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The Arête ACMG Technical Manuals Member Directory
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The Arête ACMG Technical Manuals Member Directory

ACMG Committees

Terms of Reference

Mission, Responsibilities and Policies

Committees are groups of dedicated volunteers who play a vital role in supporting the ACMG’s administration and Board of Directors by contributing to operational tasks and informed decision-making on key issues affecting the association. Each committee focuses on a specific area such as advocacy, recognition, professional conduct, diversity, equity and inclusion, member wellness, financial management, governance, member support and wellness, mentorship and continuing professional development, public engagement, or technical standards and provides thoughtful recommendations, practical solutions, and expert perspectives.

As a member-driven organization with finite staff capacity and financial resources, the ACMG relies on its committees for insight, initiative, and specialized knowledge that reflect the lived experiences and professional realities of its members. Committees help ensure that programs, policies, and priorities remain grounded in the needs of the guiding community, and that emerging challenges and opportunities are addressed with creativity and professionalism. In doing so, committees help build organizational resilience, foster shared ownership, and strengthen the collective voice and identity of the ACMG. Their work is essential to advancing the association's goals, upholding high standards of practice, and promoting risk-managed, sustainable mountain guiding in Canada.

The mission of every ACMG committee in supporting the Association is to: 

  • Represent and serve its members;
  • Train and assess future guides and instructors to high standards of risk management; and,
  • Maintain and improve the standards of professional mountain guiding and climbing Instruction in Canada and, through the IFMGA, worldwide. 

Authority

Board and staff committees will have the following levels of authority: 

Limited Advisor

  • Role: Investigates and reports information to the Board of Directors or Executive Director.
  • Authority: No decision-making power; purely advisory.
  • Example: A research committee gathers member feedback and submits a report to the Board of Directors.

Active Advisor

  • Role: Investigates, reports, and makes recommendations for action (e.g., drafting policies, suggesting programs).
  • Authority: No independent authority to act, but provides more directive input than a Limited Advisor.
  • Example: A safety committee drafts a new incident reporting policy for the Board of Directors approval.

Limited Agent

  • Role: Acts within specific delegated authority granted by the Board of Directors or Executive Director (defined in terms of reference).
  • Authority: Can take certain actions without further Board of Directors or Exective Director approval, but scope is limited. Must report back.
  • Example: An events committee is authorized to book venues and manage logistics for an AGM, within budget approved by the Exective Director.

Active Agent

  • Role: Holds substantive delegated authority to act on behalf of the organization in a defined area.
  • Authority: Can make and implement decisions within its mandate, with accountability to the Board of Directors or Exective Director.
  • Example: A certification committee manages and approves candidate assessments according to board-approved standards.

ACMG committees have the following general policies:

  • There is no maximum term for committee members.
  • No financial compensation is provided except for reimbursement of expenses or honoraria as determined by the Board of Directors or Executive Director.
  • Board committees report directly to the Board of Directors and staff committees report to the Executive Director.
  • Recruitment of committee chairs is the responsibility of the Board of Directors or Executive Director.
  • Committee chairs recruit new committee members.
  • The ACMG President and Executive Director are ex officio members of each committee.

Liability Insurance

Volunteers engaged in ACMG committee work acting on behalf of or under the direction of the ACMG Board of Directors or Executive Director are generally covered under the association's Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance and Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance policies, subject to the conditions of those policies. 

This insurance protection extends solely to officially sanctioned committee activities approved by the Board of Directors or Executive Director. Such approval is primarily formalized through the establishment of committee Terms of Reference, alongside any specific motions passed by the Board of Directors or Executive Director as required. In the event of a claim against the ACMG, committee volunteers, whether named individually or collectively, typically are indemnified under the association's insurance policies. 

Should a claim arise, a comprehensive scrutiny of committee documentation, including Terms of Reference, meeting minutes, project records, and reports, will be undertaken. Committees must maintain current and comprehensive Terms of Reference that accurately delineate their roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, meticulous recordkeeping, including meeting minutes and reports, is essential. This includes maintaining the confidentiality and security of all committee documents.