www.haveringeastlondonramblers.btck.co.uk email: [email protected] Mobile: 07583 532309 Newsletter and Programme August to November 2019 We hope you enjoy the variety of the rambles that we do! Where might you lead walkers on a ramble? Page 1 Chair's Report Time flies by so quickly and here we are again with a new programme, which will take us up to the end of November. I would like to extend my thanks to the Committee, who continue to do an excellent job, and to the walk leaders who kindly give their time to take us on wonderful walks. Our last social, which was on 20th March, was a great success. I have now had the time to arrange our September social, which will take place on Wednesday, 18th September, 7pm at The Harrow Pub in Hornchurch. Further details to following in your e-newsletter. I do hope as many of you as possible can come along. On 17th October we have our AGM at Hornchurch Library. Three members of our Committee will be standing down. All of these committee members have done a tremendous job over the years, which is appreciated by everybody. I would like you to consider whether you would be able to help fill any of their roles. The roles available will be Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Webmaster/Communications. The time commitment for each of these roles is not significant over the year. The minimum time over a year for the Treasurer role is 6 days; Membership Secretary, 4 days; and 15 days for the Webmaster/communications role. Full training will be given for anyone who wishes to take any of these roles on. If anyone wishes to consider, or take on the Treasurer role, we would like to provide early training leading up to the AGM. By the time you read this programme you will have had the role profiles and more in-depth details, via your newsletters. Any time you can give to support the work of our group will be invaluable and will help us continue to provide co-ordinated and effectively communicated walks. Teamwork is everything. We can achieve great things if we pull together to strengthen our group Best foot forward and happy rambling. Ellen Page 2 Information and Web Master It seems strange writing this in June, with momentous things about to happen before the new programme you are reading expires. Will Brexit happen? Who will be the new Prime Minister? Who will be the new Webmaster? ‘I can’t do that’, you may say. Well perhaps not the first two, but certainly don’t rule out the last. What is the Webmaster Role? To be the public face of the group, and provide information to potential and existing members. To keep details of walks up to date, and notify members of changes. To maintain contact with RWH – advertiser. How is this done? The website is the public face of the group, which will be found on Google. Try Googling ‘walking Romford’ or ‘Ramblers Barking’ It has the essential information about the group. We use Mailchimp to circulate information. This is a bulk e-mail programme, which, once used, is a lot easier than talking about it. RWH Contact once a programme to find out if support for following programme and raise invoice. Technical skills. Modern software is written so that most people will be able to use the basic features straight away and develop skills for the more complex. Handover Obviously this is a brief summary. I would be happy to show you how the software works on your PC, and if something puzzles you then I would be happy to help. You don’t have to be a Computer Nerd to do this job, you will develop the skills very quickly. You may decide to change things - I hope that you do. It's a rewarding role. I started the webmaster role in September 2010. Over the years many have said how much they like the website, and the Newsletters. I thank each and every one for looking. Without you there would be little point in the post. All best Peter Page 3 Secretary’s Report The next AGM will again be held in the main hall at Hornchurch Library on Thursday October 17th, commencing at 7.30pm. This is a plea for assistance. Some of the committee are considering resigning and we do need replacements. Can you possibly join us? The job is not too arduous. Speak to anyone on the committee, they will give any help if needed. The group must continue. Ken Havering Footpath & Walking Environment Officer Vacant Walks Secretary Thank you to all walk leaders. As you can see from the gaps in this programme, new walk leaders are always needed. So if thinking of leading a ramble for the first time, we're here to help, please just ask. Marion GROUP MOBILE PHONE To receive text alerts (group members only please) of short-notice walk changes because, for example, you're not easily able to access email alerts sent out, please follow the instructions below. Remember to add the group mobile phone number 07583 532309 to your own phone contacts. To Subscribe, please text: OPT IN followed by your name. Your details will then be added to the group mobile CONTACTS list. To Unsubscribe, please text: STOP followed by your name. Your details will then be deleted from the group mobile CONTACTS list. Page 4 Dogs on Walks To comply with the Disability Equality Act (2010), we must allow registered assistance dogs to participate with their owners e.g. guide, hearing, service, therapy and seizure alert dogs. We will continue to let Walks Leaders decide whether to allow non-assistance dogs to participate in their walks. Walks: Information for Walk Leaders and All Ramblers Check our website (see page 1) for up-to-date walk information. Check the web calendar, found under 'Our Walks' on our website, to see what days are available when booking a day to lead a walk. Walk Leader's Checklist leaflets are available from the Walks Secretary. Remember to tell the Walks Secretary when submitting your walk if you don't want it to go on Walkfinder (no reason is needed, it's your choice). Information to help you decide whether you would like your walk included or excluded from Walkfinder entries on Ramblers.org.uk. As a general rule, London walks are added as Members Only (to keep numbers to a manageable level), with country walks going Public (unlikely to get too many walkers to be a problem). When we meet somewhere for forward travel (by car or train for example), these also don't get added (we can't give an accurate walk start time). No walk leader names or phone numbers are added on Walkfinder, instead we use the group name / email / mobile (see page 1) for the contact options. Page 5 Visit the Transport for London web site (tfl.gov.uk) to check your route and the availability of public transport before travelling, especially at weekends, to allow for the planning of alternative routes. Car Share Please car share where possible, as parking is often quite limited. Walking with the Ramblers All sporting activities have inherent hazards associated with them, and rambling is no exception. In spite of the safety of members always being the paramount concern, accidents will occasionally occur. It is therefore important that when entering into the activity, each member appreciates that they have a responsibility to identify the hazards associated with the activity, and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimize the potential for an accident to occur. The Ramblers Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number 445892. Registered charity in England and Wales Number 1093577. Registered office, 2 Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TW. Incident Report Forms - Revised Form Out Now! Walk leaders are provided with an Incident Report Form (spare forms are available from the Walks Secretary). The revised form has 2 pages, so discard the former 6-page one please. Page 6 Havering and East London Ramblers Committee Members Chair: Ellen Owen [email protected] Secretary: Ken Richards, 26 Arundel Road, Harold Wood, Romford, RM3 0RT [email protected] Treasurer: John Smith [email protected] Membership & Minutes Secretary: Diane Biggadike [email protected] Walks Secretary: Marion Franklin [email protected] Havering Footpath & Walking Environment Officer: Vacant Newham Footpath & Walking Environment Officer: John Buckle* [email protected] Webmaster: Peter Owen [email protected] Ordinary Committee Member: Ian Rusha [email protected] *For information IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE! At the AGM, all posts are open for nomination. We have been advised that the following post holders will be standing down: Membership Secretary Treasurer Webmaster We hope that other members will give consideration to putting their name forward. A Nomination Form for this is on the back page. Page 7 We'll be ready and waiting, and happy to accept walks for the next programme from the beginning of August. N.B. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get the day and date of your choice - full walk details can be provided later. AUGUST Saturday 03 August 10:30 Christopher West Meet outside Leytonstone Station for a walk through Epping Forest, via Snaresbrook Hale End, Chingford Hatch, Visitors Centre to Chingford Station. Registered assistance dogs only. Approx 6 miles Sunday 04 August No walk planned. If you would like to lead a walk please email the details to [email protected] Tuesday 06 August 10:30 Alan and Rosalind Kendrick Meet at Ingatestone Station (can use Freedom Pass up to Shenfield on TFL).