Harrow and Wembley Outdoor Group

We expect everyone involved with our group to enjoy all our events. A certain amount of banter, humour and language is to be expected when time and context are appropriate and we are all expected to exercise judgement as to 'appropriate'. We insist on the following:

You are responsible for your behaviour and attitude towards everyone involved with the group. Bad behaviour or attitude is unacceptable, so please consider how your words and actions make other people feel.
Examples of unacceptable behaviour and attitude include aggression, shouting, lies, slander, racism, bullying, harassment, contempt, incivility, malicious rumours or gossip, excessive criticism or whingeing, inappropriate or excessive bad language, wasting committee time, not respecting group rules or authority, bringing the group into disrepute, and failing to pay monies owed.
Extreme or continued bad behaviour or attitude may lead to you being banned. Chair and committee decision is final.
If you have any issues or differences with someone else please first try and resolve them in a civil manner. If need be agree to differ and/or stay apart. Behave like adults.
If you cannot resolve issues or differences with someone else then please inform the Chair or another committee member in confidence. Reasonable evidence, witness or suspicion will be required for action.

Event Organisers

All paid members of more than 12 months standing who were members in our past group year will be event organisers. We expect event organisers to submit timely, attractive and comprehensive descriptions of their events. Organisers should Submit An Event using the appropriate event forms and gain familiarity with the wealth of information on our website. In addition organisers should Gain Skills to help them organise an event and if required, take advantage of the support offered from experienced members. Organisers should maintain good communication with clear instructions and deadlines with all attendees, in particular for events that require pre booking. Group protocol is for organisers to email our group during the week before for day/evening events, and months before for weekends/weeks away. Organisers are not obliged to arrange travel for attendees (i.e. car sharing to local day walk), however many offer to collect names/numbers/emails of those who want to car share and then communicate this to expected attendees. Organisers should ensure that all prospective and new members are made aware of group protocol regarding travel, and preferably to help organise travel (i.e. provide contacts etc). Organisers can refuse attendance by anyone not capable of completing their event without affecting others (i.e. delay or safety etc.)

Walk Leaders: Walk leaders are responsible for navigation or their route (take map and compass and know how to use them). Walk leaders should expect attendees to maintain sight of them and be able to complete the walk as stated. Walk leaders should wait at key decision or uncertain points on routes, or give clear instructions to attendees. With larger numbers of attendees, walk leaders should consider using the leader and back stop system, where the leader should stop every 15-20 minutes to let the back stop catch up. If attendees are travelling at different speeds to the leader and/or others, affecting completion of the stated walk, then it is reasonable to ask some attendees (faster or slower) to separate providing it is safe to do so. 'Safe' means there being someone else willing to lead and another map and compass (unless safe route obvious). Leaders can allow known or suspected slower/faster attendees to attend providing they are prepared to travel independently (take map and compass and know how to use them). For more challenging or uncertain conditions, walk leaders should make sure somebody not going knows the intended route and times.

Event Attendees

All paid members must attend at least one outdoor activity with our group each year. All event attendees are expected to be aware of outdoor Safety and to not endanger themselves or others. Attendees should have the required fitness, stamina, clothing, equipment, skills, experience, food, drink and motivation to complete all events they attend, without affecting others. In particular, some of our Moderate events and many of our Challenging events involve activities that some attendees many find hard due to distance, pace, ascent, technique etc. All attendees of these events must ensure they are fully aware of what the event involves and only attend if they are ready for it (check with organiser if unsure). Attendees not able or willing to complete harder events for example, should only attend if they can complete or divert the route independently (take map and compass and know how to use them). Attendees should not expect organisers or others to reduce events because they are unable to complete. Attendees should ensure prompt payment of all monies owed and to respond to event organisers.

Car Sharers

Anyone wanting to share or coordinate travel to/from an event should inform the organiser, and/or join and email our forum. Ultimately, responsibility remains with individuals for travel and finding/contacting others; organisers are not obliged to arrange travel for attendees. Anyone getting a lift from someone else should be ready at agreed times and places, respect the driver's vehicle, thank the driver and offer and pay all monies required for share of costs. Remember who is doing who the favour. Anyone arriving late or at wrong place should not expect the driver to wait; any changes or delays should be communicated early, ultimately the driver has final say. It is recommended that drivers ask passengers to meet at central point(s) or acceptable detours from the main route to minimise their journey.

Email Users

Most group information is communicated by email. Committee assumes all emails sent about any aspect of our group are received, read and understood. All email users are responsible for informing Chair or Webmaster of changes or problems with their email address. Unreliable email users (those who 'don't' receive, read, understand, remember, respond etc) may be denied the benefits of email but will still be responsible for maintaining communication and currency of information using alternative media (website, visit, phone) if they wish to remain involved with our group.

Group emails: Most members are on our email group which is used to communicate information about current or future events, reports about past events, group administration, outdoor activities information and occasional personal events/requests from paid members. In addition we operate a second email group, our forum, which can be used for virtually all other communications (travel arrangements (e.g. car sharing for forthcoming event), sales and wants (e.g. want accommodation or to sell an unwanted item), social events (e.g. meal out, drinks night, concerts), special offers (e.g. Bloggs and Co. are selling xyz cheap), other stuff not appropriate for our main email group). It is suggested that members of our forum choose the "No Email" option and log in to Google Groups (maybe weekly) to see posted emails, rather than receive each individual emails. Both email groups are moderated, inappropriate or abusive messages will not be forwarded. All members of our email groups are expected to respond within reasonable time for obligations they are required to meet.

Members

Members must not expect a professional service as our group is administered by a voluntary, unpaid committee, but should expect the committee to be diligent and honest with governance of our group. Members must respect group rules, authority, protocol, culture and aims; in particular members should respect Chair and committee decisions. Members must ensure prompt payment of all monies owed to our group and ensure prompt responses to committee and other members concerning group administration, governance or events. Members must ensure they remember to meet their obligations and to not expect committee or others to remind them.