If you've started reading the new Strider you might have noticed that there is something of a focus on volunteering this time round. London LDWA couldn't function without people prepared to volunteer to assist the group, whether its serving on the committee, leading a social walk, marshalling at a challenge event, or in some other way. The group currently has a quorate committee and a healthy social walks programme, but without people willing to offer their assistance there is no guarantee this will continue indefinitely - none of us are getting any younger and certainly since I joined in 2016 its become clear that a number of old stagers are no longer to contribute in the way they used to, and whilst 90 social walks in the programme this year is a more than healthy number just six leaders are responsible for 60 of them. Yes, as one of that six I'm more than happy to put on walks for the group, and indeed enjoy doing so, but would be happier still if we had so many people interested in putting on a walk that this proportion was substantially lower. If you think there's a walk you could put on for us, and aren't totally confident about doing it by yourself, we're quite happy to pair you up with one of our more experienced walk leaders for advice.

More pressingly, three committee posts (Secretary, Walks Secretary and Newsletter Editor) are vacant next year due to the time limits specified by the Group's constitution, as is the post of Founders Challenge organiser. A number of the newsletters over ther past three months have advertised this, but so far we have yet to receive a single expression of interest. Since Barry Arnold stepped down to go off on his travels I've been jkeeping the newsletter going, but it is not an ideal situation for me to be performing two roles (and, you might have noticed if you read the AGM booket a third at national level as I'm organising next year's AGM weekend). I happily give up my time to the LDWA because I've got a lot out of it since I joined, I hope I'm not the only one who thinks that, and it would be great if there were more people who could also do so.

Rant over, its back to usual business!

NOTICES

New Mermbers

Welcome to the following new Primary members: Philip McDermott, Suresh Kumar Sivachalam and Anna-Marie Wallis, and Andy Mitchell, a new Associate member

Forthcoming Walks