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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Thirty secondAnnual General Meeting of Glasgow Group of the Ramblers’ Association will be held in the basement room at Unitarian Church Centre, 72 Berkeley Street,Glasgow on SATURDAY, 29THNOVEMBER, 2014at 9.30 a.m. for a 10.00 start.

R. Barry Pottle,

Group Chairman

During the break and/or after conclusion of business, there will be an opportunity to view slides taken on Group walks, both recent and in previous years.

After the meeting, there will be a walk, which is intended for those attending the AGM, so will start following the close of the meeting and after lunch (bring a packed lunch). The walk will begin at the meeting venue, so no transport required. It will be a walk through Kelvingrove Park then alongside the River Kelvin to Maryhill Lock and the canal tow path to Spiers Wharf and into town, finishing at Cowcaddens Underground Station, led by Catherine (07711 268 312 ).

CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKLET

Page 2Location map of meeting venue

Page 3Agenda

Page 4Annual Report

See our website at

See also

The Ramblers' Association is a registered charity (England and Wales no.: 1093577 Scotland no.: SC039799), and a company limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales (no. 4458492).

Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TW

Large print copies of this booklet can be obtained on request from:

or:

Barry Pottle,

c/o 15 Newton Terrace,

Glasgow, G3 7PJ.

Note: the Unitarian Church Centre is part of a terrace of properties, and is of more modern architecture than the other buildings in the terrace.

AGENDA

  1. Chairman’s Introduction.
  2. Apologies for absence.
  3. Minutes of the Thirty firstAnnual General Meeting of the Group held on 7thDecember, 2013.

Copies of the Minutes will be available at the meeting, or may be obtained in advance Barry Pottle, c/o 15 Newton Terrace, Glasgow, G3 7PJ.

  1. Matters arising from those Minutes.
  2. Annual Report of the Group Committee and Audited Statements of Account for the year ended 30th September, 2014.

See Page 5 of this booklet for Annual Report. Accounts will be available at the meeting, or may be obtained in advance from Barry Pottle, c/o 15 Newton Terrace, Glasgow, G3 7PJ

  1. Election of Honorary Officers.

Nominations are invited for the following posts: Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and such other officers as the General Meeting may determine.

  1. Election of other Committee members.

Nominations are invited for election to theCommittee of as many members of the Group as the Annual Meeting shall decide, with a minimum of three.

  1. Appointment ofAuditor or Auditors for 2014/15.

Nominations are invited for appointment asAuditor or Auditors, whose responsibility is to check the Accounts prepared by the Treasurer and certify whether they are a true and accurate record.

  1. Motions affecting the Group Constitution.

Notice of any such motions must be delivered in writing to Barry Pottle, c/o 15 Newton Terrace, Glasgow, G3 7PJnot later than1stNovember, 2014.

  1. Ordinary Motions.

Notice of any such motions must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Group ( Barry Pottle, c/o 15 Newton Terrace, Glasgow, G3 7PJ)not later than15th November, 2014.

  1. Election of Representatives to Area Council and Scottish Council.

Nominations are invited for

  • three representatives of the Group to the Area Council of North Strathclyde Area of the Association, which is anticipated to meet four times a year at a venue or venues in Glasgow, and
  • one representatives of the Area to the Scottish Council of the Association, which will be meeting on Saturday 7th March, 2015 at Queen’s Hall, Perth Road, Dundee(the Group may also send additional non-voting visitors, but travel and meal expenses must be covered by the Group or by the individuals).
  1. Any other competent business.

Notes:

Copies of the Group Constitution and Standing Orders as existing may be obtained on request Barry Pottle, c/o 15 Newton Terrace, Glasgow, G3 7PJ.

ANNUAL REPORTOF THE GROUP COMMITTEE

FOR YEAR T0 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2014

In various places in this report, it is stated that further information can be obtained on request. Requests should be sent to Barry Pottle, c/o 15 Newton Terrace, Glasgow, G3 7PJ.

Administration

There were six Committee meetings during the year: in November 2013 and January, March, May, August and September 2014.

At the Group AGM in December 2013, there was no nominee for election as Group Secretary. Unfortunately, that position has not yet been filled.

Due to commitments Morag MacIntyre submitted her resignation from the Committee in March 2014. The Committee members recorded a vote of thanks for Morag's contribution.

Two new members were co-opted onto the Committee:Bobby Robb in May 2014 and Steve Cartwright in September 2014.

The Group is entitled to three representatives on the Ramblers North Strathclyde Area Council, but only two representatives were elected at the Group AGM. The Committee may fill any vacancies which may arise, and in January 2014 appointed Morag MacIntyre to fill the third place. However, it was assumed that her resignation from the Committee in March 2014 applied also to her position as Group Representative to Area Council. Barry Pottle was already a member of Area Council in another capacity, but it is possible to be a member of Area Council in more than one capacity, and it was agreed in August 2014 that Barry be appointed as the third Group representative.

In addition to the officers elected at the Annual General Meeting (Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer), the Committee appointed the following officers:

Access & Countryside Officer –Jim Riddell (non-Committee member)

Publicity Officer –Margaret McGhee

Membership Secretary - Catherine Watt

Programme Co-ordinators - Catherine Wattand Margaret McGhee

Social Events Co-ordinator–Bobby Robb (from May 2014)

Minute Secretary, –Gerard McCrear

Webmaster – Alan Watt (non-Committee member).

Scottish Council meeting held in Glasgow

Ramblers’ Scottish Council (SC) was held in Glasgow Caledonian University on 8th March, 2014.

The Group’s elected delegate was Gerard McCrear, but Barry Pottle was also a member of Scottish Council in another capacity, and several Group Committee members attended as visitors.

Barry Pottle, as Group Chairman, gave the welcome address to delegates, and Group Committee members assisted with registration of delegates and acted as tellers and scrutineers during the meeting. The meeting was well attended by more than half of the Groups represented plus Area delegates and the Ramblers CEO, Benedict Southworth.

Annual report by video showed the activities by various groups, and Director’s report presented by Dave Morris was accepted by the SC. This was followed by a presentation to Dave Morris for his 25 years of service to Scottish Ramblers with an enlightening, humorous speech by former Ramblers Scotland Chairman David Grosz. The Statement of Accounts was presented by the Treasurer, who answered questions, and the Accounts were then approved by SC.

There were presentations by 3 groups: Linlithgow – secrets of our success, Eldon – attracting new members, and Ramblers Scotland – group news. There was also a presentation on funding by Andy Kelly of sportscotland. There were Workshops on a variety of topics.

Motions were passed on future of the leisure industries and tourism and provision of accounts for the running of Ramblers Scotland Office. SC decided not to accept for discussion another motion, proposing the appointment of a Working Party separate from the Scottish Council Executive Committee, to take forward a vision review, due to the procedure which had been adopted by the Agenda Committee.

No voting for posts was required for the posts on the Scottish Council Executive Committee and Agenda Committee, as the number of candidates did not exceed the places available.

Gerard McCrear provided a full report on the meeting to the Committee. A copy of his report can be obtained on request.

Access & Countryside

The Committee noted Path Closures during the Commonwealth Games, although these have now re-opened. Completion of a new footbridge over the River Clyde at Dalmarnock Road has been delayed due to foundation problems, but a new footbridge over the River Clyde at Shawfield is now complete.

Clyde Walkway collapse at Lancefield Quaywas noted in the 2012/13 Annual Report. This has not yet been repaired, and this section of the walkway remains closed.

A walker from the Ramblers Paisley Group emailed their concern about encroachment by vegetation on the Clyde Walkway from Cambuslang to Glasgow at the Carmyle Viaduct. This was passed on to the Group Access Officer, Jim Riddell, who understands that that the route has been cleared under the Community Payback Scheme.

On aGroup walk from Partick to Milngavie, there arose two concerns about the Kelvin and Allander Walkways. Firstly, parts of the Kelvin Walkway near Balmuildy Bridge were badly overgrown. Secondly, on the Allander Walkway towards Milngavie after one of the stiles there was a sharp, steep drop which was very awkward for people. After the walk the walk leader did contact Glasgow City Council about these points but was told “can't do anything”. The Group Access Officer, Jim Riddell, is taking up these points with the Glasgow City Council Access Officer, Sue Hilder.

The Group Chairman responded to a consultation on Glasgow City Council on draft Park Management Rules. It was felt that the draft Rules were not in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, as they appeared to create much tighter restrictions on access than are envisaged by the Code. It would be ironic indeed if the public were to have freer access to private land in the countryside than is envisaged for city parks which were specifically designated for public recreation! Also, the definition of “Unauthorised Gathering” and its application in various places throughout the draft Rules would be particularly restrictive to Ramblers Groups and other walking clubs in organising any walks which take place wholly or partly within one or more city parks. The response from the Access & Land Services was that an officer would examine the points raised. Once the rules are approved, they will appear on the Council website.

Programmes

The Group hadalready issued its Programme forMay to October 2013 prior to the period covered by this report. During the year, further Programmes were issued for November 2013 to April 2014, and May to October/November 2014, with walks on nearly every weekend during the periods covered.

Committee member Margaret McGhee met with Ben Glencross, Group Development Officer, Ramblers Scotland, and Heather Macleod, Walk Glasgow Co-ordinator, Glasgow Life to discuss a Short Walks Programme. The aim was to encourage who have successfully undertaken short walks to progress to lengthier walks. A programme of Short walks was compiled and sent to all Group members and publicised through Glasgow Life. It consisted of 6 walks between 6th March –15th May, which were free for non-members to participate. Ben created a flyer & press release. The first walk attracted a great deal of interest and over 25 walkers took part. The rest of the programme was also popular, although it only generated 2 new members. Margaret McGhee and Catherine Watt are having further discussions with Glasgow Life.

The Committee has noted analyses of the attendances on walks. As stated in the Annual Report for 2012/13, there does not appear to be any significant pattern showing attendance varying according to grade, date (Thursday, Saturday or Sunday), half-day or full day, or using public transport or cars. Copies of the analyses can be obtained on request.

Membership

As at 1st October, 2013, the Group’s “active” (i.e. fully paid up) membership was 222, with 9 members “payment pending” (i.e. up to two months overdue). As at 1st October, 2014, those figures were 227 and4. Over the year, there was therefore a net increase of 5in “active” membership.

Publicity

The Group poster was updated by Margaret McGhee and printed. It was distributed for display on notice boards in supermarkets and other outlets including Mitchell Library. Updated information on the walks Programme is being sent to the West End Magazine for inclusion in the ‘What’s On’ section.

Website

Alan Watt set up the Group website in 2011 and it had been hosted by a company called UK2. Glasgow Ramblers Group own the domain name glasgowramblers.org.uk. The Group paid UK2 for the web hosting and for the use of the domain name. Keeping the website up-to-date could be time-consuming and could be difficult for someone else to take over because it was created and coded using fairly basic, free software. Ramblers Central Office now offers to host group websites, to provide appropriate website management software and, importantly, to provide support to groups in setting up and maintaining their websites. The Central Office website management software allows for the design of a more sophisticated website. The Committee has agreed to transfer over its existing website to Central Office hosting for the time being but, with the new software, it would be easier for others in the Group to run the website in due course and to get support from Central Office if necessary.

Other points regarding the content of the website are being considered by the Committee.

Miscellaneous

Margaret McGhee, Eleanor Peacock and Barry Pottle attended aVolunteers Training Dayorganised by Ramblers Scotlandon 2nd November, 2013 in Perth.

John Muir Way festival took place in April 2014. Ramblers Groups were asked to host a walk along part of the route. There was a promotion to create & design a flag which could be passed along the way from Dunbar to Helensburgh. Catherine Watt & Barry Pottle met with the artists to facilitate the creation of a flag, and the artists also joined one of the Group’s walks in February. Proposed designs of flag were noted, but no information has come back to the Committee as to whether the flags were in fact used during the festival or would be used in future.

The Group is now a member of the 'Walking Partnership' with Ramblers Holidays. For every holiday booked with Ramblers Holidays, a donation is given to the Group.

Group Committee (as at 30th September, 2014)

Chairman - Barry Pottle

Secretary - Vacant

Treasurer –Mary Wilson

Other members - Steve Cartwright

Eamon Fitzgerald

Gertraute Lowrie

Gerard McCrear

Margaret McGhee

Bobby Robb

Eleanor Peacock

Catherine Watt

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