REPORT FROM THE
LDWA NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING
24TH JANUARY 2009
The National Committee met on 24th January and it was a very productive meeting. It is great to see the LDWA making contacts with outside organisations to discuss how we can work together and share information and ideas. Meetings have recently taken place with a number of organisations including The Ramblers and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. It is hoped that there will be a way for people taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award to join in our events as training for their 50 Mile+ Trek. One question that has arisen is whether any of our members are already Duke of Edinburgh Award Assessors. If you are involved in this way, perhaps you could contact Tony Willey who would like to chat to you about the Scheme.
The Committee are very keen to hear from members who would wish us to consider making a donation to a worthwhile cause in line with our donations policy which will appear very soon on the Library Section of the LDWA website, if it has not already been placed there. If you have a project that you feel should be considered, please submit an application for the National Committee to consider at our July meeting.
One issue that has been discussed a few times is on-line entry for events. A number of groups have already used on-line entry through either Sport Ident or Runners World and this has proved to be quite successful in most instances. If groups would like more information or advice on using these on-line entry schemes, then Fiona Cameron will be able to give you her guidance. It is a concern to a number of members as to how the LDWA should proceed with developing on-line entry and it has therefore been decided to form a sub-committee to progress the issue.
The Committee has been working on developing a Child Protection and Vulnerable Persons Policy and this will be shared with groups when it has been completed. A number of events are already seeing an increase in young people taking part e.g. scouting groups etc and if we have Duke of Edinburgh Award entrants too, then we will have even more, which is all very positive for the future of the LDWA. Group Secretaries will receive information as soon as it is available.
The AGM weekend is fast approaching, and if you want to book, please do so fast as the report from Geoff Saunders was that nearly all the rooms have been filled – just a few spaces left. It could be a record attendance this year.
The January meeting was the last National Committee meeting for our outgoing Chairman, Tony Willey and also Eva Bowes and Tim Glenn. The Committee took the opportunity to thank these members for all the work they have done over their period of service. At the AGM in March the new Committee will be formed with some new members and a new Chairman.
Katie Hunt
