A Volunteer Club

So, you’ve hiked, cycled, skied, or snowshoed with the club for about a year or two now. I’m sure you’ve had a great time during your adventures, following the maps and descriptions your trip leaders have provided to you on the bus. The weekends you’ve shared with your fellow Randonneers have probably left you with warm memories and, perhaps, some new friends. That’s what Randonnée Aventure is about – new adventures, good memories and new friends. But, most of all, RA is about volunteers!

Without volunteers, RA would not exist today. As you know, we are a non-profit organization with one goal in mind: to provide Montrealers with the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities with like-minded people. Based on the number of members we have, we believe we’ve succeeded in creating the right kind of club! We would all like to see RA flourish, but this is very much a people-oriented investment.

How to Volunteer

Much work is involved in running this club from answering emails to making important financial decisions. Every task is important and many are good learning experiences. Opportunities abound for you to contribute to what is your outdoor club:

  • Ski/Snowshoe Committee
  • Translation
  • Marketing/Advertising
  • Cycling Committee
  • Help at social events
  • Hiking Committee
  • Help plan weekend events
  • Email, relaying club messages
  • Help with the club website
  • Follow-up with new/potential members
  • Social Committee
  • Help with registrar functions (knowledge of Microsoft Excel required)

All club roles need successors on a regular basis. If you feel suited or comfortable volunteering in a particular area please don’t hesitate to let us know. Just check the appropriate box during online membership purchase or send us an email at info@randonnee.ca

Join us, participate! The reward is immense. Don’t forget we can accomplish TOGETHER what might be impossible on an individual basis.

 

The Martin Ranalli Volunteer of the Year Award

Who was Martin Ranalli, and why is the Volunteer of the Year Award named after him? Martin Ranalli joined RA in 1990. A very affable individual, he made a point of remembering everyone’s name and always chatted with fellow members during outings.

He joined the ski committee, became Assistant Director and then club Vice-President. Everyone loved Martin. He was kind, helpful, patient and, above all, friendly. He truly epitomized Randonnée Aventure’s slogan, “Montreal’s Friendly Outdoor Club”.

Martin passed away in 2002 and many RA’ers took part in the celebration of his life at St. Willibrord Parish in Verdun. The church was filled with people whose lives Martin had touched. At the reception afterwards, we discussed how to appropriately perpetuate his memory. Thus, the Martin Ranalli Volunteer of the Year Award came to be. It was decided that the award would be in the form of a bottle of Italian wine since Martin made his own wine and he would often offer his bottles (bearing his personalized label!) as gifts to his friends.

Each year at our Volunteer Dinner, our club selects an RA member who is deserving of The Martin Ranalli Volunteer of the Year Award, an award that commemorates, not only a dedicated member of our club, but an all-round wonderful guy, loved by all who knew him. A true friend.

RA Management Team

President: John Smith
Vice-President: Vacant
Immediate Past President: Jill Aspinall
Treasurer: Robert Girouard
Registrar: Cathy Pacquet, Gloria Ruthman
Secretary: Ellen Green
Board of Directors: Jill Aspinall, Judy Mitchell, Friederike Niedtner, John Smith
Randonnews Coordinator: Steve Cabilio
Publicity Director: Marie-Eve Tremblay
Email Coordinator: Ginette Morneau
Translation Coordinator: Jean Coté
Bus Coordinator: Lisa Finken
Volunteer Coordinator: Vacant

Winter Sports Committee

Director: Shared
Administrator: Anne Harper

Cycling Committee

Director: Johanna Schalkwyk

Hiking Committee

Director: Judy Mitchell
Assistant Director: John Smith
Administrator: Valerie Cook
Assistant Administrator: Isabel-Xiaohui Deng

Social Committee

Director: Vacant

Web Committee

Maintenance: Alex Benjamin
Content and Design: Susan Zegray