April 2021 Update
Please note, some individual's contact details have been removed, but please visit the future walks page.
Dear all
Finally, we have some good news. Following the announcement of the National Executive Committee of the LDWA we are permitted to restart our social walks. If you wish to read the full statement you can find it at this link: https://www.ldwa.org.uk/
Social Walks
The Norfolk & Suffolk committee have made the decision to limit walks to 12 for now, to ease back to normal and will review the situation at the end of May. However, individual walk leaders can set their own lower limit on numbers if they prefer at this stage. Initially walks will only be offered to primary members.
Jane Audsley, our walks secretary, is busy sorting the diary with walks offered so far. If you would like to lead a walk we would love to hear from you. If you have not led a walk before we can provide plenty of support to get you started. As well as the existing walk register, any walk with more than six people, including the leader, will require a risk assessment for safety regarding Covid, but this is a simple checklist, and not required for walks of six people or less. When dates for walks are finalised they will be posted on the N&S LDWA website, sent out by email and also via our WhatsApp group. If you are not part of the WhatsApp group and would like to join please email me so that you can be added. When walks are posted you will need to contact the walk leader to request a place. Please do not join a walk if you have not had a place confirmed. Some days there may be more than one walk arranged in different areas to allow more people a place on a walk.
All walks will need to comply with Government restrictions (especially those regarding social distancing) in place at the time of the walk. You will need to bring hand sanitiser, a face mask and your own first aid kit. The advice is that travel to walks should be kept to a minimum, so please register for walks within a reasonable travelling distance.
Hopefully we will soon be ‘back to normal' with our social walks, but we are definitely moving in the right direction.
2025 LDWA Hundred
We are all delighted that the NEC decided that the 2025 LDWA 100 should be held in Norfolk and Suffolk. We have a committee in place, and we know from the response to Julian’s email that when the time comes we will have plenty of support from you all. We welcome everyone’s help, however big or small. If you would like to be involved in any way, please let Katie Hunt, our 100 committee chair know.
A plea from the LDWA NEC:
IT Operations Manager
We need some help!
Are you competent with technical information and able to assist those members who might not be quite as technically minded? And are you happy to commit some time for a year to get us in a more stable position?
We might just have the ideal role for you, and we think that it’s an exciting way to help the LDWA.
After speaking to members, we’ve had some feedback that our IT & Internet Director role is just too big, especially with the new IT project that we’re starting to work on. Rather than burden someone (and more likely, entirely put off) with this large role, we’ve decided to split it into two distinct parts. One role is for an IT operations manager, to keep things ticking over and running smoothly, whereas the second role is for more of a project manager who can take a lead on developing the new web-site strategy (we’re advertising this second role in the next issue of Strider).
We’re really looking now for someone to head up the IT operations team. There are a number of dedicated and skilled volunteer LDWA members who provide a lot of the support for our members and for our local groups. There is also our third party supplier who does some maintenance work and very limited development work (given that we have plans to develop a completely new website in the very near future). We are looking for someone to cover this role for a year, from the end of April 2021. This will give you time to settle in and see how the new arrangements work and it’s not too onerous a role in terms of the time it’ll take.
You don’t have to be an IT expert or specialist in computer science, just be competent with IT, be willing to learn and also keen to help others who need assistance. You won’t be left alone if you need help, but we’re hoping to get a team player who works well with other volunteers and is also willing to engage with the NEC to report how things are going and if you need extra help or resources.
For more information and to express an interest in the role, please contact Madeleine Watson on secretary@ldwa.org.uk.. If you’re not quite sure it’s for you or are nervous for any reason, please do still e-mail, just in case (and we might find something else you can help with!).
Beach of Dreams
LDWA is a partner in the project, with Peter Aylmer plotting the route, with support from Colin Saunders. We are appealing for walk leaders from Suffolk, Essex and London to assist with recces in April of the daily walks and to attend as leaders and backmarkers on the walk itself in June/July.
If you’d like to get involved please email ali@kinetika.co.uk
Please can you help appeal for volunteers. We wont expect recces to be done until April when the stay local restriction has been lifted.
Beach of Dreams is now live and below is an email that can be forwarded on to people to sign up to a mile, along with a couple of zoom sessions next week where people can find out more. Please share and pass on. http://www.beachofdreams.co.uk
Dates for Your Diary
Saturday 26th June - Group AGM, walk and farm talk by Simon Colchester
Sunday 22nd August – Martin’s BBQ walk (Suffolk)
Saturday 11th September – Julian’s Norwich history walk and pub evening (Norfolk)
Sunday 12th September – Dereham BBQ and craft beer day (and maybe a walk)
Sunday 3rd October - Flower of Suffolk Challenge walk
Sunday 12th February 2022 - Winter Poppyline
Sunday 27th June – Diss Rotary Club Charity walk organised by one of our members: http://www.dissrotary.org.uk/
What a pleasure to write about more positive things this time!
Happy walking and we look forward to seeing you on a walk soon.
Best wishes
Hilary
norfolkandsuffolk@ldwa.org.uk
