The Harvard Mountaineering Club is a recognized undergraduate organization at Harvard College. However, membership is open to undergrads, graduate students, faculty, staff, and any other Harvard affiliates. Beginners and experts are equally welcome. Our club seeks to promote mountaineering at Harvard through weekly climbing trips during term-time, longer trips over vacations, monthly lectures, equipment loans, and the maintenance of what has been called the finest undergraduate mountaineering library in the world. We maintain the Harvard Cabin located on Mt. Washington and two climbing walls located here at Harvard. We also publish a biannual mountaineering journal.


History

The Harvard Mountaineering Club was founded in November of 1924 by Henry S. Hall Jr. In it early days, the HMC explored the Canadian Rockies during summer climbing camps and began publishing a biannual journal of its exploits. HMC members helped to lead the US Army's 10th Mountain Division in the 1940s, climbed in the Himalaya in the 1950s, and put up impressive first ascents in the Alaska Range in the 1960s. Today the HMC is run by undergraduates at Harvard College but counts among its members graduate students, alumni, and other members of the Harvard community. For a brief history of the club written by Lucas Laursen click here.

Constitution

Article I. Name

The name of the organization shall be The Harvard Mountaineering Club.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the organization is to help and support students who are willing to practise mountaineering, and to organize talks and other such mountaineer-cultural events.

Article III. Membership

1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all students in good standing currently enrolled in Harvard College, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

2. Membership shall be retained until the student is no longer affiliated with the University. Membership will be retained during the vacations and recesses of the University.

3. All members shall pay such annual dues as may be designated from time to time.

4. Any member may resign at any time by filing a written resignation with the secretary.

Article IV. Officers

1. The officers of the group shall consist of a president, treasurer, secretary, gear czar and other officers as may be designated by the group.

2. All officers shall be registered undergraduates in Harvard College.

3. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the group and shall have general supervision and control of its activities and programs.

4. The governing body of the organization shall be a board of directors that shall consist of the president, the treasurer, the secretary and the equipment person.

5. The treasurer shall have general charge of the financial affairs of the group. He or she shall keep accurate records of these affairs and give regular reports as required by the board.

6. The secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the group and of all activities and programs. He or she will handle all formal correspondence between the members and officers of the group.

Article V. Elections

1. Officers shall be elected annually by the members of the group. Elections shall be held during the month of April. The term of office shall start on the first day of the summer recess and shall terminate on the last day of the following academic year.

2. Any undergraduate members of the group may be nominated for election. Nominations shall be filed in writing with the secretary at least one week before the date appointed for elections. All members shall have one vote by secret ballot. Members may vote by written proxy if necessary. The secretary shall be responsible for informing all members of the election date and candidates.

3. If one of the president, the secretary, or any other five members of the group consider that an officer is not meeting his or her responsibilities, they may call a special meeting of the group on which a new officer can be appointed for the rest of term if a simple majority of the group members deem it necessary.

Article VI. Meetings

1. Meetings of the board shall be held on a regular basis for the purpose of determining policy, activities, programs, all official statements, and other business. Special meetings of the group may be called by the president, the secretary, or any five members of the group.

2. A simple majority of the votes shall constitute a quorum.

3. The president shall chair all meetings.

4. Notice of regular and special meetings shall be communicated to all members of the group by the secretary.

5. All members shall have one vote with respect to any resolutions put forward during a meeting. Members may vote by written proxy if necessary.

Article VII. Amendments

1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the group.

2. Any member of the group may propose an amendment. Proposals shall be filed in writing with the secretary, so that the group may debate the proposal. Amendments may be voted on at regular or special meetings.