Decided to take the steps to create a climbing club here in Roseburg, Or. Really just kind of winging it, but could use some advice on doing this. Any ideas?

Club library

Free beer night will pack 'em in...just sayin...

Reserve group camp sites near the crags. Get donations to cover the cost.

Thank you all for replying, there are some useful ideas here for sure. I have had experience with the Obsidians out of Eugene, and have been receiving advice from one of their members today as well, so I think I am beginning to realize I really will need the help of someone more organizationally inclined. We already started a Facebook page for this club, and I will definitely look into building a website soon.

www.meetup.com
Easy way to start one.

In my experience, what keeps a climbing club a club is the non-climbing social events. People will tend to climb with a small group of people (since, as squishy pointed out, organizing a climbing trip with a large group of people is hard), but everyone's up for an occasional party.

Not real sure about OR, but here in CA you incur outrageous liability if you induce people into injurious events. You'd have to use a valid disclaimer for each and everyone to read and agree to, to be safe have it drafted by a legal professional. If it fails, then, you have a source for blame, and pass the bill to them (another court case--$$$$$).

I'm open to capable people to come along with me on my usual activities, but I do give fair warning, as major rec groups. Amazing how little it can take for experienced hikers to suffer injury, and then the SAR ops or what, and then who the attorneys will come after.

Better is to secure a good climbing buddy to stick by you thick or thin, and should the worst happen, maybe they won't blame you and a six pack a week to the poor guy forever then in a wheelchair, along with welfare, will keep them happy enough.

Or just climb solo like so many in Yosemite, unless you fall on a tourist, no one will sue you for damages.

The Obsidians, before each and every trip, whether a hike or a climb, make you sign a waiver stating of course that you understand the risks. I do have good, reliable partners to climb with, but it would also be nice to teach what I know, open doors for others and share the costs of course. I guess I am wanting to start this club because this town lacks one, and I know alot of people have expressed interest to become involved in such a venture.

Have you tried Mazamas or Seattle Mountaineers? Or maybe speaking with some OR Sierra Club at least for a plain hike? You might then get a contact, finding a good hiker/climber to team up, and climb together for years. Even though the MLC SC (local SC) banned us, I met a few people who I teamed up with later and we did some class 3 (the most they can do), and then many peaks including some class 4 with similarly dissatisfied climbers.

If no good for climbing partners here, by luck you might run into some one interested in getting started on peaks, however non technical. They might even let you schedule some aggressive hikes, if nothing climbing wise, and your name might get around. Now though it may be more hassle than it's worth, depending on you. The Angeles Chapter still does some climbing, although mostly weak stuff, laughable for most. When they "got rid" of the climbing many people formed their own club. Although I wouldn't trust just anyone, they have leaders who climb the wrong peak!

I like this one...

Being that I no longer do any serious class 5, it's worked out fine for me over my earlier years. No lawsuits or unhappy climbers--we got to the tops. And all back, safely and successfully.

While it seems many here do extreme climbing, by them, you can do that only as long as you work out and keep doing climbing. I only lasted for about 2-3 years, but it stayed with me for a lifetime, as long as that will be further. I am good enough to be still able to pass it all on, although you have to watch for liability hounds. It seems here that you can easily present yourself as an experienced climber, but as recently I see very few climbing in Yosemite or at the Leap, both climbing areas locally, I wonder how so many posters here can claim to any of this. I've made generous offers to meet up, you can spend 4-5 days at Red Rock or JT carpooling with me, but no one at all. Why that is, we never had this problem in the MLC SC back when, dozens of climbers couldn't hardly wait to go climbing with me or us.

Be it that many here take this all as a joke, so be advised. I led for a long time what they all cast as impossible or too dangerous, but then that was the 1980's MLC SC.