Progress Update: Scope of Practice
We wanted to provide an update to the membership regarding progress of the Scope of Practice (in the summer of this year, the AMGA announced that the Terrain and Supervision Guidelines would be referred to as the Scope of Practice [SOP] going forward).
The goal of revising the SOP is to enable AMGA guides (independent guides and guide services guiding in the U.S. and abroad) to create continued growth and demand for American mountain guiding. This is an all-hands-on-deck commitment, and the AMGA wants to thank the membership for its continued support on this critical initiative.
In early May, the AMGA appointed a Review Team comprised of 11 voting members after a meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Review Team was assigned to review the full range of geography, terrain and operational scope that makes up American mountain guiding. This Committee worked to accomplish the goal of developing a framework that supported the goal of assuring that guides work in terrain for which they are trained. The Review Team continues to work toward the goal of establishing a SOP that works for all AMGA members and guide services and the AMGA is committed to moving the SOP forward in a timely manner.
Part of the commitment the AMGA made was to obtain a legal review of a draft document by an attorney specializing in outdoor recreation law. The goal of the review is to minimize the potential legal liability the SOP creates for the AMGA, accredited programs, guide services, instructional organizations, guides, and instructors. AMGA contracted with Catherine Hansen-Stamp to conduct this legal review.
We recognize that the membership is eager to have the final SOP in place and the AMGA is fully committed to moving the SOP forward. We were hoping that a draft document would be available for review and comment at the October, 2015 Annual Meeting. However, the process is still in legal review. To preserve attorney-client privilege, which is important to this process, the Board of Directors will be considering some initial input from the legal review in an executive session (closed) meeting on Sunday (October 22, 2015).
The SOP is a top priority of the AMGA leadership and board.
It is also important for us to share a draft document with the membership and peer organizations for input before it is adopted. With this in mind the AMGA is working on an aggressive timeline for moving the SOP forward between now and next meeting of the Board in January.
A new sub-committee, comprised of members of the larger Review Team, has been assigned to create more efficiency and progress around the goal of finalizing the SOP. This task force will be able to dive into specific language and edits of the document. The new task force was initiated by Board member Dan Nordstrom and, like the broader Review Team, Dan will facilitate the work of this group.
AMGA remains committed to the SOP and creating a document that advances our profession. We value the opinions of our members and other stakeholders in this process. Once we have a draft for review we will solicit input on that. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about the SOP development process please feel free to contact any of us.
Rob Hess – [email protected]
Alex Kosseff – [email protected]
Dan Nordstrom – [email protected]
