The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales No 1093577, Scotland No SC039799) and company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (No 4458492). Registered office: 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW
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Copyright © 2009, 2010 Severnside Ramblers Site Map | Home | Join Us | Events | Walks | Reports | Footpaths | Photos | Links | Contacts
Severnside Ramblers
Report from the Secretary & Membership Secretary
I will deal with Membership first. The Group’s membership at the end of September 2009 was 177, two more than last year. The central membership database continued to cause problems and whilst progress has been made by Ramblers’ Central Office, the membership numbers have remained ‘suspect’. During the year 39 new members joined and there were 22 resignations (including two deaths). Various members ‘dropped off’ the membership database and labels for the quarterly programme mailing because they were supposedly ‘overdue’ with payment of their membership fee; some members were transferred in / out in error. Some of the issues were resolved successfully but some remained a mystery. With the ‘overdue’ members who have disappeared from the mailing list I generally send them a programme for at least one quarter just in case there is either an error in the membership information, or the members have forgotten to renew. If I know the individuals concerned I mention to them their disappearance from the mailing list but I do not know everyone, and if they remain ‘disappeared’ for two quarters I stop sending the programme. Ramblers’ Membership Team is due to re-start following up on ‘overdue’ members so hopefully things will improve soon. I certainly hope that by the time we get to next year’s AGM all the problems will have been resolved and we will have accurate membership numbers.
Last year we introduced the option for members to receive the quarterly programme electronically. The number of members who receive the programme this way is now 36, and there are 40 others who receive the programme electronically (a mixture of members from other rambling groups and ‘ad hoc’ requests).
Jill has already mentioned Friday Ambles. On a couple of occasions a member described the Friday walks as ‘a ladies’ group’. It did seem like that at one time but that is certainly not the intention. We do now have several men who join Friday ambles on a regular basis and I would like to extend an invitation to them to contact me if they would be interested in leading the occasional Friday amble.
Jean Aellen, Secretary & Membership Secretary
I will deal with Membership first. The Group’s membership at the end of September 2009 was 177, two more than last year. The central membership database continued to cause problems and whilst progress has been made by Ramblers’ Central Office, the membership numbers have remained ‘suspect’. During the year 39 new members joined and there were 22 resignations (including two deaths). Various members ‘dropped off’ the membership database and labels for the quarterly programme mailing because they were supposedly ‘overdue’ with payment of their membership fee; some members were transferred in / out in error. Some of the issues were resolved successfully but some remained a mystery. With the ‘overdue’ members who have disappeared from the mailing list I generally send them a programme for at least one quarter just in case there is either an error in the membership information, or the members have forgotten to renew. If I know the individuals concerned I mention to them their disappearance from the mailing list but I do not know everyone, and if they remain ‘disappeared’ for two quarters I stop sending the programme. Ramblers’ Membership Team is due to re-start following up on ‘overdue’ members so hopefully things will improve soon. I certainly hope that by the time we get to next year’s AGM all the problems will have been resolved and we will have accurate membership numbers.
Last year we introduced the option for members to receive the quarterly programme electronically. The number of members who receive the programme this way is now 36, and there are 40 others who receive the programme electronically (a mixture of members from other rambling groups and ‘ad hoc’ requests).
Jill has already mentioned Friday Ambles. On a couple of occasions a member described the Friday walks as ‘a ladies’ group’. It did seem like that at one time but that is certainly not the intention. We do now have several men who join Friday ambles on a regular basis and I would like to extend an invitation to them to contact me if they would be interested in leading the occasional Friday amble.
Jean Aellen, Secretary & Membership Secretary