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 .
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