RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION some basics

1
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION some basics

• Origins traceable to late 19th Century formed in
  1935
• Membership organisation user-led democratic
• Extensive branch structure expert volunteers
  campaigning
• Committed, wise, cantankerous, honourable and
  battle-scarred
• Static ageing

2
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION the case for change

• Relevance
• Diversity
• Efficiency
• Re-juvenation
• M and A straight-jacket

3
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION factors affecting
approach to change

• Not a crisis
• Babies and bathwater
• The personality and ethos of the RA
• The cats cradle
• Keep it in proportion, other things also matter!

4
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION the approach to change

• Slow, incremental, unthreatening
• Widespread consultation, no surprises
• Constant reference to the wider world (Charity
  Commission)
• Long time-frames
• Boring! Inevitable!

5
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION changes will be accepted
if

• Long-term CEO and trustee commitment to it
• Variety of stakeholders can be reassured and
  persuaded
• Coherence to the many strands involved
• Genuine milestones in the night
• Gentle, remorseless, determined, patient
  leadership

6
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION thus far ..

• A strategic plan agreed focus and coherence
• Incorporation
• Younger people coming through
• Volunteer Development Team funded by branches
• Social inclusion role being developed
• Key governance motion placing trustees in charge
  2005
• Funding pilot underway 2006
• Trustee shake-up underway
• Simplifying the M and A underway
• We are together and doing good work!

7
RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION has it worked?

• By April 2006
• Trustees running the organisation but held to
  account
• Diverse trustees meeting for hours not days
• Money flows according to need and priorities
• Better alignment of activities with objects
• Younger network vibrant
• We remain on organisation influenced by our
  members
• Acceptance that change is constant..