Lincolnshire LDWA AGM Minutes held on Sunday 1st May 2022 at Hagworthingham Church Community Hall starting at 12.30pm

Present:, David Oxley, Adrian Brown, Lorna Gregory, Kevin Roach, John Bates, Tony Bark, John Scaife, Grahame Fry, Alan Johnson.

• Apologies for absence: Terry Baines, Nigel Bowler, Karen Shaw, Natalie Eastland Stout.

• As a result of Covid 19 pandemic no AGM meetings were held for 2020 and 2021. Current meeting therefore being the first AGM since 2019. 

• Minutes of the meeting of 28th April 2019 were circulated and accepted. Proposed Grahame Fry, Seconded  Tony Bark

• There were no matters arising

Reports

Secretary: Report having been prepared by Nigel was read by Dave. 

The Group has 175 primary members (live in Lincolnshire or covered by certain Peterborough postcodes) with 187 associate members (request to receive information relating to Lincolnshire group)

Lincolnshire LDWA facebook group has 97 members

It was noted that some members join LDWA to take part in challenge events, access online information or just to support the organisation but do not want to participate in group walks. 

It was felt we should try to reach out to the non participating primary members more to see if we could get them more involved in the group. Grahame also thought that our webpage was unappealing compared to other groups' websites. Alan offered to follow up on these points.

Lorna suggested we should look to organise a checkpoint at next year's “100” to raise the profile of the group.

If anyone would like to represent the group at the Local Groups weekend (11th to 13th November in Peak District) please let the committee know.

Treasurer: Dave circulated three reports and letters of thanks received from LNAACT, Nomad, Lowlands Rescue and Lincs Wildlife Trust for the donations of £200 each from the proceeds of 2019 Harvest Hobble.

Treasurer's report dated 9/11/2020 showed a starting balance of £1319.42 and after income and expenses (including donations as indicated above) relating to 2019 Harvest Hobble a balance of £1675.79 was left.

Treasurer’s report dated 1st May 2022 showed a starting balance of £1675.79 with no income or expenses resulting in a closing balance of the same value.

A bank statement for Lincolnshire LDWA confirmed an account balance of £1675.79. A new bank account would need to be established for the group as the current branch has now closed. This will need to be an action point following the appointment of Treasurer during this meeting.

Following a question from Grahame, Dave confirmed that other than the request for an interim financial statement (treasurer's report dated 9/11/2022) he had received no further requests relating to finances from central LDWA.

There is no Harvest Hobble planned for this year but it is hoped to run the event again in 2023. It is expected that the upfront costs for the next event will be in the region of £1000 as a further batch of completion badges (minimum quantity is 500) will be required. There is a 150 limit of participants and again it is proposed to use SIE Entries to handle the entry arrangements. 

Walks Secretary: Report having been prepared by Nigel was read by Dave. In 2019/20 prior to Covid, 11 group walks had taken place with an additional walk in September 2020. Following resumption of group walks in July 2021 a further 10 walks have taken place.Generally 7 - 10 walkers attended each walk which remains below pre Covid levels. Thanks to all walk leaders and to Lorna for all photos and updates on facebook.

More walk leaders are required. Currently walks are planned through to August but need to cover through to the end of year.

Adrian advised that the date of Hills of Wolds walk is incorrectly recorded in Strider. Website is correct for 14th August but in Strider it is shown as (Sunday,) 14th July (this is actually a Thursday). Adrian advised he would run a recce walk on 14th July in case any walkers turned up on this date.

Grahame asked if the requirements relating to public health and third party liability were considered to be putting people off being leaders. Not believed to be a major factor but should be looked into further

John Scaife advised that he had offered to lead walks but the offer had not been taken up. It was agreed that anybody agreeing to lead a walk should submit a proposal to the Walks Secretary. All walks need to be in compliance with LDWA regulations and should not be undertaken on an ad-hoc basis.

Election of officers, all returned unopposed. 

Chair: Dave Oxley proposed by Tony Bark, seconded by Lorna Gregory.

Secretary: Alan Johnson - proposed by Lorna Gregory, seconded by Dave Oxley.

Treasurer: Dave Oxley -  proposed by Lorna Gregory seconded by Alan Johnson

Walks Secretary : Lorna Gregory - proposed by Dave Oxley seconded by Grahame Fry

Ordinary members of Committee - Kevin Roach, Terry Baines, Tony Bark and Natalie Eastland Stout all proposed by Lorna Gregory, seconded by Dave Oxley

Any Other Business

A vote of thanks was recorded to Christine for organising the use of the church and tea and cake. A donation was made to the church

A vote of thanks was recorded to Nigel in recognition of all the hard work undertaken during the last few years as both Secretary and Walks Secretary

It was noted that there was currently a dispute regarding access rights on part of Dave Milne Way ( Lincs LDWA walk to commemorate LDWA 50th anniversary takes place on this route on 19th June 2022). Part of the route is currently blocked but this is being challenged by various interested parties and if not resolved by 19th June then a minor detour to the route will be used. The walk will definitely be going ahead.

The meeting closed at approximately 1.35 pm.