High Peak Ramblers ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6th November 2024 at the Navigation Inn, Buxworth, High Peak SK23 7NE
DRAFT Minutes
In attendance were 33 members including 6 committee members:
Joan Bennett, Janet Burrows, Trish Charlton, Malcolm Dawson, Jo Emsley, Bruce Fairbanks, Jenny Fairbanks, Lillian Felstead, Catherine Fox (CaF), Colin Fox (CoF), Jenny Harris, Susan Hoggart, Peter Humphreys, Sarah Humphreys, David Jones (DJ), David Knass, Frances Lawley (FL), Rob Lawley (RL), Joan Lomas, Kathy MacMillan, Ann Moore, Sylvia Morgan, Lynne O’Brien, Roger Peckham (RP), Terry Pritchard, John Redfern, Judy Rhodes, Richard Rhodes, Lesley Robertson (LR), Shaun Robinson, Chris Smith, Jane Taylor, Shirley Wallwork,
Apologies were received from Irene Daniels
1. Meeting commenced at 2pm following a short walk and lunch.
1.0 Minutes of last year’s AGM and Matters Arising
Richard Rhodes proposed approval of the previous minutes and seconded by David Knass.
2.0 Officer’s reports
2.1 Chair’s report (Cath Fox)
Everyone was warmly welcomed to the meeting and thanked for attending and for their support over the past year.
Another year of a varied programme of walks has been enjoyed and our thanks go to all who have led walks over the year.
The committee was thanked for all their work to keep the group running so well:
Thanks to Lesley her work as secretary. The website is not easy to maintain but she keeps the walk programme up to date and deals with any information required by Headquarters. Thanks also for organising the Sunday walks, which has not been easy due to lack of leaders, and for organising a walk in memory of Allan and Eileen Minchin in May.
Thanks to go to Colin for keeping the books in order and helping to organise the Wednesday walk programme.
Thanks to Rob for organising another two great breaks away to Arnside in May and Patterdale in October.
To Roger for his continued support and for leading walks and the walk in the morning.
And last but not least to David (DJ), for all his hard work and contribution to the club over many years. David has decided to stand down from the committee so on behalf of everyone a big thank you from us all.
Fresh ideas and suggestions are always welcome and we would welcome new members to the committee.
2.2 Secretary’s report (Lesley Robertson)
Our membership has reduced again slightly from last year. As at 31 October it was 198 and includes 10 or so new members this year. This trend is similar to other groups as we all face competition from other local organisations such as U3A, Chapel and Marple Ramblers.
The High Peak website is funded by Ramblers GB and hosted by ramblers- webs. It is the main source of information about our activities and is run by volunteers although we do not have a webmaster as such.
We have email contact with over 85% of the membership but we’d like to have more email addresses. We’re not able to routinely email information to members, other than for significant events, due to a small number of active volunteers.
Many thanks again to Frances Lawley who set up our Facebook page last year.
Representatives of our group attend the quarterly Manchester Area Executive Committee meetings, either in person or online. The Area AGM will be on 30 November 2024.
2.3 Treasurer’s report (Colin Fox)
The group remains solvent, the No1 account expenditure was less than income the account standing at £2,598.26.
The No2 account, the Group's money, is for the holidays etc. Although we had a turnover of over £11,000.00 the holiday accounts balance. The closing balance is £544.44.
The income RWH is from Ramblers World Wide travel, we get commission for members who book holidays with Ramblers Holidays.
The Annual returns were sent to Area in October and the Accounts have been independently examined by our Auditor Alan Whitehead to whom we send our thanks.
The balance sheet was presented to the meeting for both accounts. The proposal to accept the accounts was proposed by Joan Lomas and seconded by Frances Lawley.
A query arose concerning the amount Ramblers reward the group for each holiday booked by a Ramblers holiday. Colin undertook to look into it.
2.4 Rambles Officers reports (Cath and Lesley)
All our walks are published online using the Ramblers ’Walks Manager’ to manage and publicise walks. Walk Leaders can now upload their own walks in draft. All volunteers including walk leaders are recorded with the Ramblers for insurance purposes.
We no longer publish a quarterly programme in advance due to insufficient walk leaders. We’d be very pleased to hear from anyone willing to lead a walk next year.
We usually offer walks of 9 – 12 miles on Sundays, occasional Saturday walks and shorter walks on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month.
Wednesday walks have been very well supported with up to 18 -20 people. Unfortunately, we have not had so many Sunday walks in recent months.
We still use a booking system and some car sharing. We also have WhatsApp groups for both Wednesday & Sunday walkers
Many thanks to all the members who have led walks over the past year and to those who have supported us.
2.5 Social Secretary (Rob Lawley)
This year we have enjoyed two trips; in May to Arnside and in early October to Patterdale. We had good numbers on both trips.
Next year we have 2 trips planned:
1) Cober Hill, North Yorkshire. 27 - 30 May 2025. It's about 5 miles north of Scarborough, on the coast and just within the North Yorks National Park. There were about 25 hands in favour.
2) Mulberry Inn, nr Llangollen. 29 Oct - 1 Nov 25 or 4 Nov - 7 Nov. There about 15 hands in favour.
We will write to all members in the next few weeks with details and asking for commitments plus a deposit.
2.6 Area EC Rep None
2.6 Election of new committee
Three members: Sylvia Morgan, Sarah Humphreys and Jenny Harris, expressed an interest in joining the committee and are to be invited to a committee meeting to see what’s involved.
Cath Fox to remain as chair for another year
Lesley R obertson to remain as Secretary
Colin Fox to remain as Treasurer
Cath Fox to remain as Rambles Officer
Rob Lawley to remain as Social Secretary
Roger Peckham to remain on the committee
No Footpath Officer
David Jones to step down from the committee
4.0 Any Other Business
David Jones was again thanked for his hard work and contribution as committee member and Chair of the group for many years.