QUESTIONS FROM THE AGM CONSIDERED BY THE STROLLERS COMMITTEE ON 9 NOVEMBER 2016
Below each question the response recorded at the AGM is given, if appropriate, and in italics the response of the Committee.
1(a) What do you get out of being a member of the Dorchester Strollers?
Company and social interaction. Safety in numbers = females in particular don’t feel safe walking in the countryside on their own.
(b) What would you like to get out of the Strollers?
(c) What do you think of the way the Strollers is run? Very good – lots of enthusiasm from the walkers.
No further comments.
(d)Could you suggest anything we could do better?
Post meeting suggestions – could the slow walks walk in the shade more? It was suggested
that walking up High East Street (back to the Museum for example), slow walkers would
appreciate walking on the shady side on hot days.
Agreed but if leader forgets walkers could mention?
2The number of people on walks has increased a lot!
(a) How do you feel about the numbers on walks.
Everyone seemed very positive.
(b)Should we change how we run the walks as a result?
(c)Should we try to have an intermediate walk?
There was a lot of enthusiasm at the meeting for this. Outside the meeting a number of
People have said that they find the fast walk a bit too fast, but the slow walks a bit too slow and too short. Many people have said they can walk long distances but they can’t walk quite as fast as some of the leaders can go.
Discussion about programming an intermediate walk once a month of an hour but slower, but need extra leaders for this. Agreed that if there enough leaders on a particular walk, probably a Monday, that the No. 1 leader ask other leaders present but not on the rota if they are willing to do this.
3We would need more walk leaders. Would you be prepared to volunteer.
We always need new leaders. Some, although trained, only back mark and this is fine. If you
think you can help please tell one of the existing leaders. A day’s training is required.
4Official walks are limited to 90 minutes by our Walking for Health Accreditation.
(a)Would you like longer, unofficial walks?
(b)Would walk leaders be prepared to lead them?
There was a show of hands for longer walks so it was considered at the Committee meeting.
One of the leaders has offered to lead a longer walk of approximately 2 – 2.5 hours once a
month on a Friday morningstarting in April on a trial basis. Details will appear in the April –
May programme. These walks will not be part of the official programme and not covered by
Walking for Health insurance, etc.
5For our Walking for Health Accreditation we have to offer short walks.
(a)What do you think of our 30 minute walks?
When asked for a show of hands there was no-one who indicated that they liked the 30
Minute walks.
(b)Should they be more than once a month?
No enthusiasm for more than once a month.
6We are always looking for new places to walk.
We currently choose places that:
Are not too far from Dorchester
Have somewhere to park or are accessible by bus
Have a café or pub where we can stop for refreshment (and a toilet)
Ideally have a circular route.
(a)How do you feel about these requirements?
When it was suggested we could find places to walk that had no pub or café there was
no enthusiasm for this.
It was suggested that a circular route was not necessary. Also commented that the view
Walking in the other direction can be different anyway.
There was a comment from the floor about it being difficult for people without a car to get to
some of the special walks. A show of hands indicated that a significant (but not large) number
of people would be keen on a car-share or lift scheme if one could be organised. We should
discuss this at next Committee.
It was discussed. It was felt that anyone interested in attending a special walk where car
travel is needed should ask around at the walks and exchange telephone numbers with
anyone who intends going. If the car owner decides not to go for whatever reason then they
make contact to cancel. There is a degree of car sharing already in place.
(b)Can you suggest any new places to walk?
The PiddleValley has been suggested but needs a leader to work out a walk and a place
to have tea/coffee.
(c)Did you know that we do a risk assessment for every walk?
This is a requirement for our Walking for Health Accreditation.
Regular walks around Dorchester have a general risk assessment
Special walks have an individual detailed risk assessment.
(d)Have you seen a risk assessment?
At the beginning of every walk the main leader bring risk assessment factors to the attention of those attending eg slippery leaves and will point out hazards such as dog muck or small potholesas the walk progresses.
The most common hazards are listed in the programme and there is a list each month in
each rucksack based on the generic risk assessment.
On special walks the route and risk assessment is available on the day of the walk/
Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and new items added when they arise.
6What do you think of the Newsletters?
They take time and skill to compile
There is a cost associated with printing them
They are distributed with the walk programmes and given to new walkers.
(a)Should we continue to produce them?
There was overwhelming support.
(b)Could you take this on?
There was one offer after the meeting from a visitor to the AGM. However at the Committee
meeting there was a provisional offer to try to see if it was possible to do a Newsletter but not
necessarily in the same format.