Geoff Boyling, Dave Brown, Arthur Howarth, Titch Kavanagh, Dave Jefferies, Adrian O’Connor, Janet Saunders, Jerzy Wieczorek, Coventry Treasurer

Angela Benham, Andy Bullivant, Gill Cox, Charlie Fisher, Jan Lancaster, Gill Platt, John Shears, Humphrey Southall

Accepted as read.

All best wishes extended to Adrian and family.

Contact Dave Jefferies re: problem some individuals e.g. Jan not receiving committee e-mails. Could Dave check committee e-mail group corresponds to current committee members.

Reminder – Neil Roberts had resigned Jan. 2004 so National Secretaries Acting Treasurers.

£16,000 approx in Admin account.

Healthy Trip account – approx £1,000 paid out in deposits e.g. New Year Trip £840.

Regions – Bristol approx £500

Chester £100

Edinburgh £500+

Leicester £350

Manchester £400

Sheffield £700

As London runs few/no trips have very little money.

Re-distribution of monies for struggling regions raised.

IF ANY REGION HAVING DIFFICULTIES RUNNING TRIPS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS IT SHOULD CONTACT NATIONAL TRIP TREASURER

Stable finances at present.

Confusion over banding this year because of change to bands.

Need to ensure the new excellent form with new charges is disseminated.

Charlie used it in Scotland and it was well received.

It will take time to establish itself. Good coverage and advertising of the changes in the bulletin will help.

Need to ensure website shows charges correctly.

An electronic version would insert charge once band typed in.

Discussion followed re: the new travel charges. Needs time for people to become familiar with the new system. before can tell how well it is working.

JAN WILL SEND OUT PAPER COPY TO REGIONAL REPS.

Dave Brown’s article ‘Budgetting for Red Rope Trips’ discussed:

Decision made to amend Trip Treasurer’s form so it reads surplus/deficit rather than profit/loss.

CHARLIE WILL AMEND THIS.

Biggest source of cost variation on trips connected to expenditure on e.g. food rather than anything else in Humphrey’s view. Average nightly income £9 last year, £7.50 this year.

Difference between trips not great but accommodation costs are increasing.

New transport system more controlled and budgetable.

Too early for feedback on response to leaflets inserted in High.

Gill reported rise in membership - about 30 new members since last bulletin.

Discussion followed re: the use of paper leaflets and the Internet/website for publicity.

Important the website has all the information – up-to-date – so people can join RR.

The Internet is very useful but concern expressed that it should not be regarded as the only way to recruit and contact members.

JAN – WILL LOOK INTO COSTS OF GENERIC P.O.BOX/PHONE – not dependent on officer

ADVERTS IN WALKING MAGS

WILL CONTACT TITCH/DAVE BARNES

4 trips booked as in last 2 years.

Recently adopted New Year Trip organised by Rob Steel.

Although all trips concentrated in first half of year the AGM in fact is like a National Trip.

Leicester members had suggested a National Climbing trip to the Roaches – but can’t camp at Whillans Hut.

Trip treasurer said it would help if he was notified about the climbing trip in Anglesey.

Reservations about a proposed trip to Sligachan campsite as felt not best placed for rock-climbing although Am Bastir and Sgurr Nan Gillean nearby. Janet Saunders had also expressed some reservations about the campsite.

At 2 camping barns in very scenic spot in Teesdale adopted as National Trip.

Rob Steel is organiser – a second organiser could be helpful.

HUMPHREY WILL CONTACT ROB

Review at AGM as concern to avoid big deficit on trip.

Advertising required – MIS and at AGM

There was discussion concerning how the Mcof S could be provided with monthly up-dates on RR Scottish members leaving and joining for affiliation purposes.

GILL SAID SHE COULD EXTRACT INFORMATION AND WOULD CONTACT THE Mcof S. WOULD GET CONTACT INFO. FROM ADRIAN.

A possible property in the Carneddau, N. Wales found unsuitable due to access problems.

John said there were small hostels (mostly in Wales) due to be sold off by the YHA to be franchised out.

GILL WOULD SEND LIST.

Accommodation – Angela asked to book Fieldhead Campsite even though it is more expensive than Cooper’s because it is nearer the village hall – provided it is possible to take tents down later in the day.

NC’s view a deficit acceptable as AGM such an important part of the Club’s life.

Childcare – JAN TO MAKE ENQUIRIES IN MANCHESTER RE: PROFESSIONALS

£100 Budget

GILL COX – WILL ORGANISE CHILDCARE OUTSIDE AGM

Marquee – To be erected. It’s at Pat Durrant’s house.

NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PUT UP MARQUEE.

TWO NIGHTS FOR PRICE OF ONE if deposit and booking form received before midnight 31st August.

Send to Angela Benham 2 Bodnant Avenue, Leicester LE5 5RA

Laurence De Leidi, Mae Wei, Jo Mills have offered to help with catering.

A simple meal would be fine but as caterers wish.

Free weekend for caterers.

Jan Lancaster. Adrian to purchase alcohol in Leicester?

Suggested motion to do with removing figures from the National Constitution was discussed.

CHARLIE & ANDY WOULD LOOK AT WORDING TO CHECK HOW SIMPLE THIS CHANGE IS TO EFFECT.

If found to be more complicated than first envisaged best left until next year and there be no proposals to alter anything this year.

No definition of ‘active’ meant second motion re: setting aside places on trips for ‘active’ members was left until further explanation was made available.

Some Committee members are happy to continue in post. Many thanks to them but there will be a large number of vacant posts on the National Committee at the AGM.

NATIONAL SECRETARY - Adrian and Angela will stand down as from the September AGM – having completed their 3 years in post.

NATIONAL TREASURER (Admin) – Adrian and Angela will stand down as acting Treasurer from the September AGM.

BULLETIN EDITOR – Sally resigned in the spring. As with two posts above, this is a key role in the club and the bulletin editor needs to attend National Committee meetings.

CONTACT/INFORMATION SECRETARY – At the last AGM Titch said he would stand down in September 2004.

MOUNTAINEERING COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND – A member from Scotland is needed.

ARCHIVIST Vacant since last AGM.

HUT OFFICER – Adrian and Angela will stand down at September AGM.

Jan Lancaster keen to contribute more to the club. There was some discussion about whether the post of Contact secretary and Publicity Officer should be merged. It was decided this should not happen but that there was not a problem with one person holding both posts.

There was a long discussion about the need for additional support in dealing with the demands of the website etc.

Felt Red Rope needs a) Webmaster

b) Internet person

Suggestion – Group meets in Sheffield in September with Dave to discuss way forward with IT development services.

Jan, Charlie – happy to be involved.

Andy to contact Mark Wallace and Jenny Patient.

Appearing regularly.

Question raised whether the diary could be sent to all RR members with e-mail.

Needs investigation.

Committee hoped Barrie’s health was on the mend and Angela would ask after him.

Organiser required for the National Trip to:

the Ling Hut, Torridon May 2005

Suggested for continuity it would be good to ask one of chairpersons of 2003 AGM to chair again and have a second, new non-NC chairperson.

Need to communicate to membership that NC meetings are fun and encourage members to get involved in efficient running of the club.

Suggestion made that the times of meeting could be changed.

A short discussion followed re: the use of the word ‘Training’ out of concern that this could involve liability issues.

The BMC could be approached for a definitive view. However a motion was proposed.

It is proposed on behalf of the NC that the National Committee Post entitled Training Officer be changed to Skill-Sharing Co-ordinator.

NEXT MEETING - AGM at Edale Village Hall – Saturday September 25 2004