Carlisle and District Rambling Club Annual General Meeting

Friday 31 January 2025

Minutes of the Meeting

38 club members attended

Apologies received from Cath and Tony Fenton; Roger Tringham; Malcolm Iredale; Val Underwood Christine Woods

A minute’s silence was observed for club member Audrey Kavanagh who passed away

Minutes of 2024 AGM

Minutes were approved by general consensus without a formal vote being carried out.

Chairman’s Welcome:

Pete Rutland (Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting. He began his address with a request to club members for volunteers to help manage the website. He also asked for volunteers to join the committee.

He thanked everyone who had supported the club in the past year including everyone who had led walks. He thanked Club President, Geoff Entwistle and long-time club member Peter Flynn for maintaining the Tuesday walking group. He also thanked club members who have supported the social evenings including Judith Mingins and Carol Telford who had both helped make the 2024 Christmas party a big success.

He thanked the current committee for their time and dedication and also reflected on the work of past committees that had ensured the club had made sure the club remained in a healthy position financially.

As Safety Officer for the club he reflected on a year with no serious accidents or incidents whilst the local mountain rescue teams had a record number of call outs and, unfortunately, death on the fells. He reminded everyone of the need for correct clothing and equipment.

Reports from the Committee Officers:

Treasurer

Christine Milton presented the club accounts

She mentioned the voluntary donation of £50 by an anonymous club member and reminded members that anyone booking a holiday with the Ramblers should mention that they are club members.

Overall the club made a small loss though this was largely down to the purchase of a new laptop which is effectively a long-term investment. The coach walks had lost a small amount of money but not as much as in the previous year. The increased costs of coach hire made break even difficult.

It was also noted that the total amount donated by club members to various charities including the club calendar, Christmas cake raffle and High Rigg tea walk, amounted to more than £1000.

Overall the club’s finances remain sound with a healthy reserve.

Christine thanked Roger Tringham for examining the accounts.

There was a question from the floor re a Local Authority Grant that the club used to receive.

The chair replied this has ceased a number of years ago when the LA withdrew the grant although the committee at the time had already made the decision not to seek further funding.

The accounts were accepted.

Membership Secretary

Stephen Parker reported to the meeting that membership numbers remained fairly stable at 155.

He reminded everyone that the deadline for renewal was March 31st and that if paying by BACS they should also let him know by email when they had paid. Bacs payment was also cheaper for the club than cheques or cash but this could be passed on to committee members if folk preferred

Walk Secretary.

Ian Rowley thanked all the walk leaders who had volunteered walks. The club has continued to put on a minimum of two walks most weeks of the year which is all down to the walk leaders. As always, he encouraged others to come forward. There was a shortage of lower level walks car walks on the programme so more B walks would be appreciated. He thanked Sharron Murray and Judy Cherrie for continuing the Tuesday group and also the walk leaders who had kept the coach C walks going. It had been decided not to continue with the walk planning evenings but updates would be posted on the website and reminders sent to the regular walk leaders. He also fedback that he had accumulated an archive of walk leaflets and suggestions which could be used by anyone in the club wanting to put on a walk for the programme

Webmaster Report

Stephen Parker has now taken over managing the website but it would be helpful if at least one more club member would step forward. Sharron Murray volunteered to help out. Paul Clarke and Astrid Carss also volunteered.

Donations and Subscriptions

The committee had discussed in some detail the current membership fees and the conclusion was that whilst the fees were on the low side there was no immediate need to increase them.

It was agreed to keep membership fees at the same level.

It was agreed we continue to make donations to the Air Ambulance, Mountain Rescue and Fix the Fells. Each organization would receive £150.

Award of Life membership

Pete made the awards to Peter Flynn, Madge Hamilton and Margaret Bell

All three long term members and supporters of the club who had been regular walk leaders as well as supporting the clubs social programme and the work of the committee

Appointment of Club President

Pete thanked Geoff Entwistle for his support over the past three years and welcomed Judith Mingins to the position of Club President,

Judith also thanked Geoff and accepted the appointment

Election for positions on the committee

The current Committee and club officers have all agreed to stand again, Judith Mingins also offered to join the committee.

It was noted that there was still a vacancy for a Social Secretary

Any Other Business

Sharron Murray asked if it might be possible to offer Coach walk leaders a free place on the coach.

She felt there was a cost to walk leaders in recceing walks and this might also encourage more leaders to come forward.

The suggestion was discussed and the other committee members did not feel they could support the suggestion. The coach finances were on a delicate balance and any reduction in income would add further pressure to the club finances. The members attending were asked but there was not enough support for the idea.

Astrid Carrs asked if the walks programme could have earlier start times especially in the summer when parking was more of a problem. It wasn’t felt that this would be popular with club members for the majority of walks but if leaders wanted to put on a longer walk or if they felt an earlier start would be helpful this was an option as long as the walks secretary and webmaster were informed.

Moira Merrick asked if the club membership card still attracted a discount at outdoor shops. Pete replied that it was up to individual retailers. The club no longer has any formal agreements. Some members said they had presented their card at Cotswold’s and received a discount.

Pete Rutland thanked everyone for attending

Meeting Closed

AGM Minutes

Carlisle Ramblers & Fellwalkers

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