Annual General Meeting - 14 November 2024

(Chair’s presentation sent by chair)

10 members attended.

Apologies

  • Rosanna Rapacchietta
  • Gary Olds
  • Andrew Cowell (attended via phone)
  • Katie Szkornik

Matters Arising

Member 1 – Group needs to change. There is a lack of vision and if something isn’t done there won’t be a group. Need to start with walks and re-establishing a regular walks programme.

Member 2 - Group needs to change. At present a lack of enthusiasm and leadership, which is resulting in apathy among members and members looking for other walking opportunities. Needs a change in leadership.

Member 3 – Group needs to engage people.

Member 4 – Group shadow of what it was before.

Member 5 (sent comments via email) - Things not working well as they are and group is at risk of ceasing to exist. Change needed.

Membership

Membership down to 137.

Name has been changed, due to people feeling ‘young’ means the group is not for them.

Need to engage people on different social media sites (and via email for those who do not use social media). Also, need to manage:

  • People posting irrelevant non-group events and activities.
  • Spam and bot accounts on social media site.

Committee will need to decide how to manage these issues.

Walks

Message from Gary Olds thanking all members who had led walks over the last year.

Attendees thanked Gary Olds for all the work he has done on maintaining the walks programme. Essential to keeping the group going.

Member 6 – has seen walks programme for the next three months. Positive that a significant number of walks have leaders. Thank you to Andrew Cowell for pursuing this on walks and through contacts.

Member 6 also suggested not walking when wet. General agreement that leader should be able to decide whether to cancel. There are members who enjoy walking in rain and snow.

Member 7 suggested ways to increase walk leaders:

  • Shadowing walk leader opportunities
  • Navigation course
  • Special interest walks – member at AGM offered a Peaks and Photography walk.

Agreement among attendees that need to reboot walks and build a community before can consider weekends.

Positions

Two members standing for Chair:

  1. Rosanna Rapacchietta
  2. Andrew Cowell (spoke on phone about wanting to stand for chair) – seconded by Rachael Drewery

Given concerns about the future of the group, general consensus from attendees that should be put to a vote – rather than continuing as we are.

Vote 1 – Should we vote for a Chair (as this does not follow the constitution)?

  • Yes – 10
  • No – 0

Vote 2 – Chair

  • Andrew Cowell – 9 votes
  • Abstain – 1

Andrew Cowell voted by AGM members to be Chair.

Committee 2024 -25

  • Chair – Andrew Cowell
  • Treasurer – Stuart Broadhurst
  • Secretary – vacant
  • Web editor – Alistair Green
  • Walks - Gary Olds – Gary Davies willing to support
  • Weekends – vacant
  • Membership Secretary - vacant
  • New membership Engagement Officer - vacant
  • Communications Officer - vacant
  • Socials – Joanne Morris
  • General Member – Rob Stevens
  • Jay Power – will continue to advertise walks on Meet-up
  • Rachael Drewery – will continue as a Facebook admin

Thank you to outgoing committee members, especially Rosanna for all their work over the last year.