RAMBLERS' ASSOCIATION – some basics

							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
RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION – the case for
             change

•   Relevance
•   Diversity
•   Efficiency
•   Re-juvenation
•   M and A “straight-jacket”
    RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION – factors
       affecting approach to change

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