DERBYSHIRE AREA SECRETARY'S REPORT

I have taken over from John Hayes as RA Derbyshire Area Secretary. My thanks also to John for his years of service in that post. You may not have met me so please allow me a brief introduction:

I live in Cromford and am a member of Derbyshire Dales RA Group. I attended meetings of the Group's Footpath Sub-committee and its Taskforce working parties (which sadly are in abeyance). I undertake ROW surveys for the County Council in May and November - these are carried out by RA volunteers and in Derbyshire Dales our efforts are coordinated by Geof Cole. Outside of RA I walk regularly with Bakewell U3A and am coordinator for their Friday walks. I also go on weekly bike rides with a small group based around Matlock - we ride mostly on quiet lanes and trails and are always courteous to walkers, even those who scowl at us. I work as a volunteer ranger for one day a week with the Countryside Service. And of course I am a member of the Derby and Derbyshire LAF - one of two members representing the interests of walkers - and in that capacity I have been attending RA Area Meetings.

As an RA member who is also a member of a LAF, I receive copious amounts of useful briefing material from RA HQ. For those RA members who support the RA primarily because of its campaigning activities, please be assured that your subscriptions are enabling RA to remain an authoritative and effective force at national level and to provide valuable support to RA volunteers at local level.

RA is hugely dependent on the many volunteers who take Area and Group posts and who organise the impressive programmes of walks, work parties and social activities. As with many (all?) organisations, one of the issues that has always to be tackled is filling the posts with people with an appropriate balance of knowledge and experience, and new ideas and approaches - use of the internet and emails is having a great effect on efficiency and effectiveness in many of the
RA's activities.

I also see the need further to clarify and improve the relationship between RA Area and the Groups, particularly with regard to who does what on rights of way and countryside matters - largely down to communication. We also need to develop relationships with adjoining RA Areas, particularly those covering the National Park.

Apologies for dwelling on internal matters. I am well aware that RA is primarily about campaigning, monitoring rights of way, and organising walks and events, supported by recruitment, finance, and newsletters and websites. Please inform your Group Footpath Secretaries about any footpath problems that you come across. In particular, information on any problems caused by off-roading motor vehicles on rights of way is needed. Articles and letters for newsletters would be welcomed. Your support as RA members is greatly appreciated.

Martin Pape