I can`t find the reply Garfield.

John

I've posted a reply re opening up the website to all-comers on the Events forum. Garfield

What about lists of up coming LDWA events being displayed in the reception ares of campsites etc along with several back issues of strider? it would probably cost nougt and would be seen a good cross section of folk with the common interest that we share.

It could even be extended further and be included with the info packs at BBs and hotels but of course probably a different clientele

John

Advertising the LDWA need not be in the form of 'paid for' advertisements. One well written, light hearted article about the Association, complete with good quality photos, details of 6 or 7 forthcoming events and some 'been there, done that' references from assorted members, and submitted to Trail Magazine would generate a lot of interest. Most mags are on the look out for copy. The other thing that will generate publicity is the good old Press Release. 'LDWA celebrates it's 10,000th Challenge Walk' 'LDWA members walk to the Moon and back in one year''LDWA does it's bit to slow global warming and encourages Shanks's Pony' Just an idea. Jane

With regards members ages, I thought that 20 years ago the average age was 20 years younger than it is today? Or something like that. They simply need to know about the organisation, I don't believe age is an issue.
A year ago I was in an Aberystwyth outdoor shop. There was clearly a good walking club at the Aber. university (loads of photos of events and walks), the owner was a very keen walker and linked to them - I mentioned the ldwa - total blank from all there. And this a specialist outdoor shop!!
I feel well placed advertising, linked to the open website would bring rewards. Matt.

Just a few quick points. (Typing this while I should be working).

The forum should be open all. I mentioned previosuly that if the shop window is boarded up, people cannot look in. I regularly visit Mountain biking, Fell Running, GPS & Football forums and all of these are open to everyone, as long as you register on the forum to post a message. The 'closed shop' mentality will only dissuade people from joining. I certainly viewed & posted on the FRA forum before I considered joined the FRA.

Sadly, I think the LDWA is not very well known amongst other walkers. Previously, when I have mentioned the LDWA, I usually get a reply along the lines of 'Never heard of them' or 'who are they & what do they do'. Greater publicity on other outdoor related sites can only be a benefit.

Concerning magazine articles; I joined the LDWA back in 1986 as direct result of the publicity of the events calendar in The Great Outdoor magazine. Before then, I had never heard of the LDWA. Everyone knows The Ramblers Assoc, but not many know the LDWA.

Thinking about it i am not so sure that age groups have to be the issue.

Surely the target market should be the vast numbers of folk that enjoy the outdoors regardless of age!

I am not so sure that people in there 30s couldn`t be attracted into The LDWA as a large number, in fact the majority of peoeple i spend my time on the hills with are firmly within that group, and a suprisingly large number were/are unaware of the LDWA until i introduced them, and several are now members, yes they work long hours but they also value there leisure time and want to make the most of it, just the same as us older folk who also have family commitments.

Ads in the walking mags were tried when Peter Morrill was in charge of publicity. However the cost of even small ads was VERY expensive, thousands I believe.

I think the idea of getting younger people to join the LDWA is great but I believe will never happen.

I joined at the tender age of 38, and suspect most members joined around the age of 40. There are of course members who joined in their late teens and early twenties, but these are very much in the minority. What it comes down to, is the fact that Long Distance Walking, by it's very nature takes a long time to do. Being out on the hills all day is quite a selfish pastime and therefore not possible for the majority of young people who work long hours during the week and have family commitments at the weekend. We have to face up to the fact that the average age of members is rising. I am processing quite a few resignations this week along with hundreds of renewals. Many resignations are quoting ill health and old age as their reasons for giving up their membership. I think our future lies with the growing number of healthy middle aged people taking early retirement. This should be our target audience. Rant over, off to bed, just processed 120 cheques, plus a dozen or so new DD's. Night night.

I am 100% behind you with all that Matt even though peter says he has issued more passwords recently than for the past 6mths it seems that this website is unable to inspire fresh postings from new members, but i am not suprised when yo look at it, ie there is a distinct lack of good natured Banter, and the same half dozen or so folk posting.

A large portion of posts looking for suggestions as to how the LDWA MIGHT develop, which a few members have offered, but there has been very little feed back from the folk looking for the suggestions as to what may be of interest and no effort made to expand on ideas.

I have an idea which may ruffle a few feathers, why not have website links to an from running clubs throuhout the U K or even worldwide (after all the uk attracts a lot of tourists).

Yes i know the LDWA is essentially a walkers ascociation but i reckon the links to running clubs would certainly help swell the entry list at a large number of events.

So how about a bit of input from new and old LDWA members then, after all we all have a common interest don`t we?

Maybe we could all lighten up a bit as well and have a laugh about something, or is the good old british reserve restraining us because our name is there for all to see, maybe that is something else to dicuss.

John

One thing I have noticed, when on popular mountain routes, is the number of younger persons hiking, the 20 - 35 year old bracket. I also have the impression that the monthly magazines such as Trail are geared to this agegroup.

I am quite convinced that the full age spectrum are out and about on the hills, yet the ldwa basically consists of middle aged codgers like myself (also mid 50s) and the rest. The potential is there, to increase the membership and make it all encompasing of all ages - as it should be.

A re-vamped website (forum open to all) would be the first step, and some monthly national advertising in relevant magazines to guide walkers to the web and link on to local groups etc. I know this costs cash, but surely there is money about? There are 40 local groups, and I bet many of those could easily donate £250 as a one off. Or possibly £2 on the membership to cover annual advertising?

The ldwa is easily the biggest and best organiser of long walks in the country. There are walkers and runners out there who want to do them - our membership should be growing and growing, with youngsters as well. Matt.

Great news Peter trust the fingers have recovered.

John

Expect a few new faces around here, I have issued more new passwords in the last 48 hours than the last six months.

Off now to soak my fingers (both of them) in Radox.

I am aware that time and money are at a premium and find it reasurring that the national commitee are focused on the potential of the website.

It is just a shame that the commitee seem more concerned about what an ageing membership may think about change (unless i mis-understood Matt & Helens comment) but in my opinion the future of the LDWA does not lie with the ageing members, (of which at 57 yrs of age other folk may consider me to be one)

In my opinion in order to survive the LDWA needs to be a little more than focused, and swing into a flurry of activity in order to attract new younger members with modern ideas.

The statement that the FRA (of which i am also a member)really cuts no ice because in my expereience there is a broad cross section of age catergories within the FRA, which gives a pleasing combination of new ideas from the younger members and experience from older members, which allows for a progressive regime rather than one that avoids progress in case it upsets older members.

Come on Commitee you are focused and Know what your biggest assets are so why not capitalise on them,lets see some real progress and not just behind the scenes, after all we are all members and as such entitled to see results and be reassured that the future of our Associaton is progressive.

You will be please to hear that a new style for the site is under discussion with various suggestions coming forward. One of the main design constraints on the original site was to make it easy for members to use. Remember that our average age of membership is much higher than that of the FRA and we needed to move carefully into bringing online joining/renewal, shopping and other interactive into use. Tony Willey has written on this in the latest Strider.

We've spent the last year reviewing the system and fixing a few holes. Much of this was behind the scenes, although the LDP's section is a product of our work.

We HAVE taken account of every request that has been made in the forums and there is a fairly lengthy development list but, again, this has had to wait until maintenance work was carried out.

The National Committee is very focused on the potential of the website but time and money are at a premium. - Garfield

I am not going to add to the above comments - as I've said them all before.

I started the "LDWA Thread" on the fell runner site, after seeing that there was clearly interest in events (from fell runners), but many knew nothing about the ldwa or nature of events.

All I will say is that my thread opened on 31/10 - about 5 weeks ago. It has had over 1700 views and 68 replies !!

Also I am pleased to say it has generated several new members, thanks largely to the ldwa members on the FRA site - you know who you are - who have encouraged and cajoled other fell runners into joining this organisation.

Results speak for themselves. Matt.

And yes i am aware that all these subjects have been brought up before, but it all looks like lip service and very little progress.

It is not just little things that need revision the whole website is out of date e.g. calling the forums a chat room is akin to the long defunct Snug in the pub, the colours of the backgrond resemble the Nicotine stained Decor of the aforementioned Snug etc.

The sight needs bringing up to date with bright breezy and user friendly pages that make the punters want to look further into the site and visit more often.

Yes it should be open to non LDWA members so that we can learn and advance from the comments of people that are only at that point in time window shopping, as with every well dressed shop window the potential customer is atracted in to make a purchase.

I hope i haven`t upset anybody with my comments but i see a forum as a place for open, frank and honest, constructive discussion on all subjects, which just seems to be lacking on this site, probably due to the fact that the same handfull of folk make the posts, while the others prefer to spend there time and share there wisdom/ thoughts on more interesting sites.

Come on we are a damned good body of folk why not show the world with a good modern,Zingy Website

Yes i have seen the other threads asking for ideas etc but they were started in January nearly a year ago and the website is still the Practiculary the same i am also aware of the constraints on volunteers time but i reckon opputunites are being lost through dithering instead of trying new ideas and allowing the website to develop and evolve.

Why is there more Activity/enthusiasm on the LDWA thread, on the FRA website, than there is on our own forums?

It seems that recently several FRA members have taken out membership of the LDWA, which can only be for the good of the LDWA, and it seems that they have joined on the strength of comments made on the FRA site, it also seems that our own LDWA forums do very little if anything to encourage new membership.

To put it crudely the LDWA forums are a little staid and boring (But it does have it`s moments, although far to few) which is odd because the LDWA members that i have met are certainly not staid or boring.

So can something be done to change our on line presence and enable at least the forums to be brought up to date and made more interesting.

AFter all our on line website is the biggest shop window open to us, so why not use it.

All the best
John