Providing Access and Insurance to AMGA certified guides and IFMGA

guides.

Overview

• History• Why is coop important?• Who can be a member?• Financial structure• Current Permits• Letters of intent• How you can join

The Guides Code

“The Certified Guide should behave in a loyal and helpful way towards each other. The certified guides should especially avoid ‘competitions’ among each other and mutual pushing of the risk level caused by competitive thinking.”

History of the CGC2005 – The AMGA helps create the CGF

2008 – 2010 The CGF Provides Access and Insurance to Certified Guides

Fall 2010 – The CGF evolves into the the CGC

November 2010 – The CGC holds Insurance for guides to work in Moab area and Non-

Permitted Lands Including Europe.

January 2011 – The CGC begins to acquire permits held by the CGF and a wide range of

New Permits!

What we learned from the CGF…

• Low membership• Permits were hard to obtain

under this model• Subcontracting

Why is a Co-Op Important?

• Acts as a pool of resources to access key services: Insurance and Permits

• Fits the current permit system in the US• Provides access for US and foreign guides• Member Owned - Member controlled • Lowest Cost to Guides• A resource for all guides• Solves the Subcontracting issue

What we’ve accomplished

• Incorporated in Washington State• Draft of a Business Plan• Five Year Financial Plan• Draft of Bylaws• Operational Plan• Risk Management Plan• Insurance Policy Secured

Support for the Co-op

• NWCDC – Northwest Cooperative Development Center1. USDA Grant for $11000• Board of Director Training• Review of the Bylaws and all business documents• Business and Financial Planning

• Pro Bono Legal Counsel1. 50 Hours donated so far

The Co-op should exist because…

• Provides credentialed access within the existing system

• Reciprocity – the Co-op works for foreign guides

• The AMGA has the support of the IFMGA for all avenues of credential based access in the United States. This includes the CGC as one potential solution

Who can be a member?

The CGC is open to:Any AMGA Member in good

StandingOR

Any IFMGA Guide in good standing in their country of

origin.

Membership Breakdown• General Members

Any AMGA Member or IFMGA Guide who:1. Purchases a Share ($1000 Initial Offering)2. Signs a Membership Agreement

• Active MembersAny AMGA Certified Member or IFMGA Guide who:

1. Purchases a Share ($1000 Initial Offering)2. Signs a Membership Agreement3. Pays their $300 Membership Activation

• Supporting Certificate1. Anyone who supports the CGC and the idea of Credential Based

Access2. Certificates Can be purchased in $100 increments

Who Could Benefit?A few examples…

• A certified rock guide who works predominantly as an employee of guide services and who wants to supplement her income in the off season in non-local terrain under CGC insurance and permits

Who Could Benefit?

• A certified alpine guide operating in non-permitted lands where IFMGA certification is not required (many expedition guides working in South America or Asia, for example).

Who Could Benefit?

• An American IFMGA guide who wants insurance for a trip in an IFMGA country.

Who Could Benefit?

• A foreign IFMGA guide who wants insurance and permits to guide their clients in the US.

This is a primary goal of the CGC.

• IFMGA-recognized guides’ associations who want to provide access to insurance and permits in the US for their members

Who Could Benefit?

Initial Share Offering

• We are looking to gain a membership base.• The more shares that are purchased the less

financial risk that each share holder accepts.• We are looking for a minimum of

50 Member/Owners by June 2011

CGC Guiding StructureStep 1: Purchase a Share in the CGC

$1000 One time buy in.Step 2: Activate your membership

$300 yearlyStep 3: Guide under the CGC Permits

Permit Maintenance Fee1-10 Days = $70/Day 11-20 Days = $60/Day21-50 Days = $50/Day 51-75 Days = $25/Day

75+ Days = FreeWithin 1 year from the date of your Membership

Activation

Permits

• All Non-Permitted Lands• Moab BLM, Utah• Indian Creek BLM, Utah

Submitted Permits• Bridalveil Falls, Colorado• White Mountain National Forest

A complete list of permits to be acquired will be available on the CGC Website.

Declaration of Intent

Why Sign? • I believe in Credential-Based Access• I want permits and insurance to work HERE!• I Believe in IFMGA Reciprocity•It is MY guiding future.

Contact Us

Scott Schell – Executive Directorinfo@cgcoop.orgTransitional BoardForest McBrianMike BrombergGeoff Unger Chris WrightLance Johnson www.cgcoop.org