Stoke & Newcastle Ramblers

Number

Item

Details/Action

1

Apologies

Attendees

Karen Mountford (KM)Susan Merry

Safraz Ali (SA), Deborah Shenton (DS), John Lane (JL), Howard Caton (HC), Stephen Merry (SM), Peter Till (PT), Maria Foy (MF), Julie Tilston (JT), John Stanford (JS), Charlie Bigley (CB), Karen Hardwick (KH), Linda Wilson (LW).

2

Minutes from last meeting

The minutes from the last meeting were accepted.

3

Matters arising from last minutes

This item from the last minutes was still outstanding.

In the July minutes Tony had confirmed the purchase of 4 First aid kits.  For completeness we need to establish who has been given a kit. We are aware that 1 kit was given to Linda Bourne. Another was given to CB who has given it to one of the regular long-distance walkers in the group. It was agreed that committee members on walks should ask participants if they had received a kit. KM should be informed of the whereabouts of the 2 missing kits for the purpose of record keeping.

4

Reports of officers

Concern was raised that there was no secretaries report on the website communicating information from central office.  JL agreed that he would discuss the issue with KM and check if she was aware of the responsibilities and ask if she needed any more support. It was acknowledged that taking on the responsibility of secretary had been particularly challenging as there was no outgoing secretary to support the new position holder. KH suggested that the secretary might receive help from being buddied with another secretary from a local committee.

5

Collection of tools from Alan Bell.

As Alan Bell and Karen Mountford were not able to attend the meeting it was not clear what progress had been made on moving equipment.  It was agreed to keep the item in the minutes until the next meeting.

Following his announcement at the AGM when Alan Bell (AB) said he was stopping footpath work he wanted to get a decision about where the equipment he was storing would go to.  One suggestion was to give the equipment to the footpath teams run by Stone and Biddulph.  However, LW said that she and Linda Bourne (LB) were keen to keep the footpath team previously headed by Tony Adair (TA) going. Howard Caton (HC) also confirmed that he would continue with the footpath group.   It was agreed that a total inventory of tools from AB and TA would be given to KM.  In addition, the remaining members of the footpath group would consider where any equipment might be stored and how it would be transported to work sites. KM would then agree with the committee how the tools should be distributed.  AB was anxious to move the equipment on.  It was agreed that the committee did not need to wait until the next meeting in April in order to make a decision on this issue. It was also flagged that some of the equipment had come from the council so any decisions would need to take this into account.

6

2026 weekend away

CB confirmed that an E mail had been sent out to the group asking for a preferred weekend.  Following replies 26th September was the clear choice. Ilkley was the preferred location. CB said that an e mail would now be sent to the group confirming the date and location and asking the group for volunteer walk leaders. The ideal would be for a range of walks to be available on each day but that would depend on the number of volunteers.

LW and MF confirmed that they would organise the Saturday night meal. The e mail about the weekend should include a request for interest in joining the meal so as to confirm numbers.

7

Congratulations to walk leaders.

Review of walks program.

JL took the opportunity to thank new leaders who had recently come forward to lead walks.  In addition, thanks were extended to existing leaders who had completed their training.

From discussion it became apparent that there were very few walks being put forward for the Wednesday walk program.  After consideration it was agreed that we would stop advertising this as one of our regular walks.  SM would lead the last walk that was loaded on the program.  KH would contact Sandra Fogden who had been coordinating the walks to advise of the committee decision.

8

Group AGM update

Sunday 18th October – Suggest Scholar green hall – Peter Till to contact venue - CB will put a walk on at Scholar Green.

9

Xmas meal update and social activities

LW and MF had contacted the Red Bull PH at Church Lawton.  They have put in a provisional booking for 6th December.  Stephen Merry can lead a walk.  Number limit is 32.  More details can be communicated with information about the AGM.  SM said he would put the event on forthcoming events.

Boxing Day plus 2 will be 28th December – people wanted a change from the Auctioneers.  Linda and Maria will look at venues in time for the next meeting in July.

Quiz coming up next Wednesday – 14 people are attending.

LW and MF are considering other things like more bowling.  PT said that the 10 pin bowling was very good. Any suggestions welcome

10

AOB

MF asked if there had been any feedback following the distribution of posters that she had printed.  There wasn’t any feedback from the committee.  It would be good to know if any new joiners came from seeing the posters.  Committee members were encouraged to ask for feedback on walks.

It was agreed that committee reports should be on the system a week before each meeting.

11

Date of next meeting

JL said he would liaise with KM to find a date as he believes she struggles with Thursdays which are the usual day in the week.  The preferred week was w/c 6th July.

Meeting closed 8.25.