Draft Minutes of South Manchester Local Group AGM

                                 25th January 2025

1 The Chairman, Dave Gosling opened the meeting held at The Navigation Inn in Marple at 14.00 and welcomed and thanked members for attending.

The pub had again been very hospitable and provided tea and coffee.

2   Present  were:-  Avril and David Allen, Quentin Blagg, John Braide,  Dave Gosling, Helen Gray, Bridget Knight, Jerzy Matuszewski, Steve Millward, Steve Osborne,  Frank Tonge,  Duncan Smith and Elaine Weinbren.

Apologies from: - Nicoletta Bobola, David Clift, Rebecca Glen, Michael Magee, Jean Osborne, Gareth Phillips, Ann Robinson, Peter Schick,  Peter Whitehead, Mark Worrall, and David Wright

3 The minutes of the 2024 AGM had been circulated and accepted nem con.

4 No Matters arising that wouldn’t be discussed later.

5 The annual reports had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Chairman Dave made further comment on his report, there are 289 members, up from last year. About 40 are active members known to the committee.

He again thanked the many leaders of walks and the members attending the walks. Some discussion re longer walks, due to the age profile of the active members there are less walks of 20+miles.

Helen Gray was thanked for her work on our own challenge walk, The Signpost Challenge which will run on Sunday 19th October 2025.

Also highlighted that Helen updates Facebook regularly.

6 Bridget had issued copies of the accounts. We have a balance of £1718.

The Signpost Challenge made a surplus of £747 which is excellent.

Purchase of fleeces is in abeyance, insufficient demand, but there will be further items needed for the event. A banner on a base and a 1st Aid course were proposed.

7 All officers were thanked. The current officers are willing to continue in their positions. The election then took place confirming the members of the committee. Proposed by Jerzy and seconded by Steve Millward.

Chairman (Dave Gosling), Secretary (Steve Osborne), Treasurer (Bridget Knight) and Walks Secretary (John Braide). Peter Whitehead is willing to assist John as and when required.  Currently 3 committee members are able to update our website.

7a Steve Millward is willing to stand as Accounts Reviewer. Steve was thanked and proposed by Bridget, seconded by Jerzy and all agreed.

8 Some discussion on ICE labels (in Case of Emergency). It was agreed to investigate purchasing dogtags which would be hung on your rucksack.  Also to encourage walk attendees to have their mobile phones set up for ICE.

9 We have a few members going to the Marshal’s 100 breakfast stop in Suffolk. Many thanks to those going and to Gareth for organising this. Re the Risk Assessment etc Dave is attending a zoom meeting with other LDWA groups in early February and will bring up what happens to names on the attendee list of walks.

Following up from the Signpost Challenge, Helen has written an article for STRIDER which will hopefully appear in the April edition.  It is proposed to have some changes to the route to incorporate 2 indoor checkpoints, 1 on each route.

Dave spoke about the idea of a Northern Collective where each group takes it in turn each month to organise a walk open to all other groups without a clash of walks.  The membership is not in favour and Dave will respond to the John Clarke in West Lancs who sent out the suggestion.

Jerzy suggested Sedbergh area for our group away days for the w/c 15^th September. The birthday walks will be up to individuals. Duncan already has a walk planned.

John’s new format of walking information completed by walk leaders is working well. Social activities to be revived, Quentin to arrange a curry night.

10 Jerzy proposed a vote of thank to the committee which was agreed unanimously. Dave thanked all those for attending and for the lively discussions and topics we had covered.

The meeting closed at 15.17.