Members Newsletter January 2021
Dear Member
I hope this newsletter finds you all well during these trying days. I am sure that a positive and brighter 2021 will soon reveal itself.
The current lockdown and restrictions have proved successful with no active community cases and consequently the Government will be easing all restrictions on Monday 1st February. This will again allow the resumption of gatherings in larger numbers.
A decision has been made by the committee of MFCG that our walk programme will resume in full on Saturday 6th February. This will allow us a few days grace for all our members to feel confident to move about freely, feel safe and confident in groups after the current restrictions.
Leaders will be asked to take a handwritten note of all participants on each walk in case we are faced with the unlikely event of a requirement to track and trace. This can easily be achieved with cooperation from everyone and will only be retained for a period of 3 weeks, and we therefore ask for your compliance over this short period. Walkers will be most welcome to wear face coverings if they so wish and socially distancing too is perfectly acceptable.
Understandably we are unable to use Mylchreest Court so sadly we will have to call off the last of our winter talks on the 3rd February, however they will be back next winter.
The AGM will soon be upon us and the committee are meeting at the earliest opportunity to discuss and prepare the required paperwork for the attention of the membership. We would normally have this in place but had to postpone our January committee meeting due to lockdown so we are a few weeks behind schedule.
One thing I can tell you is that after many years of magnificent service our wonderful Membership Secretary Maree Harper will be stepping down from her role. The committee are reaching out to the membership to find a replacement to take on this role which involves the administration and control of club membership matters.
After 3 years, David Leiserach has asked for a successor to compile the summer and winter walk schedules. This does not require joining the committee but we are always looking for proactive members to help with the running of the group.
Look out for this year’s AGM notices and let’s hope for pleasant and slightly warmer weather for the resumption of our walks.
Happy walking and kind regards.
Ken Harding
Chair – Manx Footpath Conservation Group