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In October 2003 the RMC board of directors voted unanimously to establish a committee to develop a draft plan that would meet all the club's housing needs. The board believes they are responding to members' desires, stated in response to a survey done in 2002, that they want the club to remain a small, volunteer-run organization, but at the same time to do what is necessary to meet the challenge of growing pressure on its camps and trails so that none are eliminated. The board recognizes that this growing pressure has required a larger and more experienced trail crew and year-around caretakers for its camps, for some time now. This has in turn led to the above-stated need for housing. The board also recognizes that all the other comparable trails clubs in the area already have their own housing facilities. The Basecamp Committee established by the board includes former President Jeffrey Tirey, RMC board members Lydia Goetze, Guy Stever and Doug Mayer, as well as John Scarinza, Gray Knob and Crag Camp builder John Tremblay, former AMC Trails Supervisor David Salisbury, and current RMC trail crew and caretakers. The Building Committee is co-chaired by Trails Chair Doug Mayer and Paul Cormier, a Randolph resident, longtime RMC member and highly experienced contractor. The Committee worked for nine months, exploring many options. Five other trail clubs-- both larger and smaller than RMC-- were consulted for their experience. Together with Randolph architect Tim Sappington, the committee developed plans that embodied the club's needs. The result was a conceptual plan for trail crew and caretaker housing, which was presented to the Board of Directors in April 2004. The board subsequently voted unanimously to authorize a Feasibility Committee to share this conceptual plan with selected, longtime RMC members and friends. This first plan, which consisted of $400,000 in construction costs and a $200,000 endowment, was deemed too costly for the club. However, the Feasibility Committee found strong support for the need, and gathered valuable suggestions, many of which were ultimately incorporated into the final plans. In August of last year, former RMC President Jeff Tirey presented the work to date, at the club's annual meeting. A positive, supportive conversation ensued, and audience members provided a number of suggestions. Over 100 RMC members present then voted unanimously to proceed with the project, and empowered the RMC board to seek out a less costly building design. Following the Annual meeting, the Building Committee was given the new assignment to "return to the drawing boards" and reduce the costs as much as possible, while still maintaining the core functions of the building, and its usefulness to the club. Over the course of the fall, winter and spring, the Building Committee met frequently to refine the design, brainstorm creative ways to save expenses, and discussed every aspect of the building in detail.
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