Newsletter
June 2003
News
Event and Walk Leaders
May I apologise that the letter thanking you for your offers of help, which was sent out with the last mailing has caused some confusion. The aim was to acknowledge what people wanted to lead and not to assume that everybody was happy to lead below his or her grade. However I got the list of codes muddled up and failed to change the letter enough to convey this point. The event co-ordinator is clear about the grades and should you need any clarification, please do contact her (address and phone number in the front of the printed Newsletter click here for details on how to get your own copy of the printed newsletter).
SUMMARY OF 22nd AGM
(Saturday 5th April at All Nations Christian College, Ware)51 members and 1 observer were present at this 22nd AGM, which opened with a time of worship. After apologies for absence, there was a summary of the minutes of the 21st AGM.
Chairman's Report: Membership numbers and attendance had increased over the past year, so new leaders are always welcome, and anyone interested should speak to a committee member. The committee and all those working hard behind the scenes were thanked. We are asked to pray for the future of the club, the new committee, and our YHA contacts.
Treasurer's Report: Key points from the audited accounts were explained. We are in good shape, but the club still needs to keep up its reserves to pay the deposits required for big events.
Membership Secretary's Report: Over a third of enquiries now come from the website and email. Many queries are about the local groups.
Programme Co-ordinator's Report: Event Statistics for 2002 showed there had been 54 events, with 463 members attending at least one event, leaving 188 "sleeping members". The importance of training events was stressed.
Seven of the eight committee posts were filled, with the Acting Newsletter Editor and Booking Assistant also willing to continue in their posts. The retiring committee members were presented with tokens of appreciation.
YHA GRO Booking System: Feedback on the current system was requested. There were several useful suggestions which will be considered by the committee. In general leaders are happy with the system, but it helps everyone if members book before the deadline.
There was no Other Business, so the meeting then closed in prayer.
Hilary Huntingdon
Treasurer’s Report
Unlike 2001, when CRC suffered the effects of the Foot and Mouth crisis, 2002 was relatively uneventful financially. One category of expenditure that has increased substantially compared with 2001 is the amount we pay out in advance for deposits on events. This continues to rise, from a total of £17,700 in 2000, to £23,000 in 2001 and now to £27,600 in 2002. This probably reflects increased use of Rent-a-hostel and other bookings that require deposits, and is the main reason why the club needs to maintain healthy reserves.
The only other item of expenditure that was increased significantly was the amount we spent on publicity (e.g. in TGO magazine), as we know there must be many folk “out there” who would value club membership if only they knew about it. However the results of these extra advertisements were rather disappointing, so they will not be continued. A large proportion of current members tell us that they heard of CRC through a friend, so we are considering alternative lower profile methods to advertise our existence (such as more use of the green leaflets currently sent to conference centres etc.), which we hope will be cheaper but more effective. No doubt you will hear more of this in due course.
We ended the year with a net surplus of £201 compared with the start of the year, which in fact increased our reserves (about £7000) more-or-less in line with inflation.
If you would like a full copy of the accounts please send me a stamped-addressed envelope (address in front of the printed Newsletter click here for details on how to get your own copy of the printed newsletter).
Geoffrey Payne
Events Report
At the AGM, I was able to say a few words about the 6 large, 28 weekend, 12 bank holiday and 8 week long events held in 2002. This is a summary of my report. The number of events was up 35% compared with 2001 (but that year the countryside was affected by Foot & Mouth). This amounted to about 3000 bed nights in hostels, B&Bs, self-catering cottages and a camping barn. Excluding large events, the attendance averaged 14 people. Average attendance at large events dropped by 25% compared with 2001, to 57. In the year, 463 people attended events out of a total membership of about 600. The events were roughly evenly spread throughout the Great Britain, plus one in Ireland and one in France.
The chart indicates the number of people attending events. Of the 42 or so leaders, one person led 4 events and 3 people led 3 events. It was my aim that no one leads more than one event each year. To help meet this goal, the committee organised an event leaders training weekend, but attendance was lower than we hoped. We plan to have more training weekends in 2003 and would encourage anyone who feels as if they have a calling to lead for the club to come and brush up or develop their skills.
At some events the number of day visitors was significant, one having 26 and another having 19. These large numbers can seriously upset group dynamics. Anyone wishing to attend an event for the day should contact the event leader beforehand.
Two events worthy of special note, as I know they were firsts for the club, were the Orkney and the Music & Arts events; both very successful. Finally may I thank everyone who has helped in the leading of events and walks throughout 2002. I think it was a good year for the club!
Duncan Parsons
Profiles of the new committee members
The three new committee members were asked to introduce themselves.
Charlotte Stewart
I work at Viva Network – a Christian charity working with children at risk, mainly in the third world. This summer I will be going out to Costa Rica to help at one of our regional centres and work on a children’s camp. You can learn more about the work we do in a separate article on Viva which will be in a later edition of the newsletter, as CRC has supported us this year. I moved to Oxford at the end of last year to be closer to work, so am enjoying the pleasures of getting around on a bike!
I became a Christian in my 20s. Growing up at home had not been easy with mental illness in the family, and I was searching for a meaning to life and some peace. Both of these I found in Jesus and I can happily say that life has never been the same again since!
I joined CRC in 2001, having heard about the club from a colleague at work. I’ve enjoyed walking in many beautiful areas that I’d never been to before, and have made many new friends. I am taking on the job of programme secretary, so let’s hope there aren’t too many mistakes!
Valerie Breeze
I have been privileged to share in many CRC events since its early years giving countless happy memories and friendships as a result. Living in Croydon gives me the opportunity to walk with the South East group, of which I was a founder member, and the Surrey group.
Walking and travelling have always been a major part of my life, as has music. I play the violin in a symphony orchestra and a chamber orchestra as well as for local choirs and my church. Here I am a member of our Missionary Committee, keeping people in touch with our missionary contacts. I am a primary school teacher planning to work part time from September. I look forward to putting a little back into the CRC by serving on the committee as the events co-ordinator.
Steven Graham
I was born at the start of The West Highland Way – Milngavie, but it took me 15 years to get to Fort William! After a happy childhood there I took a wrong compass bearing and with the rest of my family ended up near South Shields in Geordie land. When I was 19 despite my father being a Methodist local preacher I was determined to stop having to attend church. But God had other ideas!! My brother and sister both started going to a Christian teenage group where they both became Christians. I then started to attend but it took 2 years of God moving in my life before I committed my life to Christ. God led me to South Wales where I soon started preaching at a local church.
For the last 12 years I have been in the CRC, which has given me many new friends and happiness. I now want to give to the CRC so will be taking up the job of the club secretary.
The West Highland Way? – No I still haven’t done it yet!
Prayer Focus
Health - not taken for grantedSeveral CRC members have had poor health in recent times, with some real scares, even terminally. Our ability to go up hills easily or to think clearly can suddenly become a mountain outside of our control. Have you ever considered how you would manage?
Lord, we thank you for our health. We realise we have taken it for granted, and that it is not in our control but yours. Forgive us when we have felt proud in what we can handle up to now, as all good things come from you.
Lord, we pray for those in the CRC who are experiencing health difficulties, especially those who may be suffering, or feeling afflicted in some way. We ask you please to strengthen and comfort them in the real knowledge that you will never leave us, and that nothing can separate us from your love. Thank you that we can take refuge in your strength. We acknowledge that you are greater than everything that can happen, that your purposes are not thwarted, and that we can be more than conquerors because you work through every situation for your glory.
Please help those who particularly need encouragement during this time, knowing that our weak moments reveal your power, and that you will always be there to help us face the challenges. Please give grace to cope with the situation in your strength, knowing that the waters will not overwhelm us as you are with us. Please help us to be mindful of people’s needs and vulnerabilities. We pray for those who have had to take a new direction as a result of the different circumstances they find themselves in. Please help them through to a new path in your purposes, knowing that you guide us continually, and to view the situation through your eyes. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me…for when I am weak then I am strong (2 Cor. 12.9).
Judy Jones
Puzzle
The names of thirty four books of the Bible are concealed here. Quite a large number, so you may struggle to find them all. I admit it usually takes about twenty minutes. I discovered merely by a fluke, that many books of the Bible can be found in ordinary text written in Roman script and I remarked on it to a friend. The facts are that it was a revelation how easy they are to find. One chap, who had as dismal a childhood as possible, found it a difficult job. A few got themselves in a real jam, especially as the names of the books were not capitalised, but the truth was that it was an enjoyable quest, nonetheless. Philip, Ian, Simon and John went to "The Mahraj" on a High Street nearby, to get a curry to help them, when they saw a friend who called to Philip "Hi, lemon chicken is the special tonight". One person, who saw them at the worst moment of their search, said she brews a cup of tea to aid her concentration, while another sucks on a humbug to help, as it's a bit steep. He's Ian's cousin in fact. Another, strangely keeping his head warm wearing a fez, raced through them all, but perhaps working at a table made of formica had made it easier. He'd competed on the internet from Sudan. I elevated him to the position of fastest winner. Joe Lightfoot, who lives in Sharp's Almshouses and who suffers from chronic lesions, chose a free evening to devote to the task and was working so hard he was up half the night. See how well you compete. Relaxation helps and be assured others will judge sympathetically. Yes, there are some harder to find than others and there may be loud lamentations before finding the last ones, but most people say it's a most enjoyable exercise and you will be joking soon. If you don't, it's all in the genes, I suppose.
Thought for the walk
At the AGM we sang ‘Jesus, you are the centre’, which inspired the following thoughts.
Lord Jesus
You are indeed our centre, our Source, our driving force;
Without you as the hub of our lives we would collapse inwards from the outside pressures, we would have no motivating force and no moving power.
Your gifts and blessing radiate out to us through the Holy Spirit giving a meaning and pattern to our lives and forming a balance shape;
Our bodies, created individually by God, complete the circle of life and spirit. We are whole functioning beings, moving continually along the path You have set before us.Maureen Davies
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