3) All elected officers shall be elected by a majority of those people casting ballots, providing that a quorum is present.
5.4) All officers shall take office during the first week of the Summer Semester following their election, and shall serve a one (1) year term.
5.5) The Vice-President shall be responsible for collecting absentee ballots prior to the election.
Section 6
6.1) Equipment/Gear usage fees shall be sixty dollars ($60.00) per year (September through August); twenty dollars ($20.00) per Semester (commencing 1st day of  each academic: fall, winter and summer semester).  Alumni equipment usage fees shall be sixty dollars ($60.00) per year; twenty dollars ($20.00) per semester (commencing 1st day of  each academic: fall, winter and summer semester).
6.2) Revenue raised from sources other than those defined in this section may be raised as determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the U.C. Mountaineering Club, along with the approval of the appropriate University office.
6.3) The Executive Committee shall determine disbursement of revenue with the approval of the U.C. Mountaineering Club and in accordance with University policies. The primary disbursement of the raised revenue replaces the funds previously received from the University for equipment acquisition and replacement.
6.4)  Starting with the 2015/2016 Academic year, a total of  (but not to exceed) 5% of the equipment/gear usage fees collected, will be directed to fund the recruiting of new members for the University of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club.  The 5% collected will be allocated  for  recruiting expenses in relation to: advertising, materials, and recruiting events.  Any leftover recruitment funds, not spent during an Academic calendar year,  will be returned at the end of the Winter Semester back for the purchase/replacement of the UCMC equipment/gear.  The UCMC treasurer shall  be charged with the tracking of the 5% recruitment funds.      

 

Section 7
7.1) Special Committees may be established by the Executive Committee and shall perform such duties as defined in their establishment.
7.2) The Executive Committee shall appoint, and may remove, a chairperson and committee members for each committee.
Section 8
A U.C. Mountaineering Club trip shall be: any activity that is approved by the UCMC President, or the Executive committee;  is listed on  the UCMC Outgoing trips slide during the UCMC meetings; contained in the official UCMC meeting announcement sent out by an Executive member,  or is funded with University Funding Board funds.
Section 9
9.1) The U.C. Mountaineering Club shall have no standing rules of order.
9.2) The Club shall adopt the rules of Creative Conflict when deemed necessary by the President.
9.3) The President shall determine the format of Club Meetings. Where it is necessary, the President shall recognize people to speak.
Section 10
10.1) Any member, who after a warning from the Executive Committee, repeatedly abuses or misuses the Club equipment or name shall have his/her membership terminated by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Executive Committee.
10.2) Any person whose membership in the U.C. Mountaineering Club has been terminated in any manner shall forfeit all interest in any funds or other property belonging to the U.C. Mountaineering Club and may not use the Club name in connection with any other activities.
10.3) Appeal Process: Any member whose membership in the U.C. Mountaineering Club has been terminated by action of the Executive Committee may appeal his/her expulsion in writing, and within two (2) weeks of the Executive Committee's action to the Student Activities Board. If the expulsion is upheld by the governing board, the student may appeal to the Student Activities and Leadership Development Office, in writing, and within two (2) weeks of the governing board's action.
Section 11
11.1) Any member may propose amendments to these by-laws.
11.2) There shall be one (1) week’s prior notification when an amendment is to be voted upon.
11.3) These by-laws may be amended by a majority affirmative vote of the voting members present, with the approval of the Student Activities Board.
11.4) In cases of mandates from the Student Activities Board requiring amendments to these by-laws, the President may, with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present, suspend the one (1) week notification period.         
Section 14
14.1)   The laws of the state of Ohio and the University of Cincinnati policies concerning hazing shall be observed.
14.2) Hazing shall be defined as participating in or allowing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act that creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person. A forced or coerced activity shall also be considered hazing when the initiation or administration into, or continued affiliation with, a university organization is directly or indirectly conditional upon performing the activity. In no event shall the willingness of an individual to participate in such an activity serve as defense in cases of hazing.
14.3) Actions and activities, which are explicitly prohibited, include, but shall not be limited to the following:

1. Any activity that creates a substantial risk of physical or mental harm.
2. Paddling, beating, or hitting individuals.
3. Wearing anything designed to be degrading or to cause discomfort.
4. Depriving individuals of the opportunity to obtain a minimum of six hours of sleep per day, proper and adequate means, or access to means, of maintaining body cleanliness.
5. Activities that interfere with an individual’s academic efforts by causing exhaustion of loss of reasonable study time.

14.4) All people are given equal opportunity in all club matters and shall not be discriminated based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or any other membership to another group.