General Council 2011 will be taking place at Keble College, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PG over the weekend 16th & 17th April 2011. The theme for the weekend will be: "How do we increase the Ramblers membership, after several years of decline?"
Final Motions agreed/lost at General Council 2011 - Click Here
This webpage will be updated regularly with more information as it becomes available.
Who goes to General Council?
What does General Council do?
Submitting motions to General Council
Standing for an elected position
Travelling to General Council
Walks Schedule
General Council Papers
Draft 2010 General Council minutes - Click Here
Update on 2010 Motions - Click Here
Guide to Procedures Click Here
Registration will be from 10.00am-10.00pm on Saturday 16th April 2011 in the Sloane Robinson Building.
On Satruday 16th April, the first Council session will begin at 2.00pm, and the final session will finish at 1.30pm on Sunday. Lunch will be provided on both days. From 11.00 to 1.00pm on Saturday, there will be informal 'ideas-sharing' discussions which all delegates are welcome to attend - more details to follow.
Council sessions will take place in the Sloane Robinson Building Lecture Theatre. Bedroom accommodation at the university will be in single study bedrooms, en suite. There is a limited availability of twin rooms.
Full details of all the weekend's events will be sent direct to those attending General Council on 24th March 2011.
Most delegates at General Council come from the Ramblers Areas. The number of delegates an Area can send depends on how many members it has. Areas also send a number of visitors - either for a day or for the weekend.
In addition, the Ramblers Board of Trustees, the President and Vice Presidents, and members of the Agenda Committee attend, as well as representatives of affiliated organisations.
Ramblers Areas are encouraged to send at least one delegate who has not attended General Council before. This is to ensure that different people get a chance to take part.
Booking Form - please give each person's full name and address (including postcode), daytime telephone number, email address and Ramblers membership number. To be returned (if possible by email) to jo.smith@ramblers.org.uk by 11th March 2011.
Special Requirements form - list here any special diet, rooming or other special requests of those attending General Council. Please complete a separate form for each person and return (if possible by email) to jo.smith@ramblers.org.uk by 11th March 2011.
Full attendee list - click here
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General Council elects members of the Board of Trustees. Amongst its responsibilities, the Board of Trustees is legally and ultimately responsible for the charity, providing security and continuity and ensuring delivery of our charitable outcomes. To find out more about the Board of Trustees responsibilities, and who the trustees currently are, click here
General Council also discusses and votes on motions. They cover policy matters and internal governance. Most motions are submitted from Ramblers Areas. Motions that are passed are then referred to the Board of Trustees for action.
General Council also receives the Annual Report & accounts (coming soon)hereand there's plenty of time for sharing ideas, as well as socialising.
If you have any queries regarding General Council, please do not hesitate to contact me on jo.smith@ramblers.org.uk
Key Dates GC01
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Motions submitted to General Council 2011 - Click Here
Motions (and amendments) need to be formally submitted to Central Office by the deadlines below:
- Saturday 19th February 2011 - for motions proposing alterations to the Memorandum & Articles of Association
- Saturday 5th March 2011 - for all other motions
- Wednesday 13th April 2011 - for any amendments to motions submitted
Explanation of rules for submitting motions GC03
To submit a motion to General Council, click here
The Agenda Committee meets on the 12th March 2011 to discuss the motions that are submitted to General Council. Final motions will be posted here once they have been agreed by Agenda Committee.
Any member of General Council, an Area or an Affiliated National Organisation can submit amendments to motions (other than those affecting the Memorandum and Articles of Association). Please note the deadline for submitting amendments is the 12th April 2011.
The Agenda Committee has similar powers in the handling of amendments as for motions (as set out in Standing Order A5) and at its meeting at General Council considers any amendments and objections which have been received at central office by the above date.
As with motions there is a right of appeal against decisions made with regards to amendments. If any objections to Agenda Committee decisions, either on motions or on amendments, have not been satisfactorily resolved before the start of the formal business of General Council, the complainant has the right to put the matter to the Council for decision.
Form for submitting amendments to motions GC13
Back to top Standing for an elected position
Candidates for Board of Trustees and Agenda Committee 2011 - Click here
Each year there are a number of positions which are elected at General Council.
The positions for election this year will be:
Three places for the Board of Trustees (to serve for three years) - Please return this form by post to Jo Smith, Ramblers, 2nd Floor Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW by 5th March 2011.
Nomination form for Board Members
In line with good practice, the Board of Trustees has undertaken a review of its skills, diversity and experience. This is to ensure it provides the strongest possible leadership for the Ramblers. It has identified the following areas of relative weakness which need to be filled:
- women and people from black and ethnic minorities, as well as a continued need for younger trustees
- experience of central and local government
- experience in fundraising
- experience in urban walking
- experience of the voluntary sector
- experience of constitutional issues
- experience of property matters
A person is not eligible to be elected as a member of the Board of Trustees unless they have been an individual member for at least 12 months as at the 5th March 2011. Nominations should be endorsed by three individual members who have been individual members for at least 36 months as at the 5th March 2011.
Please include brief biographical details (up to 300 words) and a photograph of the candidate standing for election to the Board by Saturday 5th March 2011.
President and Vice-President - Please return this form by post to Jo Smith, Ramblers, 2nd floor Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7tW by 5th March 2011.
Nomination form for Officers
5 places on the Agenda Committee - Please return this form by post to Jo Smith, Ramblers, 2nd floor Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW by 5th March 2011.
Please include brief biographical details (up to 100 words) and a photograph of the candidates standing for election to the Agenda Committee by Saturday 5th March 2011
Nomination form for Agenda Committee
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Travelling to General Council
Keble College, Oxford is easy to reach via bus, road and train. Full travel details can be found on GC09 form. Please complete this form if you require a lift from either of the park and rides or the station, and return to Peter C Stone, Pine Paddock, Whitchurch Hill, Reading RG8 7PB or email petercstone99@aol.com by the 28th February 2011.
By Bus
There are direct services from London Victoria which will take you to Central Oxford - alight at High Street/St Aldates and walk. (see below for map)
By Road
We suggest you park in the Thornhill or Peartree Park & Rides. The car parks are free. Buses run regularly (normally every 8-12 minutes) to/from Central Oxford all day Saturday and Sunday; the journey takes 12-15 minutes. Cost £2.20 per return journey with reductions for groups and free for bus pass holders.
Thornhill is situated on the east side of the city on the A40; post-code OX3 8DP; if coming on the M40 from the south come off at J8; from the north use J8A; if coming from the south or west then use the Ring Road. Take the 400 bus and alight in cenral Oxford. (High Street/St Aldates) and then walk (c. 0.5 miles/15 minutes - see map below).
Peartree is situated on the north west side of the city near the junction of the A34 & A44. Post-code OX2 8JD. Take the 300 bus and alight at Old Radcliffe Infirmary; then walk 5 minutes to the college - see map below.
Do not use any of the other park and rides in Oxford as some do not allow overnight parking.
Map for walking
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Walks Schedule
There are three walks planned at General Council this year both on the Sunday. There is no need to book in advance for any of these walks.
1. Sunday 17th April: 2.5 miles: Start at 7.00am - meet outside The Liddon Quad porter's lodge. Walk led by members of Oxford Group
2. Sunday 17th April: 3.5 miles: Start at 2.15pm - meet outside The Liddon Quad porter's lodge. Walk led by members of Oxford Group
3. Sunday 17th April: 5 miles: Start at 2.15pm - meet outisde The Liddon Quad porter's lodge. Walk led by members of Oxford Group
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