Note It is with sadness that I have to report that FSC Malham Tarn, probably my favourite among Big Weekend venues I have booked, is to close after FSC rejected a rescue package thrashed out with its landlord, the National Trust.
apologies to Radio One. I think that did help to reposition the event as a gettogether for members that also incorporates our AGM, rather than an AGM with other events around it.
Your committee has been working hard to move beyond the multi-tasking era during which we’ ve struggled to �ill key of�icer roles and so I’ m now delighted to hand over to Kevin Sene, who now assumes responsibility for the delivery of our 2023 Big Weekend for which the FSC venue of Millport, on Great Cumbrae, has been booked for some time now. Remember the date – it’ s Friday October 13, so that’ s an easy one to remember!
I now �ind myself with more time to devote to the role of Chair and, in particular, to the twin tasks of drawing in new members and making sure that we provide value for money so as to ensure good membership retention. Our outgoing Membership Secretary Ronald Turnbull reports that the signs in this regard are already encouraging and so I welcome on board his successor, Josephine Collngwood. Our regular Zoom sessions, so ably organised by Felicity Martin, have brought real added value to membership and I hope that more regional events will do the same. I urge you all to participate in the online forums and make full use of the advice notes and member bene�its on the website.
As Chair I want to see us engaging properly in a variety of activities that will add meaning and authenticity to
Top Windermere( David Taylor) Middle Haverthwaite Station( Allan Hartley) Bottom Jacquetta and Judith( Chris Howes)
the work of the Guild and its members and so I am especially keen to see the position of media relations of�icer relaunched and rejuvenated, with the aim of achieving regular bulletins to the outdoors and related media.
I want to see better exploitation of the outward-looking features that Guild is already blessed with … the Golden Eagle and gear awards, our associate membership category, our awards sponsorship and so on. As members, please begin to think now about potential Golden Eagle nominees – this is your award to someone we believe has made a real contribution to the idea of sharing the outdoors world with society at large.
These are just some of the actions that can improve our visibility and thus the appeal of becoming a member of the Guild and they can all assist us in proactively prospecting for new members, not just among authors and journalists who write books about or take pictures of the outdoors, but also among social media bloggers and in�luencers, those who work in interpretation, illustration – and writing in broader outdoor“ spheres”, including conservation, nature and self-planned travel.
The boundaries between all the various outdoor specialisms are blurring and constantly shifting: we can turn these changes to our advantage by offering a broader umbrella for those who would like to share and learn from the experiences of their peers.
outdoor focus / winter 2022 9