Secretary – Liz Fairweather – Glasgow Gals CC
Why do I do the role?
I became a volunteer Ride Leader for GGCC in February 2019. It was not something that I had planned to do but something that evolved as I continued to participate in the club rides. The club night is a Thursday evening and many of the members are improving in confidence and cycling skills. It is a real joy to me when the ladies can get up a challenge hill for the first time or they realise how the gears work, or they begin to enjoy the freedom – and control – of coming down a hill at speed.
Volunteering as Membership Secretary came later, and I enjoy this role as it introduces me to every member; this gives me an understanding of their biking skills and potential needs that members will require when coming out on a cycle ride. The membership role is key to the functioning of the Club and engaging with members informs the committee of potential improvements or progress towards developing the Club for every member.
What keeps me in the role?
GGCC has become a big part of my life in retirement, and I cannot imagine not being in Glasgow Gals. I want GGCC to continue to succeed and this keeps me in the Ride Leading role and the Membership role.
I have made many friendships and enjoy being out cycling with great chums. We cycle, chat, laugh, try to keep fit and even go on weekend adventures / holiday adventures. Every Gal is a support to every other Gal.
How much time does it take?
The annual membership of GGCC rolls over on 31st March every year. This means that March and April are fairly busy for the Membership Secretary. It’s not easy to quantify a set amount of time, but it is time expensive. The Club caps membership at 165 members – so that’s at least 165 emails to be sent, but often it can be 165 x 4 or 5 emails to be sent – and this will often continue until May. After May, the amount of time reduces dramatically.
There are joint committee responsibilities, and the committee meets face-to-face four times a year.
What have I learned in my role?
The administration of a Club needs to be taken seriously for the Club to evolve and progress. I am part of a team that works well together, each person bringing a different dimension to the team. Although our main interest is in getting out on a cycle ride, we all do spend time planning cycle rides, social events and organising for skills courses or First Aid courses etc.
My IT skills have been challenged and working with different IT platforms is not easy at times, but I am now much more confident with IT in managing the membership of GGCC.
Chairperson – Lorna Breetzke – Elgin CC
Why do I do the role?
The last couple of years I have been heavily involved in Elgin Cycling Club, but I have never had an official role on the Committee. Last year our Chaiman stepped down, so I felt ready to take on the role, partly for personal development as well as leading and encouraging others in the club in the hope my enthusiasm rubs off on them.
What keeps me in the role?
Honestly, the role is so easy with the current Committee. Watching them develop the club, take on new roles and invest their time without having to be persuaded is just priceless. It’s all about teamwork and our committee is quite refreshing and modern compared to a few committee’s I’ve previously known or been part of. I’m very proud of the club and what we do and it’s an honour to be voted as Chair.
How much time does it take?
I was already so involved in the club that the actual role takes no extra time. Obviously, it does require time and effort to keep a club thriving, but the secret is having others working with you who are equally as passionate as you.
What have I learned in my role?
Being the Chairperson isn’t scary if you have the right people round you. I’ve learnt that I have more confidence than I thought I did. A few years ago, the very thought of speaking in a meeting would give me the fear but now I actually enjoy it…maybe because I love talking about cycling stuff!
Treasurer – Julian Howell – Gala CC
Why do I do the role?
Without volunteers none of our clubs and associations would exist, so I was very interested in getting involved with Gala CC, my local club. Why Treasurer? I guess I was the last person to take a step back or make an excuse why they couldn’t do it! I’m not an accountant and I don’t work in finance – however I can make a simple spreadsheet and operate a computer and that’s enough.
Every club or association needs funds to run and to operate a simple budget of income vs club activities and expenditure.
What keeps me in the role?
As with many clubs a system of accounts based on cheque books, plastic tubs of cash collected at TT events and paper receipts, was used at Gala CC. As the banking world and personal banking is moving electronic my goal was to make our club accounts electronic. This makes it much easier to track our accounts and pay bills and expenses. I can also see how club membership has a big effect on what we can afford to do each year – so I’m involved with other club members on encouraging new members, and thinking how we can make the club more attractive to local riders.
How much time does it take?
Getting our e-banking sorted has been the most time consuming; updating club mandates and many trips to the local branch with bits of paper and passports! We’re nearly there and I would think keeping up with expenses and managing the club membership system takes about 30 minutes a week; plus a committee meeting every month. Being able to download all of our income/expenditure numbers straight to a spreadsheet from the bank saves a lot of time.
I keep the accounts really simple at the end of the year: what’s come in; what’s gone out; how much is left! This takes about an hour to write and check over.
What have I learned in my role?
The role of Treasurer does not work alone and it’s a key part of the club committee and all of the other members need to input to make it work successfully. Most of the work involves communicating, planning, helping with other activities such as membership entries. The actual ‘bean-counting’ and annual accounts takes up the smallest amount of my overall time.