If you get this blitz, it means you have been successfully added to the climbing gym listserv (I'd say tell me if you didn't get this, but yea there's a problem with that).

A bunch of us sat down and chatted about how we think setting should look this winter in the gym. First, a proposed schedule for the winter:

0 During Winterim, pretty much anything is fair game. Just no total reset.

1 When we return from winterim, there will be a setter training during the first week. This will be run by Nietzel. Included on the agenda will be:

- How to set an effective problem

- Proper setting aesthetics

- Anything else he thinks is important?

At this time, we'll also remove every strip of tape from the wall (to encourage creation of new problems). We won't move too many holds - only those considered high priority, or maybe if one is in a really awful place.

2 All of us at the meeting committed to what was called a "1 for 1" rule. We agreed that, in the interest of creating an inclusive and sustainable climbing community at JBD, we would set one "easy" (v0-v2) problem for each "hard" (v3+) problem we set for the first week or two. Obviously this isn't a rule - I'm not going to kick anyone out for not doing this - but it was just a sign that we supported the growth of our community.

3 During the term not too much would happen out of the ordinary. Problem creation would be open to anyone. Holds won't move much during this period - only tweaks to help with the traverse, or maybe real problem spots.

4 Undergrad Comp is set for March 23rd. Setting done by grad students and community members would begin on Feb. 20th.

5 Inter-Collegiate Comp is set for March 2nd. (These are a week earlier than discussed in the meeting because it makes much more sense with the undergrad academic calendar. Grad students, please tell me if this really interferes with your academic schedules).

Second: The Graders won over the Rebels (we will grade routes, not tape them). Reasons include that it's understood they're an approximation anyways, if the grades are really off then we can just redo them, it allows for more diverse colors on the wall.

Third: To make the gym more beginner friendly, everyone agreed to set beginner problems (see above commitment) and also to put some more work into a fun traverse. Both modes of climbing can coexist in our gym.

I don't think I forgot anything... anyone think of anything else? Also, tomorrow, I plan on inviting the dmc to join this list (and putting a bunch of people on it anyways). After that, I'll send out this setting plan for general awareness/comment.

Great chat today group - I think by the end we were all on the same page (or at least the same chapter (har har har)).

-David