Area Secretary (Essex Area)

Essex Area Ramblers are looking for a successor to David Naylor as Area Secretary from February 2022.

The Area Secretary is one of the formal roles, along with the Chair and Treasurer without which the Area cannot function. It is not an onerous role and can be expanded to taste, helping to shape the activities of this large and active Ramblers Area.

The basic tasks consist of:

• Sending out Agendas (by email) for meetings (8 per annum), after consultation with the Chair. During the Covid pandemic, meetings have mostly been via Zoom, and it is likely that many meetings will continue to be on-line even if pandemic restrictions subside.

• Sending out papers (by email) for Area Council and the AGM, most of which are written by other members of the Executive Committee

• Noting actions agreed by Committee, Council or AGM meetings and circulating these as Minutes. Brevity is valued.

• Maintaining an email contact list of Group Area Chairs and Secretaries, members of Executive Committee and Area Council Delegates

• Keeping an eye on constitutional matters, answering queries in this area, accessing “Assemble” on-line databases where necessary, with the support of the Volunteer Support team at Ramblers’ Central Office. The Secretary also fields general enquiries and directs them to colleagues where appropriate – there are not many of these.

• Outside pandemic conditions, meeting rooms are block booked ahead by the Secretary. Currently, meetings take place on Zoom or by circulating papers and collating consultation responses

Essex Area Ramblers has an exceptional record as a leading and innovative Area. Your colleagues will be lively and interesting. Discussions are largely conducted by email in an open manner and all can contribute or not, depending on their interests and spare time. The Area avoids excessive bureaucracy and looks for the best impact for efficient effort. Joining the team is an excellent way of learning how Ramblers works and what the issues of the day are. You will realise just how important Ramblers is in the wider context of the walking environment and protection precious national assets.

To discuss the post, contact either the Chair, David Radford or the current Area Secretary, David Naylor