This month has been particularly busy and I have not had a chance to look at any RA stuff at all - my apologies to you all but that's life at the moment for me.

I announced at the last meeting that I will be standing down at the end of the season from the secretary's role and it was suggested that I give an Idea of what the job involves to everyone.

The main job is to keep a record of Society and, Anne Lappin, who writes up the minutes of the meeting, gives me a major help in this function. She then emails me a copy and I print them out and keep them in a binder as a true record of society business.

The secretary gets several items of mail most months concerning RA business and needs to read them and pass on anything relevant to the membership either via the magazine or at the meetings.

The secretary acts as the co-ordinator and arranger of committee meetings to set up an agenda for the following season. To write to any possible speaker and to offer dates etc. You get calls from members, and potential members, who get your name and number from the magazine or the SCFA Directory. You get the usual number of begging letters asking for refereeing favours from schools and colleges etc. most of these are easy to redirect.

You act as a go between for members, and the county or county RA, should any member have problems or be assaulted etc. It is not a lonely job and there is always someone on hand to help - we have a very good committee and in particular John Martin and Peter Watson are both very experienced and can always help and advise. Whoever takes on the job will have me in the background if they need. We also have other recent serving secretaries in Barry Gale and Phil Smith, who a new secretary could turn to for advice.

In it's self, this job is not very demanding, but in my case it is the straw that is breaking the camels back.  I am definitely standing down at the end of the season and we need to find a replacement.  Society cannot function without a secretary but there is no absolute role model for the secretary other than that he or she is willing and moderately articulate and literate - like what I am!

It is not mandatory that the secretary writes in the magazine each month other than his or her correspondence - it just happens that I have found it a therapeutic exercise.

It is not important that a secretary has been with the RA for 50 years - 50 minutes is enough service if you have ideas and are willing.  Please would every member give this position some serious thought as No Secretary = No Society.

John Brown