The Ramblers - Derbyshire Dales Group

AREA SECRETARY’S REPORT

During year 10/08 to 9/09 we held three Area Council meetings. In addition we had an informal meeting to consider General Council (GC) motions and an "Area Executive" (Area officers, Group Chairs, GC delegates) meeting to consider Ramblers' problems at national level. Following this latter meeting I wrote on behalf of our Area Council to the Chair of the Ramblers and received a detailed reply.

Our Area AGM was in 1/09 in West Hallam, preceded by a pleasant walk in the surrounding area and concluding with an interesting talk by Sarah Clements from Ramblers Central Office on the Ramblers' "Fresh Air - Firm Ground" initiative and on re-branding of the Ramblers - we were sorry to hear subsequently that Sarah left the Ramblers and the work of her Volunteer Development team was in abeyance.  We welcomed as new Area Access Officer Sue Weatherley who has also been appointed to the Peak District Local Access Forum.  We were sorry to lose Carol Shiers as Acting Countryside Secretary and that post has remained vacant.

Apart from the AGM, our other significant Area event was the Area-Get-Together in 10/08 which was at Kniveton and was, as ever, well organised by Arthur and Joy Osborne. 

Three members attended RA's 2009 General Council in Newport, Shropshire and a motion proposed by our Area (concerned with problems with the Ramblers' membership database) was carried unanimously.

Whilst Ramblers' problems at national level have been something of a preoccupation at Area Council over the last few months, what members expect from the Ramblers is still happening, including:

 - Groups’ programmes of led walks continue and generally attract healthy numbers;

 - Groups are introducing shorter walks into their programmes in order to cater for those new to countryside walking and those who can no longer manage longer walks;

 - Area and Group Footpath Secretaries continue with their invaluable work in tackling footpath problems;

 - Area officers monitor County and City Council and National Park Authority activities on rights of way matters; etc.

Martin Pape

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