Border Counties. All four of the Council members elected by boat licence holders are members of the IWA. These multiple allegiances must often seem confusing to IWA members; all I can do is assure members is that I have made it perfectly plain where my primary loyalty lies, but to date have encountered no conflict of interest. After all, the aims of both the IWA and C&RT are similar: to have a thriving, well-used waterway network; however there is a distinct and continuing role for the IWA as a totally independent membership organization, which is also concerned with the considerable section of waterways not under C&RT management.
Branch Secretary’s Report Steve Connolly There may be some of you wondering why it is that Manchester Branch is suddenly promoting canal cleanups. The simple answer is the launch of the Canal & River Trust. We on the branch committee have been conscious for a long while that volunteering will play a big part in the hoped for success of the new waterways charity, and also that those societies and associations that take an active part will naturally have a greater influence on their local system. The stumbling block has always been that IWA members usually have other waterway interests and it is to these that they give their time. So whilst IWA members are very active it doesn’t always reflect back on IWA as a body being active. When we were contacted by Alison Smedley, the new IWA branch support officer, we immediately saw the advantage of expertise, publicity and connections that Alison could bring, and decided to “dip our toes”.