Local Area Secretary

What does a BMC local area secretary do?

An area secretary chairs the area committee meetings and ensures that the committee properly reflects the area members views. They act as a point of contact for members in the local area and allow members to raise concerns/issues.

Key tasks and responsibilities of the role

• Chair Area Meetings (4-5 a year)
• Create Agenda with the area secretary
• Help fill area vacancies
• Liaise with other area reps
• Engage with BMC over current issues
• Engage the local area memberships and encourage involvement
• You may wish to organise a speaker for your local area meetings

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background with the BMC?

I live in North Wales. I’ve been a climber and hillwalker since I was a teenager, and I’ve also been a BMC member for many years. I’ve attended area meetings for quite a long time and always realised the importance for climbers and walkers to have a forum and a voice.

What inspired you to step into a formal volunteer role within the BMC?

It’s only in the last year that I’ve taken on a formal volunteer role. There were two triggers that led me to raise my hand at last autumn’s AGM. One was that no one had put forward their name for either the Chair or the Secretary role. The second was that the existing Chair suggested managing that situation by sharing the roles between a small group of people. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take on either role alone, but the idea of operating as part of a little team felt much more manageable. It’s worked out well from my point of view, and I know others have said the same about the arrangement.

What has your involvement in this role looked like over the past year?

Anne: Over the year, I’ve kept in close touch with the other area leaders, plus our area representative on the Members’ Council and the Access and Conservation Officer for Wales. I planned and chaired one of our quarterly meetings, which was held online. I’ve also taken on the task of monitoring the conservation volunteer events that take place. It’s been enjoyable to work with these people and get to know them. It’s interesting to have more knowledge of what’s going on in the area for climbers and walkers. And it’s good to feel as though I’m making a contribution. I’ve occasionally had members come up to me and thank me for my work.

How much of a time commitment has this role been?

It’s hard to say exactly what the time commitment has been. Most of the work has been half an hour or an hour of emails or phone conversations here and there. There have been some in-person meetings and some site visits. One of the good things about sharing the roles is that if one of us couldn’t attend a meeting or event, someone else could step in. We are fairly like-minded people, and as long as we keep communicating, there’s no lack of continuity. Another reassuring thing is that when a decision has to be made, there are always others to give advice.

With the AGMs coming up again, what would you say to members considering a volunteer role?

Anne: At this time, all areas are beginning to plan their AGM meetings, and in my area, there are several vacancies. Certainly, in my area, it would be especially welcome if some younger people were to volunteer. I think the sense of satisfaction from giving something back is well worth the time spent, and modern methods of communication mean that however busy your life, or however much you travel, the work could be fitted in around other commitments. To put it in a nutshell, I think volunteering enriches your life, and I’d encourage any member to volunteer for a role with their BMC area.