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
More information about the role
- Understanding of managing/chairing meetings
- Availability in person and online and willingness to be contacted
- Good communication skills, diplomacy and impartiality
- Familiarity with local area
- Patience and the ability to allow a voice to all members
- Welcoming and respectful to existing and new area members
At home and in person at local area meetings.
No minimum time commitment varies from 1 – 25 hours a month (more time commitment when nearing the area meetings). This role could be shared with others.
- BMC Events coordinator support for area meetings and area AGM
- Expenses –travel expenses for any meetings relating to the role as area chair
- Access to relevant training if requested
- Advice from the relevant BMC staff member on complex or difficult issues
- Feel good about giving something back to the climbing and hill walking community
- Meeting people
- Giving a voice to the members in your local area
If you are interested in finding out more about this role or would like to get involved, please contact the BMC volunteer development coordinator or your local area representatives. Michelle Hordern Michelle.hordern@thebmc.co.uk 07554998906
MEET THE NORTH WALES AREA SECRETARY: ANNE VOWLES
I’m Anne Vowles, and I live in North Wales. I’ve been a climber and hillwalker since I was a teenager 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.
But 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 a sharing of the roles between a small group of people. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take on the whole of either of the roles, but the idea of operating as part of a little team was less daunting. It has worked out well from my point of view, and I know other people have said the same about the arrangement.
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 the quarterly meeting, which was an online event. Also, I have 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. It’s hard to say what the time commitment has been. Most of the work has been half-an-hour or an hour of emails or telephone conversations here and there.
There have been some in-person meetings and some site visits. One of the good things about the sharing of the roles has been that if one of us couldn’t attend a meeting or event, often someone else could step in. We are fairly like-minded people, and so long as we keep communicating, there doesn’t seem to be a lack of continuity. Another reassuring thing is that when a decision has to be taken, there are always others to give advice.
At this time, all the areas are beginning to plan their AGM meetings, and in my area there are several vacancies. Certainly in my area, it would be especially welcomed 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.