Author: Diane Davies

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION - CARDIFF GROUP 

Minutes of meeting held Thursday 19 April 2007

Present: Diane Davies (DD), Arthur James (AJ), Gwyn Lewis (GL), Richard Garman (RG), Roma Whiteley (RW), Gillian Masters (GM), Mike Kohnstamm (MK)

Apologies:  Jeff Hobden (JfH), John Henn (JH)

1.  Minutes of the last meeting: minutes 1 February 2007 were ACCEPTED. 

2.  Matters arising
Item 2(3):  domain name www.cardifframblers.org.uk acquired and "live" - agreed that MK would announce development through WalkTalk. ACTIONED
Item 4(b): First Aid course - DD reported that course was fixed for 31/3/07 with 7 firm acceptances and 2 possibles. To be re-advertised on walks and E-Newspaper to attract additional numbers (10 max. in total). ACTIONED [course attended by 5]
 
3.  Provision of safety items for walks:
Agreed that GM purchase two 4-6 person bothy bags (£35 each). Initially bags to be allocated to regular walkers GM & GL to cover Weekend and Wednesday walks, with an on-going review of the suitability and effectiveness of this arrangement.
 
4.  Cardiff ROWIP: awaiting draft ROWIP from Cardiff Council.

5.  Celebrating 25 Years:
DD confirmed that walks regularly appearing in the Group's Walks Programmes sufficient to create a "25 Cardiff Walk" publication. Group sub-committee (DD, RG, MK, GL) to review/decide on next stages. This topic to be a regular Committee Agenda item.
 
6.  Glamorgan Area Council Report: 
Written report submitted pre-meeting by JfH. From points raised in discussion over Cardiff's alley-closure programme, mixed messages (eg Whitchurch footpaths) are coming from Cardiff Council/Council employees. Until matters are clarified the Group to continue to action alleygate orders on their individual merits.
 
7.  Welsh Council 2007:
Written report submitted pre-meeting by GL. Due to work/family commitments JfH unable to attend Welsh Council.
On RA concerns over membership retention RW confirmed that previous "local" surveys undertaken of lapsed Cardiff Group members had produced very few responses. Agreed for now to leave to RA Central initiatives to tackle "known" concern.

8.  Organising holidays abroad
Following discussion of JfH's "Organising Holidays Abroad" motion circulated pre-meeting, the motion was ACCEPTED subject to following amendments:
> Motion 1d to read: "That all participants are reminded of their own responsibility to have appropriate insurance if the holiday is to take place outside the UK."
> Motion 1c to amend "individual's" to "individuals".
DD to feedback amendment to the Group's "usual" Weekend/Holiday Organisers whose views were previously sought and to permanently file updated policy document.  

9. Officers' Report: 
a) Rambles Officer (GL):
i) Radyr Chain (April 2007) carried details of planned Rambling 'Round Radyr walks for this Programme. "Thank you" to Alan Parry for being go-between with Radyr Chain editor;
ii) Leaders' Evening Tuesday 17 July 2007 - agreed to have similar format to Jan07 Leaders' Evening and similar budget agreed;
iii) John Couzens' suggestion that Group create library of walk related DVDs discussed but not supported at this time;
iv) RA Wales e-mail regarding involvement in Mind Week 2007 discussed but not supported;
v) recent E-Bulletin promotion of Use-Your-Paths Challenge in Cardiff Area has solicited volunteers for: St Fagans (John & Brenda Isaacs); Radyr (Rhiannon Havard & Bette Griffiths);
vi) Kathryn Bennett attended Stepping Stones Training Day 14 April 07.

b) Publications (MK)
i) Web-site developments under consideration:
> use of Google maps to illustrate Capital Walks & More Capital Walks;
> creation of Officers "@cardifframblers.org.uk" addresses (initially "Secretary" and "Membership")
ii) Group to join Cardiff Physical Activity Database;
iii) printing of "&apos;" in Programme a technical hitch at printers.

c) Membership (RW): current membership 696

d) WalkTalk (GM): apology made to AJ for not including his Coach Trip article in last WalkTalk.

e) Secretary (DD):  Group News, the recently launched newsletter for Group Secretaries, circulated within meeting. This quarterly publication can be found on the Committee Members Support Section of the RA web-site.

f) Local Authority Liaison (RG):
i) Ely Trail leaflets distributed;
ii) Coastal Access: Joint Local Authority meetings planned to promote coastal path from Lamby Way area going east; possibility of interim footpath joining Cardiff Bay and the Barrage;
iii) discussions within/between Local Authority(ies): footpath between IKEA and Penarth Road; extending Rhymney Trail into Caerphilly.

g) Treasurer (JfH): pre-meeting written report accepted. RW to follow-up expense claim for stamps (£8ish).
   
10. AOB:
a) AGM 2007: provisional details: Date - Tuesday 23/10/07 (back-up date Thursday 1/11/07); Venue - City URC, Windsor Place; Non-Business element - slide-show(?)
b) Agreed that RW renew Group's YHA group membership.

Next Committee meeting: Monday 18 June 2007 - 7:30pm - RA Wales Offices.  

Summary of Actions from meeting:
a) GM to buy/allocate 2 bothy bags;
b) GL to book venue for July Leaders' Evening;
c) MK to apply for Group membership of Cardiff Physical Activity Database;
d) RW to renew Group membership of YHA;
e) DD to: feedback "Organising Holidays Abroad" amendment to the Group's "usual" Weekend/Holiday Organisers whose views were previously sought and to permanently file updated policy document; book AGM venue.