The following descriptions are more or less true and may help you decide whether to nominate yourself or someone else for a Committee position at the next AGM.You can find some further details on each of the roles on the Website here.
In general, Committee work involves cooperation, compromise, and working in groups so the oft mentioned Wisdom of Solomon, steady hand and a sense of humour will stand you in good stead.
It’s not necessary for all Committee members to be expert bushwalkers, cyclers, paddlers or whatever, but the ability to listen and heed the advice of those who are, is important.
And, obviously, a keen interest in helping the Club prosper is a must!
President (Ian)
Leads the Club with a firm but kind hand, making sure we don’t get lost along the tangled pathways of rules and regulations. The President usually chairs meetings, sees that our Club remains inclusive, welcoming and friendly, and ensures we stay on track. He responds to issues affecting the Club and encourages members to lead activities in a safe, competent and friendly manner. As de facto leader of the Club, Ian receives calls and emails from the Committee, Members and other groups seeking direction, clarification, leadership or use as a ‘sounding board’. To do all this, he needs the Wisdom of Solomon, the patience of a saint and, most of all, a ready sense of humour.
Vice-President (John)
Many would suggest that this is the easiest job on the Committee, and it probably is providing the President never takes a holiday, sick leave or other period of absence. Unfortunately for John and Avenel, his predecessor, Ian has been known to go touring so it is helpful if the VP has a crystal ball to ensure that they will be present when the President is absent.
Secretary (Phil)
The Time Lord of the Committee who turns hours into minutes and minutes into sensible meeting decsions. The Secretary attends to correspondence and enquiries and maintains contact with Committee members. Key attributes include the ability to find pearls of wisdom among the dross of animated discussion at meetings, and a good sense of dates so that meeting notices are sent out in timely fashion. He is also the odd job man who does a bit of everything as the need arises.
Treasurer (Jean)
If you can count up to 20 without taking your socks off, this is the job for you. The Treasurer maintains our accounts, authorises payments and prepares financial reports for meetings with details of payments and balances, incomings and outgoings. This requires a neat and logical mind and the ability to navigate a spreadsheet without using GPS.
Membership (Robyn)
Robyn is our first point of contact with all new members and other enquires. Yes, Robyn is our face, voice and contact with the outside world and fields any number of questions, suggestions and requests. The Membership Secretary processes new membership applications, ensures they are welcomed and holds their hands through their first activity. While once this involved a mountain of paper and the destruction of several forests, the computer now does all (or most of the work).
Robyn also performs the other ‘most important’ job of all, that of our Social Convenor. She ensures we have venues for meetings and appropriate refreshments to enhance our sociability. This requires the organisational skills of a Field-Marshal and the uncanny ability to know how many sausages to order when you have no idea how many people are coming
Activities Co-ordinator (Alec)
Keeps us on our toes, saddles, skis, canoes and anything else. The Activities Co-ordinator oversees the program and liaises with leaders to ensure that planned activities are run safely. This is done by checking and approving planned activities before they appear on the Club’s website. He regularly reviews Club protocols and policies related to activities to ensure we are following best practice and encourages new leaders by arranging mentors. To do all this, you need a good knowledge of the places we visit, the aforementioned Wisdom of Solomon and an operational crystal ball.
Tuesday Walks Co-ordinator (Graham)
You need to be on your game as the Tuesday Walks co-ordinator. It’s not hard, but there is a bit of juggling required to get the program, leaders, destinations and logistics bedded down for publication on the Website. We offer one of these walks 48 times a year, and they are by far, our most popular activity. The good news is that we have a vast catalogue of walks and a streamlined process which makes it easy to roll out. So think of the side walk juggler – a few balls in the air – nothing we all haven’t done before!!
Cycling co-ordinator (Kerry)
The cycling coordinator oversees the cycling program and liaises with leaders and the Activities co-ordinator to ensure that planned activities are run safely. To do this, they need a good knowledge of the discipline, places to visit, and tend to be an active participant
Paddling co-ordinator (Avenel)
Same as the Cycling co-ordinator except it is for Paddling
Newsletter Editor (Bev)
If you’ve read this far you’ll have an idea of what the newsletter editor does. On occasions throughout year, a stunning publication (you can be the judge!), packed with news, information and trip reports is sent via the ether to members for their edification.
Website Manager (lots of people, everyone has a go!)
Is responsible for some of the easy back office stuff (the hard stuff is outsourced to an external consultant) which keeps the Club’s website running. It’s not that hard really, if you can use a word processor you are half way there. Yes there is a little bit of introductory training, but after that you will be writing blogs, posting Trip Reports, managing the events calendar, having a wow of a time. Believe me, you will surprise yourself with what you can do and learn
[With thanks, and apologies, to Eileen Clark of the Border Bushwalking Club, for bastardising their well-crafted article outlining their Committee roles]