Curvy Riders is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who give their time freely (and are indeed remarkable women!). From answering emails and posting on social media to handling memberships & finances, and organising annual trips, it can be a full-time job at times.
So, who is the current committee? Read on to find out and to learn more about them…
Q: Can you briefly explain your committee role?
A: As a recent incumbent, I’m still stepping into this role, but serving on the committee as Treasurer has given me a good grounding.
I see the role as holding the committee team together, ensuring that things are done, and ensuring that the club runs smoothly. Easier said than done sometimes!
Q: What do you enjoy about being a committee member?
A: That’s easy. Teamwork.
The current committee are a great team, with various strengths to bind us all together. We don’t always agree, but we operate on a very democratic basis, using a ‘majority vote wins’ approach, and that has always worked very well.
Q: Which bit are you good at?
A: I’ve only been chairwoman since July, so that’s hard to say. Ask me again in another 12 months!
After serving on the committee for so long, my belief that we’re here for the members is still my guiding light, and it’s at the centre of everything that we do, every decision that we make. I’d say that’s a strength.
Q: Which bit are you rubbish at?
A: Probably worrying too much. Nobody likes conflict or disagreements, and if the club faces a challenge that involves all the members, it’s hard not to get caught up in worrying and overthinking. We’ve had a couple of these issues over the past few years, and it’s been very hard to switch off from.
Q: What do the Curvies mean to you?
A: Friendship and laughter. And finding your tribe. Riding with either existing or new friends, there’s nothing quite like it.
Q: Can you tell us something about yourself that might surprise the members?
A: I’m pretty much an open book; my love of steam engines is well documented (real, proper love, I chased one to Bridgnorth last year), as is my insistence that quiche forms an essential part of every ride out.
I have a twin sister who is nothing like me. Aside from the quiche and steam engines, we both eat and chase in that order.
email : chairwoman@curvymail.co.uk
Q: Can you briefly explain your committee role?A: Writing a lot. Policies, procedures, taking minutes. Issuing notices, and of course mucking in with the annual trip planning. I’m the BMF insurance liaison, making sure we pay the premium and complying with requirementsQ: What do you enjoy about being a committee member?A: The camaraderie and support. Everything is up for discussion. We don’t always agree and quite often need to vote. All our decisions are made for the benefit of the club and the enjoyment and harmony of our members. We often make difficult and unpopular decisions!Q: Which bit are you good at?A: GDPR. We are aware that a lot of our members have sensitive jobs or domestic issues which result in them not using Social media or using aliases, (interesting at trip time when we’re trying to contact someone) but we understand and respect their decisions and it’s important to guard their privacy.Q: Which bit are you rubbish at?A: IT. I’m definitely in the pre-historic age. I can’t tune my telly and have to ask my 7 year old grandson to sort my phone. I’m subject to a few Zoom training sessions from the ladies to get me up to speed. In fact, I needed training to use Zoom.Q: What do the Curvies mean to you?A: Life-changing, or life-saving? I came to motor-cycling when I really needed a distraction in my life. Although my partner is a motorcyclist, there’s nothing like a Curvy ride out to lift the spirits.Q: Can you tell us something about yourself that might surprise the members?A: Mmmm, I’m an open book and the Lancs/Cheshire ladies probably feel they know more about me than is strictly necessaryOh, here we go. Finding out, in later life that my dad was a serial bigamist and I have an awful lot of half-sisters scattered throughout the UK (no brothers, interestingly). I’m pretty sure if all the members did a DNA test, they’d be more than just a ‘Curvy’ Sista.
email : secretary@curvymail.co.uk
Q: Can you briefly explain your committee role?
A: Membership Secretary. I have to organise the printing of the membership bits and pieces that go inside the envelopes. Liaise with Mandy to organise collection/delivery of the membership gifts and then make up the packs ready for posting out to all our lovely members. Check in-coming membership payments and process to send out a pack to each member. Keep records up to date with changes of address. Answer Rep queries to check new members. Chase expired members to find out whether they want to remain with us, which they sometimes do. Add new members onto the Members’ only FB page, which can sometimes be a task, especially when a FB persona is totally different from an actual persona. I have to don my Inspector Clouseau hat to do investigations!
Q: What do you enjoy about being a committee member?
A: It’s about being part of a team and something unique and Curvies are a very unique club. We make big decisions that affect the club, we have to discuss everything because we don’t always agree with each other, but we discuss it and come to a satisfactory conclusion. We support each other in all things, not just club matters, personal matters too. We know we can rely on each other for support.
Q: Which bit are you good at?
A: Admin, I’m good at doing all the admin stuff that’s required in my role. Good at talking to people and helping them when they have problems making their payment. I solve their problems to make it easier for the members to update card details when they re-join. Keeping people regularly updated with the membership packs being sent out.
Q: Which bit are you rubbish at?
A: I’m rubbish at technology. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a complete technophobe! I can do some easy techy stuff. I let those with the technology know-how get on with it and I generally stay out of it. If I need something techy sorted with our membership software, I ask the lovely Linda to sort it out for me and then explain what I need to do!
Q: What do the Curvies mean to you?
A: Cameraderie, support, fun and friendship. Once you join Curvies, you make friends for life, even if you leave the club for whatever reason. We are a supportive bunch who look out for each other and help new riders with advice on everything and anything bike related.
Q: Can you tell us something about yourself that might surprise the members?
A: Ahhh now you’re asking. I don’t have anything exciting like Mandy and Debbie to tell you. I like to do my bit for charity and around 14 years ago, I took part in an event for our local Women’s Aid charity. I did an abseil down one of our local lighthouses about 75 miles away from where I live. I did not have a car at the time and only had my bike for transport. I had to climb all the stairs inside the lighthouse, then do the abseil in my bike gear! I raised over £300 and had so much fun!
email : memberships@curvymail.co.uk
