MINUTES OF RED ROPE NATIONAL COMMITTEE. 4th March 2006

 

Present: Anna Buehring (Chaired), Janet Saunders, Pat Durrant (Joint Secs), Gill Cox, Nikki Finch, Gill Platt, Jenny Patient, Arthur Howarth, Dave Jeffries, Gerry Matthews. Plus Sunil Nandi, Bethan Elsdale, Ralph Birkenhead, Jo Mills.

 

Apologies: Humphrey Southall, Jan Lancaster, Charlie Fisher, John Dervan, Uta Praekelt, Ian Muir, Andy Bateman, Mark Wallis.

 

Minutes of Meeting on 26.11.05 :

 

Page 2 – Overnight charges: this was amended to read that all regions can have one ‘experimental’ 2-star trip (not just London) i.e. using higher proportional overnight rates to cope with more expensive accommodation if necessary (for example, 2 nights in a Youth Hostel charged as if 3 nights).

 

Matters Arising:

 

  1. From National Treasurer’s report: The change in membership charges has now been put into operation,
  2. Sending the MIS electronically: Dave J. has now updated the database to enable this to happen. He requested a manager for the non-IT aspects of distributing the MIS and Janet offered to liaise with Gill on this and check with members whether they will accept the MIS in this form.

Action: Janet & Gill P.

  1. Articles by Jenny P. (on finances) and Andrew W. (a personal account) of the alpine trip will be in the next Bulletin.
  2. The new mileage charges for national trips are now online. Regions can vary this and set their own.
  3. Experimental 2-star trips being organised by London and Coventry.
  4. The Child Care Review will report at the July meeting.
  5. The archivist (Andy B) has liaised with the researcher in Aberdeen.

 

Reports from Officers:

 

Bulletin Editor (Anna B.):

Anna has not yet fully analysed the data back from the questionnaire but so far can report that affordability is not a problem. There has been a 20% return of forms and she will write it up for the Bulletin.

Further items are requested for the next edition with a deadline of END MARCH. It will be out by beginning of May.

Action: Anna B. plus membership

 

Treasurer (Jenny P.):

She did not receive the BMC re-affiliation request. Nikki has now passed this to her.

 

Publicity (Jan L.):

Jan confirmed that she had renewed adverts on Morning Star website and other publications about to come out in the Spring. Asked about further spending. Agreed except £100 for TSSA Journal (too expensive). Agreed for ad in WOOF journal.

She also is exploring car stickers and rucksack badges but NC felt it needed more detail here. Car stickers felt to be more effective.

 

IT Officer (Dave J.):

He requested that members let him know if they have problems with e-mails and he will write an article for the Bulletin to give some general advice.

He will take ‘attachments’ off the national RR group to avoid problems with viruses.

 

Secretary (Janet S.):

We need a rep to attend the Ramblers’ Conference on 21.04.06. Nikki volunteered if no one else willing, but it was felt to be too expensive anyway.

Janet has contacted Woodcraft Folk to set up joint communication.

RR will pay for Nikki to attend BMC conference as our rep.

 

New Membership Contact (Uta Praekelt):

Uta has had no new membership enquiries. However, it was felt that most new members are recruited and dealt with locally and the Membership Secretary reported new members joining.

 

Membership Secretary (Gill P.):

Membership fairly stable at 370.

All Chester members have now transferred over to Merseyside as their Secretary has now resigned. Their monies will also be transferred over to Merseyside.

(N.B. Chester has now asked us to delay this as new members have come forward and are offering to run the Regional group. – JP)

Gill requested a stable address from which to forward her postal mail as she is probably in a changeable living situation at present. Nikki offered her address.

(N.B. Since Gill may well move to Sheffield, Pat D. as one of the Joint Secs living there has offered to be Gill’s postal address and this has been accepted.- P.D.)

 

National Trips Organiser (Arthur H.):

Looked at 3 national trips – all made a loss mostly due to unfilled places. He will look into this in more detail.

 

The letter from Colin Knowles was discussed and it was agreed that Bristol should have been kept informed of our debate about their Motion at the last NC meeting.

Janet has now written a letter to him to rectify this. The NC felt it still needed some data about trip losses – are Bristol more vulnerable to unfilled places? Are the huts accessible to them more expensive?

 

We will discuss this at July NC meeting and also the issue about the 1:4 ratio (Gill C. and Charlie Fisher will draft a motion).The aim is to avoid further downward drift in the ratios between highest and lowest bands. A ratio could be fixed in the Constitution.

 

The current transport charges of 6p per person per car were felt to be appropriate and the capping at 3 people (18p per car) suggested by Leics. was NOT passed (the vote was unanimous except for the Leics. Rep and Nikki).

However, it was noted that Regional trips have discretion over their own transport costs, so may operate the cap of 18p if they wish.

The Trip Organiser’s Pack will be updated by Arthur and sent round for feedback by the NC before being circulated to the membership. He also felt there should be a shortened more manageable version and will look into this.

Action: Arthur

 

Alpine Trip 2006:

Authur H. asked if the NC would agree to fund the accommodation-only part of an alpine trip (transport would be independently arranged). However, it was agreed this would be against RR consitution.

 

AOB:

  1. RR banner: Gerry M. reported that Joanna Weller in London had offered to help Sheffield to make a banner. However, it was felt this should be done professionally and Gerry will look into this (or trace the original volunteers). The money will come from the Action Fund (agreed limit of £300).

Action: Gerry M.

  1. RR AGM 2006: Bristol have been unable to organise this after all so we will revert back to the Edale venue. Gill C. will explore child-care support and it was agreed there would be no discount for 2 nights this year. Janet agreed to confirm the booking.

Action: Gill C., Janet S.

  1. Need to clarify the venue for the next NC meeting – a weekend possibly in Northumberland? Need to check with Charlie to see if this has been arranged.

Action: Pat D.

 

(N.B. The next meeting will in the Pen Ceunant Uchaf hut in Llanberis. Please send booking forms to me asap. P.D.)

 

Meeting ended: 4.30