AOAC Newsletter

Message from the Chair - February 2023

Happy New Year! A bit late but this is the first newsletter of 2023.

I hope this year is treating you well so far and you have managed to get out doing your favourite activities, or maybe you have tried something new already. Perhaps you were one of many who brushed the mud off and went along to the Kicking off 2023 party – it is great to have a big Club social event after what feels like a very long time and it is always good to see photos of trips on the AOAC Facebook page and see what fun people have been having.

Thanks as always to everyone who has been/is organising and leading events for the Club. Also to the Committee for their hard work behind the scenes.

It would be great to have some more day events on the calendar such as walks and road/mountain biking. We are currently reviewing/simplifying the requirements for becoming a local walk leader. Hopefully this will encourage more of you to become approved Club walk leaders and put your favourite local walk on the calendar. There is still plenty of scope for longer/more challenging day walks so if you are a more experienced walk leader please think about putting one of these on the calendar too.

Upcoming AGM

More detail on the AGM below, but please have a think about whether you would like to be on the AOAC Committee next year – the AGM is on Wednesday 15^th March.  This year it will be in person only, however voting for committee positions and resolutions will be conducted online afterwards.  All committee posts are open for nominations – we are in particular looking for a Secretary as Maria has done 3 years in the role and has to step down; we are also looking for a new web officer, activities officer and communications officer as Irene, Pete and Sue are stepping down too. If anyone is interested in these or any of the other positions (Chair, Treasurer, Development, Equipment or Membership officer) please speak to or email the current role holder and they can share what is involved.  You can also check the AOAC website which has a detailed description of what each role entails.

Our next committee meeting is on February 15th – details on the calendar – come along and see what we get up to.

Katie, AOAC Chair
[email protected]
 

WALKING

Walking is one of AOAC's most popular Club activities; it is a great introduction to the Club and a good way to get to know club members; there is always a fellow walker who can tell you about other activities that are going on in the Bristol and Avon area. Almost all the multi-activity trips (UK and abroad) include walking.

All walks are graded so you can decide if the walk is the right level for you. 

Contacts

If you would like to know more please feel free to drop our Walking Coordinator an email:

Andy, Walks Coordinator
[email protected]

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The AOAC caters for all levels of mountain biker, though most of the organised rides are aimed at beginners to intermediate level. We have an emphasis on enjoyment, and try to ensure there is something for everyone. For the more experienced mountain biker we try to fit in descents, drop offs and climbs, technical single track and hair raising rocky horrors. For beginners and those wanting a more gentle ride, we use marked off-road cycle tracks or mountain biking paths, and usually stop for tea and cakes half way round. More extreme mountain biking trips are generally organised by keen individuals, getting together with like-minded people, in and around Bristol and further afield in the UK.

Contacts

If you would like to know more please feel free to drop our Mountain Biking Coordinator at [email protected]

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR A NEW BIKE COORDINATOR!  Guy has done some fantastic work over the years promoting both road biking and mountain biking (and continues to have a hand in this) - I have been unable to do much with this and continue the good work unfortunately.  If you would like to take on this role, please drop an email to [email protected] or drop me an email at [email protected].
Sue, Comms
comms@aoac.co.uk

ROAD BIKING

The club has a strong and developing road cycling group that is expanding and running rides for all levels of rider.  Inclusive and friendly, it’s about the “group” and making it fun for all members who come out cycling.

We encourage cyclists to find the ride type that suits them and work up a type if they want to. There’s no pressure to develop but if you want to, other members and the coordinators are here to help. Rides appear on the calendar and are open to all members to plan their cycling ahead or on the forum if the notice time is shorter. We cycle in and around Bristol and further afield, both at home and abroad.

We can advise and assist anyone who wants to try or take up cycling with practical help and direction on what to do.

Contacts

If you would like to know more please feel free to drop our Road Cycling Coordinator at [email protected].

CLIMBING

Throughout the year, members of the AOAC can be regularly found at the indoor climbing walls and bouldering centres across Bristol.  When the weather is dry in the UK, we head outdoors to places like Avon Gorge, Cheddar Gorge, Goblin Combe, the Wye Valley and further afield to Cornwall, Wales, the Peak District, Spain and France.

We run a variety of trips ranging from indoor climbing to sport and trad climbing.  Our trips cater for a range of abilities from complete beginners' climbs through to experienced climbers. 

For more information, contact the climbing coordinator at [email protected].

PADDLESPORTS
 

Canoeing and Kayaking in AOAC

Want to get away from the crowds and experience a new way to access the great outdoors? Feel restricted on land or have an urge to get wet, then why not try canoeing or kayaking?

Paddlesport in AOAC currently encompasses canoe and kayak touring, white water river trips and playboating, coastal and open water sea kayaking and kayak surfing.  We run trips and training in and around Bristol, in South West England and South Wales and overseas.  We cater for the complete novice and equally welcome those with prior experience.

Our members might enjoy the exhilaration of white water, surf or tide race paddling, have fun playboating or perhaps take a more relaxed approach, having chance wildlife encounters on a picturesque river or coastal sea trip. These are both organised formal trips or with like-minded people just getting together to go boating.  Playboating and surfing tend to happen in specific places where the water conditions are just right. One of the best places for playboating near Bristol is the Cardiff White Water Centre where we often practise during the summer when the white water river levels are low. 

Whatever your tastes, AOAC can help you meet your paddlesport aspirations.  

During the summer months we run ‘Taster’ sessions and a programme of British Canoeing qualification courses that can help you achieve the standard needed to take part in some of our more adventurous trips.

Contacts

If you would like to know more please feel free to drop our Paddlesports Co-ordinator an email at [email protected].

AND FINALLY . . .

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023

The AGM is being held on Wednesday 15^th March at Inn on the Green, Horfield (upstairs) 7.30pm. There will not be an option to join online this year, however voting for the new committee will be done online following the AGM as last year.

Deadline for resolutions by members is Wednesday 15^th February – proposed resolutions need to be seconded by a member in accordance with Club rules – with details of nominator/ seconder to be submitted to the Secretary [email protected]  

Committee Posts

All posts are open and nominations for each role are welcome and details of each post are outlined in the email you will have received.  In accordance with Club Rules all posts – other than Chair and Treasurer – can be shared (though there can be a non-committee assistant treasurer to share the load).

In particular we are looking for nominations for the following roles: Secretary, Activities Officer, Web Officer and Communications Officer.

Some thoughts to help you decide to put yourself forwards:-

What’s in it for you? 
Get more involved in the running of the Club and have direct input into decisions, policy, etc.

Give something back to the Club – after all, we need a committee otherwise the Club cannot function.

Meet new people, learn new skills.

Too busy to be on the committee? 
All of us have busy lives - put in as much time/energy to the role as you are able to.

Don’t know if you’d be any good? New to the Club? 
Lots of support available from those who have done the role before.

Busy on a specific weekday evening? 
The new committee will decide which night suits everyone best for holding committee meetings.

You will need to find someone to second your nomination. Send your nominations/seconds to [email protected]

Deadline for nominations is Wednesday 15^th March

Got any questions? Not sure? Our next online committee meeting is on Wednesday February 15^th 730pm – link on calendar – come along and see what we get up to, or speak to/email a committee member directly – details on the website: https://aoac.co.uk/content/committee-members

Detailed descriptions of each role can be found in the ‘Club Rules’ on the AOAC Website: https://aoac.co.uk/content/aoac-company-details-0

We also have a number of non-committee posts that are held including assistant treasurer, welfare officer, activity coordinators and first aid coordinator. These are not voted for at the AGM however are very important roles for the smooth and safe running of the Club. Welfare in particular is a role/area that requires development.

NEWSLETTER CONTENT

If you would like something to appear in the newsletter, a trip write up with pics, a funny story to tell, a promotion of your event, a related article, all content is welcome, please email me at comms.

Sue
[email protected]

CLUB OPERATION

If members would like information on how the Club operates, you can visit the website https://aoac.co.uk/content/how-club-operates.

EVENTS