Newsletter Jan 14

Wishing all our members a very Happy New Year

Member Survey

Many thanks to those of you who completed the survey – Below, for your information, is the analysis of the results and a summary of key comments.

The Wainwright’s – Long Distance Walking Challenge – commencing 2014

The outline plan for 2014 is to walk on 3 weekends based in Great Langdale, Patterdale and Buttermere in May, July and September. The proposed dates (below) may be subject to change if unsuitable.

Other dates for your 2014 Diary are:

Note 1: Those who have paid deposits will have received confirmation from the Treasurer.

Member Survey 2013 – Summary of Key Comments

(The figures in parentheses indicate the number of members making each comment)

 Q1 Do you think the club should continue to be financed through walk fees rather than, for example, an annual subscription. Please add any other comments on Club Finances in the comments box?

• No strong views / It’s a balanced argument (4)
• What is easiest to do? Views of Treasurer and others involved in collecting the money by either method are crucial (6)
• An annual fee ensures that subsidised events, eg the AGM, are paid for equally by all members rather than predominantly by frequent walkers (4)
• Occasional walkers may choose to leave club rather than pay annual subscription (1)
• Current system works well. Why change? (1)
• Have a combination of both (1)
• Annual fee helps to establish the membership and budget (2)

Q2 Does the mix & frequency of walks fulfil your requirements? If not what would you like to see done differently?

• Option of mid-week walks (2)
• Slower pace reds in summer (2)
• Grateful to walk leaders (1)
• Happy with walk programme (1)
• Would  like dogs on harder walks (1)
• Would like more green walks (1)
• Would like more red walks (1)

Q3 Do our Social Events meet your needs (type, location, and frequency)?

• Cost of meals expensive (1)
• Membership too diverse to hold more than 1 or 2 events  (1)
• Miss Summer Party (2)
• Eaton Golf Club – price/location good (1)
• Occasional change from Eaton Golf Club welcomed and less emphasis on food (1)
• Enjoy getting dressed up, dancing, quizzes but music distressing – can we just meet to chat/socialise (1)
• Just about right with 3 or 4 events plus 2  walking weekends (2)
• Autumn weekends earlier (September) (2)

Q4 Does the current form of the club’s spring & autumn breaks meet with your approval? (Time of the year/Location/Distance/Quality of Accommodation/Quality of Food)

• Not aware of non-walking activities organised by the club (1)
• Autumn breaks earlier (2)
• Enjoy weekends away (2)
• Weekends a great success whatever the weather and core to the club for people to get to know each other (1)
• Like ambience of HF houses (1)
• Occasional use of non-HF Houses should be considered (1)
• Enjoy weekends  with mix of travel distance/informal evenings (1)
• Travel time to Lakes and Dales ok but not keen on 4-5 hours
• Cost of weekends too high for some members – different types/ mix/accommodation/non HF should be considered (2)
• Would like Alnmouth again (1)
• Would like Shropshire (1)
• Looking forward to trying first weekend  next year at Selworthy/Dolgellau (3)

Q5 Does the current form of the club’s summer holiday meet with your approval (location, duration etc)?

• Have very much enjoyed/found excellent those done (5)
• Like location of 2014 but the journey too complex (1)
• Do not like location for 2014 and travel too complex (1)
• Don’t like heat and would prefer British destination in June (1)
• Prefer family holiday (1)
• Cost unnecessarily high – more reasonably priced with range of accommodation should be sought (1)

Q6 Do You Feel Safe and Secure when walking with the club? (If not what could we do better)?

• Appreciate time constraints of red in winter – experiment in summer of different pace of reds would allow blue walkers to progress (to be included in walk brief) (2)
• Concern for whole group using roads (1)

Q7 Do the Walk Briefs provide you with sufficient information to select the walks you wish to go on? If not what could we do better?

• Walk profile/graph (ascent/descent) useful to give pattern of the day and deciding on walk (2)
• Happy to check my capability with walk leader (1)
• Frustrating not to have map of walk area and have expanded map collection and use BING.maps (1)
• More information than other clubs/colour grading useful (3)
• Dogs on more walks (1)
• Difficult to predict pace of walk – some harder walks planned  at a  slower pace helpful (1)

Q8 The club has supported the same two charities (Cancer Research/Stroke Association) for a number of years in memory of previous members. Each charity receives approx £50 –

£60 per annum from the ‘Charity’ walk fees. Do you feel this is still appropriate? If not do you have any suggestions?

• One charity may be more appropriate as donation relatively small/voted for at AGM (2)
• Do not like to give to charities chosen by others (1)
• Quite happy with these two national charities but perhaps time to consider a  local one (1)
• Most members likely  to donate to charities of their choice amount is small potential discussion would be out of proportion (1)

Q9 Why Did You Join/What Do You Want From Your Club? Mark only the rows which apply to you and rate how you feel about each

• Club meets a wide variety of my needs (1)
•  Like idea of Wainwrights (1)
• Requirements and abilities have changed over the years (1)

Q10 Which of the following influence your decision to attend a Sunday Walk (Mark all that apply)?

Grade (Green, Blue, Red, Black)/Location (Terrain)/Location (Scenery)/Location (Travelling Distance)/Length of Walk 19/Ascent/Weather conditions on the day

• Prefer walks closer to Chester – 30-60 minutes/do not want to travel too far  (2)
• Excellent range of walks and special events catering for a range of abilities – no major change needed (1)
• Descent steepness (2)
• Dog (1)